Red Moscow

Within five minutes, Griza's call back arrived.

After reading the contents of the telegram, Sidolin frowned and reported to Sokov: "Lieutenant Grisa reported that they now have two radio stations, 21 fighters, and no wounded. Their location is the same as Mama's." Between Yevgang, there is about one German division's strength, and if they return by force, casualties may be unavoidable."

"No wounded?" After listening to Sidolin's report, Sokov asked a little puzzled: "Griza's troops are so downsizing, how could there be no wounded?"

"I think there are two possibilities." Xidolin explained: "One is that they resettled the wounded in the local village, so that after the wounded recovered from their injuries, they would have the opportunity to return to the army..." Speaking of which, Xidolin Dorin suddenly stopped without warning, he didn't continue to speak, but just sighed softly.

Seeing that Sidolin stopped inexplicably in the middle of what he was saying, and continued to sigh, Sokov asked inexplicably, "Chief of Staff, why don't you continue talking?"

"There is another possibility." Sidolin said with a painful expression: "In order to cover the retreat of the troops, the wounded comrades stayed behind to take up the post-break mission, and they all died heroically in the end."

Regarding the two possibilities mentioned by Sidolin, Sokov is more inclined to the second. After all, the land between the Don and the Volga is now under the control of the Germans. The connection between the local residents and the guerrillas often haunts villages and small towns everywhere. Once it is found that there are wounded Red Army soldiers hiding there, it is possible to kill all the people there. Under such circumstances, how can anyone dare to take in our wounded soldiers.

Sidolin and Belkin knew what Sokov knew. Belkin saw that after Sidolin finished analyzing the situation, Sokov remained silent. Guessing that he must be in a dilemma, he tentatively said: "Comrade Brigadier, you must know that the villages and towns near Karachi are German People, it’s not safe for Griza and the others to stay there. Otherwise, let them find a way to return to Mamayev Post, even if there are sacrifices along the way, it’s better than staying there and destroying the entire army.”

Sokov knew very well why Belkin said that. Griza and the others were in the middle of the enemy, and if they were not careful, the entire army would be wiped out. As for returning to Mamayev Post, although there will be certain dangers along the way, it will not be impossible for everyone to return, right?

"The political commissar is right," Sidolin echoed, "Let Griza and the others withdraw, although there will be some casualties, but it is better than letting them stay in Karachi and wipe out the entire army."

The reason why Sokov can remember Karachi is because this place became the escape route of the German army two months later. As the Soviet army occupied Karachi, more than 300,000 German troops were surrounded in the Stalingrad area. He thought to himself: "Since Grisa and the others will be in danger if they return, let them stay in Karachi if they don't let them. When the big counterattack starts, they can also help the friendly forces cut off the enemy's retreat."

After making up his mind, Sokov said to Sidolin: "Chief of Staff, call Grisa back so that they don't have to return to Mamayev Post, and find a way to hide in Karachi."

"What, let them stay in Karachi?" Hearing Sokov's order, Sidolin couldn't help being stunned: "Comrade Brigadier, if Griza and the others stay in Karachi, the entire army will be in danger of being wiped out." .”

"Is it possible that if they return to Mamayev Post at this time, there is no danger of the entire army being wiped out?" After Sukov finished these two sentences, he realized that he was acting too harshly, and worried that Sidolin would be punished. No, he quickly coughed softly, and tried his best to explain to the other party in a calm tone: "Karachi is an important transportation hub, and the Germans have a heavy defense there. For Griesa and the others, it is indeed a very dangerous thing." Things. But as long as Grisa and the others don’t make any big moves to stimulate the enemy, it will not be so easy for the enemy to find the twenty or so people lurking in their defense zone.”

Having said that, Sokov held the teacup on the table, took a sip of water, and continued: "Also, I asked Griza and the others to lurk in Karachi, considering that after our army's major counter-offensive begins, maybe there It will become the only retreat for the German army, and then Grisa can assist the friendly forces to occupy it and cut off the enemy's escape route."

