After dark, an unexpected person came to the division headquarters.
When Sokov saw this person appearing at his command post, he was stunned for a moment, and then he led Sidorin and others forward to greet him. When he raised his hand to salute the other party, he asked in surprise: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, why are you here?"
"The counterattack will begin tomorrow." The visitor was Lieutenant General Golikov, deputy commander of the Stalingrad Front. He held Sokov's hand and said, "I represent the front headquarters and come to learn about you." How are you preparing for the counterattack?"
When Sokov asked Golikov to sit down, he was thinking about it. According to the original history, shouldn't Golikov have become the commander of the Voronezh Front at this moment? How could he still be in the Stalingrad Front? Could it be that his appearance has changed a lot of the original history.
The reason why Sokov has such doubts is entirely because the 13th Guards Division, which was supposed to shine in the battle to defend Stalingrad, achieved some results except for the period shortly after entering the city. disappeared during the battle. Since the troops did not perform well in the defense battle, there must be some changes in the future promotion path of the division commander General Rodimtsev.
How did Golikov know that Sokov had considered so many issues in just a moment, and said with a smile: "The front army headquarters is worried that your division's counterattack force is too weak to break through the German defensive positions on the front, and plans to Tomorrow, I will send you two tank battalions..."
"What, two tank battalions?" After hearing what Golikov said, Ivanov couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise: "That's dozens of tanks. With the support of so many tanks, it would be difficult to Breaking through the enemy's frontal defensive positions will not be a problem at all."
Sokov was naturally very happy when he learned that his superiors would send him two tank battalions, but he had no idea what the results of the Stalingrad Front's attack from the south of the city would be tomorrow. end. He poured a cup of hot tea, placed it in front of Golikov, and then asked respectfully: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I wonder what the results of the friendly forces in the Don River Basin were during the day?"
Sidorin and others were also eager to know the results of the Southwest Front and the Don Front, so they looked at Golikov eagerly, waiting for him to tell the answer they wanted to know.
"Our friendly forces fought very well." When Sokov asked about the results achieved by the friendly forces, Golikov showed a sincere smile on his face: "According to the battle report, after eighty minutes of artillery preparation, , our troops launched an attack on the enemy over a vast area. The enemy never dreamed that our army would launch an attack in such bad weather, and was caught off guard. Although the Romanian artillery responded in time, it attacked our army's attack. The tank troops intercepted artillery fire, but due to bad weather and low visibility, their artillery shells did not pose any threat to our tanks.
The battle continued until noon, and our army successfully broke through the defense line of the Romanian 3rd Army and defeated the 13th, 14th and 9th Infantry Divisions on the defense line..."
"Isn't the Romanian 13th Infantry Division the division that was crippled by us?" Anisimov heard this and said to Sokov in surprise: "I didn't expect that they were attacked by our army just after they completed the defense change. It’s amazing that we can block this offensive.”
As the deputy commander of the front army, Golikov naturally knew about the knife fight that took place at the northern hill of Mamayev Hill. Therefore, he did not refute Anisimov's statement. Instead, he nodded and agreed: "That's right. This Romanian infantry division used to have pretty good combat effectiveness and caused huge losses to our army. It may be because they were beaten by you so much that they basically lost their combat effectiveness. That's why they disintegrated so much in the face of friendly forces' offensive. quick."
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sidorin, as the chief of staff of the division, stared at the map every day, and his perspective on the problem was naturally different from others. He took advantage of the gap between Golikov's words and interjected: "I want to ask Ask, where did the friendly forces go?"
"Not all the enemies our army encountered during the attack were defeated at first sight. Some of them still stayed on the position and stubbornly blocked our army's attack." Golikov said with a serious expression: "For example, General Laska The Romanian 1st Cavalry Division and the 6th Infantry Division have been resisting stubbornly in the face of our powerful offensive, making it temporarily impossible for our army to seize their positions."
