The conversation between Sokov and Chuikov was clearly heard by Sidorin, Ivanov and others standing nearby. Regarding the bet made by the two, they were not optimistic about Sokov and felt that he had
May lose.
After the room was quiet for a while, Sidorin spoke first. He shook his head and reminded Sokov: "Comrade division commander, although our superiors have added four battalions of troops to us, it is a pity that the commanders and soldiers are not ready for a counterattack.
If we rush into battle, it may be difficult to achieve the desired results."
"The chief of staff is right." Ivanov promptly expressed his support for Sidorin's statement: "The additional soldiers who were given to us were sent to participate in an ill-prepared attack before they had time to become familiar with the area.
I’m afraid it won’t have a good effect.”
Seeing that Sidorin and Ivanov had the same point of view, and both believed that they would lose in this bet, they smiled and asked: "Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Commander, I heard the tone of your two voices, it seems that you think
Am I destined to lose?"
"Isn't it?" Anisimov said, "Comrade division commander, to be honest, I don't think you can win this bet. After all, our army's counterattack this time will get the air force and a sufficient number of troops.
Artillery support, as long as the Germans are not blind or deaf, they will definitely guess that this is a major counterattack that our army has been preparing for a long time. If I were Paulus, I would definitely dispatch troops from the city to reinforce the Don River without hesitation
The defenders in the river basin will not be cut off from their retreat."
"Commissar Anisimov, you are not Paulus, and Paulus is not you, so it is impossible for you to make the same decision." Although the other three division leaders did not think highly of him, Sokov was still confident.
Said: "I always believe that as long as the Stalingrad Front has not launched an attack, Paulus will not send any reinforcements to the defenders in the Don River Basin, and will still concentrate on the final attack on the factory area."
After Sokov finished speaking, seeing that Ivanov seemed to want to refute him, he raised his hand to stop him, and then said: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you don't need to persuade me anymore. This time, will I lose or win the bet?"
Let’s let the facts speak for themselves. Anyway, the friendly forces’ attack on the enemies in the Don River Basin will begin in a few hours.”
Seeing Sokov being so stubborn, Ivanov sighed softly and said helplessly: "Comrade Commander, since you are so insistent on your opinion, no matter what I say, you won't be able to listen. Then we
Just wait until the friendly forces attack begins and see how the enemies in the city react."
…………
When the artillery units of the Southwestern Front and the Don Front carried out powerful artillery attacks on the German, Italian and Romanian troops entrenched in the Don River Basin, the news reached the German command headquarters in Glubinskaya.
Paulus stared at the telegram sent by the forward commander. After being stunned for a while, he sent a telegram to his Schmidt: "Chief of Staff, do you think the Russians have suddenly launched a powerful attack on our defenders in the Don River Basin?"
What is the purpose of the artillery attack?"
"The intention is obvious." Schmidt looked for some areas under artillery fire on the map and said confidently: "Maybe the progress we made in the city scared the Russian high command, so they
So we ordered the troops deployed to the north of our army to launch an assault on our flanks and rear. In this way, we tried to divert our attention and gain a precious breathing space for the defenders in the city."
Schmidt's analysis is not without purpose. As early as early September, early October, and even early November, the Soviet army had launched attacks on the flanks of the German army in an attempt to contain the German army's strength.
, preventing them from concentrating all their strength to seize the city.
It was based on this consideration that after listening to Schmidt's words, Paulus nodded and said: "Chief of Staff, you are right. Don't look at the big noise made by the Russians, their purpose is nothing more than
In order to relieve the pressure on the defenders in the city."
"Your Excellency, Commander!" Schmidt asked tentatively after waiting for Paulus to finish: "The defenders in the Don River Basin are almost Italian and Romanian troops. I am worried that with their combat effectiveness, it may be difficult to stop the Russians.
attack. Do you think we should send troops to reinforce them?"
"Reinforce them?!" Paulus waved his hands and said, "No, Chief of Staff, we don't need to send troops to reinforce them."
"But if the Russian assault breaks through the friendly defense lines, our rear will be exposed to the Russians." Seeing that Paulus was unwilling to send reinforcements, Schmidt carefully reminded him: "We will then
There is a danger of being attacked in the abdomen.”
