Sidorin put down the phone and reported to Sokov, who was sitting next to him with Vitkov: "Comrade Brigadier, the commander just reminded us on the phone that the enemy may use superior forces to encircle and suppress the small forces we sent behind enemy lines. Detach. What do we do now?”
"What else can we do?" Sokov had expected that the small team would be encircled and suppressed by the German army, but he did not expect that the enemy's reaction would be so great. They would actually stop the attack on Stalingrad and attack from the front. Deploy troops to carry out encirclement and suppression. However, under the current circumstances, I have no ability to help these troops. I can only think of ways to remind them and keep them vigilant enough so that they can survive longer in the enemy's rear. "Immediately send a message to several squads." Report, let them rely on the terrain to deal with the enemy, and actively look for fighter opportunities, turning the enemy's rear upside down."
When Sidorin heard that the decision made by Sokov was very similar to Chuikov's arrangement, he nodded quickly and said: "Okay, Comrade Brigadier, I will send a report to the team and ask them to immediately use the terrain and The enemy maneuvers and actively looks for fighter opportunities to strike hard at the enemy."
After Sidorin walked away, Vitkov said with emotion: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I really didn't expect that you just sent four small squads to the enemy's rear, with only 60 people in total, but you could easily disrupt the German army. The original deployment. So much so that they had to stop attacking the city and deploy troops to the rear to clear out our troops."
"Alas, what a pity." After waiting for Vitkov to finish speaking, Sokov sighed softly and said, "If we have enough strength now, we can take the opportunity to launch a counterattack in local areas and remove the enemy from the city. Drive them out and drive them far away."
Hearing Sokov say this, Vitkov couldn't help but blush, and thought to himself: He is not talking about me, is he? I took command of him for half a month, and the infantry brigade suffered more than 3,000 casualties. If the infantry brigade still has nearly 5,000 people, it can launch a counterattack against the enemy in the Mamayev Hills area... He was thinking As he stood, he heard Sokov continue to say: "The effective strength of the group army was exhausted in the two counterattacks at the beginning of the month. Otherwise, with the cooperation of the artillery on the other side and the rear air force, we would gain a certain advantage in local areas. Or Very possible."
When Vitkov heard this, he realized that Sokov was not talking about himself, but about the army units, and couldn't help but smile to himself. Seeing the smile on his face, Sokov couldn't help but asked strangely: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, why are you smiling?"
Naturally, Vitkov would not tell Sokov what he was laughing about, but changed the topic and said: "We prematurely consumed all the effective strength we had finally accumulated in this ineffective counterattack. As a result, we waited for Germany When the people resumed their attack, they found that we did not have enough power to stop them, and as a result, most areas of the city were occupied by the enemy in a short period of time."
"Comrade Deputy Brigadier," Sokov thought that Vitkov was summarizing the two failed counterattacks in early September, and echoed: "Our army's counterattack was organized very hastily and lacked the necessary material supplies to support the counterattack, which led to the failure of the counterattack troops. It was impossible to carry out effective operations. As a result, the counterattack not only failed to succeed, but also resulted in the consumption of precious manpower and a large amount of equipment lost and captured by the German army."
After Sidorin finished calling the squad behind enemy lines, he came over and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, the telegram has been sent. Whether these troops can survive the German encirclement and annihilation depends on their luck. .”
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov nodded and said affirmatively: "We have done what we should do. What will happen next? Can the commanders and fighters of the team complete their mission safely? Returning from the enemy's rear depends on their respective luck."
…………
The German army temporarily stopped its attack on Stalingrad, which relieved the Soviet commanders and fighters who were stationed in the city. Even Yeremenko on the left bank of the Volga River was discussing this issue with Khrushchev: "Military Comrade committee member, tell me what's going on? The German army launched an attack across the city yesterday, why is there no movement at all today?"
Khrushchev was also puzzled by this situation. He said to Yeremenko: "Comrade Commander, the troops outside Stalingrad do not seem to have taken any offensive actions. How could the enemy stop attacking and continue to attack?" In some forward areas, the troops were withdrawn. What on earth is going on?"
