Red Moscow

Since Golikov left, Sokov has cut off important sources of information as to whether Volsky's mechanized 4th Army has captured the Don Bridge in Karachi; The 4th tank army of the Southwest Front joined forces, and Sokov knew nothing about it.

In fact, not to mention Sokov, even Cuikov, the group army headquarters, is still ignorant of the battle situation in the Don River Basin at this moment. After finally taking advantage of the opportunity to report the results of the battle, he made a call to the headquarters of the Front Army and wanted to ask Yeremenko or Khrushchev about the situation of the friendly forces. The tone told him: "I'm sorry, Comrade Chuikov, the commander and the military commissar are not at the headquarters."

Knowing that Yeremenko and Khrushchev were not there, Chuikov couldn't help asking curiously, "Where did they go?"

"The situation on the battlefield has changed," Varennikov said vaguely. "The commander and military commissar are now in the 57th Army in Tolbukhin."

"What, they all went to the 57th Army?" Cuikov couldn't help being surprised when he heard this. He knew very well that the 57th Army was located on the left wing of the entire front counterattack force. Now that the two leaders of the front army have rushed over, what happened? As for the important matter, he hurriedly and cautiously asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there something wrong there?"

"Yes, something happened. But it's a good thing." Varennikov replied with a smile: "General Volsky's Mechanized 4th Army has successfully occupied the Don Bridge and recovered it from the enemy's hands." Karachi. Now the army's 36th Mechanized Brigade continues westward to join the friendly forces heading south."

"What, General Volsky's troops have regained Karachi and the Don River Bridge?!" Chuikov couldn't help raising his voice when he heard this. The staff officers and communications soldiers who were busy around heard what Cuikov said. After staring at Cuikov for a while, they continued their work, but everyone's face was full of joyful expressions.

Chuikov naturally noticed the changes in the expressions of the commanders and fighters, coughed lightly, and said into the microphone: "Thank you, Comrade Chief of Staff, thank you for telling us such good news."

After putting down the phone, Chuikov raised his hand and slapped his hands. After attracting everyone's attention, he said loudly: "Comrades, I want to tell you some good news. General Volsky's 4th Mechanized Army is in After a fierce battle, Karachi has been successfully recovered and the Don River Bridge has been captured. Now the 36th Mechanized Brigade of the army is advancing westward, ready to join forces with the friendly forces heading south!"

"Ulla! Ulla! Ulla!!!" As soon as Cuikov finished speaking, deafening shouts rang out from the headquarters. The sound was so loud that it seemed to lift the roof off. When the soldiers standing guard outside heard the shouts from the headquarters, they couldn't help but look inside the house.

"Comrade Commander, this is really great news." Krylov waited for the shouts in the room to calm down, walked up to Chuikov, and said to him: "I will immediately report this to the subordinate units of the group army. , let everyone be happy and happy, and maybe it can also boost morale."

Although the troops of the entire group army have been launching counterattacks in the past few days, except for the 41st Guards Division, which has achieved remarkable results in positional warfare, the rest of the troops competing with the enemy for factory areas and residential areas have made slow progress. The forward distance is in meters.

"I agree." Chuikov nodded, and said to Krylov: "Inform all units of this good news immediately, and the first to notify is Sokov's 41st Guards Division. During the two days of fighting , their teacher's performance is the most outstanding."

As soon as Chuikov mentioned Sokov's troops, Krylov remembered an important matter: "Comrade Commander, there is an important matter that I almost forgot to report to you."

"whats the matter?"

"According to the scout's report, the German 24th Armored Division has stopped its retreat, and there seems to be signs of going south." Krylov pointed on the map with his hand and said, "I'm worried that they will attack Sokov's right flank."

Hearing what Krylov said, Chuikov frowned and asked, "Then what about our troops on Sokov's right?"

Krylov replied with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander, here is the problem. There are only sporadic small units and militia units, and there are really no organized large units. Once the Germans launch an attack, Sokov's troops will be destroyed." Cut off at the waist."

"That's right, this is a headache." Cuikov said with a wry smile: "Judging from the recent attitude of the Front Army Command, it is impossible for them to send us new reinforcements in a short period of time. It means that we can't use any force to strengthen Sokov's empty right wing."

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Krylov nodded, and said with a troubled expression, "I've also been thinking about how to strengthen Sokov's flank to ensure the defensive zone we just captured."

Chuikov slapped the area that Sokov's troops had just occupied with his palm, and said, "That's right, this place was bought by our soldiers with their blood and sacrifices and their lives, and it must never fall to the Germans again." We must find a way to consolidate Sokov's flank."

If there is a reserve team, what Chuikov and Krylov are worried about is not a big deal, as long as the reserve team is sent to Sokov's flank to defend. But a clever woman can't live without rice, and now the two of them don't have any extra troops in their hands, so they can only watch Sokov's weak flank worrying.

After a while, Krylov said tentatively: "Comrade commander, can you tell Sokov about the current situation, and then ask him if there is any way?"

A word awakened the dreamer, and when he heard what Krylov said, Chuikov patted the table with his hand, nodded and said, "That's right, let's leave this question to Sokov Ways. He has a lot of bad ideas for fighting, maybe he can come up with a good way."