"Order the troops attacking the factory area to increase the intensity of the attack and drive all the Russians into the Volga River within today." Paulus sneered and said: "Once we occupy the entire city, the Russians will be in the Don River Basin."
The attack launched will be meaningless. Without us sending troops to reinforce the defenders in the Don River Basin, the Russians will retreat obediently."
After listening to Paulus's words, Schmidt couldn't help but ponder. In his heart, he felt that Paulus's words were quite reasonable. The main purpose of the Russians launching such a large-scale attack was not only to give Stalinger
Le siege. If their troops occupy the entire city, the Russians' efforts will be in vain, and then it will be meaningless for them to attack the defenders in the Don River Basin.
After thinking about this clearly, Schmidt nodded and said: "Understood, Your Excellency, Commander. I will immediately notify General Kurtzbach and let his troops attack the factory area with all their strength."
"Remember!" When he saw Schmidt picking up the phone and preparing to call General Kurtzbach, the commander of the 51st Army, Paulus specially warned him: "Let them capture the entire Stalingist army today."
Le.”
"clear!"
…………
Chuikov always remembered his bet with Sokov. When the friendly forces launched a powerful artillery attack on the enemy positions in the Don River Basin, he couldn't help but make a phone call to Yeremenko on the other side and asked anxiously: "
Comrade Commander, do you have any news about the Southwestern Front and the Don Front?"
"General Chuikov." Yeremenko replied with a serious expression: "So far, I can only tell you that the artillery of these two fronts is preparing artillery fire on the enemy's defensive positions. Even if they want to launch an attack, they need to
Wait until the artillery preparations are over."
"Comrade Commander," Chuikov had already guessed that Yereomenko would give him this answer, so he asked: "I want to ask you, do you think friendly forces can break through the enemy's defenses?"
"This is the first time that our army has assembled so many troops to launch a powerful assault on the enemy." Hearing Chuikov's question, Yeremenko said with some uncertainty: "But what kind of results can this assault achieve?"
, it all depends on what happens after the friendly forces put their ground troops into battle."
Yeremenko considered that Chuikov's call to him would definitely not be about something for which the answer was not yet known, so he asked tentatively: "General Chuikov, may you have other intentions for calling me?"
"
"That's it, Comrade Commander." Chuikov thought that he would ask Yereomenko later, so he did not hide it from him, and told him about the bet between him and Sokov, and finally said: "...if
To carry out a counterattack against the enemy on the front, without the cooperation of tanks, it may be difficult to achieve success. I would like to ask if you can send a tank battalion from the east coast to assist Colonel Sokov's troops in launching a counterattack."
"Nonsense, simply nonsense." After hearing Chuikov's explanation of his purpose, Yeremenko said angrily: "Don't say that I can't provide you with tanks now. Even if I can, I don't agree with you rashly asking for tanks today."
The enemy launches an attack. This can be said to be a suicidal behavior. Not only is it difficult to achieve victory, but it may also cause the loss of the only living force in the city."
Chuikov originally thought that as long as he mentioned that he was preparing to launch a counterattack today, Yeremenko would definitely be overjoyed. Unexpectedly, the other party's reaction was far beyond his expectation. He asked with some embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, I think the friendly forces on the ground
Once the attack starts, we can draw the attention of the German troops in the city, and then we can give them a serious beating when they fall into chaos."
"No, General Chuikov, I don't agree with you sending Sokov's troops to take risks." After Yeremenko sent four infantry battalions to supplement the 41st Guards Division, he once considered sending Sokov's troops to take risks on the first day of the major counterattack.
, and let Sokov's troops go into battle. However, after he reported this plan, it was denied by the Supreme Command. It was for this reason that he did not agree with Chuikov's decision to let Sokov go into battle on the first day of the counterattack.
He asked his troops to take risks: "At least we have to wait until our front army has also launched a counterattack and the battle situation has been roughly clear before we consider sending Sokov's troops into the battle. Do you understand?"
After Chuikov put down the phone, he picked up the cigarette case on the table, shook out a cigarette from it, held it in his mouth without lighting it, and quietly recalled his conversation with Yeremenko in his mind. Krylov met Chuikov
There was a cigarette in his mouth, but he didn't light it. He quickly lit a match, moved closer to help him light the cigarette, and carefully asked: "Comrade Commander, what did the commander of the front army say? He agreed to let Sokov's
Will the troops launch a counterattack today?"
