The German attack was repelled, and Sokov also learned that an infantry division and a tank brigade of the 65th Army were attacking from west to east, and tried to rush to Mamayev Hill to join him.
After listening to the information reported by Krylov, he asked cautiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask, what should we do?"
Even though it has been more than a month since the troops besieged Paulus, the combat effectiveness of the German army cannot be underestimated. Therefore, Krylov said cautiously: "The area controlled by your division is too wide now, and the troops used for defense are too scattered. It is probably unrealistic to concentrate our forces and carry out a centripetal attack with the friendly forces from the west. The task given to you by the group army is to recapture the position you lost today before the friendly forces arrive."
"Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov replied: "We promise to complete the mission."
"Wait a minute, Colonel Sokov." Just when Sokov was about to hang up, Chuikov's voice came from the receiver: "Tell me, you plan to recapture the first line occupied by the enemy." Defense line?”
"In order to reduce the casualties of the troops during the attack, I think we should take a political offensive against the enemy." Sokov knew that the German generals blocked all kinds of information from the soldiers. Even a month ago, the Soviet army occupied Karachi and encircled it. The news about the entire Sixth Army was unknown to most of the soldiers. "I think we should tell the German officers and soldiers about the current situation of the Sixth Army to undermine their morale and morale."
"Colonel Sokov," Chuikov did not answer whether Sokov's proposal was acceptable or not. He just asked: "Do you think telling the German officers and soldiers the truth will destroy their military morale and morale?"
"I think it should be possible." In order to convince Chuikov, Sokov also emphasized: "If the German officers and soldiers are not allowed to understand their actual situation and are allowed to live in fantasy, they will continue to fight until the end. Even if he has a bullet, he will not voluntarily surrender to us and become a prisoner."
"..." After hearing what Sokov said, Chuikov began to think deeply. He was considering whether he should really take a political offensive against the German army to reduce the casualties of the troops.
"Comrade Commander." Seeing Chuikov's silence, Sokov continued: "If we let them understand the truth and break their illusions, it will be very beneficial to our subsequent operations."
"Okay, Colonel Sokov." After Chuikov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he finally made up his mind: "Then we will pilot it in your division. If the effect is good, we will promote it to the entire army."
After Sokov put down the phone, he immediately called Anisimov to him and said to him: "Comrade political commissar, please immediately organize political workers, draft and print leaflets, and encircle the Paulus Group into our army, and rush to came to reinforce the Manstein and Hult groups, but after being stubbornly blocked by our army, they were forced to abandon the rescue plan and retreat away from Stalingrad."
After Anisimov recorded what Sokov said, he said hesitantly: "Comrade division commander, Manstein and the Huth Group stopped the rescue operation and retreated away from Stalingrad. Where did you get it?" information?"
"I analyzed it based on the battle reports." Naturally, Sokov would not tell Anisimov that in real history, Manstein and Holt would give up the rescue of Paulus in the next few days. retreated to the west. At the same time, in a few days, the enemies trapped in the Kotelnikovo area will be completely annihilated. Thinking of this, he added: "Also, Comrade Political Commissar, please add another sentence: The troops besieged in the Kotelnikovo area are currently being dealt a devastating blow by our army. I believe that in the near future, they will be defeated." will be completely wiped out."
"Comrade Commander, I have one more question." Seeing Sokov speaking so confidently, Anisimov did not continue to dwell on the matter, but asked curiously: "After the leaflet is written, how do you put it on the enemy?" Where to go to our position?"
"Let's hit it with mortars." Sokov had only heard that mortars could be used to launch leaflets, but he didn't know how to do it specifically, so he asked humbly: "Does any of you know how to use mortars?" Launching leaflets?”
"Leave it to me to take charge of this matter." Ivanov said with a smile: "It just so happens that I have received training in this area before. It is up to me to use mortars to launch leaflets. Take charge."
