Red Moscow

  Chapter 643 Before the War

"Before I came to the city, I discussed with the commander the combat situation of the 41st Guards Division in the early stage." Khrushchev saw Sukov's bewildered expression, and explained to him: "After the discussion, we agreed I believe that there are various indications that Colonel Ivanov is not a suitable division commander. If he were to lead troops to defend Mamayev Post, the chances of losing the position here would be greatly increased.”

   "Therefore, we have formulated two plans." Khrushchev raised his right hand and stretched out a finger: "The first plan is for you to serve as the deputy division commander and assist Ivanov in his work."

  After hearing Khrushchev say the first option, Sokov asked noncommittally, "What about the second option?"

   "The second plan," Khrushchev pointed to Sokov with his hand, and said, "You will be the commander of the 41st Guards Division, and Ivanov will be the deputy division commander."

  Although he was appointed as the division commander, Sokov still had doubts in his heart. He was deeply afraid that the commander of the division would disobey his command, so he asked, "What about the division political commissar and chief of staff?"

"The political commissar of the division is Anisimov, the political commissar at the battalion level," Khrushchev introduced to Sokov, "He is a very experienced political worker, and I believe he will be able to cooperate well with your work. "

   "As for the candidate for the chief of staff," Khrushchev glanced at Sidolin standing next to him, and said, "Let the lieutenant colonel Sidolin take up this position."

   Seeing that both he and Sidolin had been given new posts, but the brigade political commissar Belkin was not mentioned, Sokov continued to ask: "Comrade military commissar, I don't know how you plan to place political commissar Belkin."

Khrushchev knew that Belkin was Sokov's old partner, so he did not make a hasty decision, but stared at Belkin for a while, and said: "I think, let Comrade Belkin stay The division served as the deputy political commissar and also served as the director of the division's political department."

Unexpectedly, as soon as Khrushchev finished speaking, Belkin took a step forward, straightened his back and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, before I became Colonel Sokov's deputy, I also served as the chief military officer. If you If you trust me, can you call the downsizing regiment to my command."

  Just now when Khrushchev mentioned the reduction of the infantry brigade into a regiment, Sukov was still secretly considering the candidate for the head of the regiment. After recalling the situation of several battalion commanders, he chose the first battalion commander Vanya, the second battalion commander Vasily, and the marine battalion commander Shamrih. But after comparing the three of them carefully, I feel that although they each have their own strengths, they still lack in ability to command a regiment.

  Hearing Belkin recommend himself at this moment, he couldn't help but his eyes lit up. Belkin and his partner have been together for almost a year. Not only do they cooperate well with each other, but they are also very familiar with their usual tactics. If he is really the head of the downsizing team, he is really the most suitable candidate.

  Thinking of this, he hastily said to Khrushchev: "Comrade Military Commissar, I think it is appropriate to have Comrade Belkin as the head of the regiment."

  After looking Belkin up and down, Khrushchev said with some embarrassment: "Colonel Sokov, but he is a political worker, how can he be a military chief?"

"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov heard from Khrushchev's tone that he was not willing to let Belkin take the post of head of the regiment, so he said with a smile: "Although Belkin is now a political worker , but he has also served as a military officer before. You have nothing to worry about having such a politically solid comrade command our troops. "

Sokov's words made Khrushchev smile: "Colonel Sokov, you are right. A political worker who is politically strong and has served as a military chief can command a well-deserved army. Can we There is nothing to worry about. Well, he will be the head of the downsizing team."

  Seeing that Khrushchev agreed to his proposal, Sokov couldn't help secretly heaving a sigh of relief. He turned to Belkin and said, "Captain Belkin, hurry up and report the organization of the troops after downsizing and the list of commanders at all levels."

"Brigade Commander... No, Comrade Division Commander." Belkin said confidently: "I plan to downsize the whole brigade to four battalions, and the organizational structure and commanders of the third battalion and marine battalion will not change; the first and second battalions It was merged into a new battalion, and the battalion commander was appointed by Captain Vasily; the fourth battalion and the 192nd battalion were merged into a new second battalion, and the battalion commander was appointed by Captain Briski, and Captain Goria was the deputy battalion commander."

Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help interjecting and asked: "Commander Belgin, what about Captain Vanya, you merged the first battalion and the second battalion into a new battalion, why didn't you assign him a position?" Soko The husband asked this because he was afraid that Belgin might make a mistake in his busy schedule and forget about Vanya.

"Comrade commander, with Captain Vanya's abilities, it's a bit inappropriate for him to be the battalion commander." Belkin said unhurriedly: "I plan to let him be the chief of staff of my regiment. And the former director of the political department of the brigade, De Comrade Mitri, commissar of the regiment."

Sokov had no objection to Belkin's arrangement. He nodded and said approvingly, "Your arrangement is very reasonable. I have no objection." After saying this, he turned and asked Khrushchev, " Comrade Military Commissar, I still have the remnants of a battalion, and they are now staying in the Red October factory, do you think it is possible to let them withdraw?"

Khrushchev replied very readily: "Since there are not only the 39th Guards Division but also Gurdiev's 308th Infantry Division stationed in the Red October factory, one of your battalions can do nothing there. If it works, bring them back."

Seeing that Khrushchev agreed so simply, Sokov couldn't help being overjoyed, and quickly expressed his gratitude to him: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Military Commissioner. In this way, my troops can concentrate in one area to fight without worrying about being too scattered. And weaken the combat effectiveness of the troops."

   While talking, the phone on the table rang. Sokov was the closest to the phone, so he grabbed the receiver: "I'm Sokov, where are you?"

  The voice of Shamrih came from the receiver soon: "Report to Comrade Brigadier Commander, the group army headquarters sent us ammunition, there are about seven or eight trucks. I would like to ask, how should we deal with it?"

"Comrade Captain, what's the point? Send someone to receive it immediately." Sokov was even more delighted when he learned that Cuikov had indeed sent someone to deliver the ammunition to him. He said excitedly into the microphone: "Yes! With these ammunition, when the enemy attacks again, you don’t have to fight with them with bayonets.”

Seeing Sokov put down the microphone, Khrushchev said with a smile: "With the ammunition sent by Chuikov, when facing the enemy's attack, you don't have to bayonet them anymore. It's getting late , you continue to discuss the formation of the troops and the selection of commanders, I am leaving."

   "Are you leaving?!" Seeing that Khrushchev was leaving, Sokov couldn't help asking curiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, are you planning to go back to the east bank of the Volga River?"

"I just entered the city, how could I go back so soon?" Khrushchev shook his head and said, "I want to go to Chuikov's headquarters and ask him about the deployment of the German troops in the counterattack area so that we can formulate a reasonable plan to attack the enemy." counterattack plan."

   Hearing what Khrushchev said, Sokov felt more at ease. He was also worried that this counterattack would be carried out blindly without knowing the enemy's situation. Since Khrushchev said to understand the situation and formulate a combat plan, the chances of success in this counterattack can be improved.

  As soon as Khrushchev was sent away, Bely, who had disappeared for a long time, reappeared from nowhere. As soon as he saw Sokov, he said with a smile on his face: "Misha, I heard that the superior has appointed you as the commander of the guard division. Congratulations!"

  Seeing Bely's appearance, Sokov was taken aback for a moment, then slapped his forehead with his hand, and said repeatedly: "No, why did I forget such an important thing!"

   "What's the matter?" Sokov's behavior made Bely feel very puzzled.

"That's right, Colonel Bely." Sokov quickly explained to Bely: "The infantry brigade is going to be reduced into a regiment, with Belkin as the head of the regiment, Dmitry, the director of the political department of the brigade, as the political commissar, and the commander of the first battalion. Captain Vanya served as the Chief of Staff, except for the 3rd Battalion and the Marine Battalion which maintained the original organizational structure, the 1st Battalion was merged with the 2nd Battalion, and the 4th Battalion was merged with the 192nd Battalion. However, I actually forgot how to arrange your troops.”

