The embrace between Sokov and Sivakov seemed to be an order to attack to all the commanders and fighters present. Amid cheers, commanders and fighters from the two troops coming from different directions rushed into each other's ranks and hugged each other tightly. They expressed their inner joy with warm hugs.
"Thank you, Colonel Sokov." Sivakov said excitedly as he hugged Sokov: "It was your tenacious fighting that prevented the enemy from occupying this heroic city, and that allowed us to join forces today. "
"Comrade Colonel, today is our meeting, and tomorrow it will be our turn to attack the enemy." Sokov said loudly: "Now is the day to repay the blood debt from the enemy."
"Colonel Sokov." After Sivakov let go of Sokov, he pulled a thin commander and introduced him to Sokov: "Let me introduce to you, this is my political commissar Yego. Lieutenant Colonel Rove.”
"Hello, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Sokov first raised his hand in salute, and then shook hands with the other party tightly. Next, he introduced Ivanov and Anisimov, who were following him, to Sivakov and Yegorov.
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov leaned into Sivakov's ear and asked loudly: "Should we find a place to have a good talk."
"Okay, Colonel Sokov." The cheers around him made everyone have to shout at the top of their lungs. It was indeed not suitable to talk about important things. "Find somewhere to have a nice talk."
A few minutes later, five division leaders from two divisions were sitting in a German command post. After everyone sat down, Sokov asked straight to the point: "Colonel Sivakov, I would like to ask how many troops you still have in your division?"
"About four thousand people." After Sivakov finished speaking, he may have felt that his statement was not accurate enough, and added: "Of course, this is the statistics from last night. In order to seize the enemy's position today, we still paid a lot of effort. There’s a price to pay.”
Sokov couldn't help but frowned when he heard what Sivakov said. According to his idea, the other party should provide him with at least 5,000 troops, so that when attacking the department store, he would be more certain of victory. Unexpectedly, there are only more than 3,000 people left on the other side. In addition to the necessary left-behind troops, it is still unknown whether they can gather 3,000 people for themselves.
Seeing Sokov's frown, Sivakov quickly asked with concern: "Colonel Sokov, how many troops do you still have in your division?"
"I don't know the specific number." Sokov said carefully: "But there are still six to seven thousand people."
"There are still six or seven thousand people?" Sivakov heard this, with a surprised expression on his face: "But as far as I know, the infantry divisions that have been withdrawn from the city usually only have a few hundred left. Man, there are still six to seven thousand people in your division, this is simply unbelievable."
"Comrade Colonel," Ivanov coughed and interjected: "Since the Mamayev Hill where our division is holding strong defenses was built long before the war broke out, we relied on the fortifications during the battle. Sufficient forces have been preserved.”
"Colonel Sokov, I want to ask a question." Seeing Sokov looking worried, Yegorov couldn't help but ask: "Why do you need so many troops?"
"That's it, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Considering that he was going to fight side by side with the opponent, there was no need to hide some things, Sokov said bluntly: "We found the location of Paulus' headquarters and planned to Join forces with your division and launch an attack there. If there are fewer troops, it may not be easy to break through the German defenses."
"What, you discovered the location of the German headquarters?" Sivakov was surprised when he heard what Sokov said. Then he thought to himself whether he needed to report the matter to Commander Batov immediately. . But then I thought about it, the other party had not told me the specific location, and had not confirmed whether the matter was true, so he reported it rashly. It was also a joke. I would not be involved in the 65th Group Army in the future. Thinking of this, he asked tentatively: "Colonel Sokov, are you sure that is the location of the German headquarters?"
"There is at least a 70% chance," Sokov did not speak too slowly, but said with some room. "I have arranged a reconnaissance team to monitor nearby. According to the intelligence they continue to send back, it is certain that even there Not a German headquarters, but at least a corps-level headquarters."
From the outbreak of the war to the present, the Soviet army has only taken away some German regiment-level headquarters, and the division-level headquarters is too far from the front line. Once they find that something is not going well, these German officers will flee in advance. Now that he heard that it was at least a military-level command organization, Sivakov couldn't help but be moved. He looked at Sokov and asked: "Comrade Colonel, I would like to ask when the attack there can be launched."
"Which one of you has a map?" Sokov turned to ask Ivanov and Anisimov: "It will be easier to explain with a map."
Unexpectedly, neither Ivanov nor Anisimov had a map with them. In the end, Sivakov took out a map from his backpack, unfolded it and placed it on the table.
"Comrade Colonel, please look here." Although the two sides were now friendly forces, considering the possibility of the other party taking credit, Sokov did not directly point out the location of Paulus's headquarters, but pointed to the train station and said to them : "According to my judgment, the enemy's headquarters should be located here at the train station. There are a large number of stone buildings, rails, and carriages in the station, which can be used to build a complete defense system. To seize such fortifications, I'm afraid we The casualties will be considerable."
Although Sivakov had never been to Stalingrad, he could see from the map that the terrain near the train station was indeed very conducive to defense, so he frowned and asked: "Colonel Sokov, please With all due respect, even if our two divisions join forces, it may not be easy to capture such a defensive position."
"Comrade Colonel," seeing Sivakov's lack of interest in this matter, Sokov raised his voice and said: "Now the troops of the 64th Army have invaded the city from the south and are approaching the central railway station step by step. If we If we still stay where we are, I'm afraid the honor of capturing Paulus alive will fall into the hands of the 64th Army."
