After it was officially confirmed that he would command a combat group and launch the final general attack on Paulus' headquarters, Sokov's mood suddenly became joyful. He quickly greeted Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, why haven't you given the command to Comrade Commander yet?"
Let’s serve tea.”
Sidorin smiled knowingly and immediately arranged for people to deliver black tea, bread, cheese and dried sausage to several division leaders. After the soldiers placed these things on the table one by one, he greeted everyone with a smile:
"Comrade commanders, you must be hungry. Eat something first."
"Is there any wine, comrade lieutenant colonel?" Duchenko, the political commissar of the 321st Division, said with some embarrassment: "It was too cold on the way here. We sat here for a long time and couldn't warm up. So it's best
Can I get some vodka and take a few sips to warm myself up?"
Sokov knew that Russians like to drink, and the so-called drinking to keep out the cold was just an excuse. It was so hot in the command post that even a military coat could not be worn, so how could people not feel warm? But considering that these people in front of him were all new to him.
The assistant of the combat group did not expose them and said to Sidorin again: "Chief of Staff, since Colonel Duchenko said so, let's go find two bottles of wine so that everyone can drink some to warm themselves up."
Soon, two unopened bottles of vodka were brought over. Duchenko opened the lid, poured a small glass for everyone, and then said with a smile: "It's cold, let's all drink some to keep warm."
Take care of yourself."
When Duchenko poured wine for Sokov, Sokov waved his hand and refused: "Thank you, Colonel Duchenko. I never drink, so there is no need to pour me wine."
After everyone had drank two small glasses of wine, Makarenko asked: "Colonel Sokov, what are your plans for seizing the central railway station occupied by the enemy?"
Sokov's troops had also engaged in a tug-of-war with the Germans at the station. Sokov was relatively familiar with the situation at the station. So when he heard Makarenko's question, he replied: "From various signs
It shows that the German command headquarters is set up in the central area of the city. What we have to do now is to isolate the enemies in this area from other areas."
"Isolate the enemy?" Makarenko couldn't help but frown slightly when he heard this: "Colonel Sokov, we now only have four infantry divisions, one tank brigade and two artillery regiments..."
"No, it should be two tank brigades." Sidorin corrected him: "There is also a tank brigade assigned to combat in our division, and they should also be included in the combat group."
"Well, even if we have two tank brigades, we don't have much advantage in technical equipment." Makarenko continued: "If we need to use four infantry divisions to separate hundreds of thousands of enemies, I think
This is simply an impossible task.”
"Comrade General, you are too pessimistic." Sokov waited for Makarenko to finish and then said with a smile: "In fact, if our actual strength is calculated, it is far more than four infantry divisions."
"Far more than four infantry divisions?" Makarov asked curiously: "I would like to ask, except for our three divisions and your one division, where are the remaining troops?"
"Comrade General, look at this map." Sokov moved his commonly used map in front of Makarenko and said to him: "Our joining forces successfully divided the enemy trapped in Stalingrad.
It forms two disconnected parts in the north and south. Now we only have to deal with the enemies in the south cluster. The ones who will fight them are not only our newly established combat group, but also the 64th Group Army that attacks the city from the south.
, as well as the 51st and 57th Group Armies in the southwest."
"Yes, we do have a lot of troops." Makarenko agreed with Sokov's statement, but he also raised his own questions: "But there is no coordination between us and them, I'm afraid there is no
A way to disperse the enemy's forces."
"I now have two regiments, deployed at this location." Sokov pointed to the location of the Belkin Regiment and the 122nd Regiment, and said to Makarenko: "I have ordered them to attack the enemy and do everything possible.
It is possible to drive the enemy south and let the 64th Army enter the city to deal with them."
Hearing Sokov's statement, Makarenko couldn't help but his eyes lit up. After looking at the map carefully, he raised his head and said to Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, you really have it. This is a great idea."
