Red Moscow

  Chapter 345 Go to the enemy's rear (Part 1)

  After the No. 74 armored train smashed the German attack, the commander in the car drove back to the factory area in the north without even getting out of the car to greet the commanders and fighters of the first battalion.

Although the battle lasted for a short time and ended with the victory of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, Sokov realized that there were still many problems in his troops, and he needed to immediately call a meeting of commanders at all levels to avoid repeating similar incidents. mistake.

  Considering that there were as many as 20 or 30 battalion and company commanders participating in the meeting, and there was no room for them to sit in the tent, Sokov temporarily decided to change the meeting place to a meeting room in the tunnel.

   "Commanders, commanders," Seeing that everyone present at the meeting had arrived, Chief of Staff Sidolin stood up and said, "I have called you here today to summarize a battle that ended not long ago."

"Battle summary, what kind of battle summary?" As soon as Sidolin finished speaking, the commander sitting below raised an objection: "We have fought wars before, and we have never conducted any battle summary. Don't we win battles in the same way? "

"Maybe you have never heard of any battle summary before, but from now on, this should be a system." Sokov stood up and said to the questioning commander: "We have finished a battle, no matter what Whether a battle is won or lost, we should sum up experience and lessons in a timely manner to understand what problems exist in the battle, so that we can avoid making similar mistakes again in the next battle...

  The battle between the first battalion and a fast column of the German army today, the commanders present must have seen it on the ground. This battle gave me the feeling that without the support of armored trains, maybe the Germans would break through our direction..."

"Brigade Commander," before Sokov could finish, Vanya stood up from his seat and said loudly, "Even if the commanders and fighters of our first battalion sacrifice their lives, they will never let the Germans cross our defense line." .”

"Lieutenant Vanya, sit down first." Sokov raised his hand and pressed down, signaling Vanya to sit down, and he continued: "Judging from today's battle, the commanders and fighters of the first battalion behaved very bravely. But they lack anti-tank weapons, so they are helpless even in the face of the weakest armored light tanks. A few days ago, when I was acting as the chief of staff of the Southern Group, I easily saw some heroic soldiers holding cluster grenades Rush forward and die together with the enemy tanks. They are certainly brave, but the casualties of our troops are also very alarming. Think about it, if everyone in a position is dead, who will stop the German attack Woolen cloth?"

  Sokov's rhetorical question silenced all the commanders. They thought silently in their minds that their troops also lacked anti-tank weapons. If they encountered German tanks rushing towards the position, what method should they use to destroy the enemy's tanks? In addition to using cluster grenades, what else can be used?

  Some commanders with quick responses unconsciously cast their gazes at Captain Oshanin who was sitting next to him, thinking that there are not 125 military dogs in the anti-tank dog company? Wouldn't it be possible to reduce the casualties of the troops by letting the military dogs blow up the German tanks?

Sokov noticed that everyone's eyes were gradually focused on O'Shanin, and he quickly said: "Everyone knows that Captain O'Shanin's dog company is specially used to deal with German tanks. But if Everyone pinned their hopes on him, which obviously won't work. You know, military dog ​​training is not easy, and if one dies, there will be one less. Our battle with the Germans here on Mamayev Kurgan did not take place in a day or two will end, so the use of the dog company must be reserved for the most critical moment of the situation."

"Comrade Brigadier," a company commander asked on behalf of the crowd after Sokov finished speaking: "If I understand correctly, in this battle to defend Stalingrad, if we do not repel the enemy, we must Have you stayed in the tunnel all this time?"

"Yes, the whole brigade, including me, will stay in the tunnel during the entire defense battle." Sukov saw the unconvinced look on the company commander's face, and added: "If You think your flesh and blood, if you can withstand the shelling and bombing of the Germans, you can stay in the surface works on the hillside."

  Sokov's words caused a burst of laughter, and the company commander sat down a little awkwardly amidst the laughter of everyone. When Sokov was about to continue speaking, he was interrupted by a sudden bell. Chief of Staff Sidolin picked up the phone and listened for a while, then handed it to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, this is the number of the commander of the group army."

