Chuikov and his adjutant Klimov strode in from outside. Belkin and Golya quickly stood up straight and raised their hands to salute him.
Seeing Sokov trying to sit up, Chuikov quickly stepped forward to stop him: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you are still injured, so don't get up." After letting Sokov lie down again, Chuikov turned around and asked where he stood.
Asiya on the side said, "Asiya, his injury is okay, right?"
Asiya shook her head quickly and said: "There is only a slight concussion and some bruises on the body, nothing serious."
"Comrade Commander," Sokov, who was lying on the hospital bed, said apologetically after Asiya introduced his injuries to Chuikov: "I did not complete the task you assigned me, and I request punishment." Although Tank
After breaking through the German defense line, the 67th Brigade was completely wiped out by the enemy because it was isolated and helpless. It had nothing to do with Sokov, but he still took the initiative to ask Chuikov to take responsibility.
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I can't blame you for this." Chuikov waved his hand and said reasonably: "The enemy's strength exceeded our imagination. After Colonel Hidjaev's tank brigade broke through the defense line, it
They were immediately cut off from the main force, thus becoming a lone army without any assistance."
Seeing that the move to join forces north here ended in failure, Chuikov's mentality changed. He felt that under the current circumstances, tactics should be adjusted in time in order to defend the city. Therefore, he said to Sokov: "Friendly forces are starting from
The attack launched by the enemy's rear did not achieve the desired results, and our coordinated attack was also unsuccessful. In the following days, I think it is necessary for us to adjust our attack style so that we can support the city for a longer period of time.
"
Seeing that Chuikov realized that it was not advisable to counterattack the enemy before the conditions were ripe, Sokov felt much more at ease, because this way, Chuikov would not have to order him to go again regardless of the risk.
To perform an impossible task.
"Comrade Commander," Sokov asked in a calm tone, "What should we do next?"
"The mission of your brigade remains unchanged. It is better to continue to hold Mamayev Heights." Chuikov replied: "As long as our troops can be nailed here like a nail, the enemy will not be able to completely complete the defense lines in the factory area and the city center."
Separate."
"Comrade Political Commissar," Sokov waited for Chuikov to finish and immediately turned his attention to Belkin who was standing aside: "How many troops do we have at our disposal now?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander," upon hearing Sokov's question, Belkin quickly stepped forward and replied: "There are currently 3,400 people left in the brigade, of which more than 700 are wounded."
Sokov remembered that in real history, the Soviet army suffered more than 50,000 casualties on Mamayev Hill, and the German army also paid a price of more than 15,000 people. Therefore, as soon as they arrived at Mamayev Hill
He took the time to build tunnels and some surface positions, which greatly reduced the number of casualties of the troops in the battle. There are still more than 3,000 people on the high ground. If Chuikov can replenish himself, he can hold on until November.
A mid-term counterattack should be no problem.
After understanding the current situation of the troops, Sokov tentatively asked Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, I wonder if you can add some troops to us. You must know that from the time our brigade entered the position until now, the number of casualties has exceeded half."
"You only suffered more than half of the casualties," Chuikov unexpectedly said coldly after hearing this: "The casualties of other divisions and brigades are generally three-quarters, and some even only have two or three hundred people left. Even if it needs to be supplemented,
We also need to prioritize replenishing them.”
After hitting a wall with Chuikov, Sokov was not disappointed, but continued: "Comrade Commander, I have an idea. Since so many division and brigade-level units have been almost wiped out, why not let their command
What if the agency goes to the rear to reorganize new troops and allocate the remaining soldiers to existing combat units?"
Sokov's proposal made Chuikov's eyes widen in surprise. For him, there was no need for those troops that had almost completely lost their organizational structure to stay in the city. Instead, they should immediately be transferred to the left bank of the Volga River to carry out operations.
Repair. But Sokov's statement gave him new ideas.
