After dark, an unexpected person came to the division headquarters.
When Sokov saw this man appearing at his command post, he was stunned for a moment, and then he brought Sidorin and others forward to greet him. When he raised his hand to salute, he asked in surprise: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, are you
How did you get here?"
"The counterattack will begin tomorrow." The visitor was Lieutenant General Golikov, deputy commander of the Stalingrad Front. He held Sokov's hand and said, "I represent the front headquarters and come to learn about you.
How are you preparing for the counterattack?"
When Sokov asked Golikov to sit down, he was thinking about it. According to the original history, shouldn't Golikov have become the commander of the Voronezh Front Army at this moment? How could he still be in the Stalingrad Front Army? Is it possible?
It was because of his appearance that he changed a lot of the original history.
The reason why Sokov has such doubts is entirely because the 13th Guards Division, which was supposed to shine in the battle to defend Stalingrad, achieved some results except for the period shortly after entering the city.
disappeared during the battle. Since the troops did not perform well in the defense battle, presumably the division commander General Rodimtsev's future promotion path will also undergo some changes.
How did Golikov know that Sokov had considered so many issues in just a moment, and said with a smile: "The front army headquarters is worried that your division's counterattack force is too weak to break through the German defensive positions on the front, and plans to
Tomorrow, I will send you two tank battalions..."
"What, two tank battalions?" After hearing what Golikov said, Ivanov couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise: "That's dozens of tanks. With the support of so many tanks, it would be difficult to
Breaking through the enemy's frontal defensive positions will not be a problem at all."
Sokov was naturally very happy when he learned that his superiors would send him two tank battalions, but he had no idea what kind of results the Stalingrad Front would achieve tomorrow when it launches an offensive from the south of the city.
At the end. He poured a cup of hot tea, placed it in front of Golikov, and then asked respectfully: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I wonder what the results of the friendly forces were in the Don River Basin during the day?"
Sidorin and others were also eager to know the results of the Southwest Front and the Don Front, so they looked at Golikov eagerly, waiting for him to tell the answer they wanted to know.
"Our friendly forces fought very well." When Sokov asked about the results achieved by the friendly forces, Golikov showed a heartfelt smile: "According to the battle report, after eighty minutes of artillery preparations,
, our troops launched an attack on the enemy over a vast area. The enemy never dreamed that our army would launch an attack in such bad weather, and was caught off guard. Although the Romanian artillery responded in time, it attacked our army's attack.
The tank troops intercepted artillery fire, but due to bad weather and low visibility, their artillery shells did not pose any threat to our tanks.
The battle continued until noon, and our army successfully broke through the defense line of the Romanian 3rd Army and defeated the 13th, 14th and 9th Infantry Divisions on the defense line..."
"Isn't the Romanian 13th Infantry Division the division that was crippled by us?" Anisimov heard this and said to Sokov in surprise: "I didn't expect that they had just completed the change of defense, and they were attacked by the powerful force of our army.
It’s amazing that we can block this offensive.”
As the deputy commander of the front army, Golikov naturally knew about the knife fight that took place at the northern post of Mamayev Hill. Therefore, he did not refute Anisimov's statement. Instead, he nodded and agreed:
"That's right. This Romanian infantry division used to have pretty good combat effectiveness and caused huge losses to our army. It may be because they were beaten by you so much that they basically lost their combat effectiveness. That's why they disintegrated so much in the face of friendly forces' offensive.
quick."
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sidorin, as the chief of staff of the division, stared at the map every day, and his perspective on the problem was naturally different from others. He took advantage of the gap between Golikov's words and interjected: "I want to ask
Ask, where did the friendly troops go?"
"Not all the enemies our army encountered during the offensive were defeated at the first touch. Some of them still stayed on the position and stubbornly blocked our army's attack." Golikov said with a serious expression: "For example, General Laska
The Romanian 1st Cavalry Division and the 6th Infantry Division have been resisting stubbornly in the face of our army's powerful offensive, making it temporarily impossible for our army to seize their positions."
