While waiting for the commander of the anti-aircraft artillery battalion to arrive, Samek also asked Sokov for instructions: "Comrade commander, where should we deploy the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion?"
"The air defense force of the headquarters is very weak, so deploy them near the headquarters." Sokov said: "Based on my past experience, if the enemy sneak attacks on the headquarters, you can even order the anti-aircraft guns to fire flatly to eliminate them. Offend the enemy."
"Comrade Commander, it is said that your troops have been using anti-aircraft guns to hit enemy tanks and anti-aircraft machine guns to shoot enemy infantry a long time ago." After Lunev waited for Sokov to finish, he asked curiously: "How did you do that?" Who came up with this method?"
"The reason is very simple." Sokov said lightly: "I had no choice at the time. Facing the attacking German tanks and infantry, it was difficult for our equipment to withstand them, so we could only use it as a living horse. They used anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns to deal with the enemy's tanks and infantry, but the effect was unexpectedly obvious. The enemy was defeated by the anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns."
As soon as Sokov explained to Samyko and Lunev why he used anti-aircraft cannons and anti-aircraft machine guns to shoot flatly with rather far-fetched reasons, he heard a familiar female voice at the door asking: "Can you come in? ?”
Sokov turned his head and looked towards the door, where two female officers were standing.
But after seeing the other person's face clearly, Sokov couldn't help but exclaimed, turned around and walked towards the two of them. Due to some loss of composure, he accidentally bumped into a bench nearby. The pain made him grin, but he still endured the pain and limped towards the two of them.
"Lida! Ulanova!" Sokov stepped forward, gave each of the two female commanders a hug, and said with some emotion, "I didn't expect that I could still see you alive."
Captain Lida had red eyes and said to Sokov: "Me too, General Sokov, I didn't expect to see you alive."
Sokov led the two of them to the table by the hand. After inviting them to sit down, he said to Lunev and Samyko: "Comrade Military Commissar and Comrade Chief of Staff, let me introduce you. This is Li Captain Da, I fought side by side with me in Sushinich. That was Captain Ulanova, and we once fought hard against the enemy together at the Red October Factory in Stalingrad."
When Lunev saw Sokov hugging the two female commanders, he had been wondering in his heart whether Sokov knew the two of them. After listening to his introduction, he immediately understood what was going on and quickly asked Lida He stretched out his hand and said enthusiastically: "Hello, Captain Lida, let me introduce myself. I am Lunev, the military commissar of the group army."
Lida quickly stood up, raised her hand to salute Lunev, then held his hand with both hands and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Military Commissar, nice to meet you."
After both sides finished their introductions, Sokov remembered that Lida's original superior was Lieutenant Lyuba, and asked tentatively: "Lida, I remember that your company commander was Lieutenant Lyuba. Where is she now?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Lida lowered her head and said sadly: "She died heroically in the Battle of Kharkov at the beginning of the year. The instructor, Lieutenant Sweta, was also seriously injured and was sent to the hospital. Went to the hospital in the rear. The company commander and instructor withdrew from the battle, and the superiors appointed him as the company commander of the women's anti-aircraft machine gun company."
When Sameko heard this, he asked in surprise: "Aren't you an anti-aircraft gun battalion?"
"Yes, Comrade General." Lida glanced at Sameko's epaulettes and replied: "Two weeks ago, the anti-aircraft machine gun company I commanded was incorporated into the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion and was responsible for the air defense mission in the Oboyan area. .In an air raid last week, the battalion headquarters was unfortunately hit by an aerial bomb from an enemy plane. Unfortunately, both the battalion commander and the instructor died heroically. As the highest-ranking commander in the battalion, I naturally took over the duties of the battalion commander. , and Captain Ulanova serves as my instructor."
Although Lida told the whole thing in an understatement, Sokov was still frightened when he heard it. He thought that if Lida's luck was a little worse, she might have become a martyr.
"General Sokov," Lida straightened up and asked Sokov, "What is the mission of our battalion?"
