Red Moscow

  Chapter 800 Great results

   Guchakov didn't know that there was a bomber brigade stationed in the field airport destroyed by them. This flying brigade was originally scheduled to bomb the Dzerzhinsky factory after dawn. Unexpectedly, when the ground crew was still adding fuel and bombs to the bomber, they were accidentally attacked by rockets. Nearly a hundred pilots, including a team leader and three squadron leaders, who lived in a wooden house next to the runway, had no idea. Survived.

  The nearby German troops on guard saw the airport being attacked and caught fire, and rushed to rescue them one after another. But because the fire was too fierce, they couldn't get close at all. They could only watch everything at the airport turn into ashes while reporting the attack on the airport to the Fourth Air Force headquarters.

  Tavlin, who was sitting on the armored vehicle, looked at the raging fire in the distance, and excitedly said to Guchakov: "Comrade Lieutenant, we should have killed all the planes in the enemy's airport, right?"

   "That's right." Although he couldn't get close to the airport to count the results, Guchakov knew very well that all the planes parked at the airport must be finished. He ordered the radio operator sitting next to him: "Send a report to the division headquarters, saying that we have successfully attacked an airfield of the German army behind the enemy and successfully destroyed more than 30 enemy planes parked next to the runway."

  Sidorin received the telegram, and after only one glance, he couldn't help being stunned. Afraid that he might have misread it, he hastily read the contents of the telegram twice, and after confirming that it was correct, he quickly walked up to Sokov, and while handing him the telegram, he said excitedly: "Mr. Comrade, good news, Lieutenant Guchakov's squad attacked a field airfield of the German army with rockets, destroying all enemy aircraft in the airfield."

Sokov quickly read the contents of the telegram, and a smile appeared on his face: "Chief of Staff, this is really good news. More than 30 German planes were killed in one fell swoop. It seems that the number of enemy planes bombing the factory area today is It will be greatly reduced." After speaking, he handed the telegram in his hand to Ivanov who was looking forward to it.

   "Comrade Commander, this is a remarkable achievement." After reading the telegram, Ivanov said equally excitedly: "I suggest reporting to the Army Group Command immediately to make the commanders happy."

   When it comes to reporting the results of the battle to the superior, Sidolin is silent instead. Seeing this, Sokov quickly asked, "Chief of Staff, what's wrong?"

   "It is reasonable to say that such a large battle result should be reported to the superior immediately." Sidolin said with some embarrassment: "But because the battle result is too large, if you want to report it, I am afraid that you need to verify it first..."

"Verify, how to verify?" Hearing what Sidolin said, Ivanov immediately retorted displeasedly: "You must know that the German field airport is nearly 100 kilometers behind the enemy's rear. It takes only one day to get there. Moreover, whether the scouts we send can pass through the enemy's defense zone smoothly during the day is still a big problem."

   "Comrade Commander," Sidolin didn't want to have a dispute with Ivanov over this matter, so he could only turn to Sokov for help: "Tell me, do we need to send someone to verify the results of the battle?"

"Although we don't have any troops in that direction except for Guchakov's squad, it doesn't mean that there are no other troops." Sokov said thoughtfully: "Maybe there is a reconnaissance team directly under the army headquarters. Activities there, after we report, we can entrust them to complete the verification of the results of the battle."

   "But if there is no reconnaissance team from our army in that area, what should we do?" Sidolin continued to ask.

"Even if there is no reconnaissance team, there are still guerrillas." Sokov said calmly, "I believe that guerrillas operating behind enemy lines may have contact with the army headquarters, and they can also help verify the results of the battle. "

  Hearing what Sokov said, Sidolin did not continue to insist on his opinion, but asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, who will report to the headquarters?"

"Let me do it." Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. It was already seven o'clock in the morning. Chuikov and Krylov should start working, and the battle in the factory area had not yet started at this time. The communication will not be too busy, which is the best time to report. Thinking of this, he asked the communication soldier to help him connect to the headquarters.

