"Before I came to the city, I discussed the early fighting situation of the 41st Guards Division with the commander." Seeing Sokov's confused look, Khrushchev explained to him: "After discussion, we agreed We believe that various signs indicate that Colonel Ivanov is not a suitable division commander. If he is allowed to lead his troops to defend Mamayev Heights, I am afraid that the chance of losing it will be greatly increased."
"Therefore, we have formulated two plans." Khrushchev raised his right hand and extended a finger: "The first plan is for you to serve as the deputy division commander and assist Ivanov in his work."
After listening to Khrushchev's explanation of the first option, Sokov asked noncommittally: "What about the second option?"
"The second option," Khrushchev pointed at Sokov with his hand, said: "You will serve as the commander of the 41st Guards Division, and Ivanov will serve as the deputy division commander."
Although he was appointed as the division commander, Sokov was still unsure. He was deeply afraid that the commander of the division would disobey his command, so he asked: "What about the political commissar and chief of staff of the division?"
"The division political commissar is the battalion-level political commissar Anisimov," Khrushchev introduced to Sokov: "He is a very experienced political worker, and I believe he will be able to cooperate with your work well. "
"As for the choice of chief of staff," Khrushchev glanced at Sidorin standing next to him and said, "Let Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin take up this position."
Seeing that both he and Sidorin had received new positions, but Brigade Political Commissar Belgin was not mentioned, Sokov continued to ask: "Comrade Military Commissar, I don't know how you plan to place Political Commissar Belgin."
Khrushchev knew that Belkin was Sokov's old partner, so he did not make a hasty decision. Instead, after staring at Belkin for a while, he said: "I think, let Comrade Belkin stay." He serves as the deputy political commissar of the division and concurrently serves as the director of the division’s political department.”
Unexpectedly, as soon as Khrushchev finished speaking, Belkin took a step forward, straightened his back and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, before I became Colonel Sokov's deputy, I also served as a chief military officer. If you If you trust me, can you please give me command of the reduced regiment?"
When Khrushchev just mentioned reducing the infantry brigade into a regiment, Sokov was still secretly considering the candidate for the regiment leader. After recalling the situations of several battalion commanders, he selected 1st Battalion Commander Vanya, 2nd Battalion Commander Vasily, and Marine Corps Battalion Commander Shamrih. However, after carefully comparing the three of them, I felt that although they each had their own strengths, they were still lacking in ability when it came to commanding a regiment.
At this moment, when he heard that Belkin had recommended himself, his eyes lit up. Belkin has been partnering with him for almost a year. Not only do they cooperate well with each other, but they are also familiar with his commonly used tactics. If he is really the leader of the downsizing group, he is really the most suitable candidate.
Thinking of this, he quickly said to Khrushchev: "Comrade Military Commissar, I think it is appropriate for Comrade Belkin to serve as the head of the regiment."
After Khrushchev looked Belkin up and down, he said with some embarrassment: "Colonel Sokov, but he is a political worker, how can he serve as a military officer?"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov could tell from Khrushchev's tone that he was not willing to let Belkin serve as regimental leader, so he laughed and said, "Although Belkin is now a political worker, , but he has also served as a military officer before. With such a politically strong comrade commanding our troops, do you have anything to worry about?"
Sokov's words made Khrushchev beam with joy: "Colonel Sokov, you are right. If a political worker with strong political skills and a former military officer can command an army with great military achievements, we can There is nothing to worry about. Well, let him be the leader of the downsizing group."
Seeing that Khrushchev agreed to his proposal, Sokov couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to Belkin and said: "Commander Belkin, please hurry up and report the downsized organization of the troops and the list of commanders at all levels."
"Brigade Commander... No, Comrade Division Commander." Belkin said confidently: "I plan to reduce the entire brigade to four battalions. The organization of the third battalion and the Marine Corps battalion and the commanders at all levels will not be changed; the first battalion and the second battalion will not be changed. The battalion was merged into the new 1st Battalion, with Captain Vasily as the battalion commander; the 4th Battalion and the 192nd Battalion were merged into the new 2nd Battalion, with Captain Briski as the battalion commander, and Captain Golia as the deputy battalion commander."
Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help but interrupt and asked: "Commander Belkin, where is Captain Vanya? You merged the first and second battalions into a new battalion. Why didn't you assign him a position?" Soko The reason why my husband asked this was because he was worried that Belkin would make a mistake while he was busy and forget about Vanya.
"Comrade Division Commander, with Captain Vanya's ability, it is a bit unworthy to let him serve as battalion commander." Belkin said unhurriedly: "I plan to make him the chief of staff of my regiment. And the former director of the brigade's political department, De Comrade Mitri serves as the political commissar of the regiment."
Sokov had no objection to Belkin's arrangement. He nodded and said approvingly: "Your arrangement is very reasonable. I have no objection." After saying this, he turned around and asked Khrushchev, " Comrade Military Commissar, I still have the remnants of a battalion that are staying in the Red October Factory. Do you think we can ask them to withdraw?"
Khrushchev replied readily: "Since there are not only the 39th Guards Division but also Gurdiev's 308th Infantry Division stationed in the Red October Factory, your battalion can't do anything there. If it doesn’t work, just withdraw them.”
Seeing that Khrushchev agreed so simply, Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude to him: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Military Commissar. This way my troops can concentrate on fighting in one area without worrying about being too scattered. And weaken the combat effectiveness of the troops."
While he was talking, the phone on the table rang. Sokov was closest to the phone and grabbed the receiver: "I am Sokov, where are you?"
Shamrih's voice soon came from the receiver: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the Army Group Headquarters has sent people to deliver ammunition to us. There are about seven or eight trucks. I would like to ask, how to deal with it?"
"Comrade Captain, needless to say, send someone to receive it immediately." Sokov was even more happy when he learned that Chuikov had indeed sent someone to deliver ammunition to him. He said excitedly into the microphone: "Yes. With these ammunition, when the enemy attacks again, you won’t have to fight with them with bayonets.”
Seeing Sokov put down the microphone, Khrushchev said with a smile: "With the ammunition sent by Chuikov, when facing the enemy's attack, you will no longer have to fight with them with bayonets. It's getting late. , you continue to discuss the organization of the troops and the selection of commanders, I have to leave."
"You're leaving?!" Seeing that Khrushchev was leaving, Sokov couldn't help but curiously asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, are you planning to go back to the east bank of the Volga River?"
"I just entered the city, how could I go back so soon?" Khrushchev shook his head and said: "I want to go to Chuikov's headquarters to learn from him about the deployment of the German troops in the counterattack area, so as to formulate a reasonable plan. counterattack plan."
When Sokov heard what Khrushchev said, he felt much more at ease. He was also worried that this counterattack would be carried out blindly without understanding the enemy's situation. Since Khrushchev said he wanted to understand the situation and formulate a combat plan, the probability of success of this counterattack can be improved.
As soon as Khrushchev was sent away, Bely, who had disappeared for a long time, appeared out of nowhere. As soon as he saw Sokov, he said with a smile: "Misha, I heard that your superiors have appointed you as the commander of the Guards Division. Congratulations! Congratulations!"
Seeing Bely appear, Sokov was startled for a moment, then slapped his forehead with his hand and said repeatedly: "No, how could I forget such an important thing!"
"What's going on?" Sokov's behavior made Bely confused.
"That's right, Colonel Bely." Sokov quickly explained to Bely: "The infantry brigade will be reduced to a regiment, with Belkin as the regiment commander, Dmitry, director of the brigade's political department, as the political commissar and the first battalion commander. Captain Vanya serves as the chief of staff. Except for the third battalion and the Marine Corps Battalion, which maintain their original structure, the first and second battalions are merged, and the fourth and 192nd battalions are merged. However, I actually forgot how to arrange your troops."
"Misha." Bely waited for Sokov to finish and asked directly: "Will the four battalions deployed in the Red October Factory be withdrawn?"
