After receiving the order, Belgin was immediately overjoyed to learn that Paulus' headquarters might be located in the basement of the department store. Therefore, judging from the overall distribution of Soviet troops, his regiment is the closest. In other words, as long as it is determined where the enemy's headquarters is, capturing Paulus alive, a feat worthy of being recorded in history, will fall on his own. On the head.
Therefore, upon receiving the order, he did not dare to neglect and immediately sent a reconnaissance team to the residential area near the department store to observe the movements of the department store from a distance.
However, in order to prevent the members of the reconnaissance team from confessing to the reconnaissance mission after being captured by the Germans, he did not tell the team leader when assigning the mission, saying that he was going to verify whether Paulus' headquarters was in the department store. . Instead, they told the other party that there might be a military-level command unit of the German army in the department store. The task of the reconnaissance team was to confirm whether this information was accurate.
The reconnaissance team was dispatched at night. Shortly after dawn, the team leader used the walkie-talkie to speak directly to Belkin: "Comrade leader, we have carefully observed the department store."
Seeing that the other party had reported back so quickly, Belkin felt ecstatic and asked quickly: "Comrade Sergeant, is there anything strange in the department store?"
"Yes." The sergeant leading the team replied: "The department store is surrounded by a double-layered barbed wire fence, and mines should be buried in the middle. The windows of the building are piled with sandbags, which look like fire points... …”
When Belkin heard this, he couldn't help but interrupt the other person's words: "Sergeant, I know that the enemy will transform stone buildings into strong firepower points. Please tell me directly whether the enemy has built a firepower point in the department store. Headquarters?"
"In the parking lot in front of the department store, there are more than thirty vehicles of various types parked." The sergeant reported: "I carefully observed that there were eight covered trucks, two armored vehicles, and the rest They were all barrel trucks, about twenty of them.”
"Sergeant, what are you talking about? There are almost twenty barrel trucks?" Belkin couldn't help but feel ecstatic. He knew what it meant to have so many barrel trucks in a parking lot, so he quickly asked: " In addition to the vehicles parked in the parking lot, are there other vehicles coming in and out?”
"Yes, Comrade Commander," the sergeant replied, "Vehicles kept coming to the department store and stopped, and then drove away very quickly."
"What kind of vehicles are coming?"
"They were basically barrel trucks and some motorcycles. By the way, there were also five or six tanks. They were parked on the inside of the barbed wire fence, close to the building."
Based solely on what the sergeant said, Belkin could not determine whether Paulus' headquarters was located in a department store. He continued to ask: "Who are the people coming in and out? Can you see clearly? "
"I can see clearly." The sergeant replied without hesitation: "I saw through the telescope that except for a few lieutenant-level officers, the people who came in and out were all colonel officers wearing silver flowered epaulettes, and there were even a few generals. But because they quickly got into the barrel truck as soon as they came out, I couldn't see their ranks clearly..."
"That's enough, Comrade Sergeant, you don't need to say any more, I understand everything." Belkin had concluded at this moment that even if there was no Paulus headquarters in the department store, there was at least one military-level headquarters. He told the sergeant: "Continue to observe and report to me immediately if you discover anything new."
After ending the call with the sergeant, Belkin called the division headquarters at Mamayev Heights. After hearing Sokov's voice, he immediately repeated the situation reported by the scout to Sokov. He finally asked: "Misha, do you think Paulus would really set up his headquarters in a department store?"
"My comrade political commissar," Sokov could basically confirm in his mind at this moment that Paulus's headquarters was still located in the basement of the department store as it had been historically. He said into the microphone: "If it were just a division-level or even army-level headquarters, there would not be so many barrel trucks in the parking lot; secondly, there would not be a few tanks specially placed there. So I concluded that there must be This is where Paulus’s headquarters is located. You must send people to closely monitor it. If anything happens, report to me immediately.”
"I have already done this. I have arranged a reconnaissance team in the ruins near the department store. They will report the information there to me in time." After Belkin said this, he said to Sokov again A piece of good news: "Misha, according to the scout's report, the troops of the 64th Group Army have rushed into the south of the city and are fighting the enemy. I believe it won't be long before they arrive at our location."
"I understand." Sokov heard Belkin's worry from his words. Once the troops of the 64th Group Army reach the central area, their superiors may naturally order them to eliminate the enemies in the residential areas south of the city and the central area. Then the opportunity to capture Paulus will fall into their hands. Sokov said to Belkin: "I will let you launch an attack on the department store at the appropriate time."
Knowing that Sokov would let his downsized regiment attack the department store at the right time, Belkin took some reassurance. He assured Sokov: "Misha, don't worry, I will keep a close eye on you." Monitor the enemy's movements in the department store and prepare attacking troops. Just waiting for your order, we will attack the department store with all our strength."
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Sidorin and Ivanov who were surrounding him: "According to Commander Belgin's report, I am 80% sure that Paulus has set up his headquarters in Department store.”
Although Sokov had already told everyone that Paulus's headquarters was in the department store, everyone was still dubious. Listening to him say this now, I feel that this statement should be more reliable. Ivanov said: "Comrade Division Commander, if we really want to launch an attack on the department store, the strength of the reduced regiment may not be enough. I think more troops should be mobilized and rushed over for reinforcements."
How could Sokov not know that the more troops attacking the department store, the smoother the battle would be. But at this moment, several of his regiments were spread across a wide defensive front. Even if he wanted to mobilize troops, he would be unable to do so. Seeing Sokov's embarrassed look, Sidorin suggested to him: "Comrade division commander, I have an idea. It's better to report the matter to comrade commander and ask him to send troops to replace Mamayev Heights." Defense, so that we can mobilize more troops to attack the department store."
