Sokov learned that the German counterattack had begun and was still on the way, so he contacted the division headquarters through the walkie-talkie. Although the signal was not good, he still wanted to convey the message as soon as possible.
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said impatiently when he heard Sidorin's voice coming from the earphones: "There is something important that I need to inform you immediately. The Germans have begun to counterattack friendly forces."
"What, what did you say?" The radio signal was not good, and the vehicle was moving quickly. Sidorin could only hear the crackling sound of electricity coming from the earphones and the roar of the car engine. He could not hear Soko clearly at all. What is the husband saying: "Comrade Commander, the signal there is not good, I can't hear what you are saying at all?"
Sokov tried several times but was unable to convey the message to Sidorin accurately. Just as he was about to order the driver to stop, the operator sitting in the back row suggested: "Comrade division commander, why don't you draft a telegram and let me send it to the chief of staff."
"This is a good idea." Sokov quickly took out a pen and paper, put it on his bag and quickly wrote down what he wanted to say, and then handed it to the operator: "Send it out immediately."
Considering that the vehicle was traveling too bumpy, Sokov ordered the driver to stop so that the operator could send the message quietly.
Seeing Sokov's car stopped, Samoilov, who was in another car, quickly ordered the driver to stop. Unexpectedly, the soldiers set up a warning circle, then walked quickly towards Sokov and asked: "Comrade Commander, what happened?"
"I asked the radio operator to send a telegram to the chief of staff." Seeing Samoylov and the guards looking like they were facing an enemy, Sokov quickly waved his hands to them and said: "Comrade Lieutenant, there is no need to arrange anything." What kind of warning circle? I will leave here as soon as the telegram is sent."
After speaking, Samoylov called four or five soldiers and asked them to surround Sokov to prevent him from becoming a target of German snipers. Several big and round soldiers stood around Sokov and immediately blocked him tightly. Even if there were German snipers lurking nearby, they could not directly target Sokov.
Sokov initially disapproved of it, but seeing Samoilov doing his duty so diligently, he remembered that Luhansk was a bit evil. In just a few days, a major general and a colonel were killed by German snipers. If you take it lightly, you might become the third victim.
Thinking of this, he changed his mind and told the operator: "Hurry up and send the report. We will set off after sending it."
Fortunately, the operator was quick and it didn't take long to send the telegram: "Comrade Division Commander, I have already sent the telegram."
More than an hour later, Sokov returned to his division headquarters.
As soon as he entered the door, he asked Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, how did you complete the task I assigned you?"
"Report to Comrade Division Commander," Sidorin quickly replied: "As soon as I received your telegram, the Deputy Division Commander took two tank battalions and deployed them to the west of the city. The remaining tank battalion stayed in the city as a Reserve team. I also transferred some new rockets and rocket launchers and deployed them in the defense area of the 122nd Regiment."
"You did a good job, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov was very satisfied with Sidorin's deployment, but he still emphasized one point: "But under the current circumstances, we have to dig anti-tank trenches, and I'm afraid it will take a long time. It’s a bit too late. I think it’s better to lay anti-tank mines on the main roads. In this way, even if the German armored forces break through the friendly defense lines, they will not be able to rush into Luhansk quickly.”
"Comrade Commander," Seeing Sokov's worried look, Sidorin asked tentatively, "Is the situation really so critical?"
"The situation is very serious, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov thought that no one would report the contents of the battle report to Sidorin anyway, so he confidently and boldly shared the history he knew and what he had seen not long ago. The battle reports are mixed together: "The German 4th Panzer Army will attack the right wing of the 6th Army of the Southwest Front from Krasnograd with the strength of the SS Panzer Corps, and then attack Papnog with the 48th and 57th Panzer Corps." Le, cutting off the retreat of friendly forces. At the same time, the German First Army attacked the Popov Group of the Rapid Corps of the Southwestern Front with the strength of four divisions: the 40th Panzer Army, the SS Viking Division, and the 333rd Infantry Division."
After listening to what Sokov said, Sidorin couldn't help but take a breath. He carefully asked: "Comrade division commander, I would like to ask where did you obtain this information?"
"I escorted General Krylov to take office at the headquarters of the 21st Army." Sokov lied without blinking an eyelid: "He showed me all this information, and the information was provided by the Army Intelligence Division. "
Knowing that this information came from the 21st Army Intelligence Office, Sidorin had no doubts at all. He looked down at the map in front of him, studied the possible movements of the German army, then raised his head and said in surprise: "Comrade division commander, judging from what you said, once the German army defeats the friendly defense forces, they will Two days later, attack on Luhansk."
"Chief of Staff, your analysis is correct." Sokov agreed with Sidorin's analysis. He pointed with a pencil at the location of Luhansk and said: "Luhansk is not only an important supply point for our army, but also after occupying it, we can separate the defense lines of the Southwest Front Army and the Don River Army, and create a strong connection for our army." The corps' defensive zone gains a salient."
After seeing through the German strategic intentions, Sidorin's face showed no expression of joy at all. He frowned and said to Sokov: "Comrade Division Commander, if the enemy launches an attack on Luhansk, I'm worried that with our current With our strength, I’m afraid I won’t be able to defend the city at all.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff, we are not fighting alone." Sokov once again tapped the left wing of the defense area with a pencil: "On our left is General Krylov's 21st Army. If we encounter danger We can ask them for assistance. I think General Krylov will not just watch us being destroyed by the German attack."
Sidorin felt relieved when he heard that Krylov's troops would come to reinforce him when he was in danger. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "With their support, we will be more certain to defend the city."
Sokov reminded Krylov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, our troops have experienced the defense of Stalingrad and have accumulated rich experience in street fighting. If the situation goes bad, we can completely abandon our positions outside the city. Fight the enemy in a street fight in the city, rendering their tanks and artillery useless."