"Yes, I plan to pull them back overnight." Considering that there were still ten tanks left near the assembly workshop for fixed turret use, Sokov asked Bely: "Colonel Bely, what about those ten tanks?" How did you consider whether to stay at the Red October Factory or withdraw to Mamayev Kurgan?"
Bely said without hesitation: "I think it's better to stay at the Red October Factory!" Perhaps because he was afraid that Sokov would be too worried, he added, "There is no suitable parking place here on Mamayev Ridge."
"Okay, just leave all the tanks at the Red October Factory." Sokov felt that what Bely said was reasonable, so he nodded and said, "The terrain there is conducive to the deployment of mechanized troops."
"That's what I thought too." Bely said to himself: "I just went to the Red October Factory and received thirty new tanks from the factory director Peter. Wait until the day of the counterattack. , we launched a direct assault on the enemy from the direction of the Red October Factory."
"Comrade Division Commander," Sidorin, who was sitting next to him, interrupted after the two of them finished speaking: "If there is not enough artillery cover, we can only rely on infantry when attacking. I'm worried that it will be difficult to break through the enemy's attack." Defensive position.”
Sokov had observed the German positions in the distance many times. Although there were only a few trenches and a limited number of firepower points, and there were no barbed wire fences or minefields in front of the positions, it seemed impossible to simply rely on infantry to break through the enemy's defenses. An easy thing. Without the support of artillery and tank troops, even if the infantry barely captures the enemy's position, as long as the opponent's equipment troops deployed behind the position counterattack, the hard-fought victory can be wiped out.
"I think that when we attack the enemy's position, Colonel Bely's tank troops will definitely provide us with necessary support." When Sokov said this, he looked at Bely intentionally and asked: "You said so? Well, Comrade Colonel?"
"Although the infantry brigade is about to be downsized, the superiors have not yet said anything about the ownership of the tank battalion." Bely said hesitantly: "I think after the counterattack begins, the tank battalion should still mainly cooperate with you in combat."
"The counterattack will begin in two days!" Sidorin said to Sokov: "I think we should study what kind of force we should use to attack the enemy in front."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Bely looked at Sidorin and asked: "The Romanian army is defending the front. I wonder how you plan to break through their position?"
"According to the current situation, after the counterattack begins, the troops attacking from the direction of the Red October Factory will not be less than two divisions." Sidorin pointed to the map on the table and analyzed the situation to everyone: "And We also have an infantry division of nearly 10,000 people in our attack area. This is how I considered it, with the 122nd and 124th Guards Regiments as the first echelon, and after the artillery preparations on the east bank are completed, we will attack the enemy. And the 125th Regiment The regiment and the reduced regiment serve as the second echelon. After the local defense line is broken through, they immediately enter the battlefield to expand the breakthrough..."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov couldn't help but frowned when he heard this: "By doing this, aren't you putting all our strength into counterattack? Have you ever considered who will defend the horse?" Mayevgan?”
Faced with Sokov's doubts, Sidorin quickly explained: "Comrade Division Commander, this is what I think about. Since there is no strong artillery and air support, the results we can achieve in this counterattack are very limited. . Therefore, my plan is to break through the enemy's defense line and put the second echelon into the battlefield, while the first echelon will withdraw to take charge of the defense of Mamayev Heights. What do you think?"
"I don't think so!" Regarding Sidorin's suggestion, Bely sneered and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you ever considered that chaos may occur when the two echelons hand over defense on the battlefield. Once the German army launches a counterattack at this time, our troops may collapse in an instant. If the enemy pursues us and takes the opportunity to rush to Mamayev Hill, how should we deal with it?"
"Colonel Bely is right." Seeing that Bely's opinions coincided with his own, Sokov nodded and said: "We cannot put all our troops into battle, otherwise Mamayev Heights will be in danger. "
Seeing that his proposal was opposed by Sokov and Bely at the same time, Sidorin couldn't help but flushed with embarrassment. He asked with some embarrassment: "Comrade Division Commander, Colonel Bely, tell me, how should we use our troops when we attack?"
Set a small goal first, such as remembering in 1 second: Shukeju
