News of the failure of the 57th Group Army's offensive reached the division headquarters at Mamayev Ridge. After reading the battle report, Golikov took off the fur on his head, threw it heavily on the table, and said angrily: "What did Tolbukhin do? He clearly broke through the enemy's defense line, but the result was He was defeated by the German counterattack. If this affects the morale of our army and leads to the failure of this counterattack, I will personally send him to a military court."
Sokov picked up the battle report on the table and quickly browsed it, and figured out the reason why the 57th Army's attack failed. He handed the message to Sidorin and Ivanov, and faced Golikov and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I think the strength of the 57th Group Army is because the commander underestimated the enemy. They defeated The Romanian cavalry, after successfully tearing apart the enemy's defense line, advanced rashly without consolidating the breach in time. When encountering a sudden attack by the German army, it failed to take effective response measures in time, which led to this failure."
"Colonel Sokov," Golikov turned to look at Sokov, and after calming down the anger on his face, asked: "Do you think our counterattack today will be successful?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, although there are some problems with the 57th Group Army's offensive, I believe that the 51st Group Army, which attacks on the right wing, will definitely achieve good results."
"I hope so." Golikov, who was originally confident in this counterattack, felt that the prospects for the next battle were not good because of the failure of the 57th Group Army's offensive. He picked up the cigarette case on the table, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Before striking a match, he asked specifically: "Can you smoke here?"
"Okay." Sidorin nodded quickly and said, "The engineers in the division have specially installed a ventilation duct to ensure the air circulation in the headquarters. You can smoke as you like."
Golikov lit the cigarette, took a puff, and said with regret: "I didn't expect that before our troops had time to advance in depth, they encountered a crazy counterattack by the Germans. If the 51st Army on the right wing also Many German troops encountered them head-on, and I'm afraid the situation will not be much better."
Seeing that Golikov became worried about gains and losses because of the failure of an attack, Sokov quickly comforted him and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I feel that in the next battle, General Volsky's Mechanized 4th Army will It will play a vital role. As long as they can break through the enemy's defense line, the next battle will be easy to fight."
"Oh, Volsky's 4th Mechanized Army?" Sokov's words aroused Golikov's interest. He looked down at the map on the table. Although he already knew the location of the counterattack troops well, But still looked very carefully. After watching for a while, he looked up at Sokov: "Volski's unit is located at the junction of the 57th and 51st Group Armies. If he can really successfully break through the enemy's defense line, then the enemy's defense line will become If it is fragmented, our army's counterattack will become smoother."
Although Golikov no longer mentioned asking Sokov to organize troops to counterattack as soon as possible, Sokov felt that there were some things that should be prepared for a rainy day, so he took the initiative and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I feel that if our army's counterattack If results are achieved, the troops in the city should also take some positive actions to contain the enemy within the existing area..."
"Take positive actions to contain the enemy within the existing area." After Golikov repeated Sokov's words, he asked expressionlessly: "Why?"
"Once Paulus discovers that the purpose of this major counterattack launched by our army is not just to relieve the siege of the city, but also to prepare to encircle and annihilate them, he will consider withdrawing troops from the city." Sokov answered confidently Said: "It is very easy for the enemy to retreat on open ground and get rid of our army's pursuit. But in today's street fighting, it is another thing to get rid of our army's counterattack and pursuit. In the city The positions of the enemy and ours are intertwined, and the fire support points of both sides are intertwined in a chaotic manner. It is extremely difficult for them to get rid of our troops."
After listening to Sokov's words, Golikov nodded thoughtfully and said: "Colonel Sokov, what you said makes sense. We must find a way to drag the enemy in the city so that they cannot escape."
After Sokov and Golikov chatted for a few more words, he felt that he should tell Belkin, who was fighting in the barricade factory, what he thought, so he picked up the phone. After hearing Belkin's voice, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Political Commissar, how is the situation there? Is the enemy still attacking?"