Seeing Chuikov's thoughtful look, Sokov quickly struck while the iron was hot and said: "Comrade Commander, as far as I know, after the German troops were crippled, the command organization went to the rear to reorganize the troops and survived.
The soldiers will be dispersed and reorganized into other combat units, so as to ensure that the combat effectiveness of the units is not affected."
"It's interesting," Chuikov nodded and said: "After I return to the headquarters, I will discuss it with the chief of staff. If he doesn't object, I can implement your plan in those division and brigade level units with only a few hundred people left.
plan."
Seeing that Chuikov agreed to his proposal, Sokov couldn't help but beam with joy. You must know that the surviving soldiers in these troops are veterans with combat experience and are familiar with the situation in the city. Whether they are allowed to stay in Mamayev
Fighting in positional warfare or fighting in street fighting in the city or factory area is much stronger than the newly transferred troops.
After Chuikov and Sokov chatted for a while, he stood up and said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, during this period, the work of the brigade will be handed over to Chief of Staff Sidorin, and you can rest here to recover."
Since Sokov learned that his injuries were not life-threatening, he wanted to return to the headquarters immediately to direct the battle. At this moment, when Chuikov asked him to hand over the command to Sidorin, he quickly waved his hands and said: "No need, Commander.
Comrade, with my current physical condition, I am fully capable of commanding the troops..."
Before Sokov could finish speaking, Chuikov interrupted him: "Although your injury is not too serious, how can you command the battle if you can't even sit up now? Just listen to me on this matter,
You can rest peacefully and recuperate first, and then take over the command again when you can get out of bed and move around."
Sokov was not willing to lie idle on the hospital bed and quickly said to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, although I can't move now, I can ask my comrades to carry me to the headquarters and continue to perform my duties there."
Belkin understood Sokov's character and knew that letting him lie here doing nothing would definitely stifle him. He quickly stood up and put in a good word for him: "Comrade Commander, I think it's just what the brigade commander said.
Yes, send someone to carry him back to the headquarters and let him lie on the bed to direct the troops in combat."
Chuikov heard what Belkin said, and after staring at him for a long time, he finally nodded and agreed to his proposal: "Okay, Comrade Belkin, since you also think that Lieutenant Colonel Sokov should lie in command of the troops
If it is feasible, then arrange for manpower to carry him back to the headquarters as soon as possible."
In this way, after Chuikov left, Belkin called a few soldiers and carried Sokov back to the headquarters. Sidorin, who was answering the phone, saw Sokov being carried in by the soldiers and couldn't help asking in surprise
Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, the brigade commander is still injured. Why did you carry him here?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov, who was lying on a stretcher and couldn't move, still managed to put a smile on his face and said to Sidorin: "I'm fine and can continue to command the battle."
After the soldiers carried him from the stretcher to the cot, Sokov looked at Sidorin and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation in the Vasily Building?"
"Vasily Building?!" Sidorin was stunned for a moment after hearing Sokov's question. Then he understood that he was asking about the building occupied by Vasily's troops, and quickly replied: "They are still upstairs.
Keep at it."
Sokov was obviously dissatisfied with Sidorin's answer. After repeating his question, he specifically emphasized: "What I want to ask is whether Vasily and the others are holding on in that building and pose a threat to the Germans.
What kind of threat is there?”
Sidorin finally understood what Sokov wanted to ask, and quickly replied: "The building occupied by Vasily and the others turned out to be the family dormitory of the Federation of State Consumer Cooperatives, located next to January 9th Square. Since Vasily and the others
After moving in, the enemies who tried to enter Soviet Street from here suffered heavy losses. The soldiers in the building killed nearly a hundred invaders, and at least five tanks were blown up..."
"How many troops are there in this building now?" Although Pavlov in history stayed in this building for two months, Sokov didn't know whether Vasily and the others were in the building with his appearance.
They can hold on for such a long time, so they asked worriedly: "Can they hold on in the face of the enemy's strong attack?"
