Since Golikov left, Sokov has cut off important sources of information, so whether Volsky's 4th Mechanized Army has captured Karachi's Don River Bridge; Sokov didn't know anything about the rendezvous with the 4th Tank Corps of the Southwestern Front.
In fact, not to mention Sokov, even Chuikov, the army headquarters, still knows nothing about the battle situation in the Don River Basin. I finally took advantage of the opportunity to report the results of the battle and made a call to the front army headquarters, hoping to ask Yeremenko or Khrushchev about the situation of friendly forces. Unexpectedly, the chief of staff Varennikov who answered the phone said regretfully. He told him in a tone of voice: "I'm sorry, Comrade Chuikov, the commander and the military commissar are not at the headquarters."
Knowing that Yeremenko and Khrushchev were not there, Chuikov couldn't help but asked curiously: "Where did they go?"
"The situation on the battlefield has changed," Varennikov said vaguely: "The commander and the military commissar are now in Tolbukhin's 57th Army."
"What, they all went to the 57th Army?" Chuikov couldn't help being surprised when he heard this. He knew very well that the 57th Army was located on the left wing of the entire front's counterattack force. Now that the two front army chiefs had rushed over, could something have happened? It was a serious matter, so he quickly and cautiously asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there something wrong there?"
"Yes, something happened. It's just a good thing." Varennikov replied with a smile: "General Volsky's Mechanized 4th Army has successfully occupied the Don River Bridge and recovered it from the enemy. Karachi. Now the 36th Mechanized Brigade of the army continues to move westward, rushing to join the friendly forces heading south."
"What, General Volsky's troops have recaptured Karachi and occupied the Don Bridge?!" Chuikov couldn't help but raise his voice when he heard this. The staff officers and communications soldiers who were busy around them all heard what Chuikov said. After everyone stared at Chuikov for a while, they continued their work, but everyone's face was full of joy.
Chuikov naturally noticed the change in the expressions of the commanders and soldiers. He coughed lightly and said into the microphone: "Thank you, Comrade Chief of Staff, for telling us such good news."
After putting down the phone, Chuikov raised his hand and clapped his hands. After attracting everyone's attention, he said loudly: "Comrades, I want to tell you some good news. General Volsky's Mechanized 4th Army is here. After a fierce battle, Karachi has been successfully recaptured and the Don River Bridge has been occupied. Now the army's 36th Mechanized Brigade is advancing westward, preparing to join forces with friendly forces heading south!"
"Ula! Ula!! Ula!!!" As soon as Chuikov finished speaking, deafening shouts rang out in the command headquarters. The sound was so loud that it seemed to lift the roof off. The soldiers standing guard outside couldn't help but peer into the room when they heard the shouts coming from the headquarters.
"Comrade Commander, this is really great news." Krylov waited for the shouts in the room to calm down, then walked to Chuikov and said to him: "I will immediately report this to the subordinate units of the group army. , making everyone happy and happy, and maybe it can also boost morale."
Although the entire group army has been carrying out counterattacks in the past few days, except for the 41st Guards Division, which engaged in positional warfare and achieved remarkable results, the other troops competing with the enemy for factory areas and residential areas have made slow progress. They are attacking every day. The forward distance is measured in meters.
"I agree." Chuikov nodded and said to Krylov: "Immediately notify all units of the good news. The first one to notify is Sokov's 41st Guards Division. During these two days of fighting, , their division’s performance is the most outstanding.”
As soon as Chuikov mentioned Sokov's troops, Krylov remembered an important thing: "Comrade Commander, there is an important thing that I almost forgot to report to you."
"whats the matter?"
"According to the scout's report, the German 24th Armored Division has stopped its retreat and seems to be showing signs of moving south." Krylov pointed on the map with his hand and said: "I am worried that they will attack Sokov's right wing."
Hearing what Krylov said, Chuikov frowned and asked: "So what are our troops on Sokov's right wing?"
