The area controlled by the Sokov Division is only twenty kilometers away from the 23rd Infantry Division that came to join the division. However, due to the tenacious resistance of the German army, it took the 23rd Division, which was in charge of the offensive, three full days to reach an area only three kilometers away from the 122nd Regiment's defense area.
That night, Sokov received a strange phone call. The other party said loudly on the phone: "Hello, is this the headquarters of the 41st Guards Division? I am Colonel Sivakov, commander of the 23rd Infantry Division. Please call you." Division Commander Colonel Sokov spoke."
When he heard the other party announcing his home address and saying that he was the commander of the 23rd Infantry Division, Sokov's breathing became rapid: "Hello, Colonel Sivakov. I am Sokov."
"You are Colonel Sokov." Sivakov said with a smile, "That's great."
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov asked tentatively: "I would like to ask how long it will take for your troops to arrive to join us?"
"Don't be anxious, Colonel Sokov." Sivakov continued: "I just convened a meeting with the commanders of each regiment to study tomorrow's offensive operations. We will launch an attack on the enemy's defensive positions at eight o'clock in the morning. …”
When Sokov heard this, he couldn't help but interrupt and asked: "Do you need assistance from our troops?"
"No, no, no." Sivakov shook his head and said, "I went to the front today and saw that the enemy's defenses are all facing your side. If you are allowed to attack, I'm afraid you will suffer huge losses. I think it's up to us. If we attack, just stay on the position and wait for the rendezvous."
"How can this be done, Comrade Colonel?" Regarding Sivakov's proposal, Sokov immediately rejected it: "How can we stay on the position and watch the friendly forces fighting the enemy while doing nothing ourselves? The way I see it, half an hour after your attack started, we also launched an attack on the enemy's position. I don't think the enemy can hold out for long when we are attacking from both sides, and our two troops can't survive in the shortest possible time. Meet up within time.”
"Okay, Colonel Sokov." Sivakov thought for a long time and finally replied: "Just do what you said, my troops will attack first, and after half an hour, your troops will attack from the enemy's Launch an attack from behind and attack from both sides."
After Sokov put down the phone and announced to Sidorin, Ivanov and others that he would join forces with the 23rd Infantry Division tomorrow, Ivanov said enviously: "Comrade Division Commander, you are so lucky. Infantry." The position where the 23rd Division rushed over happened to be the defense area of the 122nd Regiment. How about we switch, you go to the 124th Regiment, and I will lead the 122th Regiment to join forces with friendly forces."
"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," Sokov asked with a smile: "If friendly forces appear in the defense area of the 124th Regiment, will you allow me to exchange places with you?"
"No." Ivanov answered simply.
"That's right." Sokov said jokingly: "Since friendly forces have appeared in the defense area of the 124th Regiment, you are not willing to exchange positions with me; then how can I possibly join forces in the defense area of the 122nd Regiment tomorrow? What about your exchange?"
In order not to make Ivanov and Anisimov too disappointed, Sokov added after a brief pause: "Although this meeting with friendly forces is in the defense zone of the 122nd Regiment. But where are you?" The defense areas of the 124th and 125th Regiments are not far from each other. You can definitely bring a battalion over each to join in the rendezvous."
"What, can we each take a battalion and rush to the defense area of the 122nd Regiment to join forces with friendly forces?" Sokov's words made Anisimov's eyes light up. In order to confirm that Sokov was not joking, he asked specifically :"is this real?"
"Of course it is true." Sokov nodded and said affirmatively: "Joining forces with friendly forces is not only a matter for Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko's 122nd Regiment, but also related to the honor of our entire Guards Division. , so it is of great significance for each regiment to send troops to participate in the rendezvous."
"Comrade division commander," Sidorin asked a key question after waiting for Sokov to finish explaining the mission: "I would like to ask, when will we be able to join forces with friendly forces tomorrow?"
As soon as Sidorin's question came out, the room suddenly became quiet. Yes, although the two armies are only three kilometers apart, if they encounter stubborn resistance from the German army, they may not be able to join forces until dark. It would be too embarrassing if this really happened.
