Red Moscow

Although the three of them walked through the fire escape of the building, the road to the roof was not smooth. Most of the enemies were attracted by the Soviet commanders who rushed into the building, but they still encountered sporadic German officers and soldiers from time to time. All three of them are still equipped with assault troops, and they still have an advantage in firepower against those enemies who are alone.

But even so, when they reached the top of the building, one soldier died unfortunately, and the sergeant and another soldier were injured to varying degrees. However, the two lived up to their mission and planted the flag of the Marine Brigade on the top of the municipal building.

Chuvashov, who was staying in the bell tower at the top of the church, saw the flag of the Marine Brigade raised in the municipal building, and couldn't help applauding. He turned around and told a radio operator behind him: "Send a telegram to the Army Group Command immediately, saying The flag of our brigade is already flying over the German headquarters."

When the radio operator sent a report to the headquarters, Dobrushin, who was standing next to Chuvashov, was unhappy: "Comrade Colonel, our two brigades attacked the municipal building where the enemy's headquarters is located at the same time. Now my people You are still fighting the enemy in the building, and only raising your military flag on the building, isn't it a bit inappropriate?"

Hearing Dobrushin's complaint, Chuvashov said with apologetic face: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I'm really sorry, it was my negligence, please understand. But you can send someone to Put the flag of your brigade on the top floor, so that you can announce to other troops that this municipal building, which the German army regards as the headquarters, is jointly occupied by our two brigades."

"Okay, I'll give orders to the troops at the front immediately." Dobrushin felt that Chuvashov's statement was somewhat reasonable, so he nodded and said, "Let them also plant the military flag on the top of the municipal building. And hold on till the end of the fight."

Sameko received a telegram from Chuvashov and immediately informed Sokov: "Good news, Comrade Commander, a telegram from Colonel Chuvashov that his troops have successfully stormed the municipal The building is fighting the final battle with the remnants of the enemy entrenched inside. At the same time, the flag of their brigade is already fluttering in the wind above the municipal building."

Sokov couldn't help feeling ecstatic when he learned that the commanders and fighters of the Marine Brigade had successfully stormed into the municipal building. After he took Chuvashov's telegram and read it carefully, he couldn't help frowning again. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers, and asked thoughtfully: "Why is the flag of Chuvashov's brigade only on the top of the municipal building, and the flag of Dobrushin's brigade?"

After Sokov’s reminder, Sameko also realized that there was something wrong with Chuvashov’s telegram. The two brigades attacked the municipal building at the same time, but Chuvashov’s brigade took the lead in raising fire on the top of the building. Military flag, this is indeed unfair to the Dobrushin brigade who fought side by side.

Thinking of this, he tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, how should we reply to Colonel Chuvashov?"

"Tell Colonel Chuvashov that since the municipal building was jointly captured by two marine brigades, the flags of the two brigades should be raised on the roof." Sokov waved at Sameko: "Hurry up Go and telegraph Colonel Chuvashov and tell him what I mean."

After Sameko turned and left, Sokov felt that since the Marine Brigade had planted the military flag on the roof of the municipal building, even if 80% of the entire Belgorod area was still under the control of the Germans, According to the tradition of the Soviet army, its own troops also occupied the city. Such a large victory must be reported to the front army headquarters immediately.

The phone was connected quickly, and Konev's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Sokov, what's the matter?"

"Report to Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov reported to Konev emotionally: "The flag of the Marine Corps under our army is flying on the roof of the Belgorod Municipal Building at this moment."

"What, what did you say?" Konev couldn't believe his ears after listening to Sokov's report, and asked loudly: "Comrade Sokov, what did you just say, please say it again."

"Front Army Commander," since it is a victory, let alone repeat it, even if it is repeated ten or eight times, Sokov will not find it troublesome: "The flag of the Marine Brigade under my department is now in Belgorod. The roof of the German municipal building fluttered."

"Comrade Sokov," although he heard what Sokov said clearly, Konev still asked uneasy: "Are you sure that the flag of the Marine Brigade is on the ground of the Belgorod Municipal Building?" Is the roof fluttering?"

