Seydlitz returned to his army headquarters and immediately ordered his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, inform Dr. Kofis, commander of the 295th Infantry Division, and Major General Sanneh, commander of the 100th Jäger Division, to come to my place. "
After receiving the call, the two German division commanders guessed that Seydlitz must have an important task to deploy and did not dare to neglect. They immediately rushed to the army headquarters as quickly as possible by car.
Seeing his two subordinates coming, Seydlitz nodded to them, and then said: "Gentlemen, the reason why I called you here at this time is because I have an important task to give you. Finish."
Kofis and Sannei looked at each other, and then said in unison: "Please give the order, Your Majesty the Army Commander."
"The Commander just called me to his headquarters and ordered our army to take down the Red October Tractor Factory tomorrow." Seidlitz looked at the two people and said: "Therefore, I plan to carry out this arduous task. Leave it to you two divisions to complete."
"Your Excellency, Army Commander, please forgive my presumption. I think it is impossible to capture the Russian Red October Factory tomorrow." The first person to speak was Major General Sannei. He said with a serious expression: "Responsible for the defense of the Red October Factory." The 39th Guards Division of the Yue Factory belonged to the Russian Guards Division. During the daytime battle, every time we took a position, the Russians would launch a counterattack and engage in a tug-of-war with us. The battle continued until dark, and we could not do anything. It occupies several dilapidated buildings on the edge of residential areas.”
"General Sannei!" Seydlitz waited for Sannei to finish speaking, and immediately asked in a stern tone: "The small unit you sent today has successfully rushed into the factory from the north, why didn't you send the troops in time? Reinforcements? As a result, they were kicked out of the factory by the Russians."
"Your Excellency, Army Commander, please listen to my explanation." When Sannei heard Seidlitz mention this, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He explained in a panic: "I learned that the outflanking troops successfully entered the factory area. I immediately sent a battalion to reinforce. Unexpectedly, when they passed through the residential area, they encountered a tenacious blockade by the Russians and were unable to move forward. As a result, the troops entering the factory area were driven away by the Russians because they were isolated and helpless. come out."
"General Sannei, I now order you to move all your troops to the north of the Red October Factory before dawn." Seydlitz said in a commanding tone: "As soon as our bombardment is over, immediately move to the north of the Red October Factory." The factory area launched an attack.”
After listening to Seydlitz's order, Sanne said hesitantly: "Your Excellency, Army Commander, if our division moves north, will the Russian defense forces also move north?"
"Don't worry, I will never let this happen." After Seidlitz said this, he turned to Koffis and said: "Dr. Koffis, your division immediately stops searching the rear and The main force was transferred to the west of the Red October Factory to cooperate with the 100th Chasseur Division in launching an attack."
When Kofis heard this order, he couldn't help but be stunned, and then carefully reminded Seidlitz: "Your Excellency, Army Commander, our division is clearing out the Russians who have infiltrated into the rear of our army, and I am afraid that we will not be able to participate in tomorrow's attack."
"The latest mission of your division is to assist the 100th Chasseur Division in seizing the Russian Red October Factory. As for destroying the Russians who have infiltrated into the rear of our army, let them go to hell." Seidlitz finished these words. After saying this, he muttered in a low voice: "What the hell, in order to deal with just a few dozen Russians, three divisions were mobilized for a cleanup. Is this really necessary?"
"Your Excellency, Army Commander," since it was an order from his immediate superior, Kofis had no scruples about the overnight transfer of troops to the Red October Factory. However, considering that it was the Soviet Guards Division that was guarding the factory. , he said cautiously: "Although we have two divisions, they are both infantry divisions. It may not be easy to break through the defense line of the Russian Guards Division."
"Dr. Kofis, you don't have to worry about this." Seidlitz waved his hand at Kofis and said disapprovingly: "The commander has transferred General Lensky's 24th Armored Division north to cooperate with our attack tomorrow. .”