  After the call was connected, Krylov's slightly hoarse voice came from inside: "I'm Krylov, where are you?"

   "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov quickly replied, "I am Colonel Sokov. I have important information that needs to be reported to you and the commander immediately."

"Oh, important information?" Krylov couldn't help raising his eyebrows when he heard what Sokov said, and then asked with interest: "Colonel Sokov, do you have any good news to tell me?" ?”

Chuikov, who was dozing on the table, sat up straight when he heard the good news from Krylov, and said to Krylov with his eyes wide open like a brass bell: "Chief of Staff, quickly ask What is the good news about him?"

Not only Chuikov was anxious, but Krylov was also anxious. The current situation is getting worse every day. Everyone hopes to hear an exciting good news. He hurriedly urged the microphone: "Colonel Sokov, listen Have you heard the commander's voice? He is eager to know what kind of good news you have brought us."

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said in a calm tone, "A few minutes ago, I received a telegram from Lieutenant Guchakov, saying that they attacked the enemy's rear with rockets. A field airfield at the airport, successfully destroying more than 30 enemy planes parked in the airfield..."

  Krylov heard that the enemy's rear squad had destroyed more than 30 German planes, and his breathing immediately became short of breath. As soon as Sokov finished speaking, he couldn't wait to ask: "Colonel Sokov, have the results of the battle been verified?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, after completing the attack mission, in order to avoid being discovered by the enemy, Lieutenant Guchakov led his troops to transfer immediately, and the results of the battle cannot be counted for the time being." Although Sukov knew in his heart that the results of such battles were real, but in the absence of It is not recognized until it is verified by the superior. So he said cautiously: "I'm calling you because I hope you can send someone to verify the result."

   "I sent someone to verify the results of the battle?!" Krylov said angrily, "Where can we find someone to verify the results you have achieved?"

"Chief of Staff, give me the microphone." Chuikov took the microphone in Krylov's hand and asked Sokov: "Colonel, I understand what you mean, you may think that there is a reconnaissance team we sent in that area." Active, right?"

After receiving Sokov's affirmative answer, Chuikov continued: "Unfortunately, several of our reconnaissance teams operating in the enemy's rear were all lost due to the enemy's siege. Therefore, we can't send people to verify this. results."

  Chuikov's words made Sokov's heart sink suddenly. He thought to himself that if the headquarters could not send someone to verify the results of the battle, then Guchakov and the others might not be recognized for the results of the battle. Once this victory is not recognized, it may affect the morale of the squad.

Just when he was frustrated, he heard Chuikov say reasonably: "Colonel Sokov, I believe in you, and I believe in your subordinates. I believe they will not fabricate such a major victory to deceive us. How about it, I will send someone to monitor the German communications to see if they have such a report of battle damage. If there is, I will admit the result as soon as possible; if not, I will try to send someone to verify it."

  The words Chuikov said later were like a reassurance to Sokov. He nodded and said, "Understood, Comrade Commander, I am waiting for your good news."

  Chuikov had just put down the phone, and before he had time to speak, he saw that Krylov had called Colonel Yulin, the director of the communications corps, over. He grinned silently, and then told Yulin: "Comrade Colonel, we have just received a call from Colonel Sokov, the commander of the 41st Guards Division, saying that his squad has attacked the enemy's field airfield behind the enemy. , Destroyed more than 30 enemy planes. Immediately arrange manpower to monitor the German army’s communications to confirm whether there are relevant messages.”

   "Understood." Yulin agreed, turned around and returned to the radio operator, and organized personnel to monitor.

  Looking at the busy back of Yulin in the distance, Krylov lit a cigarette and asked Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, do you think the results reported by Colonel Sokov are reliable?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I just said on the phone that I believe in Colonel Sokov and his subordinates. They will never cheat on such a big matter." Chuikov reached out his hand from Krylov's pocket. He took out a cigarette case from inside and put one in his mouth. Instead of lighting it up immediately, he went on to say: "A few days ago, this team attacked Gumrak Station and destroyed a large number of German military vehicles. supplies, the enemy attacking the factory area had to slow down their attack speed due to the shortage of supplies. It is precisely because of this that I feel that the results of this battle may not be true."

