Red Moscow

  Chapter 772 Porter (Part 1)

  Among all the defense areas of the 41st Guards Division, the one that worries Sokov the most is the archives building that the Belgin Regiment is defending. Don't see that this unit is his direct descendant, with strong combat effectiveness and rich combat experience, but since there are no heavy weapons such as tanks and cannons, it is bound to pay a heavy price if it wants to completely block the German attack.

Regarding Sokov's concerns, Sidolin, the chief of staff of the division, also deeply felt the same. Seeing that Sokov was frowning, he said to him: "Comrade commander, I know what you are worried about. Although you have to keep the file Building, we will pay a huge sacrifice, but compared with our friendly forces, our casualties are still within an acceptable range..."

   "That's true," Sokov felt that Sidolin's words made sense. Those friendly troops who entered the city to join the battle, within a week, there would be only a few hundred people left in a division, and they basically lost their combat effectiveness. As for our own troop system, so far, it is still relatively complete. "It may be that we have adopted new tactics that are different from those of our friendly forces, so that we can reduce the casualties of troops in battle."

"The reason why Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko's 122nd Regiment prevented the enemy from entering the ruined workers' new village was because they skillfully combined the defensive position with the sewer." Sidolin said with some regret: " Although we reported this tactic to the group army headquarters and asked them to promote it within the group army, the effect was not satisfactory. Those commanders who were used to fighting in positional warfare disdained to use our tactic, which resulted in heavy casualties. "

"I don't care what tactics other people use, and I can't control it." Sokov said firmly: "But my troops must follow my tactics to fight the enemy. Only in this way can we sustain until the big counter-offensive comes." that day."

  Ivanov, who rarely spoke recently, heard Sokov say this, and couldn't help but arouse curiosity in his heart: "Comrade commander, when do you think our army will be able to launch a full-scale counterattack?"

Naturally, Sokov would not tell the other party that the big counteroffensive would start on November 19. Instead, he remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't think I can answer your question accurately. Question. But based on the speed of our army’s assembly, it is entirely possible that the major counterattack against the enemy will be launched at the end of November or early December. However, even if the counterattack is launched, I am afraid that the defenders in the city will not be able to carry out a large-scale counterattack against the German army. .”

Sokov's words greatly exceeded the expectations of Sidolin and Ivanov. After hesitating for a moment, Sidolin retorted: "Comrade commander, I disagree with you. If our army really wants to implement If there is a major counter-offensive, then the headquarters will definitely send enough troops to strengthen the 62nd Army, so that we can cooperate with the friendly forces coming from outside to destroy the enemy attacking Stalingrad."

"Chief of Staff, have you forgotten that some time ago, the base camp planned to send three divisions into the city to form a combat group to contain the enemy attacking in the new urban area in the north of the city?" Sokov asked Sidolin to break the unrealistic idea. , specially reminded him: "But with the intensive bombing of the city by the enemy in early October, the base camp changed its mind. They found that too many troops were placed in the city and could only become the target of the enemy's shelling and bombing, so they only needed to It is enough to keep a certain number of troops in the city so that the enemy cannot rush to the Volga River."

"Comrade Commander," Ivanov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and raised his concerns: "I want to ask you, if the enemy is besieged from the north, west and south by the troops on the periphery of the encirclement, what will they do?" We will not jump over the wall in a hurry and rush desperately to the bank of the Volga River. If our troops are insufficient, can we stop their attack?"

"The problem you are worried about is entirely possible." Sokov gestured a few times on the map with his hand and said: "At present, the enemy is concentrating superior forces, and under the cover of tanks and artillery, they are attacking the Barricade Factory and Derzhins. After attacking the Dzerzhinsky factory and trying to seize the two factories, they went out to the Volga River to cut off the connection between the defenders in the city and the outside world. Although the superiors just sent reinforcements to the Dzerzhinsky factory, can they hold it? The factory, I think is still an unknown.”