"Comrade Brigadier, please forgive me." As soon as Sukov finished speaking, Sidolin continued: "I know that in a few days, our army will attack from Mamayev and the Red October factory at the same time. The enemy launched a counterattack, but I think our army can push the enemy back ten or twenty kilometers at best, and it is almost impossible to reach Karachi on the Don River.”

Hearing what Sidolin said, Sokov immediately realized that the other party had misunderstood what he meant, and quickly waved his hands and said: "Chief of Staff, you are mistaken. The big counterattack I am talking about does not mean launching after a day or two." It was not a counter-offensive, but a major counter-offensive jointly operated by the Don Front and the Stalingrad Front.”

But Sidolin, who had seen too many failed counterattacks, was obviously not as optimistic as Sokov. He looked at Sokov and said with a serious expression: "Comrade Brigadier, there are no outsiders here, I want to tell you something from my heart. Judging from the current situation, I have no hope that our army can hold Stalingrad..."

"Lieutenant Colonel Sidolin!" Belkin, who has always been used to being a bystander, immediately exploded when he heard Sidolin say this: "You are talking about defeatism..."

Sokov didn't want his two deputies to argue about this kind of thing, so he raised his hand and interrupted them, saying, "Political commissar, chief of staff, don't talk, listen to me."

Seeing that both of them were quiet, he went on to say: "Yes, since the enemy came to the city, our army has launched many counterattacks, but all ended in failure without exception. There are many reasons for the failure. I am here I won’t analyze them one by one with you. But I want to tell you that at this time last year, the situation in Moscow was equally critical, so that the headquarters had to transfer General Zhukov from Leningrad back to command the Western Front. After going through After countless failed counterattacks, didn’t our army’s big counterattack on December 6th drive the enemy away from Moscow? Since we were able to defeat the armed forces last year with insufficient preparation and backward equipment To the teeth of the enemy, why won't the same history repeat itself in Stalingrad?"

After Sokov finished his impassioned words, applause suddenly came from the door: "Well said, really well said!"

Everyone's attention was immediately attracted by the person speaking at the door. When Sokov saw the person clearly, he broke out in a cold sweat. He hurried forward and asked respectfully: "Comrade Military Commissioner, Why are you here!"

The person standing at the door talking was Khrushchev, the military commissar of the Front Army. While shaking hands with Sokov, he smiled and said, "Isn't there going to be a counterattack against the enemy in two days? I came here specially to see if there is any There's nothing we can do to help."

Sokov never dreamed that Khrushchev would come to his headquarters at such a time, and it was still daytime, risking enemy plane bombing and long-range artillery bombardment to cross the river. He couldn't help but nervously said: "Military Commissar Comrade, the enemy has tightly blocked the Volga River. If you have any instructions, just make a phone call or send a telegram, and you don’t need to take the risk of going there yourself.”

"If I hadn't come here in person, how could I have heard the true thoughts of the commanders and fighters!" Khrushchev raised his right hand and patted Sokov on the shoulder twice, and said in an approving tone : "Seeing that you are so confident in defending the city, I am relieved."

Since it was Khrushchev who came to inspect in person, Sokov naturally couldn't let him stand at the door all the time, so he quickly let him into the room, then poured him a cup of hot tea himself, and put it in front of him.

But Sidolin, who was standing aside, was already frightened into a fool. Originally, he was only complaining in front of Sokov and Belkin, but unexpectedly, the Military Committee of the Front Army would suddenly appear. He thought pessimistically, maybe next, the accompanying guards would rush in, take him away from the headquarters, and send him to a military court.

After taking a sip of hot tea from his teacup, Khrushchev looked at Sidolin and asked, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what position do you hold in the infantry brigade?"

"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov thought that Khrushchev wanted to hold Sidolin accountable, and hurriedly said: "He is my chief of staff. What he just said may be a bit inappropriate. But you also know that in the defense During the battle of Stalingrad, our forward commanders were nervous after all, and sometimes complained a little to relieve the pressure..."

But what happened next was obviously not as pessimistic as Sokov imagined. Khrushchev waved his hand at him and said, "Okay, Colonel Sokov, you don't need to say anything. I heard everything the lieutenant colonel said, but I didn't mean to blame him. Like you just said, people sometimes whine to relieve stress."

