Red Moscow

  Chapter 482 On rewards for meritorious deeds

   Shortly after the German major's telegram was sent, it was intercepted by the intelligence department of the Southeast Front Army. The chief of staff, Major General Zakharov, took the telegram and reported to Yeremenko and Khrushchev: "Commander, Comrade Military Commissar, we have just intercepted a telegram from the German army. Come to show you."

"A more interesting telegram?" Khrushchev heard Zakharov say this, got up and took the telegram from his hand, and then said to Yeremenko with a smile: "Comrade commander, we just Get up and read this telegram."

   "Comrade Khrushchev," Yeremenko said, looking at Khrushchev, "read it quickly and listen to what is going on."

Khrushchev nodded and began to read the telegram in his hand: "After careful investigation, we found a place about two kilometers away from the village where the Russians may have set up rocket launchers. Destroyed, it may have been attacked by rockets from here..."

After reading the content of the telegram, Khrushchev put the telegram on the table and said thoughtfully: "I remember that half a month ago, Yakov crossed the river to Mamayev Post. The munitions they use should be this new type of rocket.”

"Yes, I have contacted Comrade Ustinov and learned from him that the ammunition Yakov escorted is this new type of rocket." Yeremenko replied: "It is said that the rocket is still a rocket. The design proposed by Lieutenant Colonel Koff was developed by the military industry department, and it is said that it is not weaker than the rocket used in the Katyusha rocket launcher."

Hearing Yeremenko mention Sokov, Khrushchev couldn't help sighing: "Misha was injured in the battle some time ago, and Colonel Vitkov, the deputy chief of staff of the Army Group, took over his command. During this time, the German army Although the attack on Mamayev Gang was shattered, the casualties of the infantry brigade were far greater than in the previous period. If the fight continues like this, I think they will be revoked in a week at most.”

"You're right." Yeremenko agreed with Khrushchev's statement: "When Lieutenant Colonel Sokov was the brigade commander, no matter how fierce the enemy's attack was, he could always Use the smallest cost to achieve the greatest results. Since Witkov took over his command, the casualties of the troops have skyrocketed. I think the reason for this situation may be because the tactics used by the two are different."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Khrushchev turned his head and asked Zakharov: "Call the headquarters of the 62nd Army and ask Chuikov what happened to the rocket attack on the German headquarters? Let him tell us A news report in order to recognize and reward the commanders and fighters who participated in the battle."

After waiting for Khrushchev to finish speaking, Zakharov pointed to the phone on the table: "Can I use this phone?" After getting permission, he walked to the table and was about to pick up the phone. He picked up the receiver quickly: "I am Chief of Staff Zakharov... Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff, what instructions do you have?... What, change the number of the unit?...Understood, I will convey the order from the headquarters to the commander and the military commissioner. Goodbye!"

After putting down the phone, Zakharov reported to Yeremenko and Khrushchev: "Commander, Comrade Military Commissar, just received a call from General Vasilevsky, Chief of the General Staff, saying that in view of the Stalingrad Front and the The strength of the Southeastern Front Army has greatly increased, and its defensive zone is too long. From September 28, 1942, the former Stalingrad Front Army was renamed the Don River Front Army, and the former Southeastern Front Army was renamed the Stalingrad Front Army. The original command organization did not make any changes. .”

"Damn, how can you change the number of the unit at this time." After Yeremenko muttered in a low voice, he told Zakharov: "Chief of Staff, when you call the headquarters of the 62nd Army, tell me about the number change." , and notify Cuikov by the way."

After the call was connected, Zakharov said into the microphone: "Hello, General Chuikov, I am Zakharov, Chief of Staff of the Front Army. I am calling you, and I want to say two things. First, according to the highest The order of the High Command, starting from September 28th, the designation of our front army was changed from the original "Southeastern Front Army" to the "Stalingrad Front Army"; and General Rokossovsky's "Stalingrad Front Army" was renamed 'Don Front Army'. The original command structure will not be changed."

The troops named after the "Stalingrad Front" were deployed in areas far from the city; while the troops defending Stalingrad were staring at an inexplicable "Southeast Front" designation on their heads, which made all commanders in the city feel that the It's a bit nondescript. Now that I heard that the designation of the army will be officially changed to "Stalingrad Front Army", Cuikov couldn't help but be overjoyed: "Great, Comrade Chief of Staff, this is really great. With such a change of designation, our team that sticks to Stalin Gele's troops are truly worthy of the name."

Chuikov was happy for a moment, and suddenly remembered that Zakharov said that he called himself for two things, and asked quickly: "By the way, Comrade Chief of Staff, didn't you say that you want to announce two things? There is one more thing Woolen cloth?"

"That's right, General Chuikov, we intercepted an intelligence report saying that a regiment headquarters of the German army was suspected to have been attacked by rockets from our army last night, and the regiment commander and guards were wiped out." Zakharov said to He said into the microphone: "I would like to ask, which army carried out the sneak attack mission?"

