The four teams that went deep behind enemy lines used the rockets they carried to cause considerable casualties to the German troops in different areas. After dawn, reports of Soviet attacks in different areas were placed in front of Paulus.
Paulus put on his reading glasses. After reading these reports carefully, he raised his head and looked at Chief of Staff Schmid, who was standing opposite him, and asked in confusion: "Chief of Staff, the survivors of the attacked troops all said in unison. He said that they were attacked by Russian artillery fire. I would like to ask what kind of artillery the Russians used to attack our army. You must know that their artillery positions are twenty or thirty kilometers away from the location of the attack. They What artillery can shoot that far? Also, if they were shelling at close range, why didn’t our soldiers notice when their artillery passed through our defense line?”
"Your Excellency, Commander," Schmid waited for Paulus to finish, but did not answer the question immediately. He immediately and respectfully reported to the other party the attack on a regiment headquarters two days ago: "Two days ago, the 295th A regiment headquarters of the infantry division was attacked by the Russians, and the regiment headquarters and the garrison were completely destroyed in the attack."
After listening to the chief of staff's report, Paulus couldn't help frowning. He took off his reading glasses and threw them on the table. He said unhappily: "One of our regiments was annihilated by the Russians. Why didn't anyone report it to me?" This news?"
"The report of Dr. Kofis, commander of the 295th Infantry Division, in order to find out how the Russians attacked the regiment headquarters, he sent specialized personnel to conduct an on-site investigation." Schmid said cautiously: "According to the on-site investigation The result: the Russians used rocket launchers to carry out the attack, and they also discovered the launch site of the rocket launchers nearby."
"This is impossible." Paulus couldn't help shouting when he heard this: "The regiment headquarters of the 295th Infantry Division are all in positions where our army's defense depth is more than ten or twenty kilometers. At such a long distance, How could our soldiers not detect the Russian rocket launcher vehicles that entered our defense lines?"
"Your Excellency, Commander, the rocket launchers used by the Russians who carried out sneak attacks on our army are different from the rocket launchers we know." Schmid analyzed to Paulus based on the various information he had: "This It should be a new type of rocket. The launcher has a simple and lightweight structure and is highly maneuverable. After the launch is completed, it can be transferred immediately so that our army cannot detect the location of the Russians."
Paulus tapped his fingers lightly on the table, thinking about how to deal with this new Soviet rocket. After a long time, he stopped with his fingers, looked up at Schmid and asked: "Chief of Staff, is there any way to eliminate the small Russian force behind our army?"
"Your Excellency, Commander." Schmid knew very well that if the Soviet squad continued to attack important targets unscrupulously, it would have a negative impact on the concentration of troops and thus affect the next phase of the operation. He said cautiously : "How about we deploy troops to clear out areas where traces of the Russians are found, and then resume the frontal attack after these damn Russians are eliminated?"
Paulus hummed, thought for a moment, and said: "After a long battle, our troops were greatly reduced in strength and weapons and ammunition were also very depleted, so we ordered them to temporarily stop the attack and stick to the occupied positions. At the same time, elite troops will be mobilized to clear areas where the Russians are infested. It is necessary to eliminate the threats in the rear of our army before the start of a new round of offensive. Now I have arranged to mobilize troops to encircle and suppress the Russians. Please note the number of the troops... …”
Schmid quickly and respectfully agreed, picked up the record book and wrote down the unit number Paulus said. After finishing recording, he asked Paulus again: "Your Excellency, Commander, when should the suppression of the small Russian army begin?"
Paulus raised his hand and looked at his watch: "The encirclement and suppression operation will officially start at 12 noon today. You should tell the division commanders below that if you don't want to be attacked by the Russians in the middle of the night, expand the search area. "After speaking, he waved his hand to Schmid, signaling him to carry out his order immediately.
As Paulus's order was issued, the German army's planned attack on the Soviet army was stopped. Many troops who were preparing to participate in the attack were transferred back to the rear to participate in the encirclement and suppression of the Soviet army detachment.
The German army's unusual movements were quickly noticed by the Soviet army. After receiving the report, Chuikov looked at Krylov and asked in confusion: "Chief of Staff, tell me why the German attack stopped?"
Krylov was also confused about the unusual behavior of the German army: "What the hell, no matter how many casualties the German army suffered, their attack never stopped. This is the first time I have seen this situation today."
