With the cooperation of the air force, the ground troops' attack went smoothly. The blocking forces left by the retreating German troops were quickly wiped out by the influx of Soviet tanks and infantry. If Sokov hadn't been worried about his lack of troops and pushed the enemy into panic, which would make the enemy jump over the wall, and ordered the troops to stop the attack in time, it is estimated that he could have penetrated five to ten kilometers into the German army.
After learning that the troops had been building defensive positions for the night, Sokov sent a telegram to the front and group army headquarters respectively with the results obtained.
As for the results achieved by Sokov's troops, Chuikov kept calling to inquire during the counterattack, so he had a clear understanding of the progress of the entire battle. At this moment, I saw the telegram sent by Sokov. After reading it carefully, I handed it to Krylov and told the other party: "Comrade Chief of Staff, report the results achieved by the 41st Guards Division to the entire group army." The troops will be briefed to boost the morale of our army."
But after the front army headquarters received the telegram from Sokov, it was a different situation. After reading the telegram over and over again, Khrushchev frowned and said: "I don't understand, since the troops' counterattack is going so smoothly, why don't they continue to push forward? You know, where they are now, how far away It’s only about thirty kilometers to the Don River, and it would take a tank two or three hours at most.”
Hearing what Khrushchev said, Chief of Staff Major General Varennikov said with a bitter look on his face: "Comrade Military Commissar, I think Colonel Sokov and his colleagues were very correct in stopping the attack in time."
"Why?" Khrushchev asked briefly.
Varennikov did not immediately answer this difficult question, but cast a look at Yeremenko for help. The latter looked into his eyes for a moment and said to him in an encouraging tone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please report the actual situation to the Military Commissar."
After receiving Yeremenko's authorization, Varennikov said confidently and boldly: "Comrade Military Commissar, the situation is like this. Please look at the map. Before the friendly forces on the periphery launched a major counterattack, Chuikov's 62nd Army was in the city. The defense line is in the shape of a thin line, with a defense depth of only three hundred to one thousand meters. Even if the German offensive is slightly stronger, this thin line may break at any time."
"I know this." Khrushchev urged impatiently: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please just get to the point."
"The only exception is the Mamayev Heights controlled by Colonel Sokov's 41st Guards Division. The defense depth of this area is three to five kilometers, ensuring that the central ferry in the city can be used normally." Valian Nikov continued: "Their two counterattacks increased the division's defense depth to more than ten kilometers. However, when the division carried out the counterattack, our troops on the left and right wings did not take corresponding actions, which resulted in The area controlled by the division became a salient.”
When Varennikov said this, he paused intentionally to observe Khrushchev's expression. Seeing the confused look on his face, Varennikov added: "Their position is too far forward, and there is no strong protection of troops on both wings." . Once the German army slows down and launches an attack from the left and right sides of the division, they will be in danger of being cut off and surrounded. At that time, however, this unit will be in danger of being completely destroyed, and even the commanding heights of the city - —Mamayev Kurgan, there is also a possibility of being lost.”
When the offensive situation was excellent, Sokov took the initiative to stop the attack on the German army, giving the German army that was retreating hastily a chance to breathe. Khrushchev was originally very dissatisfied with Sokov because of this incident. But after listening to Varennikov's analysis, he realized that he was a bit too whimsical. Even if Sokov's troops could fight, after all, he only had one division and had to deal with several times the number of German troops. It would be good if he could hold his position, let alone attack.
"Comrade Commander." Khrushchev looked up at Yereomenko on the opposite side and asked tentatively: "If we send enough reinforcements to Misha, can they continue to advance?"
"It's very difficult, Comrade Military Commissar." Hearing Khrushchev's question, Yereomenko sighed and said, "You should know that I sent him four full infantry battalions and two The tank battalion may be the only mobile force I have in hand. I'm afraid I won't be able to send him new reinforcements until the superiors replenish us."
