After Sokov reported to Krylov the results achieved by Vasily, he was silent for a moment, and then said cautiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I want to talk to Comrade Commander, is that okay?"
Chuikov's voice soon came from the receiver: "I'm Chuikov, what can I do for you?"
"Comrade Commander, I would like to ask." Sokov asked in an uncertain tone: "Is the army's artillery in the city now or has it been moved to the east bank?"
"The remaining group army artillery has been moved to the east coast, under the command of artillery commander Major General Hogarsky." After Chuikov briefly introduced the situation, he asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, why do you ask this?"
"Comrade Commander, this is what I think about it." Sokov felt that in order to hold on to Mamayev Hill, artillery support must be obtained, so he said into the microphone: "There are plains in front of Mamayev Hill. If the Germans could use cannon fodder to block their attack on the high ground, it would definitely cause them huge casualties."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I have also considered asking the artillery on the left bank to provide us with artillery support." Regarding Sokov's request, Chuikov said with some embarrassment: "But many of the commanding heights in the city are occupied by the Germans. , our artillery observers could not find a suitable position to indicate the direction of the artillery bombardment."
"Comrade Commander, have you forgotten that Mamayev Hill is the commanding heights of the city. Standing on the top of the hill, you can have a bird's eye view of the city." Sokov, who was eager to get artillery support, couldn't wait to remind Chuikov: "Artillery Observers can use the observation post on the top of the south hill or the remaining water tower on the top of the north hill to indicate the direction of the artillery attack for the artillery on the east coast."
The reason why Chuikov originally moved the artillery to the east bank was because he was worried that after the enemy rushed into the city, the army's artillery would be completely destroyed. Therefore, not only the artillery was moved, but even the army's artillery commander Major General Hogarski also came to the other side of the river. At this moment, when he heard Sokov's reminder, his eyes suddenly lit up: Yes, if we talk about the commanding heights, where else in the whole city can compare with Mamayev Hill? Mamayev Hill is equivalent to Lenin Hill in Moscow. Standing on it, you can have a bird's eye view of the entire city.
Therefore, he only hesitated for a moment and then said into the microphone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, what you said makes sense. We can completely deploy the artillery at Mamayev Heights, and use them to direct the artillery on the other side to attack targets and consume The effective strength of the German army."
After Chuikov ended his call with Sokov, he immediately called Yulin, the director of the communications corps, and asked bluntly: "Comrade Colonel, can we communicate directly with the other side now?"
Yulin hesitated for a moment and replied: "Comrade Commander, the wired telephone may not be working. All the telephone lines leading to the other side have been blown up and cannot be repaired in a short time. If you want to get in touch with the other side, You can only communicate by telegraph or wireless communication. However, I need to remind you that the effect of wireless communication is not ideal, and many times you cannot hear the other party clearly. "
"I have something urgent to contact General Hogarski." Chuikov was eager to ask Hogarski to send several artillery observers from the other side to the city, so he urged Yulin: "Comrade Colonel, please get me through to the other side immediately. Telephone."
Yulin and his men struggled for a while before establishing contact with the artillery headquarters on the other side. Hogarski heard Chuikov's voice coming from the earphones and quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, what are your instructions?"
"General Hogarsky," Chuikov shouted into the microphone: "Immediately send artillery observers to Mamayev Hill, establish an observation point there, and indicate the direction of artillery bombardment for the artillery on the east coast. Got it. ?"
When the artillery was transferred to the east coast, Hogarski was very reluctant because he would have to leave the army headquarters and would not be able to share hardships with Chuikov and others. During the period when he came to the east coast, he had nothing to do all day, giving instructions every day to maintain the artillery deployment. Even if he wanted to provide artillery support to the other side, he could not order the artillery fire without the guidance of the artillery observer.
At this moment, when he heard that artillery observers were to be sent back to Mamayev Heights, he immediately replied excitedly: "Comrade Commander, please rest assured that I will arrange manpower as soon as possible to return to Mamayev Heights and establish our artillery there. Observation point."
After Hogarski came to the east coast, he established a good friendship with the logistics director of the front army headquarters, in order to allow the artillery observers to go to Mamayev Heights as soon as possible. He found the other party and negotiated for a small speedboat to allow the two groups of artillery observers to return to Mamayev Heights by boat in the shortest possible time.
In his headquarters, Sokov was surprised when he heard Seryosha reporting to him that artillery observers had arrived at Mamayev Hill. He had thought that he would have to wait until the second day. Oh my god, it turned out that these artillery observers arrived that night. He quickly ordered Seryozha: "Seryozha, invite the responsible comrades over."
A few minutes later, an artillery lieutenant followed Seryosha and walked quickly into Sokov's headquarters. After raising his hand to salute Sokov, he said politely: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, we were ordered to go to Mamayev Hill to establish an artillery observation point. Please send someone to assist us."
"How many of you are here?" Sokov asked with concern while shaking hands with the other party: "What kind of communication equipment are you bringing?" He asked this because there is no phone to the other side on Mamaev Post. However, when making wireless calls with the walkie-talkie placed in the tunnel, the effect is not ideal.
"We have ten people here, and we plan to divide them into two groups. We will establish an observation point at the south and north hills of Mamayev Hill." The artillery second lieutenant replied: "We carry walkie-talkies with special channels that can directly communicate with the other side. Artillery call."
"Ten people?" Sokov asked in surprise: "So many people are here?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," the artillery second lieutenant explained to Sokov: "Since we need to establish observation points on the north and south hills of Mamaev Hill at the same time, we came with two groups of people, one group of five people, two There are exactly ten people in the group.”
Sokov nodded as if he understood, and then told Seryosha who was standing aside: "Comrade Lieutenant, please send someone to take the artillery comrades to establish an artillery observation point. Maybe it will be used at dawn."
Seryosha nodded, then walked up to the artillery lieutenant and said politely: "Comrade second lieutenant, please come with me. I will serve as your guide." The artillery lieutenant straightened his body and raised his hand to salute Sokov. After that, he turned around and followed Seryozha out of the headquarters.
