After the telegram from the reconnaissance team arrived at the brigade headquarters, Sokov immediately made a decision to send a squad of soldiers to reinforce and provide them with enough weapons, especially anti-tank weapons, so that they could persist in that building for longer.
long time.
Regarding Sokov's arrangement, Sidorin raised his own objection: "Comrade Brigadier, we only send one squad to reinforce. Isn't the number too small? I think we should send a platoon there."
"One squad is enough." Sokov explained to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, a squad in our brigade has twenty or thirty people, which is equivalent to a platoon of friendly forces; a platoon has seventy or eighty people, and
The number of friendly troops at the company level is about the same. If you want to defend the building occupied by Vasily and the others, it will definitely not work if the number of people is small. But the same will not work if the number of people is large. Once the enemy discovers that there are too many troops in the building, they will definitely use
Artillery bombardment and aircraft bombing will inevitably cause heavy casualties to our army. Therefore, sending them a squad of reinforcements is more than enough."
Sidorin felt that what Sokov said was very reasonable, so he did not argue with him anymore, but continued to ask: "Comrade Brigade Commander, which battalion should we transfer troops from to reinforce them?"
In the 73rd Infantry Brigade, the most powerful combat unit is the guard company, but now the guard company has been dismantled to pieces, so Sokov thought for a moment and said decisively: "I think, from Chris
Let’s allocate a squad from Dov’s reconnaissance company to reinforce Vasily and the others.”
"I also want to ask," Sidorin looked at Sokov and asked: "After the reinforcements arrive to join Vasily and the others, who will be in charge of unified command of the troops in the building?"
Sidorin's question reminded Sokov that anyway, Vasily is only a sergeant now, and he may not be able to command those with higher military ranks than him. So he said solemnly:
"Comrade Chief of Staff, please record my order: from now on, all commanders and fighters in the building, regardless of their military rank or position, will obey the command of Sergeant Vasily."
This was the first time Sidorin had heard of the order issued by Sokov, so he cautiously asked: "Comrade Brigadier, are you sure that soldiers with a higher rank than Vasily must also obey his orders?"
?”
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, that's exactly what it is." Sokov nodded and said: "Don't talk about sergeants, sergeants, even lieutenants and captains must obey Sergeant Vasily after they lead their troops into the building.
Command. Only in this way, I think they can hold on to that building and hit the Germans hard."
According to Sokov's idea, he was going to go to the Vasily Building with the reinforcements to understand the defense situation there. Unexpectedly, before he could set off, the German army suddenly dispatched a large number of aircraft and carried out an attack on Mamayev Hill and the factory area.
Fierce bombing. Seeing this situation, Sokov knew that a large-scale German attack was imminent, so he had no choice but to give up the idea of going to the Vasily Building and stayed in the headquarters to direct the battle.
According to past practice, not long after the first batch of German bombers flew away, the second batch of bombers would appear immediately. Unexpectedly, after the first batch of German bombers flew away, the second batch of bombers was not seen for a long time.
Faced with such a strange situation, Belkin, who had just returned from Beigang, curiously asked Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, why did the Germans only bomb one wave today? Do you know what happened?"
Sokov was also baffled by this contrasting behavior of the German army. He picked up the phone and called the observation post on the top of the hill: "Hello, observation post? This is Sokov. Is there anything going on there?
"
The observation post that received the call naturally knew what Sokov was asking, and quickly replied: "Report to Comrade Brigade Commander, after the German bomber group left, not only did they not see the second group of planes, they even did not see the appearance of the second group of planes in the distance.
The German starting position is also extremely quiet, and it seems that they will not attack us in a short period of time."
After Sokov put down the phone and told Belkin and Sidorin about the situation reported by the observation post, a bold guess suddenly came to his mind. He quickly picked up the phone again and dialed the army headquarters.
After hearing Krylov's familiar voice from the receiver, Sokov asked straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of Staff, this is Sokov. I would like to ask, has the northwest attack started?"
"
Krylov was stunned by Sokov's question. After a moment of silence, he asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, who told you that our army's offensive in the north of the city has begun?"
"The enemy carried out violent bombing on Mamayev Hills not long ago. But what is strange is that after their first wave of bombing ended, the second wave of bombers did not appear for a long time. At the same time, the ground troops attacked
The starting position also seemed extremely quiet, and it didn't look like he was going to launch an attack at all." After Sokov told Krylov about the situation here, he boldly expressed his conjecture: "Therefore, I think it was Roko.
General Sovsky's troops launched an offensive, forcing the enemy to turn the main force in their direction."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Krylov said angrily after Sokov finished speaking: "So far, I have not received any news that the Stalingrad Front has switched to the offensive. You are still old
Guard your Mamayev Heights honestly and don't worry about irrelevant things."
After being criticized, Sokov put down the phone with a wry smile and said to Belkin and Sidorin: "Comrade Political Commissar, Chief of Staff, judging from the current situation, General Rokossovsky's troops have been separated from the German army.
An attack has been launched from the flanks and rear, and soon General Chuikov will organize the new troops arriving in the city to launch a counterattack against the enemy in the front."
Regarding Sokov's statement, Sidorin was skeptical: "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you really think that General Rokossovsky's troops have launched an attack on the enemy's flank and rear?"
"I think so." Sokov nodded and said: "Otherwise, I really can't explain why the German bombing only carried out one round and ended hastily."
"Comrade Brigadier," Belkin interjected, "Since the Germans have stopped bombing at this moment, I think we can send out Vasily's reinforcement squad."
Sokov originally wanted to go to the Vasily Building with the reinforcements, but the situation was unclear at the moment and he could not leave the headquarters easily. However, the dispatch of reinforcements could not be delayed. Who knew what the Germans wanted to do to the Vasily Building?
