The reason why Peter was willing to hand over the batch of products that had not had time to be transported to Sokov and the others was actually because he had a selfish motive in his heart. He was worried that if the enemy approached the factory building, this tank unit would be able to help him.
To get out of the siege. So before hanging up the phone, he said to Zinchenko: "Comrade Deputy Director, I have one more condition."
"Comrade Factory Director," Zinchenko said, "If you have any conditions, please feel free to ask for them."
"Comrade Deputy Factory Director, you also know that the wall on the north side of the factory has collapsed in many places, and the enemy may break into the factory through these gaps." Peter said: "I hope that when we encounter danger, the tanks commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Sokov will
The troops can come to rescue us."
When Zinchenko heard what Peter said, he quickly covered the microphone with his hand and asked Sokov for instructions: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the factory director said that when danger occurs somewhere in the factory area, your tank troops can rush over to provide support.
!”
"No problem." When Sokov heard about such conditions, he replied without hesitation: "Our mission is to protect the factory area. With the tanks, the area we can protect will be larger."
After receiving Sokov's reply, Zinchenko released his hand covering the microphone and reported to Peter: "Comrade Factory Director, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov agreed to your request."
"This is really great." Peter just said these words, and suddenly realized that saying this would make his subordinates feel a little panicked. He coughed quickly and continued: "Comrade Deputy Factory Director, where to receive ammunition and fuel.
, you know it. I will say hello to the warehouse later, and you can just go and collect it."
Vitkov has remained silent since Zinchenko and the others entered the door. Seeing that the matter had been settled now, he took the initiative to ask Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I remember that there used to be a tank company in the brigade, but since we don't have
tanks, so these tank soldiers are being used as infantry. I will return to Mamayev Heights now and try to get these comrades to report to you before dawn tomorrow."
"Sorry to trouble you, Comrade Colonel." When Sokov saw Vitkov volunteering, he held the other man's hand and said gratefully: "Be more careful on the way back."
After Vitkov, Zinchenko and others left one after another, Yakov asked curiously: "Misha, with these more than forty tanks, it is possible to form a tank brigade. In this way, the scale of the German attack here will be
If they are young, you can beat them to pieces with just one counterattack."
"We have tanks, but it's a pity that we don't have so many tank crews." Sokov said regretfully: "We used to have only one tank company and not many tank crews, and some of them were sacrificed in recent battles.
I think it would be good if the people arriving tomorrow can form a tank platoon."
Unexpectedly, Yakov burst out laughing when he heard what Sokov said: "Misha, what's wrong with you? If you have a tank, are you afraid that there will be no one to drive the tank?" Seeing that Sokov was about to refute, he quickly stopped him:
"It is true that your brigade does not have that many tanks, but General Chuikov does! As far as I know, there are quite a few tank brigades in his army organization. After such a long time, all the tanks in the tank brigade have been lost.
It's almost there, but there are still a lot of tank crews, so we can ask him to send some of his tank crews to serve as troops to drive these new tanks again."
Yakov's words reminded Sokov that yes, he did not have many tankers under his command, but Chuikov did. Those tank brigades and even tank corps lost very few tanks in the battle.
But the tank crews were there. If Chuikov could integrate those people into his own army, wouldn't it be better than letting them serve as infantry?
Thinking of this, Sokov quickly called the group army headquarters. After the call was connected, he said to the officer who answered the phone: "Hello, I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. Please help me find the commander.
Or speak to the Chief of Staff."
"I'm sorry, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. Comrade Commander is on the phone with Moscow," the officer who answered the phone said politely, "I'll let the Chief of Staff answer the phone."
Soon, Krylov's voice came from the receiver: "I am Krylov, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, what can I do for you?"
"That's it, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov knew that Krylov's time was precious, so he didn't talk in circles, but said straight to the point: "Currently, I have a number of tanks in my hands, but I lack tank crews. I don't know.
Can the Army Group Headquarters support me partially?"
"Tank? What tank?" Krylov was shocked when he heard Sokov mentioning tanks: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, where did the tank you mentioned come from?"
