"What's the terrain like there?" Sokov asked: "Can the tank deploy?"
"No." Sidorin shook his head and replied: "There are ruins and craters everywhere. Even if we use tanks in this area, I'm afraid we won't be able to increase our speed. By then, they will be reduced to German anti-tank fighters. target."
Knowing that the precious tanks would become the target of German anti-tank fighters, Sokov immediately changed his mind: "In that case, you will inform General Makarenko that the mission of their division will be changed from attack to feint in order to reach The role of containing German troops."
"This is not good." Sidorin reminded Sokov: "The divisions involved in the attack all knew that Paulus' headquarters was in the department store, and they all wanted to rush in and catch Paulus personally. If you ask the 321st Infantry Division to stop attacking at this time, I'm worried that everyone's mood will be problematic."
"Of the three divisions that attacked the department store, only the 321st Infantry Division did not have the cooperation of tanks." Sokov said with a wry smile: "To break through the German defenses, pure infantry is obviously not enough. If they are allowed to continue the attack , I’m afraid the troops will pay a huge price.”
"As long as I can capture Paulus, I think it is worth paying no matter how high the price is."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov knew very well that shortly after the Battle of Stalingrad, the Soviet army launched another attack on Manstein's troops. Even though they had superior strength and technical equipment, they were still defeated. The ground was full of teeth. Golikov, commander of the Voronezh Front, was even dismissed from his post due to this failure. Therefore, he felt the need to give Sidorin a reminder: "In addition to Paulus who was besieged by us, there were also Manstein and Hott. According to my estimation, after destroying Paulus's troops, we The next phase of the battle targets Manstein and Holt. If too much of our physical strength is consumed in the final battle, then in the new offensive campaign, we can only sit on the sidelines and watch the fun."
After listening to Sokov's words, Sidorin was silent for a long time, and finally said: "Comrade division commander, you are right. After destroying Paulus's troops, with the current strength of our division, we are fully capable of defeating him." It may be assigned to the command of a certain army group to participate in the attack on Manstein. If the number of troops is too small, it may be very disadvantageous."
After Sidorin said these words, he immediately picked up the phone, called Makarenko, and ordered his troops to change from a forced attack to a feint attack. After receiving such an order, Makarenko immediately became anxious: "Comrade Chief of Staff, other troops are attacking and approaching the department store step by step, but you let our division change to a feint attack. Tell me, what is going on? what's going on?"
"This is the commander's order." Sidorin didn't want to explain too much to him, so he said bluntly: "Execute it."
Even though Makarov had a higher military rank than Sokov, he really didn't dare to disobey the order given by Sokov. He could only bite the bullet and agreed: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, I will notify you immediately. Troops, changed from attack to feint attack."
Sokov still felt in his heart that the first troops to rush into the department store should be his 41st Guards Division, so he called Ivanov's command post and asked with a smile: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, How is the progress on your end?"
"It's not going well, comrade division commander." Ivanov sighed and said: "The Germans hid their anti-tank guns in the ruins, with only one barrel exposed. We can't see them, but they can see us. As long as When our tanks entered the range, they immediately opened fire. After destroying the tanks opening the way in front, they switched to high-explosive bombs and bombarded the infantry following behind, causing us considerable losses."
After learning that the Germans had hidden artillery pieces in the ruins, Sokov couldn't help but cursed a few curse words, and then asked: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, what measures have you taken?"
"No." Ivanov shook his head and replied: "Without the cover of tanks, our infantry cannot get close at all."
"Use artillery fire to bombard the ruins where the enemy's anti-tank guns are hidden, and then send a combat team equipped with rocket launchers to quietly approach the enemy's defense zone." Sokov thought that his combat troops were equipped with a lot of rocket launchers. Artillery or firepower points hidden in the ruins are very effective, so he said to Ivanov: "Use rocket launchers to destroy the enemy's artillery or firepower points. Do you understand?"
