Red Moscow

In order to strengthen the practice with the Front Army Command, Sokov urged the new director of the Army Communications Corps to set up a telephone line that could communicate with the rear. After several days of hard work, the erection of the telephone line was finally completed.

Knowing that the telephone line had been set up, Sokov couldn't wait to order the director of the communications corps to connect to the front army headquarters. Soon, the director of the communications corps told Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the phone of the Front Army Command has been connected. General Malinin is by the phone. You can talk to him."

"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." After taking the phone, Sokov said respectfully, "I'm Sokov."

"Hello, General Sokov, it's a pleasure to talk to you." Malinin said with a smile: "How is your fortification going?"

"It's not ideal." Sokov replied with some embarrassment: "As the temperature gets warmer, the snow begins to melt, and our trenches are full of water. Soldiers can't stay in such a place."

"Yeah, it's not easy to build fortifications in this kind of assembly." Ma Linin said understandingly: "The water in those trenches is biting, and people can't stay in the water for a long time. Otherwise, we won't wait for the enemy to attack , there will be a lot of frostbite."

Sokov was very worried that the German army would launch an offensive recklessly at such a time. If he did not have enough fortifications, he would have to fight them to death. He tentatively asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, although we have changed to the Sixth Army, the configuration of personnel and command system is still the same as that of the original combat group. I don't know when the superior will be able to add new troops to us. "

"General Sokov, I'm about to talk to you about this. Since you asked, I'll talk to you about it." Ma Linin said on the phone: "According to our cooperation with our friendly forces, we decided to send the original Sixth The 45th, 99th and 226th Infantry Divisions of the Army Group are assigned to your command."

Hearing that his superiors were going to add three infantry divisions to him, Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed. He quickly asked, "Isn't it when these three infantry divisions will be in place?"

"General Sokov, these three divisions were transferred to the rear for repairs not long ago. It is estimated that it will take a month at the earliest before they can join your army's combat sequence."

Knowing that it would take a month for the supplementary troops to arrive, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. But think about it again, after these troops have completed their rest and replenishment, and then join their own group army, they only need to fight one or two battles to form combat effectiveness, so that they can also relax.

Sokov paused for a moment, and then asked: "What about the artillery and tank units? You know, the five most elite divisions of the German army are confronting us now. If there are not enough tanks and artillery, they will block their attack." , is also a very difficult thing.”

"Misha," Sokov just finished speaking, when Rokossovsky's voice suddenly came from the receiver: "What's the matter with you, you have learned to bargain with your superiors like everyone else. "

Sokov was terrified at first, but soon found that Rokossovsky was not angry, so he said with a playful smile: "Comrade commander of the front army, I asked my superiors for soldiers and equipment, and it was also to better deal with Enemy. Don't you?"

Hearing Sokov talking to himself with a playful smile, Rokossovsky shook his head with a wry smile, and then said: "Misha, don't you know that after the battle some time ago, our army's tanks and artillery have lost relatively Seriously. Especially the troops of the Southwest Front Army, due to the lack of fuel and ammunition, almost threw away all the tanks and artillery when retreating, and we simply cannot provide you with the artillery and tanks you need now."

Sokov knew that Rokossovsky was telling the truth. After being hit hard by the German army, the Southwest Front Army had already been defeated. When many troops threw away these weapons and equipment, they had no time to blow them up, and most of them fell. In the hands of the Germans, it won't be long before the Germans will use these weapons to turn around and attack the Soviet army.

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov felt that the best way at present is to stick to the existing position and not easily provoke the Germans. Otherwise, once the hornet's nest is stabbed and the enemy floods in like a tide, he may not be able to parry So he had to figure out how Rokossovsky planned: "I want to ask, do we really only need to stick to the existing regions?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Rokossovsky asked back: "Why, the Germans scare you?"

"How is this possible?" Sokov replied, "I'm not afraid of the enemy. I'm only worried that my superiors will order our troops to attack the enemy in the season that is most unsuitable for combat. Under today's climate conditions, to It is very inappropriate for the enemy to launch an attack. On the contrary, it is easy to consume all the reserves we have accumulated with great difficulty. In this way, in the next few months, the initiative on the battlefield will be completely wiped out. in the hands of the enemy."

"Don't worry, Misha." Rokossovsky heard his worry from Sokov's words, and comforted him: "As long as I am the commander of the front army, I will never let your troops , In a season that is not suitable for combat, launch a meaningless attack on the enemy. But in any case, to maintain the stability of the existing front with the enemy, you must lay minefields, pull barbed wire, and arrange anti-tank obstacles in front of the positions... ..."

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," said Sokov, why didn't he want to build minefields in the position and arrange anti-tank and infantry obstacles. At that time, it was hard for a smart woman to cook without rice, and the warehouses in the Red Army Village had long been looted by the Germans. s things. So he could only say in embarrassment: "But we don't have any of the things you mentioned in our warehouse."

"Barbed wire, landmines and various anti-tank obstacles, I will arrange for a convoy to send them to you as soon as possible." Rokossovsky said on the phone: "However, you have to promise me that you must be in the shortest time. Time to put these things where they should be."

"No problem, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Knowing that Rokossovsky was willing to provide him with enough supplies to build a defensive position, Sokov couldn't help being overjoyed, and he quickly assured the other party: "As long as you promise The materials can be delivered in time, and I assure you, all can be placed in place within 24 hours."

Before hanging up the phone, Rokossovsky said to Sokov: "If you have a plan to attack the German army, remember to tell me in advance, so that I can judge whether it is necessary to implement it."