"Yes," Belkin replied affirmatively: "The enemy went crazy and launched a fierce attack on our position. Within two hours, we have repelled three enemy charges in a row. Fortunately, you Shamrih’s Marine Battalion has been sent over, otherwise our position would have been breached by the enemy.”
"What's going on?" Sokov was secretly surprised and asked quickly: "What area was almost broken by the enemy?"
"The junction between the 1st Battalion and the 3rd Company and Lyudnikov's Division was broken through by the German 162nd Engineer Battalion. I sent a reserve team for reinforcements. The two sides launched a fierce battle, but they were still unable to drive the enemy away from our positions. Get out." Belkin reported: "Fortunately, Captain Shamrich's Marine Battalion arrived and fought with the enemy's bayonets. After a hard battle, we finally wiped out all the enemies who broke into our regiment's position."
"Comrade Political Commissar, please tell the commanders and soldiers that our Stalingrad Front's major counterattack has begun. The enemy is going crazy." Sokov said into the microphone: "As long as we can withstand the enemy's attack, the final victory will be achieved." It must belong to us.”
After Sokov finished speaking, he realized that what he said were all clichés and empty words, and he did not give any instructions to Belkin on how to hold his position. When he was about to add a few more words, he heard Belkin say on the other end of the phone: "Misha, I will pass on the good news you told me to all the commanders and soldiers. I believe they will definitely respond when they hear the news. It’s very morale-boosting.”
Since Belgin said this, Sokov could not refute the other party and said that this was not what he meant. He could only laugh twice and then said: "Comrade Political Commissar, I am calling because I have something important to tell you." you."
"What's the matter?" Belkin said briefly: "Tell me about it."
"We intercepted a telegram from the German Army Group Headquarters to Paulus, asking Paulus to move troops out of the city and rush to the Don River Basin to intercept our army." Sokov said solemnly: "Now that the enemy has entered the city, we must not let them leave easily. The mission of your regiment is to take active actions after the enemy completely stops attacking to pin down the enemy in their current position so that they cannot leave smoothly. .How are you, are you having any difficulties?”
"Don't worry, Misha." Belkin let out a long sigh and said, "We will definitely try our best to contain all the enemies in the barricade factory."
After calling Belgin, Sokov felt that the situation at the barricade factory was still quite serious, so he called Chuikov again and reported to him: "Comrade Commander, I just communicated with Commander Belkin. He told me that the enemy is launching a frantic attack on the barricade factory. I am worried that with their existing troops and equipment, it may be difficult to block the enemy. I wonder if you can..."
"Can I send troops to reinforce them, right?" Chuikov heard this and interrupted Sokov impatiently: "It's not just the barricade factory that was attacked, the enemy is in Dzerzhins A large number of troops have also been invested in the base factory, constantly launching fierce attacks on the defense areas of the 37th Guards and the 45th Infantry Division. All the troops I can send have been dispatched. Whether they can hold it depends on It’s on their own.”
When Sokov was about to end the call, Chuikov suddenly asked in a confused manner: "The deputy commander of the front is at your place, right?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander."
"Keep him safe. Do you understand?"
"clear!"
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he heard Golikov saying: "This Chuikov, he is worried that I can't guarantee his own safety, and he actually asked you to take care of him. It's really interesting."
"Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, Commander Chuikov said this out of concern for you." Sokov observed Golikov's expression and saw that there was no unhappy look on his face before cautiously Said: "After all, the city is the most dangerous place, and everyone may die at any time."
"I think the Mamaev Hill that your division is holding is good." Golikov said nonchalantly: "The enemy may be frightened by you, but they don't even dare to attack you easily. I stay here, it should be safe. There’s no problem, right?”
"No problem." Sidorin replied resoundingly: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, as long as you stay at Mamayev Heights, I assure you that there will never be any danger."
…………
The Stalingrad Front's counterattack on the south side of the city finally made new progress by noon. The Mechanized 4th Army commanded by General Volski, after a fierce battle, annihilated the Romanian army outside the Red Army City, once again opening a breakthrough in the defense line.
