Red Moscow

  Chapter 275 Division Defense

  Although the telegram said that the vanguard would arrive at two o'clock in the morning, Sokov and Belkin waited until three o'clock, but still did not receive a report from the observation post outside the city.

Seeing Sokov's drowsy look, Belkin said with concern: "Comrade Brigadier, it seems that the friendly troops have encountered some trouble on the road, and they may not be able to arrive before dawn. You should go and rest for a while." .”

   "Okay, Comrade Commissar, I'll go to sleep for a while." Sokov was really sleepy at the moment, so he yawned and said to Belkin, "If there is news of friendly troops, remember to wake me up in time."

   Originally thought that he would not be able to sleep for a long time before being woken up by Belkin, but instead he fell asleep until dawn. Sokov sat up from the camp bed and saw Belkin sleeping on a wooden table not far away. Worried that he would catch a cold, Sokov took off the military coat hanging on the wall, walked over and covered him carefully. on the body.

  Although Sokov's movements were very light, Belkin was still awakened. He raised his head, saw that the person covering himself with the military coat was Sokov, grinned, and asked, "Comrade Brigadier, you're awake."

   "Any news about friendly forces?" Sokov asked.

   "No," Belkin's expression darkened, he shook his head and said, "I guess I was delayed on the road."

   Sokov picked up the telegram on the table and dialed the command post of the third battalion. After hearing Andre's voice, he asked bluntly: "Commander of the Third Battalion, the German army may attack you at any time, are you ready for battle?"

"Yes, Comrade Brigadier Commander, we have made all preparations for battle." Hearing Sukov's inquiry, Andrei immediately replied: "Our battalion rushed to repair the fortifications overnight and put the barbed wire in front of the position again. , and planted landmines. If the Germans don’t come, they will definitely pay a heavy price if they want to rush to our position.”

  While Sokov was talking with Andrei, another phone next to him rang, and Belkin, who was sitting next to him, immediately picked up the receiver. Seeing the surprised expression on Belkin's face, Sokov guessed that something good might have happened, so he said into the microphone: "Comrade Captain, if anything happens, remember to call me in time."

  As soon as he put down the phone, Sokov asked Belkin who was on the phone: "Comrade Commissar, what's the matter?"

  Belkin hastily covered the microphone with his hand, and said to Sokov: "First Battalion Commander Vanya reported that the vanguard of the friendly army has arrived at their defensive position outside the city."

"Thank God, the reinforcements have finally arrived." Sokov said, took the receiver from Belgin's hand, and said in his ear: "Captain Vanya? I'm Sokov. The leader of the friendly army How many troops are there?...What, only two hundred people?...Immediately send someone to bring the commander of the friendly army to the headquarters."

  Unexpectedly, after Sokov finished speaking, Vanya hesitated for a while before replying: "Comrade Brigadier, the commander leading the team is a general!"

"A general is leading the team?" Sokov couldn't help being stunned when he heard Vanya's report. He said in his heart that in addition to the commander, Major General Rotmistrov, there Are there any other generals? He originally thought that the commander of the vanguard was at best a battalion commander, so that he could send any soldier to his headquarters, but now that he was a general, Sokov had to treat it with caution. After thinking for a moment, he said into the microphone: "Captain Vanya, you personally accompany Comrade General to my headquarters."

Knowing that the commander of the vanguard of the friendly army was a general, Belkin was also very surprised: "Why, the commander of the vanguard of the friendly army is actually a general?" Seeing Sokov nodded in affirmation, , he continued, "But as far as I know, the chief of staff of the tank army is just a colonel, and besides Major General Rotmistrov, I really can't think of any other general who would be in the tank army work."

   Sokov waited for Belkin to finish speaking, and said casually: "Maybe it is a commander from another unit, who followed the 7th Tank Army to Kursk to find out the situation."

