Panteleev originally thought that Sokov belonged to the Don Front Army, so he only planned to give him two to three hundred recruits in a symbolic way. After all, so many troops had suffered huge losses and were in urgent need of reinforcements. If it weren't for Malinin
He said hello to himself, but he probably didn't even have the chance to greet these two or three hundred people.
He was stunned when he learned that Sokov's troops were holding on to Mamayev Heights. He stared at Sokov for a while, then turned to ask Orel: "Comrade General, can it be said that we have broken through?"
Have you broken through the German encirclement and joined forces with the defenders in the city?"
Orel naturally understood the reason for Benteleev's question. He waved his hand and said: "No, we have not yet been able to break through the German encirclement and join forces with the friendly forces in the city." He quickly glanced at Sow.
Kokov continued, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov broke out from the direction of Orlovka with a remnant of his troops."
Knowing that neither the internal nor external attacks had broken through the enemy's siege, Benteleev showed a disappointed expression on his face: "So, the friendly forces' counterattack in the city failed to succeed?"
"Comrade Colonel, although our counterattack failed this time, it does not mean that the next counterattack will not be successful." Sokov felt that at this time, he should come out and say a few words, "Sooner or later we can defeat the attackers who attack Stalingrad.
enemy."
"Colonel Bendelayev," Orel knew very well that Malinin asked him to accompany Sokov here because he was worried that Bendeleyev might embarrass Sokov on the issue of troop recruitment. Seeing him at this moment
With a look of resistance, he urged: "I have something urgent to do and need to rush back to the headquarters. Please hurry up and call the battalion commanders of each recruit battalion."
Benteleev said with an embarrassed look: "General Orel, I only have more than 4,700 people in my hands. If I add 4,000 people to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov at once, then other troops will come to ask for people.
what do I do?"
Orel thought about it carefully and realized that this was really the case. Benteleev was responsible for replenishing the troops. He only had so many troops. If he replenished them all at once to Sokov, other divisions and brigades would
The commander came here to ask for additional troops, what should he do? Thinking of this, he asked reasonably: "Comrade Colonel, how many men do you think can be given to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?"
Benteleev turned to look at Sokov, and after thinking for a long time, he raised a finger and said: "One thousand people."
"No, it's too few." Orel rejected the figure proposed by Benteleev without hesitation: "The fighting in the city is so fierce. If a thousand people go in, they will all be defeated in less than a day."
It’s all gone. I think there are at least three thousand people.”
Hearing what Orel said, the muscles on Bentaleyev's face twitched violently for a few times, then he stretched out a finger and said with difficulty: "Two thousand people, no more."
"Three thousand." Orel insisted: "This is the limit, it can't be any less."
Seeing Orel's tough attitude, Bentaleyev quit. He stood up, took off the belt around his waist, and threw it on the table. The holster on the belt hit the table with a loud noise.
The sound shocked Orel. He stared at the belt and holster on the table and asked angrily: "Comrade Colonel, what do you mean by this? Don't you want to do it?"
"Yes, General Orel, you are right. I will not do such offending things anymore. Let whoever is willing to do it do it!" Benteleev said with his head held high: "I
I would rather be a battalion commander and lead the soldiers to charge on the front line than work hard here."
Bentaleyev wanted to take over, but it was a bit beyond Orel's expectations. If he really quit, there would be no suitable candidate to take over his job in a hurry. So Orel could only turn around.
Looking at Sokov, he asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, what do you think about it?"
Sokov heard Malinin say last night that there was a sailor unit from the Northern Fleet under Bandeleev. Since it was no longer possible to get more than 3,000 people from here, Sokov planned to send the sailors to
They all wanted to come over. He believed that the combat effectiveness of more than a thousand sailors could definitely beat the other more than 3,000 army recruits.
He coughed lightly and asked tentatively: "Comrade Colonel, I would like to ask if you have a sailor unit from the Northern Fleet under your command?"