Knowing that they could get the cooperation of the armored division in tomorrow's attack, both Kofis and Sanne were secretly relieved. For them, as long as they have a sufficient number of tanks, the Soviet defenses in residential areas will be vulnerable. However, the two of them had no idea when the tanks would be put into the battlefield. Sannei asked tentatively: "Your Excellency, Army Commander, may I ask when General Lenski's armored division will be able to enter the battlefield?"
"The commander ordered the 24th Armored Division to depart from the current station and head north at ten o'clock tomorrow morning." When Seidlitz spoke, he glanced at the map in front of him and continued: "There is only a distance of more than twenty kilometers. Before noon We should be able to arrive. This way, you can get the cooperation of the armored division in the afternoon attack. I hope you can capture the Red October Factory before dark."
As soon as Seydlitz finished speaking, Sannei said with confidence: "Your Excellency, Army Commander, don't worry, we are the only one who attacked the Red October Factory today, and we defeated the Russians to the point where they could no longer hold on." .An armored division and an infantry division will be added tomorrow, which will definitely defeat the Russians. There should be no problem in seizing the entire factory."
But Kofis was obviously not as optimistic as Sanneh. He reminded Seidlitz: "Your Excellency, Commander, the Russians now have a new type of rocket that can be launched in any area. If the armored division is on its way north, Being attacked by this new type of rocket, I'm worried that they will suffer huge losses. Once we lose the cover of the armored division, if we want to seize the Red October Factory, I'm afraid..."
"Dr. Kofis," Seidlitz interrupted Kofis before he could finish his words: "General Lenski is an officer with rich experience, and he will take these issues into consideration. Time. It’s getting late, you’d better go back and gather your troops early, so as not to miss tomorrow’s attack.”
Seeing that Seydlitz didn't care about the question he raised, Kofis couldn't continue talking. He could only sigh softly, raised his hand and saluted him, turned around and walked out of Seydlitz's headquarters. .
…………
It was already daybreak when Sokov came down from the roof. Before the Germans could attack, he called Brischi and Cousteau together and began to study how to set up defenses in the assembly workshop.
According to Sokov's observation, there are reinforced concrete barriers used to block the triangle of tanks around the assembly workshop. Behind the barriers is a dense two-layer barbed wire fence. The long-term firepower point that Cousteau mentioned was built in the middle of these barbed wire fences. The top of the building where the fire point protruded from the ground was only more than one meter high. The target was not large. Unless it was directly hit by a heavy artillery shell, it would be difficult to destroy.
Sokov told Briski: "Comrade Captain, there are two permanent firepower points around the workshop. You will establish machine gun positions there later to prevent the enemy's infantry from approaching the factory."
"Comrade Brigadier," Brisky waited for Sokov to finish and then deliberately reminded him: "We don't have anti-tank weapons. What should we do if German tanks rush over?"
"You don't have to worry about this." Sokov pointed upward with his hand and said: "As long as the German tanks dare to come over, the girls on the roof will use 37mm anti-aircraft guns to beat them all into scrap metal. .”
At this point, Sokov remembered another important thing, and turned to Cousteau and said: "Comrade workshop director, I would like to ask, if you want to give an order to the anti-aircraft artillery battalion on the roof, what method will you use?" ?”
Cousteau didn't know why Sokov suddenly asked about this, and quickly replied: "If anything happens, I will arrange for someone to go to the roof to notify Ulanova."
Hearing what Cousteau said, Sokov looked at him with wide eyes in surprise: "Comrade workshop director, what are you talking about? You always send people to the roof to convey orders?"
"Yes." Cousteau nodded and asked in confusion, "Do you have any questions?"
Sokov pointed at the fire escape on the wall of the factory building and said in a fit of laughter and laughter: "Comrade workshop director, have you ever thought that it would take at least two or three minutes to climb from this fire escape to the roof more than 20 meters high?" That is to say, if you send someone up to deliver the order, it will take at least five or six minutes until the messenger comes back..."
"More than five or six minutes," Cousteau heard this and realized something was wrong: "Including the time spent conveying orders on the roof, it will take ten minutes."
