Within five minutes, Grisa's call back arrived.
After reading the contents of the telegram, Sidorin frowned and reported to Sokov: "Lieutenant Grisa reported that they now have two radio stations, 21 combatants, and no wounded. Their location is the same as that of Mama. There is about a German division's strength between Jevgan, and if we have to force our way back, casualties may be inevitable."
"There are no wounded?" After listening to Sidorin's report, Sokov asked with some confusion: "Grissa's troops have been depleted so much, how can there be no wounded?"
"I think there are two possibilities." Xidorin explained: "One is that they placed the wounded in the local village, so that after the wounded recover from their injuries, they will have the opportunity to return to the army..." At this point, Xidorin Duolin suddenly stopped without warning. He did not continue, but just sighed softly.
Seeing that Sidorin stopped inexplicably mid-sentence and kept sighing, Sokov asked in confusion: "Chief of Staff, why don't you continue?"
"There is another possibility." Sidorin said with a painful expression: "In order to cover the retreat of the troops, the wounded comrades stayed behind to perform the task of breaking the rear, and in the end they all died heroically."
Regarding the two possibilities Sidorin mentioned, Sokov preferred the second one. After all, the land between the Don River and the Volga River was now under the control of the Germans. Those damn SS troops wanted to cut it off. The connection between local residents and the guerrillas often haunts villages and small towns everywhere. Once wounded Red Army soldiers are discovered somewhere, it is possible to kill all the people there. Under such circumstances, how could anyone dare to take in our wounded soldiers?
What Sokov knew about the situation was also known to Sidorin and Belkin. Belkin saw that Sokov had remained silent after Sidorin analyzed the situation. He guessed that he must be in a dilemma, so he tentatively said: "Comrade Brigade Commander, you must know that the villages and towns near Karachi are all German Man, it is not safe for Grisa and the others to stay there. Otherwise, let them find a way to return to Mamayev Heights. Even if there are sacrifices along the way, it is still better than staying there and annihilating the entire army."
Sokov knew very well why Belkin said this. Grisa and the others were in the middle of the enemy. If they were not careful, the entire army would be destroyed. As for returning to Mamayev Heights, although there will be certain dangers along the way, no one will be able to come back, right?
"The political commissar is right," Sidorin agreed: "Although there will be some casualties if Griza and the others are allowed to withdraw, it is better than letting them stay in Karachi and destroy the entire army."
Sokov remembers Karachi because this place became an escape route for the Germans two months later. As the Soviet army occupied Karachi, more than 300,000 German troops were surrounded in the Stalingrad area. He secretly thought: "Since Grisa and the others will be in danger if they return, if they are not allowed, let them stay in Karachi. When the major counterattack begins, they can also be allowed to assist the friendly forces in cutting off the enemy's retreat."
After making up his mind, Sokov said to Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, call Grisa back so that they don't have to return to Mamayev Heights and find a way to hide in Karachi."
"What, let them stay in Karachi?" Hearing Sokov's order, Sidorin couldn't help being stunned: "Comrade Brigadier, if Grisa and the others continue to stay in Karachi, there will be a danger of the entire army being destroyed. .”
"Could it be that if we let them return to Mamayev Heights at this time, there is no danger of the entire army being destroyed?" After Sokov said these two sentences, he realized that he had acted too harshly and was worried that Sidorin would be harmed. No, he coughed lightly and tried his best to explain to the other party in a calm tone: "Karachi is an important transportation hub. The Germans have heavy defenses there. It is indeed very dangerous for Griza and the others. But as long as Grisa and the others don't take any big actions and provoke the enemy, it won't be that easy for the enemy to discover the twenty or so people lurking in their defense zone."
Having said this, Sokov held the tea cup on the table, took a sip of water, and continued: "Also, I asked Grisa and the others to lurk in Karachi because after our army's major counterattack began, maybe there would be It will become the only escape route for the German army, and then Grisa can assist the friendly forces to occupy it and cut off the enemy's escape route."
