Khrushchev did not let Sokov wear the medal, but asked bluntly: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, do you know why we called you here?"
Sokov was not a tapeworm in Khrushchev's belly. He could not guess why the other party called him here, so he shook his head and replied truthfully: "I'm sorry, Comrade Military Commissar, I don't know."
"Come here!" Khrushchev took off the lamp hanging on the pillar, came to the wall, pointed at the map on the wall, and said to Sokov: "Just as you were crossing the river, the Germans were attacking Austria. A fierce attack was launched on the unknown heights north of Erlovka."
"Unnamed heights?" When Sokov heard what Khrushchev said, he was stunned for a moment, then he was shocked, and then he asked tentatively: "Comrade Military Commissar, you mean the one I occupied when I led my troops to break through. German positions.”
"Yes, that's right there." Khrushchev nodded and continued to introduce Sokov: "Last night, we received a telegram from General Rokossovsky and learned that you were breaking out of the encirclement. , occupying an important stronghold north of Orlovka. If the troops of the two fronts move there at the same time, it is possible to achieve a rendezvous. After consulting the Supreme Command, the commander issued a new order to Chuikov The battle order asked him to immediately send troops to Orlovka to prepare to join the friendly forces heading south."
When Sokov heard this, he was still confused. He felt that since the position had been handed over to friendly forces, what would happen next had nothing to do with him. His first priority at the moment is to lead his troops back into the city to strengthen the defenses of Mamayev Heights to prevent it from being occupied by the German army.
Khrushchev did not notice Sokov's absence, but continued: "Chuikov gathered his troops and attacked in the direction of Orlovka; while Rokossovsky also took advantage of the night to attack the unknown heights. A large number of troops were mobilized in the direction. The enemy noticed our actions and immediately sent people to contact the troops stationed on the unknown heights. Only to find that the place had long been lost, so they mobilized heavy troops to Orlovka overnight, and after dawn, to Unnamed Heights launched an attack.”
From Khrushchev's narration, Sokov finally understood what happened. When he led his troops to leave the unknown highlands, he knew that sooner or later the enemy would find that his position had changed hands, but he did not expect that it would be exposed so soon. After he waited for Khrushchev to finish speaking, he asked cautiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, are the positions still in our hands now?"
"Yes, the commanders and fighters of the Don Front are still holding on to their positions." Yeremenko, who was standing aside, interjected: "In order to prevent us from joining forces with friendly forces, Paulus dispatched a large number of tanks and aircraft to try to recapture Wuming. High ground. In just one hour, thousands of artillery shells and aircraft bombs fell on the unknown high ground, turning up the soil on the entire position. The enemy thought that our defenders had been hit by their artillery shells and aircraft bombs. After the bombs were eliminated, tanks opened the way and guided the infantry towards our position."
Although Yeremenko had told Sokov that the position was still in the hands of friendly forces, when he heard this, the thought that the unknown high ground had been lost flashed through his mind. He waited for Yereomenko to finish speaking before asking: "Comrade Commander, the casualties of the 298th Division must be quite large."
Yeremenko nodded and said with a painful expression: "The 298th Division repelled two German charges in a row, but their casualties exceeded half. Even the division commander Vasilyev was injured."
"Ah, General Vasilyev is injured?" Sokov heard that the commander he knew was injured, and asked with concern: "Is his injury serious?"
"I didn't ask about this in detail." As the commander of the front army, Yereomenko naturally would not care about the injury of an ordinary division commander. He shook his head and continued: "But I didn't hear what Rokossovsky said. If the commander of the division is to be replaced, he must still be able to stay on the battlefield and command the battle."
Sokov secretly murmured in his heart that it was only a matter of time before the German army launched an attack on the unknown heights. Now that he has handed over his position to friendly forces, even if the fighting there is in full swing, what does it have to do with him?
With this question in mind, he asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, I wonder if you have informed me to come to the headquarters. Do you have any instructions?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, let me explain it to you." Seeing Sokov asking this question again, Khrushchev took the initiative and said: "Based on the German military messages we intercepted and the information fed back by the scouts, A conclusion was drawn: the German army had transferred its troops northward that were originally intended to attack the Dzerzhinsky workers."
