Just after noon, Sidorin received a call from the observation post on the top of the slope. He learned that the engineers on both sides of the strait had begun the work of building a bridge on the ice. He smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade Division Commander, I really didn't expect that you. Less than half a day after the plan was proposed, engineers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait began to build the bridge."
"In order to restore transportation on both sides of the river as soon as possible, it is imperative to build a bridge." Sokov considered that if the weather improves, the German army will definitely send out reconnaissance planes to conduct reconnaissance on the Volga River, and then the enemy may discover people on the river. During the bridge-building operation, he ordered Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, order the troops to establish air defense positions on the reverse slopes of the north and south hills. Once enemy reconnaissance planes are discovered, they will be resolutely shot down."
"Don't worry, comrade division commander." Anyway, it was only a few days before the major counterattack. Sidorin felt that there was no need to hide his strength anymore, so he said readily: "I will order all the anti-aircraft machine guns stored in the warehouse to be moved later. Come out and set up on the reverse slope. If the enemy's plane doesn't come, that's it. If it comes, make sure it doesn't come back."
Sidorin picked up the phone and put it down again. Seeing Sokov looking at him in surprise, he quickly explained to him: "Comrade division commander, I think we should summon all the regiment commanders in the division and bring them together." Tell them the good news that a major counterattack is about to begin. Do you think it’s okay?”
Sokov thought that if it hadn't been for the headquarters' negligence, the commanders of his regiments would have known about the entire counterattack plan at this moment. Since Sidorin mentioned it, he nodded and said smoothly: "Except Captain Belkin, please inform the other three captains to come to the headquarters as soon as possible. There are important things to report to them."
Less than five minutes after the call was made, Lieutenant Colonel Starcia, commander of the 124th Regiment, arrived first. After he entered the door, he saluted Sokov, Ivanov and Sidorin. Before he could speak, Sokov pointed to the bench beside the table and said to him: "Sit down, Sidorin." Lieutenant Colonel Talca!”
After Starcha sat down next to Ivanov, he leaned over and asked in a low voice: "Comrade division commander, what is the important thing that calls us here in such a hurry?"
Ivanov gave his old subordinate a meaningful look and said calmly: "Lieutenant Colonel Starcha, don't be anxious. You will naturally know what is going on when everyone arrives."
Soon, Lieutenant Colonel Yershakov, the commander of the 125th Regiment, also arrived. Like Starcha, he had just finished his salute and was seated at the table by Sokov before he could speak. After Yershakov sat down, he looked at Starcha who was sitting opposite him and asked him silently: "Do you know what happened?"
Although Starcha came one step ahead, he knew nothing about Sokov's purpose of calling them here. He could only shake his head, shrug his shoulders, and spread his hands to show that he didn't know anything either.
"Don't be anxious." Sokov saw the little movement between the two regiment leaders, turned to them and said: "When Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko arrives, I will announce the reason for calling you here."
Papuchenko's troops were stationed in the workers' new village of the Red October Factory. After receiving the notice from Sidorin, he immediately handed over the command to the regiment chief of staff and hurried to Mamaye with two guards. Fu Gang. Hurrying slowly, by the time he arrived at the headquarters, almost an hour had passed.
Seeing the belated arrival of Papuchenko, Sokov said calmly: "Everyone is here, let's have a meeting now."
"Comrade Division Commander," when Sokov said that everyone was here, Starcha thought he had forgotten Belgin, and quickly reminded him: "Comrade Belkin of the drawdown regiment has not arrived yet, shall we?" Wait for them?"
"No need, Captain Belkin has already known the news to be announced at today's meeting." Sokov said to the three captains expressionlessly: "Comrade leaders, I called you here today. , I want to tell you that the Supreme Command plans to launch a comprehensive counterattack against the enemies who attacked Stalingrad..."
Having said this, Sokov paused for a moment to observe the reactions of the three group leaders. Perhaps it was because there had been too many failed counterattacks. When the three of them heard the news, there was no expression of joy on their faces, and they were not optimistic about this counterattack in their hearts. Sokov coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and continued: "There will be more than one million troops participating in the counterattack this time..."
"What? More than a million people?" Even if a cannonball fell on the table and exploded at this moment, it would not be as shocking as Sokov's words to the three regiment leaders. Papuchenko asked in a skeptical tone: "Comrade Commander, are you wrong? It's not one million people, but one hundred thousand people, right?"
