"Since the enemy has begun to move south, will our retreat at this time turn into a rout?" Seeing that Chuikov urged the troops to retreat, Khrushchev expressed his concerns: "If the enemy takes the opportunity to follow and pursue, then There is a possibility that our troops will be driven into the Volga River by the enemy."
Although Chuikov agreed with Khrushchev's concerns, he could not just watch the troops fall into encirclement and then be eaten bit by bit by the enemy. He said anxiously: "If we end the attack now and let the troops withdraw, we can still retain most of our strength. If it's too late, it's too late. Comrade Military Commissioner, please make up your mind quickly!"
Khrushchev did not express any opinion on whether to retreat or continue to hold on. Instead, he took out his cigarette case from his pocket, took out a cigarette and held it in his mouth. He took out a match and struck several without burning it. He was so angry that he threw the match and cigarette on the ground and stamped his feet hard.
Seeing Khrushchev's gaffe, Chuikov knew in his heart that the other party was hesitant about whether to fight or withdraw, so he said tactfully: "Comrade Military Commissar, in fact, it is not difficult to prevent the troops from retreating from a retreat to a rout. Only one unit needs to be left to provide cover, so that the Gurdiev and Gorishny divisions can be successfully withdrawn."
"Chuikov, which unit do you plan to cut off the rear?" Khrushchev looked up at Chuikov and asked, "You're not plotting against Misha again, are you?"
Chuikov, who had been relatively calm at first, couldn't help but blush after being guessed by Khrushchev. He said with great embarrassment: "Yes, Comrade Military Commissar. Colonel Sokov's troops are very good at defensive warfare." . This can be seen from the fact that the enemy has never been able to break through the Mamayev Hills. If his troops are cut off, we can withdraw more troops to the Red October Factory."
"I'm afraid this won't work." Khrushchev looked down at the map on the table and continued: "Look, Misha's 41st Guards Division is now on the left wing, several kilometers away from the enemy's position. . If troops are mobilized to take over the defense in broad daylight under the eyes of the enemy, they will definitely be bombarded and intercepted by artillery fire by the air force along the way. By the time they arrive at their destination, there will probably not be many people left."
Chuikov heard Khrushchev's favoritism towards Sokov, but now the only way to reverse the unfavorable situation was to dispatch Sokov's reserve team. He quickly pointed at Mamayev Hill. direction, explained to Khrushchev: "Comrade Military Commissar, I am not talking about the two regiments occupying the enemy's position, but the regiment remaining at Mamayev Heights."
"The regiment left behind at Mamaevgando?" Khrushchev looked at Chuikov with a blank expression. "Comrade Chuikov, what on earth is going on? You have confused me."
"Comrade Military Commissar, let me report to you." Krylov felt that he should appear at this moment, so he took the initiative to say to Khrushchev: "According to the battle plan reported by Sokov, after successively capturing the enemy's After the first and second lines of defense, he would put the second echelon, the 125th Guards Regiment, into battle. But somehow, after he completed his original combat intention, the second echelon always stayed at Mamayev Kurgan, no movement.”
"So that's it." Khrushchev nodded and asked: "General Krylov, do you just plan to let Misha put this unit into battle?"
"Absolutely correct, Comrade Military Commissar." Krylov replied in a positive tone: "From the north post of Mamayev Hill to the defensive position of the 351st Regiment, there is only less than two kilometers away. If Soko is given the opportunity now, If Husband gives the order, they should be able to reach the designated combat area within twenty minutes."
Khrushchev did not speak, but once again took out a cigarette from the cigarette case and held it in his mouth. This time Krylov took the initiative to strike a match, lit the cigarette for him, and then asked cautiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you think this is okay?"
After taking a few puffs of cigarette, Khrushchev nodded slowly and said: "Okay, General Krylov, you call Misha now and ask him to dispatch the 125th Guards Regiment immediately, but Take over the defense of the 351st Regiment and cover the retreat of Gurdiev Division and Gorishny Division."
Seeing that Khrushchev agreed to send Sokov's troops to fight, Chuikov and Krylov couldn't help but smile at each other. With the help of this new force, they can save more effective forces for the city. Chuikov said to Krylov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, after you call Colonel Sokov, inform Gurdiev and Gorishny to have their two divisions alternately cover the withdrawal from the battlefield."
…………
Sokov was in the headquarters, discussing with Ivanov, Sidorin and others how to smoothly withdraw the troops to Mamayev Heights. After receiving a call from Krylov, he was dumbfounded.
Seeing Sokov's devastated look, Ivanov asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, has something happened?"
