Red Moscow

Sidolin knew the situation of the troops best. As soon as Sokov finished speaking, he offered to propose: "Comrade Commander, the only one with the easiest combat mission is Comrade Belkin's downsized regiment. Except for the third battalion in the urban area, the navy The Marine Battalion was fighting the enemy in Workers' New Village, and the remaining two battalions stayed in the tunnels. If you want to send troops to reinforce the friendly army, I think they are the most suitable."

"Chief of Staff, call Comrade Belkin and ask him to come to the headquarters immediately." Sokov felt that the drawdown group had been in the tunnel for such a long time, and they should be allowed to go out for activities. "We should also assign them some combat missions."

In less than five minutes, Belkin, who was notified, trotted all the way to the headquarters. Although he used to be a partner with Sokov, but now it is a superior-subordinate relationship, so he first raised his hand to salute Sokov, and then asked respectfully: "Mr. ,Please advise!"

"Come here on the map, Commander Belkin." Sokov called Belkin to the table and said to him: "Today the enemy dispatched a large number of bombers and carried out intensive attacks on our division's defense area and the friendly army's defense area. Bombing. According to my estimates, the casualties of the friendly forces may be very heavy, so the superior may transfer troops from our division to strengthen the defense of the friendly forces. After our research, we feel that the place where the superior is most likely to send us is the 308th Division Today's defensive zone..." As he spoke, he pointed out the location of the archives building and the stadium on the map with his hand.

When Sokov gave the order to Belkin, he never dreamed that the 308th Division that had been sticking to this area had already been transferred by Chuikov, and now Guriyev's 39th Guards Division took over the defense here.

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." After listening to Sokov's order, Belkin showed an excited expression on his face: "The soldiers of the new first battalion and the new second battalion have been in the tunnel for such a long time. I can't hold it anymore. Now I finally have a chance to attack the enemy, I believe they will not let you down."

Sokov is very familiar with the downsizing regiment belonging to his direct line, and believes that they are fully capable of smashing the enemy's attack in any location. But considering that this is the only mobile force, it is impossible to add more soldiers to them, so I can only apologize to Belkin and say: "Comrade commander, I am sorry, because our strength is tight, so you go to reinforce the friendly army." At that time, we will not be able to replenish your troops."

Unexpectedly, Belkin said reasonably: "Comrade commander, the two battalions plus the troops directly under the regiment have a total strength of more than 1,600 people. As long as we have sufficient ammunition, we can firmly hold the position."

"More than 1,600 people?" Ivanov on the side couldn't help being taken aback when he heard the number, and then asked, "Why do you have so many people?"

Hearing Ivanov's question, Belkin grinned, and replied: "Comrade deputy division commander, many wounded were directly added to the regiment after recovering from their injuries. In this way, there was a More than a thousand people?"

Knowing that it was a troop replenished by the wounded, everyone had no doubts about the combat effectiveness of the downsized regiment. Sokov also specifically added: "Some time ago, Captain Vasily took the new battalion to the workers' new village to help in the battle, and seized a large number of weapons. Ammunition. This batch of weapons will be handed over to your regiment for use.”

"This is really great." Seeing Sokov's generosity, he promised to hand over the captured weapons and ammunition to his regiment. Belgin was overjoyed. He felt that the only thing he needed was enough ammunition to last for a few days on the friendly positions. No problem at all. He couldn't wait to ask: "Mr. Comrade, when are we going to leave?"

"Don't worry." Sokov waved his hand at him and explained: "We are just guessing based on the situation in front of us that our superiors may transfer troops from our division to strengthen the defense of friendly forces. But whether to go or not, and where to go , we still have to wait for orders from our superiors."

Belkin and Sokov have been partners for almost a year. I know that he has always been predictive. Hearing him say this, not only did he not feel disappointed, but he took the initiative to say: "Mr. Comrade, if you allow me, I would like to Now go back to the army and let the soldiers get ready to go."

"Go, Commander Belgin." Sokov nodded at him and said, "Let the soldiers get ready."

After Belkin left, Sidolin took the initiative to ask: "Comrade commander, do you think it is necessary to call the commander and ask him what arrangements he has for us?"

"No, no, Comrade Chief of Staff, don't call the commander." As for Sidolin's proposal, Sokov immediately denied it. He knew very well that if he called Chuikov at this time, he might be right. To suit the opponent's wishes, as long as Cuikov gave an order, his troops would have to set off overnight. But if he didn't call, Cuikov would have other considerations when arranging his troops to perform tasks. He gestured to stop the other party: "If the commander really intends to draw troops from here, he will call us."

