Sidorin put down the phone and reported to Sokov, who was sitting next to him with Vitkov: "Comrade Brigadier, the commander just reminded us on the phone that the enemy may use superior forces to encircle and suppress the small forces we sent behind enemy lines.
Detachment. What should we do now?"
"What else can we do?" Sokov had expected that the small team would be encircled and suppressed by the German army, but he did not expect that the enemy's reaction would be so great. They would actually stop the attack on Stalingrad and attack from the front.
Deploy troops to carry out encirclement and suppression. However, under the current situation, I have no ability to help these troops. I can only think of ways to remind them and keep them vigilant enough so that they can survive longer in the enemy's rear. "Immediately
Send a report to several small teams and ask them to rely on the terrain to deal with the enemy, actively look for fighter opportunities, and turn the enemy's rear upside down."
When Sidorin heard that the decision made by Sokov was very similar to Chuikov's arrangement, he nodded quickly and said: "Okay, Comrade Brigade Commander, I will send a report to the team immediately and ask them to use the terrain and
The enemy maneuvers and actively looks for fighter opportunities to strike hard at the enemy."
After Sidorin walked away, Vitkov said with emotion: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I really didn't expect that you just sent four small squads to the enemy's rear, with only 60 people in total, but you could easily disrupt the German army.
The original deployment was such that they had to stop attacking the city and deploy troops to the rear to clear out our troops."
"Alas, what a pity." Sokov waited for Vitkov to finish, then sighed softly and said, "If we have enough strength now, we can take the opportunity to launch a counterattack in some areas and drive the enemy out of the city.
Drive them out and drive them far away.”
Hearing what Sokov said, Vitkov couldn't help but blush, and thought to himself: He's not talking about me, is he? I took command of him for half a month, and the infantry brigade suffered more than 3,000 casualties. If
If the infantry brigade still has nearly 5,000 people, it can launch a counterattack against the enemy in the Mamayev Heights area... As he was thinking about it, he heard Sokov continue: "The effective strength of the group army will be on the first two days of the month."
They were completely exhausted in this counter-assault, otherwise with the cooperation of the artillery on the other side and the rear air force, it is still very possible for us to gain a certain advantage in local areas."
When Vitkov heard this, he realized that Sokov was not talking about himself, but about the Army Group troops, and he couldn't help but smile to himself. Seeing the smile on his face, Sokov couldn't help but asked strangely: "
Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, why are you laughing?"
Naturally, Vitkov would not tell Sokov what he was laughing about, but changed the subject and said: "We prematurely consumed all the effective strength we had finally accumulated in this ineffective counterattack, and as a result, Germany waited
When the enemy resumed their attack, they found that we did not have enough power to stop them, and as a result, most areas of the city were occupied by the enemy in a short period of time."
"Comrade Deputy Brigadier," Sokov thought that Vitkov was summarizing the two failed counterattacks in early September, and he echoed: "Our army's counterattack was organized very hastily and lacked the necessary material supplies to support the counterattack, which resulted in the failure of the counterattack troops.
It was impossible to carry out effective operations. As a result, the counterattack not only failed to succeed, but also resulted in the consumption of precious manpower and the loss of a large amount of equipment that was captured by the Germans."
After Sidorin finished calling the squad behind enemy lines, he came over and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, the telegram has been sent. Whether these troops can survive the German encirclement and suppression depends on their luck.
.”
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov nodded and said affirmatively: "We have done what we should do. What will happen next? Can the commanders and fighters of the small team complete their mission safely?
It depends on their own luck whether they return from the enemy's rear."
…………
The German army temporarily stopped its attack on Stalingrad, which relieved the Soviet commanders and fighters who were stationed in the city. Even Yereomenko on the left bank of the Volga River was discussing this issue with Khrushchev: "Military
Comrade committee member, tell me what is going on? The German army launched an attack across the city yesterday, but why is there no movement at all today?"
Khrushchev was also puzzled by this situation. He said to Yereomenko: "Comrade Commander, the troops outside Stalingrad do not seem to have taken any offensive actions. How could the enemy stop attacking and continue to attack?"