Yeremenko spread his hands, shrugged, and said, "I don't know either." He paused for a moment and asked Khrushchev tentatively: "How about we call the Supreme Command and find out what's going on? what's going on?"
"I don't think there is any need to call the Supreme Command," Khrushchev shook his head and said, "They all learn about the situation in Stalingrad through us. They probably don't know what happened today." thing."
"I think Chuikov should know what's going on." Seeing that Khrushchev objected to calling the Supreme Command, Yeremenko thought for a while and felt that Chuikov should be the one who knows the situation best on the battlefield. After all, the troops staying in the city , which is the 62nd Army commanded by Chuikov. Thinking of this, he suggested to Khrushchev again: "Krushchev, I think it's better to call Chuikov and ask what happened in the city."
"I agree." After Khrushchev agreed to Yereomenko's proposal, he took the initiative: "I will call Chuikov right now to find out what happened in the city."
Chuikov was surprised to receive a call from Khrushchev. After hearing the other party's question clearly, he quickly replied: "Comrade Military Commissar, I was planning to report this matter to you. According to our analysis, the reason why the enemy acted today The attack will be stopped, which may have something to do with the small team sent by the 73rd Infantry Brigade last night."
"The 73rd Infantry Brigade?!" Khrushchev heard this familiar number and asked tentatively: "Is it Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's unit? I want to ask how many people he sent to the enemy's rear last night , actually forced the Germans to stop attacking the city?"
"Not many people." Although Chuikov didn't know the specific number of people in the team, he still replied: "There are probably only a few dozen people, divided into four teams, going deep into the enemy's rear from different areas. Since each team The detachments all carry new rockets, so they achieved good results last night and early this morning."
"Comrade Chuikov," he heard that the small teams that went deep behind enemy lines were all carrying new rockets. Khrushchev seemed to understand something, so he interjected and asked, "If I am not wrong, the results achieved by the small teams are all Is it related to the rockets they carry?"
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, this is exactly the case." After Chuikov briefly reported the results of the battle he knew to Khrushchev, he said: "Now the enemy may be aware of the threat posed by the small team to them. , Therefore, we suspended the attack on the city today and mobilized troops from the army area to the rear to carry out encirclement and suppression."
"The team did a good job!" Khrushchev said approvingly after hearing the results of the team: "Their positive actions completely disrupted the German offensive deployment and firmly held a considerable part of the German army's effective forces. , thus reducing the pressure on the city’s defenders.”
"Comrade Military Commissar," Chuikov said worriedly, worried about the safety of the commanders and soldiers fighting behind the enemy lines: "The enemy has mobilized troops from the front line, but to encircle and suppress them, they will surely be surrounded by the enemy, which may lead to the destruction of the entire army. Appear."
However, Khrushchev did not express any concern for the safety of the small unit behind enemy lines as Chuikov imagined. He only said: "Comrade Chuikov, troops deep behind enemy lines should be prepared to make sacrifices when accepting tasks. .As long as they complete the tasks assigned to them by their superiors, even if they are all sacrificed, their death will be considered worthwhile. I have an idea. Since you send troops deep behind enemy lines, you can disrupt the German offensive deployment. Once they are active behind enemy lines, The squad has been annihilated by the enemy. You should immediately send out new squads so that the enemy cannot concentrate on attacking the city. Do you understand what I mean?"
Hearing that Khrushchev did not care about the life and death of his commanders and soldiers, Chuikov was somewhat chilled, but after hearing his question, he instinctively replied: "I understand, Comrade Military Commissar, I will continue to send operations to the enemy's rear A small team to harass the enemy in order to disrupt the enemy's combat deployment."
…………
Paulus stopped the attack on Stalingrad and mobilized troops from the front to clear out the Soviet troops in his rear. The news quickly spread back to Berlin and reached Hitler's ears. This short man with a toothbrush beard was furious after hearing the news. His face looked extremely ferocious because of his rage. He shouted hysterically at several senior generals in the room: "Who is Paulus?" What do you think? He has already stepped into Stalingrad, but he stopped the attack at this time. Doesn't this give the Russians a chance to breathe?"