  Hearing what Sokov said, the muscles on Ivanov's face twitched violently a few times, and he said lightly: "Comrade commander, do you have so little confidence in your friendly forces?"

"It's not a question of confidence," Sokov said, shaking his head. "The enemy has control of the city's airspace, and there are tanks and the Great Army. If they want to hold the factory, they can only use human lives. I think For a long time to come, there will be a brutal tug-of-war between the Barricade Factory and the Dzerzhinsky Factory, with tens of thousands of casualties on both sides."

"Comrade Commander, do you think the higher-ups will transfer our troops again to reinforce these two factories?" Sidolin waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and asked with some concern: "After all, there are only our troops in the city now. Relatively complete."

"This is unavoidable," Sokov said rather helplessly: "In the coming days, in order to block the enemy rushing towards the Volga River, I think Commander Chuikov may transfer some troops in unimportant areas to Go to those dangerous places to participate in the battle. Whether it is Papchenko's 122nd regiment or Belkin's reduced regiment, they may be mobilized at any time."

"Comrade commander, I have an idea." After staring at the map for a while, Ivanov raised his head and said to Sokov: "Now the enemy's attack on Mamayev Gang has become a little careless, should we Can only one regiment be left to hold on to the high ground, and then the drawn troops can be transferred to the place where the battle is fiercest to support the friendly army?"

"No, Comrade Deputy Division Commander, this is definitely not possible." The plan proposed by Ivanov was rejected by Sokov without hesitation: "Although we have perfect fortifications on Mamayev Post, we only need to leave one Two battalions can hold the high ground, but we can't take it lightly. Don't see that the enemy's offensive momentum is weakening now, but who knows one day in the future, they will see that the offensive in the north of the city is not going well, and they will turn their attention again. Put it on Mamayev Post, if we are in a situation of insufficient troops, the high ground may be lost."

In order to draw Sidolin and Ivanov's attention to this matter, he pointed to the map and emphasized to them: "As long as Mamayev Hill remains in our army's hands, after the big counteroffensive begins, The German army attacking Stalingrad will be immediately divided into two unconnected parts by our army, one is the factory area in the north of the city, and the other is the old city in the south of the city."

"Comrade Commander," Seeing Sokov actually talking about the possible division and encirclement of the German army after the start of the big counter-offensive, Sidolin showed a surprised expression on his face: "Do you really think that after the start of the big counter-offensive, we will be able to Surround the German army?"

   "That's right, that's what I think." Sokov nodded and asked back: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't you think our army can't do this?"

  Sokov's bold guess made both Sidolin and Ivanov skeptical. If someone else said that, they must have refuted it long ago. Now that the city is in danger, whether it can be defended is a problem, but you are talking about dividing and encircling the enemy. It is simply a daydream. But since Sokov said the words, the two could only remain silent, and at the same time smiled politely, expressing that they had heard what Sokov said.

The reactions of the two were completely within Sokov's expectations. He thought to himself: If he was not from later generations and knew the final outcome of the Battle of Stalingrad, he would definitely be the same as them in whether the 62nd Army could hold the city. Be skeptical.

   Just when the atmosphere in the room was in an embarrassing situation, the phone on the table rang, and Sidolin grabbed the receiver and stuck it to his ear and said, "I am Chief of Staff Sidolin, where are you?"

   Chuikov's voice came from the receiver: "Hello, Comrade Sidolin. I am Chuikov!"

"It's Comrade Commander, hello!" Hearing that it was Chuikov's call, Sokov and Ivanov both pricked up their ears and listened quietly to the conversation between Sidolin and Chuikov: "Excuse me Do you have any instructions?"

   "You immediately mobilize a company of troops and rush to the ferry by the Volga River."

  Sokov's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly said that Goliath's troops had just returned to the establishment a few hours ago, and they actually wanted to transfer people from his own troops to perform some mission. He tried his best to control the dissatisfaction in his heart, and quietly listened to the order that Chuikov was about to assign.

  Sidorin asked politely into the microphone: "Comrade Commander, after our troops arrive at the ferry, what is the next task?"