Krylov smiled bitterly and replied: "Comrade Commander, that's the problem. There are only sporadic small units and militia units, but there are really no large organized units. Once the German army launches an attack, Sokov's unit will be Cut it off at the waist."
"Yes, this is a headache." Chuikov said with a wry smile: "Judging from the recent attitude of the front army headquarters, it is impossible for them to send us new reinforcements in a short period of time. This means that we cannot use any force to strengthen Sokov’s empty right wing.”
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Krylov nodded and said with an embarrassed look on his face: "I have also been thinking about how to consolidate Sokov's flanks to ensure the defensive zone we just captured."
Chuikov slapped the area just occupied by Sokov's troops with his palm, and said: "Yes, this area was obtained by our soldiers with their blood and sacrifice, and it must not fall to the Germans again. In his hands. We must find a way to consolidate Sokov's flanks."
If there were still reserves, Chuikov and Krylov's worries would not be a big deal. All they had to do was send the reserves to Sokov's flank for defense. But a good woman can't make a meal without rice. Now the two of them don't have any extra troops at all, and they can only watch Sokov's weak flanks worry.
After a while, Krylov said tentatively: "Comrade Commander, do you think we can tell Sokov the current situation and ask him if there is anything we can do?"
After hearing what Krylov said, Chuikov clapped his hands on the table, nodded and said, "That's right. Let's leave this issue to Sokov." Ways. He has a lot of clever ideas for fighting, and he might actually be able to come up with some good ideas."
After the two discussed it, Chuikov personally called Sokov. After the phone call ended, Chuikov first informed Sokov of the good news just now, and then mentioned the weak flank defenses of the 41st Guards Division, and finally asked: "Colonel Sokov, what can you do? , to solve this problem?"
"Comrade Commander." Sokov learned that Volsky's troops had indeed captured Karachi and the Don Bridge. He was happy for less than a minute when he heard Chuikov mention that his flank defenses were weak, and he was now facing Facing the attack of the German 24th Armored Division, he had to think carefully. After some thought, he solemnly said: "Comrade Commander, it is obviously impossible to ask the superiors to dispatch new troops to strengthen the defense of our division's flanks. This is how I consider it, can we let the troops stationed in The reduced regiments of the barricade factory have been reorganized, and they will be responsible for the defense of our division's flanks."
Chuikov was still reluctant to learn that Sokov planned to let Belkin's regiment return to the army. You must know that it was precisely because of the existence of this regiment that the battle at the barricade factory could barely be fought against the Germans. If they are transferred away, then Lyudnikov's division will be left alone, and it is hard to say how the situation at the barricade factory will change.
It was out of this consideration that Chuikov quickly covered the microphone with his hand and whispered to Krylov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Sokov wants to return the Belkin Regiment to reorganization. What do you think we should do?" "
"Comrade Commander." Krylov thought for a moment and replied: "We can find other troops to replace the regiment and let them take charge of the flanks of Sokov's division."
"However, once they are transferred, the situation in the barricade factory will become serious again." Chuikov was unwilling to give up easily and finally got a good situation, so he hesitated and said: "I am worried about the troops who will take over their defense. I’m afraid it can only have a limited effect.”
"But if the Belkin regiment is not allowed to return to its original form, and other troops are allowed to strengthen the flank defense of the Sokov division, I am worried that they will not be able to withstand the offensive of German tanks." In order to persuade Chuikov, Krylov continued to say : "The commanders and fighters of the Belkin Regiment are all Sokov's old subordinates. I believe they will come up with various ways to protect the flanks of Mamayev Heights."
"Okay, since you said so, let's return the Belkin regiment to Sokov." After Chuikov finished speaking, he released his hand covering the microphone: "Colonel Sokov, I agree with your request, barricade The Belkin Regiment in the factory will be restored as soon as possible, and they will be responsible for the defense of your right wing."