"That's it, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov quickly explained to Krylov: "In the Red October Tractor Factory, there are more than 40 tanks that have just rolled off the production line, and they were originally going to be sent to the other side of the river.
, but because the ships transported too many people and materials during this period, they have not been shipped out for the time being. Therefore, after getting permission from the factory director Peter, I planned to use these tanks. Now the tanks are available, driven and operated
There are no tank crews left for the tank, so I can only ask for help from you and Comrade Commander."
After learning about the origin of the tank, Krylov looked at his notepad and then said to Sokov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel Batrakov's 42nd Independent Tank Brigade was in the early battles.
, all the tanks were lost. At present, the brigade commander and political commissar have led the brigade command organization to the other side of the Volga River to receive new troops. They have left more than 70 tank crews behind to serve as guards at the group army headquarters. Since you
We need tank crews now, so I'll send them over immediately."
When he learned that Krylov would send him more than seventy tank crews, Sokov couldn't help but feel ecstatic. Once these people arrived, almost twenty more tanks could be put into battle. He repeatedly asked Krylov
The husband thanked you: "Thank you, Comrade Chief of Staff. On behalf of all the brigade commanders and fighters, I thank you!"
Chuikov, who had just made a phone call to Moscow, saw Krylov talking on the phone with joy on his face. He couldn't help but curiously asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, who are you talking to?"
"It's Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Krylov looked up at Chuikov and said: "He said that he had obtained more than forty tanks, but unfortunately there were not enough tank crews, so I planned to send Lieutenant Colonel Batrakov's tank crews
Send them all over."
After hearing this, Chuikov muttered: "Lieutenant Colonel Batrakov's tank crew only has more than seventy people, which means that he can only operate twenty tanks. No, the number is too small, and we have to find ways to supplement them.
A little tanky."
After Chuikov reminded him, Krylov's eyes suddenly brightened: "By the way, Comrade Commander, how could I have forgotten him? Colonel Bely's 84th Tank Brigade suffered heavy losses in the counterattack in early September.
Now that there are less than ten tanks left, do you think it would be possible to divert manpower from his brigade to reinforce Sokov?"
After carefully considering Krylov's proposal, Chuikov said: "In fact, the best way is to assign these more than forty tanks to the command of Colonel Bely. After all, he is a professional tank commander...
…”
When Chuikov said this, Sokov on the other end of the phone went crazy. He called the Army Group Headquarters. It turned out that he wanted some tank soldiers, but judging from the current situation, not only did the other party not give tanks, but they also wanted to buy tanks from them.
Even people and tanks have to go through this place. This is really a waste of money.
Just when Sokov was extremely anxious, he suddenly heard Chuikov say again: "Chief of Staff, I think this is it. You ask Sokov how many tank crews there are, and the remaining manpower will be transferred from Colonel Bely."
Krylov nodded and asked into the microphone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the commander wants to ask you, how many available tankers do you have there now?"
Sokov calculated silently in his mind for a moment and replied: "There are about twenty people. Including the more than seventy people you gave us, there are about 25 tanks that can be driven."
After hearing the data Sokov said, Krylov couldn't help but asked curiously: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I would like to ask, where do you plan to get the fuel and ammunition needed for these tanks?"
"There is it in the factory." Sokov knew that these things could not be hidden from Chuikov and the others, so he answered truthfully: "Comrade Zinchenko, the deputy director of the factory, has already taken people to collect ammunition and fuel. He can only wait until the tank troops arrive."
, our tank force can be formed."
Krylov continued to ask: "What designation do you plan to give to this unit?"
"Let's call it Tank Battalion."
"The size of your tank battalion is not small." Krylov heard what Sokov said and said with a smile: "The number of tanks is almost as large as a tank brigade."
After Chuikov waited for Krylov to put down the phone, he said thoughtfully: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have an idea. Since Colonel Bely's tank brigade has ceased to exist in name only, why not let him go to the Red October Tractor Factory?
Use his existing troops and tanks to form a new tank battalion."