"Comrade Commander," Ivanov said hesitantly: "We have very few bazooka fighters left. If we lose them again in the battle, I'm worried..."
"There's nothing to worry about." Sokov interrupted Ivanov before he finished speaking. "The use of the rocket launcher is very simple. It only requires simple training to use it." He said casually After saying this, he immediately realized that he might mislead Ivanov, and quickly added, "Of course, only the rocket launchers produced by our country can be used in this way. Do not get close to the bazooka rocket launchers provided by US allies. Use it, that will make our soldiers a target for the enemy."
"Comrade Commander, I don't understand. Aren't the rocket launchers produced in our country and the bazookas produced in the United States used to deal with enemy tanks or firepower points?" Sidorin waited for Sokov to put down the phone and asked in confusion: "Why is it that only our rocket launcher can shoot close to the enemy's position, but not the bazooka rocket launcher?"
"Our rocket launchers are relatively light and can be carried around by a soldier. Bazooka rocket launchers are very inconvenient. They are usually divided into several parts and reassembled when they are used."
Sidorin listened to Sokov's far-fetched explanation and even called Colonel Sivakov to ask him to properly use the rocket launchers assigned to them to eliminate enemy fire points at close range.
The battle continued into the evening, and the leading troops of the 41st Guards Division were only more than 300 meters away from the department store. The German troops deployed on the roof used machine guns and artillery fire to suppress the offensive of the Guards soldiers.
Seeing this situation, Ivanov called Sokov to complain: "Comrade Division Commander, the enemy's artillery deployed on the roof poses a huge threat to our offensive troops. As long as our troops enter the open space in front of the department store , we would be shelled and machine-gunned. In just a few minutes, our casualties were close to two hundred people."
"Stop the attack temporarily, Comrade Deputy Division Commander." Sokov said into the microphone: "Let the troops find a place to regroup. Wait until it gets dark and the enemy's artillery and machine guns above the department store can't see the target clearly, then launch a new attack. It’s not too late to attack in one round.”
Not only was the 41st Guards Division not making good progress, Sivakov's troops were also not making good progress. Although they were covered by tanks and artillery, they still did not gain much advantage when engaging in close combat with the enemy in the ruins.
When Sokov heard the news, he was not in a hurry, but decisively issued an order to stop the attack, preparing to let the commanders and soldiers rest for a night and wait until the next morning to continue fighting.
Sidorin was opposed to Sokov's decision. He said anxiously: "Comrade division commander, our troops have finally achieved some results in certain areas. If they stop the attack at this time, what will happen to them?" All the sacrifices we made were in vain.”
"It is impossible to continue fighting." Sokov said: "After a day of fighting, the commanders and soldiers are all red-eyed. If they are not allowed to calm down, I am afraid that the division commanders will become impatient. If they are desperate Order the troops to attack, I’m afraid our army will pay huge casualties.”
After dark, the commanders of each division came to Mamayev Heights to report to Sokov on the day's offensive situation.
"Comrade division commanders," Sokov said when he saw everyone had arrived: "You all performed very well in today's offensive battle and achieved great results."
Hearing what Sokov said, Sivakov muttered dissatisfiedly: "After one day of fighting, the troops advanced one or two hundred meters. Can this be considered a victory?"
"If you are fighting in the wild, advancing one or two hundred meters is indeed not worth mentioning." Seeing that everyone looked a little depressed, Sokov cheered them up and said: "But fighting in the city is another matter. In the past few months, although the German army has launched attacks against us again and again, their daily attack distance can only be calculated in meters. And for every meter they advance, they have to pay a huge price .”
When everyone heard what Sokov said, they couldn't help but raise their heads and all looked at him.
Seeing that everyone's attention was attracted to him, Sokov continued: "Although we did not achieve the original results in today's attack. However, after a day of fighting, the Germans were seriously exhausted. ammunition. I believe that when the offensive resumes tomorrow, the German resistance will be greatly weakened."
