Just when Gurdiev agreed and was about to walk out with Sverin, Sokov unexpectedly stopped him: "Comrade Colonel, please wait a moment, I haven't finished speaking yet."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, please speak."
The reason why Sokov stopped Gurdiev was that he suddenly realized that the Soviet army's defenses were all linear defenses. Commanders were accustomed to lining up their troops in a straight line and facing the enemy face to face. The 308th Division held its position.
, because the terrain is flat and not conducive to defense. If we adopt common defensive formations, we may suffer heavy casualties.
"Comrade Colonel, please come here." Sokov called Gurdiev to the table, then drew a sketch on a piece of paper with a pen, and said to him: "We must not only deploy on the defensive front, but also
In addition to strong defensive firepower, we should also find suitable positions in front of the position and establish several flanking firepower points."
"Flanking firepower point?" Although after the outbreak of the war, the Soviet army had used sidefire firepower points in defensive operations in different areas, but Gurdiev was stunned for a moment when he heard this new word.
Then he asked, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I don't quite understand. Can you explain it to me?"
Sokov knew very well that people would be skeptical about things they were not familiar with, and Gurdiev was no exception. He patiently explained to him: "The flanking firepower point, as the name suggests, refers to the deployment of firepower in the German army."
The firepower points on the flanks of the offensive line can assist in defending the frontal firepower points to eliminate enemies that enter the range."
Gurdiev nodded as if he understood, and then asked: "If our frontal defense firepower is strong enough, I don't think it is necessary to establish a flank firepower point. Because once such a firepower point is exposed, it can easily be cleared by the enemy.
.”
Regarding Gurdiev's doubts, Sokov said with his usual expression: "When the MG34 machine gun we captured is used as a heavy machine gun, it is linked to each other with 50-round bullet chains, and the ammunition capacity is 250 rounds. If it is charged head-on,
Shooting from enemies coming up can effectively hit thirty targets. But shooting from the side firing point will increase the number of targets hit to one hundred and twenty."
"Oh my God." When Sverin heard this, he couldn't help but exclaimed: "Shooting from the side can actually hit so many targets. Isn't it equivalent to destroying an enemy every two bullets?"
Sverin was a political cadre. When he heard that the number of bullets was equal, side fire would hit several times more targets than frontal fire, and he couldn't help but feel a bit groggy. Gurdiev's performance was much calmer.
Much, he did not blindly believe the data Sokov said, but asked: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I would like to ask, is the data you mentioned reliable?"
"Absolutely reliable." The data Sokov mentioned are all from later books, but their authenticity has not been tested in practice. However, since Gurdiev raised such a question, he still put forward
He said seriously: "These data are provided by the technical staff of the Weapons and Equipment Department."
Originally, there were still doubts about what Gurdiev said to Sokov, but when he heard that these data came from the Weapons and Equipment Department, the doubts in his heart suddenly disappeared. He thought wishfully that these data must be from Yakov and Sokov.
Yakov said it in casual conversation. He knew that Yakov was from the Weapons and Equipment Department, and the data he mentioned was absolutely correct.
After dispelling the doubts in his mind, Gurdiev nodded and said: "I understand. After collecting the ammunition, I will arrange several side firepower points in front of the position. If the Germans do not attack, forget it. If they do,
If we attack, I will definitely make them pay a heavy price."
After Gurdiev left, Sokov asked Samoilov to take Bauer and Jurgen to rest, and then said to Bely: "Colonel Bely, if friendly forces come to take over our defense, what will you do?"
What do you plan to do? Stay or move with us?"
Bely understood why Sokov asked himself such a question. Staying here meant that he would have to fight a bloody battle with the enemy here. Whether he could survive or not depended on his personal luck. Although it would be much safer to move with Sokov
, but you must hand over all existing tanks to friendly forces, and you and your subordinates will once again change from tank soldiers to infantry.
Seeing Bely frowning and thinking hard, Sokov guessed that he was in a dilemma and didn't know what decision to make, so he took the initiative and asked: "Colonel Bely, do you want to hear my opinion?"
?”
"Please tell me, Comrade Brigade Commander." Bely wanted to hear what Sokov thought, so he said politely: "I want to hear how you plan to arrange our tank unit."
"Colonel Bely, before I answer your question, I want to ask you a question first." Sokov looked at Bely and asked: "Do you think General Rokossovsky's troops can break into the encirclement from here?
