Panteleev originally thought that Sokov was from the Don Front, so he only planned to give him two to three hundred new soldiers in a symbolic way. After all, so many troops had suffered huge losses and were in urgent need of supplementary soldiers. If it weren't for Malinin After saying hello to himself, he probably didn't even have the chance to greet these two or three hundred people.
He couldn't help but be stunned when he learned that Sokov's troops were holding on to Mamayev Heights. He stared at Sokov for a while, then turned to Orel and asked: "Comrade General, do you mean that we have broken through the German encirclement and joined forces with the defenders in the city?"
Orel naturally understood the reason for Benteleev's question. He waved his hand and said: "No, we have not yet been able to break through the German encirclement and join forces with the friendly forces in the city." He glanced quickly at Solo Kokov continued, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov broke out from the direction of Orlovka with a remnant of his troops."
Knowing that neither internal nor external attacks had broken through the enemy's siege, Benteleev showed a disappointed expression on his face: "So, the friendly forces' counterattack in the city failed to succeed?"
"Comrade Colonel, although our counterattack failed this time, it does not mean that the next counterattack will not be successful." Sokov felt that at this time, he should come out and say a few words, "Sooner or later we can defeat the attackers who attack Stalingrad." enemy."
"Colonel Benteleev," Orel knew very well that Malinin asked him to accompany Sokov here because he was worried that Panteleev might embarrass Sokov on the issue of troop recruitment. At this moment, seeing that the other party was resisting, he urged: "I have urgent matters to rush back to the headquarters. Please call the battalion commanders of each recruit battalion quickly."
Benteleev said with an embarrassed look: "General Orel, I only have more than 4,700 people in my hands. If I add 4,000 people to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov at once, then other troops will come to ask for people. what do I do?"
Orel thought about it carefully and realized that this was really the case. Pantylayev was responsible for replenishing the troops. He only had so many troops. If he replenished them all at once to Sokov, other divisions and brigades would The commander comes here to replenish troops, what should he do? Thinking of this, he asked reasonably: "Comrade Colonel, how many people do you think can be given to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?"
Benteleev turned to look at Sokov, and after thinking for a long time, he raised a finger and said: "One thousand people."
"No, it's too few." Orel rejected the figure proposed by Bentaleyev without hesitation: "The fighting in the city is so fierce. If a thousand people go in, they will all be defeated in less than a day." All gone. I think, at least three thousand people."
Hearing what Orel said, the muscles on Benteleev's face twitched violently for a few times, then he stretched out a finger and said with difficulty: "Two thousand people, no more."
"Three thousand." Orel insisted: "This is the limit, it can't be any less."
Seeing Orel's tough attitude, Bentaleyev quit. He stood up, took off the belt from his waist, and threw it on the table. The gun holster on the belt hit the table with a loud bang, which startled Orel. He stared at the belt and gun holster on the table and asked angrily: "Comrade Colonel, what do you mean, don't you want to do it?"
"Yes, General Orel, you are right. I will no longer do such offending things. Whoever is willing to do it, let him do it!" Panteleev said with his head held high: "I I would rather be a battalion commander and lead the soldiers to charge on the front line than work hard here."
Bentaleyev wanted to take over, but it was a bit beyond Orel's expectations. If he really quit, there would be no suitable candidate to take over his job in a hurry. So Orel could only turn his head and look at Sokov and asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, what did you think about it?"
Sokov heard Malinin say last night that there was a sailor unit from the Northern Fleet under Benteleev. Since it is no longer possible to get more than 3,000 recruits from here, Sokov plans to bring all the sailors over. He believes that the combat effectiveness of more than 1,000 sailors can definitely beat the other 3,000-plus army recruits.
He coughed lightly and asked tentatively: "Comrade Colonel, I would like to ask if you have a sailor unit from the Northern Fleet under your command?"
Orel saw that Benteleev still looked angry, so he walked to him, put his hands on his shoulders, pressed him down on his seat, and said to him: "Comrade Colonel, please Lieutenant Colonel Koff has a question for you."
"Yes," Panteleev nodded and said: "There is a Marine Corps battalion of 1,300 people. The battalion commander is Captain Shamrih, the political deputy battalion commander Shapovarenko, and the deputy battalion commander Yakov Navy Captain.”
"Comrade Colonel," after confirming that Benteleev did have a marine force in his hands, Sokov decided to take them under his command and said in a consultative tone: "Can you see if you can Give me this Marine Corps battalion and I won’t need any other soldiers?”
"Well," Bandeleev said with some embarrassment in response to Sokov's request: "Among these newly added soldiers, this unit has the strongest combat effectiveness. If I give it to you, other units will come. Yes, I’m not easy to talk to.”
"Comrade Colonel, the reason why the Marine Corps battalion's combat effectiveness is strong is that they are a whole." In order to persuade the other party, Sokov emphasized: "If you assign them to other units for command, they will face the possibility of being split up. , then the combat effectiveness of the troops will be severely weakened."
"Colonel," Orel saw that Sokov had taken the initiative to make concessions and did not ask for 3,000 or 4,000 men. As long as the Marine Corps battalion commanded by Captain Shamrih felt that his choice was very correct, Then he helped and said: "Since Lieutenant Colonel Sokov only has one Marine Corps battalion, you will have more than 3,000 soldiers left in your hands. If the commanders of other units come to you, you don't have to worry about not having the soldiers to supplement them." worry."
Bentaleyev looked at Orel and then at Sokov, tapping his fingers quickly on the table, thinking about whether he should hand over this army to Sokov. After thinking about it for a while, he stopped with his fingers, looked up at Sokov and said: "Okay, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I will ask Captain Shamrih to come here. If he has no objections, you can This force can be taken away.”