Orel saw that Benteleev still looked angry, so he walked to him, put his hands on his shoulders, pressed him down on his seat, and said to him: "Comrade Colonel, please
Lieutenant Colonel Koff has a question for you."
"Yes," Panteleev nodded and said: "There is a Marine Corps battalion of 1,300 people. The battalion commander is Captain Shamrih, the political deputy battalion commander Shapovarenko, and the deputy battalion commander Yakov
Navy Captain."
"Comrade Colonel," after confirming that Benteleev did have a marine force in his hands, Sokov decided to take them under his command and said in a consultative tone: "Can you see if you can
Give me this Marine Corps battalion and I won’t need any other soldiers?”
"Well," Bandeleev said with some embarrassment to Sokov's request: "Among these newly added soldiers, this unit has the strongest combat effectiveness. If I give it to you, other units will come.
Yes, I'm not easy to talk to."
"Comrade Colonel, the reason why the Marine Corps battalion's combat effectiveness is strong is that they are a whole." In order to persuade the other party, Sokov emphasized: "If you assign them to other units for command, they will face the possibility of being split up.
, then the combat effectiveness of the army will be severely weakened."
"Colonel," Orel saw that Sokov had taken the initiative to make concessions and did not ask for 3,000 or 4,000 men. As long as the Marine Battalion commanded by Captain Shamrih felt that his choice was very correct,
Then he helped and said: "Since Lieutenant Colonel Sokov only needs one marine battalion, you still have more than 3,000 soldiers in your hands. If the commanders of other units come to you, you don't have to worry about not having the soldiers to supplement them."
worry."
Bentaleyev looked at Orel and then at Sokov, tapping his fingers quickly on the table, thinking about whether he should hand over this army to Sokov. After thinking about it for a while, he
His fingers stopped, he looked up at Sokov and said: "Okay, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I will ask Captain Shamrih to come here. If he has no objections, you can lead this unit
Walk."
Shamrih received a call from Benteleev and immediately rushed to the office with his two deputy battalion commanders. After Benteleev and the other three saluted, he introduced them to Ou who was sitting next to him.
Lol then said: "Captain Shamrih, I called you here to tell you that Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, wants you to join his army. I want to hear
What is your opinion?"
Since Bendelayev did not introduce Sokov to the three of them, Shamrih had no idea who Sokov was. He looked at Bendeleyev and asked: "Comrade Colonel, I don't know where I can meet him."
To this Lieutenant Colonel Sokov."
"Here," Bentaleyev said, pouting at Sokov who was standing next to him, "he is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov."
"What, he is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?" When Shamrih entered the door, he saw Sokov standing behind Orel, but seeing that he was too young, he thought he was Orel's adjutant or something.
So I didn’t pay too much attention. When I heard that the other party was actually a brigade commander, I couldn’t help but be shocked: “You are so young.”
When Sokov heard what Shamrich said, he smiled awkwardly and said, "Yes, I am Captain Sokov. Shamrich. Nice to meet you." After saying that, he extended his hand to the other party.
Take action.
Shamrih first raised his hand to salute Sokov, then stretched out his hands, held Sokov's hand, and said politely and distantly: "Hello, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel."
"Captain Shamrih," Orel, who was sitting next to him, saw that Shamrih seemed not interested in Sokov, so he decided to help Sokov, and said to Shamrih: "Sokov
Lieutenant Colonel Cove was just a corporal when the war broke out, but because of his outstanding ability and countless meritorious service in battle, he was promoted by his superiors. Since there are no outsiders here, I might as well tell you that the commander of the front army
General Rokossovsky expressed to him many times that he hoped that he could stay in the Don Front and even promote him to general, but he refused without hesitation and still wanted to return to the city to fight with his soldiers.
Fight alongside."
Orel's words shocked Shamrich greatly. At first, he thought that Sokov could become a lieutenant colonel at such a young age. It must be due to some nepotism. But after listening to Orel's words, he realized
Everything that Sokov is today is entirely the result of his own efforts. Especially when I heard that Sokov would rather give up the easily obtained general rank in order to return to the city and fight side by side with his soldiers.
