Perhaps to reassure Sokov, when the rockets were transported to the other side of the Volga River, Vitkov made a special phone call to Sokov at the front headquarters.
Vitkov said on the phone, "Comrade Brigadier, we have successfully arrived at the front headquarters. However, since the German air force and artillery have blocked the river very hard, for the sake of safety, I plan to wait until dark. Transport the rockets across the river.”
"That's great, Comrade Colonel." Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he learned that the rockets could be transported from across the river after dark. However, he did not get carried away. Instead, he tried his best to control his emotions and said to Vitko The husband said, "When you cross the river, you must pay attention to safety and minimize the casualties of the troops."
"Don't worry, Comrade Brigadier." Vitkov said confidently. "On the way back to the left bank from Kamishin, I made an agreement with the commander of the Volga Fleet. They will send the best sailors and the best sailors." Ship, help us transport these rockets to the other side."
Knowing that Vitkov and his companions had received help from the Volga Fleet on their way to transport ammunition, Sokov quickly said in an official tone, "Comrade Colonel, please express your gratitude to the sailors of the fleet on behalf of the commanders and fighters of our entire brigade." !”
"Comrade Brigadier, I will do it, don't worry."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he called Sidorin over and said to him, "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately notify the squadrons of each battalion to be sent to the enemy's rear. The original departure time is cancelled. The new departure time will be waiting for me." notify."
Sidorin looked at Sokov in confusion and asked, "Comrade Brigadier, what happened? Why did you suddenly change the departure time of the team?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said with some pride, "Colonel Vitkov just called and said that the rockets have been transported to the headquarters of the front army and they will be shipped by ship just after dark."
When Sidorin heard that the rockets had reached the other side, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately guessed the reason why Sokov wanted to change the team's departure time. "I understand, Comrade Brigadier, you changed the team's departure time, is that right?" In order to wait for the deputy brigade commander to bring the rockets over, so that each team can bring a few rockets."
"You guessed it right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing that Sidorin had guessed his intention, Sokov said with a smile, "I plan to let each team bring a launcher and ten rockets, so that they Once behind enemy lines, we can attack German headquarters, camps, warehouses and other important targets from a safe distance."
When Sidorin heard what Sokov said, he immediately imagined the image of Golya and the others using rockets to destroy the German regiment headquarters. Then he nodded and said, "Comrade Brigadier, if every detachment that goes deep behind enemy lines , if rockets are used to attack important targets in the rear of the German army, the enemy may fall into complete chaos."
"The enemy is in chaos, which is really what we want to see." Sokov said with a smile on his face. "In this way, they will have no extra strength to continue launching attacks on Mamayev Heights or other important military installations." Attacked. And we can use this precious time to strengthen fortifications and rest our troops, waiting for the next round of counterattack."
Hearing Sokov mention a counterattack, Sidorin couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and then asked tentatively, "Comrade Brigade Commander, have you heard any news that our army is going to launch a counterattack against the enemy?"
"I stay with you in this headquarters every day, and a lot of the news I heard was conveyed to me by you." Sokov looked at Sidorin and said jokingly, "Things you don't even know. How could I possibly know!"
Sidorin smiled sheepishly, and then asked Sokov, "Comrade Brigadier, when do you think your superiors will launch another counterattack against the German troops in the Stalingrad area?"
“In early September, three armies commanded by Zhukov launched a counterattack from the north of Stalingrad. However, due to insufficient preparation, the offensive forces lacked sufficient artillery support and did not have air superiority, so our counterattack ended in failure. "Sokov did not directly answer Sidorin's question, but talked about the two failed counterattacks at the beginning of the month." A few days later, General Rokossovsky's Stalingrad Front launched again from the northwest. Attack, and Commander Chuikov also pieced together several divisions of troops and cooperated with the opponent inside and outside. Unfortunately, this counterattack ended in failure."
Hearing this, Sidorin felt that he seemed to understand something, and asked cautiously, "Comrade Brigadier, if I guess correctly, you mean that if our army launches a counterattack in a hurry, it will be due to lack of preparation. As a result, the counterattack failed. If you want to achieve a successful counterattack, you must spend a long time accumulating strength and hoarding supplies needed for combat?"
After Sokov waited for Sidorin to finish speaking, he gave him a thumbs up, "Comrade Chief of Staff, your analysis is correct. If our army's counterattack is to be successful, it will take one or two months to assemble Troops and stockpiles of materials needed for combat, and then attack the enemy when fully prepared, so that the victory is more certain."
"Then how long do you think we have to wait before the big counterattack that determines the final outcome can come?" Sidorin asked in an uncertain tone, "One month, two months, or longer?" "
Sokov remembered that the Soviet army launched a counterattack against the German army from different places on November 18th and 19th, which was still almost two months away. So he pretended to be thinking hard for a long time, and finally said to Sidorin, "I think according to the speed of our army's accumulation and the transportation of supplies, we can carry out a powerful attack on the German army in late November." counterattack."
"Ah, we have to wait until late November?" Hearing Sokov said this, Sidorin showed a disappointed expression on his face. "I really didn't expect that we would have to wait for so long."
"There is no way, Comrade Chief of Staff, the preparations for a large corps battle are quite complicated, and the time it takes will not be too short. I said waiting until late November is already very fast. If it doesn't go well, maybe It will be delayed until early December..."
"Early December?!" Sidorin heard this and couldn't help but interrupt and asked, "Comrade Brigadier, tell me, will the counterattack in the Stalingrad area be at the same time as the counterattack under Moscow last year?"
"I don't know about this either." Sokov was unwilling to continue discussing this issue with Sidorin. He raised his hand to look at his watch and urged, "Chief of Staff, call each team quickly to avoid unnecessary trouble." They had already set off behind enemy lines before the rockets arrived."
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