Yeremenko's words poured cold water on Khrushchev's face and made him sober up. He knew very well that in order to ensure the victory of the counter-offensive, the superiors did not replenish the troops on the left bank. Even the troops originally gathered here were transferred to the south of Stalingrad to participate in the counter-offensive launched from that direction. Until the situation of the offensive outside becomes clear, even if he calls the Supreme Command in person, he may not be able to get any reinforcements.
Since he could not get new reinforcements from the Supreme Command, Khrushchev tried to consider whether the troops heading north could adjust their attack direction and let them send a unit north to join Sokov's troops. In this way, the left wing of the 41st Guards Division can be guaranteed, and they can mobilize more troops to face the German attack head-on.
With such doubts, Khrushchev asked: "Comrade Commander, do you think it is possible to order a unit of the 64th or 57th Group Army to change the direction of attack and rush directly to the direction of Mamayev Heights to meet Solo? Cove’s Guards Division is reuniting?”
"My Comrade Military Commissar, the situation you mentioned is not easy to deal with." Yereomenko replied with a wry smile: "Now the Northbound Corps attacks the enemy according to the originally set route, but they are all met with heavy losses. A big obstacle. If they are ordered to change the direction of the attack at this time, I am worried that it will cause unnecessary confusion. Moreover, the transfer of troops will also weaken the frontal attack force and affect our next combat operations."
As soon as Yeremenko finished speaking, Valennikov added: "Even if the left wing of the 41st Guards Division has been strengthened, the right wing is still threatened by several German divisions. In a word, if the superiors do not give We replenish new troops and let us use them to strengthen the power in the city. If we want Sokov's troops to continue to advance westward, we will let them die."
Although his proposal was unanimously opposed by the commander and chief of staff, Khrushchev was still reluctant and said: "I think we should report this matter to our superiors immediately to see if the Supreme Command can make another exception. Send us reinforcements. As far as I know, in order to ensure that Moscow is no longer attacked by the German army, there are 70 elite infantry divisions stationed there. If two or three of them can be dispatched to us, then the situation in the city will be better It immediately becomes beneficial to our army."
"It will take four or five days at the fastest to mobilize troops from Moscow." Regarding Khrushchev's proposal, Varennikov said cautiously: "Maybe by the time the reinforcements arrive, the situation in the city will change. The change……"
Sokov, who was far away at the Mamayev Ridge Division Headquarters, naturally did not know what happened at the Front Army Headquarters. At this moment, he was sitting at the table, staring at the map on the table in a daze, thinking about the Mechanized 4th Army of Major General Volsky Tank Corps, which would arrive at the Don River in the early morning of tomorrow, and take advantage of the fact that the German army had not returned. In one stroke of God, they captured the bridge spanning both sides of the Don River; and at four o'clock that afternoon, they joined forces with the 4th Tank Corps of the Southwestern Front commanded by Major General Kravchenko who was heading south, completely cutting off the German army's retreat. Paulus's 6th Army was completely surrounded by the Soviet army.
Ivanov saw Sokov staring at the map in a daze and guessed that he must be thinking about some important issue, so he sat quietly beside him without disturbing him. After finally seeing Sokov take his eyes off the map and reach for the teapot aside, he asked: "Comrade Commander, I see you have been thinking just now. Can you tell me what you are thinking about?" Something?"
Sokov pointed at the map with his hand and said to Ivanov: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, based on the changes in the enemy's and our situation on the map, I feel that the troops going north and south will probably join forces within a day or two. of."
"What, our peripheral troops will join forces within a day or two?" Ivanov heard Sokov say this and asked with surprise on his face: "Is this true?"
"This is just my analysis." Sokov did not dare to speak too fully. After all, since his appearance, many of the original histories have been deviated. He did not dare to guarantee that the troops going south and north would still look like the real ones. Meeting on time like in history. He could only answer vaguely: "According to various signs, this possibility is very high."
"I agree with the division commander." Sidorin, who had just finished his work, happened to hear Sokov's words later and echoed: "According to the report from the superior, the distance between the troops going north and the troops going south is only two seconds. More than ten kilometers. Even if the terrain is complex and the enemy has many defensive zones, it will probably take these two days for them to achieve a rendezvous."
