Red Moscow

"Comrade Commander, where is Klimov?" Sidolin suddenly realized that he had not seen his adjutant Klimov since Chuikov entered the room. You must know that the other party, as Cuikov's adjutant, has always been inseparable, but now that he has not seen it, there is only one worst possibility, which is to sacrifice, so he asked cautiously: "Did you sacrifice?"

"No, he's still alive." Chuikov stared at Yelena who was sending the report, and said casually: "Many of my subordinates who were traveling with me were injured. Kerimov took them and Vasily to the health team to bandage them. gone."

After Chuikov answered this question, he suddenly realized that Sidolin would not ask this question for no reason, and asking himself about Klimov’s whereabouts was nothing more than a pretext. Said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sidolin, your son Xiao Sidolin followed political commissar Gurov to break through by water, and should be fine. Don't worry."

Sidolin handed Chuikov a cigarette, lit it for him, and asked, "Comrade Commander, I would also like to ask, how many detachments did the headquarters break out by land?"

"This matter was arranged by Chief of Staff Krylov. I don't know exactly how many teams there are." After taking a puff of cigarette, Chuikov replied, "But I think there are at least seven or eight teams."

"Can they all break through smoothly?" Sidolin continued to ask.

"Casualties are inevitable." Cuikov frowned when he thought of what his squad had encountered with the Germans when they broke through the encirclement, "Oh, I don't know how many of these squads can reach the New command."

"Comrade Commander," while the two old comrades were chatting, Yelena, who had just received the telegram, turned to greet Chuikov: "The Front Command has called back."

Chuikov quickly put out the cigarette butt in his hand, walked quickly behind Yelena, took the telegram in her hand, quickly browsed through the content, and said to the female operator: "To the Front Army Command Send a report, we need two to three divisions to enrich the defenses in Stalingrad."

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin asked curiously after hearing the contents of the telegram dictated by Chuikov, "May I ask, what telegram did the Front Army Command send you?"

Probably out of his trust in his old subordinates, Chuikov passed the telegram to Sidolin without hesitation, and said with a bit of laughter: "The Front Army Command informed us that General Rokossovsky's Stalingrad Front Army, An attack will be launched from the north of the city in two days, and we are ordered to cooperate actively."

"Cooperate, how to cooperate?" Sidolin asked back with a look of astonishment: "Comrade Commander, even if our current strength is not enough to defend the city, how can we deploy strength to cooperate with the attack of friendly troops?"

"That's right," Cuikov said helplessly, "I don't even have a complete regiment in my hand at the moment, so how could I launch a counterattack against the enemy. Therefore, I had to make a request to the Front Army Command to ask them to send another Several divisions have come to the city to assist in our defence."

When Chuikov and Sidolin were communicating, Sokov sat aside and stared at the map in front of him, thinking about how to deal with the next German attack. At this moment, a voice calling for a report came from the door, and he quickly raised his head and said to the door: "Whoever is outside, come in."

As soon as Sokov finished speaking, the Second Artillery Lieutenant in charge of guiding the artillery on the east bank strode in. After raising his hand to salute Sokov, he reported in a loud voice: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, all the statistics have been calculated."

"What data?" Before Sokov could speak, Chuikov interrupted and asked, "Comrade Second Lieutenant, what data did you count?"

"Comrade Commander," the Artillery Second Lieutenant knew that the speaker was Chuikov, and immediately replied respectfully, "I am counting the data on the German artillery bombardment of Mamayev Kurgan."

Chuikov was eager to know how many heavy artillery shells the Germans had used to bombard Mamayev Gang, so he directly ordered the second lieutenant of the artillery: "Tell me about your statistics."

The Second Lieutenant of Artillery nodded and said clearly: "According to our statistics, during the daytime battle, there were 3 craters for 305mm heavy artillery and 25 craters for 203mm heavy artillery..."

"Wait a minute, Comrade Second Lieutenant." Hearing this, Chuikov interrupted the second lieutenant of artillery. He turned to look at Sokov and asked in puzzlement, "Why, the enemy's 305mm heavy artillery is only aimed at Mamayev. Gang fired three shots?"

