"The Germans are going to run?" Hearing what Sokov said, Samoilov couldn't help but look out from the firing hole and saw the enemies in the attacking position retreating hastily, thinking that this was what Sokov was talking about.
, then agreed: "That's right, Comrade Division Commander. The German attack on us was crushed, and they could only retreat to the original starting position in panic."
"Comrade Lieutenant, that's not what I'm talking about." Sokov shook his head, and then said decisively: "Let's go back to the battalion command post immediately. I want to call Chief of Staff Sidorin."
"Comrade division commander," Samoilov reminded Sokov, "there is a walkie-talkie here so you can communicate directly with the division headquarters."
Sokov shook his head again and said: "This matter is of great importance. We cannot use walkie-talkies to communicate, lest the enemy eavesdrop and our plan fails. To be on the safe side, I'd better go back to the camp command post and make a call."
"
When Starcha saw Sokov coming in from the outside, he immediately stood up to greet him and said excitedly: "Comrade division commander, you have seen it. The enemy's attack was crushed by us. They dropped several pieces of equipment in front of our position."
Hundreds of corpses and wounded."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov waited for Starcha to finish and then asked directly: "What are the casualties of the first and second battalions? Can they continue to fight? If not, immediately transfer your third battalion.
Come up."
Sokov's few words made Starcha have a puzzled expression on his face. He didn't know why Sokov asked this question, but he still answered truthfully: "The first battalion and the second battalion are here."
During the battle, we suffered nearly two hundred casualties, but we could still continue to fight."
Seeing that Starcha did not understand what he meant, Sokov further explained: "The Germans may want to escape, and we can take the opportunity to pursue them to achieve greater results."
"The Germans are going to escape?" Starcha couldn't help but be startled when he heard what Sokov said, and then asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, where did you get the news?"
"Where did you get the news?" Sokov replied while reaching for the phone on the table: "I judged it based on the reaction of the Germans."
Without further explanation to Starcha, he asked the communications troops to connect to the division headquarters. After hearing Sidorin's voice, Sokov immediately said without hesitation: "Comrade Chief of Staff, according to my observation
, the Germans may escape, you immediately notify the 122nd and 125th regiments to prepare for an attack. Also, move the two tank battalions that have retreated behind Mamayev Hill to the front line to pursue the enemy.
Sometimes, they can be put to great use.”
Sidorin was puzzled by Sokov's order. He asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander, on what basis did you make such a judgment?"
"The enemy who just attacked the 124th Regiment's position was repelled. When I was observing their movements, I unexpectedly discovered a large amount of billowing black smoke behind them." Sokov replied on the phone: "According to the peripheral friendly forces
It is impossible for them to advance nearby at this moment, so the black smoke is caused by the Germans."
"But what can this black smoke behind the enemy's rear mean?" Sidorin asked in confusion.
"Don't you understand, my comrade chief of staff?" Seeing that Sidorin could not follow his own train of thought, Sokov felt a little disappointed: "If the enemy wants to escape, he will definitely throw away supplies that cannot be taken away.
and equipment. If my judgment is correct, the black smoke is the enemy burning supplies that cannot be taken away, as well as some important documents that cannot fall into the hands of our army."
After Sokov finished speaking, before Sidorin could make any move, Golikov, who was sitting next to him, reached out and snatched the microphone from Sidorin's hand. He asked solemnly: "Colonel Sokov
, do you really think that the Germans are preparing to retreat in a big way?"
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army." Sokov heard Golikov asking himself and quickly replied in a positive tone: "I'm sure the enemy is preparing to escape."
"Are you really sure?"
Sokov remembered that in another twenty hours, the Soviet troops heading north and south would meet up in Karachi, completely cutting off the retreat of the German Sixth Army, forcing those troops who had fled from the city to return to where they came from.
It was precisely because he knew this period of history that after hearing Golikov's question, he immediately answered unequivocally: "Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I am absolutely sure."
Seeing that Sokov answered so surely, Golikov also gained confidence in his heart. He quickly asked into the microphone: "Colonel Sokov, do you have any plans?"
"I plan to take advantage of the enemy's retreat to launch another counterattack." Sokov replied: "Try to expand the area controlled by our division."