   "I'm Sokov," Sokov took the phone and asked behind his ear, "Hello, Comrade Commander, do you have any instructions?"

   "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, are you back?" Lopatin said coldly on the phone: "Why did you leave your unit without authorization? Aren't you afraid of going to a military court?"

  Sokov didn't expect Lopatin to say that, and the expression on his face suddenly became serious: "Comrade Commander, I left the army for a reason..."

"I know why you left the army, and I even know that you served as the chief of staff of Chuikov's Southern Group." Lopatin said a little angrily: "But when you left Mamayev Post, why didn't you report to me?" ? Do you know that your behavior is called AWOL, and I can send you to a military court at any time."

   "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, I was wrong." Sokov knew that he couldn't contradict Lopatin at this time, and quickly gave in to the other party: "I assure you, I will never make similar mistakes in the future."

I thought that Lopatin would continue to attack, but the tone of the other party suddenly became friendly: "Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Sukov, remember to say hello to me in advance when you go somewhere next time , let me know... Anyway, you belong to my 62nd Army, understand?"

   When did Lopatin become so talkative? With doubts in his head, Sokov replied: "Understood, Comrade Commander."

"I heard that you fought a fast column of the German army today and won." Lopatin said on the phone: "Please express my sincere gratitude to those soldiers who showed bravery and tenacity in the battle." Thank you. Thank you for their contribution to the defense of the great Stalingrad."

"I will, Comrade Commander." Hearing Lopatin chatting with himself amiably in the tone of an old friend, Sokov was really puzzled by Monk Zhang Er. It stands to reason that he led the troops away from Mama without authorization. Yevgang, for going to the rescue of Cuikov, it is considered light to be scolded, and he may be sent to a military court directly. Unexpectedly, Lopatin said a few words about himself lightly now, and even talked and laughed with himself.

  Before ending the call, Lopatin asked habitually: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, is there any difficulty, do you need my help to solve it?"

  If Lopatin hadn't asked this sentence, the call between him and Sokov would have ended. Unexpectedly, when Sokov heard this sentence, he immediately remembered that his troops lacked all kinds of effective anti-tank weapons, and quickly said: "Comrade commander, my infantry brigade lacks anti-tank weapons. I wonder if you can support some of our troops." .”

  Lopatin took the initiative to call Sokov today, and lowered his posture so low. It is entirely because the 62nd Army is currently retreating on the battlefield. According to his thinking, the fall of Stalingrad will happen sooner or later. And Sokov's 73rd Infantry Brigade stood on Mamayev Post, guarding the pier leading to the opposite bank. As long as this brigade still sticks to the high ground, then your retreat will not be cut off by the Germans. In this way, at critical moments, you can take the main force of the group army and cross the pier under the cover of Mamayev Hill. Volga, withdraw as many troops as possible to the opposite bank.

  He never dreamed that Sokov really took a polite remark out of his mouth and asked him for an anti-tank weapon. You must know that the troops that are fighting the German army close to Stalingrad today focus on dealing with German tanks, and they also lack sufficient anti-tank weapons. However, considering that Sokov's troops will be his reliance when withdrawing troops in the future, if they cannot stop the Germans, then their retreat will be cut off.

  Thinking of this, he said with difficulty into the microphone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, although the group army also lacks anti-tank weapons at present, considering your actual difficulties, I will still find a way to solve a batch for you."

After finishing the call with Lopatin, Sokov said to the commanders who were staring at him intently: "Commanders, I want to tell you some good news. The Army Command will replenish us with some anti-tank weapons in the near future. Come on, we will not be helpless in the face of German tanks."

   "Comrade Brigadier," Sidolin reminded Sokov, "I know that all units are seriously lacking anti-tank weapons. Even if we supplement them, the number may be very limited. I think we should find a way by ourselves..."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask you, how can we figure out a solution by ourselves?" Vasili couldn't help interjecting when he heard this, "If we have the ability to produce these weapons and equipment ourselves, why should we worry about it? Just start production.”