.Drive the enemy to the friendly attack area and let the friendly forces destroy it. In this way, we can reduce unnecessary losses of soldiers and gain more advantages in the next battle. I don’t know when these two regiments plan to
How about launching an attack on the enemy?"
"Before you come here, I have given orders to the two regiment commanders to start operations against the enemy." Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch and continued: "They should be fighting the enemy at the moment.
"
"The strength of the two regiments is too small." Duchenko interrupted and asked: "Do we need to send troops to reinforce?"
"How to reinforce?" As soon as Duchenko finished speaking, he was retorted by Makarenko, "Our troops are still on the way, even if we need to send reinforcements. By the time they arrive, it will be at least noon tomorrow."
"It doesn't matter. The combat effectiveness of these two regiments is extremely strong. I believe they are fully capable of driving the enemy away from the existing area." In order to make the facts more convincing, Sokov emphasized: "One of the regiments,
They have followed me to many places and not only have rich combat experience, but also accomplished many feats. I have great trust in them."
Now that Sokov had spoken to this extent, Duchenko did not want to raise the issue of sending reinforcements, but asked instead: "Then where should our division be deployed after it arrives."
"Look," Sokov picked up the red and blue pencils on the table, tapped twice on the map, and continued: "This is the defense area of the 124th Regiment, which is defended by the 321st Infantry Division; this is the defense area of the 125th Infantry Regiment.
The regiment's defense area will be taken over by the 304th Infantry Division."
"Colonel Sokov, I want to ask." Merkulov, whose face was red, asked with some slurred speech: "Where do you plan to deploy the troops you have replaced?"
"Where else?" Sokov tapped with a pencil to see where the Belkin Regiment and the 122nd Regiment were, and added: "Of course, the two regiments that have been replaced are deployed here. In this way,
We will have enough troops to drive the enemy southward from the existing defensive positions and let the 64th Army troops heading north to destroy them."
Considering the huge role that artillery and tank troops would play in the coming battle, Sokov tentatively asked Makarenko: "Comrade General, do you know the situation of the tank brigade and artillery regiment?"
"Both artillery regiments are 76.2 mm cannon regiments. The total number of artillery is about 42, and each is equipped with two basic ammunition." Makarenko was very familiar with the data Sokov asked, so he opened his mouth:
"As for the tank brigade, they are all equipped with T-34 tanks, about 49 of them."
After listening to the data reported by Makarenko, Sokov calculated in his mind and felt that although the number was a little small, it was still better than nothing. "Comrade General, wait for the tank brigade and artillery regiment to arrive, and we will temporarily settle down."
In your division's defense area, I will inform you specifically when and how they will participate in the battle."
"Comrade Colonel, I would like to ask." Merkulov asked again: "Can such a number of artillery fire suppress the German artillery positions?"
"I think it shouldn't be a big problem." Sokov's original intention was to use the "bayonet on the cannon" tactic to let these cannons fire at close range. Therefore, the fire suppression effect on the German army was better than imagined.
…………
At noon the next day, Sokov received reports from the commanders of each division one after another. They reported one after another that their troops had taken over the defense of the original troops and were seizing the time to repair the fortifications.
"Let the soldiers have a good rest," Sokov thought of the cold weather today. Even if some areas of frozen ground were bombed with artillery shells, they would only be able to leave a white mark. Instead of letting the soldiers starve and freeze, they should not be allowed to survive.
It is more appropriate to rest in their respective shelters. "No one is allowed to go into battle without my order."
"Understood." The commanders of each division who received Sokov's order accepted the order unambiguously. "I immediately asked the soldiers to stop building fortifications and return to their respective shelters to rest."
While Sidorin was on the phone, Anisimov tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade division commander, I don't understand why you don't let the soldiers build fortifications?"
"It's very simple," Sokov explained to the other party: "The temperature outside is too low now and the ground has frozen. If the soldiers are allowed to build fortifications, they will have to use artillery shells to blow holes. Think about it, our soldiers
If you waste the necessary energy to repair the fortifications, you may not be able to repair the fortifications."
