Just when Sokov was about to lead the way, Khrushchev unexpectedly put an arm on his shoulder and said to him: "Let's go, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov. I still have something on my mind,
Want to talk to you."
Feeling Khrushchev's arm on his shoulder, and thinking that he would be the top leader of the Soviet Union a few years later, Sokov's body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Perhaps sensing Sokov's restraint, in order to relieve the other party's nervousness, Khrushchev first retracted his arm, and then said to Sokov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, it seems that what you said at that time was
Yes."
When Sokov heard Khrushchev's nonsense, he was stunned for a moment, and then realized that he was referring to some of his opinions on the Kharkov battle at the meeting chaired by Timoshenko.
He thought to himself: "Strange, didn't you say that you were going to check the tunnel fortifications? Why did you suddenly mention this matter?"
Khrushchev looked forward and said: "At the meeting at that time, we, the decision-makers of the Southwest Front, all believed that our plan was impeccable. When you suggested that the Germans might counterattack our army from the salient,
At that time, none of us listened to what you said. On the contrary, I even thought that once the German army attacked from there, it would definitely be hit head-on by our troops deployed there."
Sokov felt that Khrushchev's statement was credible. According to Timoshenko and Khrushchev's ideas, even if the German army really launched an attack from the Barvinkovo salient, Kharitonov would command
The 9th Army was enough to stop their attack. But they never dreamed that the German attack would be so violent. The 9th Army only lasted one day before the entire line collapsed in the face of the German offensive.
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Khrushchev stopped and looked at Sokov and asked: "I heard that you once told others that our troops could not prevent the German army from rushing into Stalingrad, and future battles would be
In the city. Did you say that?"
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar. I did say that." Hearing Khrushchev's question, Sokov nodded quickly and replied affirmatively: "Judging from the current situation, our strength and
The German army is at a disadvantage and lacks solid and complete defenses, so it is very difficult to block the Germans. Therefore, in the next battle, no matter how tenacious our commanders and fighters are, the battle line will still move forward step by step.
Stalingrad is approaching."
Khrushchev waited for Sokov to finish speaking, stared at him for a while, and then said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, do you know that your words are very dangerous, it is simply a defeatist argument.
"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov looked at Khrushchev and said without fear: "I am telling the truth. The Germans will rush into this city sooner or later. If we do not do all the defense work in advance
, then this city named after the Supreme Commander himself may fall into the hands of the enemy."
Khrushchev agreed very much with Sokov's statement: "You are right. We absolutely cannot hand over this city named after the Supreme Commander himself into the hands of the Germans. What can you do?
To prevent the Germans from taking the city?"
"We must first build fortifications inside the city, arm the residents, and prepare for street fighting with the enemy." Sokov said carefully: "In order to buy precious time for the soldiers and civilians building fortifications in the city,
Along the way to Stalingrad, we must clear the country."
"Strengthen the walls and clear the country?" Regarding the suggestion mentioned by Sokov, Khrushchev did not express his own opinion, but said noncommittally: "Go on."
Sokov thought for a while and continued: "Residents who can be evacuated should be evacuated from areas close to the front lines to the city. Anything that cannot be transported should be destroyed. Don't leave anything to the enemy. Everything
Let nothing be left behind that may benefit the enemy and strengthen the enemy. Whether it is factories that can be started, wheat in the fields or livestock, anything that cannot be evacuated, we will blow up and burn them all! Livestock too
Drive away. In a word, leave nothing for the Germans."
"Evacuate residents from areas close to the front line to the city of Stalingrad." Regarding the plan proposed by Sokov, Khrushchev said with some embarrassment: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, do you know that Stalingrad can accommodate
How many people?" Seeing Sokov shaking his head, he continued: "According to our statistics, the residents evacuated here from other cities, plus the original residents in the city, already have a population of nearly one million. If we add the towns outside
Residents have been evacuated to the city, and I’m worried that they won’t be able to accommodate them.”
The problem that Khrushchev mentioned was something that Sokov had never considered. Although he knew that Stalin personally ordered not to evacuate the residents of Stalingrad in order not to cause unnecessary panic. But he still held on to the first line.
Hope, said to Khrushchev: "Comrade Military Commissar, I see that the residents of the organization have evacuated the city. Otherwise, when the Germans rush into the city, they will not be able to evacuate even if they want to."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Khrushchev pause for a moment, then shook his head and said: "This is impossible, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov. According to the notification I received: In order not to cause panic in the city, we
There will be no evacuation in Stalingrad." When he said this, he seemed to have remembered something, so he specifically emphasized to Sokov, "Maybe you are very accurate about some things. But being accurate is one thing.
Whether to tell it or not is another matter. Do you understand?"
From the tone of Khrushchev's words, Sokov guessed that the other party must be dissatisfied with his unauthorized statement that the German army would rush into Stalingrad. He nodded quickly and replied in a panic: "Don't worry, Military Commissar.
Comrade, I will be careful with my words in the future."
He said he was going to refer to the underground tunnel fortifications, but Khrushchev kept wandering around the hillside to check the surface position of the infantry brigade. When he came to the other side of the hillside, Khrushchev saw the busy crowd at the foot of the hillside.
Asked curiously: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, can you tell me what they are busy with?"
Hearing what Khrushchev said, Sokov knew what the crowd at the foot of the hillside was busy with even without looking, so he immediately replied: "They are digging tunnels, Comrade Military Commissar."
"Digging tunnels? I thought they were digging trenches." Khrushchev heard Sokov say this, with a surprised expression on his face: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, can I ask, who are you digging tunnels?