Seeing that Sokov was unwilling to take the initiative to contact Chuikov, Sidolin did not force it. He picked up the phone and connected to the underground arsenal, and said to the officer who answered the phone: "Comrade Captain, this is Sidolin. When Captain Jin took people to you to get the equipment, you handed over all the German-style equipment that you seized some time ago."

"Give it all to them?" The captain guarding the arsenal asked in surprise after hearing this: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't you want to leave some of the troops standing on Mamayev Post?"

"Don't keep any, and give all the German-style weapons and supporting ammunition to the commanders and fighters of the downsizing regiment." Sidolin said firmly: "Except for them, no other troops use German-style weapons. "

Sidolin put down the phone and was about to complain to Sokov that the officer in charge of the arsenal was a fool when the phone on the desk rang again. He thought it was the officer calling, picked up the phone and asked impatiently, "What else can I do?"

There was a moment of silence in the receiver, and then Chuikov's laughter came: "Lieutenant Colonel Sidolin, who made you so impatient, it couldn't be me?"

"How is this possible, Comrade Commander?" After hearing Chuikov's voice, Sidolin said with a smile, "I thought it was the call from the officer guarding the arsenal."

"Arsenal?!" Cuikov asked hesitantly, "Why do you think of contacting the officer in charge of the arsenal in the middle of the night?"

When Sidolin heard this question, he glanced at Sokov hesitantly. Seeing that the other party nodded slightly, signaling to tell the truth, he confidently said into the microphone: "Comrade Commander, after this big bombing during the day, we estimate that The several divisions standing in the factory area must have suffered a lot of casualties. Therefore, the division commander and I decided to make the reserve team of our division ready for battle and ready to rush to the friendly defense zone at any time."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Cuikov said unexpectedly, "I made this call just to ask you if you could deploy troops to support friendly troops. I didn't expect you to be ready. This really surprised me. I think May I ask how many troops you can mobilize?"

Sidolin gave Sokov a thumbs up, admiring his precautions. Sidolin asked into the microphone: "Comrade Commander, we are going to send Commander Belkin's downsized regiment to reinforce the friendly defense zone. Can you tell me which combat zone we are going to send them to?"

"General Guriyev's 39th Guards Division suffered more than half the casualties during the bombing in the afternoon." Chuikov said with a solemn expression, "Therefore, I plan to send your troops to his defense zone."

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin waited for Chuikov to finish, and asked quickly, "I wonder where the latest defensive zone of the 39th Guards Division is?" There will be situations where the position will be lost. In order to avoid letting the reinforcements plunge into the enemy's defense zone, it is necessary to ask clearly in advance.

"The defense area of ​​the 39th Guards Division is located to the north of the archives building and east of the stadium." Chuikov said, "Your task is to take over the defense of the archives building."

"North of the archives building and east of the stadium?" Sidolin stared at the map, repeated the name of the place mentioned by Chuikov, and said in surprise: "Isn't this the defense of the 308th Division?"

"The Germans occupied the silicate factory. In order to prevent them from rushing to the barricade factory, I have made corresponding adjustments." Chuikov explained: "The troops of the 308th Division withdrew to the south to continue to build a new line of defense, while the Guards The 39th Division took over the defenses to the north of the Archives Building and to the east of the stadium."

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Sidolin recorded the name of the place mentioned by Chuikov, and asked again: "When can our troops leave?"

Chuikov replied: "Everywhere is burning outside, and there is gunpowder smoke everywhere. If it is easy to get lost when marching at night, let them set off after dawn."

After finishing the call with Chuikov, Sidolin quickly reported to Sokov about the change of the defense lines of the 39th Guards Division and the 308th Guards Division. Sokov originally planned to let Belgin and the others set off after dawn, but he heard that the friendly forces had adjusted their deployment, and immediately realized that the situation in the north was worse than he had imagined, so he quickly ordered Sidolin: "Chief of Staff , told Belkin to take people to collect ammunition. Three hours later, I personally led the troops to set off."

"What, you want to go to the front again?" Sidolin learned that Sukov planned to go out in person again, and quickly persuaded him: "Comrade commander, to reinforce the friendly army, Captain Belgin will lead the team, you should stay here !"

"Yes, Comrade Division Commander, the Chief of Staff is right." Ivanov also chimed in and said, "You are the commander of a division, and you should stay in command of the division headquarters. For the reinforcement of friendly troops, Regimental Commander Belkin is enough." gone."

"You don't need to persuade them any more," Sokov waved his hand at the two, and said, "The situation in the area we are going to defend may be worse than expected. Captain Belgin used to be a political cadre, let him be in charge alone One direction, my heart is not at ease."