After Chuikov received the call from Peter, he felt very strange. Since he didn't understand Sokov's purpose of asking for these explosives, he did not make a rash decision. Instead, he said to Peter: "Director Peter, let me first
Let’s ask Lieutenant Colonel Sokov about his purpose for asking for these explosives and then give you an answer, okay?”
"Okay, Comrade General." Peter replied: "The explosives are all ready. If you agree to allocate them to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I will immediately arrange for manpower to load them."
After Chuikov ended his call with Peter, he turned to Krylov and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Director Peter called me and said that Sokov asked him for five loads of explosives. Do you know what happened?"
"I'm not sure." Krylov shook his head and said in an uncertain tone: "Does Sokov intend to use this batch of explosives to build fortifications?"
"Although the weather is getting colder day by day, the ground has not yet frozen." Seeing that Krylov did not understand the situation, Chuikov frowned and said: "There is absolutely no need to use explosives to blow up the ground and build fortifications.
"
"Comrade Commander," Krylov suggested to Chuikov: "Rather than just guessing here, we should send a telegram to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov to find out what is going on."
"Good idea." Chuikov agreed with Krylov's proposal and urged: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you immediately send a telegram to Sokov and ask about the purpose of this batch of explosives. Director Peter is still waiting.
Where is my reply."
After about five or six minutes, Krylov returned to Chuikov with Sokov's telegram and said with a serious expression: "Comrade Commander, we understand that Lieutenant Colonel Sokov intends to use this batch of explosives.
Come blow up the fortifications on those lines of defense."
"What, blow up the fortifications?" When Chuikov heard what Krylov said, he suddenly stood up from his seat and asked in surprise: "Why did he want to blow up the fortifications?"
Krylov glanced down at the telegram in his hand, handed it to Chuikov, sighed and said: "Comrade Commander, according to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's analysis, even if his troops reach Orlovka,
He couldn't hold on for long, so he planned to blow up all the fortifications along the way when he retreated, so that the Germans wouldn't use them anymore."
Chuikov took the telegram and read it carefully. He found that it was basically consistent with what Krylov said. After reading the telegram, Chuikov threw it on the table and said expressionlessly: "Give him these explosives."
.”
"Comrade Commander, why is this?" Hearing what Chuikov said, Krylov couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Why should Sokov be given these explosives to blow up these defenses that are useful to us?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Chuikov looked at Krylov and said seriously: "Actually, you and I both know that this counterattack was launched too hastily and may not last long. Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's troops
Even if they reach Orlovka, given their strength, they probably won't be able to hold on for long. Once they retreat, the defensive positions currently occupied by them will definitely fall into the hands of the Germans again, so they must be bombed in advance.
The purpose of dropping the fortifications is to prevent the Germans from using these fortifications to resist friendly forces rushing in from outside the encirclement."
"This matter is of great importance," Krylov reminded Chuikov cautiously: "Do you think it is necessary to report to your superiors?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you immediately draft a report to the Front Army Headquarters." Regarding what Krylov reminded him, Chuikov did not refute, but nodded and said: "I will call Director Peter now and ask him to
He arranged manpower as soon as possible to provide Sokov with this batch of explosives."
…………
When Bely returned to the temporary headquarters, he heard that the group army headquarters had sent a telegram to learn about the use of explosives. He couldn't help but asked worriedly: "Comrade Brigade Commander, will this not cause you any trouble?"
"Trouble?" Chuikov heard Bely's question and asked with some confusion: "What trouble?"
"According to Order No. 227, no one is allowed to take a step back without receiving an order." Bely said hesitantly: "But what we have to do next is to abandon the positions we have already occupied, and we have to use
The explosives blew up all the fortifications on the position. Once your superiors investigate, you may be sent to a military court."
During the war, going to military court and going to the execution ground were synonymous. Although Sokov knew in his heart that he did this to better preserve the effective strength of the army, he still felt a chill in his spine when he heard Bely mentioning Order No. 227.
Feeling cold. However, after some weighing, Sokov decided to insist on following his plan. After all, in another month and a half, the Soviet army would launch a large-scale counterattack. If these ready-made fortifications were used by the German army, they would be
The attacking troops inflicted considerable casualties.
Sokov raised his hand and looked at it, then raised his head and said to Bely: "Comrade Colonel, I am the commander of the infantry brigade. If my superiors want to hold me accountable in the future, I will bear all the responsibility."
"Comrade Brigadier, look at what you said." Unexpectedly, Bely pursed his lips after hearing what Sokov said and said dissatisfied: "I am also a member of the infantry brigade now. If my superiors want to hold me accountable, I will
I am willing to share the responsibility with you."
"Thank you, Colonel Bely." Seeing Bely expressing his willingness to advance and retreat with him, Sokov held his hand tightly and thanked him. Then he said to him: "As soon as the explosives arrive, you will
Arrange manpower to install them, and blow up these fortifications immediately after we withdraw."
"By the way, Comrade Brigade Commander, I have one more thing to report to you." While shaking hands with Sokov, Bely suddenly remembered an important thing and said to him quickly: "The first person we broke through
The second line of defense is now defended by the 120th Regiment of the Guards Division. When our soldiers went to plant explosives, they were stopped by them. Do you think you can communicate with General Guryev and ask their soldiers not to stop them?
Interfering with our work of planting explosives."
Sokov did not expect that the work he arranged would be hindered by friendly forces. He nodded quickly and said: "Then I will contact General Guryev immediately and inform him of this matter."
Bely nodded at a phone on the table and said: "With that phone, you can talk to General Guryev directly, so there is no need to send a telegram."
After the call was connected, Guryev learned that it was Sokov who was looking for him, so he preemptively asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I was about to call you, but I didn't expect you to call first."