   No matter who came, the identity of the opposing general had to attract the attention of Sokov and Belkin. The two chatted for a while, then got up and went outside the headquarters to meet the unknown general.

   Not long after standing outside the building, Sokov saw several jeeps driving along the street. Not knowing which vehicle the unnamed general was in, Sokov and Belgin could only continue to stand and wait.

   After Vanya got out of the first car, he quickly ran to the second car, opened the rear door, and then stood upright and waited for the people in the car to get off. Seeing Vanya's actions, Sokov guessed that the owner was in the car, and he winked at Belkin, and the two hurried up to meet him.

  The general who came out of the car had a more distinctive appearance, with a big round head, a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and a mustache. He looked like a Japanese pirate. After getting out of the car, he first pulled the hem of the military uniform with his hands, and then began to look around. When he saw Sokov and Belkin walking towards him, a smile appeared on his face immediately.

  Although Sokov and Rotmistrov had never met, he recognized at a glance that the general who came was none other than Rotmistrov, the commander of the 7th Tank Army. In Sukov's memory, this general's command ability is not outstanding, but he is a blessed general, and his feats are unmatched by other tank commanders. The 7th Tank Army was reorganized into the 3rd Guards Tank Army because of its outstanding military exploits in the battle to eliminate Paulus. After he became the commander of the 5th Guards Tank Army, he made immortal feats in the world-renowned Battle of Kursk.

   Sokov came to Rotmistrov, raised his hand and saluted and said: "Hello, Comrade General, welcome to Kursk."

   "Hello, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Rotmistrov raised his hand in return, then extended his hand to Sokov, and said, "I was ordered to come to reinforce you."

   "Comrade General," Sokov said after shaking hands with the other party, pointing to Belkin and introducing him: "This is Comrade Belkin, my political commissar."

   "Hello, Comrade Belkin." Rotmistrov shook hands with Belkin again, and said politely, "Nice to meet you."

   After exchanging pleasantries with Rotmistrov, Sokov and Rotmistrov returned to the headquarters together, and called Vanya who was standing aside. After everyone sat down around the wooden table with telephones and maps, Sokov couldn't help asking curiously: "Comrade General, why didn't you stay with the main force, but rushed with the vanguard of more than two hundred people?" to Kursk?"

"My tank army has two tank brigades and one mechanized brigade. It has been marching hard in forests and swamps these days, because the roads are difficult to pass, so that the marching speed of the troops is very slow." Rotmeister Rove explained: "In the most optimistic situation of the tank brigade, it will take two or three days to arrive. I was worried that you would not see the reinforcements and was anxious, so I followed the vanguard of the mechanized brigade to Kursk."

   "Comrade General," Sokov asked tentatively as soon as Rotmistrov finished speaking, "may I ask, how many tanks does one of your tank brigades have?"

"One brigade has 46 tanks, while the other brigade has 27." After talking about the number of tanks, Rotmistrov said bitterly: "In the early battles, we suffered some losses. Haven't had time to add it to us yet."

  After learning about the situation of the tank company, Sokov wondered inwardly whether it is possible to incorporate Alitai's tank company into the tank army, so as to enhance the assault force of the tank unit. But before expressing his opinion, he continued to ask: "Do you have artillery in your army?"

"There is an artillery battalion in the mechanized brigade, but there are only a few mortars." Rotmistrov explained to Sokov: "From Yelets to here, there are almost no decent roads. The artillery could not be transported here at all, so we only brought a few mortars. Also, our unit has not been formed for a long time, and many soldiers do not have weapons. I wonder if you can solve this problem for us?"

"Comrade General, don't worry." Knowing that there were people in the artillery battalion under Rotmistrov without artillery, Sokov couldn't help being overjoyed, and said very readily: "We have occupied an important military warehouse of the German army. With so many rifles, submachine guns, pistols and machine guns in there, you can take as many as you need."

   Knowing that there are actually a large number of weapons and equipment stored in the warehouse in the city, Rotmistrov couldn't help being surprised, and then tentatively asked: "I don't know if there are any artillery?"