As the division political commissar, Anisimov usually focused his work on boosting morale and was not very familiar with military aspects. Hearing Golikov keep talking about the Romanian army, he couldn't help but ask: "Comrade Deputy Commander, are there any German troops on the friendly attack route?"
"Yes, there is General Heim's 48th Armored Corps." Golikov nodded and replied: "According to the battle report, Paulus ordered Heim to command the 48th Armored Corps and Romania in order to repel our attack. Three divisions of the 2nd Army launched a counterattack towards Kletskaya, trying to repel the infantry of the 21st Army and stabilize their defense line."
Although the Soviet army fought very smoothly against the Romanian army, Sokov really didn't know what would happen if they encountered the German army. He couldn't help but ask: "Did the enemy succeed in their attempt?"
"No." Golikov replied with some pride: "Our offensive troops successfully crushed the German counterattack and severely damaged three Romanian divisions. Before dark, the friendly tank troops had successfully broken through the German army. On Blinov’s defense line, the enemy was forty kilometers deep.”
The news Golikov said made everyone present excited. To be honest, except for Sokov, who knew the final outcome of this major counterattack, the others did not have much hope for the counterattack. They all believed that it was nothing more than a diversionary operation launched to prevent the German army from seizing the city. But I didn't expect that such a result would be achieved.
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sidorin suppressed the excitement in his heart and tried his best to ask Golikov in a calm tone: "Do you think our front army can achieve such results as the friendly forces by launching an attack from the south of the city?"
"Colonel Sokov," Golikov did not answer, but threw the question to Sokov: "Do you think we can achieve the same results as friendly forces?"
"There is no doubt about it, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army." Since Sokov knew the final outcome of the Battle of Stalingrad, and on the eve of the beginning of the major counterattack, he needed to give everyone some confidence in victory, so he lit The leader said: "I believe that the counterattack starting tomorrow will not only break through the enemy's defense line, but also join forces with the friendly forces heading south in the shortest possible time."
Sokov's words surprised Golikov. He asked in surprise: "I didn't expect, Colonel Sokov, that you are so confident in the counterattack of our front army."
"After several months of fighting, the German soldiers have become exhausted." Sokov answered truthfully: "In addition, due to our attack some time ago, their supplies have encountered huge problems. . Under this circumstance, facing our long-prepared major counterattack, their resistance will be destroyed step by step by our army. I believe that it will not be long before we can encircle Paulus's 6th Army at Stalinger. Le area to create conditions for their complete annihilation."
"Colonel Sokov, tell me," Golikov heard this and asked with interest: "Tell me, where is the most likely place for our front army and friendly forces to meet?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander, please look at this map." Sidorin pushed the map on the table in front of Golikov and said with a smile: "The division commander has already marked three marks on it. The location where the front armies meet up."
Golikov looked down at the location circled by Sokov with a red pen on the map, and said with some surprise: "Colonel Sokov, I didn't expect that your thoughts are actually the same as those of Commander Yeremenko. It coincides with each other. He also determined the meeting point of our front army and friendly forces, which is in Karachi."
The people who were surprised were not only Golikov, but also Ivanov and Anisimov. Although Sokov had analyzed the current situation for them, they had no doubts about whether the three major front armies could meet in Karachi. Still full of questions. When they heard what Golikov said at this moment, they couldn't help but cast admiring glances at Sokov.
"Colonel Sokov." Seeing that Sokov's analysis coincided with the thoughts of the front army chief, Golikov was full of confidence in Sokov's upcoming counterattack. He then asked: "I want to ask Ask, when do you plan to launch an attack on the enemy in front?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army," Sokov did not reveal his plan easily, but said cautiously: "The Front Army will launch a counterattack from the south of the city tomorrow. The enemies they have to face are basically the Romanian army. Presumably The battle is easier than we think.
