Red Moscow

  Chapter 883 Turning the tide of battle

  The news of the failure of the 57th Army's offensive was transmitted to the division headquarters on Mamayev Gang. After reading the battle report, Golikov took off the fur on his head, threw it heavily on the table, and said angrily: "What did Tolbukhin do? He clearly broke through the enemy's defense line, but in the end He was defeated by the German counterattack, if it affects the morale of our army and leads to the failure of this counterattack, I will personally send him to a military court."

   Sokov picked up the battle report on the table and quickly browsed through it, and figured out why the 57th Army's attack failed. He handed the telegram to Sidolin and Ivanov, and said to Golikov himself: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I think the strength of the 57th Army is because the commander underestimated the enemy. They defeated The Romanian cavalry, after successfully tearing through the enemy's line of defense, rushed forward without consolidating the breakthrough in time. When encountering a sudden attack from the German army, they did not take effective countermeasures in time, which led to this failure."

   "Colonel Sokov," Golikov turned to look at Sokov, restrained the anger on his face, and asked, "Do you think our counterattack today will be successful?"

   "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, although there is a problem with the 57th Army's offensive, I believe that the 51st Army, which is attacking on the right wing, will definitely achieve good results."

   "I hope so." Golikov, who was originally confident in this counterattack, felt that the prospects for the next battle were not good because of the failure of the 57th Army's offensive. He picked up the cigarette case on the table, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Before striking the match, he asked, "Can I smoke here?"

   "Yes." Sidolin nodded quickly and said, "The engineers in the division specially installed a ventilation duct to ensure the air circulation in the headquarters. You can smoke as you like."

Golikov lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said with regret on his face: "I really didn't expect that our troops were attacked by the Germans before they had time to advance in depth. If the 51st Army on the right wing would also It is very likely that the German troops will meet head-on, and I am afraid the situation will not be much better."

Seeing that Golikov became worried about gains and losses because of a failed attack, Sokov quickly comforted him and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I think that in the next battle, General Volsky's Mechanized 4th Army, It will play a vital role. As long as they can break through the enemy's defenses, then the next battle will be easy."

"Oh, Volsky's Mechanized 4th Army?" Sokov's words aroused Golikov's interest. He looked down at the map on the table, although he already knew the position of the counterattack force well, But still look very carefully. After looking at it for a while, he looked up at Sokov: "Volsky's troops are located at the junction of the 57th and 51st armies. If he can really successfully break through the enemy's defense line, then the enemy's defense line will become very weak." If it is fragmented, our army's counterattack will become smoother."

Although Golikov no longer mentioned the matter of asking Sokov to organize the troops to counterattack as soon as possible, Sokov felt that some things should be prepared for a rainy day at this moment, so he took the initiative to say: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, I think that if our army's counterattack If it is effective, the troops in the city should also take some positive actions to contain the enemy within the existing area..."

   "Take active actions to contain the enemy within the existing area." After repeating Sokov's words, Golikov asked blankly, "Why?"

"Once Paulus finds out that the purpose of our army's major counter-offensive is not simply to break the siege of the city, but also to encircle and annihilate them, he will consider withdrawing his troops from the city." Sokov replied confidently Said: "It is very easy for the enemy to retreat on the open ground and get rid of our army's pursuit. But in today's street fighting, it is another matter to get rid of our army's counterattack and pursuit. In the city The positions of the enemy and the enemy are intertwined, and the fire support points of the two sides are intertwined in a disorderly manner. It is extremely difficult for them to get rid of our army."

  After hearing Sokov's words, Golikov nodded thoughtfully, and said, "Colonel Sokov, what you said is very reasonable. We must find a way to drag the enemy into the city so that they cannot escape."

   After chatting with Golikov for a few more words, Sokov felt that he should tell Belgin, who was fighting in the barricade factory, what he thought, so he picked up the phone. Hearing Belgin's voice, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Commissar, how is the situation there? Is the enemy still attacking?"

"Yes," Belkin replied affirmatively, "the enemy has gone mad and launched a fierce attack on our position. We have repelled the enemy's three charges in a row within two hours. Fortunately, you Send Shamrih's Marine Battalion over, otherwise our position would have been breached by the enemy long ago."