The German army was about to concentrate its superior forces to storm the Dzerzhinsky factory. Sokov knew a little bit about the inside story. He was still worried about what Chuikov would do if he saw that the 37th Guards Division standing there could not withstand the German attack. There will be no one who will let himself be a firefighter and lead the troops to reinforce. At this moment, when I heard Khrushchev said that the enemy's troops were being transferred northward, an expression of surprise immediately appeared on his face: "Comrade Military Commissar, if the enemy's troops are really transferred northward, doesn't it mean that the number of enemies in the factory area will be reduced, and we will Will the pressure on our troops be greatly reduced?"
"You are right, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Yeremenko said with a smile: "The enemy's forces moved northward, and the strength they used to attack several factory areas was weakened. We considered that we could use this Give the Germans another chance to counterattack."
"What, you still need to fight back?" Sokov was so surprised when he heard what Yereomenko said, his jaw almost dropped to the ground. He thought to himself that the scars were so healed that he forgot about the pain. The counterattack he had carried out a few days ago was just They were beaten to a pulp by the Germans, and before they could take a breath, they were eagerly preparing to launch a new counterattack. He immediately realized that the fact that Yereomenko and the others brought him here must be related to this new counterattack.
Sokov's guess was soon confirmed. Khrushchev put a hand on his shoulder and said kindly: "Misha, after repeated research, we feel that if we want to do it in a short time, The most suitable place to launch another counterattack against the Germans is the area around the Mamayev Hills and the Red October Factory where your infantry brigade is holding."
Knowing that his superiors were indeed preparing to launch a counterattack against the Germans in the area he was responsible for, Sokov felt his scalp numb and thought that without air support or tank cover, he would just rely on his own troops. If thousands of infantrymen want to counterattack the German army, it will be like hitting a stone with an egg.
After Khrushchev finished speaking, seeing that Sokov had not expressed his position for a long time, he smiled and asked: "How about it, Misha, do you have confidence in this counterattack? I think if your father is still alive, he will definitely be able to Complete all tasks assigned by superiors satisfactorily.”
Sokov was planning to raise objections to the plan, telling Khrushchev that they did not yet have the conditions for a counterattack. Unexpectedly, he heard that the other party brought up his "father" whom he had never met before. In order not to embarrass his "father", he had to swallow the words that came to his lips.
He coughed lightly and said euphemistically: "Comrade Military Commissar, to launch such a counterattack, we need at least tens of thousands of troops, and we also need the cooperation of artillery, tanks and air force. But now, I only have two men." Three thousand people, and there is no cooperation from the air force and tanks..."
"Don't worry, Misha. We won't let you fight alone." Khrushchev comforted Sokov: "After being replenished, Colonel Gurdiev's 308th Infantry Division will join forces with Lyudnik Colonel Husband's 138th Infantry Division will enter the city together to participate in your counterattack. Moreover, the troops attacking from the direction of the Red October Factory will be supported by tanks."
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov asked respectfully after Khrushchev finished speaking: "Since there are several troops involved in this counterattack, who do you plan to put in command?"
Khrushchev pointed at Sokov and said: "No matter what, that is your territory. Before the German army attacked Stalingrad, your troops have been stationed there and are most familiar with the terrain. So this I think it is most appropriate for you to direct this counterattack."
Seeing that Khrushchev had indeed entrusted him with such an important task, Sokov said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Military Commissar, I'm afraid it's not appropriate for me to command the troops. The other commanders of the troops participating in the war are all colonels, and I am just a lieutenant colonel, and I am asked to command a group of commanders with higher military ranks than myself. I have no experience in this area."
"Don't think I don't know what's inappropriate. Several of your commanders have the rank of colonel." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Khrushchev exposed his lie: "Since you think your military rank is too low, let's adjust it for you."
When Khrushchev said this, he winked at Yeremenko who returned to the table. The latter nodded after seeing it and said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, since you are fighting against the invaders of Faxi Temple, In the battle, you have shown bravery and heroism, as well as achieved great results. In addition to awarding you the Order of the Red Banner, you will be officially promoted to the rank of colonel."
Unexpectedly, Sokov had just received the Order of the Red Banner, and before it was warm in his arms, he would be promoted to colonel. Things happened so fast that he felt as if he was in a dream.
Seeing Sokov standing there in a daze like a goose after hearing the news of his promotion to the military rank, Khrushchev and Yeremenko looked at each other and smiled, then stretched out their hands to him and said sincerely: " Misha, I congratulate you on your achievement of a higher military rank."
Khrushchev's words made Sokov wake up from his shock. He quickly held the other person's hand and said excitedly: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Military Commissar."
Set a small goal first, such as remembering in 1 second: Shukeju
