Before Chuikov went to the health team, he told Sokov that he must inform the 64th Army Headquarters about his injury. Sokov fully agreed to this. According to Sokov's idea, isn't it just a phone call?
It's not a trivial matter that can be done in minutes.
But when Sokov asked someone to call the army headquarters, he found that things were not as easy as he thought. When the operator of the 64th Army heard that Sokov wanted to see the head of the army, he asked politely: "Excuse me
Which part is it?”
"I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade." Sokov said into the microphone: "I have important things to report to the head of the group army."
Unexpectedly, after the operator heard Sokov announcing his home address, he said politely and distantly: "I'm sorry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, because your unit is not affiliated with the 64th Group Army, we cannot connect you to the headquarters. Please forgive me!"
"After saying that, Sokov hung up the phone without waiting to speak again.
"What the hell, what's going on?" Sokov put down the phone and said to Belkin with an annoyed look on his face: "The operator said that I am not under the command of the 64th Army, but he actually refused to connect me to the Army Headquarters."
After Belkin waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he continued: "Comrade Brigadier, this situation is actually understandable. Think about it, if one day, the commander of the unit who has never heard of the serial number calls
If he calls you, the operator of our brigade communications company might just hang up on him."
"Then what should we do?" Seeing that the phone call could not be reached, Sokov was at a loss what to do: "We can't send communications troops to the 64th Group Army headquarters to tell them the news that General Chuikov was injured."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, have you ever thought that although we do not belong to the 64th Group Army, we belong to the Stalingrad Front." Belgin reminded Sokov: "Since the phone number of the Army Headquarters cannot be reached, you can always try
Try calling the front army headquarters. If you still can’t get through, it won’t be too late for us to think of other ways.”
"This is a good idea." Sokov picked up the receiver and put it to his ear. When he heard the voice of a communication soldier coming from inside, he immediately ordered: "Get me through the front headquarters."
After the signal soldier waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he asked in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Brigadier, do you want to speak to the front army headquarters?"
Sokov did not answer his question, but asked: "Can you get through?"
"Well..." the communications soldier said in a panic: "It's hard to say whether it can be connected. I can only try."
This was originally a matter of luck. Unexpectedly, the communication soldier was very lucky. It didn't take long to get through to the front army headquarters. Sokov could not think about whether the operator at the front army headquarters was busy.
I was so dizzy that I allowed my communications soldier to get through the phone call from the headquarters so easily.
When he heard a voice coming from the receiver, he immediately said: "Please help me find Comrade Khrushchev. I have important things to report to him."
After a while, Khrushchev's voice came from the receiver: "I am Khrushchev, who are you?"
"Hello, Comrade Military Commissar." Sokov said respectfully into the microphone: "I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. I have something important to report to you."
"Is it Chuikov's matter?" Who knew that before Sokov could say what it was, Khrushchev had already said first: "The Stalingrad City Defense Committee has already reported it to me, and said it sent you.
The troops went to the rescue. How is Chuikov doing?"
When he learned that Khrushchev already knew about Chuikov's plane crash, Sokov felt a little disappointed, thinking that he had lost the opportunity to show off in front of Khrushchev. Just when he was disappointed, he heard that behind Khrushchev
Then, he quickly replied: "Comrade Military Commissar, we have successfully rescued General Chuikov. When the plane crashed, he and the pilot were thrown out of the cockpit. His forehead was broken and there may be some contusions on his body. I am arranging
The doctors from the health team are examining him."
"So Chuikov is at your place." Hearing what Sokov said, Khrushchev finally calmed down and said to Sokov, "I'll rush over and see him."
Sokov knew the location of the front army headquarters, which was not far from Mamayev Hill. He thought to himself that Khrushchev would arrive here in half an hour at most. Before his arrival, the necessary
The vigilance work is done well.
When Sokov was arranging soldiers from the security company to go to the area where the health team was located to perform security tasks, the phone on the table suddenly rang. Sokov picked up the phone and heard something from Vanya.
A panicked voice: "Comrade Brigadier, something happened."
When Sokov heard what Vanya said, he couldn't help but think. I just ordered the commanders and soldiers to take turns to go into the tunnel to experience life. Could it be that some soldiers couldn't stand the environment inside and got sick? Thinking of this, he asked in a panic
: "Captain Vanya, tell me slowly, what happened?"
"That's it, Comrade Brigadier." Vanya said on the phone: "Didn't you ask us to set up checkpoints on the main traffic roads?"
"Yes, that's what I ordered." Knowing that it was not a soldier who had an accident in the tunnel, Sokov felt much more at ease. He then asked, "Is there anything wrong?"
"Comrade Brigadier, there is a general who claims to be Lopatin, the commander of the 62nd Army. When he was about to pass our checkpoint, he was stopped by a sentry." Vanya said in a panic: "His accompanying guards and our
The soldiers struggled. Two of our soldiers were injured, and seven of the other side were injured."
Sokov never dreamed that the checkpoint he arranged would conflict with Lopatin. What was even more surprising was that the soldiers at the checkpoint knocked down seven of the opponent's men when only two were injured. Sokov
Suppressing a smile, he asked Vanya: "Comrade Captain, how did you deal with it?"
"I have already apologized to General Lopatin." Vanya said on the phone: "He said he came to visit General Chuikov. I wonder if he should be allowed to go?"
"Let it go, Comrade Captain." Sokov thought that sooner or later his troops would be placed under the command of the 62nd Army. Although Lopatin would be replaced by Chuikov if he stayed for another month, under the current circumstances, it was still not appropriate to offend him.
Instructed Vanya: "As long as they come to visit General Chuikov, you must all let them go."