Sokov's words reminded everyone that Paulus's troops were surrounded by hundreds of thousands of troops, and their supplies were almost cut off. Without supplies, how many days can the German army's original inventory last? Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but straighten their backs and listen carefully to what Sokov was going to say next.
"In today's battle, the one who advanced the furthest was Colonel Ivanov's 41st Guards Division." Sokov said: "However, when they tried to approach the department store, they were attacked by artillery deployed in the building. The bombardment required a great sacrifice. What we are going to discuss today is how to deal with the enemy's artillery deployed in the building."
Several division commanders who participated in the war knew about the artillery deployed by the German army in the building. Now that they heard Sokov raising this difficult problem, everyone couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Seeing that everyone was silent, Sidorin became a little anxious and quickly urged: "Comrade division commanders, I believe that in the next battle, you will all face the artillery deployed by the German army in the building. If there is no effective way, If we deal with it, I’m afraid the casualties of our troops will be huge.”
"We can use artillery to fire at the enemy's artillery." Makarenko said: "We can completely rely on our numerical advantage to destroy the German artillery deployed in the building."
"This method won't work." As soon as he finished speaking, Ivanov objected: "There are so many windows in the building. When the enemy's artillery is attacked, they can be moved at any time. I'm afraid the effect can be limited. "
"It is impossible to continue fighting." Sokov said: "After a day of fighting, the commanders and soldiers are all red-eyed. If they are not allowed to calm down, I am afraid that the division commanders will become impatient. If they are desperate Order the troops to attack, I’m afraid our army will pay huge casualties.”
After dark, the commanders of each division came to Mamayev Heights to report to Sokov on the day's offensive situation.
"Comrade division commanders," Sokov said when he saw everyone had arrived: "You all performed very well in today's offensive battle and achieved great results."
Hearing what Sokov said, Sivakov muttered dissatisfiedly: "After one day of fighting, the troops advanced one or two hundred meters. Can this be considered a victory?"
"If you are fighting in the wild, advancing one or two hundred meters is indeed not worth mentioning." Seeing that everyone looked a little depressed, Sokov cheered them up and said: "But fighting in the city is another matter. In the past few months, although the German army has launched attacks against us again and again, their daily attack distance can only be calculated in meters. And for every meter they advance, they have to pay a huge price .”
When everyone heard what Sokov said, they couldn't help but raise their heads and all looked at him.
Seeing that everyone's attention was attracted to him, Sokov continued: "Although we did not achieve the original results in today's attack. However, after a day of fighting, the Germans were seriously exhausted. ammunition. I believe that when the offensive resumes tomorrow, the German resistance will be greatly weakened."
Sokov's words reminded everyone that Paulus's troops were surrounded by hundreds of thousands of troops, and their supplies were almost cut off. Without supplies, how many days can the German army's original inventory last? Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but straighten their backs and listen carefully to what Sokov was going to say next.
"In today's battle, the one who advanced the furthest was Colonel Ivanov's 41st Guards Division." Sokov said: "However, when they tried to approach the department store, they were attacked by artillery deployed in the building. The bombardment required a great sacrifice. What we are going to discuss today is how to deal with the enemy's artillery deployed in the building."
Several division commanders who participated in the war knew about the artillery deployed by the Germans in the building. Now that they heard Sokov raising this difficult problem, everyone couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Seeing that everyone was silent, Sidorin became a little anxious and quickly urged: "Comrade division commanders, I believe that in the next battle, you will all face the artillery deployed by the German army in the building. If there is no effective way, If we deal with it, I'm afraid the casualties of our troops will be huge."
"We can use artillery to fire at the enemy's artillery." Makarenko said: "We can completely rely on our numerical advantage to destroy the German artillery deployed in the building."
"This method won't work." As soon as he finished speaking, Ivanov objected: "There are so many windows in the building. When the enemy's artillery is attacked, they can be moved at any time. I'm afraid the effect can be limited. "