"Comrade Brigadier, please forgive me for my bluntness." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Sidorin continued: "I know that in a few days, our army will attack the Mamayev Hills and the Red October Factory at the same time. The enemy launched a counterattack, but I think our army can push the enemy back ten or twenty kilometers at best. It is almost impossible to reach Karachi on the edge of the Don River."
Hearing what Sidorin said, Sokov immediately realized that the other party had misunderstood what he meant. He quickly waved his hands and said: "Chief of Staff, you are mistaken. The major counterattack I am talking about does not mean that it will start in a day or two. It is a counterattack, but a major counterattack jointly carried out by the Don Front and the Stalingrad Front."
But Sidorin, who had seen too many failed counterattacks, was obviously not as optimistic as Sokov. He looked at Sokov and said with a serious expression: "Comrade Brigadier, there are no outsiders here, I want to tell you something from my heart. Judging from the current situation, I have no hope that our army can hold Stalingrad..."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin!" Belgin, who has always been a bystander, immediately burst out when he heard what Sidorin said: "You are talking about defeatism..."
Sokov didn't want his two deputies to argue about this kind of thing, so he quickly raised his hand to interrupt the two of them, and said: "Political Commissar, Chief of Staff, don't speak, just listen to me."
After seeing both of them calm down, he continued: "Yes, since the enemy came to the city, our army has launched many counterattacks, but without exception they ended in failure. There are many reasons for failure. I am here I won’t analyze them one by one with you. But I want to tell you that at this time last year, the situation in Moscow was equally critical, so much so that the headquarters had to transfer General Zhukov, who was far away in Leningrad, back to command the Western Front. After experiencing After countless failed counterattacks, didn’t the major counterattack launched by our army on December 6 drive the enemy far away from Moscow? Since we were able to defeat the armed forces last year despite insufficient preparation and backward equipment, We are enemies to the teeth, so why won’t the same history repeat itself in Stalingrad?”
After Sokov finished speaking these impassioned words, a sound of applause suddenly came from the door: "Well said, very well said!"
Everyone's attention was immediately attracted to the person speaking at the door. When Sokov saw the person clearly, he was suddenly startled and broke into a cold sweat. He quickly ran forward and asked respectfully: "Comrade Military Commissar, Why are you here!"
The person standing at the door talking was Front Army Military Commissar Khrushchev. While shaking hands with Sokov, he said with a smile: "Aren't we going to launch a counterattack against the enemy in two days? I came here specially to take a look and see if there is any There’s nothing I can do to help.”
Sokov never dreamed that Khrushchev would come to his headquarters at this time, and in the daytime, risking enemy bombing and long-range artillery fire to cross the river. He couldn't help but nervously said: "Military Commissar Comrade, the enemy has a tight blockade of the Volga River. If you have any instructions, just make a phone call or send a telegram. There is no need to risk traveling there in person."
"If I hadn't come here in person, how could I have heard with my own ears the true thoughts of the commanders and soldiers!" Khrushchev raised his right hand and patted Sokov hard on the shoulder twice, then said in an approving tone. : "Seeing that you are so confident in guarding the city makes me feel relieved."
Since it was Khrushchev who came to inspect in person, Sokov naturally couldn't let him stand at the door forever, so he quickly let him into the room, and then personally poured him a cup of hot tea and placed it in front of him.
Sidorin, who was standing aside, was already frightened. He originally just complained in front of Sokov and Bergin, but who knew that the Military Committee of the Front Army would suddenly appear. He thought pessimistically, maybe the accompanying guards would rush in, take him away from the headquarters, and then send him to a military court.
After Khrushchev picked up the tea cup and took a sip of hot tea, he looked at Sidorin and asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what position do you hold in the infantry brigade?"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov thought that Khrushchev was going to hold Sidorin accountable, so he quickly said: "He is my chief of staff, and what he just said may be a bit inappropriate. But you also know that in the defense of During the battle of Stalingrad, our forward commanders were all nervous, and sometimes they complained just to relieve the pressure..."
But what happened next was obviously not as pessimistic as Sokov imagined. Khrushchev waved his hand at him and said: "Okay, Colonel Sokov, you don't have to say anything. I heard everything the lieutenant colonel said, but I didn't mean to blame him. Like you just said, people sometimes complain to relieve stress."
