"That's right, deputy commander of the front army." Sokov replied truthfully: "In order to ensure the effect of air-ground coordination, it is completely necessary to communicate directly with the pilot."
"Okay," after hearing what Sokov said, Golikov did not embarrass him, but nodded and agreed to his request: "I will report this to the commander and ask him to notify the Air Force and communicate with him. Your troops establish direct contact."
After Golikov explained some more precautions, he raised his hand and looked at his watch and said to everyone: "Comrades, it's getting late. You should all go back and rest, otherwise you will not be energetic tomorrow."
Sokov quickly called Seryosha in and told him: "Seryosa, take Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front to rest."
After receiving the order, Seryosha came to Golikov and said respectfully: "Please come with me, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I will take you to rest."
…………
After Sokov was awakened from his sleep by the staff on duty, he raised his hand and looked at his watch. The hour hand just pointed to six o'clock, and there was still an hour left before the artillery preparations before the start of the major counterattack. He sat up from the cot, looked at the staff officer on duty in front of him, and asked displeasedly: "Comrade staff officer, what's the matter with you waking me up so early?"
"Comrade division commander," the staff officer straightened up and reported, "The observation post on the top of the hill reported that there is fog outside?"
"It's foggy?!" Sokov was shocked, stood up suddenly, grabbed the staff officer's arm, and asked nervously: "How much visibility is there?"
"According to the observation post report," the staff officer replied: "When the fog first started, the visibility was more than thirty meters, but now we can barely see five or six meters away."
"Hell, if it is really foggy, it will have a negative impact on today's major counterattack." After Sokov finished speaking, he immediately ordered the staff: "Immediately notify the chief of staff and deputy division commander to come to the headquarters."
"Does the deputy commander of the front army need to be notified?" the staff officer on duty asked tentatively.
"No, no, no." Sokov thought about the fog outside, so he called Golikov up. It seemed a bit inappropriate, so he waved his hands and rejected the staff's suggestion: "Let Comrade Deputy Commander sleep a little longer. Bar."
Sidorin and others were originally sleeping with their clothes on, but upon hearing Sokov's greeting, they rushed over quickly. As soon as he entered the door, he couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade division commander, did you call us here in such a hurry? Did something happen?"
When Sokov heard his question, he guessed that when the staff informed him to come to the division headquarters, he did not tell him what happened, so he explained to him: "The observation post above us reported that there was heavy fog outside. "
"What, there's heavy fog outside?" Upon hearing what Sokov said, Sidorin couldn't help but frowned: "Comrade Commander, foggy mornings in winter are not a good thing."
"That's right," Sokov nodded. "If the fog persists, the artillery preparations for the front troops' attack will have to be postponed indefinitely until the fog completely dissipates."
When Ivanov and Anisimov came in from outside, they happened to hear the conversation between Sokov and Sidorin. Ivanov said in surprise: "What, it's foggy outside? This is too bad. "
Even Anisimov, a political worker who was not familiar with the military, knew the adverse impact of foggy days on combat. He tentatively asked: "Since there is such a heavy fog, the original attack time will be postponed." ?"
"That's for sure, Comrade Political Commissar." Sidorin frowned and answered his question: "The visibility is low in heavy fog. Even if our artillery fires, it cannot see the effect of the shelling. Therefore, I think today's The attack will definitely be postponed until the fog clears."
"If our army's attack is postponed and the enemy's attack continues, will the troops in the city be able to hold their position?" Anisimov understood the battle situation on the first day and said worriedly: "Yesterday, our army and the enemy were Tug-of-war has started in many areas, and if the major counterattack cannot be launched on time, I am worried that these areas may fall into the hands of the enemy."
"Comrade Political Commissar, you are worrying too much." Although the sudden heavy fog made Sokov feel very uneasy, in order not to undermine everyone's confidence, he still said bravely: "In this kind of weather, I The army cannot attack, and the enemy cannot carry out offensive operations. What you are worried about will not happen."
Everyone was sitting in the headquarters discussing the impact of the foggy weather on offense and defense. Time passed by minute by second, and no one noticed that Golikov should have appeared long ago, and no one has been seen yet.
Fortunately, Anisimov was more attentive and noticed that Golikov was not present, so he asked curiously: "By the way, why didn't you see the deputy commander of the front army?"
"He should still be sleeping." Sokov said casually: "When the staff officer on duty reported to me just now, I asked him not to wake up the deputy commander of the front army and let him sleep a little longer."
The commanders present were basically sleep-deprived, so they understood Sokov's order very well. After a while, Anisimov asked again: "Don't we need to tell the deputy commander of the front army about the fog outside?"
"Comrade Political Commissar, I don't think it's necessary." Sidorin interrupted: "He should already know the news."
As soon as Sidorin's words came out, everyone was stunned. Sokov was the first to break the silence: "Chief of Staff, what is going on?"
"Last night the deputy commander of the front army sent someone to look for me. I put a telephone line in his room that can directly communicate with the front army headquarters." Sidorin replied: "I ordered Second Lieutenant Maxim to put a telephone line for him. telephone line."
Sokov felt very unhappy when he heard what Sidorin said. He said displeasedly: "Chief of Staff, why didn't you report such an important matter to me? You know, I am the commander of this division."
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." Sidorin may have realized that what he did was a bit inappropriate at this moment, and quickly apologized to Sokov and said: "I saw that you were already asleep at that time. In order to avoid disturbing your rest, I did not call Wake you up. I wanted to tell you today, but I haven’t had time to say it yet..."