Khrushchev's words made Sokov feel more relaxed. As long as he doesn't hold Sidolin accountable, he will be thankful. If he really takes Sidolin away, he still can't find a suitable candidate. To take over the duties of Sidolin.

Although Khrushchev said that he just came here to take a look, Sokov knew very well that in the upcoming counterattack, he would supervise the battle here as a leader and deal with some emergencies in a timely manner. However, as a participant, Sokov so far does not know when the counterattack will start and which troops will participate, so he asked cautiously: "Comrade military commissar, can I ask, on what day will our counterattack against the enemy begin?" start?"

"According to Commander Yeremenko's idea, we should launch a counterattack against the enemy tomorrow." Khrushchev replied: "But because the troops on the east bank have not yet assembled, our counterattack time has to be postponed. Today After dark, the 308th Infantry Division of Colonel Gurdiyev can start crossing the river and then assemble at the Red October Factory. Another infantry that participated in the battle will also cross the river tomorrow night."

As soon as he heard the designation of the 308th Division, Sokov remembered that after successfully breaking out from the unnamed highland in the north of Orlovka last time, there were only a thousand people left in the division. It would not be enough to use these troops to attack , could not help but worry and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, Colonel Gurdiyev's troops have been severely reduced in the early battles, and the remaining total strength is less than one regiment. Even if they participate in the counterattack, they are not enough to pose a threat to the enemy." What a threat."

"You mentioned the 308th Division a few days ago." Khrushchev said with a smile: "After a few days of replenishment, the total strength of the division has reached 9,000. In this counterattack, it will be the 308th Division." A force to be reckoned with."

In a few days, nearly 8,000 people were added. It seemed that the strength of the army was stronger, but Sukov knew very well that the commanders and soldiers in the army rushed into battle before they had time to get acquainted with each other. The strength displayed on the battlefield will inevitably be greatly reduced. But seeing that Khrushchev was so optimistic about this army, he couldn't say anything more, so he could only shut his mouth wisely and remain silent.

After Khrushchev finished talking about the 308th Division, he looked at Sokov and asked, "Colonel Sokov, how much troops can your brigade invest in this counterattack?"

Sokov was silent for a moment, and replied with some embarrassment: "I'm sorry, Comrade Military Commissioner, I'm worried that our brigade may not be able to participate in the battle in the next counterattack."

"Why!" The smile on Khrushchev's face gradually disappeared.

"Today the Romanian army launched a large-scale attack on Beigang. Due to the lack of ammunition for the defenders, they had to fight hand-to-hand with the enemy after running out of ammunition..." Sokov described the battle that took place in Beigang today, After a detailed report to Khrushchev, he finally said: "At present, there are only a thousand troops that can defend Mamayev Gang. If we deploy more troops to participate in the counterattack, then this place will become empty. Once we The counterattack failed to achieve the desired effect, and the enemy launched a counterattack in the area we attacked, so Mamayev Post was in danger of falling."

As a military commissar of the Front Army, Khrushchev naturally knew the importance of Mamayev Post to defending the city. After thinking for a long time, he asked, "Colonel Sokov, tell me honestly, if you want your troops to participate in the counterattack, how many troops do you want your superiors to give you?"

In Sokov's heart, he wished that his superiors would add one hundred and eighty thousand soldiers to him, but this was obviously unrealistic. If he said so, maybe Khrushchev would directly take the tea on the table and pour it on him. Sokov quickly glanced at the teacup in front of Khrushchev, he could vaguely see the faint white smoke coming out, and he said cautiously: "Five hundred is not too little, and ten thousand is not too much. It still depends on how many troops the front army command can provide us."

After listening to what Sokov said, Khrushchev was silent again for a long time. When he spoke again, he seemed a little hesitant: "The superior has sent us another reserve team, but it won't arrive until the night after tomorrow at the earliest. If we replenish this force to you, it means our attack. It will be postponed until the day after tomorrow.”

"Comrade Military Commissioner, I can boldly ask." Sidolin finally mustered up the courage to ask at this moment: "How many troops does this reserve team have?"