"Comrade Brigadier, you can rest assured about this." Sidorin heard Sokov's question and said confidently: "Since Sergeant Vasily and others occupied the building, the Germans have launched several attacks, and even
They also used artillery to bombard the building, but they were unable to drive our soldiers out of the building. There are still more than fifty soldiers in the building, both from our brigade and other small units of our army that have been broken up. I believe
With their strength, they should have no problem holding on to the building."
Perhaps in order to reassure Sokov, Sidorin even took out a notebook and read the contents to Sokov: "...Including Lieutenant Afanasyev's machine gun platoon, they have seven people outside.
A heavy machine gun; the anti-tank gun team led by Sergeant Sobgaida, which has six soldiers and three anti-tank guns; the mortar team of Second Lieutenant Chernushenko, which has four people and two 50
mm mortar..."
Listening to the series of data reported by Sidorin, Sokov felt more and more at ease. The troops and equipment in the Vasily Building now are obviously stronger than those in the Pavlov Building in history. Holding on for two months should not make much difference.
Question. But for the sake of safety, Sokov continued to ask: "How often do we send them ammunition and supplies?"
"Two days," Sidorin put away his notebook and answered truthfully: "Every two days, the Third Battalion will send a platoon of soldiers to deliver the ammunition and supplies they need to the troops staying in the building.
.”
"Comrade Brigadier," after Sidorin finished speaking, Belkin walked to Sokov's bedside, lowered his head and said to him: "After Vasily and the others occupied the building, they discovered a group of weapons hidden in the basement.
Residents. According to our plan, these residents should be evacuated to safe places, but when we implemented the transfer operation, the residents refused to leave their homes and expressed their intention to stay and fight with Vasily and the others. Comrade Brigade Commander
, tell me, how should we deal with it?"
Although the residents of the city rushed to the ferry, trying to take a boat from here to the left bank of the Volga River to escape this city of blood and fire. But Sokov knew very well that even if they reached the east bank, their lives would be in danger.
Safety is still difficult to guarantee. In addition to bombing and artillery fire that will take their lives, hunger and injuries will also cause many citizens to lose their lives. Therefore, it is not a big deal that the residents of Vasily Building choose not to leave.
The bad thing is that at least if Vasily and the others are in the building for one day, they will be able to get the food they need to survive, giving them a chance to survive until the day when the enemy is driven out of the city.
Thinking of this, Sokov looked at Belkin and said: "Comrade political commissar, since the residents are unwilling to leave, let them stay." Seeing that Belkin seemed to have something else to say, he continued on.
He said, “Now the enemy has a tight blockade on the Volga River. No matter whether the ships are transporting soldiers and supplies from the east bank to the city or transferring the wounded and residents outside the city, they are all faced with being bombed and sunk by enemy aircraft.
or the danger of being destroyed by artillery.”
After listening to Sokov's words, Belkin nodded slightly and said: "Okay, comrade brigade commander, since you agree that they stay in the building, let the telegraph operator send a message to Vasily later."
Please tell him what you mean."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov considered that his troops had been greatly reduced, and there were many dispersed troops in the city on the left wing of Mamayev Heights. If these troops could be recruited, he could expand his army.
He asked Sidorin tentatively: "There should be many scattered troops on our left wing, right?"
"Yes, Comrade Brigadier." Sidorin nodded and replied: "As far as I know, there are at least twenty people on Sun Street, Proletarian Street, Gogol Street and Orlovsky Street.
Troops with multiple numbers. They have long lost their unified command and can only choose to fight independently and start street battles with the enemy."
There are more than twenty troops. After hearing the data mentioned by Sidorin, Sokov couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. He thought to himself: If he can recruit these stragglers, he will greatly expand his strength.
Coupled with the troops in the factory area that Chuikov will soon withdraw to the east coast for reinforcements, he can not only hold on to Mamayev Heights, but can even afford the defense of part of the city.