"Is there any difficulty?" Golikov continued.
"During our attack, we won't get artillery support from the left bank." Sokov thought for a moment and felt that since he couldn't get artillery support, he could try to ask for the cooperation of the air force. After all, today's weather is suitable for fighter jets to take off for combat.
"Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, do you think it would be possible to request the Air Force to provide necessary air support for our offensive forces?"
"Colonel Sokov," Golikov felt that if Sokov's troops did not receive any fire support during the attack, the casualties of the troops would inevitably increase. After a brief thought, he said decisively: "I
Immediately report the matter to Commander Yereomenko and request the assistance of the Air Force."
…………
Back in time a few hours ago, Paulus, who had moved his headquarters to the Gumlak area, received reports from various defense areas. After reading these contents, he sadly discovered that the scale of the Soviet counterattack this time was far greater than
Far beyond his imagination. If the Soviet offensive is allowed to continue, there is a possibility that his troops will be encircled.
Paulus put down the documents in his hand and asked his chief of staff Schmidt: "Chief of staff, tell me, what should we do now?"
Schmidt quickly and respectfully replied: "Your Excellency, Commander, I think under the current circumstances, it is best to withdraw all troops from the city immediately and order them to move west quickly in order to escape the possibility of the Russians."
The encirclement formed.”
"Retreat?!" After hearing Schmidt's words, Paulus couldn't help but replied with a wry smile: "Do you think Berlin will agree to us abandoning the existing defensive zone and retreating westward?"
Regarding Paulus's question, Schmidt was silent for a long time before answering: "Your Excellency, Commander, please forgive me. Giving the troops a retreat order can get the consent of Army Group B; but in Berlin, it is absolutely impossible."
I won’t agree. Do you still remember our army’s defeat at the gates of Moscow?”
Seeing Paulus nodding to express his memory, Schmidt continued: "At that time, General Guderian took the initiative to order the troops to withdraw from dangerous areas in order to be surrounded by the Russians, but he was reprimanded by the Führer."
"That's right," Paulus nodded and said: "Although Guderian was criticized, he preserved most of the troops. Otherwise, it is still unknown who will win and who will lose in the battle of Kharkov.
.”
"Your Excellency, Commander, now you are faced with two choices just like General Guderian at that time." Schmidt said solemnly: "One is to follow Berlin's order, continue to stick to the existing area, and wait.
be surrounded by the Russians; the second is to make your own decisions and order the troops to quickly turn westward to save as much effective force as possible. How to choose, please decide for yourself."
Frankly speaking, Paulus did not want his troops to be surrounded by the Soviet army, but if he ordered his troops to retreat without asking for instructions, he would definitely be held accountable by Berlin in the future, and he might even be sent to prison.
The possibility of a military court. It was because of this consideration that Paulus was reluctant to issue an order to retreat.
Seeing that Paulus had been hesitant, Schmidt guessed what he was thinking and said tactfully: "Your Excellency, Commander, if you really can't make up your mind, you might as well send a telegram to the headquarters of Army Group B to tell us where we are.
Report the situation to General Weeks and ask him for instructions on what to do?"
"What about Berlin?" Paulus was still a little moved by Schmidt's proposal, but when he thought of the mustache in Berlin, he couldn't help but tremble in his heart. He forced himself to be calm and asked: "Chief of Staff, what if
If Berlin pursues the case, how should we respond?"
"We can completely ignore it and pretend that we have not received the telegram from Berlin." Schmidt wanted the troops to retreat immediately, so he persuaded Paulus: "If the higher ups investigate, we will say that the troops are on the march and cannot receive telegrams for the time being. etc.
When the troops stopped advancing and started to collect reports, all the troops had already evacuated the original garrison area. In this case, even if Berlin wants to pursue the responsibility, you can find a reasonable explanation."
"You make sense." Paulus nodded and said, "Then you first send a telegram to General Weeks and tell him that our situation here is very critical. Since we continue to stay far away, we may
We are surrounded by the Russians, so our army must immediately maneuver to the west."
After seeing Schmidt recording the telegram, Paulus added: "Tell the troops to throw away everything except ammunition and two or three days of dry food, including the soldiers' military coats."