"Yes, and most of them are the standard artillery of our army. I guess they were captured by the German army in the Battle of Kharkov." Sokov nodded and said, "Since you have artillery in your army, then Let them use these guns to teach the Germans a lesson."

   Rotmistrov saw that the weapon problem that was a headache for him had been satisfactorily resolved, so he looked at Sokov and asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, have the Germans launched an attack on the city in the past two days?"

"The 297th Infantry Division of the German army twice attacked from the east of the city, but they were repelled by our army." Sokov pushed the map on the table in front of Rotmistrov, and continued Said: "Comrade General, look, according to the report of the scouts, signs of German scouts' activities were also found in the south and west of the city. It is estimated that they will launch an attack in the next two days."

After staring at the map for a while, Rotmistrov raised his head and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, let's redefine the defense zone. Your troops are in charge of the south and west of the city; and the east and west of the city. In the north of the city, I will hand it over to my tank army. What do you think?"

Hearing what Rotmistrov said, Sokov couldn't help but feel ecstatic. He turned his head and glanced at Belgin, and seeing that the other party's face was also happy, he nodded and said, "That's really great. Comrade General. We are worrying about not having enough troops. If your troops come to defend the east and north of the city, then we can concentrate our forces in the other two directions."

   "My mechanized brigade may arrive after noon." Rotmistrov said cautiously: "I suggest that we change defenses, how about we proceed by then?"

"I agree." Sokov replied: "The enemy who was repelled by us may attack again today. The troops you brought are only more than 200 people, and it is impossible to hold the position in the east of the city. I agree very much. After the mechanized brigade arrives, it will not be too late to switch defenses."

But what Sokov didn't expect was that after he finished speaking, Rotmistrov actually said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I think this is the case, you first send someone to take my subordinates to the warehouse Get the equipment, and let them enter the position directly after receiving the equipment." He may be worried that Sokov will disagree, and he added specifically, "Let them get familiar with the environment first, so that when the main force of the mechanized brigade arrives, they Hold your ground better."

  Considering that the mechanized brigade's combat effectiveness is stronger than its own troops, if they can familiarize themselves with the environment of the position earlier, it will be very beneficial to the next battle. Therefore, Sokov only thought for a moment about Rotmistrov's statement before nodding in agreement.

Vanya, who was standing aside, heard that his defense zone was about to be handed over to the Mechanized Brigade, so he looked at Sokov and asked, "Comrade Brigadier, I would like to ask, after our battalion has withdrawn from the position in the north of the city, what will happen next?" What is your mission?"

"You put all the main force of the first battalion in the defense fortification in the west of the city." Sokov tapped twice on the map with his finger, and said, "The Germans are not willing to let us occupy Kursk. The enemy from the direction of Er will soon rush towards the city, and the task of your battalion is to keep them out of the city."

   "Comrade Brigadier, what should we do with our tank company?" Just as Vanya finished asking, Belkin also asked next to him: "Should they stay where they are, or change the defense zone?"

  Sokov once considered handing over Alitey's tank company to the command of Rotmistrov's tank brigade, but at this moment he changed his mind. After the troops changed defense, although there were only two directions left to be responsible for the defense, if the defensive troops lacked heavy weapons and technical equipment, they would inevitably pay a heavy price if they wanted to block the German attack. After thinking about it this way, he gave up his plan to hand over the tank company to Rotmistrov. He looked at Belkin and said, "Comrade Comrade Commissar, what's the point? Captain Andre's third battalion moved together. Wherever the third battalion is, they will be deployed there."

  Belkin saw that Sokov was extremely enthusiastic about Rotmistrov, and was afraid that he would send the only tank company in the brigade to the tank army as soon as his head became hot, so he asked this question. Hearing Sokov's final reply at this moment, he finally let go of the boulder in his heart.

  (end of this chapter)