Red Moscow

Just after noon, Sidolin received a call from the observation post at the top of the slope, and learned that the engineers on both sides of the strait had started the work of building a bridge on the ice, so he smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade commander, I really didn't expect that, you Less than half a day after the proposal was put forward, the engineers and soldiers on both sides of the strait began to build bridges."

"In order to restore the transportation between the two sides of the strait as soon as possible, it is imperative to build a bridge." Sokov considered that if the weather turns better, the German army will definitely send out reconnaissance planes to reconnaissance the Volga River. In order to build a bridge, he ordered Sidolin: "Chief of Staff, order the troops to establish air defense positions on the reverse slopes of the north and south hills. Once the enemy's reconnaissance planes are found, they will be resolutely shot down."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Anyway, there are only a few days before the big counterattack, and Sidolin felt that there was no need to hide his strength, so he said straightforwardly: "I will order all the anti-aircraft machine guns in the warehouse to be removed later. Come out and stand on the reverse slope. If the enemy’s plane does not come, it’s fine, as long as it comes, discipline him to come and go.”

Sidolin picked up the phone and put it down again. Seeing Sokov looking at him with a surprised face, he quickly explained to him: "Comrade commander, I think we should call all the regimental leaders of the division together, and call them together." Tell them the good news that the big counterattack is about to start. Do you agree?"

Sokov thought that if it wasn't for the negligence of the headquarters, the commanders under him should all know the entire counterattack plan at this moment. Since Sidolin mentioned it, he nodded and said smoothly, "Except for Commander Belkin, you tell the other three commanders to come to the headquarters as soon as possible, and there is something important to report to them."

Less than five minutes after the call was made, Lieutenant Colonel Starcha, the head of the 124th Regiment, arrived first. After he entered the door, he saluted Sokov, Ivanov and Sidolin. Before he could speak, Sokov pointed to the bench by the table and said to him, "Sit down, Sidolin." Lieutenant Colonel Tarcia!"

After sitting down next to Ivanov, Starcha leaned over and asked in a low voice: "Comrade commander, what is the important thing about calling us here in such a hurry?"

Ivanov gave his old subordinate a meaningful look, and said with a flat expression: "Lieutenant Colonel Starcha, don't worry, when everyone arrives, you will naturally know what's going on."

Soon, Lieutenant Colonel Ershakov, the head of the 125th regiment, also rushed over. Like Starcha, he had just finished saluting, and before he had time to speak, Sokov arranged to sit down at the table. After sitting down, Ershakov looked at Starcha, who was sitting opposite him, and asked silently with his mouth: "Do you know what it is?"

Although Starcha said he came one step earlier, he didn't know the purpose of Sokov calling them here. He could only shake his head, shrugged his shoulders, and spread his hands, indicating that he didn't know anything either.

"Don't worry." Seeing the small movements between the two regiment leaders, Sokov turned his head and said to them, "When Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko arrives, I will announce the reason for calling you here."

Papchenko's troops were stationed in the workers' new village of the Red October Factory. After receiving the notice from Sidolin, he immediately handed over the command to the chief of staff of the regiment, and hurried to Mamaye with two guards. Fu Gang. Hurry up, and when he arrived at the command post, almost an hour had passed.

Seeing Papchenko who came late, Sokov said indifferently: "Everyone is here, let's have a meeting now."

"Comrade Commander," upon hearing Sokov say that everyone has arrived, Starcha thought he had forgotten Belkin, and quickly reminded him: "The commander of the downsizing regiment, Belkin, hasn't arrived yet. Are we here?" Wait for them again?"

"No need, Commander Belgin has known about the news to be announced at today's meeting." Sokov said to the three regiment leaders expressionlessly: "Comrades, Comrades, I called you here today. , I want to tell you that the Supreme Command intends to launch a full-scale counter-offensive against the enemy attacking Stalingrad..."

Having said that, Sokov paused for a moment to observe the reactions of the three regiment leaders. Perhaps it was because of too many failed counterattacks. When the three of them heard the news, there was no expression of joy on their faces, and they were all pessimistic about this counterattack in their hearts. Sokov coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and continued, "There will be more than one million troops participating in this counterattack..."

"What? More than a million people?" Even if a shell landed on the table and exploded at this moment, it would not be as shocking to the three regimental leaders as Sokov's words. Papchenko asked in a suspicious tone: "Comrade commander, are you wrong? Not a million people, but a hundred thousand people?"