In some forward areas, the troops were withdrawn. What on earth is going on?"
Yeremenko spread his hands, shrugged, and said, "I don't know either." He paused for a moment and asked Khrushchev tentatively: "How about we call the Supreme Command and find out what's going on?
what's going on?"
"I don't think there is any need to call the Supreme Command," Khrushchev said, shaking his head: "They all learn about the situation in Stalingrad through us. They probably don't know what happened today."
thing."
"I think Chuikov should know what's going on." Seeing that Khrushchev objected to calling the Supreme Command, Yeremenko thought for a while and felt that Chuikov should be the one who knew the situation on the battlefield best. After all, the troops staying in the city
, which is the 62nd Army commanded by Chuikov. Thinking of this, he once again proposed to Khrushchev: "Krushchev, I think it's better to call Chuikov and ask what happened in the city."
"I agree." After Khrushchev agreed to Yereomenko's proposal, he took the initiative: "I will call Chuikov right now to find out what happened in the city."
Chuikov was surprised when he received a call from Khrushchev. After hearing the other party's question clearly, he quickly replied: "Comrade Military Commissar, I was planning to report this matter to you. According to our analysis, the reason why the enemy acted today
The attack will be stopped, which may have something to do with the small team sent by the 73rd Infantry Brigade last night."
"The 73rd Infantry Brigade?!" Khrushchev heard this familiar number and asked tentatively: "Is it Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's unit? I want to ask how many people he sent to the enemy's rear last night
, actually forced the Germans to stop attacking the city?"
"There aren't many people." Although Chuikov didn't know the specific number of people in the team, he still replied: "There are probably only a few dozen people, divided into four teams, going deep into the enemy's rear from different areas. Since each team
The detachments all carry new rockets, so they achieved good results last night and early this morning."
"Comrade Chuikov," he heard that the small teams that went deep behind enemy lines were all carrying new rockets. Khrushchev seemed to understand something, so he interrupted and asked: "If I am not wrong, the results achieved by the small teams are all
Is it related to the rockets they carry?"
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, this is exactly the case." Chuikov briefly reported the results of the battle he knew to Khrushchev and said: "Now the enemy may be aware of the threat posed by the small team to them.
, Therefore, we suspended the attack on the city today and deployed troops from the army area to the rear to carry out encirclement and suppression."
"The team did a good job!" Khrushchev said approvingly after hearing the results of the team: "Their positive actions completely disrupted the German offensive deployment and firmly held a considerable part of the German army's effective forces.
, thereby reducing the pressure on the city’s defenders.”
"Comrade Military Commissar," Chuikov said worriedly, worried about the safety of the commanders and soldiers fighting behind the enemy lines: "The enemy has mobilized troops from the front line, but to encircle and suppress them, they will surely be surrounded by the enemy, which may lead to the destruction of the entire army.
Appear."
However, Khrushchev did not express any concern for the safety of the small unit behind enemy lines as Chuikov imagined. He only said: "Comrade Chuikov, troops deep behind enemy lines should be prepared to make sacrifices when accepting tasks.
.As long as they complete the tasks assigned to them by their superiors, even if they are all sacrificed, their death will be considered worthwhile. I have an idea. Since you send troops deep behind enemy lines, you can disrupt the German offensive deployment. Once they are active behind enemy lines,
The squad has been annihilated by the enemy. You should immediately send out new squads so that the enemy cannot concentrate on attacking the city. Do you understand what I mean?"
Hearing that Khrushchev did not care about the life and death of his commanders and soldiers, Chuikov was somewhat chilled, but after hearing his question, he instinctively replied: "I understand, Comrade Military Commissar, I will continue to send operations to the enemy's rear
A small team is formed to harass the enemy in order to disrupt the enemy's combat deployment."
…………
Paulus stopped his attack on Stalingrad and deployed troops from the front to clear out the Soviet troops in his rear. The news quickly spread back to Berlin and reached Hitler's ears. This man with a toothbrush mustache
The short man flew into a rage after hearing the news. His face looked extremely ferocious because of his rage. He shouted hysterically at several senior generals in the room: "What on earth did Paulus think? One of his feet
Having already entered Stalingrad, but stopping the attack at this moment, doesn’t this give the Russians a chance to breathe?”
