After Sokov put down the phone, he still felt as if he was dreaming.
The base camp plans to use its own troops to form a Guards Army with the 37th and 39th Guards Divisions. This news is really shocking.
When he told the news to Ivanov, Sidorin and others, everyone cheered.
After the cheers stopped, Ivanov asked curiously: "Comrade division commander, I wonder who the base camp plans to appoint as the commander of the Guards?"
Ivanov's question immediately attracted everyone's attention, and everyone turned their attention to Sokov, wanting to hear his answer.
"Commander Chuikov said that the appointments of generals Guryev and Zholudev were rejected after they were reported to the base camp." Sokov said: "In this way, as long as a military commander is not parachuted in, then My chances of taking on this position are very high.”
As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Sidorin rushed to say: "Comrade division commander, I think if the superiors really want to form this Guards Army, then the position of commander must be yours. You know, in During the battle to defend Stalingrad, you commanded large corps many times and accumulated rich command experience."
Everyone agreed with Sidorin's statement. After all, Sokov's performance in the entire battle was obvious to all. If he cannot hold the position of military commander, who else can?
"It may take some time to establish the Guards." Anisimov asked: "But I don't know when the superiors are planning to recruit new recruits for us?"
"Now the Voronezh Front and the Southwest Front are attacking Manstein's troops." Sokov knew very well that as soon as the battle in the direction of Stalingrad ended, the headquarters of the Supreme Command would shift its attention to In the direction of the ongoing fighting, supplies to the Don Front may be slowed down or even stopped. "I think the recent supply work of superiors should be tilted towards these two front armies."
"So, we won't be able to get additional troops." Sidorin sighed and said: "According to the usual practice, soldiers, weapons and ammunition will be given priority to important combat areas. I estimate that it will have to wait until April or May. It will take a month to replenish our troops."
Sokov felt anxious when he heard that Sidorin said that it would be April or May before it would be possible to replenish the troops. He clearly remembered that the Battle of Kursk started in early July. If the recruitment of soldiers had to wait until April or May, there would not be enough training time at all. Fighting in open terrain with poorly trained troops is a recipe for death.
Thinking of this, he shook his head and said: "No, we absolutely cannot wait until April or May to replenish the troops. We must find a way to supplement the missing troops in each regiment within a week."
"What, replenish the missing soldiers within a week?" Sidorin couldn't help but feel his head grow bigger when he heard what Sokov said. He asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, where can we find so many soldiers in such a hurry?" Ah, are you planning to let us recruit factory militia and city residents?"
"The Battle of Stalingrad has ended, and the next focus is on clearing the ruins and restoring normal production. These tasks require a large number of manpower." Sokov said: "This means that we cannot replenish our troops. Think factory militia and city dwellers.”
"Then where should I add it?" Sidorin asked.
"Chief of Staff, have you forgotten the guerrillas who once cooperated with us in fighting?" Sokov reminded Sidorin: "Although the combat effectiveness of the guerrillas is extremely poor, after all, they are better than those who have not received military training. Residents, with more combat experience.”
"Comrade Commander, you are right." Sidorin heard Sokov mention the guerrillas and immediately said excitedly: "Especially the Ignatov brothers guerrillas, they are not only the largest in number, but also the strongest in combat effectiveness. . They have cooperated with us before, and if we recruit their team, there shouldn’t be much of a problem.”
"Chief of Staff, immediately send a telegram to the Ignatov Brothers guerrillas, asking captain Mishiga and deputy captain Vovka to come to Mamayev Heights." Sokov said with a smile: "Let them see Meet an old friend like Guchakov.”
"This is a good idea." Sidorin replied with a smile: "Captain Guchakov once fought side by side with them and established a deep combat friendship. After they meet, we can persuade them to join our army. It shouldn’t be a big problem.”
"Comrade division commander," Ivanov asked Sokov while Sidorin was sending a telegram: "Will you recruit several regiment commanders to the division headquarters and formally announce the reorganization plan to them?"
