"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, tell me." Chuikov asked angrily: "In the factory area, where is the main defense area and where is the secondary defense area?"
"Comrade Commander," Sokov could tell from Chuikov's tone that the other party was angry, and he quickly said in a respectful manner: "Please give me two minutes, and I will give you a brief explanation."
"I'll give you two minutes." Chuikov said angrily, "Explain it to me clearly."
"Based on the information I have," in order to convince Chuikov, Sokov decided to tell everything he knew, lest the Germans take advantage of the factory area due to the other party's temporary negligence, and then his right wing would be
Danger: "The enemy's troops used to attack the factory area include the 100th Chasseur Division, the 389th Infantry Division, the 16th Armored Division and the 60th Motorized Infantry Division. Among them, the first two divisions are located to the west of the factory area.
; and the last two divisions are deployed to the north of the factory area."
Hearing Sokov state the numbers of the German troops so clearly, Chuikov snorted and said angrily: "Yes, you are right, the German troops used to attack the factory area were exactly these four divisions.
"
"The two divisions to the west are both infantry divisions. They have a limited number of tanks, and the front of the attack is too wide. Even if the terrain outside the factory area is suitable for the deployment of armored forces, our army that sticks to this direction is also
Can resist their attack." Sokov stared at the map spread out on the table and said into the microphone: "The two divisions in the north have a large number of tanks and artillery, and their offensive front is not wide.
It's only three or four kilometers away. If they launch a fierce attack on Linock in the north, I'm worried that our troops won't be able to hold it."
When Sokov said this, he deliberately paused for a moment to observe Chuikov's reaction before deciding whether to continue speaking. Chuikov stopped talking when he heard Sokov stopped mid-sentence, and urged impatiently: "Why?
Stop talking? Keep talking, I want to hear what you think."
"Once the Germans occupy Linok, they will have a starting point for attack in the factory area." Sokov continued: "If they launch an attack from here, they can separate the defense line in the factory area."
"That's right, Linok is the key to whether we can hold the north of the factory area." Regarding Sokov's statement, Chuikov agreed: "But we don't have many troops now, and we can't strengthen that area at all.
garrison."
"Comrade Commander," Sokov heard what Chuikov said and knew that his statement was recognized by the other party, so he continued: "I suggest that the troops to the west of the factory area be deployed to strengthen Linok's defense to ensure that the enemy
There is no way to break through that area."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, since the enemy has launched an attack from the north, will their troops to the west sit still?" Chuikov said helplessly: "They will definitely cooperate with the 16th Armored Division and the 60th Motorized Division in the north.
The infantry division launched an attack on the factory area."
"This is what I think about, Comrade Commander," Sokov said to Chuikov confidently: "You can consider transferring the 42nd Guards Regiment of the 13th Guards Division to Linok to strengthen the defense there."
"Transfer Colonel Yelin's 42nd Guards Regiment to reinforce Linok?" After hearing Sokov's suggestion, Chuikov frowned: "If they are transferred, the defense in that area will become weak.
, the enemy may regard that place as a breakthrough. If there is a breakthrough there, what is the difference from Linok being occupied? The enemy can still separate our defense line."
"Comrade Commander, have you forgotten that the defense area of the 42nd Guards Regiment borders our Beigan." Seeing that Chuikov was hesitant, Sokov reminded him: "If the Ye Lin Regiment is transferred, the enemy will attack
If we launch an attack there, I can dispatch troops from Beigang to reinforce."
"How many troops do you still have on hand now?" When Chuikov first heard Sokov's proposal, he couldn't help but feel secretly happy, but he soon discovered something was wrong because he knew that the infantry brigade had suffered three thousand casualties in half a month.
There were many people, so he became hesitant again: "Can you block the enemy's attack?"
"According to intelligence, there are still about 1,500 people in the garrison of our brigade at Mamayev Heights." Sokov said into the microphone: "There are more than 300 people in the third battalion stationed in the city. So.
If our existing forces are used for offense, they will definitely not be enough in number; but if they are used for defense, or to temporarily support friendly forces, these forces are more than enough."
Hearing Sokov speak with such confidence, Chuikov felt relieved. In his mind, Sokov was a great commander. If the enemy was allowed to hold on to a certain place, he would never let the enemy occupy it.
Out of his trust in Sokov, Chuikov nodded and said: "Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I will accept your suggestion and immediately transfer Colonel Yelin's 42nd Guards Regiment to the north of the factory area.
, to reinforce Linock."
When Sokov put down the phone, he said to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, call the commander of the 4th Battalion and the 192nd Battalion immediately and ask them to change defenses."
"Change the defense?" Sidorin's eyes widened in surprise and he asked in confusion: "Why do you want two battalions to change the defense?"
"Yes, Comrade Brigadier." Not only Sidorin was confused, but Witkov was also confused about the situation. "Why did you suddenly think of changing the defenses between the two battalions?"
"It's like this." Seeing that both of them looked confused, Sokov explained to them: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander and Chief of Staff, the reason why I want the troops of the two battalions to change defenses is because the four battalions
There are more soldiers left in the battalion than in the 192nd Battalion."
"Yes, the fourth battalion still has more than 300 soldiers." After Sidorin confirmed Sokov's statement, he still asked confusedly: "But does this have anything to do with the change of defense between the two battalions?"
"You must have heard some of the conversation I just had with Comrade Commander." Sokov pointed to the right side of Mamayev Hill and said to the two of them: "I suggest Commander to move the guards on our right wing.
The 42nd Regiment was transferred to the Linock area to strengthen the defense there. With the transfer of the Yelin Regiment, there will be a gap on our right wing, and the German army is likely to choose this place as a breakthrough..."