"It's like this. I just received a call from the headquarters of the Front Army, saying that a batch of rockets provided by Moscow will be transported from the other side before dawn." Chuikov said very quickly: "We don't have enough rockets now." To deliver the ammunition for you, you can only send people to collect it yourself.”

   Knowing that Cuikov asked him to send troops to the ferry to receive the rockets shipped from Moscow, Sokov couldn't help being overjoyed. He quickly walked to the door, and said to a soldier guarding the door: "Comrade soldier, go and call Lieutenant Sergey Sha."

   "Comrade Commander," the soldier at the door said with some embarrassment upon hearing Sokov's order, "Lieutenant Seryosha may still be sleeping now."

   "Go and wake him up." As soon as Sokov waited for the soldier to finish speaking, he immediately ordered in an unquestionable tone: "Now there are more important tasks than sleeping for him. Order him to report to me immediately."

  When Sokov walked back to the table, Sidolin had already put down the phone. Without waiting for Sokov to ask, he took the initiative to report: "Comrade commander, the commander said on the phone that the superior sent us 500 rockets this time. I'm worried that only one company will be sent to carry them. I'm afraid Not enough staff."

The news that a large number of residents at the ferry are now involved in transporting materials, Sokov has long known from Krylov, seeing that Sidolin is worried about the shortage of manpower for transporting materials, he said with a smile: "Comrade Chief of Staff, in terms of manpower, you Don't worry, there are now a large number of residents at the ferry who will help us carry supplies."

"The residents by the river are eager to flee to the other side by boat," Sidolin asked worriedly because he didn't know the situation at the ferry, "if they stay and take the risk to carry supplies for the troops, they won't complain. Bar?"

"Some people complaining is definitely inevitable." Sokov said indifferently: "But when the river can be crossed smoothly now, it is still unknown to these residents. Instead of staying on the shore doing nothing, It’s better to let them do some work within their ability, and every resident who participates in moving materials can get food supplies every day.”

  Sidorin said in amazement after hearing this: "If the residents carrying supplies can get food supplies every day, I think it will definitely mobilize their enthusiasm. I don't know such a good way, who came up with it?"

   "Who else?!" Sokov knew that the word "humility" did not exist in the Russian dictionary, so he said carelessly, "Of course it is me."

   "You came up with it?" Sidolin couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise when he heard Sokov say that. But after a while, his expression returned to normal, and he said naturally, "That's right, only you, the teacher, can come up with such a good solution."

"Report!" Before Sokov could speak, a voice calling for a report came from beside him. He turned his head and saw that it was Seryozha who was ordered to come. Maybe he came too hastily. Seryozha who was standing at the door was still there. What about a belt.

   "Come to me, Lieutenant Seresa." Sokov waved at Seresa and said, "I have an important task for you to complete."

   Serezha came to the table, straightened his body and said: "Comrade commander, please give the order."

"That's right, Comrade Lieutenant." Sokov said to Seryosha in an official tone: "The five hundred rockets assigned to us by the superiors will be unloaded at the ferry before dawn, and you will immediately take your company to the ferry. , ready to receive this batch of rockets, and transport them to Mamayev Gang in the shortest possible time. How about it, are you confident?"

   "I'm confident!" Sergey said with some embarrassment after replying: "Comrade Commander, my company now only has 150 people. If we want to bring back such rockets, I'm afraid we need to add some more manpower."

"There are enough people at the ferry to help you unload and transport the rockets." Sokov worried that Seryozha would not take it seriously, and emphasized to him: "These rockets are the key to whether we can hold the Mamayev post." The key, so you must not make any mistakes. Understand?"

   "Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Seryozha replied confidently: "I will definitely transport this batch of rockets back to Mamayev Post safely. Allow me to go back and gather troops?"

   "Allowed." After agreeing to the other party's request, Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch, adding: "Although we don't know when the ship transporting the rockets will land, your company must leave in half an hour."

  (end of this chapter)