This is a very bold plan. If the Guards Division voluntarily abandons the town, but the main force of the German army does not enter the town as the Soviet army expected, the entire plan may fail. Once the plan fails, Sivarenko, as the supreme commander of the garrison, may be sent to a military court.
This is a gamble. If you win, you can become famous, but if you lose, Sivarenko's future will be ruined. Sokov took this issue into consideration when he sent out liaison officers, because the level of the liaison officers sent should not be too low, otherwise it would be difficult to convince Sivarenko.
Knowing that Sokov was going to send someone to contact Sivarenko and request him to lead the troops to withdraw from the town before dark, Belkin immediately asked for help: "Misha, I think you should give this task to I’ll finish it.”
"Do you want to go?" Although Sokov felt in his heart that Belkin's level was completely sufficient, considering that the German artillery shells had already fallen and exploded in the town, sending Belkin into the town at this time would probably be life-threatening. Based on this consideration, Sokov seemed very hesitant.
"Misha, don't worry." Belgin guessed the reason for Sokov's hesitation and said with a smile: "You don't have to worry about my safety. You know, the environment I was in during the battle to defend Stalingrad." It’s much worse than here. Since I was able to survive back then, and now I’m just going to the town to get in touch with friendly forces, why are you worried?”
"Colonel Belkin, you are the deputy commander of the 84th Division. I have no right to let you take risks." Sokov said seriously: "I think it's better to change to someone else."
"Misha." When he heard Sokov rejected him, Belkin became a little anxious: "You know, it is an extremely risky thing to withdraw the Guards Division from the town that is still fighting at this time. . As the division commander, General Sivarenko will definitely repeatedly weigh the priorities. If the person sent to contact is too low-level, he will simply ignore it. After all, this involves his future."
After Belkin finished speaking, political commissar Manokhin supported him and said: "Comrade Commander, I think what Colonel Belkin said makes sense. If the person sent to contact him is too low-level, I am afraid that General Sivarenko will not be able to do anything at all." I won't pay attention to him. Now you also know that German artillery shells fell in the town. The person we sent to contact him would have to take risks. If he can't gain the trust of General Sivarenko, wouldn't his trip be in vain? ?”
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Rusev, the lowest ranking man, couldn't help but interject at this moment: "Before you arrived, I sent someone to contact General Sivarenko and asked him to wait until his troops could not support him. At that time, he retreated into our regiment's defense area in time. But unfortunately, our proposal was rejected by him.
I guess the reason for the refusal was because the liaison officer I sent was too low-level, just a lieutenant. It was only natural that he would not buy it. "
Seeing that everyone wanted Belkin to serve as the liaison officer, Sokov just smiled lightly and did not immediately express his position. Instead, he turned to ask Koida who was sitting next to him: "Colonel Koida, what do you think about this matter?" ?”
"Comrade Commander, this is an internal matter of the 84th Division. It's not for me as an outsider to interfere." After Koida cleared away his responsibilities first, he couldn't help but said: "But I think if you want to persuade The Guards Division has withdrawn from the town, and Colonel Belkin is undoubtedly the best candidate."
Koida's attitude made Sokov finally make up his mind: "Well, since everyone's opinions are so unified, then respect everyone's choice and send Colonel Belkin to the town of Ratseve to persuade General Sivarenko. .”
In this way, Belkin came to Sivarenko's headquarters and persuaded him to lead his troops to evacuate the town of Ratseve and retreat into the defense area of the 254th Regiment so that Sokov's artillery could shell the German troops stationed in the town at night. force.
"Chief of Staff," Sivarenko, who was persuaded by Belkin, shouted to his Chief of Staff. When the latter came to him, he ordered: "To the commanders of the 47th and 50th Regiments. Make a phone call and order them to use alternate cover to withdraw from Ratsewe town after repelling this German attack."
The division chief of staff vaguely overheard the conversation between Sivarenko and Belkin, and knew that the other party planned to launch a violent bombardment of the German troops stationed in the town at night and use artillery fire to destroy these damn Germans. So as soon as Sivarenko finished speaking, he replied loudly: "Understood, comrade division commander, I will immediately call the two division commanders and ask them to prepare for retreat."