Early the next morning, the German sentry who stood firm on his position discovered that a group of Soviet troops wearing camouflage uniforms were quietly approaching his position. He quickly blew his whistle to warn the soldiers staying in the concealment.
When the German soldiers heard the whistle outside, they knew that the Soviet army was coming to attack. They ran out of their hiding places with weapons in hand, put their guns on the edge of the trench, and were ready to shoot, waiting for the Soviet army to enter their territory. Once within range, fire immediately.
Unexpectedly, the group of Soviet troops stopped five or six hundred meters away from the position, stopped advancing, and began to set up mortar positions. It didn't take long before they started launching. Hearing the roar from the air, the German officers and soldiers hid in the trenches to avoid the Soviet artillery fire.
Hearing the scream of the shells tearing through the air, there was no explosion. The officers and soldiers were feeling strange when they suddenly saw leaflets scattered in the air. Only then did they realize that the Soviet mortars were firing leaflets instead of artillery shells.
A curious soldier picked up the leaflet that fell in front of him. After just a few glances, he exclaimed: "What, we have been surrounded by the Russians? Marshal Manstein and General Hott who came to rescue us, because Encountering stubborn resistance from the Russians, they have given up their rescue plan and are retreating towards the west.”
More and more soldiers picked up the leaflets on the ground and looked at the content written on them with doubts. After reading it, they all turned their attention to the officer on the position, hoping to get more accurate information from him.
The officer is just a captain and knows little more than his subordinates. But he knew very well that no matter whether the content on the leaflets was true or false, once the news spread among the troops, it would affect the morale and morale of the troops. He quickly shouted, "The Russians are spreading rumors in the leaflets. Don't believe them. Immediately." Throw away these leaflets, or I will punish you for collaborating with the enemy."
The German soldiers threw away the leaflets in their hands, but the contents of the leaflets were deeply imprinted in their minds. They began to try to recall that the supplies they received during this period seemed to be much less than before. In addition to the supplies shipped from the airport, more supplies relied on airdrops. If you were not surrounded by the Russians, how could you rely on the air force to supply yourself?
The same situation also occurred in the positions opposite the 124th, 125th and the reduced regiment. The leaflets scattered all over the battlefield had an unpredictable impact on the morale and morale of the German army.
After learning about the situation, the German division commander immediately called Schmidt and reported worriedly: "Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, after dawn, the Russians launched a large number of leaflets to our division's defense area, saying that our army has fallen into them. The siege, and Marshal Manstein and General Holt who came for reinforcements at the same time, have been repelled by them. Now the people in the army are panicked, and I am worried that it will have a negative impact on the next battle."
After hearing what the other party said, Schmidt said calmly: "Mr. General, don't listen to the Russian rumors. You must know that the great Head Manstein was the conqueror of Sevastopol. As long as he is here, It is impossible for the Russians to achieve victory."
After putting down the phone here, Schmidt realized the seriousness of the problem and quickly came to Paulus and reported to him: "Your Excellency, Commander, this morning, Sokov's troops dropped a large amount of bombs on our positions. The leaflets inform the officers and soldiers of the actual situation of our army. According to the situation reported below, the morale and morale of our army have been affected to varying degrees."
"Chief of Staff," Paulus said thoughtfully after Schmidt finished speaking: "It seems unrealistic to continue to conceal the news that our army is besieged. Even if we deny it, ordinary soldiers can Judging from the dwindling supplies, what the Russians said was completely true. Therefore, we must tell the soldiers as soon as possible that we are surrounded by the Russians."
"But, Your Excellency, Commander." Hearing that Paulus planned to tell the soldiers the truth, Schmidt said worriedly: "This may lead to the disorganization of the soldiers and low morale."
"Chief of Staff," Paulus looked at Schmidt and said sternly: "Even if we don't say it, the Russians will tell our soldiers that we have fallen into their siege. In this case, it is better to be generous One thing, admit that our army has unfortunately fallen into the siege of the Russians."