As the political commissar of the division, Anisimov usually focused his work on boosting morale and was not very familiar with the military aspect. Hearing that Golikov kept talking about the Romanian army, he couldn't help but ask: "Deputy Commander
Comrade Comrade, are there any German troops on the friendly attack route?"
"Yes, there is General Heim's 48th Armored Corps." Golikov nodded and replied: "According to the battle report, Paulus ordered Heim to command the 48th Armored Corps and Romania in order to repel our attack.
Three divisions of the 2nd Army launched a counterattack towards Kletskaya, trying to repel the infantry of the 21st Army and stabilize their defense line."
Even though the Soviet army fought very smoothly against the Romanian army, Sokov really didn't know what would happen if they encountered the German army. He couldn't help but ask: "Did the enemy succeed in their attempt?"
"No." Golikov replied with some pride: "Our offensive troops successfully crushed the German counterattack and severely damaged three Romanian divisions. Before dark, the friendly tank troops had successfully broken through the German army.
On Blinov's defense line, the enemy was forty kilometers deep."
The news Golikov said excited everyone present. To be honest, except for Sokov, who knew the final outcome of the counterattack, the others did not have much hope for the counterattack. They all thought that
, was nothing more than a diversionary operation launched to prevent the German army from seizing the city. But I did not expect that it would achieve such results.
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sidorin suppressed the excitement in his heart and tried his best to ask Golikov in a calm tone: "Do you think our front army can achieve such results as friendly forces by launching an attack from the south of the city?"
"Colonel Sokov," Golikov did not answer, but threw the question to Sokov: "Do you think we can achieve such results as friendly forces?"
"There is no doubt about it, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army." Since Sokov knew the final outcome of the Battle of Stalingrad, and on the eve of the beginning of the major counterattack, he needed to give everyone some confidence in victory, so he lit
The leader said: "I believe that the counterattack starting tomorrow will not only break through the enemy's defense line, but will also be able to join forces with the friendly forces heading south in the shortest possible time."
Golikov was surprised by Sokov's words. He asked in surprise: "I never expected that, Colonel Sokov, you would be so confident in our front army's counterattack."
"After several months of fighting, the German soldiers have become exhausted." Sokov answered truthfully: "In addition, due to our attack some time ago, their supplies have encountered huge problems.
.In this case, facing our long-prepared major counterattack, their resistance will be destroyed step by step by our army. I believe that it will not be long before we can encircle Paulus's 6th Army at Stalinger.
Le area to create conditions for their complete annihilation."
"Colonel Sokov, tell me," Golikov heard this and asked with interest: "Tell me, where is the most likely place for our front army and friendly forces to meet?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander, please look at this map." Sidorin pushed the map on the table in front of Golikov and said with a smile: "The division commander has already marked three marks on it.
The location where the front armies meet up."
Golikov looked down at the position circled by Sokov with a red pen on the map, and said with some surprise: "Colonel Sokov, I didn't expect that your thoughts are actually the same as those of Commander Yeremenko.
It coincides with each other. He also determined the meeting point of our front army and friendly forces, which is in Karachi."
The people who were surprised were not only Golikov, but also Ivanov and Anisimov. Although Sokov had analyzed the current situation for them, they had no idea whether the three major front armies could meet in Karachi.
Still full of doubts. When they heard what Golikov said, they couldn't help but cast admiring glances at Sokov.
"Colonel Sokov." Seeing that Sokov's analysis coincided with the thoughts of the front army chief, Golikov was full of confidence in Sokov's upcoming counterattack. He then asked: "I want to ask
Ask, when do you plan to launch an attack on the enemy in front?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army," Sokov did not reveal his plan easily, but said cautiously: "The Front Army will launch a counterattack from the south of the city tomorrow. The enemies they have to face are basically the Romanian army. Presumably
The battle is easier than we think.