Sokov felt that the operation to eliminate the German Army Command was not a big deal, so he did not report to the Army Group Command before or after the operation, so that after hearing Zakharov's question, Chuikov actually is speechless. He covered the microphone with his hand and said to Krylov next to him: "Chief of Staff, General Zakharov told me that we had a unit that wiped out a regiment headquarters of the German army in a night attack last night. Hurry up!" Find out which army did it."

"Comrade Commander," Krylov said with some embarrassment when he heard Chuikov's order, "the troops we belong to have many numbers, and we haven't looked them up for a while. I don't know if the Front Army Command has any more detailed clues? "

   "By the way, he also gave a detail. The regiment headquarters of the German army was wiped out by rockets." Chuikov urged Krylov: "Go and check quickly, which army achieved the result?"

"There's no need to check, Comrade Commander." Hearing that Chuikov mentioned rockets, Krylov quickly replied: "Although we have hidden a battalion of rockets on the river bank, it is impossible for them to fire at night. The only thing that can use rockets The troops attacking the enemy's regiment headquarters can only be the 73rd Infantry Brigade stationed on Mamayev Hill. Don't forget that Major Yakov sent them a batch of new rockets some time ago for It is most appropriate to carry out sneak attack operations."

Hearing what Krylov said, Chuikov also realized that the regiment headquarters of the German army might have been wiped out by Sokov's troops, so he quickly let go of his hand covering the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it may be from Sokov's army." The school’s 73rd Infantry Brigade did it, they are equipped with new rockets newly developed by our army, which can be launched in various environments.”

When Zakharov learned that the troops that wiped out the German regiment headquarters might be Sokov's infantry brigade, he whispered to Yeremenko and Khrushchev: "General Chuikov said that it might be Sokov's infantry brigade." The school's 73rd Infantry Brigade did it."

   "Let them submit a detailed report immediately," Yeremenko said to Zakharov: "We want to commend the soldiers who performed this mission."

   "General Chuikov, Comrade Commander ordered you to submit a detailed report as soon as possible," Zakharov said into the microphone: "He intends to commend the soldiers who performed this mission."

"Understood, we will hand in the report as soon as possible." After Chuikov ended the call with Zakharov, he originally wanted Krylov to notify Sokov to write the report, but he saw that the other party was busy answering the phone, so he decided Call Sokov himself.

  Captain Goria and the others used rockets to attack the German headquarters at night, but they couldn't know the result because they couldn't get close to observe. Therefore, Sokov could only ask the operator to send a report to the reconnaissance team behind the enemy, so that they could maintain the effect of the attack after dawn.

   The scout's telegram had just been sent back, and before Sokov had time to read it, he received a call from Chuikov. After hearing Sokov's voice, Chuikov asked bluntly, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, did you send someone to carry out a mission behind enemy lines last night?"

While reading the telegram in his hand, Sokov replied: "Yes, Comrade Commander, last night I sent Captain Goliad to lead people disguised as Germans and go deep into the enemy's rear to destroy a regimental command post of the enemy. .”

  Before Chuikov made the call, he was still a little worried that his judgment was wrong. Now when he heard Sokov bluntly saying that he had sent troops to the enemy's rear, he hurriedly asked, "How was the result?"

"According to the scout's report," Sokov replied, staring at the telegram, "the village that was attacked by us has been turned into ruins, and the enemy's regiment headquarters and more than two hundred guards have been killed by us." gone."

   "Really?" Hearing that Sokov's troops had achieved such great results, Chuikov couldn't help being overjoyed: "You really wiped out a regiment headquarters of the German army?"

From the tone of Chuikov's question, Sokov guessed that the other party might have used some channels. After learning about this operation, he couldn't help but glanced at Sidolin, thinking that he had a good relationship with the commander, maybe it was him reported privately. But when Sidolin saw Sokov looking at him, he quickly shook his head, saying that he did not report it.

"It's true, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sidolin didn't look like a liar, Sokov knew that Chuikov didn't know anything about last night's battle, so he quickly introduced the situation to him in detail, and finally said: "Commander Comrade, it is a pity that we have too few rockets in our hands. If there are more, I can send people to attack more German targets and completely disrupt their attack rhythm."

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, don't worry, I believe that a new batch of rockets will be sent to Mamayev Post in a short time, and you will be able to achieve greater results by then." Chuikov said with a smile: "Just now, General Zakharov, the Chief of Staff of the Front Army, called me and said that the Front Army Command intends to commend the comrades who participated in this operation. You should immediately write a detailed report and hand it in. We will ask for credit for these soldiers."

  Hearing what Cuikov said, Sukov finally understood in his heart how the opponent used to understand this battle. He quickly replied: "Yes, Comrade Commander, I will submit a detailed report to you as soon as possible."

  After the report was handed in, the superior responded quickly. That night, the Front Army Command ordered six medals to be sent to Mamayev Post in recognition of the great achievements of Goliath and the others.

  (end of this chapter)