Red Moscow

After Belgin received Sokov's counterattack order, he picked up the phone and wanted to call Lyudnikov to tell him about the counterattack. After all, the defenses of the two troops overlapped. It's not good to have a misunderstanding.

But when he picked up the phone and heard the voice of the communicator coming from the receiver, he changed his mind again, thinking that it would be more appropriate to go there in person if he couldn't explain clearly on the phone.

When he came to the headquarters of the 138th Division, Belkin found that besides Lyudnikov, Titov, the political commissar of the division, was also sitting at the table, staring intently at the map on the table, discussing something in a low voice .

Belkin stopped in his tracks, raised his hands to his ears, and said politely: "Hello, comrades commanders."

"So it's Commander Belkin." Hearing Belkin's voice, Lyudnikov turned his head and walked towards the door. After seeing clearly that it was Belkin, he immediately got up to greet him, and he was still far away. , and stretched out his hand to Belkin: "Why are you free today, come to me?"

After Belkin shook hands with Lyudnikov, he shook hands with Titov, who had reached out, and said to Lyudnikov: "Comrade Colonel, I just received a call from the division commander, and he ordered us to Launch a counterattack against the enemy tonight, seize as many positions as possible from the enemy, and establish new fire support points."

"Commander Belkin," Lyudnikov didn't speak when he heard Belkin say that, but just sat there thinking about the problem thoughtfully. After Titov glanced at him, he said to Belkin: "To tell you the truth, we have also received orders from our superiors, let us attack tonight, wait for the opportunity to seize some of the enemy's positions, and put the enemy firmly in place." Pinned down in the factory area, preventing them from retreating smoothly."

Knowing that Lyudnikov had also received a similar order, Belkin did not say what his arrangement was, but asked instead: "Comrade Colonel, I would like to ask, what do you plan to do?"

"Commander Belgin," Lyudnikov pouted, and said, "When I received this order from my superiors, my first reaction was that they made a mistake. Think about it, the enemy's offensive against us during the day It was so fierce that we almost lost the little bit of ground we had in the barricade factory. But just a few hours later, we were ordered to launch a counterattack. If we can achieve results, there is no problem; but if the counterattack does not go smoothly , the enemy took the opportunity to pounce on our position, this last position, can we still hold it?"

Faced with Lyudnikov's questioning, Belkin said mildly: "Comrade Colonel, I think the superiors gave us such an order, not for no reason, but the current situation, which is already moving in our favor. The direction of the army."

"The situation is developing in a direction that is beneficial to our army?" Lyudnikov said with a sneer: "Although a bridge has been erected on the Volga River, the superiors have not replenished our troops and technical equipment, and our troops are already facing exhaustion. If If the Germans launch another round of attack, whether we can hold it is a question, let alone launch a counterattack."

"Captain Belgin," Titov continued, "before you came, we were discussing the order from our superiors. We felt that even if we wanted to fight back, we had to wait until dawn and figure out what the enemy was doing."

Hearing what Titov said, Belkin seemed to yell at him: "Don't you know that our army has launched a fierce attack from the rear of the German army, and many enemy defense lines have been breached." But about The results of the counter-offensive forces on the south side of the city, because Belkin did not ask Sokov for instructions, and did not know whether he could reveal it to Lyudnikov and the others, seemed very embarrassed.

Lyudnikov and Titov were considering how to delay the counterattack, so they didn't see the embarrassment on Belkin's face. Since there were some things he couldn't say, Belkin knew that he didn't have much meaning to stay any longer, so he got up and said to the two: "Comrades, two commanders, our regiment will carry out an attack on the positions occupied by the enemy at an appropriate time tonight." Counterattack. Since the defense areas of our two troops overlap, please say hello to the troops below to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

Seeing that Belkin planned to do it alone, Lyudnikov readily agreed: "No problem, Commander Belkin, I will immediately call the following commanders and inform them of this, so as to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. "

Belkin suffocated, returned to his command post, called the three battalion commanders to his command post, and assigned tasks to them.

