Red Moscow

Briski was very efficient. In less than an hour, he came back and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, I have figured it out. This enemy is from the 295th Infantry Division. The division commander is Kofes. Major General, their division headquarters is about 150 kilometers away from us."

"Even if they are a fast column, it is impossible for them to reach us without any supplies." Sokov waited for Briski to finish, and then asked: "Did the prisoners confess, and where did they get supplies?"

Briski nodded and continued: "The captives confessed that they obtained supplies in the Mali Rossoshka area, and then rushed over from the gap in our army's defense line at Gumrak Station..."

"A gap in the defense line?!" Hearing this, Sidolin hurriedly asked nervously, "Comrade Captain, do you know how wide the gap in the defense line is?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Briski replied, glancing at Sidolin, "not less than five kilometers."

"Comrade Brigadier," Sidolin asked Sokov nervously after hearing what Briski said, "Do you think we need to report this to the Army Group Command? After all, it is a gap of five kilometers wide. I worry that there will be a steady stream of enemies pouring in from here in the future."

"No need to report," Sokov shook his head after listening to Sidolin's reminder, and said: "At present, the troops of the group army are all on the front line to stop the enemy, and there is no reserve team to use. Even if we report this to the commander However, he couldn’t find suitable troops to fill the gap. If troops are deployed from other areas for defense, it will disrupt the overall defense deployment.”

The reason why Sokov said this was not because he was unwilling to help, but because he knew very well in his heart that even if he reported the matter to Lopatin, the other party might not believe his words. Let it go, anyway, even if the German army breaks in through the gap in the defense line, as long as their own troops are still holding on to Mamayev Post, the enemy will never even try to reach the Volga River.

After knowing where the enemy's supply point is, Sokov next began to arrange the commander of the squad. As the commander of the infantry brigade, Sokov would certainly not participate in such a dangerous operation; and Briski was the commander of the fourth battalion, and he could not leave his post. Therefore, other people can only be arranged to command this force. Considering that there are more than 60 people in the squad, the captain should be at least a company-level cadre.

After some weighing, Sokov said to everyone: "I suggest that the reconnaissance company commander, Lieutenant Christopher, command this force. Do you have any objections?"

The usual task of the reconnaissance company is to go deep into the enemy's rear to conduct reconnaissance. It is perfectly appropriate for the reconnaissance company commander Christopher to command this army disguised as a German army to go deep into the enemy's rear. So after hearing Sokov's question, everyone shook their heads and replied in unison: "No!"

Since no one objected to Christopher being in command of this unit, Sokov called him over and said to him: "Comrade Lieutenant, I plan to send a unit disguised as German troops to go deep into the enemy's rear." , ransacked the warehouses of the German army, and moved all their supplies to Mamayev Gang. After discussion among all of us, I think it is most suitable for this army to be under your command. How about it, can you complete the task?"

"Comrade Brigadier," Christopher did not immediately answer Sokov's question, but asked instead: "May I ask, how many troops are there under my command, and where are the enemy's military warehouses?"

"Come here to the map, Comrade Lieutenant." When Christopher came to the table, Sokov pointed to the map and said to him: "According to the confession of the captives, they have a supply point in the area of ​​​​Male Rossoshka. It should be the location of the German warehouse.

And the troops you want to command, including you, have a total of 68 people, including radio operators and health workers. You will all disguise yourself as the German army, pass through the gaps in our defense line, enter the enemy's rear, and wait for the opportunity to seize the enemy's warehouse. "

Christoph gesticulated on the map with his fingers, and then said: "Comrade Brigadier, the distance from Mamayev Hill to Mamayev Hill is about 80 kilometers, even if the enemy's warehouse is occupied, It is not an easy task to move so many materials back."

"Move as much as you can." Sukov felt that this operation deep into the enemy's rear was a bit bloody, so he told the other party: "If you really can't move things, just burn them all. It must not be left to the Germans."

"Comrade Brigadier," Christopher continued, "when should we set off?"

"Depart at two o'clock in the morning tomorrow." Seeing that Christopher seemed to have something to say, Sokov added: "Don't worry, you won't be allowed to walk. We seized five German armored personnel carriers , the squad took these vehicles and went deep into the enemy's rear."

Christopher was originally worried that Sokov would order them to march 80 kilometers on foot to the Mali Rossoshka area. Now that he heard that there was actually an armored personnel carrier that he could ride in, the boulder hanging in his heart fell to the ground. Unexpectedly, not long after he was happy, Sukov's next words made their hearts cold.

"Lieutenant Christopher, in order to ensure that your actions will not be detected by the German army, we will not report to our friendly forces." Sokov said with a serious expression: "Therefore, from the moment of departure from Mamayev Post, You're going to think of yourselves as Germans. Understand?"

Christopher asked with a bitter face: "Comrade Brigadier, what should we do if there is a misunderstanding between the two sides?"

"One word: 'Run'." Sokov said to Christopher: "If there is a misunderstanding between the two parties, you take the initiative to contact each other. Once the enemy finds out, your identities will be suspected. Action is very disadvantageous. So when you are attacked by our army, the best option is to run away, anyway, you are in an armored personnel carrier, and they can't catch up with you."

"Comrade Brigadier, allow me to leave?" Christopher asked blankly, "I want to get acquainted with the soldiers first, so that I can effectively exercise command in the next operation."

"Allow!" Before Christopher left, Sokov held out his hand to him: "Good luck!"

When Sokov assigned the task to Christopher, Belkin couldn't help but smile bitterly. He thought to himself: The brigade commander is really crazy. He found a huge gap in our army's defense line. He did not report to Army Group Headquarters; now a detachment was dispatched to act under the guise of the Germans and did not report to friendly forces. If the superior blames him in the future, what kind of punishment will he receive?