Sokov did not immediately give them orders, but asked instead: "How many people are there in your battalion now?"
"The whole battalion now has 317 people, divided into three companies, including one anti-aircraft machine gun company with 10 anti-aircraft machine guns; two 37mm twin anti-aircraft gun companies with 20 anti-aircraft guns."
After listening to Lida's answer, Sokov felt that their strength was pretty good, so he pointed at the map and said to Lida: "Lida, your battalion is deployed to the west of the headquarters. It is not only responsible for air defense, but also for air defense. Ground defense.”
"Understood, Comrade General." Lida nodded after hearing Sokov's instructions: "I assure you, as long as our battalion is stationed, the enemy will be attacked regardless of whether it comes from the sky or the ground. We hit with devastating effect.”
"Lida, Ulanova." After Sokov assigned the task, he felt that the two female commanders should be given some special care, so he lowered his tone and said to them: "Don't look at me as the commander of the group army now. But we are always comrades who fought side by side. If you encounter any difficulties, please come to me; if you can't find me, contact my chief of staff, General Sameko, and he will help you solve the problem."
After seeing off Lida and Ulanova, Samyko asked Sokov with some surprise: "Comrade Commander, if the enemy really launches an attack on our headquarters, do you think the anti-aircraft artillery battalion can block the enemy's attack?" "
"Comrade Chief of Staff, please don't make such ridiculous assumptions." Sokov waved his hand at Samyko and stopped what he was about to say: "Whether it is Lida or Ulanova, I have fought with them. After dealing with each other, I still have great trust in the abilities of these two people. As long as there is one person in the position they are holding, the enemy will never be allowed to pass."
"Comrade Commander, I always believe that fighting is a man's business, but it is very awkward for so many women to put on military uniforms and fight with us." Sameko said, "I feel very awkward."
"On the battlefield, there are only soldiers and civilians, and there is no distinction between men and women." After Sokov waited for Samyko to finish speaking, he said righteously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you must not underestimate women, especially those on the battlefield. Women who have been on the battlefield, their performance in battle will never be inferior to that of any male soldier."
"Comrade Commander," Lunev interjected: "After the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion is stationed in the defensive position, there will probably be a lot of commanders and fighters in the surrounding troops who will find various reasons to enter. Look, should we issue an order? Are any male soldiers allowed to enter the female soldiers’ camp?”
Sokov is very aware of human psychology. The more forbidden something is, the more likely it is to arouse everyone's curiosity. If he really issued such an order, even if the male soldiers did not enter the female soldiers' station during the day, who knew if someone would sneak in at night.
"I don't think it's necessary." It was out of this consideration that Sokov said with a smile: "Comrade Military Commissar, as the saying goes: when men and women are matched, the work will not be tiring. It is rare to see young people in the military. Girls, there are hundreds of them here at once, and the commanders and fighters in the troops around their station will definitely try their best to get close to them. I think everything should be let nature take its course. Maybe those male soldiers want to show off in front of the female soldiers. By unleashing their potential in battle, the combat effectiveness of the entire unit may be improved.”
"Okay, Comrade Commander." After hearing what Sokov said, Lunev did not insist anymore, but said smoothly: "We will turn a blind eye to this kind of thing, as long as we are concerned about the military's If the combat effectiveness does not have a negative impact, we can just pretend that we don’t see it.”
After talking about the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion, Sokov turned the topic to the upcoming attack: "Comrade Chief of Staff, tell me which troops should be the first echelon of the attack."
"Landing operations are the specialty of the Marine Brigade," Sameko replied: "I think the task of launching the first attack and seizing the German defensive positions on the other side of the river should be completed by the two Marine Brigades. Wait for them Successfully capturing the enemy's position, the infantry division then took over their attack."
"If the Marine Corps brigade is the first echelon, what are the second echelon troops?"
"I think the 254th and 384th Infantry Divisions can serve as the second echelon."
After Sokov wrote down what Samyko said in his notebook, he added: "The 84th, 182nd and 188th Infantry Divisions will serve as the third echelon."