"Okay." Sokov considered that after the troops were reorganized, they would have to readjust the defense zones and replace them with new standard weapons. There were many things to do. He must first unify the thoughts of the commanders: "Let them come to the division headquarters immediately for a meeting. "
Less than ten minutes after Sidorin's telegram was sent, he received a reply from Michiga. After reading the telegram, he excitedly reported to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, good news, Mihiga and his guerrillas are in the Orlovka area."
"Oh, he is in the Orlovka area?" Sokov said with some surprise: "What are they doing there?"
"The telegram didn't say anything," Sidorin replied: "I guess he is cooperating with the main force to eliminate the enemies in that area. He said he would come as soon as possible, and he would probably arrive tomorrow morning."
"Chief of Staff, send him a telegram back and tell him that there may be remaining German officers and soldiers along the way, and ask him to pay more attention to his safety."
"Understood, I'll send it immediately."
…………
After receiving the notice, the commanders of each regiment came to the division headquarters one after another.
Seeing that everyone had come, Sidorin stood up and said to everyone: "Comrades, I have summoned everyone here today to announce something. After discussion and research by the division leaders, it was decided that Lieutenant Colonel Belkin The downsizing regiment was disbanded, and all commanders and fighters were organized into three Guards regiments.
Everyone knows that most of the commanders and fighters of the downsized regiment have experienced hundreds of battles with their division commanders, from Kursk to Stalingrad. When the three Guards regiments are integrated into such a combat backbone, their combat effectiveness will reach a new level in a short period of time. "
When they heard that the combat backbone of the downsized regiment was to be organized into their own regiments, the three regiment leaders began to fight in their hearts, hoping that Sokov could assign more people to their own troops.
"For specific personnel allocation, we will provide you with a specific list in two days." After Sokov waited for Sidorin to finish speaking, he stood up and said to everyone: "Next, I want to announce the farewell of the original leader of the downsized regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Erkin’s appointment.”
Belkin's level has been obvious to everyone in the past few months of fighting. Therefore, the three regiment leaders are eager for Sokov to arrange Belkin into their regiment. Even if he only serves as a deputy, they will be able to get more benefits in the future.
"After discussions among the division leaders," Sokov did not say it was his own idea, but claimed it was the result of a collective discussion at the division headquarters, lest the leaders below would have any objections: "It was decided to transfer Lieutenant Colonel Belkin to 124th Regiment, serving as the political commissar of the regiment."
Lieutenant Colonel Starcha was overjoyed to learn that Belkin would serve as his political commissar. He quickly stood up, stretched out his hand to Belkin across the table, and said friendly: "Hello, comrade political commissar, on behalf of the entire regiment The commanders and fighters welcome you."
"Comrade Commander, I have an opinion." Seeing Starcha shaking hands with Belkin, Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko, the leader of the 122nd Regiment, stood up and said dissatisfiedly: "You know, when attacking the department store, Our regiment and the downsized regiment have been fighting side by side. By letting Lieutenant Colonel Belkin join our regiment, he can adapt to his work faster."
"Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko," Starcha became a little anxious when he saw that Papuchenko wanted to compete with him for Belkin. He shouted at Papuchenko: "Since the division commander has made a decision, let's Lieutenant Colonel Belkin serves as my political commissar, so this appointment cannot be modified."
"Okay, okay, everyone, be quiet." Seeing that Starcha and Papuchenko were starting to quarrel, Sokov quickly raised his hand to stop them. After they calmed down, Sokov continued: "Everyone knows that before the merger of the 73rd Infantry Brigade and the 41st Guards Division, Lieutenant Colonel Belkin was my political commissar. When the number of military cadres was sufficient, I I thought he should be allowed to work in his old profession, and as the 124th Regiment was short of political commissars, I arranged for him to go to the 124th Regiment."
After Sokov finished explaining, he paused for a moment and specifically asked Papuchenko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you now understand the purpose of my arrangement?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Papuchenko quickly replied: "I understand everything now."