"Okay, okay." Sokov knew that Sidorin also had his own difficulties, so he didn't delve into it. He raised his hand to interrupt what he was saying, and asked: "Chief of Staff, tell me, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army." Do you know about the fog outside now?"
"If he has been in contact with the front army headquarters, then he will definitely know about this." After Sidorin finished speaking, he stood up and walked towards the place where the communication equipment was placed. He leaned over and asked a communication soldier in a low voice After a few words, he turned back to the table and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Division Commander, I have already inquired about the situation outside after the Deputy Commander of the Front passed the headquarters a few minutes ago. You should already know.”
"Foggy in winter is the most annoying thing." Anisimov curled his lips and said, "If you're lucky, it might be gone by ninety o'clock. If you're not lucky, it might be foggy all day long. . Then our army’s major counterattack originally planned for today will have to be postponed to tomorrow or later.”
"Hello, comrades, commanders!" Just as everyone was worried about what Anisimov said, Golikov's voice suddenly came from the door: "What are you discussing?" Seeing Golikov Upon entering, everyone in the room immediately stood up and raised their hands to salute Golikov.
Sokov waited for Golikov to come up to him and reported to him: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I believe you already know that there is heavy fog outside, which may have an adverse impact on our army's military operations today."
"Yes, I just spoke with Commander Yereomenko," Golikov said in a positive tone: "He told me that the fog outside is too heavy and today's attack time may be delayed."
"Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army," Anisimov said as soon as Golikov finished speaking: "If our army's offensive cannot be carried out on time and the enemy continues to launch an offensive in the city, will it lead to Is the situation getting worse?"
"You think too much, Comrade Political Commissar." Golikov said, took out a square piece of paper folded from his pocket, handed it to Sidorin beside him, and said to him: "This This is the German telegram we just intercepted. Comrade Chief of Staff, please read it to everyone."
Sidorin took the paper from Golikov's hand, unfolded it, and quickly read the contents. After reading a few lines, a look of surprise appeared on his face. Seeing Sidorin's expression, Ivanov on the side urged him impatiently: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please stop dawdling, read it quickly, what is written on it."
Sidorin coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and began to read: "This is the telegram sent by Baron von Weikes of the German Army Group B to Paulus: In view of the frontal appearance of the Romanian 3rd Army The situation forces us to take resolute measures in order to quickly free up troops to cover the flanks of the 6th Army and ensure the safety along the railway lines in the Lihaya and Chir River areas. To this end, I order:
1. Immediately cease all offensive operations in Stalingrad, except the operations of reconnaissance detachments. The intelligence of these units is essential for organizing the defense.
2. The 6th Army immediately drew out 2 motorized corps, 1 infantry division, and an auxiliary motorized corps as much as possible from its own organization, and assigned these units to the 14th Tank Army Headquarters; in addition, it also had to draw out all the As many anti-tank vehicles as possible, and assemble these groups on your left flank in order to launch an assault northwest or west. "
As soon as Sidorin finished reading the intercepted message, Golikov said: "Comrade commanders, you all heard it. Because the Romanian 3rd Army suffered a heavy blow from our army in the Don River Basin yesterday, resulting in The German commander became worried about the fate of this unit and sent such a message. As long as the enemy stops large-scale attacks in the city, even if our army's major counterattack has to be postponed due to weather, the situation will not change. It has to be even worse."
After listening to the telegram read by Sidorin and what Golikov said, both Sokov and Ivanov breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the enemy stops attacking in the city, the situation will develop in the Soviet army's favor.
Although he knew that the enemy would not launch a large-scale attack in the city again, Anisimov was still a little worried. He asked again: "I want to ask, how long will our attack be delayed?"
In response to Anisimov's question, Golikov thought for a while and replied: "Comrade Commander just told me that the artillery preparations originally scheduled to start at seven o'clock will be postponed to eight o'clock. If the fog does not clear by then, If you go, postpone it until nine o'clock. And so on, until the fog completely dissipates."
"But what if the fog persists today?" Anisimov continued to ask: "Will today's attack be cancelled?"
"I think so, Comrade Political Commissar." Golikov nodded and said helplessly: "After all, in dense fog, our artillery has no idea whether the shells it fired have hit the target. In order to avoid wasting precious artillery shells, we must wait until the dense fog dissipates before we can prepare for artillery fire."
As soon as Sidorin finished reading the intercepted message, Golikov said: "Comrade commanders, you all heard it. Because the Romanian 3rd Army suffered a heavy blow from our army in the Don River Basin yesterday, resulting in The German commander became worried about the fate of this unit and sent such a message. As long as the enemy stops large-scale attacks in the city, even if our army's major counterattack has to be postponed due to weather, the situation will not change. It has to be even worse."
After listening to the telegram read by Sidorin and what Golikov said, both Sokov and Ivanov breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the enemy stops attacking in the city, the situation will develop in the Soviet army's favor.
Although he knew that the enemy would not launch a large-scale attack in the city again, Anisimov was still a little worried. He asked again: "I want to ask, how long will our attack be delayed?"
In response to Anisimov's question, Golikov thought for a while and replied: "Comrade Commander just told me that the artillery preparations originally scheduled to start at seven o'clock will be postponed to eight o'clock. If the fog does not clear by then, If you go, postpone it until nine o'clock. And so on, until the fog completely dissipates."
"But what if the fog persists today?" Anisimov continued to ask: "Will today's attack be cancelled?"
"I think so, Comrade Political Commissar." Golikov nodded and said helplessly: "After all, in dense fog, our artillery has no idea whether the shells it fired have hit the target. In order to avoid wasting precious artillery shells, we must wait until the dense fog dissipates before we can prepare for artillery fire."