"Great, this is really great." Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard that Chuikov said that he was ready to let the Belkin regiment return to the army. After thanking Chuikov repeatedly, he expressed his determination to Chuikov: "As long as the reduced regiment takes charge of the right wing of our division, The defense will be enough to withstand any German attack."
"By the way, I have one more thing to tell you." Chuikov said to Sokov before putting down the phone: "According to reliable information, a military rank restructuring is underway, and the military ranks of political workers will become the same as military commanders. When the new military rank system is officially implemented, we plan to grant him the rank of lieutenant colonel."
"Thank you, Comrade Commander." Sokov waited for Chuikov to finish and then said politely: "On behalf of Commander Belkin, I thank you."
"Comrades," Sokov raised his voice and addressed everyone in the room as he put down the phone: "I will tell you good news now. General Volsky's Mechanized 4th Army has successfully captured Karachi and the Don Bridge. , at this moment, the troops they sent are advancing westward to meet the friendly forces moving south. As long as they join forces with the friendly forces, they can successfully cut off the German army's retreat and encircle Stalingrad, the enemy we have fought against for several months. area."
After Sokov finished speaking, there was a burst of cheers. Sidorin leaned close to Sokov's ear and said loudly: "Comrade division commander, this is a rare piece of good news. I think it should be reported to all division commanders and fighters immediately, so that everyone can be happy."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov also leaned close to Sidorin's ear and said loudly to him: "You personally call several regiment commanders and inform them of the good news."
When the room returned to calm and everyone continued their work, Sokov said to Anisimov, who was sitting next to him and was about to become transparent: "Comrade Political Commissar, please tell those who are still alive this good news through the radio. The soldiers and wounded who stayed in the tunnel made everyone happy."
Just as the commanders and fighters of the 62nd Group Army were rejoicing that friendly forces had captured Karachi and the Don River Bridge, the 36th Mechanized Brigade commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Rodionov had successfully broken through the two lines of German defense and headed towards Advancing twelve kilometers west.
Rodionov, who was marching, suddenly received a report from the vanguard that a large number of German troops had been discovered ahead, including about two infantry battalions and a tank battalion, as well as artillery and so on. Upon hearing this, Rodionov quickly ordered the leading troops to prepare for battle, and ordered the follow-up troops to speed up and rush over for reinforcements.
"Comrades," Sokov raised his voice and addressed everyone in the room as he put down the phone: "I will tell you good news now. General Volsky's Mechanized 4th Army has successfully captured Karachi and the Don Bridge. , at this moment, the troops they sent are advancing westward to meet the friendly forces moving south. As long as they join forces with the friendly forces, they can successfully cut off the German army's retreat and encircle Stalingrad, the enemy we have fought against for several months. area."
After Sokov finished speaking, there was a burst of cheers. Sidorin leaned close to Sokov's ear and said loudly: "Comrade division commander, this is a rare piece of good news. I think it should be reported to all division commanders and fighters immediately, so that everyone can be happy."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov also leaned close to Sidorin's ear and said loudly to him: "You personally call several regiment commanders and inform them of the good news."
When the room returned to calm and everyone continued their work, Sokov said to Anisimov, who was sitting next to him and was about to become transparent: "Comrade Political Commissar, please tell those who are still alive this good news through the radio. The soldiers and wounded who stayed in the tunnel made everyone happy."
Just as the commanders and fighters of the 62nd Group Army were rejoicing that friendly forces had captured Karachi and the Don River Bridge, the 36th Mechanized Brigade commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Rodionov had successfully broken through the two lines of German defense and headed towards Advancing twelve kilometers west.
Rodionov, who was marching, suddenly received a report from the vanguard that a large number of German troops had been discovered ahead, including about two infantry battalions and a tank battalion, as well as artillery and so on. Upon hearing this, Rodionov quickly ordered the leading troops to prepare for battle, and ordered the follow-up troops to speed up and rush over for reinforcements.