Khrushchev's words immediately made Sokov feel relaxed. As long as he did not hold Sidorin accountable, he would be thankful. If he really took Sidorin away, he would not be able to find a suitable candidate. Come to take over Sidorin's position.
Although Khrushchev said that he was just here to take a look, Sokov knew very well that in the upcoming counterattack, he would supervise the battle here as a leader and handle some emergencies in a timely manner. However, as a participant, Sokov so far does not know when the counterattack will begin or which troops will be involved, so he cautiously asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, can I ask on what day our counterattack against the enemy will begin?" start?"
"According to Commander Yeremenko's idea, we should start a counterattack against the enemy tomorrow." Khrushchev replied: "But because the troops on the east coast have not yet been assembled, our counterattack time has to be postponed. Today After dark, Colonel Gurdiev's 308th Infantry Division can begin to cross the river and then assemble at the Red October Factory. Another infantryman participating in the battle will also cross the river tomorrow night."
As soon as he heard the number of the 308th Division, Sokov remembered that after the last successful breakout from the unknown highland north of Orlovka, the division only had a thousand men left. If these troops were used to attack, it would not be enough. , couldn't help but worry and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, Colonel Gurdiev's troops have been severely reduced in the early battles, and the remaining total strength is less than one regiment. Even if they participate in the counterattack, they will not be enough to pose a threat to the enemy. What a threat."
"You were talking about the 308th Division a few days ago." Khrushchev said with a smile: "After a few days of replenishment, the total strength of the division has reached 9,000 people. In this counterattack, it will be A force to be reckoned with.”
In a few days, nearly 8,000 people were added. It seemed that the strength of the army had become stronger, but Sokov knew very well that the commanders and soldiers in the army rushed into battle before they had time to get to know each other. I am afraid that in the future The strength exerted on the battlefield will inevitably be greatly reduced. But seeing that Khrushchev was so optimistic about this army, he couldn't say anything more, so he could only keep his mouth shut and remain silent.
After Khrushchev finished talking about the 308th Division, he looked at Sokov and asked: "Colonel Sokov, how many troops can your brigade invest in this counterattack?"
Sokov was silent for a moment and replied with some embarrassment: "I'm sorry, Comrade Military Commissar, I'm worried that our brigade may not be able to participate in the battle in the next counterattack."
"Why!" The smile on Khrushchev's face gradually disappeared.
"Today the Romanian army launched a large-scale attack on Beigang. Due to the lack of ammunition for the defenders, after running out of bullets, they had to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy..." Sokov described the battle that took place in Beigang today. He made a detailed report to Khrushchev and finally said: "Currently, there are only a thousand troops capable of defending Mamayev Heights. If we deploy more troops to participate in the counterattack, then this place will become empty of troops. Once we Our counterattack failed to achieve the desired results, and if the enemy launched a counterattack in the area where we attacked, then Mamayev Heights would be in danger of falling."
As the military commissar of the front army, Khrushchev naturally knew the importance of Mamayev Heights in defending the city. After thinking for a long time, he asked: "Colonel Sokov, tell me honestly, if your troops are to participate in the counterattack, how many additional troops do you want your superiors to give you?"
In his heart, Sokov wished that his superiors would replenish him with 100,000 or 80,000 troops, but this was obviously unrealistic. If he said this, Khrushchev might just pick up the tea on the table and throw it at him. Sokov quickly glanced at the tea cup in front of Khrushchev, and could vaguely see the faint white smoke coming out. He then said cautiously: "Five hundred is not too little, and ten thousand is not too much. The main thing is It still depends on how many troops the front army headquarters can provide us."
After listening to what Sokov said, Khrushchev was silent for a long time again. When he spoke again, he seemed a little hesitant: "The superiors have sent us another reserve team, but it will not arrive until the night after tomorrow at the earliest. If this team is replenished to you, it means that our attack will have to be It can’t be postponed until the day after tomorrow.”
"Comrade Military Commissar, I can boldly ask." At this moment, Sidorin finally summoned the courage to ask: "How many troops are there in this reserve team?"
Set a small goal first, such as remembering in 1 second: Shukeju
