Red Moscow

  Chapter 486

  Maybe to reassure Sokov, when the rockets were transported to the other side of the Volga River, Witkov also made a special call to Sokov at the Front Army Command.

Vitkov said on the phone: "Comrade Brigadier, we have successfully arrived at the headquarters of the Front Army. However, because the German air force and artillery blocked the river very badly, for safety reasons, I plan to wait until after dark. Then transport the rockets across the river."

"Great, Comrade Colonel." Sokov was overjoyed when he learned that the rockets would be transported from across the river after dark, but he did not get carried away, but tried his best to control his emotions. The husband said: "When you cross the river, you must pay attention to safety and minimize the casualties of the troops."

"Don't worry, Comrade Brigadier." Vitkov said confidently: "On the way back to the left bank from Kamysin, I talked with the commander of the Volga Fleet. They will send the best sailors, the best The ship, help us transport this batch of rockets to the other side."

Knowing that Vitkov and the others had received help from the Volga Fleet on the way to transport ammunition, Sokov hurriedly said in an official tone: "Comrade Colonel, please represent the commanders and fighters of our entire brigade, and express our gratitude to the sailors and fighters of the fleet. grateful!"

   "Comrade Brigadier, I will, don't worry."

As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he called Sidolin over and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately inform the battalions to be dispatched to the enemy's rear. announcement of."

  Sidorin looked at Sokov blankly and asked: "Comrade Brigadier, what happened? Why did you suddenly change the departure time of the squad?"

   "Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said with some pride, "Colonel Witkov just called and said that the rockets have been transported to the headquarters of the Front Army, and they can be shipped over after dark."

When Sidolin heard that the rocket had arrived on the other side, his eyes lit up, and he immediately guessed why Sokov wanted to change the departure time of the squad: "I understand, Comrade Brigadier, you change the departure time of the squad, It is to wait for the deputy brigade commander to bring the rockets, so that each squad can bring a few rockets."

"You guessed right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing that Sidolin had guessed his intentions, Sokov said with a smile, "I plan to have each squad carry a launcher and ten rockets, so that When they reach the enemy's rear, they can attack important targets such as the German headquarters, camps, warehouses, etc. at a safe distance."

Hearing what Sokov said, Sidolin immediately made up the picture of Goria and the others using rockets to wipe out the German regiment headquarters, and then nodded and said: "Comrade Brigadier, if every little soldier who goes deep behind the enemy If the detachments all use rockets to attack important targets in the rear of the German army, the enemy may fall into complete chaos."

"The enemy is in chaos, which is really the result we want to see." Sokov said with a smile on his face: "In this way, they will have no extra strength to continue to attack Mamayev Hill or other important military installations." An attack has been launched. And we can use this precious time to strengthen the fortifications and rest the troops to wait for the next round of counterattacks."

  Hearing Sokov mentioned counterattack, Sidolin couldn't help raising his eyebrows, and then asked tentatively: "Comrade Brigadier, have you heard any news that our army is going to launch a counterattack against the enemy?"

"I stay with you in this headquarters every day, and many of the news I heard were conveyed to me by you." Sokov looked at Sidolin and said jokingly: "Things you don't even know , How could I know!"

  Sidorin smiled embarrassedly, and then asked Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, when do you think the superiors will launch a counterattack against the German troops in the Stalingrad area again?"

"At the beginning of September, the three armies commanded by Zhukov launched a counterattack from the north of Stalingrad, but due to insufficient preparation, the offensive troops lacked sufficient artillery support and did not have air supremacy, so our counterattack ended in failure. "Sokov did not directly answer Sidolin's question, but chatted about the two failed counter-offensives at the beginning of the month: "A few days later, General Rokossovsky's Stalingrad Front again attacked from the northwest. Launched an attack, and Commander Chuikov also cobbled together several divisions to cooperate with the opponent. Unfortunately, this counterattack ended in failure."

Hearing this, Sidolin felt that he seemed to understand something, so he asked carefully: "Comrade Brigadier, if I guessed correctly, you mean that if our army launches a counterattack hastily, it will be due to lack of preparation." , leading to the failure of the counter-offensive. If you want to achieve a successful counter-offensive, you must spend a considerable amount of time accumulating strength and hoarding the supplies needed for combat?"

After waiting for Sidolin to finish speaking, Sokov gave him a thumbs up: "Comrade Chief of Staff, your analysis is very correct. If our army's counterattack is to be successful, it will take a month or two. Gather troops and stockpile the supplies needed for combat, and then launch an attack on the enemy after you have fully prepared, so that you can be more sure of victory."

"Then how long do you think we will have to wait before the big counterattack that will determine the outcome?" Sidolin asked in an uncertain tone, "One month, two months, or longer? ?”

  Sokov remembered that the Soviet army launched a counterattack against the German army from different places on November 18 and 19, and it was almost two months before now. So he pretended to be thinking hard, pretended to think for a long time, and finally said to Sidolin: "I think according to the speed of our army's assembly and the transportation of materials, it may be in late November. A powerful counterattack."

   "Ah, we have to wait until late November?" Hearing what Sokov said, Sidolin showed a disappointed expression on his face: "I really didn't expect that we would have to wait for such a long time."

"No way, Comrade Chief of Staff, the preparations for the battle of the large corps are quite cumbersome, and the time it takes will not be too short. I said that it will be very fast until the end of November. If it doesn't go well, maybe It will drag on until early December..."

   "Early December?!" Hearing this, Sidolin couldn't help interjecting and asked, "Comrade Brigadier, tell me, will the big counter-offensive in the Stalingrad area be at the same time as the big counter-offensive under Moscow last year?"

"I don't know about this either." Sokov was unwilling to discuss this issue with Sidolin any further. He raised his hand and looked at his watch, urging: "Chief of Staff, hurry up and call each team, Lest they set off towards the enemy's rear before the rockets arrive."

  (end of this chapter)