"Comrade General," after hearing Guryev saying that he was going to call him, Sokov asked tentatively: "May I ask if you have any instructions?"
"I just received the following report." Guryev said on the phone: "It said that they caught several saboteurs who tried to plant explosives on the defense line controlled by our division. After interrogation, those people all said in unison
They are your subordinates."
"That's right, Comrade General." After learning that several of his subordinates were captured by Guryev's men, Sokov quickly replied: "They are indeed my subordinates, and I sent them to plant explosives."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." After listening to Sokov's words, Guryev asked in an unbelievable tone: "Are these people really sent by you?"
"Yes," Sokov replied decisively: "They were sent by me."
After learning that the people who planted the explosives were personally sent by Sokov, Guryev asked with some displeasure: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, please explain to me why you planted explosives in these places? Do you want to
Accompany the Germans to capture Stalingrad?"
"Of course that's not the case." Sokov was worried about Guryev's misunderstanding, so he explained to him: "I estimate that we will soon abandon the current area and return to the original station. In order to prevent the Germans from
In order to reuse these fortifications, we sent people to plant explosives everywhere and wait for the enemy to detonate them when they move in to destroy these fortifications."
"So that's it." After figuring out what happened, Guryev said to Sokov in an apologetic tone: "I apologize to you for the recklessness of my subordinates."
Sokov considered that he had too few manpower and would be too busy with fortifications such as laying explosives, so he planned to ask Guryev to help him, and asked tentatively: "Comrade General, I wonder if you can allocate some of your manpower to help us in the field?"
Where are the explosives planted in the occupied positions?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Guryev did not immediately agree to Sokov's situation, but asked curiously: "According to the information we have, it is entirely possible that you will arrive in Orlovka today. Why?
Suddenly thought of blowing up the fortifications? Also, you just said that the troops will return to their original positions soon, what happened? Do you know any inside information? "
"I don't know anything, Comrade General." Sokov replied with a wry smile: "I only know that with our current strength, even if we barely reach Orlovka, there is no way to hold it, so we must advance
Be prepared to retreat."
Guryev asked calmly: "Have you reported this matter to Commander Chuikov?"
"Reported." Sokov replied simply: "But I haven't received any reply yet."
At this moment, the telegraph operator stood up, walked to Sokov, and handed a telegram to Sokov. After quickly reading the contents, Sokov showed an expression of surprise on his face, and he hurriedly said
Holding the microphone, he said: "I just received a telegram from Comrade Commander. He agreed with my plan and urged the factory to send us explosives as soon as possible."
Seeing that this matter had been approved by Chuikov, Guryev did not insist on his opinion anymore, but said into the microphone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I will immediately call the commander below and ask him to report the two people who were arrested by mistake.
The comrade was released."
…………
After a lot of troubles, the truck transporting explosives finally arrived at the area where Sokov's temporary headquarters was located before dawn. After learning that the explosives had been delivered, Sokov said to Bely: "Comrade Colonel, the attack is about to begin.
It's about to begin, please go and receive this batch of explosives and bury them properly at the designated location."
Before Bely could leave, Vanya came in from the outside and asked Sokov for instructions: "Comrade Brigadier, the time is almost up. Is there a position that can be attacked with rockets?"
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. He felt that the time was almost up, so he nodded and said: "Comrade Captain, have your people get into the launching position immediately. Our attack is about to begin."
In order to better observe the scene on the battlefield, Sokov walked out of the headquarters and came to the top of a hill not far away. He raised his telescope and looked forward. He saw that the German position was completely dark and there was no light.
, I don’t know if the Germans are sleeping in the concealment department, or hiding somewhere, closely monitoring their direction.
Following Vanya's order, five rockets trailed long flame tails and flew towards the enemy's position. Sokov first saw a dazzling ball of fire rising from the position, and then heard
There was an earth-shattering explosion, followed by five more rockets, flying towards the enemy's position...
It only took less than a minute for all fifteen rockets to be fired, and the enemy's positions were burning everywhere. At this moment, Sokov saw countless figures jumping out of the grass, heading towards the enemy.
The position illuminated by fire rushed forward.
The German army thought that the Soviet army's attack must be launched with the cooperation of tanks. They waited for most of the night and did not hear the roar of the tank engine, so they thought that the Soviet army would not launch an attack before dawn, so they all
Hiding in the fortifications and sleeping with peace of mind.
Therefore, when attacked by Soviet rockets, the German soldiers in the bunkers who were directly hit died painlessly in their sleep; while those German soldiers who were not killed were still confused and did not understand their situation.
It was under this circumstance that the commanders and fighters of the guard battalion rushed into the German trenches and rushed along the trenches towards the fortifications or bunkers to eliminate the enemies hiding inside.
Seeing the battle starting, Belyy, who had received the explosives, also hurried over and asked impatiently: "Comrade Brigade Commander, how is the situation? Have our troops launched an attack?"
Sokov put down his telescope, turned to him, grinned, and said: "Comrade Colonel, our troops have already charged forward, and some of our commanders and soldiers have already entered the enemy's trenches."
"What, our troops rushed forward so quickly?" Bely couldn't help but raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said with some surprise: "It only took five minutes from the beginning of the attack to now, but our troops actually rushed forward.
It's amazing to be in the enemy's trenches."
"Comrade Colonel, this is normal." Sokov replied: "In the past, our attacks were launched from a few kilometers away. At such a long attack distance, the attacking troops would be intercepted by enemy artillery fire, and the aircraft's
The bombing, as well as the minefields and barbed wires blocking the front, naturally cannot go very fast. But now, our offensive troops are lurking under the enemy's nose, and it only takes half a minute to rush in front of the enemy."