Shamrih's attitude toward Sokov unknowingly changed. He no longer resisted becoming Sokov's subordinate. On the contrary, at this moment, he couldn't wait to hope that Bandaileyev could send his troops to
Give it to Sokov to command, so that you can follow the new commander into the city.
"Captain Shamrih." Seeing Shamrih's delay in speaking, Bentaleyev took the initiative to ask: "What do you think about whether to stay or follow Lieutenant Colonel Sokov into the city?
"
"Comrade Colonel," Shamrih made up his mind and decided to follow Sokov to the city. Therefore, he answered Panteleev resolutely: "I am willing to follow Lieutenant Colonel Sokov to the city.
Fight against the German devils."
Hearing that Shamrih expressed his willingness to follow him into the city, Sokov felt ecstatic in his heart. Orel stood up and said to Benteleev: "Comrade Colonel, since Captain Shamrih has decided, then
You prepare barges for them as soon as possible so that they can get to the city as soon as possible."
Although it took time to prepare the barge and assemble the troops, Orel saw that the purpose of his trip had been achieved and considering that there were still many things waiting for him at the headquarters, he said goodbye to Sokov. He held Soko's hand.
He shook his husband's hand twice and said solemnly: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you should pay more attention to safety. I hope to see you alive and kicking when the day of victory comes."
"Don't worry, comrade general." Sokov was quite moved by Orel's concern: "I will definitely work hard to live. Not only will I live to see the enemy who attacked Stalingrad defeated, but I will also see us.
The bright red flag is flying over Berlin."
After breaking up with Orel, Sokov and Bely took the First Battalion and the Guard Battalion to the ferry, waiting for the arrival of the Marine Corps Battalion. While waiting, Bely said to Sokov: "Mi
Sha, how do you plan to relocate the Marine Corps battalion after they arrive at Mamayev Heights?"
Sokov's original idea was to have the Marine Corps Battalion hold the North Post. Their strength was relatively sufficient, and they could carry out rescue operations in a timely manner no matter if there was danger in the South Post or the Red October Factory in the north. But after thinking about it, this unit
Although they have relatively strong combat effectiveness, they are not familiar with the environment in the city and do not understand their own combat style. They may be exhausted in a few days. Therefore, he planned to wait until he returned to Mamayev Heights and then talk to the deputy from the brigade headquarters.
They discussed how to deploy this army.
At this moment, when Bely asked about this matter first, Sokov stated his thoughts and then asked: "Colonel Bely, do you have any good suggestions?"
"That's what I thought about it." Seeing Sokov humbly asking for advice, Bely did not hide his secrets, but said proactively: "Don't you have four battalions under your command? You can combine the commanders and fighters of the Marine Corps battalion with two hundred people."
As a group, they are organized into four battalions respectively. The remaining people will be used as troops directly under the brigade. This arrangement can ensure the combat effectiveness of the troops, and you will also have an additional mobile unit in your hand that can be flexibly controlled."
"Colonel Bely, what you said makes so much sense." Regarding Bely's suggestion, Sokov thought for a moment and then decisively agreed. Arrange according to Bely's instructions and there is no need to adjust the troops.
Secondly, it also increases the combat effectiveness of the existing troops. It is indeed a good way to kill two birds with one stone: "After returning to Mamayev Heights, we will allocate our troops in this way."
Seeing that the conversation between Sokov and Bely was almost over, Vanya walked over, pointed to a barge parked on the pier, and asked curiously: "Comrade Brigadier, let's take this barge and enter the city directly."
?"
"This is not possible." Sokov waved his hand and said: "Although taking a boat down the river from here to reach Mamayev Heights is the shortest route, the middle section of the river is in the area blocked by German artillery fire. We
Going down directly will definitely cause heavy casualties, so we need to cross the river to the other side first."