Belkin did not express any opinions on Sivarenko's arrangements. As a commander with rich command experience, he knew very well that once the German attack was repelled, there would be no one or two hours of preparation time. They will not attack again. In this way, the commanders and fighters of the 15th Guards Division could calmly withdraw from the town and retreat into the defense zone of the Russov Regiment, where they could regroup.
Sivarenko knew Sokov's preparation and readily agreed to retreat, but the leaders below did not understand why Sivarenko made such a decision. Especially the commander of the 50th Guards Regiment. He personally called Sivarenko and asked angrily: "Comrade Division Commander, I want to ask, our regiment has fought well and has been repelled continuously. The Germans attacked twice, why did they retreat at this time?"
"Comrade Colonel," the troops have not yet begun to retreat. Sivarenko does not intend to tell the truth about the deployment for the time being. If someone falls behind and is captured during the retreat, it will reveal the reason for the retreat of the troops, so he just said vaguely: "We abandoned the town to better eliminate the enemy."
"I don't understand." The regiment leader said reluctantly: "If the order to retreat is really given to the commanders and soldiers, I think everyone will be emotional. After all, so many of our comrades have died here. We How could they leave their bones behind, abandon the town and run away?”
Hearing what his subordinates said, Sivarenko's expression dimmed. In less than a day, he had a regiment of commanders and fighters lying on the land on the right bank of the Dnieper River forever. If he really wanted to abandon them The corpses retreated, but he was still very unwilling to do so.
"Comrade Colonel," in order to avoid the other party's entanglement, Sivarenko suppressed the smile on his face and said with a straight face: "Don't you know that orders from superiors are for execution, not discussion? Don't say anything else, immediately convey my order to commanders at all levels, and as soon as the German attack is repelled, immediately withdraw from the position and retreat outside the town."
"Comrade division commander," the regiment commander hesitated for a moment, and finally said what he was thinking: "Can you wait until our regiment has repelled the German attack before giving the order to retreat to the commanders?"
"Why?"
"If the news of the retreat is conveyed before repelling the German attack, I am worried that many commanders and soldiers will be unwilling to continue fighting, which will lead to the defeat of the battle." After clarifying his reasons, the regiment commander said again: "Comrade Division Commander , I beg you again, wait until our regiment repels the German attack before conveying this order to the commanders and soldiers, okay?"
Sivarenko thought about it carefully and realized that what the commander of the 50th Regiment said made sense. When the commanders and soldiers who were fighting fiercely with the enemy suddenly heard that the troops were about to retreat, I am afraid many people would panic and just want to withdraw as soon as possible. Fight on with the enemy.
This is a very bold plan. If the Guards Division voluntarily abandons the town, but the main force of the German army does not enter the town as the Soviet army expected, the entire plan may fail. Once the plan fails, Sivarenko, as the supreme commander of the garrison, may be sent to a military court.
This is a gamble. If you win, you can become famous, but if you lose, Sivarenko's future will be ruined. Sokov took this issue into consideration when he sent out liaison officers, because the level of the liaison officers sent should not be too low, otherwise it would be difficult to convince Sivarenko.
Knowing that Sokov was going to send someone to contact Sivarenko and request him to lead the troops to withdraw from the town before dark, Belkin immediately asked for help: "Misha, I think you should give this task to I’ll finish it.”
"Do you want to go?" Although Sokov felt in his heart that Belkin's level was completely sufficient, considering that the German artillery shells had already fallen and exploded in the town, sending Belkin into the town at this time would probably be life-threatening. Based on this consideration, Sokov seemed very hesitant.
"Misha, don't worry." Belgin guessed the reason for Sokov's hesitation and said with a smile: "You don't have to worry about my safety. You know, the environment I was in during the battle to defend Stalingrad." It’s much worse than here. Since I was able to survive back then, and now I’m just going to the town to get in touch with friendly forces, why are you worried?”
"Colonel Belkin, you are the deputy commander of the 84th Division. I have no right to let you take risks." Sokov said seriously: "I think it's better to change to someone else."