   "Misha." Bely waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and asked bluntly, "Will the fourth battalion deployed in the Red October factory be withdrawn?"

"Yes, I plan to withdraw them overnight." Considering that there are still ten tanks left near the assembly workshop as fixed turrets, Sokov asked Bely: "Colonel Bely, what about the ten tanks?" How do you think about it, continue to stay at the Red October factory, or withdraw to Mamayev Post?"

  Bely said without hesitation: "I think it's better to stay at the Red October factory!" Perhaps because he was afraid of Sokov's suspicion, he added, "There is no suitable parking place here on Mamayev Hill."

   "Okay, let's leave all the tanks at the Red October factory," Sokov felt that Bely's words made sense, so he nodded and said, "The terrain there is conducive to the deployment of mechanized troops."

"That's what I'm thinking too." Bely said self-consciously: "I just went to the Red October factory and received 30 new tanks from the factory director Peter. Wait until the day of the counterattack , we will directly launch an assault on the enemy from the direction of the Red October Factory."

"Comrade commander," Sidolin, who was sitting next to him, interjected after the two had finished speaking, "If we don't have enough artillery cover, we can only rely on infantry when we attack. defensive position."

Sokov has observed the German positions in the distance many times. Although there are only a few trenches and a limited number of firepower points, and there are no barbed wire or minefields in front of the positions, it seems that it is not possible to simply rely on infantry to break through the enemy's defense An easy thing to do. Without the support of artillery and tank soldiers, even if the infantry barely occupied the enemy's position, as long as the opponent's equipment troops deployed behind the position counterattacked, the hard-won gains could be wiped out.

"I think that when we attack the enemy's position, Colonel Bely's tank unit will definitely provide us with the necessary support." When Sokov said this, he looked at Bely deliberately and asked: "You said yes? huh, Comrade Colonel?"

   "Although the infantry brigade is about to be downsized, the higher-ups haven't said anything about the ownership of the tank battalion." Bely said with some hesitation: "I think after the counterattack begins, the tank battalion should still focus on cooperating with you."

   "The counterattack will start in two days!" Sidolin said to Sokov: "I think we should study what kind of force we should use to attack the frontal enemy."

   "Comrade Chief of Staff," Bely looked at Sidolin and asked, "The frontal defense is the Romanian army. I wonder how you plan to break through their position?"

"According to the current situation, after the counterattack starts, there will be no less than two divisions attacking from the direction of the Red October Factory." Sidolin pointed to the map on the table and analyzed the situation to everyone: "And Our offensive area also has an infantry division of nearly 10,000 people. I think this way, with the 122nd and 124th Guards as the first echelon, and after the artillery preparations on the east bank are over, they will attack the enemy. And the 125th The regiment and the downsizing regiment are used as the second echelon. After the local defense line is breached, they will immediately enter the battlefield to expand the breakthrough..."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov couldn't help frowning when he heard this, "Didn't you put all our strength into the counterattack? Have you ever considered who will defend the horses at that time?" Mayev Hill?"

Faced with Sokov's doubts, Sidolin quickly explained: "Comrade commander, I think about it this way. Since we don't have strong artillery and air support, the results we can achieve in this counterattack are very limited. .So my plan is, after breaking through the enemy's defenses, to send the second echelon into the field, while the first echelon withdraws to take charge of the defense of the Mamayev Kurgan. What do you think?"

"I don't think so much!" Bely sneered at Sidolin's suggestion, "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you ever considered that there may be confusion when the two echelons hand over their defenses on the battlefield. Once the German army launches a counterattack at such a time, our troops may collapse in an instant, and if the enemy chases after them and takes the opportunity to rush to Mamayev Post, how should we deal with it?"

"Colonel Bely is right." Seeing that Bely and his opinions coincided, Sokov nodded and said, "We can't put all our troops into battle, otherwise Mamayev Post will be in danger. "

   Seeing that his proposal was opposed by Sokov and Bely at the same time, Sidolin couldn't help but blushed with shame. He asked with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, Colonel Bely, tell me, how should we use our troops when we attack?"

  (end of this chapter)