"Oh, that's it, I understand." Before Sokov finished speaking, Vitkov said with a look of enlightenment: "The reason why you want the two brigades to change defenses is to prevent the enemy from attacking us.
When the right wing makes a breakthrough, four battalions can be deployed to block them."
Sokov gave Vitkov a thumbs up and said: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, this is how I think about it."
Before Sidorin could speak, the phone on the table rang without warning. Thinking it was Chuikov, Sidorin grabbed the phone and put it to his ear and said, "I'm Sidorin.
Are you Comrade Commander?"
But surprisingly, what came out of the receiver was not Chuikov’s voice, but Zhukov’s deep and magnetic voice: “Hello, Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin, this is Zhukov. May I ask Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?
Are you there?"
"Yes, Comrade General, please wait a moment. I'll let him answer the phone right now." After Sidorin said these two sentences respectfully, he handed the microphone in his hand to Sokov.
, said in a low voice: "It's a call from General Zhukov."
"A call from General Zhukov?" Sidorin's words shocked Sokov. He didn't know how he, a small lieutenant colonel, could alert the deputy commander in Moscow. He quickly took the phone and said uneasily.
: "Hello, Comrade General, I am Sokov. What instructions do you have?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Zhukov did not affectionately call Sokov "Little Misha" as before, but called him by his surname and military rank, and said in an official tone: "I heard that you asked Khrushchev to come forward yesterday.
, forcibly took away a batch of new rockets given to the First Guards Army by the Weapons and Equipment Department?"
"Comrade General," Sokov didn't expect Zhukov to call him and actually talk about the rocket dispute. He couldn't help but replied nervously: "Comrade Khrushchev did come forward to help us get the rocket from the First Guards Army.
We are returning to the new rockets sent from Moscow, but those rockets were sent to us by the Weapons and Equipment Department. This can be proved by Major Yakov and Captain Varman who escorted the weapons..."
"Okay, okay, little Misa, you don't need to explain to me." Zhukov suddenly laughed out loud before Sokov could finish his explanation: "I know that this batch of weapons was specially sent to you by Comrade Ustinov.
Yes, I just asked you that, it was just a procedure. How about it? I heard that you achieved good results after you got the rockets last night?"
Sokov raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, breathed a sigh of relief, and then replied: "Yes, Comrade General, after the rockets encountered Mamayev Heights last night, I went deep behind enemy lines to carry out raids.
Each team distributed fifteen rockets. Fortunately, they did not disappoint me and used these rockets to teach the enemy a lesson." After that, he gave a detailed report to Zhukov on the results achieved by the team.
Although Zhukov had already seen these results in Chuikov's report, it was a different feeling to hear Sokov mention it in person. After Sokov finished speaking, he sighed softly,
Said: "Misha, I want to ask you, why did you send out four small teams and disperse them in different directions?"
"Comrade General," Sokov didn't know why Zhukov asked this question, so he explained to him: "You know that the troops operating behind the enemy's rear are in danger of being wiped out at any time. In order to minimize the risk, I specially
Four small teams were dispatched to move in four different directions to distract the German army. If the German army wanted to mobilize troops for encirclement and suppression, they would have to mobilize troops from the front, thus reducing the pressure on our army's frontal defense."
"Misha, your idea is correct." After Zhukov listened to Sokov's words, he was silent for a moment and then said: "If the small team operating behind enemy lines does not carry new rockets that pose a huge threat to the enemy, you
This arrangement is completely correct. But now, each squadron carries a certain number of rockets. Their actions behind enemy lines are not just harassment. If necessary, they can even move towards the heavily concentrated German troops.
Launch an attack in an area. If you use all these troops together, have you ever thought about how effective they can be?"
To be honest, Sokov really hasn't considered what Zhukov said. After hearing what Zhukov said, he couldn't help but have doubts about his original arrangements. Did his approach disperse his own strength? Should he
Small teams behind enemy lines gathered together to attack places where the German troops were heavily concentrated, in order to contain the enemy and consume the enemy?
Hearing that Sokov remained silent, Zhukov said kindly: "Misha, do you have any new ideas? You might as well tell me."
"Comrade General," Sokov said hesitantly: "You are right, maybe I should gather the four squads behind enemy lines so that they can use the rockets they carry to attack more important German targets.
, causing greater losses to the enemy, disrupting their offensive deployment, and reducing pressure on the city's defenders."
Seeing that Sokov understood his intention, Zhukov couldn't help showing a knowing smile on his face. He reminded Sokov: "Although your four teams only have sixty people, if they are integrated now, they may need to be specially
Assign a commander to command this force. Otherwise, it is better to maintain the status quo."
Zhukov's words once again reminded Sokov that the highest-ranking commander of the four teams that attacked this time was Second Lieutenant Fisher from the 1st Battalion. The other captains were either sergeants or sergeants, and even one
There are no officers. If the troops are integrated, Fisher, as the highest-ranking soldier, will definitely become the commander of the troops. However, it is still unknown whether he has the ability to command this troops.
"I understand, Comrade General." After some consideration, Sokov felt that to carry out large-scale operations behind enemy lines, a capable commander must be present. His understanding of Second Lieutenant Fisher was limited, and the troops were handed over to him for command.
It's too risky. We should find a suitable commander to command this unit. Thinking of this, he said into the microphone: "I will arrange a suitable commander to command this unit operating behind enemy lines and provide **
*A heavy blow to the gangsters.”
When Zhukov heard what Sokov said, the smile on his face became even bigger. He smiled and said: "Misha, since you already have an idea in your mind, I'm waiting to hear your good news. I wish you good luck!