"First battalion commander, Captain Vasily, the task of your battalion is to attack the enemy on the southwest side of the defense zone."

"Second Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Briski, the task of your battalion is to attack the enemy due west."

"Lieutenant Shamrih of the Marine Battalion, the mission of your battalion is to attack the enemy in the northwest."

After neatly assigning tasks, Belkin looked at the three battalion commanders and asked, "Do you have any questions?"

"Comrade Commander," as soon as his words fell, Vasily raised his hand and asked inexplicably, "I would like to ask why the three battalions took action in three directions at the same time. Couldn't they all be concentrated in one direction?" ?"

"Concentrating all the troops in one direction can indeed form an advantage in the situation." Belgin waited for Vasily to finish speaking, and explained unhurriedly: "But once the attack is frustrated, all the troops will be defeated." would be stuck at one point and unable to advance further. Once the Germans rounded the flanks, our troops were in danger of being encircled."

"Comrade commander, don't you still have comrades from the 138th division?" Vasily reminded him when he heard that Belkin did not mention Lyudnikov's troops at all: "It is entirely possible for them to cover our flanks." ah."

Belkin waved his hand at him and said, "I forgot to tell you, Colonel Lyudnikov's troops will not participate in tonight's counterattack?"

"Ah?!" Belkin's words stunned the three battalion commanders, and then they asked in unison, "Why?"

In front of several subordinates, Belkin could not say right and wrong about the other troops, so he could only say vaguely: "Colonel Lyudnikov may have his considerations, but since we can't command them, we don't have to." Never mind, you just need to do our job well. Understand?"

"Understood!" The three battalion commanders replied in unison.

"I'm emphasizing two points," Belkin said again before letting the three battalion commanders leave: "Since the situation is moving in a direction favorable to our army, how capable are you in tonight's night attack?" , just show me how much you can. As long as you can seize the position and destroy the enemy, you don't have to worry about the casualties of the troops."

"Comrade Commander," some time ago, the first battalion was supplemented with soldiers, but the second battalion was not. Therefore, Lieutenant Briski always had a thorn in his heart. Hearing Belkin's words now, he said sourly. : "If the strength of our battalion is exhausted and there is no replenishment, can the establishment be revoked?"

"It's not that serious, Lieutenant Briski!" Belkin didn't hear the sourness in Briski's words, and comforted him, "Don't worry, the division commander promised me that no matter how many soldiers we lose in battle, he will Give us more."

Briski and Vasily, who were born in the infantry brigade, both showed surprise expressions when they heard Belkin say this. They knew Sukov's character, and as long as they said something, they would definitely count. Since the division commander has said that he needs to replenish himself with troops, it is absolutely correct, so in tonight's battle, there is no need to consider the casualties of the troops.

"One more thing," Belkin continued: "In order to avoid unnecessary casualties, sneak attack tactics should be adopted in the early stage of the counterattack at night. Unless the enemy discovers our actions, don't easily change from a sneak attack to a strong attack. Sand Captain Mrich, do you understand?"

The reason why Belkin wanted to remind Shamrih alone was because he knew very well that this marine battalion, which was composed entirely of sailors and soldiers, was known for being good at fighting tough battles. If you don't warn in advance, maybe they will shout slogans and rush to the enemy's position under the enemy's bullets. Even if they barely win at that time, it will be a tragic victory.

Belkin's guess was correct. After receiving the combat order, Shamrich was indeed thinking in his heart that after fighting the defensive battle for so long, he finally had the opportunity to counterattack. As soon as the counterattack started, he led the commanders and fighters of the whole battalion, shouted the lipstick of "full speed forward", and charged towards the enemy's position, overwhelming the enemy from the momentum.

However, when Belkin specifically named himself and emphasized the need to use sneak attack tactics to approach the enemy's position, Shamrikh hesitated for a while, then bit the bullet and replied: "Understood, Comrade Commander, we will fall into the trap of using sneak attack tactics." Tactics, stealthily approaching enemy positions, and then attacking unexpectedly."