"I can be absolutely sure that this is true." Sokov said in an affirmative tone: "Colonel Chuvashov, who was in charge of commanding the troops to attack the municipal building, personally sent me a telegram and reported the result to me. "

"It's great, it's really great." After confirming that Sokov's statement was true, Konev slapped the table with his hand and said excitedly: "This is really a remarkable result. The high command reports the result."

Sokov waited for the other party to fall silent again, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I would like to ask, how is the progress of our left-wing friendly army?"

"Oh, don't mention it." Hearing Sukov's question, Konev shook his head and said with a wry smile: "Due to the tenacious resistance of the Germans, the 241st Infantry Division, which was the first to attack, was disabled by the enemy. The infantry division that went up also suffered a lot of casualties. The battle has only barely occupied one street so far, and it is impossible to continue to expand the results of the battle."

Sokov has his own intelligence channel, keeping abreast of the progress of friendly forces in a timely manner. He is very clear that the reason why the friendly army has been unable to achieve great results is entirely because the commander's tactical guiding ideology is too outdated, and he does not know how to adjust tactics according to the battlefield situation, but blindly fights and rushes. The enemy's intensive firepower suffered heavy casualties.

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov couldn't bear to see so many officers and fighters sacrificed in vain, so he tentatively asked Konev: "Do you need us to support them?"

"I don't think so." Konev simply rejected Sokov's request: "Your group army is responsible for the attack on the west of the city. The task is already very heavy. There is no need to add trouble to you. I think, with the 53rd group army With its strength, it is completely possible to complete the attack on the northwest direction of the city."

From Konev's words, Sokov realized that his question just now was a bit too rash. In any case, the troops attacking from the northwest are the main force of the front army. Whether it is military strength or technical equipment, they all belong to him. Times, I offered to help, didn't I slap the commander of the friendly army in the face?

After figuring this out, Sokov no longer offered to reinforce his allies, chatted with Konev for a few more words, and then put down the phone. Seeing Sameko approaching, he asked casually, "Has the telegram been sent?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander, the telegram to Colonel Chuvashov has been sent." Sameko asked Sokov with some concern: "When we write a report to our superiors, we still have to write which brigade planted the flag first." On the municipal building, I'm afraid there will still be conflicts between the two brigades. Comrade Commander, do you have any good ways to resolve this crisis?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I have a solution." When Sokov called Konev, he was thinking about how to deal with the matter of the two marine brigades. Since Sameko asked at this moment, he truthfully stated his thoughts: "After the liberation of Belgorod and Kharkov, the superiors will definitely award honorary titles to some troops and send some ordinary infantry divisions Adapted into a guard division, we can make a fuss from this matter."

Sameko thought of a possibility, but he wasn't sure, so he asked cautiously, "Can you explain in more detail?"

"After this battle is over, neither the Chuvashov brigade nor the Dobrushin brigade will exist as a complete organization." Sokov said: "In order to avoid the situation of competing for credit, I will submit to the The superior submitted an application to merge the two marine brigades and the infantry brigade into a new guard division. In this way, the conflict we are worried about will be resolved?"

After listening to Sokov's plan, Sameko immediately felt his eyes brighten. I have to say that Sokov's plan is really wonderful. If the Marine Brigade and the Infantry Brigade are merged, then all they will get are collective brigades. The problem of honor and merit is naturally solved. He nodded vigorously, and gave Sokov a thumbs up: "Comrade Commander, your method is really wonderful. In this way, we won't have to worry about getting the first credit after the battle."

Sokov recalled the Soviet army's current Guards division establishment in his mind, and then said: "Now the Guards division's establishment has reached the 97th Guards Division, that is to say, if we are lucky, the Marine Corps When the brigade and the infantry brigade were combined, they could receive the designation of the 98th Guards Division."

"Then when should we report it?" Sameko reminded Sokov: "I am worried that after the battle is over, this designation will be awarded to other troops by the superiors, and our troops can only get the number after the 100th." number."

"I'll send a telegram to Marshal Zhukov." Sokov said thoughtfully, "Let's see what he means."

