Although Chuikov is the commander of the group army, he usually has the opportunity to enjoy the small stove provided by the cooking class. However, most of the time, he still gnaws rusks and eats potatoes like ordinary commanders and soldiers. After finally looking forward to the holidays, he can finally be justified.
Eat some Siberian dumplings to improve your food.
He, Krylov, and Gurov were eating dumplings around the table when a phone on the table rang. Krylov reached out and grabbed the phone, put it to his ear and said: "I'm Krylov
,where are you from?"
After listening for a while, Krylov put down the phone and said to Chuikov with a strange look on his face: "Comrade Commander, this is a call from Colonel Sokov. He said he has a special gift for you, right?
It is a day to celebrate the great October Revolution.”
"A special gift?" Chuikov, who was eating dumplings, put down his fork and asked curiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, did he say what kind of gift it was?"
Krylov smiled bitterly and shook his head: "He hung up the phone before I had a chance to ask. But he sent this gift to the deputy division commander, Colonel Ivanov."
Hearing what Krylov said, even Gurov put down his fork and said with some surprise: "It seems that this gift is really special, otherwise Colonel Ivanov would not have given it in person. What kind of gift would it be?"
Woolen cloth?"
Krylov said thoughtfully: "Colonel Sokov's men captured two German stations yesterday. Could it be that they captured some valuables from the stations. For example, the Germans plundered them from our museum.
Precious cultural relics.”
Gurov immediately agreed with Krylov's speculation: "I agree with the chief of staff's speculation. As far as I know, Colonel Sokov has seized famous paintings that were plundered by the enemy in previous battles.
, later these famous paintings were sent to the Natural History Museum in Moscow."
After Gurov's analysis, both Chuikov and Krylov felt that the gifts given to them by Sokov were probably cultural relics or famous paintings plundered by the Germans. Guchakov's troops were occupying the station.
Later, I happened to find these things and brought them back during the transfer.
Chuikov had a headache when he thought that Sokov might have sent something like cultural relics and famous paintings. He looked at Gurov and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, Mishako has given us a problem. These cultural relics and famous paintings are too delicate.
, if something goes wrong during transportation, it will be easily damaged. It would be better if it can be repaired. If it cannot be repaired, our descendants will definitely point to these damaged cultural relics and say: 'Look, these cultural relics are Chuikov's.
They're damaged.'"
Gurov felt that what Chuikov said was very reasonable. If he took over this batch of cultural relics and was damaged, he would definitely be stabbed in the spine by future generations. In order to avoid this situation, he tentatively said to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander
, you can see if you can get Misha to temporarily store these cultural relics in the tunnel of Mamayev Hill. When the time is right, they can then move them to the east coast."
Chuikov sighed and said helplessly: "Comrade Military Commissar, I think the reason why Misha gave us such a gift may be because he considered that these cultural relics cannot be stored in the tunnel. He sent it here because he wanted to transport supplies
The convoy can take these cultural relics with it when it returns to the east coast."
As a result, the three people discussed how to protect and transport this batch of cultural relics. After Chuikov and Gurov spoke, Krylov raised his concerns: "Comrade Commander, if you want to ensure the safety of this batch of cultural relics,
When we reach the east coast, we must send out manpower for protection. But our current strength is seriously insufficient. There is only one platoon of guard troops protecting the headquarters. If manpower is transferred from them, the headquarters will become empty. If it is attacked by the Germans,
A sneak attack may cause serious problems, so..."
Before Krylov finished speaking, Chuikov guessed what he meant and continued: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I understand what you mean. You are planning to have the troops sent by Sokov to deliver gifts to be escorted.
These cultural relics are going to the east coast, right?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Krylov nodded vigorously and said firmly: "That's what I mean."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, let's do what you want." Chuikov also knew that his headquarters was now empty of troops. If he really sent someone to escort the cultural relics to the other side, even if it was just for a day and night, the entire headquarters would be in danger.