Sokov thought about Sidorin's proposal for a long time and felt that it still made sense. Once Chuikov knows that Paulus’ headquarters is in the department store, he will definitely support him fully. Therefore, as long as Paulus is captured, the achievements of the 62nd Army will be recorded in history. This temptation is probably one that no one can refuse. of.
Thinking of this, Sokov nodded and agreed to Sidorin's proposal: "Chief of Staff, you are right. To completely defeat the enemy, we need the cooperation of friendly forces. I will call Comrade Commander right now. Report this to him."
Not long after, Chuikov received a call from Sokov. After patiently listening to Sokov's report, he asked cautiously: "Colonel Sokov, can you really confirm that the new German headquarters is located in the department store?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I can assure you that the enemy's headquarters is located in the basement of the department store." After finishing this in a positive tone, Sokov added: "But the enemy's headquarters The defense force is strong, and it may be difficult to capture the department store with just one of our divisions, so I hope to get your help."
"Help?" After Chuikov heard what Sokov said, he asked angrily and funnyly: "How do you want me to help you? You know, I don't have extra troops in my hands."
"Comrade Commander, you can make a request to the head of the front army and ask them to send you reinforcements." Seeing Chuikov in such a dilemma, Sokov gave him advice: "Say that you have enough troops in your hands, and you can do it as soon as possible." Destroy the enemies entrenched in the city."
"Colonel Sokov, I definitely can't help you here." Chuikov poured cold water on Sokov. "As far as I know, the 64th Group Army troops are attacking very quickly. It will take them four or five days at most. , we can rush to Mamayev Heights. And even if I ask Commander Rokossovsky for reinforcements, it will be at least half a month before new troops arrive, and by then Paulus has become Prisoners of the 64th Army."
"Comrade Commander, are we just going to watch such a good opportunity slip away from us?"
"Of course not." Chuikov thought about how he had been fighting desperately for several months in the city, with victory in sight. If he allowed the 64th Army to easily take away the fruits of his victory, even if he didn't say it, he would probably be sorry for the bloody battles of his subordinates. , commanders and soldiers who shed blood and sacrificed their lives. He slapped his hand on the table and said: "How can we easily give up the merits that belong to us to others? Don't worry, Colonel Sokov, although we can't help you much, there are people who can." you."
"Can someone help me?" Chuikov's words made Sokov feel a little confused. "Who is it?"
"It's Batov's 65th Army." Chuikov said to Sokov: "Before you called, I just received a call from Commander Rokossovsky. He told me that Batov's infantry The 23rd Division is considering moving to Mamayev Heights. If the situation is ideal, we will be able to join forces with you in less than two days. As long as you join forces, you can hand over the defense of Mamayev Heights to them, and then Then allocate some troops from this division to participate in the attack on the department store."
"This is really great." Sokov couldn't help but feel overjoyed when he learned that friendly troops were coming to join him. As long as the two divisions join forces, only a small number of troops need to be left for defense, and then the main forces of the two divisions can be concentrated to attack the department store.
"Let me tell you some good news." After Sokov put down the phone, he said to Sidorin and Ivanov standing next to him: "The 65th Group Army has an infantry division that is moving closer to our army. In two or three days, It is estimated that the rendezvous can be completed. As long as the two divisions join forces, we will have enough troops to attack the department store and capture Paulus alive."
"In two or three days, friendly forces will arrive to join us." This unexpected good news made Sidorin overjoyed. "In other words, in three to four days at most, we will be able to launch the final attack on the German army. attack."
"Chief of Staff, you are wrong." As soon as Sidorin finished speaking, Ivanov corrected him: "We are attacking Paulus' headquarters. The enemy is still so powerful that it is very difficult to destroy them. "
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin was not angry, but continued to ask Sokov: "What preparations should we make these days?"
"Order all troops to temporarily stop attacking the enemy." Sokov replied: "Let the commanders and fighters recharge their batteries. Only after the divisions are reunited will they have enough physical strength and high morale to launch an attack on the Paulus headquarters." attack."
"What, order all the troops to suspend the attack?" Sidorin immediately questioned Sokov's plan: "Comrade division commander, under the current situation, even if we stop the attack, will the enemy give up?"
"Don't worry, the Germans are already facing the dilemma of running out of ammunition and food." Sokov said with a faint smile: "If the soldiers don't have enough to eat, how can they still have the strength to fight? If we don't attack, they will definitely be eager to do so. Besides, if we do this , and can also paralyze the enemy, making them think that we are incapable of launching a new attack. When they completely relax their vigilance, and we launch another attack, we will definitely defeat them."
When he saw Sidorin picking up the phone and preparing to give orders to the commanders of each regiment, Sokov remembered another important thing and quickly told the other party: "By the way, Comrade Chief of Staff, there is another important thing. , I almost forgot. You tell the commanders of each regiment that although the military offensive has been stopped, the political offensive against the enemy cannot be stopped."
"Are you still shouting at the enemy's position?" Anisimov couldn't help but interjected and asked.
"Yes, in addition to shouting at the enemy's position, we must also prepare enough food in the forward position, and then ask Comrade Ulbricht to tell the enemy on the opposite side that as long as they put down their weapons and run over, we can give them food. As for eating After that, we will all decide whether they stay or go back."
Sokov's words made Anisimov so excited that he opened his mouth in surprise and stared at Sokov in a daze. After a while, he murmured: "Comrade division commander, did I hear you correctly? Is it appropriate to let the enemy come and eat before letting them go back?"
"There is nothing inappropriate." Sokov said with a smile: "Since we have occupied all the airports, the supplies for the besieged German troops can only be carried out through air drops, but how can such a limited amount of food feed hundreds of thousands of people?" What about food? So today most Germans are hungry."