As soon as Sokov said this, he immediately realized that something was wrong. He is from the 62nd Army, and Sivakov is from the 65th Army. In case the other party wants this honor to fall on the 65th Group Army, they may report it to Bartov privately. If Bartov sends two more divisions over, the troops that finally capture Paulus alive may really belong to the 65th Army.
"Colonel Sokov." Sivakov said to Sokov after a moment of silence: "This matter is of great importance. I will report to Commander Batov immediately and wait for his instructions."
Seeing that the other party really wanted to report the matter to Batov, Sokov couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. Fortunately, he told the other party that Paulus's headquarters was at the Central Railway Station and not the department store. In this way, even if Bartov wants to take credit, the troops sent will shift the target of the attack to the train station, which may also attract some of the German troops to reduce the pressure on him to attack the department store.
"Okay, Colonel Sivakov." Sokov pretended to be helpless and said to Sivakov: "Then you report to Commander Batov."
When Sivakov and Egorov left the headquarters, Anisimov asked in confusion: "Comrade division commander, didn't you say that the German headquarters is in the department store? But why did you want to Tell Colonel Sivakov that the enemy headquarters is at the Central Station?"
"Comrade Political Commissar, haven't you heard that the reason why Colonel Sivakov reported to General Bartov was because he wanted to take over the matter." Ivanov explained to Anisimov: " The division commander told them that the enemy's headquarters was at the train station. In this way, even if they mobilized enough troops to come over, the target of the attack would be the train station, not the department store. By then, the honor of capturing Paulus alive would be Maybe it still belongs to our division."
"Not bad, not bad." After listening to Ivanov's explanation, Anisimov suddenly understood. He quickly gave Sokov a thumbs up and said repeatedly: "The teacher is still awesome."
"By the way, I almost forgot one thing." Sokov only remembered at this moment that Chuikov said that he wanted to come to the meeting site to see it in person. At this moment, the meeting of the two divisions had ended, and he had not informed Chuikov yet. He quickly called the radio operator and told him: "Get in touch with the army headquarters immediately. I want to speak to the commander."
The call was quickly connected. Chuikov who answered the phone heard that Sokov and the others had joined forces with the 23rd Infantry Division. He laughed coldly, and then asked: "Colonel Sokov, didn't I tell you that in Do you need to notify me in advance before the two divisions reunite? Why did you not notify me of this until the reunion was over? "
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Chuikov was angry, Sokov quickly admitted his mistake, "This is all my fault. The main reason is that our attack was too smooth. The enemy dropped his weapons and surrendered to us without firing a single shot. To be honest, I didn’t even come to my senses at the time, and I didn’t believe the enemy surrendered so quickly.”
"Forget it, I won't pursue this matter." Chuikov felt regretful for not being able to catch up with the two divisions, but it was too late to rush over at this moment. He changed the topic in time: "How is it? , have you talked to the enemy’s division commander about capturing Paulus’ headquarters?”
"I mentioned it."
"How did the other party react?" Chuikov asked nervously.
"He said that this matter is too relevant and he cannot make the decision himself and must report to the army commander, General Batov." Sokov said into the microphone: "He is going to call General Batov to report now. .”
"What, he reported this to Bartov?" Chuikov heard this and became anxious: "Colonel Sokov, have you ever thought about what Bartov would do if he knew about this? ?”
"I think he may have specially deployed two divisions to strengthen the offensive force."
"Now that you know it, why did you tell the other party such an important situation?"
Hearing Chuikov's anger, Sokov said slowly: "Comrade Commander, don't worry. I did tell him that I knew where Paulus' headquarters was. But the location I told him was in the center. Railway station, even if General Bartov sends new troops, their target will be the Central Railway Station."
"You are so cunning." Chuikov laughed when he heard this: "If the troops of the 65th Group Army can attack the Central Railway Station instead of us, then we can devote more troops to attacking the department store. Go to the battle in the building.”
"Comrade Commander, let me tell you some bad news." Sokov said cautiously: "According to the intelligence we have, the troops of the 64th Group Army are making smooth progress in the south of the city and are approaching the central area step by step. . Now I am very worried that if they really get close to the central area, then Commander Rokossovsky may leave the task of attacking the department store to them."
Chuikov deeply agrees with Sokov's statement. He was silent for a moment and then asked: "Colonel Sokov, do you have any good ideas?" "He said that this matter is too important and he cannot make the decision himself. He must report it to the army commander, General Batov." Cove said into the phone: "He is going to call General Bartov and report now."
"What, he reported this to Bartov?" Chuikov heard this and became anxious: "Colonel Sokov, have you ever thought about what Bartov would do if he knew about this? ?”
"I think he may have specially deployed two divisions to strengthen the offensive force."
"Now that you know it, why did you tell the other party such an important situation?"
Hearing Chuikov's anger, Sokov said slowly: "Comrade Commander, don't worry. I did tell him that I knew where Paulus' headquarters was. But the location I told him was in the center. Railway station, even if General Bartov sends new troops, their target will be the Central Railway Station."
"You are so cunning." Chuikov laughed when he heard this: "If the troops of the 65th Group Army can attack the Central Railway Station instead of us, then we can devote more troops to attacking the department store. Go to the battle in the building.”
"Comrade Commander, let me tell you some bad news." Sokov said cautiously: "According to the intelligence we have, the troops of the 64th Group Army are making smooth progress in the south of the city and are approaching the central area step by step. . Now I am very worried that if they really get close to the central area, then Commander Rokossovsky may leave the task of attacking the department store to them."
Chuikov deeply agrees with Sokov's statement. He was silent for a moment and then asked: "Colonel Sokov, do you have any good ideas?"