Two hours later, when Chuikov and Krylov were too busy, Colonel Yulin with a happy face appeared in front of them and reported excitedly: "The commander, the chief of staff, has just intercepted the German army. A telegram about the attack on the airport."

  Cuikov, who was on the phone, didn't even have time to put down the receiver, so he stretched out his hand to Yulin and said repeatedly: "Hurry up and show me the telegram."

  He took the telegram and quickly checked the content on it. It was originally sent by the German Fourth Air Force to the Paulus headquarters, saying that a field airfield was attacked by the Russians this morning, and forty Ju87 dive bombers parked on the airfield were destroyed, including a squadron leader and three Ninety-three pilots, including the squadron leader, were all killed in the attack. The ground staff at the airport, except for a few who went out, were all killed.

Seeing the telegram, Chuikov put down the microphone in his hand, slapped the table fiercely, and said excitedly: "Chief of Staff, the results of the battle have been verified. The team sent by Sokov destroyed 40 enemy planes during the attack." A marvelous victory, killing ninety-three German pilots."

Since it was an intercepted German telegram, it is impossible for it to be false. After reading the telegram twice, Krylov raised his head and asked Chuikov for instructions: "Comrade Commander, this is a remarkable victory. Look, do we need to report to the Front Command immediately?"

   "Does it need to be said, of course it is reported immediately."

While Krylov was waiting for the communicators to connect to the line, Chuikov walked back and forth excitedly in the room, hitting his palms with his fists from time to time, and said in his mouth: "For such a big victory, the commanders and fighters who participated in the attack must be punished." Commendation. I remember that Sokov once reported to me that Lieutenant Guchakov and Second Lieutenant Samoilov commanded the detachment. They should not only receive an Order of the Red Banner, but also be promoted..."

"I think we can promote each of them to one level..." Krylov just finished speaking halfway, the phone was connected, and he quickly said into the microphone: "I am Krylov, Chief of Staff of the 62nd Army, please Help me find Comrade Commander, I have important information and I need to report it to him immediately."

  After a short wait, Yeremenko's deep voice came from the receiver: "Hey, General Krylov, is there something bad going on in Stalingrad?"

   "No, Comrade Commander." With the good news of the attack on the German military airport at the bottom, Krylov spoke with a lot of confidence: "I have a good news to report to you."

   "Good news?!" Krylov's words surprised Yeremenko, and he hurriedly urged: "Quickly tell me."

"The detachment sent by Colonel Sokov attacked the German field airport more than 100 kilometers away." Krylov reported with some pride: "Destroyed forty aircraft of a Ju87 dive bomber brigade of the German army, wiped out Ninety-three pilots also killed the ground staff on duty at the airport..."

  Destroying forty German planes and nearly a hundred pilots at one time, such a result is a great victory no matter what the circumstances. Yeremenko was silent for a long time after listening to Krylov's report, and then asked in surprise: "General Krylov, you just said that destroying the enemy's field airfield wiped out forty planes and ninety-three A force of 2 pilots, just a small detachment sent by Colonel Sokov?"

"That's right." Although he knew Yelyomenko couldn't see it, Krylov nodded vigorously and replied in an affirmative tone: "It's a small team sent by Colonel Sokov, with only 30 people. .But they carry a large number of new rockets, and they use rockets to carry out long-distance attacks on the airport."

   Yelymenko was silent again for a moment, and then asked: "Have the results of the battle been verified?"

"We received a report from Colonel Sokov two hours ago. Because the results of the battle have not been verified, we did not report to you." Krylov quickly reported: "A telegram from the German army has just been intercepted. There are battle damages at the attacked airport. It is only after reading this telegram that we know that the results of the team's battles are true, so we report to you."

  (end of this chapter)