"Comrade Commander, Bely is a colonel, and Sokov is just a lieutenant colonel." Krylov said, somewhat dumbfounded: "It is barely reasonable for you to let a colonel accept the command of a lieutenant colonel. But let him
I don’t think it’s appropriate for a brigade commander to become a battalion commander.”
Chuikov did not use his authority to force the appointment. Instead, he said to Krylov in a consultative tone: "How about we call Colonel Bely and ask him what he wants?"
Krylov knew very well that having a tank unit at this time would be very helpful for the subsequent battle, so he immediately called Colonel Bely and asked him to come to the army headquarters.
In Bely's last counterattack, not only did his troops suffer heavy losses, but the tank he was riding in was also destroyed by German artillery fire, and he was also injured. When he heard that Krylov had something urgent to do with him, he said nothing.
He rushed over.
When Chuikov saw Bely walking in with a bandage exposed under his big-brimmed hat, he asked with concern: "Comrade Colonel, how is your injury?"
"Apart from the occasional dizziness, it's nothing serious." Bely knew that Chuikov and the others would not call him here for no reason, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, why is it so important that you asked me to come here?
Something?"
"That's it, Comrade Colonel." After Chuikov asked Belly to sit down, he said to him: "We just got a batch of tanks, but we don't have enough tank crews. I want to ask you if you can transfer them from your brigade.
Some of the tank crews went over?"
"What, got a batch of tanks?!" Belei stood up excitedly when he heard this. He felt dizzy due to the violent movement. Fortunately, he held on to the edge of the table in time and did not fall to the ground.
.
"Are you okay, Colonel Bely?" Chuikov quickly helped him sit down again and asked with concern: "How about you hand over the work in the brigade to the deputy brigade commander, and you should go to the other side of the Volga River to recuperate."
"Comrade Commander, my injury does not matter." Bely waved his hand to Chuikov. He did not talk about his injury anymore, but asked specifically about the city where the tanks were located: "You just said that our army has obtained a batch of tanks.
What exactly is going on?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, do you know him?" Chuikov was afraid that Bely didn't know Sokov, so he reminded him specifically: "This is the unit that holds the Mamayev Heights."
"I know, of course I do." Bely nodded and replied, "I met him once during the meeting to plan the counterattack in early September." At this point, Bely asked tentatively, "Could it be him?
Have your troops obtained tanks?”
"Yes, Comrade Colonel." Chuikov nodded and said: "There are more than forty tanks, but because there are not enough tank crews, he called me to ask for help."
"Comrade Commander, I have a request." After learning that there were more than 40 tanks, Belly could no longer sit still. He stood up and said, "Please replenish these tanks to our brigade."
"Why?" Chuikov asked briefly.
"The 73rd Infantry Brigade is deployed in the Mamayev Hills, and the terrain there is not suitable for the use of tanks." Bely said with confidence: "Our brigade is in the factory area, and the terrain here is very suitable for the deployment and use of tank troops.
"
"Comrade Colonel, you are mistaken." Krylov heard this and couldn't help but interjected: "These tanks are not used on Mamayev Hill, but in the factory area."
"Commander, Chief of Staff, what on earth is going on?" Bely felt a little confused when he heard this: "Aren't they holding on to Mamayev Heights? Why are they using tanks in the factory area? Why are they using tanks in the factory area?
Yes, where did they get these tanks? What types of tanks are they?"
Facing a series of questions raised by Bely, Chuikov laughed and said: "Comrade Colonel, you have a lot of questions. I will answer you one by one now. Yes, the main force of the 73rd Infantry Brigade is in
They are holding on to Mamayev Heights, but the brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, is now leading a battalion to hold on to the assembly workshop of the Red October Tractor Factory. These tanks are the recent products of the factory, and because they cannot be transported to the other side of the river for the time being, they
Requisitioned by Sokov and the others."
"So, they are all T-34 tanks." Although Chuikov did not mention the models of those tanks, with Bely's professional skills, he naturally knew that these newly produced tanks were all T-34 tanks.
He took the initiative to propose to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, I have a request, I don't know whether I should say it or not."