"What are you asking the soldiers to throw away their military coats?!" Schmidt thought he heard wrongly, and quickly reminded Paulus: "Your Excellency, Commander, if you throw away your military coats in such a cold weather, the soldiers will easily be frozen by the cold.
Stiff."
"Chief of Staff, look at the map." Paulus slapped the map several times with his hand and said angrily: "The distance we retreated is probably several hundred kilometers, leaving the soldiers wearing bulky military coats in the ice and snow.
Marching, I'm afraid they will soon be overtaken by the Russians coming from behind. They are asked to throw away their military coats so that the troops can move forward lightly. As for the cold weather you mentioned, you are worried that soldiers without military coats will get frostbite.
You can rest assured that as long as our troops withdraw to the right bank of the Don River, there will be many of our material warehouses along the way, where the soldiers can put on new military coats."
"Understood, Your Excellency, Commander." After hearing that Paulus had considered all the issues that should be considered, Schmidt quickly replied: "I will pass on your order immediately."
A few minutes later, the order to transfer light equipment arrived at the division headquarters of the 71st Infantry Division. After reading the telegram, the division commander, Major General Roskai, specifically called the communications staff officer over and asked: "What is this telegram of yours? No.
Record it wrong, why did you order the soldiers to throw away all their military coats?"
"That's right, Your Excellency, Division Commander." The communications staff officer quickly replied: "When I first received this telegram, I was worried that the content above was wrong, and I checked it specifically. Yes, this is the order issued by the Army Group Headquarters.
"
Roskay handed the telegram to his chief of staff, and said with some laughter: "Chief of Staff, the headquarters ordered us to immediately assemble the troops and move. In order to get to the Don River as soon as possible, we also ordered us to throw away those things that cannot be taken away.
Supplies.”
The division chief of staff received the telegram and saw clearly that it also said to throw away military coats. He couldn't help but said to Roski in surprise: "Your Excellency, division commander, if soldiers throw away their military coats in such cold weather, it will cause a lot of frostbite."
of."
"There is no way, my chief of staff." Roski said somewhat helplessly: "This is the order of your Excellency the Commander, and we must carry it out unconditionally."
"But asking the soldiers to throw down their military coats won't make those damn Russians easier?" the division chief of staff reminded Roskai: "We can't let the Russians wear warm clothes to chase our retreating troops.
"
"Then what do you think we should do with the discarded materials?"
"Since we can't take them away, we can't leave them to the Russians either." The division chief of staff gritted his teeth and said, "I think we can burn all these supplies with fire."
"Burn it?!" Roski replied hesitantly: "Would this cause panic in the army?"
"Your Excellency, division commander, you don't have to worry about that much anymore." The chief of staff of the division replied: "Our sneak attacks against the Russians have now turned into force attacks. After several hours of fighting, we have not been able to seize the position from the Russians.
, our soldiers have already become a little panicked. Even if they see us burning supplies, the situation will not get worse."
"Chief of Staff, immediately arrange manpower to burn down the warehouses where supplies are stored." Roskai ordered his Chief of Staff: "Except for weapons, ammunition and dry food needed along the way, throw away all the other things. In addition, when the troops retreat,
Along the way, several fires were lit, and soldiers passing by were asked to throw their military coats into the fires and burn them."
After recording the order, the division chief of staff asked Roski for instructions: "Your Excellency, division commander, what should we do with the troops that are attacking the Russian positions? Tell them to stop attacking and withdraw immediately?"
"No, let them continue to attack." Ruskai thought for a while, shook his head and said: "As long as their attack continues, the Russians will not discover our intention to retreat, which will help us move more
Troops withdraw to safe areas."
After dawn, the main force of the 71st Infantry Division began to retreat. On both sides of the road they retreated, several fires were lit. The soldiers standing beside the fires took the trouble to shout to the officers and soldiers passing by: "Take off your uniforms."
Military coats were thrown into the fire."
Although the German soldiers didn't know why their superiors issued such an order, they honestly took off their military coats and threw them into the blazing fire. As more and more military coats were thrown into the fire, it became more and more popular.
The flames and black smoke from the fire rose higher.