…………
At ten o'clock in the evening, in a forest more than ten kilometers away from Karachi, Volski, commander of the 4th Mechanized Army, was summoning his men to make the final battle mobilization: "Comrade commanders, we are still far away from Karachi. There are more than ten kilometers. As long as you rush across it in one go, you can capture the bridge on the river and rush to the other side to join forces with the friendly forces heading south. I know that after two days of fighting, the commanders and soldiers are very tired, but for the sake of victory, I ask you to go back and do it. Good propaganda and agitation work, calling on soldiers to overcome fatigue and all difficulties to achieve meritorious deeds.”
"Comrade Commander," as soon as Volski finished speaking, the tank brigade commander asked: "Do you plan to let that brigade serve as the vanguard to complete this glorious mission?"
"It's your tank brigade." Volski pointed to the tank brigade commander with his hand and said: "At one o'clock in the morning, your tank brigade will adopt a marching formation and drive towards the Karachi Bridge. It must be done in the shortest possible time. , control the bridge."
Regarding the order given by Volski, the tank brigade commander seemed hesitant: "Comrade Commander, is our brigade going to act alone?"
"In order to prevent the target from being exposed, the other brigades will keep a distance of more than five kilometers from you." In order to dispel the concerns of the tank brigade commander, Volski comforted them and said: "You will drive towards the bridge along the kilometer, and there is no infantry behind you. If you follow, the Germans will most likely treat you as their own tanks, which will be very beneficial to you in capturing the bridge."
After assigning the task, Volski did not wait for the other party to say more, and directly ordered him: "Okay, comrade colonel, you rush back to your troops immediately and get ready to go. There is not much time, we must Seize the Karachi Bridge quickly and decisively before the Germans recover."
In half an hour, the tank brigade drove along the road in the direction of Karachi. The tank brigade commander sat in one of the tanks and thought uneasily: "I hope the commander's judgment is accurate. The enemies holding the bridge are not prepared for our arrival. Otherwise, our tank brigade will be completely The danger of military collapse."
What happened next was exactly what Volski had expected. When the German checkpoints along the way saw a tank column approaching, they originally thought it was an armored division retreating from the front line, and did not conduct any interrogation at all. It was released directly.
When he had just passed the first two levels, the tank brigade commander was still pounding in his heart, fearing that the enemy would find out his identity. Once the enemy sent out anti-tank fighters to attack, he would have no power to fight back. The tanks of the tank brigade would probably More than half will be reimbursed. However, after passing several checkpoints in succession without encountering any obstruction, the tank brigade commander became more confident. He ordered all the tanks through the on-board radio: "Every tank, pay attention, every tank, speed up, speed up, quickly." occupy the Karachi Bridge over the Don River.”
There was only one platoon of German troops holding on to the bridge. When the sentry heard the roar of tank engines in the distance and saw countless car lights, he quickly reported to the platoon leader.
In half an hour, the tank brigade drove along the road in the direction of Karachi. The tank brigade commander sat in one of the tanks and thought uneasily: "I hope the commander's judgment is accurate. The enemies holding the bridge are not prepared for our arrival. Otherwise, our tank brigade will be completely The danger of military collapse."
What happened next was exactly what Volski had expected. When the German checkpoints along the way saw a tank column approaching, they originally thought it was an armored division retreating from the front line, and did not conduct any interrogation at all. It was released directly.
When he just passed the first two levels, the tank brigade commander was still pounding in his heart. He was deeply afraid of being discovered by the enemy. Once the enemy sent out anti-tank fighters to attack, he would have no power to fight back. The tanks of the tank brigade would probably More than half will be reimbursed. However, after passing several checkpoints in succession without encountering any obstruction, the tank brigade commander became more confident. He ordered all the tanks through the on-board radio: "Every tank, pay attention, every tank, speed up, speed up, quickly." occupy the Karachi Bridge over the Don River.”
There was only one platoon of German troops holding on to the bridge. When the sentry heard the roar of tank engines in the distance and saw countless car lights, he quickly reported to the platoon leader.