The sudden ringing of the phone broke the silence among everyone. Sidorin picked up the microphone and said loudly: "I am Sidorin, where are you from?...Oh, it's Comrade Commander, hello!...We are here to discuss the meeting of divisions...Yes, I will ask the division commander immediately Answer the phone."
With that said, Sidorin handed the microphone in his hand to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, the commander's phone number."
"Hello, Comrade Commander." Sokov took the phone.
"Colonel Sokov," Chuikov asked in an official tone on the other end of the phone: "The 23rd Infantry Division coming from the west is still three kilometers away from you. According to their report to General Batov, they will arrive tomorrow at the latest. I can join forces with you."
"Comrade Commander, we have been waiting to join forces with friendly forces."
"I want to ask you," Chuikov asked on the other end of the phone: "How long do you think it will take for the two armies to join forces?"
"It's hard to say, Comrade Commander." Sokov replied cautiously: "It all depends on the strength of the German resistance. It may take a few hours, or it may take a day..."
"Don't give me such ambiguous words," Chuikov said dissatisfied: "The connection between your division and the 23rd Infantry Division is of great significance, so I need an accurate time."
Although Chuikov only said half of what he said, Sokov had already guessed what he meant. As the commander of the group army, he definitely wanted to go to the meeting site in person and chat with the commanders of the friendly forces. These are of great significance. things. After thinking about this, Sokov silently calculated in his mind, and finally replied: "Comrade Commander, it is difficult for me to tell the specific time. I can only tell you that I will try to shorten the time for the rendezvous. "
Chuikov heard a hint of off-screen voice from Sokov's words: "Colonel Sokov, do you plan to launch an attack with your troops from another direction when friendly forces attack the German positions?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, that's what I think about. Attacking the enemy from both sides is definitely better than attacking from one direction." Sokov reported to Chuikov: "I have already discussed with Sivakov It was agreed that his troops would attack the enemy's position at eight o'clock, and my troops would launch an attack half an hour later, giving the enemy a flanking attack."
Seeing that he could not get any more useful information from Sokov, Chuikov couldn't help but said with some disappointment: "Colonel Sokov, when you are about to join forces with friendly forces, remember to give me a call. I will rush to the meeting point in person. Go check it out.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Seeing that he had guessed what Chuikov was thinking, Sokov quickly replied loudly: "I will report to you in time before joining forces with friendly forces."
After putting down the phone, Sokov frowned and thought for a moment, then told Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, please call Comrade Ulbricht and ask him to come here."
Even though everyone is usually very polite to Ulbricht, no matter what, the other party is German. Two Soviet troops are joining forces. Why should he be invited? With this question in mind, Sidorin asked puzzledly: "Comrade Commander, what are you asking him to do?"
"Comrade Commander wants us to join forces with Sivakov's division as soon as possible." Seeing Sidorin's confusion, Sokov explained to him: "I want to know about their propaganda about the German positions. Didn’t achieve anything?”
"What achievements can their propaganda achieve?" Anisimov said with disdain: "They shout at the enemy's positions every day, which is not as effective as putting a basket of bread and two buckets of red cabbage soup on our positions."
"Comrade Political Commissar, you can't say that." Seeing that Anisimov looked down on Ulbricht, Sokov quickly came out to smooth things over: "Our bread tactics were effective in Stalingrad against the besieged German troops who lacked food and clothing. . But if we switch to other battlefields, this tactic will be useless at all. If we want the enemy to take the initiative to lay down their weapons and surrender, we still have to rely on anti-Faxi Temple comrades like Ulbricht."
"Okay, I'll call Comrade Ulbricht." Sidorin picked up the phone and asked him to come here immediately.
While Sidorin was on the phone, Sokov asked Ivanov: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, I have something very important to ask you."
Seeing Sokov's serious look, Ivanov quickly stopped the smile on his face: "Comrade Commander, if you have anything to do, please tell me."
