Red Moscow

  Chapter 738 Attitudes of all parties (Part 1)

  Chuikov is a man of his word. He said he would report Gurov's proposal to the Front Army Command. After Wei Yinlubu left, he personally called Yeremenko on the east bank of the Volga River and said respectfully, "Hello, Comrade Commander, I'm Chuikov. I have something important to report to you."

   Yelymenko was startled to himself, and wondered if there was something wrong with the Barricade Factory and the Dzerzhinsky Factory? He couldn't help asking nervously: "Comrade Chuikov, did the Barricade Factory and the Dzerzhinsky Factory fall?"

"No, Comrade Commander. Both factories are still in our hands." Seeing that Yelymenko had misunderstood himself, Chuikov quickly explained to him: "I called you for something else. "

   Knowing that the two factories he had been thinking about had not been lost, Yelymenko let go of the boulder in his heart, and said casually, "General Chuikov, what are you going to report to me?"

"Comrade Commander, you should be very clear that the enemy has been attacking the Barricade Factory and the Dzerzhinsky Factory like crazy these days, trying to seize these two factories." Chuikov said carefully: "In order to ease the In such a situation, the leaders of our army group have been trying to find a way. Today, Comrade Gurov, the divisional political commissar, suddenly proposed that it seems that a battle group can be formed on Mamayev Hill and the south of the city to contain the enemy and relieve the two forces. Defensive pressure on the factory."

"That's a very good suggestion, Comrade Chuikov." Yeremenko thought only for a moment about Gurov's proposal, and then replied decisively: "If another battle group is formed, the enemy will have to fight in two directions." Combat, this will greatly reduce the pressure on the factory. By the way, who do you plan to appoint as the commander of the combat group?"

   "Colonel Sokov," Chuikov replied, "comrade Gurov and I agree that if a combat group is to be formed, Colonel Sokov, the commander of the 41st Guards Division, is the best candidate."

"Well, Colonel Sokov is really good at fighting." Yeremenko said worriedly: "But he is too young. Let a young man in his twenties command an army of tens of thousands. I worry that many people will not be convinced by him."

"Age is not important, as long as he can lead the troops to victory. As long as he wins a few battles, those rebellious subordinates will be convinced by him." After refuting Yelymenko's question about age, Chuikov explained: "But Comrade Gurov and I just mentioned this to him, but he refused."

"Rejected by him?!" Yelymenko didn't expect such a good promotion opportunity to be rejected by Sokov. It felt so incredible, he asked quickly: "Comrade Chuikov, can you tell me, His reason for refusing?"

"He believes that under the current circumstances, it is inappropriate to rashly establish a new combat group." After repeating the reasons Sokov said at the time to Yeremenko, Chuikov mentioned that at the military meeting of the group army, everyone collectively He opposed the establishment of a new combat group, and finally said: "Everyone has very good reasons for objecting, such as whether the superiors can send us new troops, and if they can be sent, can the equipment and logistical supplies of these troops be guaranteed..."

Yeremenko patiently listened to Chuikov's words, and said with a smile: "Comrade Chuikov, you have really given me a problem. I don't agree with you to form a new combat group. The pressure on our factory area will not be relieved." Relief; agree to the combat cluster in the city, and I will send you more troops and supporting supplies."

  He paused for a moment, and suddenly thought of a question that he had ignored: "By the way, if we can send you enough troops to form a new combat group, can Sokov and the others withstand the pressure of the enemy?"

  Don't look at Cuikov in public, he didn't make it clear that he would support the establishment of a combat group. But as the commander of the garrison who sticks to Stalingrad, he certainly hopes that he can control more troops, so that he can take the initiative on the battlefield. As for the problems that Sokov was worried about, they were not a problem at all to him, so in the face of Yeremenko's doubts, he said unequivocally: "Comrade commander, once the new combat group is established, it must be We will face a powerful offensive from the enemy, but I believe that with the ability of Colonel Sokov, these crises can be completely resolved."

"I understand, Comrade Chuikov." After hearing Chuikov's words, Yeremenko said thoughtfully: "This matter is of great importance. Although I am the commander of the front army, I can make rash decisions. I I need to discuss it with Comrade Khrushchev. I will answer you when there is a result, how about it?"

   "Okay!" Seeing that Yelymenko agreed to study the matter, Cuikov felt that there was something in his heart, so he readily agreed, "I'll wait for your news."

   After putting down the phone, Yelymenko picked up the cane that was put aside, and tried to get up and go outside to find Khrushchev. But just got up and took two steps, his injured leg was painful, he quickly sat down again, picked up the phone and dialed a number, then said into the microphone: "I am Yelymenko, Khrushchev Where is Comrade?"

   "Report to Comrade Commander," the officer who answered the phone quickly replied, "He is still sleeping."

   Yelymenko looked at his watch and saw that it was already five o'clock in the morning, so he told the other party without hesitation: "Wake him up and tell him that I have something urgent to see him."

  Khrushchev was woken up from his sleep, but he didn't get angry at all, because it was a war period, and it was already commonplace for him to be woken up in the middle of his sleep to attend a meeting. As soon as he heard that Yeremenko had urgent business with him, he quickly put on his clothes and hurried to the room where Yeremenko was staying.

  As soon as he opened the door and saw Yelymenko sitting behind the table, he couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade Commander, is there something wrong in the city?"

"Chuikov just called me," Yeremenko said after Khrushchev was seated, "he said he wanted to set up a combat group to fight in the old city south of the city and in the area of ​​Mamayev Kurgan." , to divert the enemy's forces to reduce the pressure in the direction of the factory area. I called you here just to discuss this matter."

"Set up a new battle group?" Khrushchev frowned and said, "This means that we will send more troops to the troops in the short term and provide them with more supplies. But in the current situation See, there's simply no way to do that."

"Comrade Khrushchev, you are right." Yeremenko agreed with what Khrushchev said: "It is precisely because of this that I will have someone wake you up from your sleep to discuss How should this be handled?"

   "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask first." Khrushchev did not express his opinion hastily, but asked cautiously: "How big is this battle group, and who does Chuikov plan to appoint as the commander?"

"According to Chuikov, this combat group should consist of two to three infantry divisions or five infantry brigades, so that it can become a force that can control the situation. As for the commander," Yelymenko said here , paused for a moment, took a sip of the cold tea on the table, and continued: "He thinks Colonel Sokov is the best candidate."

  (end of this chapter)