"That's right." Sokov looked at Papchenko and said, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the troops participating in the counteroffensive this time are not only our Stalingrad Front Army, but also General Vatutin's Southwest Front Army, Rocco General Sovsky's Don Front Army, the total strength of the three front armies combined far exceeds one million troops."

The three regiment leaders, who were a little absent-minded at first, looked at Sokov with bright eyes at this moment, eagerly waiting for him to continue talking. Sokov didn't make a fool of himself, and continued: "We have more than 15,000 artillery and mortars, and another 1,500 tanks..."

Although Sidolin and Ivanov knew the content of the meeting long ago, they still felt excited when they heard the military strength and technical equipment mentioned by Sokov.

After introducing the superior's counterattack plan, Sokov finally said: "In order to ensure the success of the major counteroffensive, because the superior will not replenish troops and technical equipment for the troops of the 62nd Army before the counteroffensive begins, Commander Chuikov ordered all Divisions, brigades, and regiments continue to stick to their existing positions and contain the enemy so that when the enemy in the Don River region is attacked, they cannot draw troops from the city to support them."

"What about our division?" Starcha waited for Sukov to finish speaking, and immediately asked impatiently: "Our division still has enough troops and some rare technical equipment. ?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Starcha, don't worry, the superior must have arranged a separate combat mission for our division." Sokov said here, leaned over, picked up the red and blue pencils, and drew a picture on the Mamayev post. Circled, said: "Our task is to attack the Romanian army on the front of the high ground and recover as many lost positions as possible."

The three regiment leaders have all fought against the Romanian army, and they all know the strength of the opponent. The Romanian 13th Division, which attacked Mamayev Hill, performed quite well except for the initial bayonet fight with the Marine Battalion who held on to the North Hill. But ever since he was beaten into a panic by the commanders and fighters of the Guards Division, he became timid and less daring than before. If the superiors really let their troops target the Romanian army, then the results they can achieve will definitely be very brilliant.

Thinking of this, the three regiment leaders stood up one after another to express their opinions to Sokov, hoping to hand over the task of the main attack to their regiments. For whose regiment was the first to attack the Romanian army, the three fought red-faced.

Regarding the dispute between the three regiment leaders, Sokov did not immediately express his position, but stood quietly aside. After the quarrel between the three came to an end, Sokov said unhurriedly: "I'm sorry, comrades of the three regiments, I have arranged the three regiments of you in the second echelon, and I plan to hand over the main attack task to Bel Commander Jin's downsizing regiment."

Hearing that Sokov said that the main attack task was handed over to the downsizing regiment, the three regiment leaders obediently shut their mouths. They knew very well in their hearts that the downsizing group was Sokov's direct descendant, and the head of the group, Belgin, was Sokov's political commissar before. With such a relationship, how could they win?

Just as Sokov was introducing the mission of the second echelon to the three regimental leaders, the phone on the table rang. Sidolin quickly grabbed the phone and said into the microphone, "I'm Sidolin!"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I'm Christopher, the reconnaissance company commander." Lieutenant Christopher's voice came from the phone: "I just received special information from the scouts, and I need to report to you immediately."

"Tell me, Comrade Lieutenant." Sidolin asked, "Have you found the weak point of the Romanian army's defense?"

"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." Christophe replied: "According to reports from scouts, the Romanian troops on Mamayev Hill and the front of the New Workers' Village are retreating on a large scale."

"What, the Romanian army is retreating?" Sidolin asked in surprise when he heard the news: "Comrade Lieutenant, did your scouts make a mistake? How could the enemy retreat at this time?"

"It's true, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing that Sidolin didn't believe his words, Christophe couldn't help feeling a little anxious: "As soon as the Romanian army withdrew from their position, German soldiers marched into their abandoned position to replace them." defense. It looks like the enemy is switching defenses."

"Comrade commander, some unexpected things have happened." Sidolin didn't even have time to cover the microphone, so he said anxiously to Sokov: "The enemy in front of Mamayev Hill and the New Workers' Village is changing defenses. The original Romanian army were transferred, and the Germans took over their defense."

"The enemy has switched defenses." Hearing this unexpected news, Sokov's face turned livid. He pointed to Sidolin and told him, "Tell Lieutenant Christopher immediately and let them figure out the defense as soon as possible." The number of the German army, so that we can reformulate the combat plan."

"Comrade lieutenant, the commander ordered you to find out the enemy's number immediately." Sidolin waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and immediately said into the microphone: "Be sure to complete this task before dark."