"Next, I want to talk about the issue of soldiers." Seeing that the other party had no objections, Sokov continued: "Although the total strength of our division is more than 6,000, there are still many shortages of soldiers. So we need to replenish our troops as quickly as possible."
"Comrade division commander," Yershakov, commander of the 125th Regiment, asked: "Where should we replenish our troops?"
"Comrade leaders, with the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, the resumption of work in factories and the reconstruction of cities will be put on the agenda. At that time, a large number of manpower will be needed to complete these two arduous tasks, so , we cannot recruit new soldiers from the militia or residents." Sokov said to everyone: "Some people may ask, if we cannot recruit new soldiers from the militia and residents, then where will the soldiers we lack come from? "
"Can the superiors give us more troops?" Papuchenko asked loudly.
"No." Sokov shook his head and explained to the other party: "Since our Voronezh Front Army and Southwestern Front Army are attacking the Manstein Group along the Dnieper River, priority will be given to supplementing the strength of the headquarters of the Supreme Command. These two armies are fighting.”
"So, we won't be able to get supplements from our superiors in a short period of time?"
Seeing everyone starting to whisper among themselves and whispering about the problems the troops were facing today, Sokov did not interrupt them, but allowed them to continue the discussion. When everyone was almost finished discussing, he said: "The superiors can't replenish our troops, so we have to find a way."
"Since our superiors can't replenish our troops, and they can't recruit militiamen and residents from the city." Starcha said sadly, "Then where should we recruit new soldiers?"
Seeing that everyone was helpless, Sokov smiled and asked: "Have you forgotten the guerrillas?"
"Guerrillas?!" After hearing Sokov say this, several regiment leaders couldn't help but look at each other. After a while, Starcha asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, where do you plan to recruit guerrillas? As far as I know, due to the crazy attacks of the German army, there are no guerrillas near our defense area. Activity."
"There is a guerrilla group of the Ignatov brothers. More than two months ago, they fought side by side with the small team we sent behind enemy lines and captured two German railway stations." The corners of Sokov's mouth turned up slightly: " I plan to integrate this guerrilla group and then distribute the soldiers to various regiments."
"Comrade leaders, with the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, the resumption of work in factories and the reconstruction of cities will be put on the agenda. At that time, a large number of manpower will be needed to complete these two arduous tasks, so , we cannot recruit new soldiers from the militia or residents." Sokov said to everyone: "Some people may ask, if we cannot recruit new soldiers from the militia and residents, then where will the soldiers we lack come from? "
"Can the superiors give us more troops?" Papuchenko asked loudly.
"No." Sokov shook his head and explained to the other party: "Since our Voronezh Front and Southwestern Front are attacking the Manstein Group along the Dnieper River, priority will be given to the additional strength of the headquarters of the Supreme Command. These two armies are fighting.”
"So, we won't be able to get supplements from our superiors in a short period of time?"
Seeing everyone starting to whisper among themselves and whispering about the problems the troops were facing now, Sokov did not interrupt them, but allowed them to continue the discussion. When everyone was almost finished discussing, he said: "The superiors can't replenish our troops, so we have to find a way."
"Since our superiors can't replenish our troops, and we can't recruit militiamen and residents from the city." Starcha said sadly, "Then where should we recruit new soldiers?"
Seeing that everyone was helpless, Sokov smiled and asked: "Have you forgotten the guerrillas?"
"Guerrillas?!" After hearing Sokov say this, several regiment leaders couldn't help but look at each other. After a while, Starcha asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, where do you plan to recruit guerrillas? As far as I know, due to the crazy attacks of the German army, there are no guerrillas near our defense area. Activity."
"There is a guerrilla group of the Ignatov brothers. More than two months ago, they fought side by side with the small team we sent behind enemy lines and captured two German railway stations." The corners of Sokov's mouth turned up slightly: " I plan to integrate this guerrilla group and then distribute the soldiers to various regiments."