"I think the 182nd Infantry Division is not suitable to participate in this attack." Samyko said to Sokov: "After the division added a large number of old, weak, sick and disabled, the combat effectiveness of the unit has been severely diluted. I think For a long time, they will not be able to participate in brutal battles. I think they should be used as reserves for the entire army."
"Use them as a reserve team?" After Sokov waited for Samyko to finish, he turned to look at Lunev, frowned and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, what do you think?"
"I agree with Comrade Chief of Staff." Lunev said solemnly: "The 182nd Infantry Division is not suitable to participate in this attack. With their current strength, it is very likely that they will be involved in street fighting after breaking the city, because The lack of combat experience paid a heavy price."
Regarding the opinions of the two men, Sokov followed suit: "Well, since you all think that the 182nd Division is not suitable to participate in the battle, then let them serve as the reserve force of the group army."
"On the battlefield, there are only soldiers and civilians, and there is no distinction between men and women." After Sokov waited for Samyko to finish speaking, he said righteously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you must not underestimate women, especially those on the battlefield. Women who have been on the battlefield, their performance in battle will never be inferior to that of any male soldier."
"Comrade Commander," Lunev interjected: "After the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion is stationed in the defensive position, there will probably be a lot of commanders and fighters in the surrounding troops who will find various reasons to enter. Look, should we issue an order? Are any male soldiers allowed to enter the female soldiers’ camp?”
Sokov is very aware of human psychology. The more forbidden something is, the more likely it is to arouse everyone's curiosity. If he really issued such an order, even if the male soldiers did not enter the female soldiers' station during the day, who knew if someone would sneak in at night.
"I don't think it's necessary." It was out of this consideration that Sokov said with a smile: "Comrade Military Commissar, as the saying goes: when men and women are matched, the work will not be tiring. It is rare to see young people in the military. Girls, there are hundreds of them here at once, and the commanders and fighters in the troops around their station will definitely try their best to get close to them. I think everything should be let nature take its course. Maybe those male soldiers want to show off in front of the female soldiers. By unleashing their potential in battle, the combat effectiveness of the entire unit may be improved.”
"Okay, Comrade Commander." After hearing what Sokov said, Lunev did not insist anymore, but said smoothly: "We will turn a blind eye to this kind of thing, as long as we are concerned about the troops' If the combat effectiveness does not have a negative impact, we can just pretend that we don’t see it.”
After talking about the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion, Sokov turned the topic to the upcoming attack: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please tell me which troops should be the first echelon of the attack."
"Landing operations are the specialty of the Marine Brigade," Sameko replied: "I think the task of launching the first attack and seizing the German defensive positions on the other side of the river should be completed by the two Marine Brigades. Wait for them Successfully capturing the enemy's position, the infantry division then took over their attack."
"If the Marine Corps brigade is the first echelon, what are the second echelon troops?"
"I think the 254th and 384th Infantry Divisions can serve as the second echelon."
After Sokov wrote down what Samyko said in his notebook, he added: "The 84th, 182nd and 188th Infantry Divisions will serve as the third echelon."
"I think the 182nd Infantry Division is not suitable to participate in this attack." Samyko said to Sokov: "After the division added a large number of old, weak, sick and disabled, the combat effectiveness of the unit has been severely diluted. I think For a long time, they will not be able to participate in brutal battles. I think they should be used as the reserve force of the entire army."
"Use them as a reserve team?" Sokov waited for Samyko to finish, then turned to look at Lunev, frowned and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, what do you think?"
"I agree with Comrade Chief of Staff." Lunev said solemnly: "The 182nd Infantry Division is not suitable to participate in this attack. With their current strength, it is very likely that they will be in the street fighting after breaking the city, because The lack of combat experience paid a heavy price."
Regarding the opinions of the two men, Sokov was very kind: "Well, since you all think that the 182nd Division is not suitable to participate in the battle, then let them serve as the reserve of the group army."