"Misha." When he heard Sokov rejected him, Belkin became a little anxious: "You know, it is an extremely risky thing to withdraw the Guards Division from the town that is still fighting at this time. . As the division commander, General Sivarenko will definitely repeatedly weigh the priorities. If the person sent to contact is too low-level, he will simply ignore it. After all, this involves his future."
After Belkin finished speaking, political commissar Manokhin supported him and said: "Comrade Commander, I think what Colonel Belkin said makes sense. If the person sent to contact him is too low-level, I am afraid that General Sivarenko will not be able to do anything at all." I won't pay attention to him. Now you also know that German artillery shells fell in the town. The person we sent to contact him would have to take risks. If he can't gain the trust of General Sivarenko, wouldn't his trip be in vain? ?”
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Rusev, the lowest-ranking man, couldn't help but interrupt at this moment: "Before you arrived, I sent someone to contact General Sivarenko and asked him to wait until his troops could not support him. At that time, he retreated into our regiment's defense area in time. But unfortunately, our proposal was rejected by him.
I guess the reason for the refusal was because the liaison officer I sent was too low-level, just a lieutenant. It was only natural that he would not buy it. "
Seeing that everyone wanted Belkin to serve as the liaison officer, Sokov just smiled lightly and did not immediately express his position. Instead, he turned to ask Koida who was sitting next to him: "Colonel Koida, what do you think about this matter?" ?”
"Comrade Commander, this is an internal matter of the 84th Division. It's not for me as an outsider to interfere." After Koida cleared away his responsibilities, he still couldn't help but said: "But I think if we want to persuade The Guards Division has withdrawn from the town, and Colonel Belkin is undoubtedly the best candidate."
Koida's attitude made Sokov finally make up his mind: "Okay, since everyone's opinions are so unified, then respect everyone's choice and send Colonel Belkin to the town of Ratseve to persuade General Sivarenko .”
In this way, Belkin came to Sivarenko's headquarters and persuaded him to lead his troops to evacuate the town of Ratseve and retreat into the defense area of the 254th Regiment so that Sokov's artillery could shell the German troops stationed in the town at night. force.
"Chief of Staff," Sivarenko, who was persuaded by Belkin, shouted to his Chief of Staff. When the latter came to him, he ordered: "To the commanders of the 47th and 50th Regiments. Make a phone call and order them to use alternate cover to withdraw from Ratsewe town after repelling this German attack."
The division chief of staff vaguely heard the conversation between Sivarenko and Belkin, and knew that the other party planned to launch a violent bombardment of the German troops stationed in the town at night and use artillery fire to destroy these damn Germans. So as soon as Sivarenko finished speaking, he replied loudly: "Understood, comrade division commander, I will immediately call the two division commanders and ask them to prepare for retreat."
Belkin did not express any opinions on Sivarenko's arrangements. As a commander with rich command experience, he knew very well that once the German attack was repelled, there would be no one or two hours of preparation time. They will not attack again. In this way, the commanders and fighters of the 15th Guards Division could calmly withdraw from the town and retreat into the defense zone of the Russov Regiment, where they could regroup.
Sivarenko knew Sokov's preparation and readily agreed to retreat, but the leaders below did not understand why Sivarenko made such a decision. Especially the commander of the 50th Guards Regiment. He personally called Sivarenko and asked angrily: "Comrade Division Commander, I want to ask, our regiment has fought well and has been repelled continuously. The Germans attacked twice, why did they retreat at this time?”
"Comrade Colonel," the troops have not yet begun to retreat. Sivarenko does not intend to tell the truth about the deployment for the time being. If someone falls behind and is captured during the retreat, it will reveal the reason for the retreat of the troops, so he just said vaguely: "We abandoned the town to better eliminate the enemy."
"I don't understand." The regiment leader said reluctantly: "If the order to retreat is really given to the commanders and soldiers, I think everyone will be emotional. After all, so many of our comrades have died here. We How could we leave their bones behind, abandon the town and run away?”
Hearing what his subordinates said, Sivarenko's expression dimmed. In less than a day, he had a regiment of commanders and fighters lying on the land on the right bank of the Dnieper River forever. If he really wanted to abandon them The bones retreated, but he was still very unwilling to do so.