Sokov could not answer Chuikov's question, so he gestured to the artillery lieutenant to explain to Chuikov. The second lieutenant of the artillery saw that Chuikov's eyes turned to him again, and continued: "Yes, comrade commander, after our repeated checks, the German 305mm heavy artillery only fired three shells, while the 203mm heavy artillery fired 25 rounds. Since the enemy first bombarded Mamayev Gang with 305mm heavy artillery and at the same time equipped with other caliber artillery, we mistakenly believed that the enemy had been using 305mm heavy artillery to destroy our army's fortifications and caused damage to our army. There were quite a few casualties."

"If the Germans only use 203mm heavy guns," Chuikov and the second lieutenant of artillery said thoughtfully, "That is to say, when they shelled the city or Mamayev Hill, we were on the east bank. Artillery can completely suppress them?"

"Exactly, Comrade Commander," replied the Lieutenant of Artillery, "the smaller the caliber of the enemy's artillery, that is to say, the closer their artillery positions are to us, so that the artillery fire on the east bank has a chance to destroy the enemy's artillery positions. "

"Comrade Second Lieutenant," Chuikov asked, "do you think the tunnel fortifications on Mamayev Gang can withstand the bombardment of the German 203mm heavy artillery?"

"It should be able to handle it, Comrade Commander." The second lieutenant of the artillery said, "The 203mm heavy artillery can only blow down the fortifications with a soil layer below five meters, and the tunnel fortifications on Mamayev Post are more than ten meters thick. It is impossible to destroy the tunnel fortifications if the enemy's shells are not concentrated in one place."

The words of the second lieutenant of artillery gave everyone a reassurance. Even if the German heavy artillery blew up the exit of the tunnel countless times, as long as the tunnel fortifications did not collapse, it would be nothing at all. Sidolin picked up the phone and dialed the second battalion, and said into the microphone: "Captain Vasily, I am Chief of Staff Sidolin. Those exits on the front slope may still be destroyed by the enemy in tomorrow's battle." The heavy artillery has collapsed, and I now order you to open new exits on the north and south sides of the hill."

During the daytime battles, the commander of the second battalion, Vasily, organized the commanders and fighters to carry out several civil engineering operations, just to dig through the tunnel exits that were blown down by the enemy. It took so long to get through the exit that the German army rushed to the top of the hill several times. If the first battalion deployed on the reverse slope hadn't counterattacked in time, it is estimated that the surface position of Nangang would still be occupied by the German army.

Vasily is having a meeting with several company commanders to discuss how to dig out the collapsed position in the shortest time after the German bombardment is over in tomorrow's battle, so that the soldiers can enter the surface position. Grisa, the commander of the fourth company, asked Vasily: "Comrade Battalion Commander, can we open new holes on the north and south sides of the hill, so that the enemy's artillery can't reach that position. In this way, our commanders and fighters will be able to attack the enemy during the shelling?" When it's over, move quickly into the defensive position."

After hearing Grisa's proposal, Vasily said hesitantly: "The amount of work to dig new exits on the north and south sides is not small. Although there are hundreds of people in our battalion, even if we dig overnight, it may not be able to Dig through."

Just when everyone was in a dilemma, he received a call from Sidolin, asking him to dig tunnel exits on the north and south sides of the hill. After waiting for Sidolin to finish speaking, he said embarrassingly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I was convening a meeting with the company commanders, and someone proposed to dig the exits of the tunnels on the north and south sides. However, the amount of work involved is too large. Even if our entire battalion is mobilized, we won’t be able to dig through it in a few days.”

Vasily thought that when he said this, Sidolin would criticize him for disregarding the overall situation, but just after he finished speaking, Sidolin said with confidence: "Captain Vasily, you don't have to worry about this. O Major Zor left us the design drawing of the tunnel fortification. From the drawing, the soil layer in several places on the north and south sides is only three or four meters thick. It will not take one night to dig through it. Drawing , I’ll send someone to take it to you later.”

"Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing that Sidolin had already said this, Vasily knew that he would have no objection any more, so he bit the bullet and said: "I will immediately organize the manpower and start construction as soon as the drawings arrive. .”