Shamrih received a call from Benteleev and immediately rushed to the office with his two deputy battalion commanders. After Bentaleyev and the other three saluted, he introduced Orel, who was sitting beside him, to them, and then said: "Captain Shamrih, I called you here to tell you that the 73rd Infantry Brigade The brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, wants you to join his unit. I want to hear your opinion."
Since Bentaleyev did not introduce Sokov to the three of them, Shamrih had no idea who Sokov was. He looked at Benteleev and asked: "Comrade Colonel, I don't know where I can see Lieutenant Colonel Sokov."
"Here," Bentaleyev said, pouting at Sokov who was standing next to him, "he is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov."
"What, he is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?" When Shamrih entered the door, he saw Sokov standing behind Orel, but seeing that he was too young, he thought he was Orel's adjutant or something. So I didn’t pay too much attention. When I heard that the other party was actually a brigade commander, I couldn’t help but be shocked: “You are so young.”
When Sokov heard what Shamrih said, he smiled awkwardly and said, "Yes, I am Sokov. Captain Shamrih, nice to meet you." After that, he extended his arms to the other party. Take action.
Shamrih first raised his hand to salute Sokov, then stretched out his hands, took Sokov's hand, and said politely and distantly: "Hello, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel."
"Captain Shamrih," Orel, who was sitting next to him, saw that Shamrih seemed not interested in Sokov, so he decided to help Sokov, and said to Shamrih: "Sokov Lieutenant Colonel Cove was just a corporal when the war broke out, but because of his outstanding ability and countless meritorious service in battle, he was promoted by his superiors. Since there are no outsiders here, I might as well tell you that the commander of the front army General Rokossovsky had expressed to him many times that he hoped that he could stay in the Don Front and even promote him to general, but he refused without hesitation and still wanted to return to the city to fight with his soldiers. Fight alongside."
Orel's words shocked Shamrich greatly. At first, he thought that Sokov could become a lieutenant colonel at such a young age. It must be due to some nepotism. But after listening to Orel's words, he realized Everything Sokov is today is entirely the result of his own efforts. Especially when I heard that Sokov would rather give up the rank of general that was easily available in order to return to the city and fight alongside his soldiers.
Shamrih's attitude toward Sokov unknowingly changed, and he no longer resisted becoming Sokov's subordinate. On the contrary, at this moment, he could not wait to hope that Panteleev could assign his troops to Sokov's command, so that he could follow the new commander into the city.
"Captain Shamrih." Seeing Shamrih's delay in speaking, Bentaleyev took the initiative to ask: "What did you think about, whether to stay or follow Lieutenant Colonel Sokov into the city? "
"Comrade Colonel," Shamrih made up his mind to follow Sokov to the city. Therefore, he answered Panteleev resolutely: "I am willing to follow Lieutenant Colonel Sokov to the city to fight against the German devils."
Hearing Shamrih express his willingness to follow him into the city, Sokov felt ecstatic in his heart. Orel stood up and said to Bentaleyev: "Comrade Colonel, since Captain Shamrih has decided, you should prepare a barge for them as soon as possible so that they can get to the city as soon as possible."
Although it took time to prepare the barge and assemble the troops, Orel saw that the purpose of his trip had been achieved and considering that there were still many things waiting for him at the headquarters, he said goodbye to Sokov. He held Sokov's hand, shook it vigorously twice, and said solemnly: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you should pay more attention to safety. I hope to see you alive and kicking on the day of victory." "
"Don't worry, comrade general." Sokov was quite moved by Orel's concern: "I will definitely work hard to live. Not only will I live to see the enemy who attacked Stalingrad defeated, but I will also see us. The bright red flag was flying over Berlin."
After breaking up with Orel, Sokov and Bely took the First Battalion and the Guard Battalion to the ferry, waiting for the arrival of the Marine Battalion. While waiting, Bely said to Sokov: "Misha, after the Marine Battalion arrives at Mamayev Heights, how do you plan to place them?"
Sokov's original idea was for the Marine Corps Battalion to hold the North Post. Their strength was relatively sufficient, and they could provide timely rescue when there was danger in the South Post or the Red October Factory in the north. But on second thought, although this unit has relatively strong combat effectiveness, they are not familiar with the environment in the city and do not understand their own combat style. They may be exhausted in a few days. Therefore, he planned to wait until he returned to Mamayev Heights to discuss with the deputies at the brigade headquarters how to deploy this unit.
At this moment, when Bely asked about this matter first, Sokov stated his thoughts, and then asked: "Colonel Bely, do you have any good suggestions?"
"That's what I thought about it." Seeing Sokov humbly asking for advice, Bely didn't hide his secrets, but said proactively: "Don't you have four battalions under your command? You can divide the commanders and fighters of the Marine Corps battalion into two hundred people." As a group, they are organized into four battalions. The remaining people will be used as troops directly under the brigade. This arrangement can ensure the combat effectiveness of the troops, and you will also have a mobile unit in your hand that can be flexibly controlled. "
"Colonel Bely, what you said makes so much sense." Regarding Bely's suggestion, Sokov thought for a moment and then decisively agreed. Arranging according to Bely's instructions will eliminate the need to adjust the troops' defense zones and increase the combat effectiveness of the existing troops. It is indeed a good way to kill two birds with one stone: "After we return to Mamayev Hill, we will follow this ways to allocate forces."
Vanya saw that the conversation between Sokov and Bely was almost over, so he walked over, pointed to a barge parked on the pier, and asked curiously: "Comrade Brigadier, let's take this barge and enter the city directly." ?"
"This is not possible." Sokov waved his hand and said: "Although taking a boat down the river from here to reach Mamayev Heights is the shortest route, the middle section of the river is in the area blocked by German artillery fire. We Going down directly will definitely cause heavy casualties, so we need to cross the river to the other side first.”