Seeing Schmidt opening his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, Paulus raised his hand to stop him, and continued: "After telling the soldiers the news of the siege, tell them that Marshal Manstein and General Hoth's The troops are now moving closer to us. In two days at most, we will be able to join forces with them and completely defeat the Russians who besieged us..."
Schmidt couldn't help but nod his head when he heard what Paulus said. He felt that as long as he said this, even if the soldiers knew that they were surrounded by the Russians, as long as they thought that reinforcements were about to arrive, they would be confident and continue. Fight the Russians bravely. He quickly replied: "Understood, Your Excellency Commander, I will report this to the entire army immediately to let everyone understand the current situation so as not to be fooled by the Russians."
Sokov learned that the front lines of the four regiments had all fired leaflets at the enemy. Feeling that it was not enough, he asked Ivanov: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, I would like to ask, is it okay to use artillery to fire leaflets?"
"No." Ivanov shook his head and said, "Mortars can do it, but artillery probably can't."
Seeing Sokov's disappointed look, he added: "I think you should call the commander and see if he can send two reconnaissance planes to carry our leaflets and drop them over the enemy. After all, when mortars are fired, only the German officers and soldiers at the front can see it. If they are dropped from the rear by planes, more people can see it. Maybe this can have the effect of disintegrating the enemy's morale. "
"You are right, Comrade Deputy Division Commander." Sokov smiled and nodded: "Why did I forget to use a plane to drop leaflets? I will contact the commander right away."
Sokov dialed the number of the group army headquarters. When he heard that the person who answered the phone was an ordinary communications soldier, he said in a stern tone: "I am Colonel Sokov. Please find me the commander or chief of staff. I have Important things should be reported to them.”
The communications soldier knew the importance of Sokov, and when he heard what he said, he did not dare to neglect, and quickly called Krylov to answer the phone. Krylov took the phone and asked straight to the point: "Colonel Sokov, how effective is your political propaganda?"
"Reporting to Comrade Chief of Staff has no effect yet." After Sokov finished his brief report, before Krylov could speak, he rushed to say: "In order to expand the influence, I would like to ask the Army Headquarters to contact the Air Force. Let them use reconnaissance planes to drop leaflets on the enemy's heads, so that more enemies can know what kind of situation they are in now."
"What, dispatching the air force to drop leaflets for you?" Krylov couldn't help but frowned when he heard Sokov's request. Originally, when Sokov proposed a political offensive, he did not agree with this approach and just faced the enemy. Just dropping a few leaflets on the enemy's position can destroy the morale and morale of the enemy's troops. It sounds like a fantasy no matter how hard it sounds. At this moment, he seemed very hesitant about Sokov's request: "Colonel Sokov, I can't make the decision on this matter. Otherwise, wait until I report to Comrade Commander, and if he agrees, I will contact the Air Force for you." .”
Unexpectedly, after Chuikov listened to Krylov's report, he actually nodded and said: "Chief of Staff, I think Colonel Sokov's proposal can be adopted. You should contact the Air Force immediately and ask them to dispatch two reconnaissance planes and go deep into the The enemy's rear, in the process of conducting reconnaissance, dropped leaflets on the Germans on the ground."
"Will the Air Force agree?" Krylov asked cautiously.
"How could you disagree?" Chuikov asked with a puzzled look on his face: "Anyway, they have to go to the enemy's rear to carry out reconnaissance. Letting them scatter leaflets is just a piece of cake. I believe they will not refuse."
"Okay, I will obey your order." Now that Chuikov had said this, Krylov knew that even if he objected, it would probably have no effect, so he picked up the phone on the table and contacted the Air Force Group. Hope to get their cooperation.
The air force commander received the call and simply agreed to Krylov's request, asking him to send the leaflets to a nearby field airport as soon as possible so that the reconnaissance aircraft could drop leaflets on the enemy's positions during the reconnaissance process.