To launch an attack, with the few troops Vasily had, it would be even harder to defend the building. So he nodded and said decisively: "Okay, let them set off now."
Before the reinforcements set off, Sidorin specifically told the squad leader to follow Vasily's command in all their actions after arriving at Vasily's Building. This squad leader was originally a sergeant, and not only had a rank two higher than Vasily's,
Rank, and he was also a soldier with rich combat experience. When he heard that he had to take orders from a recruit with a lower military rank than himself, he felt somewhat unhappy.
Sidorin noticed the squad leader's strange behavior and said to him with a straight face: "Comrade Tu Shi, the decision to ask all the commanders and fighters in the building today to obey the command of Sergeant Vasily was made by Comrade Brigade Commander. If you don't
If you are willing to accept it, I can leave you behind and let others command your troops."
When the officer learned that this order was issued by Sokov, he immediately lost his temper. He was deeply afraid that he would really be replaced by Sidorin, and he quickly said sincerely: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please don't replace me.
Isn’t it enough for me to obey orders? When our squad arrives at its destination, we will definitely obey Sergeant Vasily’s command.”
"Comrade Tu Shi, don't look aggrieved." Sidorin turned his head and glanced at Sokov who was sitting at the table looking at a map. He read in a low voice and said, "The brigade commander's order also said, don't say
A sergeant, a staff sergeant, even a lieutenant or a captain must obey Sergeant Vasily’s command when they arrive at that building.”
Shortly after the reinforcements were dispatched, Chuikov's phone call came into the headquarters. When he heard that the person who answered the phone was Sidorin, he immediately said in an orderly tone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin, give the phone to Sokov immediately.
, I have important combat tasks that I want to entrust to him to complete."
Seeing Sidorin handing the microphone to him, Sokov guessed that there must be something important. He quickly took the microphone, put it to his ear and said: "Hello, Comrade Commander, I am Sokov."
, do you have any instructions?”
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I just had a phone call with the front army headquarters. You guessed it right. General Rokossovsky's troops launched a fierce attack on the enemy's defensive positions an hour ago." Chuikov said.
The phone call said: "The enemy's attention was attracted by him, so the bomber group originally planned to bomb the Mamayev Hills and the factory area was transferred to bomb the Stalingrad Front to prevent them from joining us."
After Sokov learned that his guess was completely correct, he did not feel complacent, but asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask when will the counterattack planned by the Army Headquarters be launched?"
"According to the report from the front army headquarters, two infantry brigades and one infantry division will secretly cross the Volga River tonight and enter the city." Chuikov said with some excitement: "After these three troops have completed their assembly,
We will join the battle as the main force of this counterattack."
"Comrade Commander," Sokov did not hear the specific time for the counterattack from Chuikov's words, so he could only bite the bullet and ask: "Can I ask when the troops of our group army will be able to enter the battle?
?”
"It's unclear at this time." Chuikov replied hesitantly: "We don't know the strength and equipment of the three troops that are about to enter the city yet, so I really have no idea when they will be able to enter the battle.
Give you an accurate answer."
If Chuikov does not organize the troops to attack, then leading his troops through the German defense gap and heading north to meet Rokossovsky's troops is asking for death. Sokov knows very well that with the strength of the 192nd Battalion,
If you have to fight against so many enemies with strength, it's like hitting an egg against a stone.
After Chuikov finished speaking, he immediately asked: "Comrade Commander, if you cannot confirm the time for the counter-assault, will your order for our brigade to go north to meet friendly forces also be postponed?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, don't worry." Chuikov heard Sokov's voiceover and quickly comforted him and said: "If the counterattack organized by the Army Group Headquarters is not carried out for a day, you can go without for a day.
Go north. Do you understand?"
"Understood!" Sokov replied quickly and loudly.
Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Sidorin quickly asked about his concerns: "Comrade Brigadier, did the commander say when we will take action to cooperate with friendly forces to break the German encirclement?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, the front army headquarters will send us reinforcements tonight. Comrade Commander intends to use these cutting-edge troops as the main force of counter-assault to launch attacks on the enemy's defensive positions," Sokov said expressionlessly.
: "However, it is still unknown whether these troops can enter the city on time tonight, so he does not know when the counterattack to cooperate with friendly forces' operations can begin."
After Sokov finished speaking, seeing Sidorin's disappointed look, he comforted him and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, although the counterattack organized by the Army Group Headquarters does not know when it will start, it will still be carried out.
What we have to do now is to make all preparations for the 192nd Battalion, so that we can set off as soon as the order is issued."
After Sokov's reminder, Sidorin immediately thought that the 192nd Battalion was about to go into battle, and there were still many preparations to be made. He quickly said to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, if you didn't say anything, I would have almost forgotten.
After repairs, there are currently five German armored vehicles that can be used. If you take these five armored vehicles with you during operations, they may be of use when passing through the German defense zone."
After Sokov captured these German armored vehicles, he still didn't have the cross mark on them painted over. He planned to allow the soldiers riding in the armored vehicles to disguise themselves as enemies and easily blend into the enemy's midst. Now he learned that they can be used
There were actually five armored vehicles, and I began to think about whether some of the soldiers should be ordered to wear German uniforms when the troops were heading north, so that they could pass through the enemy's defense lines smoothly.
Thinking of this, Sokov asked Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, you are in charge of the military supplies. I wonder how many German uniforms are there?"
"German uniforms?" Upon hearing Sokov's question, Belkin was stunned for a moment, and then a surprised expression appeared on his face: "Comrade Brigadier, are you planning to let the soldiers pretend to be Germans again so that they can pass smoothly?