When the superiors gave our division the order to counterattack, they took into account that the front of Mamayev Hill was the two Romanian divisions deployed by Paulus. We had the strength to break through their defense lines and provide assistance to the main force's counterattack. But what we didn't expect was that the Germans suddenly used two other German divisions to take over the Romanian army's defense line a few days ago, which caused the situation to deviate from our original vision. …”
Although Golikov knew all that Sokov said, he still listened patiently to Sokov's explanation of the difficulties he encountered before he said: "Yes, the head of the front army is considering your front." The enemy has changed from the Romanian army to the German army. Worried that your strength is not enough, we have specially added four full battalions for you. And tomorrow, when the counterattack south of the city begins, two more tank battalions will cross the river and join your counterattack forces to enhance your counterattack force."
"The support of the tank troops alone is not enough." Sokov shook his head slightly and continued: "In the process of our division's counterattack, I also hope to receive support from the left bank artillery and air force."
"It's not a big problem to let the artillery provide you with artillery support. After all, there are artillery observers at Mamayev Heights, and they can indicate the firing parameters for the artillery on the left bank. But the air force," said Goliko The husband took off the leather hat on his head, raised his hand and scratched the back of his head, and said with some embarrassment: "Our air force cannot be dispatched in such bad weather."
"Don't worry about this." Sokov said with a confident look: "It has been snowing heavily for several days. I heard from a veteran who has lived in Stalingrad for a long time that it will be snowed the day after tomorrow at the latest. It should be a sunny day, and then our fighter planes will be able to take off and provide air cover for our offensive forces."
After hearing Sokov's statement, Golikov was silent for a while and then said in an uncertain tone: "But according to the meteorological department's report, there will be such heavy snow weather for at least the next week."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov obviously had more confidence in the veterans who had lived in Stalingrad for a long time. He waited for Golikov to finish speaking, and then added: "I just listened to the veterans, so I intended to counterattack The time is set for the day after tomorrow. If the sky is really clear and our fighter planes can take off again, I think it will be a good time to counterattack."
Although Golikov knew all that Sokov said, he still listened patiently to Sokov's explanation of the difficulties he encountered before he said: "Yes, the head of the front army is considering your front." The enemy has changed from the Romanian army to the German army. Worried that your strength is not enough, we have specially added four full battalions for you. And tomorrow, when the counterattack south of the city begins, two more tank battalions will cross the river and join your counterattack forces to enhance your counterattack force."
"The support of the tank troops alone is not enough." Sokov shook his head slightly and continued: "In the process of our division's counterattack, I also hope to receive support from the left bank artillery and air force."
"It's not a big problem to let the artillery provide you with artillery support. After all, there are artillery observers at Mamayev Heights, and they can indicate the firing parameters for the artillery on the left bank. But the air force," said Goliko The husband took off the leather hat on his head, raised his hand and scratched the back of his head, and said with some embarrassment: "Our air force cannot be dispatched in such bad weather."
"Don't worry about this." Sokov said with a confident look: "It has been snowing heavily for several days. I heard from a veteran who has lived in Stalingrad for a long time that it will be snowed the day after tomorrow at the latest. It should be a sunny day, and then our fighter planes will be able to take off and provide air cover for our offensive forces."
After hearing Sokov's statement, Golikov was silent for a while and then said in an uncertain tone: "But according to the meteorological department's report, there will be such heavy snow weather for at least the next week."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov obviously had more confidence in the veterans who had lived in Stalingrad for a long time. He waited for Golikov to finish speaking, and then added: "I just listened to the veterans, so I intended to counterattack The time is set for the day after tomorrow. If the sky is really clear and our fighter planes can take off again, I think it will be a good time to counterattack."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov obviously had more confidence in the veterans who had lived in Stalingrad for a long time. He waited for Golikov to finish speaking, and then added: "I just listened to the veterans, so I intended to counterattack The time is set for the day after tomorrow. If the sky is really clear and our fighter planes can take off again, I think it will be a good time to counterattack.