"On the battlefield, every minute is precious. If the orderer cannot convey the order to Ulanova in time, the fighter plane may be delayed." Sokov suggested to Cousteau: "The workshop Comrade Director, I hope you can install a telephone line for the anti-aircraft artillery battalion on the roof. With this direct line, it will be much more convenient for you to communicate with the roof."
"You make sense, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Cousteau immediately agreed with Sokov's proposal: "I immediately contacted the factory and asked them to send someone to install a dedicated telephone line."
Seeing that Cousteau agreed to immediately install a dedicated telephone line for the anti-aircraft gun battalion on the roof, Sokov nodded slightly, and then said to Briskey: "Comrade Captain, once the German army finds that the anti-aircraft gun on the roof poses too great a threat to them, they will definitely If the roof of the factory collapses during shelling or bombing, it is estimated that not many commanders and fighters of the anti-aircraft artillery battalion will survive, and our anti-tank combat strength will be weakened. Now send people back to Mamayev Heights and lead them A batch of new rockets may come in and they may be of great use in the future.”
"Yes, Comrade Brigadier." Briski stood up quickly and replied loudly: "I will send people back to Mamayev Heights to transport the rockets here."
"New rocket?!" Cousteau couldn't help but curiously asked after hearing this: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what are you talking about? Why have I never heard of it?"
The new rocket has just been launched, and it is still a weapon that needs to be kept secret. Therefore, except for the commanders and fighters of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, not many people know about this weapon. Even Chuikov and Krylov only know its name. Never seen the real thing. Even the head of the army group has never seen a weapon. It is normal for Cousteau, a small workshop director, not to understand nature.
Sokov considered that once the new rocket arrived here, if it was to be used, it would be impossible to hide it from Cousteau, so he said generously: "Comrade, workshop director, it is a rocket similar to the Katyusha rocket launcher, but After improvement, it can be launched anywhere. You will know when our soldiers bring the things."
After listening to Sokov's brief introduction, Cousteau was still confused. He thought that the size of this new rocket should be similar to the length of the rocket used by the Katyusha rocket launcher, so he proactively said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, Do you need me to provide you with a transport truck?”
"Do you have a truck here?" When he learned that there was a truck here, Sokov couldn't help but feel ecstatic. He originally thought that he could only rely on the soldiers to carry these rockets back. Now that there are trucks, not only can manpower be saved, but also More rockets can be brought over, he quickly asked: "How many are there?"
"There must be more than a dozen of them." Cousteau explained to Sokov: "Since our place is an assembly workshop, the turrets, barrels, and other parts of the tanks are all transported from other workshops by trucks. of."
Sokov looked into the factory building, but did not see the shadow of the truck, so he asked curiously: "Comrade workshop director, where are you parking the truck? Why didn't I see it?"
Cousteau grinned and replied: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you don't know something. Since the outbreak of the war, we have started to build an underground parking lot here, and trucks are parked in the parking lot. I don't know how many trucks you need?" "
"One is enough." After Sokov said this, he ordered Briski: "Comrade Captain, you immediately send someone and the workshop director to the underground parking lot and drive a truck back to Mamayev Ridge. , ship a batch of rockets over as soon as possible."
"Comrade Brigadier," Briski asked, "I wonder how many bombs need to be transported?"
"Fifty." Sokov replied without hesitation: "Although our superiors only ordered us to stay here for a day or two, no one knows when reinforcements from the east coast will arrive. Prepare more rockets." , which is beneficial to our defense.”
"Understood, Comrade Brigade Commander." Brisky said: "I will immediately send capable personnel to drive back to Mamayev Heights."
"On the way back, let the driver and the soldiers escorting the truck be vigilant." Although the road from the Red October Factory to Mamayev Heights is still under the control of the Soviet army, out of caution, Sokov still Staring at Briskey: "Not only must we avoid German artillery fire and bombing, but we must also prevent being attacked by small groups of enemies on the road."
Regarding the spirit shown by Sokov, Briski said very cooperatively: "Don't worry, Comrade Brigade Commander, I will instruct the soldiers on the mission to safely pull the rockets back here."