What’s the purpose?”
"Comrade Military Commissar, we are building tunnel fortifications buried deep underground on the northern and southern slopes of Mamayev Hill." Sokov introduced to Khrushchev: "I want to use tunnels to connect the fortifications on the two slopes.
Connect them. We are now using two methods to excavate tunnels between two hillsides at the same time. What you see is the excavation method using the open excavation method. The other underground excavation method is carried out underground, so you can temporarily
Can’t see…”
After introducing the situation in the tunnel, Sokov tentatively asked Khrushchev: "Comrade Military Commissar, we have seen the surface positions on the hillside. Next, should we go to the tunnel to have a look?"
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Khrushchev raised his hand and looked at his watch, then shook his head and said: "It's getting late, I have to rush to the Municipal Defense Committee, so I won't go for now. I'll talk about it next time.
Let's go." After saying that, he extended his hand to Sokov and said, "Let's say goodbye."
Khrushchev's hurried coming and going made Sokov confused. He didn't understand what the purpose of his visit was. It was said to be to inspect the fortifications, but in the end he only briefly looked at the surface fortifications, and the main tunnel fortifications
, without even looking at it, he left in a hurry.
In the evening, Ozor, who was temporarily called to a meeting of the City Defense Committee, brought back a fresh document to Sokov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, take a look, this is the new document drawn up by Comrade Khrushchev and the City Defense Committee.
A letter to the people of the city."
Sokov took the document from Ozor's hand and took a closer look, only to see it written in standard printing: "
Dear comrades!
Dear citizens of Stalingrad!
The violent enemy has approached our dear city. Just like 24 years ago, our city is going through difficult times again. The German devils exuding blood-awakened spirit will break into the sunshine-filled Stalingrad and insult our greatness.
The Russian river - the Volga...
Citizens of Stalingrad, comrades!
We will never let the enemy invade our dear city, never let the enemy destroy our homes and dear families. We will build impassable barricades on all the streets, and we will make every house, every block, every
Every street has become an unassailable fortress.
Everyone, come out and build barricades! Let’s organize fighting teams! Build barricades on every street... In the cruel year of 1918, our fathers defended the red Tsaritsyn. Let us also protect it in 1942
Live in Stalingrad, where you were awarded the Order of the Red Banner!
Let’s all build barricades!
Everyone who can take up arms rise up to defend our dear city and our homeland!"
Sokov breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself: It seems that what he said to Khrushchev worked, otherwise he would not have hastily issued this letter to the people of the city. If the residents of Stalingrad were
It is still possible to truly mobilize and make full use of the characteristics of many stone buildings in the city to establish a complete urban defense system before the German troops rush into the city.
After reading this letter to the people of the city, Belkin's frown relaxed. He smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, with this letter to the people of the city, I believe that no one will
Turn a deaf ear to the orders of the City Defense Committee. Next time you go to the department store, the sandbag fortifications on the second floor may have been repaired, and anti-tank guns and machine guns may have been set up."
Now that Khrushchev was interfering with the construction of fortifications in the city, Sokov was no longer willing to worry about this. Thinking that the German army was getting closer to the city, he asked Ozor anxiously: "Comrade Major, I
I would like to ask, when will the tunnel fortifications and tunnels be completed?"
"The progress on the south slope is faster, and it will be completed in about five days." Ozor opened his notebook and reported the progress of the project to Sokov: "On the north slope, the progress is much slower. However,
It can be completed in ten days at most. There are also tunnels. The one using the open excavation method is two-thirds complete, while the one using the underground excavation method is only one-fourth complete."
Sokov clearly remembered that the construction of the two tunnels started at the same time, but he did not expect that the progress was so different. He frowned and asked: "Comrade Major, the construction of the two tunnels started at the same time, why is the progress so different?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Ozor looked at Sokov and said aggrievedly: "Before formulating the construction plan, I once told you that the excavation method will progress the fastest. But you are worried
Both tunnels were dug open and would be discovered by German reconnaissance planes, so one tunnel was dug underground, which was the most time-consuming."
"Okay, okay, comrade major, don't complain in front of me." Sokov didn't wait for Ozor to finish, and interrupted what he said: "If there are not enough manpower, I will transfer another thousand people tomorrow.
.You must complete all the fortification construction work within five days. Do you understand?"
"All completed within five days?" Ozor asked in surprise: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, may I ask why it must be completed within five days?"
Sokov knocked on the table in front of him and said impatiently: "Major Ozor, don't you ever read the battle reports? The German army is getting closer to our city, and one day their armored forces may make a surprise attack.
, rushed to Mamayev Point, if the fortifications are not completed, how can we stop them?"
"I understand," Ozor nodded and said, "Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I will definitely complete the fortifications on Mamayev Hill within the specified time limit."
"That's great." After Sokov said this, he turned to look at Belkin and said: "Comrade Political Commissar, do you know the person in charge of military supplies in the city?"
"I know a few, but none of them are the main person in charge." After hearing Sokov's question, Belkin immediately understood what the other party wanted to express. Although the troops came from Kursk, they all carried double base numbers.
of ammunition, but if a war breaks out, the consumption of ammunition will be astronomical. If you don't stockpile a batch in advance and wait until other troops retreat into the city, then the ammunition and supplies in the warehouse will not be enough to distribute. In order to avoid
As for Sokov's worries, he took the initiative and said: "I will visit the leaders of the logistics department tomorrow and try to get a batch of urgently needed supplies from them."