"This is the end of today's meeting." Sukov felt that the content of what should be said today was almost said, so he announced the end of the meeting: "The four battalion commanders and tank company commanders stayed, and the rest of the commanders returned to their respective units. go."

  The remaining battalion commanders had normal expressions. They guessed that Sokov must have more important things to explain to them. The tank company commander, Lieutenant Ali Tai, was a little confused. He didn't know what would happen if the brigade commander specifically asked him to stay.

"Sit down." Seeing that several people were still standing, Sokov hurriedly called them to sit down, and then said, "I left you because of the anti-tank weapons. The chief of staff just said it was right. Now we are close to the German troops in Stalingrad. Their focus is on German tanks, so they need a lot of anti-tank weapons. Although Commander Lopatin promised to add some anti-tank weapons to us, I guess Not a lot, at best a few anti-tank rifles and some anti-tank grenades and such. So, I think it's up to us to figure out how to keep the troops well-stocked with anti-tank weapons?"

"Think of a way, think of a way?" Maybe it was because of Captain Vasili's public confrontation, Sidolin felt that he was a bit unable to step down, so he said angrily: "We have no ability to produce these weapons, and we shipped them from the other side. Weapons are allocated to friendly troops, and we have no share at all..."

Sokov patiently waited for Sidolin to finish complaining before continuing: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are quite right. At present we have no ability to produce ammunition, and at the same time we are getting fewer and fewer supplies from the logistics transport unit. Yes. Especially in recent days, except for food and supplies, the replenishment of weapons and ammunition has completely stopped.”

"Comrade Brigadier, the situation is not good for us." Belkin, who had been silent all this time, also said worriedly: "If the superiors don't give us additional ammunition, once the Germans launch an attack on Mamayev Post, We will soon be facing a shortage of ammunition."

  Andre heard that several people were worried about ammunition, and immediately remembered what happened in a warehouse of the Ministry of Internal Affairs a few days ago. You must know that the supplies stored there solved the big problem of insufficient ammunition in the southern cluster. Thinking of this, he quickly said to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, I have an idea, since we can find a warehouse in the southwest of the city, why don't we search nearby, maybe we can find a warehouse. "

"Lieutenant Andrei," Sokov said with some embarrassment when he heard Andrei's suggestion, "Do you think that such a warehouse can be found everywhere? It is a fluke to find one, and I want to do it again." Finding it is simply harder than climbing to the sky."

"Then what should we do?" Hearing what Sokov said, Andrei asked in a panic: "If we don't get supplements, once the ammunition is exhausted, our commanders and fighters can only bayonet the Germans. "

   "Don't worry," Sokov waved his hand at Andrei, "Since we can't get supplements from our own people, we should find a way to go to the German warehouse to get the weapons and ammunition we want."

  As soon as Sokov said, Chief of Staff Sidolin and Battalion Commander Briski were both stunned. They didn't understand why Sokov said that? The rest of the commanders were calm because they were already familiar with Sokov's routine. Hearing what his brigade commander said, he guessed that he must be thinking about the German military warehouse again.

  Belkin asked curiously: "Comrade Brigadier, if you have any ideas, why not tell everyone."

   "Lieutenant Alitai," Sokov did not answer Belkin's question, but asked Alitai first: "How many German armored personnel carriers have you captured today?"

   "Five cars," Alitai said regretfully, stretching out five fingers, "I thought there were six cars, but when we went to receive them, we found that one of them was blocked by the artillery on the armored train."

   "Five cars are fine." Sokov calculated silently in his heart. If he sat in a crowded place, he could make seventy or eighty people, so he continued to ask Alitai: "Can it drive normally?"

"Yes, Comrade Brigadier." Although Alitai didn't understand why Sokov kept asking about the armored vehicles, he still replied truthfully: "After we brought the armored vehicles back, we have carried out special maintenance and can be used at any time. use."

  (end of this chapter)