He pointed his hand at Chief of General Staff Zeitzler, who had just replaced Halder, and said in a short and urgent voice: "You call Paulus immediately and order him to launch an attack on Stalingrad immediately. You Tell him that the attack on Stalingrad cannot be stopped for a moment. We will turn this city into ruins, then flood it with the water of the Volga River, turning this place into a swamp without human habitation..."
Hitler did not like the General Staff to be led by someone with strong independence. He wanted this position to be occupied by someone he could trust and who would always be completely subordinate to him. Zeitzler happened to meet this criterion, so Just after Halder was relieved of his post, Zeitzler was immediately appointed chief of the general staff.
Zeitzler did not dare to refute, but asked respectfully: "My head of state, General Paulus's rear is threatened by the Russians. If we continue to attack the city, how should we deal with those damn Russians?"
"Zeitzler, what's wrong with you? Didn't you read the intelligence sent back from the front line?" Hitler said angrily to Zeitzler: "Based on the intelligence analysis, the Russians who pose a threat to Paulus' rear are not It was a small force from Mamayev Kurgan, and he only needed to use a small amount of the 71st, 76th and 295th Infantry Divisions to destroy them."
Zeitzler knew that Hitler had an amazing memory. He could clearly name the numbers of the forward troops and the names of their commanders. Now that he said this, he must have had a more comprehensive idea, and he quickly asked for instructions: "My Führer, I beg you for more detailed orders to be conveyed to General Paulus."
Hitler expressed satisfaction with Zeitzler's respectful attitude, and the anger on his face receded somewhat. He walked to the wall, picked up the explanatory stick and said to Zeitzler: "The troops currently attacking Mamayev Heights are the 71st, 76th and 295th Infantry Divisions. It was these three troops that were attacked by the Russians. , asking Paulus to draw troops from these three divisions to eliminate the nasty Russians in his rear. He was ordered to immediately use the 16th Armored Division, the 60th Motorized Rifle Division, the 389th Infantry Division and the 100th Chasseur Division. , launch an attack on the factory area north of Stalingrad; use the 24th Armored Division, 94th Infantry Division, 14th Armored Division and 29th Motorized Rifle Division to attack the urban area of Stalingrad from the south. It must be done on October 1 Take Stalingrad before that day."
"Understood, my Führer." After recording Hitler's order, Zeitzler bowed slightly to the other party and said respectfully: "I will immediately convey your order to General Paulus."
When Hitler heard what he said, he waved his hand at him impatiently and motioned for him to send a telegram quickly. Zeitzler bowed his waist slightly, took a few steps back, straightened his back, turned around and walked out of the office.
Ten minutes later, Paulus received a telegram from the German High Command in Berlin. After reading it, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. Then he called Schmid in, handed the telegram to the other party, and said: " Chief of Staff, look, this is a telegram sent by the Führer from General Zeitzler, Chief of the General Staff, telling us to immediately resume the offensive in the Stalingrad area."
"But, Your Excellency, Commander." Schmid took the telegram. Before he could read it, he heard Paulus say this and quickly reminded him: "If we continue to attack Stalingrad, then the Russians behind us will How to deal with it, you must know that their threat is too great."
"The head of state ordered," Paulus said to Schmid: "Except for suspending the offensive in the direction of Mamayev Heights and using the troops to consult the Russians in the rear, the fortifications against the Russians in the rest of the areas must be resumed immediately. Take Stalingrad before January 1st."
"What?! Capture Stalingrad before October 1st?!" Schmid heard this order and couldn't help but said with a smile: "Your Excellency, Commander, today is September 28th. Given the current situation, Look, I don’t think it’s possible to capture the entire city in two days.”
"This is the order of the head of state." Paulus said helplessly: "Even if we know that we can't do it, we still need to try hard. Okay, chief of staff, you go and convey my order and let the troops mentioned in the telegram , immediately resume the offensive against the Russians."