Chuikov did not answer Krylov's question immediately, but took a puff of his cigarette and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you think Sokov's troops should be allowed to launch a counterattack against the German defensive positions today?"
"
"How do you say?" In response to Chuikov's question, Krylov replied solemnly: "To be honest, I also hope to drive the Germans out of the city as soon as possible, so naturally I hope to counterattack as early as possible.
The better. But I thought about it carefully. When we gave Sokov the counterattack plan, the enemy in front of Mamaev Hill was the Romanian army. With their combat effectiveness, they could not stop the counterattack of the 41st Guards Division.
.But since the German army changed its defense, our counterattack plan has faced a very embarrassing situation..."
"You don't have to say any more." Before Krylov could finish speaking, Chuikov raised his hand to interrupt him: "There is indeed a big difference between whether the enemy to be attacked is the Germans or the Romanians. But after a long period of
After the battle, the morale of the city's defenders was somewhat affected. Since Sokov's troops can launch a counterattack early, it can boost the morale of the troops and give everyone more confidence in holding their position."
After Chuikov finished speaking, Krylov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, do you really think that after our friendly forces launched an attack on the enemy in the Don River Basin, the German troops in the city will not launch another attack?"
?”
"I think this should be a matter of common sense." Chuikov frowned and said: "As a senior commander, when he finds that he is attacked by a superior enemy force from behind, the first thing he has to do is to attack the enemy.
He sent reinforcements to the areas he attacked, rather than continuing to attack areas he had been unable to capture."
However, Chuikov did not expect that he would be slapped in the face less than half an hour after his words. The commander of the 37th Guards Division, Ruo Ludev, called him and said anxiously: "Comrade Commander, due to the ice on the river,
, German engineers laid a road on the ice for tanks to pass. Now almost ten tanks have entered the factory area. In addition, a large number of German infantry have gathered. It seems that they are planning to launch a full-scale attack on our division's defense area.
attack."
"What about the direction controlled by the 45th Infantry Division?" After the road bridge connecting the factory and the outside world was blown up some time ago, the German tanks, assault guns and armored vehicles were unable to enter the factory area. The German army could not capture the defenders with only infantry.
The battle inside the Dzerzhinsky factory fell into a stalemate. But when he heard that German tanks had entered the factory area again, Chuikov's heart became heavy. He knew that the 37th Guards Division had suffered serious attrition.
Most of the small area that can hold on to the factory is controlled by Colonel Sokolov's 45th Infantry Division. "What's the situation like there?"
"A large number of German tanks and assault guns have also appeared in the area they are responsible for." Zoludev replied on the phone: "It seems that the Germans are planning to launch a fierce attack on the Dzerzhinsky factory today. Commander
Comrade, I ask you to send troops to reinforce us."
"Send troops, where can I send troops?" Chuikov's mood became bad when he learned that the German army was about to launch an attack on the Dzerzhinsky factory. When he heard Zholudev's request to send reinforcements, he
He said angrily: "How about I go there in person and fight side by side with your soldiers."
Rudev knew that what Chuikov said was angry. After laughing twice, he asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, isn't there no fighting in Mamayev Heights now? Do you think we should ask Colonel Sokov to send troops to support us?"
Shall we wait? As long as his troops are here, no matter how fierce the enemy's attack is, we are confident to defend the factory."
Chuikov never dreamed that Ruoludev would actually take up Sokov's idea. He rejected the proposal without hesitation: "No, although there is no fighting at Mamayev Heights for the time being, it does not mean that there will be a war next.
There will be no battle. If I transfer all my troops to your place and Mamayev Heights falls due to the lack of troops and the inability to resist the German attack, can you afford this responsibility?"
Chuikov's words startled Zoludev. The reason why he proposed to let Sokov's troops assist in the defense was because Sokov's troops had strong combat effectiveness. With them here, he would be more confident in defending the factory. Listen
Chuikov stated the problem so seriously that he did not dare to insist on his opinion anymore. He could only ask with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander, can you supplement us with some troops and equipment from other places? With what we have now,
Given our strength, it may still be difficult to hold our position."