Therefore, he readily agreed to Krylov's proposal: "When Colonel Ivanov comes, I will tell him personally."
After waiting for almost half an hour, Ivanov appeared in the headquarters. He had just saluted Chuikov, but before he could speak, Chuikov said first: "Comrade Colonel, I won't read the gift you sent.
You and your people are responsible for delivering these gifts to the east coast and handing them over to Commander Yereomenko." He raised his hand to look at his watch and added, "After dark, a transport convoy will transport the gifts.
The supplies are crossing the river, and when they return, you will take a ride."
Chuikov's words confused Ivanov. He originally thought that Chuikov would impatiently ask him to bring the prisoners in. Unexpectedly, before Chuikov even spoke, Ivanov directly arranged for him to send the prisoners to the other side.
After Chuikov finished speaking, he waited for a long time and did not hear Ivanov's response. He couldn't help but feel a little confused. He stared at the silent Ivanov and said unhappily: "What, Comrade Colonel, you
Do you have any objection to my order?"
"Comrade Commander," Ivanov faced Chuikov, straightened his back and said: "The prisoners are right outside the door. Even if they are sent to the east coast, you have to take a look. You must know that this is a gift from Comrade Division Commander.
A special gift for you to celebrate the Great October Revolution."
"I won't look at the prisoners,...what, prisoners?!" As soon as Chuikov opened his mouth, he realized that the gift Sokov gave him was different from what he had just guessed, and he quickly looked at Ivanov and asked:
"Comrade Colonel, what did you just say? The gift Sokov gave us was a group of prisoners, not some cultural relics?"
"Cultural relics, what cultural relics?" Ivanov replied confusedly: "Comrade Commander, who told you that they were a bunch of cultural relics? Our small team sent to the enemy's rear captured a group of German prisoners when they returned.
, the division commander thought that you would be very happy to see these prisoners, so he sent me to deliver them to you."
After confirming that the gift sent by Sokov was a group of prisoners, Chuikov became interested: "Comrade Colonel, let your people bring the prisoners in."
After receiving the order, Ivanov winked at Guchakov, who was standing at the door, and motioned for him to bring in the prisoners outside. Guchakov, who had long since changed back to his Soviet military uniform, saw Ivan
After Nov gave him a wink, he immediately turned around and walked out of the headquarters.
Chuikov had met Guchakov before, but as time passed, his memory of his appearance became blurred. After watching Guchakov go out, he turned to ask Ivanov: "Comrade Colonel, what happened to the man who just went out?"
An officer, if I admit it correctly, it should be Captain Guchakov who led the small team deep into the enemy's rear this time, right?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, it is really him." Ivanov replied with a smile: "Since he captured these German prisoners, the division commander gave the task of escorting the prisoners to his squad."
"The prisoner who allowed Sokov to be sent to me must be of high status." Chuikov asked tentatively: "Comrade Colonel, I think this prisoner should be a regiment commander."
"Comrade Commander, you guessed that the position is a bit too low." Hearing Chuikov's question, Ivanov said with a smile: "You can guess higher."
Chuikov suppressed the smile on his face and said with some surprise: "What, did you capture a German division commander?"
Ivanov nodded vigorously and replied somewhat triumphantly: "Comrade Commander, you guessed it right. On his way back to Mamayev Hill, Captain Guchakov encountered the 29th Motorized Battalion of the German Army.
The division commander, Major General Leiser, took the opportunity to capture him."
"What, you captured Leizer?" Krylov heard this and stared at the map for a while, then shook his head and said: "This is impossible, Leizer's motorized division's defense area is in the southwest of the city.
direction, how could Captain Guchakov catch him on his way back?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Chuikov saw Krylov expressing doubts about this matter, so he came out to smooth things over: "You will know the truth after Captain Guchakov brings the prisoners in."