When Sidolin put down the phone, he heard Chuikov asking Sokov: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the Front Army Command is going to give us an infantry brigade and a tank brigade, where do you think we should deploy them? "

"Comrade Commander," Sokov didn't answer Chuikov's question immediately, but asked instead: "May I ask, what kind of troops are here?"

"The superiors sent us the 92nd Infantry Brigade and the 137th Tank Brigade." Cuikov said with some pride: "The infantry brigade is fully equipped, and the members of the brigade are all sailors from the Baltic Fleet and the North Sea Fleet. soldiers."

After figuring out that there was an infantry brigade composed entirely of sailors in the troops sent by the superior, Sukov suddenly realized that the combat effectiveness of the sailors was much stronger than that of the army, so he pointed to the map and said: "I suggest The newly arrived troops are all deployed in the direction of the city, let them cover the left flank of Mamayev Kurgan."

"Deployed on the left wing of Mamayev Gang?" After staring at the map for a while, Chuikov asked, "Why did you deploy on the left wing instead of the right wing? You know, fierce battles are also going on in the factory area now, and we are in the The region is also woefully understrength."

"Comrade Commander, the reason why I suggest deploying reinforcements in the direction of the city is because our defense line in this area has been smashed to pieces by the enemy. However, the commanders and fighters who stick to this area are still fighting with the enemy. Fight tenaciously." Sokov said emphatically, "If we deploy an organized force here, we will be able to regroup the scattered forces and restore the line of defense that was torn apart by the Germans."

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, what you said is very reasonable." Chuikov nodded and said: "Actually, we are on the urban defense line. In the past, only the 13th Guards Division existed as an organized unit. Now its 39th Guards The regiment was deployed on your right flank, while the two regiments deployed in the urban area were beaten and lost their organizational structure under the onslaught of the German army. If we deploy the newly sent reinforcements in the direction of the urban area, we can gather the beaten Disbanded troops, restore the original line of defense."

"Do you need me to send someone to lead them the way?"

"It stands to reason that leading troops into the defense zone is originally a matter for the group army headquarters." Cuikov tried hard to squeeze a smile on his face, and said: "But the current group army headquarters is unable to protect itself, and it can't send suitable candidates at all. Go to the ferry to pick up the newly arrived troops. Therefore, I entrust this task to you." Chuikov slapped his hand on the map, "Bring them to the station and let the sailors take the station away from the enemy's Take it back."

"When will they start crossing the river?" Sokov asked next.

"It stands to reason that in order to ensure safety, the troops should use the night to cross the river." Cuikov said with a wry smile: "However, these two troops are still marching, and it will be almost noon when they arrive at the ferry on the east bank. By then they will Brave the enemy's bombardment and shelling to cross the Volga River."

Chuikov's words reminded Sokov of the scene when the 13th Guards Division crossed the river a few days ago. Many soldiers died in the bombing of enemy planes before seeing what the Germans looked like, and the ships carrying them sank. into the cold bottom of the Volga. Sokov sighed, and said, "Oh, crossing the river during the day, and I don't know how many soldiers will die in the bombing of enemy planes."

"I have asked the operator to send a report to the headquarters of the front army, requesting them to dispatch fighter planes to provide them with air support when the reinforcements cross the river." Chuikov said: "I hope this will reduce the casualties of the reinforcements crossing the river."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov turned to Sidolin, "who do you think should go to the ferry to pick up the reinforcements?"

"Vassily Zaitsev." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Sidolin replied without hesitation: "He is familiar with the station area, why not let him go to the ferry to pick up the reinforcements and take them to the ferry?" to the combat area." He was afraid that Sokov would oppose his proposal, and before Sokov could speak, he added, "Since the city has been shelled and bombed, there are ruins everywhere, and the streets have become illegible. Except For a sniper like Vasily lurking everywhere, I think other people will definitely get lost when they enter the city."

Chuikov agreed with Sidolin's statement: "That's right, if we hadn't met Comrade Vasily today, we would probably still be wandering around in the maze-like ruins at this moment. I agree to send Vasily to pick him up. Bring in reinforcements and bring them to their designated locations."