Red Moscow

Thinking about the upcoming offensive, Sokov couldn't stay in the city for a minute. He declined the kindness of the division chief of staff, and hurriedly left Sukhinich with his men.

Two hours later, he arrived at the starting position of the attack not far from Popkovo and found his troops. Seeing his return, Belgin asked curiously: "Comrade battalion commander, the division commander ordered you to rush to Suhinich, is there anything urgent?"

After listening to Sokov's simple flag-presenting ceremony, Belkin said with regret: "It's a pity, what a pity, I was not able to participate in such an important ceremony. It's really a pity."

"Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, there will be opportunities like this in the future." After comforting his Deputy Battalion Commander, Sokov asked bluntly, "Have you figured out the terrain here?"

"Yes, Comrade Battalion Commander. The reconnaissance platoon leader, Second Lieutenant Christopher, personally took a few people and conducted reconnaissance of the surrounding terrain." Belgin pointed to a hand-drawn map on the table and said to Sokov: "Popkovo is located on the high ground. The Germans can use firepower to block the main road leading to the village in the ring fortification. However, we found two other trails, so they were covered by heavy snow and it was difficult to move. The German defenses there Not strictly."

Sokov remembered that before going to Suhinich, he had confessed to Belkin that attacking from the front would inevitably cost huge casualties, so the best way was to see if there were any trails around him, so that he could take advantage of it. When the attention of the German army was attracted by the frontal attack, they quietly groped into Popkovo from the trail. Therefore, he specifically asked: "Have any measures been taken?"

"In the northeast of Popkovo, there is a cemetery. The Germans have not deployed defense forces in that direction. I have sent Vanya's company to infiltrate the area." Belgin pointed to Popkovo again. To the west, he continued: "Here, there is a trail through the woods, which can directly enter the village. I ordered Savyev's third company to enter Popkovo from this direction. Because I was worried that the enemy might be on this road There are landmines buried on the road, and I assigned the engineering platoon to the command of the third company."

Sokov was very satisfied with Belgin's arrangement. He nodded vigorously and said, "Yes, yes, Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, although you are engaged in political work, you always talk about yourself You are a layman in the military, but judging from your deployment today, it is quite organized."

Hearing Sokov's praise to him, Belkin laughed twice, and then said: "I have stayed with you for a long time, and I know a little bit about the military."

Just as the two were flattering each other, a lieutenant ran in from the outside, raised his hand to salute them and said, "Two commanders, the division commander invites you to the division headquarters."

Hearing that the division commander had an invitation, the two dared not neglect, and hurriedly followed the lieutenant along the traffic trench to the division headquarters of the 11th Guards Division. Sokov and Belkin walked up to the red-faced Chernyshov and raised their hands to salute him: "Comrade Commander, Istria Battalion Commander (Deputy Battalion Commander) Sokov (Belkin) greets you report!"

"Come here, comrades two battalion commanders." Chernyshov called the two battalion commanders to the wall, pointed to the map hanging on it and said: "Yesterday we launched an attack on Popkovo without success. ; Today we will continue, and your battalion will be the front force of the whole division, taking the lead in attacking villages and towns..."

"Comrade Commander," Sokov asked immediately after Chernyshov finished his task, "I wonder what kind of support our battalion will receive when we attack?" Before the attack, whether there is artillery support; during the attack, whether there are tanks to accompany the charge.

"Let me introduce to you," Chernyshov pointed to a colonel next to him, and introduced to Sokov and the others: "Colonel Vasuk, the commander of the 146th Tank Brigade, when your battalion launched an attack on the village and town At that time, the tanks of the tank brigade will accompany you to attack. And before the attack, two artillery regiments will conduct artillery preparations on the enemy's positions for half an hour."

Although there was a tank brigade to assist in the battle, Sokov didn't know what kind of tanks the opponent had, so he asked a little nervously: "Comrade Colonel, may I ask, how many tanks does your tank brigade have?"

Faced with Sokov's reckless question, Vasuk smiled and replied: "Don't worry, Comrade Major, our brigade has dozens of T-34 and KB tanks, which are fully capable of supporting you."

Hearing what Vashuk said about the KB tank, Sokov couldn't help but shine. Although this tank has poor maneuverability and a high failure rate, it has thick armor and is resistant to beating. Legend has it that at the beginning of the war, a KB tank of a certain tank division actually delayed a German armored division for two days. With the support of such thick-skinned tanks, taking Popkovo should not be a big problem.

Seeing Sokov giggling all the time, Vasuk couldn't help asking, "Comrade Major, what are you laughing at?"

Sokov was shocked, and then pretended to be nonchalant and said: "Comrade Colonel, I was thinking that our battalion followed your tanks, rushed into the village and town, and beat those Germans hard!"

"How to cooperate with infantry and tanks, you two will discuss it later." Chernyshov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said, "The shelling of the villages and towns will start in two minutes."

After there was no movement, the people in the headquarters heard the rumble of artillery from outside. This was the artillery of the group army firing on the German positions in the village and town. The unprepared German army was caught off guard by the artillery fire, but they quickly recovered and used artillery fire to suppress the Soviet artillery positions.

Seeing that the highlands in the distance were shrouded in gunpowder smoke, Sokov said to Vasuk: "Comrade Colonel, start your tanks, let our soldiers sit on the tanks and charge towards Popkovo. "

"But, Comrade Major." Vasuk pointed to the villages and towns in the distance that were not burning with flames and gunpowder smoke, and frowned and said to Sokov: "Didn't you see that our army's shelling has not stopped?"

"It's a little too late to attack after the shelling stops." Sukov was afraid that the fighter plane would be fleeting, so he hurriedly urged Vashuk: "I beg you, act quickly!"

Seeing Sokov's anxious expression, Vasuk felt that he was not joking. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded vigorously and said decisively: "I will give the tank crew an order to start the tank immediately. .”