Gurov, who rarely expressed his opinions, couldn't help but interjected: "Could this be a conspiracy?"
"What conspiracy?" Krylov asked rhetorically: "It is indeed a puzzling thing for the German army to stop attacking the city, but what conspiracy could they have?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, do you think the Germans will pretend to stop the attack in order to create a false situation for our army and make us feel that they are unable to launch another attack on the city." Gurov said his judgment without any scruples. : "This will allow our military to relax its vigilance so that we can be caught off guard in the future."
"This is impossible." Regarding Gurov's statement, Krylov immediately expressed his objection: "If the Germans deliberately show weakness to us, aren't they worried that we will counterattack them?..."
Krylov's words reminded Gurov. He slapped the table with his hand and said with a look of enlightenment: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I understand that the Germans are deliberately showing weakness to us by stopping their attack on the city. Trying to induce us to attack them, so that they can systematically annihilate our army's effective forces in the city. When our army's strength is almost exhausted, they can launch an attack on the city again, which will have the effect of getting twice the result with half the effort."
Chuikov did not participate in the debate between Krylov and Gurov. He vaguely felt that the abnormal actions of the German army today may be related to the small team sent by Sokov last night. Thinking of this, he raised his hand to stop Krylov and the others from continuing to argue, and said, "Don't argue anymore. I think this matter may have something to do with Lieutenant Colonel Sokov."
"It has something to do with Sokov?!" Chuikov's words confused the two of them. Krylov asked in confusion: "Comrade Commander, why do you say that?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, do you remember my call to Sokov last night?"
Hearing what Chuikov said, Krylov vaguely remembered that he seemed to have spoken to Mamayev Gang, so he nodded in affirmation, and then asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, if I am not wrong, what do you think the German army will do today?" Stopping the attack, does it have anything to do with the team Sokov sent last night?"
"Well, that's what I think." Chuikov nodded in affirmation. He picked up the phone and asked the operator to call Mamayev Gang. He wanted to know the actual situation for himself.
After the call was connected, although he heard Sidorin's voice coming from the receiver, Chuikov did not bother to greet the other party. Instead, he asked straight to the point: "Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin, I want to ask, what did you do yesterday?" Any news about the teams sent out late?"
A moment later, Chuikov heard Sidorin's trembling voice due to excitement: "Yes, Comrade Commander, we have just received telegrams from several teams. They have all achieved good results."
"Oh, we have achieved good results?!" This may be the good news Chuikov wanted to hear most. He quickly asked: "Comrade Sidorin, tell me quickly!"
"Comrade Commander, let me briefly introduce to you the results achieved by each squad." Sidorin picked up the battle report on the table and said into the microphone: "The squad of the first battalion attacked before dawn. A German troop transport convoy destroyed seven or eight trucks and two tanks, probably causing the death of hundreds of German soldiers; a team of the second battalion fired two rockets at a German material transfer station, causing The entire transfer station was plunged into a sea of flames; the squad of the fourth battalion used rockets to attack a German military camp. Due to the distance, the results could not be counted, but the enemy suffered at least dozens of casualties; the squad of the 192nd Battalion... …”
After Chuikov listened to Sidorin read the battle report with great interest, he said with a smile: "Well done, your soldiers are all great. I didn't expect that in just one night, they caused so much damage to the German army." ." At this point, he suddenly remembered that the German army did not launch an attack today, and asked curiously, "Comrade Sidorin, did the enemy opposite you do anything unusual?"
"Abnormal behavior?" In response to Chuikov's question, Sidorin thought for a while and then replied: "According to the observation post report on the top of the hill, the enemies on the front of our army showed signs of mobilization. It seems that there is something wrong with their rear. "
"I understand, Comrade Sidorin." Chuikov, as an excellent senior commander, could judge the movements of the German army from some clues. At this moment, he heard Sidorin say that the enemy in front of Mamaev Hill was moving towards After mobilizing the rear, he guessed what happened: "The enemy mobilized their troops to the rear, probably to encircle and suppress the small team you sent, so that they had to temporarily stop their attack on the city."
Knowing that the enemy was about to take action to encircle and annihilate the small team that was deep behind enemy lines, Sidorin became a little anxious: "Comrade Commander, what should we do?"
"You immediately send a telegram to the squad to ask them to be more vigilant." Chuikov told Sidorin: "We must use the terrain to deal with the enemy and avoid being surrounded by the enemy."
