In the evening, the troops who came to take over the defense arrived belatedly.
Sokov stared at the troops crossing the river on the other side of the hillside, called Askel over, and asked: "Comrade Captain, are the troops crossing the river your 292nd Division?"
Unexpectedly, Askel raised his telescope and looked at it for a while, then shook his head and said: "No, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the unit that is crossing the river is not from our 292nd Division."
"What, not your division's troops?" Sokov heard what Askel said and quickly shouted to Samoylov who was standing aside: "Second Lieutenant, let the soldiers prepare for battle!"
"Wait a minute, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Askel quickly stopped Sokov: "Although they are not from our 292nd Division, among the people crossing the river, there happened to be a few whom I knew. It should be from the 298th Division."
Knowing that it was the 298th Division, Sokov let out a sigh of relief and said to Samoylov who had not had time to walk away: "There is no need for the soldiers to prepare for battle. Those who are crossing the river are the 298th Division." Commander."
The commanders and soldiers who crossed the river did not immediately ascend the hillside, but lined up along the river. Sokov saw several commanders walking up the hillside under the protection of a dozen soldiers. Askel, who was standing nearby, quickly said to him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, look, it's Major General Vasilyev, the commander of the 298th Division."
Although Sokov commanded several colonels, he was only a lieutenant colonel after all. Now a general was walking up the hillside. It would be too ignorant for him to stand still in the trench. Sokov looked around and saw that Bely, Gurdiev and others were not there, so he decided to go alone to greet Vasilyev.
Sokov met Vasilyev along the slope, and when he was still more than ten meters away, he stopped, stood at attention, raised his hand to his forehead, and said loudly: "Comrade General, , Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, reports to you, I follow your orders, please give instructions!"
After Vasilyev raised his hand in return, he stepped forward and held Sokov's hand. He said with a smile: "It's not easy, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. It's really not easy for you. We have been attacking for several days and we can't win." It took you only one hour to capture the position, which is really amazing."
Faced with Vasilyev's compliment, Sokov grinned silently, and then replied: "Comrade General, we were just lucky and caught the Germans off guard."
Vasilyev looked at the commanders and soldiers who were still busy on the hillside and asked curiously: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, are these all your subordinates?"
"You can be considered one of my subordinates."
"If they are your subordinates, they are your subordinates," Sokov's answer confused Vasilyev: "How do you say they are your subordinates?"
"That's it, Comrade General." Sokov explained: "I have only one battalion of troops directly under my command, and they have escorted the wounded to the rear in the morning. The ones who are left to build fortifications on the hillside now are Colonel Gurdiev's 308th Infantry Division."
The two of them were talking and unknowingly arrived at the trench on the top of the hillside. Vasilyev leaned down and looked down the hillside, and said with emotion: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the terrain here is too dangerous. If you hadn't captured this place by surprise, we wouldn't have known how much sacrifice we would have to make."
"Yes," Sokov nodded and said: "The offensive troops must first brave the enemy's artillery fire and machine gun fire to forcefully cross the river. After successfully crossing the river, they can then rush up the steep hillside. And stick to the hillside. The enemy at the top can wait for a while and use firepower to kill our attacking troops from a high position."
"Our long-range artillery fire cannot hit the enemy's firepower points at all." Vasilyev said with a wry smile: "If we fire it far away, the shells will fly over the enemy's position; if we fire it close, the shells will fall on the hillside and explode. , unable to hit the enemy's target at all. But when we launch an attack, the enemy on the high ground can kill every target that appears in their field of vision like target practice."
"Comrade General," Vasilyev asked tentatively when he saw that the sky was getting dark and Vasilyev was still discussing the fortifications with him, "Are your troops here to take over the defense?"
"Yes, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, our division is here to take over the defense." Vasilyev looked at Sokov and asked: "Can you hand over the defense to me now?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade General, it's not possible for the moment. Because the troops holding the position are not under my command." Sokov knew that after leaving this position, the 308th Division might be separated from his command, so he had to make it clear first Responsibility, "I will ask Colonel Gurdiev to come over and let him hand over the defense to you."
After speaking, Sokov shouted to Samoilov who was standing not far away: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, call Colonel Gurdiev and ask him to come here and tell him to take over their defense." Friendly forces have arrived."
When Samoilov went to make a call, Sokov asked Vasilyev: "Comrade General, do you have any tank soldiers in your division?"
"Tank soldiers?!" Vasilyev nodded and replied: "Yes. There are two tank brigades of tank soldiers. All the tanks were lost in the battle, so they were converted into infantry and put under my direct command."
"It's great that you have tank crews in your division."
"Great, what is great?" Vasilyev asked in confusion: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, can't you find a tank for them?"
"You guessed it right, Comrade General." Sokov nodded vigorously, "There are still about a dozen tanks on our position, because the tank soldiers have to move with me, but these tanks cannot be taken away. Since your men have Tank crew, then I will hand over all the tanks to you."
Vasilyev turned his head and glanced at the commanders who followed him into the trench, and said casually: "Does any of you know where the comrades of the tank brigade are? Ask them to come and receive the tanks?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a lieutenant said first: "Comrade division commander, I know where the comrades of the tank brigade are. I will go find them right away."
The lieutenant left, and Gurdiev appeared in the trench. When he saw Vasilyev standing in front of Sokov, he quickly stepped forward to salute and said: "Hello, comrade general, I am Colonel Gurdiev, commander of the 308th Division, and I am here to hand over the defense to you. .”
"Is there a defense plan?" Vasilyev asked.
"Yes, I will show it to you immediately." Gurdiev took out a square drawing from his briefcase and unfolded it to introduce the defense situation of the entire position to Vasilyev.
After listening to Gurdiev's explanation, Vasilyev took the drawing and prepared to find a place to sign for it. A staff officer hurriedly stepped forward, bent down with his back to Vasilyev and said, "Comrade division commander, put the drawings on my back."
Vasilyev put the drawing on the back of his staff and wrote on the paper: "The 298th Division took over the defense of the position from the 308th Division. Signed: Vasilyev!"
After doing all this, Vasilyev stretched out his hand to Gurdiev and said friendly: "Comrade Colonel, you and your men can leave after my troops enter the position."