After Golikov learned the news, there was no expression of surprise on his face. Instead, he asked uneasily: "Colonel Sokov, do you think General Volsky's troops will not suffer another German counterattack?"
Sokov only knew that the major counterattack carried out by the Soviet army was successful and encircled Paulus's more than 300,000 troops in the Stalingrad area, but he did not know the specific battle. Therefore, he didn't know how to answer Golikov's question, so he just smiled bitterly.
Seeing that Sokov was just smiling bitterly, Golikov couldn't help but sigh softly. He even thought that it might not be long before Volski's Mechanized 4th Army was counterattacked by the Germans. News of the defeat.
Fortunately, what he was worried about did not happen. The German 29th Motorized Infantry Division, which had defeated the 57th Group Army, was consolidating its position when it was attacked from the flank by the 4th Mechanized Army. The German command had to mobilize a considerable number of troops. , to strengthen the defense of one's flanks.
The 29th Motorized Infantry Division deployed troops to defend the flanks, and their frontal defense immediately became weak. Major General Tolbukhin, commander of the 57th Group Army, immediately ordered Colonel Tanahishin, commander of the 13th Tank Army, to command the troops to launch another attack in the direction of the breakthrough buckle, trying to tear apart the German defense line again.
Colonel Tanahishin, who had been defeated in the morning, was feeling ashamed and embarrassed when he suddenly received the attack order from Tolbukhin and took the lead and personally led the troops to carry out the attack. Hundreds of tanks from the 13th Tank Army formed two wedge formations and rushed towards the German army.
The Germans never dreamed that the Soviet army would adopt a coordinated attack from two sides and launch an attack on the area they controlled. The German Panzer III and Panzer IV hid behind the trenches and opened fire at the speeding Soviet tanks, but as soon as they destroyed two tanks, the Soviet tanks had already rushed to the front of the position.
At such a short distance, the German Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks were unable to compete with the Soviet T-34. For a time, more than a dozen German tanks were all killed by the Soviet tanks as if they were on target.
Golikov can understand the situation on the battlefield in a timely manner through the front army's intelligence system. When he learned that Colonel Tanahishin's 13th Tank Corps was launching a fierce attack on the German positions, he couldn't help but asked Sokov worriedly: "Colonel Sokov, do you think the tank corps can break through the German defense lines?"
"I think there should be no problem." Seeing that Volski's Mechanized 4th Army played a great role in the offensive, Sokov said with more confidence: "I think by dark at the latest, the 51st Group Army The troops can also successfully break through the enemy's defense and wedge themselves deep into the enemy's defense line."
Sokov benefited from Golikov's favor and could keep abreast of the progress of the battle on the south side of the city. However, Chuikov, who stayed at the headquarters, could not get any news. He was eager to know the progress of the counterattack on the south side of the city, and made a special call to Sokov to learn about the situation: "Colonel Sokov, this is Chuikov. I would like to ask how the counterattack on the south side of the city is going. ?”
"Report to Comrade Commander!" Sokov replied respectfully: "According to the latest battle report, the 4th Mechanized Army commanded by General Volsky has successfully broken through the enemy's defense line and is advancing towards the depths of the enemy's defense. Push forward.”
"I think there should be no problem." Seeing that Volski's Mechanized 4th Army played a great role in the offensive, Sokov said with more confidence: "I think by dark at the latest, the 51st Group Army The troops can also successfully break through the enemy's defense and wedge themselves deep into the enemy's defense line."
Sokov benefited from Golikov's favor and could keep abreast of the progress of the battle on the south side of the city. However, Chuikov, who stayed at the headquarters, could not get any news. He was eager to know the progress of the counterattack on the south side of the city, and made a special call to Sokov to learn about the situation: "Colonel Sokov, this is Chuikov. I would like to ask how the counterattack on the south side of the city is going. ?”
"Report to Comrade Commander!" Sokov replied respectfully: "According to the latest battle report, the 4th Mechanized Army commanded by General Volsky has successfully broken through the enemy's defense line and is advancing towards the depths of the enemy's defense. Push forward.”