He pointed his hand at Chief of the General Staff Zeitzler, who had just replaced Halder, and said in a short and urgent voice: "You call Paulus immediately and order him to launch an attack on Stalingrad immediately. You
Tell him that the attack on Stalingrad cannot be stopped for a moment. We will turn this city into ruins, then flood it with the water of the Volga River, turning this place into a swamp without human habitation..."
Hitler did not like the General Staff to be led by someone with strong independence. He wanted this position to be occupied by someone he could trust and who would always be completely subordinate to him. Zeitzler happened to meet this criterion, so
Just after Halder was dismissed from his post, Zeitzler was immediately appointed chief of the general staff.
Zeitzler did not dare to refute, but asked respectfully: "My head of state, General Paulus's rear is threatened by the Russians. If we continue to attack the city, how should we deal with those damn Russians?"
"Zeitzler, what's wrong with you? Didn't you read the intelligence sent back from the front line?" Hitler said angrily to Zeitzler: "According to the intelligence analysis, the Russians who pose a threat to Paulus' rear are not
It is a small force from Mamayev Kurgan, and he only needs to use a small amount of the 71st, 76th and 295th Infantry Divisions to destroy them."
Zeitzler knew that Hitler had an amazing memory. He could clearly name the numbers of the forward troops and the names of their commanders. Since he said this now, he must have had a more comprehensive idea, and he quickly asked for instructions: "My
Führer, I beg you to issue more detailed orders so that they can be conveyed to General Paulus."
Hitler expressed satisfaction with Zeitzler's respectful attitude, and the anger on his face receded somewhat. He walked to the wall, picked up the explanatory stick and said to Zeitzler: "The troops currently attacking Mamayev Hill are
It was the 71st, 76th and 295th Infantry Divisions. It was these three troops that were attacked by the Russians. Let Paulus draw troops from these three divisions to eliminate the nasty Russians in his rear. He was ordered to immediately
The 16th Armored Division, the 60th Motorized Infantry Division, the 389th Infantry Division and the 100th Chasseur Division launched an attack on the factory area north of Stalingrad; the 24th Armored Division, the 94th Infantry Division, and the 14th Armored Division
and the 29th Motorized Infantry Division, attack the urban area of Stalingrad from the south. Stalingrad must be captured before October 1."
"Understood, my Führer." After Zeitzler recorded Hitler's order, he bowed slightly and said respectfully: "I will convey your order to General Paulus immediately."
When Hitler heard what he said, he waved to him impatiently, signaling him to hurry up and send a telegram. Zeitzler bowed slightly, took a few steps back, straightened his back, turned around and walked out of the office.
Ten minutes later, Paulus received a telegram from the German High Command in Berlin. After reading it, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. Then he called Schmid in, handed the telegram to the other party, and said: "
Chief of Staff, look, this is the telegram sent by the Führer from General Zeitzler, Chief of the General Staff, telling us to immediately resume the offensive in the Stalingrad area."
"But, Your Excellency, Commander." Schmid took the telegram. Before he could read it, he heard what Paulus said and quickly reminded him: "If we continue to attack Stalingrad, the Russians behind us will
How to deal with it, you must know that their threat is too great."
"The head of state ordered," Paulus said to Schmid: "Except for the suspension of the offensive in the direction of Mamayev Heights, where the troops are used to consult the Russians in the rear, the fortifications against the Russians in the remaining areas must be resumed immediately.
Take Stalingrad before January 1st."
"What?! Capture Stalingrad before October 1st?!" Schmid heard this order and couldn't help but said with some laughter and laughter: "Your Excellency, Commander, today is already September 28th. Given the current situation,
Look, I think it's simply impossible to capture the entire city in two days."
"This is the order of the head of state." Paulus said helplessly: "Even if we know we can't do it, we still need to try hard. Okay, chief of staff, you go convey my order and let the troops mentioned in the telegram
, resume the offensive against the Russians immediately."