When the superiors gave our division the order to counterattack, they considered that the front of Mamayev Hill was the two Romanian divisions deployed by Paulus. We had the strength to break through their defense lines and provide assistance to the main force's counterattack. However,
What we didn't expect was that the Germans suddenly used two other German divisions to take over the Romanian army's defense line a few days ago, which caused the situation to deviate from our original vision..."
Although Golikov knew all that Sokov said, he still listened patiently to Sokov's explanation of the difficulties he encountered before he said: "Yes, the head of the front army is considering your front."
The enemy has changed from the Romanian army to the German army. Worried that your strength is not enough, we have specially added four full battalions for you. And tomorrow, when the counterattack south of the city begins, two more tank battalions will cross the river and join.
your counterattack force to enhance your counterattack force."
"The support of the tank troops alone is not enough." Sokov shook his head slightly and continued: "In the process of our division's counterattack, I also hope to receive support from the left bank artillery and air force."
"It's not a big problem to let the artillery provide you with artillery support. After all, there are artillery observers at Mamayev Heights, and they can instruct the artillery on the left bank to fire parameters. But the air force," said Goliko
The husband took off the leather hat on his head, raised his hand and scratched the back of his head, and said with some embarrassment: "Our air force cannot be dispatched in such bad weather."
"Don't worry about this." Sokov said with a confident look: "It has been snowing heavily for several days. I heard from a veteran who has lived in Stalingrad for a long time that it will be snowed the day after tomorrow at the latest.
It should be a sunny day, and then our fighter planes will be able to take off and provide air cover for our offensive forces."
After hearing Sokov's statement, Golikov was silent for a while and then said in an uncertain tone: "But according to the meteorological department's report, there will be such heavy snow weather for at least the next week."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov obviously had more confidence in the veterans who had lived in Stalingrad for a long time. He waited for Golikov to finish speaking, and then added: "I just listened to the veterans, so I intend to counterattack
The time is set for the day after tomorrow. If the sky is really clear and our fighter planes can take off again, I think it will be a good time to counterattack."
Golikov stared at Sokov for a while, and finally said: "Colonel Sokov, I can't make any promises to you until I get the consent of Commander Yereomenko. Can you understand?
?”
"I can understand." Sokov felt that the deputy commander of the other party probably didn't have much real power. Everything needed the consent of Yeremenko and Khrushchev, so he nodded and said, "But if our
If we can't get air support to counterattack, I'm afraid it will be difficult to succeed."
Golikov looked at the telephones on the table and asked Sokov: "Can your phone communicate directly with the front army headquarters?"
"Okay." Sidorin quickly pushed the high-frequency phone in front of Golikov and said with a smile: "Comrade Deputy Commander, this phone can directly communicate with the front army headquarters." Seeing Golikov,
The husband signaled him to connect the phone, and he quickly asked the communications soldier to connect the line so that he could talk to Commander Yeremenko.
The phone call between Golikov and Yeremenko was not long. After reporting what Sokov said to the other party, he asked whether the air force could be dispatched the day after tomorrow to support the 41st Guards Division for the counterattack.
Provide air support. After receiving an accurate answer, he put down the phone and said to Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, I have conveyed your request to Commander Yereomenko. He has agreed,
As long as weather conditions permit, he will definitely send the air force to support your operations."
After Golikov picked up the tea on the table and took a sip, he looked at Sokov and asked: "Do you have any other questions, Comrade Colonel?"
"Yes." Sokov considered that air-ground coordination is a big problem when fighting in unfamiliar areas, so he asked tentatively: "I would like to ask, how can I get in touch with the pilot during the battle?"
"This is very simple." Golikov said lightly: "If you have anything, you can call the front army headquarters, and then the headquarters will notify the air force headquarters, and they will assign specific combat tasks to the pilots."
After hearing Golikov say that contacting the Air Force requires two transfers, Sokov shook his head and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I think this method of contact is inappropriate. If the communication with the pilot is
If we have to go through two transfers, I'm afraid it will delay the fighter plane."
"Then what are you going to do?" Golikov asked back: "Are you still planning to talk to the pilot directly?"