Seeing that Shamrich understood his intentions, Belkin nodded, raised his hand to look at his watch, and said to the three of them: "It's getting late, you all go back to your respective troops to prepare. Our counterattack will be in the It starts at two o'clock in the morning, when the enemy is most exhausted, we will surely catch them by surprise."

When Shamrih returned to his battalion command post, several commanders who were waiting here greeted him and asked curiously: "Comrade battalion commander, what combat mission has the regimental commander assigned us?"

"The head of the regiment said that tonight there will be a counterattack against the enemies in the barricade factory, and our battalion is responsible for the northwest direction of the factory area." Shamrih said: "The time for the operation is two o'clock in the morning."

"Comrade battalion commander, let us take the lead." As soon as Shamrich finished speaking, the second company commander, Captain Agranov, couldn't wait to say: "I assure you, we must rush into the battle in the shortest possible time." enemy positions."

Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, he saw Shamrih wave his hand at him, and then heard the other party say: "Comrade Captain, you are wrong. Our counterattack this time will use sneak attack tactics. After being discovered by the enemy Before, it couldn’t easily turn into a strong attack.”

The deputy battalion commander Yakuda asked cautiously: "Comrade battalion commander, I would like to ask, why did the superior suddenly issue such an order? You know, they are still attacking us during the day, but at night, they want us to attack them." Counterattack. We have stayed in the Workers’ New Village for so long, and we have never encountered such a style of play.”

"Judging from the expression of the head of the regiment, he seems to be very confident about tonight's counterattack." After Shamrih finished these two sentences, he did not wait for everyone to ask, and said first: "But what is the specific reason? Didn't tell me."

"Comrade battalion commander," said political deputy battalion commander Shapovalenko, "As far as I know, Commander Belgin was once the political commissar of the division commander before he assumed the post of regimental commander, and the relationship between the two is very close. He may It is because I got some gossip from the teacher that I am so confident in this night counterattack."

Shapovalenko's words reminded Shamrikh even more. He nodded and said: "Comrade political deputy battalion commander, you are right. I remember that the regimental commander once told us after assigning tasks, saying The current situation on the battlefield is developing in a direction favorable to our army."

Agranov asked puzzledly: "But judging from the enemy's offensive during the day, it doesn't look like a defeated battle. How could the situation develop in a direction that is beneficial to our army?"

"Comrade Captain, you only see what is in front of you, and you should look farther away." Shapovalenko went on to say: "You and I both know that on the outskirts of Stalingrad, there are three troops of the Front Army that are attacking the enemy." Counter-offensive, maybe the battles in those directions have made progress. That's why the regiment commander said that the situation is developing in a direction that is beneficial to our army."

"But, Comrade Political Deputy Battalion Commander." Agranov said unconvinced: "If our army has really made great progress on the periphery, why is the enemy's offensive still so fierce during the day? You know, light Our company repelled seven German attacks."

"Okay, don't talk about it." Shamrih interrupted Agranov's words, "For the night attack in the early morning, let your second company be the vanguard, go back and make preparations."

Not only Shamrich, but also Vasily and Briski were puzzled by Belkin's order. After the two left the headquarters, Vasily asked Briski in a low voice: "Comrade Captain, tell me why the division commander ordered us to launch a counterattack against the enemy tonight? You know, this is not a good time to counterattack."

The Briski Battalion also fought several bitter battles with the enemy during the day. He naturally agreed with Vasily's statement: "Captain Vasily, you are right. I also think the division commander's combat order came too suddenly. In the early morning I am not optimistic about the counterattack that was implemented."

"Since you don't like it, why didn't you bring it up when the leader assigned the task just now?" Vasily asked inexplicably: "What's the use of talking about it now, can't the leader revoke the order?"

"Captain Vasily, I want to remind you. An order is an order, and we can only execute it unconditionally, but discuss the order here." Briski extended his hand to Vasily and said friendlyly: "I wish you victory in advance !"

"Me too." After the two battalion commanders shook hands, they each walked towards their defense areas.