"The superiors are preparing to terminate this counterattack." Sokov held the microphone without putting it down and said to everyone with a wry smile: "Order us to immediately dispatch the 125th Guards Regiment and rush to the north to take over the defense of the 351st Regiment and cover Gur. Diev's and Gorishny's divisions retreat."
"Why is this?" After listening to Sokov's words, Ivanov became angry: "What right do they have to dispatch our troops to cover their retreat?"
Division political commissar Anisimov, who had always had little presence in the division, stood up uncharacteristically and said: "Two comrades, division commanders, don't you think this order is a bit abnormal?"
"Of course it's abnormal." Sokov said casually: "We actually asked us to dispatch the reserve team to rescue the friendly forces on the right wing. You know, the defense area of the 39th Guards Division is less than one kilometer away from them. Although they are in In the early battles, the losses of soldiers were relatively large, but there was no problem in coordinating the retreat of the Gurdiev and Gorishny divisions.”
"Comrade division commander, you didn't understand what I meant." Seeing that Sokov misinterpreted what he meant, Anisimov quickly explained: "As far as I know, Comrade Khrushchev, the military commissar of the front army, is at the command of the group army at the moment. Ministry, I think the superior must have given his permission when he issued this order."
Anisimov only briefly mentioned Khrushchev and did not continue, but Sokov understood what he meant: If Chuikov and the others were to issue such an order, they would obviously have to go through Khrushchev. Husband’s permission. Under such circumstances, no matter how dissatisfied they were, they could only carry out the order and dispatch the 125th Guards Regiment remaining on Mamayev Heights to cover the retreat of the friendly forces.
"Comrade Chief of Staff, call Lieutenant Colonel Yershakov." Sokov knew that he could not escape the fate of the fire brigade, so he could only weakly tell Sidorin: "Let him come here immediately to accept the combat mission."
"What about the 122nd and 124th regiments?" Sidorin looked at Sokov and asked: "Should we continue to hold on to their positions, or should we alternately cover the retreat to Mamayev Heights."
"Let them withdraw." Although Sokov did not receive a retreat order from his superiors, he still made a decisive decision: "We need more troops to protect Mamayev Heights. There is no need to send the commanders and soldiers Wasted in insignificance.”
If Sokov had said this before receiving Krylov's call, Ivanov might have had a few arguments with him, but at this moment he had realized that the two regiments responsible for counterattacks would be The main force defending Mamayev Heights, so he waited for Sokov to finish speaking, then just nodded slightly and did not express any objection.
Yershakov, who was staying in the tunnel, felt restless because Sokov had not sent his troops to attack. After receiving the call from Sidorin, he suddenly beamed. He said to the chief of staff of the regiment: "Comrade chief of staff, it seems that we are ready to send our regiment into action. I will go to the headquarters to accept the order now. You first assemble the troops and prepare for the attack."
Yershakov trotted all the way to the headquarters. After he raised his hand and saluted Sokov and the others, he asked breathlessly: "Comrade division commander, is it our regiment's turn?"
"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Yershakov." Sokov nodded and asked, "If I order you to attack now, how long will it take for the troops to leave the tunnel?"
"No more than five minutes, comrade division commander." Yershakov said with excitement: "Before I came here, I had ordered the chief of staff to assemble the troops. The troops can set off immediately after receiving the order to attack. "
"Then after a quarter of an hour, you can lead the troops to attack." Sokov knew very well that many uncertain factors would cause the troops to be unable to attack within the specified time, so he gave Yershakov ten more minutes. Time: "Come to the map and I will give you a brief introduction to the situation."
Since Yershakov had been staying in the tunnel, he had no idea what the battle situation was like outside. When Sokov called him to come to the map, he walked over happily, waiting for Sokov to assign him a task.
"Lieutenant Colonel Yershakov," Sokov pointed at the map on the table and said to Yershakov: "As soon as you take your people out of the tunnel in Beigan, move northwest. .”
"Move to the northwest?" Yershakov asked in confusion: "Comrade division commander, isn't the mission of our regiment to attack the concession stand in the west?"
"The situation has changed unexpectedly." Sokov said with some difficulty: "The main force of the Germans has moved south from the direction of Orlovka, and is now northwest of Mamayev Hill, and Gurdiev The 351st Regiment of the division is engaged. The task of your regiment is to rush as quickly as possible to take over the regiment's defense, block the enemy from the south, cover the two divisions on our right, and safely withdraw to the Red October Factory."
. The fastest website to update the mobile version: m.