   "What's going on?" Sukov was taken aback, and quickly asked, "Which area was almost broken by the enemy?"

"The junction of the third company of the first battalion and the Lyudnikov division was broken through by the 162nd engineer battalion of the German army. I sent a reserve team to reinforce it. The two sides fought fiercely, but they were still unable to drive the enemy from our army's position. Get out." Belkin reported: "Fortunately, Captain Shamrich's Marine Battalion arrived and fought with the enemy with bayonets. After a hard fight, they finally wiped out the enemies who broke into our regiment's position."

"Comrade political commissar, please tell the commanders and fighters that the major counter-offensive of our Stalingrad Front Army has begun. This is the last madness of the enemy." Sokov said into the microphone: "As long as we can withstand the enemy's attack, the final victory will be achieved." It must be ours."

   After Sokov finished speaking, he realized that what he said were all clichés and empty words, and he didn't give Belkin any advice on how to hold his ground. Just when he was about to add a few more sentences, he heard Belkin say on the other end of the phone: "Misha, I will pass on the good news you told me to all the commanders and fighters. I believe they will definitely be happy when they hear the news. Great morale."

Since Belkin said so, Sokov could not refute the other party, saying that what he wanted to express was not what he meant, so he could only laugh a few times, and then said: "Comrade political commissar, I am calling because I have something important to tell you." you."

   "What's the matter?" Belkin said briefly: "Tell me about it."

"We intercepted a telegram from the headquarters of the German Army Group to Paulus, asking Paulus to transfer his troops out of the city and rush to the Don River Valley to intercept our army." Sokov said solemnly: "Since the enemy has entered the city, we must not allow them to leave easily. The task of your regiment is to take active actions after the enemy has completely stopped attacking, and keep the enemy in their current position so that they cannot leave smoothly. .How is it? Are you having trouble?"

   "Don't worry, Misha." Belkin let out a long sigh, and said, "We will definitely try our best to restrain the enemies in the barricade factory."

After calling Belkin, Sokov felt that the situation at the barricade factory was still quite serious, so he called Chuikov again and reported to him: "Comrade Commander, I have just passed a communication with Commander Belkin. In other words, he told me that the enemy is frantically attacking the barricade factory. I am afraid that with their current strength and equipment, it may be difficult to stop the enemy. I wonder if you can..."

"Can I send troops to reinforce them, can't I?" Chuikov interrupted Sukov impatiently after hearing this: "It is not only the barricade factory that has been attacked, the enemy is in Dzerzhinsi A large number of troops have also been invested in the base factory, and they are constantly attacking the defense areas of the 37th Guards and the 45th Infantry Division. I can send all the troops in my hand, and I have already sent them all. It's up to them."

   When Sokov was about to end the call, Chuikov suddenly asked without thinking: "The deputy commander of the front army is with you, right?"

   "Yes, Comrade Commander."

   "Keep him safe. Understand?"

"clear!"

   As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he heard Golikov on the side saying: "This Chuikov, you are still worried that I can't guarantee my own safety, and you actually let you take care of me. It's really interesting."

"Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, Commander Chuikov said this out of concern for you." Sokov observed Golikov's expression, and seeing that there was no unhappy expression on his face, he cautiously Said: "After all, the city is the most dangerous place, and everyone has the possibility of sacrifice at any time."

"I think the Mamayev post that your division is holding on to is not bad." Golikov said nonchalantly, "The enemy may be scared by you, and they don't dare to attack you easily. I stay here, and I should be safe." There is no problem."

   "No problem." Sidolin replied loudly: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, as long as you stay at Mamayev Post, I assure you that there will be absolutely no danger."

  ...

  The Stalingrad Front's counterattack on the south side of the city finally made new progress at noon. The 4th Mechanized Army under the command of General Volski annihilated the Romanian army on the outskirts of the Red Army City after a fierce battle, and once again opened a breach in the defense line.

  After hearing the news, Golikov didn’t show any surprise on his face. Instead, he asked anxiously: “Colonel Sokov, do you think General Volsky’s troops will not be counterattacked by the Germans again?”