Krylov nodded after hearing this, then picked up the phone and called the Intelligence Department, asking him to send a staff officer who knew German to the headquarters to translate so that Chuikov could interrogate the prisoners.
Before the translator arrived, Laizer had been brought in by Guchakov, Samoilov, Tavlin and others. As soon as he entered the door, Guchakov raised his hand to salute Chuikov and reported respectfully:
: "Comrade Commander, the prisoners have been brought!"
"Thank you, Captain Guchakov." Chuikov nodded to Guchakov, smiled friendly, then walked up to Laizer, looked him up and down, and said: "Self
Let me introduce, I am Chuikov, commander of the 62nd Army of the Soviet Union."
Krylov, who was not far away, was worried that Leizer could not understand Chuikov's words. Tavlin, who was standing behind Leizer, had already translated in fluent German. He learned that the Soviet officer in front of him was Chuikov, the commander of the 62nd Army.
At this time, Laizer quickly stood at attention, bowed slightly to Chuikov, and greeted Chuikov politely.
Chuikov was very curious as to how Leiser could be captured by the returning Guchakov and others far away from his own defense zone. As soon as he asked his new question, before Tavlin could speak, the translator sent by the intelligence service arrived.
The staff officer who was proficient in German immediately translated Chuikov's words to Leiser. After listening to the staff member's translation, Leiser smiled bitterly and repeated what Sokov said to him.
Chuikov asked some more questions that he was interested in. Laizer answered some of his questions, but for more questions, he put on an arrogant look and said: "I'm sorry, Commander, your question.
I have no comment."
When the interrogation was almost over, Chuikov asked his staff to take Leizer out. After Leizer left, he said to Krylov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if Leizer didn't lie, the enemy might be able to do it in the short term."
Adjust the deployment of troops. It seems that we also need to adjust our troops in a targeted manner."
"Leizer has been captured by us, and the person who replaces him will probably need some time to adapt to the army." Krylov said thoughtfully: "In other words, we still have a few days after the enemy changes defenses.
There will be time to redeploy our troops. However, our troops are limited now. Could you please report to the front army headquarters and ask them to send another troops into the city to strengthen our defenses."
"I think it's okay." Although Krylov had made similar proposals two days ago, Chuikov rejected them without hesitation. But at this moment, Chuikov had a captured German division commander in his hands.
He suddenly became more confident in speaking. He emphasized to Krylov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, when you make a request to Commander Yeremenko, remember to tell him that we captured the German 29th Motorized Division today.
Division Commander Major General Leiser."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Krylov replied with a smile: "I will tell Commander Yereomenko the good news."
The call to the front army headquarters was quickly connected. The person who answered the phone was Yereomenko himself. After expressing holiday greetings to Krylov, he asked straight to the point: "General Krylov, what are you doing?"
I'm calling, do you have any good news for me?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Krylov said respectfully: "I formally report to you that the small unit sent by the 41st Guards Rifle Division to the enemy's rear successfully successfully
Captured the German commander of the 29th Motorized Division, Major General Leiser."
"What, you captured Laize, the commander of the 29th Motorized Division?" Yeremenko heard this and asked dubiously: "Is it true? You know, Laize's defense area is quite far away from Mamayev Heights.
A long distance.”
"Everything I said is true." Krylov said in a positive tone: "Leser is in our headquarters now. After dark, I will send someone to deliver the prisoners to the front army headquarters."
"This is indeed good news." After Yeremenko confirmed that Krylov's report was true, he was happy for a few seconds, and then said: "General Krylov, I have bad news to tell you.
This matter is crucial to our ability to defend the city."
Yeremenko's words scared Krylov into a cold sweat. He quickly forced himself to calm down and said: "Comrade Commander, I wonder what the bad news is?"
"With the drop in temperature and heavy snowfall, ice floes have appeared on the Volga River." Yeremenko said solemnly: "This means that shipping on the Volga River will be interrupted until the river surface
Only when everything freezes can our transportation to you resume."