"You are right, Comrade Commander." After Sokov's explanation, Anisimov felt that this was indeed the case, so he nodded and replied truthfully: "There is indeed no need to let the soldiers build fortifications.
time, wasting their energy."
At this time, the phone on the table rang again. Sokov picked up the phone and found that it was Chuikov. He quickly and respectfully said: "Hello, Comrade Commander, what are your instructions?"
"Colonel Sokov, I'm calling you to inform you of two things." Chuikov said slowly: "First, the combat group under your command has been formally established and named after you. You will be in charge of it."
The commander of the group, Sidorin, is your chief of staff. The second, and also good news, is about the 304th Infantry Division. The headquarters of the Supreme Command was established in recognition of the achievements of this division in the Great Patriotic War.
Due to their great achievements and the bravery and tenacity they displayed, they were specially converted into the 67th Guards Division."
"Comrade Commander, this is really exciting news." Sokov knew very well that the more news like this, the more morale he would boost the officers and soldiers, so he thanked Chuikov repeatedly and said: "Thank you, Commander."
Comrade Comrade. I will immediately tell the commanders of the entire combat group this good news."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he quickly said to Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, get in touch with Colonel Merkulov immediately. I have good news to inform him."
"What good news?" When Sokov and Chuikov were talking on the phone, Sidorin was immersed in sorting out the battle reports he received. He had no idea what the two of them were talking about. At this moment, after listening to Sokov's instructions, he dialed the phone.
Asked: "Comrade, is this exciting news?"
"Yes, of course it is exciting news." Although the 304th Infantry Division has just been placed under his command, such good news is very helpful in improving the morale of the troops. Without waiting for further questioning, Sidorin took the initiative
Said, "Comrade Commander just informed me that in order to commend the division for its bravery and tenacity in the battle and its great results, the headquarters of the Supreme Command decided to award the division the honorary title of Guards Division and changed it to
67th Guards Division."
"Comrade Commander, this is great news." After figuring out what happened, Sidorin said excitedly: "I immediately called him, Colonel Merkulov, and told him the good news."
After the call was connected, Sidorin said into the phone: "Comrade Colonel, it's me, Chief of Staff Sidorin."
Merkulov asked somewhat displeasedly: "Is there anything else you want to add?"
Sidorin did not care about the other party's attitude, but said with a smile: "I'm calling you because I have some exciting news that I want to tell you immediately."
"Exciting good news?" When Sidorin said this, Merkulov seemed particularly happy: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please tell me quickly."
"We have just received a notice from our superiors." Sidorin said with a smile on the phone: "In order to commend your division for its bravery and tenacity in the battle and the results achieved, the Supreme Command has decided to award you the Guards
The title of the division was officially reorganized into the 67th Guards Division."
"That's great, that's great, that's great." Upon hearing this unexpected good news, Merkulov excitedly said "Great" three times in a row, "Comrade Chief of Staff, thank you. I
On behalf of the commanders and fighters of the entire division, thank you for bringing us such good news."
After Sidorin put down the phone, he asked Sokov with some confusion: "Comrade Commander, it seems a little strange?"
"Strange, why is it strange?"
"According to convention, any unit that changes to a Guards Division and the division commander is a colonel will be promoted to major general." Sidorin asked with some confusion: "Since the 304th Infantry Division has been reorganized into the 67th Guards Division, why?
Why hasn’t the division commander been promoted to the rank of major general?”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, who told you that the commander of the Guards Division must have the rank of major general?" Sokov heard what Sidorin said and said dissatisfied: "Colonel Ivanov and I are both commanders of the Guards Division.
, and he’s just a colonel.”
After being reminded by Sokov, Sidorin immediately discovered that the two division commanders of the Guards Division, whether they were former or current, actually had the rank of colonel and not a general. He couldn't help but blush and quickly changed the subject: "Division Commander"
Comrade, when do you plan to launch the attack on the Central Station?"