"I would like to ask, where is the military flag?" Sokov was afraid that the other party would not understand what he was talking about, so he specifically added: "It is the military flag of the 41st Guards Division."
"The military flag has always been kept by the political commissar." After Ivanov glanced at Anisimov standing next to him, he immediately thought of the reason for Sokov's question, and asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, are you Do you plan to use this flag when the armies join forces?"
"That's right." Sokov nodded and replied affirmatively: "Reunion with friendly forces is a matter of historical significance. Naturally, we must use the flag of our division."
"Comrade Political Commissar." Ivanov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, then turned to Anisimov and said, "Go and get the military flag. It will be useful when the troops meet tomorrow."
Before Anisimov could retrieve the flag, Ulbricht quickly walked into the division headquarters. After nodding to Sokov and others, he asked curiously: "Comrade Colonel, do you have anything to do with me?"
"That's it, Comrade Ulbricht." Sokov did not talk in circles, but asked directly: "We plan to launch an attack on the enemy on the opposite side in the defense area of the 122nd Regiment tomorrow. I brought you here just to Let me know how your promotional work in that area is going?"
"We were in the defense area of the 122nd Regiment and shouted to the German troops on the opposite side for a week." Ulbricht replied: "Sixteen German soldiers came to surrender. But not in the past two days. I guess it was the German officers who found out. Soldiers defected, so security was heightened to the point..."
Sokov was dissatisfied with Ulbricht's statement. If the German officers have really strengthened their supervision of the soldiers, why does the number of German officers and soldiers coming over to eat every night keep increasing? It seems that their propaganda work was not done well enough to persuade the German troops to surrender.
Thinking that Ulbricht's propaganda was effective in dismantling the morale and morale of the German army, the smile on Sokov's face became perfunctory. He said to Ulbricht: "Comrade Ulbricht, tomorrow we will join up with the 23rd Infantry Division coming from the west. I wonder if you are interested in attending our joining ceremony?"
According to Sokov's idea, Ulbricht would immediately agree without hesitation after hearing this. Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, Ulbricht remained silent. After a while, he said awkwardly: "Comrade Colonel, I have a lot of things to do tomorrow. I see your meeting, so I won't participate."
After Ulbricht left, Ivanov said dissatisfiedly: "What the hell, he didn't want to participate in such an important historical event as joining forces with friendly forces."
"Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you can't say that." Sokov understood Ulbricht's difficulties and felt that he should come out and say a few words for him at this moment: "No matter what, Comrade Ulbricht is a German. As a German People, you must still have some knots in your heart when you participate in our meeting ceremony."
After listening to Sokov's explanation, Ivanov immediately realized that he had misunderstood Ulbricht. If he and the other party had changed places, he probably would not have participated in such a meeting ceremony.
When Anisimov returned, he was followed by a staff sergeant holding a long object wrapped in canvas. Anisimov introduced to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, let me introduce you formally. This sergeant is the squad leader of the flag guard squad. He has five soldiers under him. Their responsibility is to protect this military flag." .”
According to Sokov's idea, Ulbricht would immediately agree without hesitation after hearing this. Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, Ulbricht remained silent. After a while, he said awkwardly: "Comrade Colonel, I have a lot of things to do tomorrow. I see your meeting, so I won't participate."
After Ulbricht left, Ivanov said dissatisfiedly: "What the hell, he didn't want to participate in such an important historical event as joining forces with friendly forces."
"Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you can't say that." Sokov understood Ulbricht's difficulties and felt that he should come out and say a few words for him at this moment: "No matter what, Comrade Ulbricht is a German. As a German People, you must still have some knots in your heart when you participate in our meeting ceremony."
After listening to Sokov's explanation, Ivanov immediately realized that he had misunderstood Ulbricht. If he and the other party were in a different place, he probably would not participate in such a meeting ceremony.
When Anisimov returned, he was followed by a staff sergeant holding a long object wrapped in canvas. Anisimov introduced to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, let me introduce you formally. This sergeant is the squad leader of the flag guard squad. He has five soldiers under him. Their responsibility is to protect this military flag." .”