Zhukov once left the code of the radio station to Sokov, so Sokov smoothly ordered the operator to send a telegram to Zhukov, and reported to the other party that he hoped to obtain the designation of the 98th Guards Division.

Seeing that the operator finished sending the telegram, Sameko asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, how do you think Comrade Marshal will reply to our telegram? Do you agree or disagree?"

Although Sokov and Zhukov's personal trainers are good, it is still unknown whether the other party will agree to book the number of the 98th Guards Division. So after hearing Sameko's question, he grinned silently, and then said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, unfortunately, I don't know how Marshal Zhukov will answer me. Now we can only gamble on luck."

After finishing speaking, the two stopped talking, but lit a cigarette each, smoking while waiting anxiously for Zhukov's reply. But the telegram didn't arrive, but Zhukov's phone call came.

Zhukov's angry voice came from the microphone: "Major General Sokov, what are you doing?"

Hearing that Zhukov did not call him by his nickname affectionately, but called himself by his surname plus his position, Sokov realized that Zhukov was angry, but he didn't know why the other party was angry, so he asked tentatively: "Marshal Comrade, is there something wrong?"

"Our commanders and fighters are fighting to capture Belgorod, but you sent me a telegram, saying that you want to apply for the designation of the 98th Guards Division for your troops. Tell me, isn't it a bit too much for you to do this? gone?"

Sokov realized that in the telegram he sent to Zhukov, he did not clearly explain the problems faced by the two marine brigades, so he quickly said: "Comrade Marshal, please don't be angry, let me explain it to you. "

"Then tell me." Zhukov said displeasedly, "I want to hear how you justify yourself."

"Comrade Marshal, the situation is as follows. Not long ago, two brigades of my marines simultaneously stormed the municipal building where the German headquarters is located..."

"What, what did you say?" Zhukov on the other end of the phone suddenly raised his voice: "Your troops have already rushed into the municipal building, did I hear correctly?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, you didn't hear me wrong at all." Sokov replied: "My two marine brigades have rushed into the municipal building and are engaged in a fierce battle with the enemies occupying the building. Although the battle is still ongoing It's not quite over, but one of the brigades has planted its flag on the roof of the municipal building."

"It's great that the military flag has been planted on the top of the municipal building." Zhukov immediately became happy when he heard the good news: "I congratulate you. The officers and fighters at the city building conveyed my thanks for their service in liberating the city."

"I will, Comrade Marshal." Sokov continued: "The reason why I am asking you for a new number is because it is related to these two troops."

"The new unit number is related to these two units?" Zhukov asked curiously, "What's going on here?"

Sokov hurriedly attacked the two marine brigades into the municipal building at the same time, but the Chuvashov brigade planted its own flag on the roof first, which led to the possibility of a fight for merit after the battle. The reason for eagerly asking Zhukov for the troop number is to avoid conflicts in the future.

After Zhukov figured out what was going on, he nodded and said, "Misha, I have some inside information to tell you. Some people in the Supreme Command pointed out that the number of our guard divisions is too large and should not continue to increase. Therefore, from May this year On April 4, after the reorganization of the 96th, 96th and 97th Guards Divisions was completed, no new Guards Divisions will be added in principle."

If other people heard Zhukov say this, they would definitely choose to give up without hesitation, but Sukov, as a person from the future, naturally knew that on December 23, the 98th, 99th and 100th guards were added. Division, and then went on to say: "According to the tradition of the army, planting the military flag on the roof of the city hall means the occupation of the city. The two marine brigades have established such a great feat, how can it be given to them Doesn’t even the number of a guard division work?”

If it was another time period, if Sokov made such a difficult request, Zhukov would definitely reject him. Although he is a member of the Supreme Command, his ability alone cannot change the decision made by the entire group. But now both the Steppe Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army are making extremely difficult progress. The results of Sokov's 27th Army are extremely dazzling. Zhukov feels that he is fully capable of helping them win this designation.

After thinking about it for a while, Zhukov said decisively into the microphone: "Misha, don't worry. I will personally report to the Supreme Commander himself about the number reserved for you. I believe that with the achievements you have made, he will definitely make an exception. of."