, join up with the defenders in the city?"
"It may be possible to break through the encirclement, but you have to merge with the defenders in the city..." When Bely said this, he smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Last time, a tank brigade under General Rokossovsky was not successful.
They broke through the German defense line, but they were completely annihilated by the enemy as they advanced towards Orlovka."
From Bely's voiceover, Sokov heard that he was not optimistic about the attack launched by Rokossovsky's troops from here, and he felt much more at ease, knowing that the next persuasion would become easier: "
That's right, Colonel Bely, last time I led my troops to Orlovka to meet the friendly forces, but as a result, they did not arrive at the designated location within the specified time, and we had to withdraw in the end."
"Misha," Bely waited for Sokov to finish speaking, then called him by his nickname and asked, "It seems that you are planning to let us retreat with you?"
"That's right, Colonel Bely." It's easier to talk to a smart person. Before he even said his words, Bely guessed what he wanted to say. But Sokov saw that Bely seemed to have some scruples, and asked quickly
: "Do you have anything else to worry about?"
"Misha, you should know very well what the terrain here is like. Our tanks can't drive down such a steep hillside. Even if we can barely drive down, we won't be able to reach it without bridges and ferries.
On the other side." Bely frowned and said, "So if we want to retreat with you, we can only hand over these tanks to friendly forces. Have you ever thought about using well-trained tank soldiers as infantry?
waste."
"Colonel Bely, I understand your feelings and the feelings of tank soldiers towards tanks." Sokov knew in his heart that even if he evacuated this position, he would not be able to stay away from Stalingrad. His superiors would definitely let him leave from other places.
direction to enter the city and continue to command the troops stationed at Mamayev Heights. If Bely can be allowed to follow him, then after the counterattack begins, he will have a well-trained tank unit under his command that can be established
More meritorious deeds. "But even if you hand over these tanks to friendly forces, you can quickly get new tanks."
"Is this true, Misha?" Sokov's words surprised Bely. He asked in surprise: "Will the superiors replenish us with new tanks in the shortest possible time?"
"I think there should be no problem." Sokov knew that if Bely's knot was not untied, he would not be willing to follow him, so he smiled and said: "Colonel Bely, maybe we just arrived in Xiaoyi
Vanovka, our superiors will order us to return to the city. You must know that the Red October Factory we insist on is currently producing T-34 tanks on a large scale. When the time comes, let Director Peter allocate dozens more to us.
, it must not be difficult."
Bely had spent some time in the Red October Factory, so he naturally knew that the factory was still producing tanks, but he was worried that his superiors would not easily deliver new tanks to him: "Misha, we have received the request from Factory Director Peter
I received more than 40 tanks there, and just a few days later, I want to get new tanks from him. Even if he agrees, my superiors may not agree."
"You are overthinking, Colonel Bely." Sokov was very confident about getting the new tank from Peter. Seeing that Bely was still worried, Sokov said to him with a relaxed expression: "If we are
In order to defend the Red October Factory, some tanks are needed to fight the attacking enemies, and I think the factory director Peter will definitely agree."
Bely stood up and said to Sokov: "Misha, I will go back to the army first, gather all the soldiers, and prepare them for transfer."
"You need me to go with you." As Bely's name changed, the relationship between the two became much closer. Seeing that Bely was going to find his subordinates, Sokov took the initiative and said, "Maybe I can still
I’m helping you with some ideological work.”
"No need." Regarding Sokov's kindness, Bely said disapprovingly: "I know my subordinates. No matter what decision I make, they will resolutely obey it."
But what Bely did not expect was that he summoned all his subordinates, and as soon as he said that he was going to abandon the tanks and follow Sokov and others in the direction of Little Ivanovka, the second company commander Ivantsov became emotional.
Said: "Comrade Colonel, how can we retreat at this time? You know, in these two days of fighting, how many of our good comrades have died on this land, even the first company commander Shereda also lost his life
Seriously injured, how can we be deserters at a time like this?"
"Who said retreating means being a deserter?!" Seeing that Ivantsov, whom he trusted the most, was actually contradicting him in public, Belei put a straight face on his face and rarely gave any explanation. He said in an unquestionable tone: "Wait for the friendly forces.
Upon arrival, the tanks were handed over to them and everyone followed Lieutenant Colonel Sokov in their retreat."