A few minutes later, several car horns sounded outside the tent. Sokov knew that people in the brigade would not honk their horns casually outside, so the cars parked outside the tent must be cars from other places. He quickly opened the door
When I walked out of the tent, I saw two jeeps and a truck parked at the door. A short, fat general was standing next to the car smoking.
Seeing Sokov come out of the tent, the general asked him: "Are you Lieutenant Colonel Sokov? I am Lieutenant General Lopatin."
"Hello, Comrade General." Seeing that the other party had a much higher military rank than himself, Sokov quickly stepped forward to salute, and at the same time said politely: "Welcome to Mamayev Heights."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Lopatin threw the cigarette in his hand on the ground, took two steps towards Sokov, stopped, and said loudly: "Just now when we passed the checkpoint, my men and your men had an incident.
There was a conflict. After a fight, seven of my men were injured. Can you tell me how to deal with this matter?"
"Comrade General, my people are performing official duties. They are strictly checking the people passing by. I think they have done nothing wrong." Regarding Lopatin's responsibilities, Sokov did not admit his mistake, but said plausibly: "On the contrary
, Comrade General, there was a conflict between your subordinates and mine, the responsibility should be on your side."
"My troops were still passing the road leading to Mamayev Heights yesterday." Lopatin heard what Sokov said and said displeasedly: "Why did you suddenly set up a checkpoint today? What is your intention?
?”
"Comrade General, I think you, as the commander of the group army, should be very clear that the German army is approaching this city step by step. Although their troops have not yet reached Stalingrad, they have sent many agents to try to disguise themselves as me
Army commanders and fighters, sneak into this city." Sokov said without fear: "The purpose of setting up the card is to prevent the Germans from sneaking into our defense area, lest they carry out sabotage and cause unnecessary losses to us.
."
Lopatin looked at the hills in front of him and said angrily: "You have two ordinary hills here. Even if the Germans get here, what else can they destroy? Don't scare me here. If today
If you don’t give me a satisfactory answer, I will never let you off lightly..."
"General Lopatin, how do you plan to deal with Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?" Just when Lopatin was overwhelming, a familiar voice suddenly came from next to him. Sokov turned around and saw Khrushchev.
At some unknown time, my husband came to the vicinity of the tent and was helping him smooth things over.
"Hello, Comrade Military Commissar." Seeing the sudden appearance of Khrushchev, whether it was Lopatin or Sokov, they quickly stood at attention and raised their hands to salute him. When Sokov raised his hand to his forehead,
He also said to Khrushchev: "You are welcome to come to Mamayev Heights to inspect the work."
"The work can be inspected later." Khrushchev approached Sokov and asked in a low voice: "I wonder where Chuikov is now?"
Sokov pointed to a row of buildings near the river and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, it is right there in that row of buildings. Outside the room where General Chuikov lives, I have specially arranged manpower to serve as a guard."
Khrushchev did not immediately walk in the direction of the health team, but checked with Sokov again: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, is Chuikov really okay?"
"It's just a scratch on his forehead. The assistant military doctor who went to the rescue at the time has already treated the wound." Sokov replied: "Comrade Military Commissar, if you go over now, you might still be able to see him jumping around with others.
Chatting."
Khrushchev nodded, walked up to Lopatin, and now said to him: "General Lopatin, since the mission of the infantry brigade is to defend Mamayev Hill, then on the surrounding traffic arteries
It is very necessary to set up checkpoints and check pedestrians and vehicles. On the way here, I also heard about this, so I asked the people at the time. After investigation, I think the soldiers on duty did the right thing.
, they are fulfilling their responsibilities."
Seeing that Khrushchev wanted to speak for Sokov, Lopatin did not pursue the matter further, but looked at him and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, are you also here to visit Chuikov?"
"That's right, I made a special trip to visit Chuikov." Khrushchev glanced behind Lopatin and said with some regret: "I didn't expect that the commander of the 62nd Army had arrived. Why did the 64th
The people from the army group haven’t arrived yet?”
"Comrade Military Commissar, I can explain this matter." Seeing that Khrushchev was a little angry, Sokov quickly explained to him: "I once called the 64th Army Headquarters and tried to get General Chuikov
Inform them of the injury. Unexpectedly, the operator refused to connect us at all, so I called you. I think they may not know the news of General Chuikov's injury until now."
"Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you don't have to say any more." Before Sokov could finish speaking, Khrushchev interrupted him: "I will personally inform them of Chuikov's injury, so you don't have to."
Don’t worry about it anymore. We will conduct a casualty inspection later, so you continue to stay here while General Lopatin and I go."
Sokov guessed that when Khrushchev was inspecting the wounded, he must have something important to discuss with Chuikov. It would be inconvenient for him to be there, so he was allowed to stay. As soon as Khrushchev finished speaking, he quickly shouted loudly
He replied: "Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, I will resolutely obey your orders."
"Let's go, General Lopatin." Khrushchev put an arm on Lopatin's shoulder and said to him with a smile: "Let's go visit General Chuikov now."
After the two walked away, Belkin appeared from nowhere and came to Sokov's side. He asked with some worry: "Comrade Brigade Commander, our soldiers had a conflict with General Lopatin. He
Will you find an opportunity to wear small shoes for us?"
"Don't worry, my comrade political commissar." Sokov thought that after a while, Lopatin would ask Stalin that he could not hold Stalingrad and hoped that the base camp would allow him to lead his troops to withdraw to the east bank of the Volga River.
He was dismissed by Stalin and replaced by Chuikov. Even if his troops were assigned to the 62nd Army, as long as he was dismissed, even if he wanted to make things difficult for himself, he would not have that chance. Therefore, he vowed: "I
I believe that General Lopatin is a generous man and will never argue with us over such a trivial matter."