"That's right." Sokov looked at Papuchenko and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the troops participating in the counterattack this time are not only our Stalingrad Front Army, but also General Vatutin's Southwest Front Army, Roko General Sovsky's Don Front, the total strength of the three fronts combined is well over one million."
The three captains, who were a little distracted at first, were all looking at Sokov with bright eyes, eagerly waiting for him to continue. Sokov didn't give in, and continued: "We have more than fifteen thousand artillery and mortars, and another fifteen hundred tanks..."
Although Sidorin and Ivanov had already known the content of the meeting, they still felt excited when they heard the troops and technical equipment mentioned by Sokov.
After introducing his superiors’ counteroffensive plan, Sokov finally said: “In order to ensure the success of the major counteroffensive, because the superiors will not replenish the troops and technical equipment of the 62nd Group Army for the time being before the counteroffensive begins, Commander Chuikov ordered all parties to Divisions, brigades, and regiments continue to hold on to their existing positions to contain the enemy so that when the enemies in the Don River Valley are attacked, they will be unable to draw troops from the city to support them."
"What about our division?" Starcha waited for Sokov to finish his words and immediately asked impatiently: "Our division still has enough troops and some rare technical equipment. It is rare that our superiors have not assigned us a task. ?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Starcha, don't be anxious. The superiors must have assigned separate combat missions to our division." Sokov said this, leaned over and picked up the red and blue pencils, and drew a picture on Mamayev Hill. Circle, said: "Our task is to attack the Romanian army on the front of the highlands and restore as much of the lost positions as possible."
The three regiment leaders have all fought against the Romanian army, and they all know how strong the opponent is. The Romanian 13th Division that attacked Mamaev Hill performed quite well except for the initial bayonet fight with the Marine Corps battalion holding the North Hill. But ever since he was beaten to a pulp by the commanders and fighters of the Guards Division, he has become timid and less courageous than before. If the superiors really let their troops take the Romanian army as the main target, the results that can be achieved will definitely be brilliant.
Thinking of this, the three regiment leaders all stood up and expressed their opinions to Sokov, hoping to leave the main offensive task to their own regiments. The three of them fought over whose regiment would be the first to attack the Romanian army.
Regarding the debate between the three group leaders, Sokov did not immediately express his position, but stood quietly aside. After the quarrel between the three of them came to an end, Sokov said calmly: "I'm sorry, comrades, three regiment leaders, I have placed all three of your regiments in the second echelon. I plan to leave the main attack mission to Bel. Captain Kim’s downsizing regiment.”
After hearing Sokov saying that the main attack task would be handed over to the downsized regiment, the three regiment commanders obediently shut their mouths. They knew very well that the drawdown regiment was a direct descendant of Sokov, and its leader Belkin was Sokov's political commissar in the past. With such a relationship, how could they possibly win?
Just as Sokov was introducing the tasks of the second echelon to the three regiment leaders, the phone on the table rang. Sidorin quickly grabbed the phone and said into the receiver: "I'm Sidorin!"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, this is Christopher, commander of the reconnaissance company." Lieutenant Christopher's voice came over the phone: "I just received special information from the scouts and need to report it to you immediately."
"Tell me, Comrade Lieutenant." Sidorin asked: "Have you found the weak points of the Romanian army's defense?"
"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." Christopher replied: "According to the scout report, the Romanian troops in front of Mamaev Hill and Workers' New Village are retreating on a large scale."
"What, the Romanian army is retreating?" Sidorin heard the news and asked in surprise: "Comrade Lieutenant, did your scouts make a mistake? How could the enemy retreat at this time?"
"It's true, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing that Sidorin didn't believe his words, Christopher became a little anxious: "After the Romanian army withdrew from their positions, German soldiers immediately entered the positions they abandoned and took over. Defense. It seems that the enemy is changing defense."
"Comrade division commander, something unexpected happened." Sidorin didn't even have time to cover the microphone, and anxiously said to Sokov: "The enemies in front of Mamaev Hill and Workers' New Village are changing defenses. The original Romanian army were transferred and their defense was taken over by German troops.”
"The enemy has changed defense." Upon hearing this unexpected news, Sokov's face turned livid. He pointed at Sidorin and ordered him: "Tell Lieutenant Christopher immediately and let them figure out the defense as soon as possible. German military numbers so that we can re-formulate the battle plan."
"Comrade Lieutenant, the division commander orders you to find out the enemy's number immediately." Sidorin waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and immediately said into the microphone: "This task must be completed before dark."
red moscow
red moscow