  Sokov only knew that the great counteroffensive carried out by the Soviet army was successful and encircled Paulus's 300,000 troops in the Stalingrad area, but he didn't know much about the specific battle. So he didn't know how to answer Golikov's question, so he just smiled wryly.

Seeing that Sokov was just smiling bitterly, Golikov couldn't help sighing softly. He even thought in his heart that it might not be long before Volsky's mechanized 4th Army was counterattacked by the Germans, and News of being crushed.

Fortunately, what he was worried about did not happen. The German 29th Motorized Infantry Division, which defeated the 57th Army, was consolidating its position when it was attacked from the flank by the Mechanized 4th Army. The German command had to mobilize a considerable amount of troops. , to strengthen the defense of their flanks.

  The 29th Motorized Infantry Division mobilized troops to defend the flanks, and their frontal defense immediately became weak. Major General Tolbukhin, commander of the 57th Army, immediately ordered Colonel Tanashishin, commander of the 13th Tank Corps, to command the troops to attack again in the direction of the breakthrough button, trying to tear apart the German defense line again.

  Colonel Thanashishin, who was defeated in the morning, was feeling ashamed and embarrassed, when he suddenly received an attack order from Tolbukhin, he took the lead and personally led the troops to carry out the attack. Hundreds of tanks from the 13th Tank Army formed two wedge formations and rushed towards the German army.

  The Germans never dreamed that the Soviet army would adopt a coordinated attack from both sides to attack the area they controlled. The German No. 3 and No. 4 tanks hid behind the trenches and fired at the galloping Soviet tanks, but just after destroying two tanks, the Soviet tanks had rushed to the front of the position.

   At such a short distance, the German No. 3 and No. 4 tanks could not compete with the Soviet T-34. At one time, more than a dozen German tanks were all killed by Soviet tanks.

  Golikov can keep abreast of the battlefield situation through the front army's intelligence system. Knowing that the 13th tank army of Colonel Tanashishin was launching a fierce attack on the German positions, he couldn't help asking Sokov worriedly: "Colonel Sokov, do you think the tank army can break through the German defense line?"

"I think it should be fine." Seeing that Volsky's mechanized 4th Army played a great role in the offensive, Sokov spoke with more confidence: "I think it will be dark at the latest, and the 51st Army will The troops can also successfully break through the enemy's defenses and wedge into the depth of the enemy's line of defense."

  Sokov was able to keep abreast of the progress of the battle on the south side of the city thanks to Golikov's favor, but he could not get any news when he stayed at the headquarters of Chuikov. He was eager to know the progress of the counterattack on the south side of the city, so he called Sokov specifically to ask him about the situation: "Colonel Sokov, this is Chuikov. I would like to ask how the counterattack on the south side of the city is going. ?”

"Report, Comrade Commander!" Sokov replied respectfully: "According to the latest battle report, the mechanized 4th Army under the command of General Volsky has successfully broken through the enemy's line of defense and is advancing to the depths of the enemy's defense. Advance. The 57th Army, which was once frustrated in its attack, also dispatched Colonel Tanashishin's 13th Tank Corps, which is storming the defensive area of ​​the German 29th Motorized Infantry Division, and now has the upper hand."

  Cui Kefu learned that the counterattack in the south of the city was going well, and a rare smile appeared on his face. He paused for a moment, then asked again: "What about the 51st Army and the 64th Army in the south of the city? How are they doing?"

"The commanders and fighters of the 51st Army are engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy." Sukov did not see the battle report about the 51st Army, so he could only say according to his own guess: "I believe they can also break through the German defense line before dark. , to join forces with the mechanized 4th Army, which is advancing deep into the enemy."

   "Colonel Sokov, thank you!" Chuikov suddenly became a little excited and said, "Thank you for telling us such good news..."

"Comrade Commander," Sokov felt the need to remind Chuikov that the Germans might escape from the city when they saw that the situation was not good, so he quickly said, "I think that once the enemy feels that the situation is not good, they may To find a way to withdraw from the city, we should keep the troops in constant contact with the enemy so that they cannot escape even if they want to."

  (end of this chapter)