But what happened next was different from what Sokov had imagined. While he was sitting in the observation post, waiting for the attack order from the division headquarters, a soldier broke in from outside. As soon as he entered the door, he asked loudly: "Where is the battalion commander?"
"I am the battalion commander." Sokov used the candlelight in the room to see clearly the military rank on the opponent's collar badge. It was a sergeant. He quickly asked: "Comrade Sergeant, what can I do for you?"
The sergeant narrowed his eyes and looked towards Sokov. After he adjusted to the light in the room and saw clearly the rank of the officer sitting at the table, he was sure that this was the person he was looking for. He quickly raised his hand in salute and replied: : "Hello, Comrade Major. I am the communications soldier of the division headquarters. I have been ordered to invite you to the division headquarters."
"Are you going to accept a combat mission?" When Sokov said this, he subconsciously glanced at the phone in front of him, thinking that if Chernyshev had any orders, he could have informed him through the phone, so why bother? It would be unnecessary to send a signal soldier.
The sergeant shook his head and replied: "I'm sorry, Comrade Major, I was just ordered to invite you to the division headquarters. As for what happened, I don't know." After saying this, he paused for a moment and added , "Comrade Major, let's set off now."
Sokov followed the sergeant and left the observation post, bent down and walked along the newly dug communication trench in the direction of the division headquarters. When he was still fifty or sixty meters away from the division headquarters, he suddenly saw several automatic sleds parked in the snow, and he couldn't help but ask the staff sergeant: "Comrade staff sergeant, are there any important people at the division headquarters?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade Major." Although the signal corps sergeant knew who was coming on the automatic sleigh, for confidentiality reasons, he still said vaguely: "I don't know very well."
"Comrade Sergeant, I know you didn't answer me because you wanted to keep the whereabouts of the senior leader a secret." Sokov pointed at the automatic sled parked in the snow: "My troops have used this before. We have planted sleds, and we still know their performance. These few vehicles alone cannot participate in battles, and can only be used to transport senior commanders."
Seeing that Sokov guessed the matter very accurately, the sergeant nodded and gave him a positive answer in a low voice: "Yes, it is Comrade Commander of the Army Group who is here."
When Sokov walked into the division headquarters, he saw that many people were already sitting in the room. Division Commander Chernyshev was sitting at the table, while on the other side were Rokossovsky and Military Commissar Lobachev. . Sokov quickly stepped forward, saluted several people, and reported his arrival. The expressionless Rokossovsky nodded to him, pointed to the side, and said: "Major Sokov, find a place to sit down, we are going to have a meeting soon."
Sokov found a seat in the corner and sat down. He turned around and asked a lieutenant colonel beside him in a low voice: "Comrade lieutenant colonel, the division commander summoned us here. What's the matter?"
The lieutenant colonel turned his head and glanced at Sokov, said nothing, just shook his head, then shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, indicating that he didn't know what was going on.
After waiting for a while, Sokov saw a lieutenant colonel, with his left arm in a plaster hanging on his chest, walking into the headquarters with the support of a health worker. He came to Rokossovsky, broke away from the hygienist who was supporting him, raised his injured right hand to his forehead, and said with some difficulty: "Comrade Commander, Deputy Political Commander of the 291st Infantry Regiment Terebin Ski reports to you..."
Rokossovsky looked at the political deputy commander and asked coldly: "Where is your commander?"
"Sacrificed." After hearing Rokossovsky's question, Terebinsky lowered his head and replied in a heavy tone: "In the battle not long ago, the comrade commander was blown up by enemy shells. Two halves."
Terebinsky's words made everyone, including Sokov, stunned. Especially Sokov. He only knew that the regiment of the 97th Infantry Division had sacrificed six to seven hundred people during the attack, but he did not expect that even the regiment commander was killed.
After listening to Terebinsky's answer, Rokossovsky was silent for a moment and then asked: "Besides you, are there any other regimental commanders?"
"No." Terebinsky shook his head and replied: "I am the only regiment commander left. The deputy regiment commander rushed to the front of the team and was unfortunately killed by a German machine gun."
Rokossovsky sighed softly and said to him: "Comrade Terebinsky, I think your regiment should withdraw and rest first, and let other troops take over your attack."
"Comrade Commander," Terebinsky became anxious after hearing Rokossovsky's plan to send other troops to take over the attack of the 291st Regiment: "Although our regiment suffered one-third casualties during the attack, Commanders and fighters, but the main force of the regiment is still there, and we can continue to perform the main offensive mission. Please do not let other troops take our place, otherwise, how can we be worthy of those commanders and fighters who died on the battlefield."
"Comrade Political Deputy Commander," Chernyshev, who was sitting aside, interjected: "Although you are not under my command, the price your regiment paid in the battle that just ended was too great. If the commanders and soldiers are not allowed to Taking it down for rest may also have a bad impact on morale.”
"Comrade General." Terebinsky looked at Chernyshev and said loudly: "Our regiment also made heavy sacrifices in the battle to defend Smolensk. There are only less than 100 people left in the regiment. Three hundred people. Even in this case, not only did our soldiers not retreat, but even the women who helped us dig trenches bravely stayed on the position. Although those women had never received any military training, He still bravely threw grenades at the oncoming German tanks. When all the grenades were thrown away, he threw rocks. No one took a step back until he died in the end..."
Sokov, who was sitting in the corner, admired Terebinsky in his heart when he heard that he refused to let other troops take over their attack. But when he heard that women without military training were allowed to throw grenades and rocks at German tanks, his eyes when he looked at Terebinsky were full of anger: Facing German tanks, even if they are well-trained The soldiers may not be able to stop it, but you actually let women without any military training blow up tanks. By doing this, aren't you taking human life lightly?
Thinking of this, Sokov suddenly stood up from his seat and interrupted Terebinsky who was making an impassioned speech: "Comrade Commander, can I talk about my thoughts?"