After the two discussed it, Chuikov personally called Sokov. After the phone call, Chuikov first informed Sokov of the good news just now, and then mentioned the weak defense of the 41st Guards Division's flank, and finally asked: "Colonel Sokov, what can you do?" , to solve this problem?"

"Comrade Commander." Sokov learned that Volsky's troops had indeed captured Karachi and the Don Bridge. He was happy for less than a minute when he heard Chuikov mention his weak flank defenses, and now he still faces With the attack of the German 24th Armored Division, he had to think carefully. After some thought, he said solemnly: "Comrade commander, it is obviously impossible for the higher-ups to deploy new troops to strengthen the defense of our division's flank. This is how I think about it. Can the troops stationed in the The downsizing regiment of the barricade factory was reorganized, and they were responsible for the defense of our division's flank."

Knowing that Sokov planned to let Belgin's regiment return to the establishment, Chuikov was still quite reluctant. You must know that it was precisely because of the existence of this regiment that the battle at the Barricade Factory could barely suppress the Germans. If they are transferred away, then Lyudnikov's division will become helpless, and it is hard to say what will happen to the situation of the barricade factory.

It was precisely because of this consideration that Chuikov quickly covered the microphone with his hands and said to Krylov in a low voice: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Sokov wants the Belkin Regiment to return. What do you think we should do?" "

"Comrade Commander." Krylov thought for a moment and replied, "We can find other troops to replace the regiment and let them take charge of the flank of Sokov's division."

"However, once they are transferred away, the situation in the barricade factory will become severe again." Cuikov was unwilling to give up easily and finally got a good situation, so he hesitated and said: "I am worried about the troops who will take over their defense. I’m afraid it’s only going to be of limited use.”

"However, if the Belkin Regiment is not allowed to return, and other troops are allowed to strengthen the flank defense of the Sokov Division, I am afraid that they will not be able to withstand the offensive of the German tanks." In order to persuade Chuikov, Krylov continued. : "The commanders and fighters of the Belgin Regiment are all Sokov's old subordinates. I believe they will come up with various methods to protect the safety of the flanks of Mamayev Gang."

"Okay, since you said so, let's return the Belkin Regiment to Sokov." After Chuikov finished speaking, he let go of his hand covering the microphone: "Colonel Sokov, I agree with your request, Barricade The Belkin Regiment in the factory will be rebuilt in the shortest possible time, and they will be responsible for the defense of your right wing."

"Great, this is really great." Sukov was overjoyed when he heard that Chuikov said that he was going to let the Belgin Regiment return to its formation. After thanking him repeatedly, he expressed his determination to Chuikov: "As long as the reorganized regiment is in charge of the right wing of our division." defense, it would be sufficient to withstand any attack by the Germans."

"By the way, I have one more thing to tell you." Chuikov said to Sokov before putting down the phone: "According to reliable information, the military rank system is currently undergoing, and the military ranks of political workers will become the same as military commanders. When the new military rank system is officially implemented, we plan to award him the rank of lieutenant colonel."

"Thank you, Comrade Commander." Sokov waited for Chuikov to finish speaking, and said politely: "On behalf of Commander Belkin, thank you."

"Comrades," Sokov said loudly to everyone in the room when he put down the phone, "I now tell you some good news. General Volsky's 4th Mechanized Corps has successfully captured Karachi and the Don Bridge , at this moment, the troops they sent are advancing westward to meet the friendly troops heading south. As long as they join forces with the friendly troops, they can successfully cut off the retreat of the German army and encircle Stalingrad, an enemy that has been fighting with us for several months area."

After Sokov finished speaking, there was a burst of cheers. Sidolin leaned close to Sokov's ear and said loudly, "Comrade commander, this is a rare piece of good news. I think it should be reported to the commanders and fighters of the division immediately to make everyone happy."

"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov also leaned close to Sidolin's ear and said loudly to him, "You call the regimental commanders yourself and inform them of the good news."

When the room returned to calm and everyone continued their work, Sokov said to Anisimov who was sitting next to him, who was about to become a transparent person: "Comrade political commissar, please pass on the good news to those who are still on the radio." The soldiers and the wounded who remain in the tunnel, let everyone rejoice."

Just when the commanders and fighters under the 62nd Army were rejoicing because the friendly forces captured Karachi and occupied the Don River Bridge, the mechanized 36th Brigade commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Rodionov had successfully broken through the two German lines of defense, Twelve kilometers westward.

Rodionov, who was marching, suddenly received a report from the vanguard, saying that a large number of German troops were found ahead, including about two infantry battalions and one tank battalion, as well as artillery and so on. Upon hearing this, Rodionov quickly ordered the leading troops to prepare for battle, and ordered the follow-up troops to speed up and rush over for reinforcements.

However, after waiting for a long time, Rodionov not only did not hear the imaginary sound of guns coming from the front, but a faint cheer: "What's going on?" He frowned and asked himself , Said to the radio operator next to him: "Call the vanguard immediately and ask them what happened there?"

After the radio operator got through to the battalion commander of the vanguard, he handed the headset and microphone to Rodionov. Rodionov said loudly into the microphone: "Comrade Captain, what happened there? Why didn't I hear the sound of guns and guns, but only cheers?"

"Report to Comrade Brigadier Commander." The vanguard battalion commander at the other end said excitedly: "We have joined forces, we have joined forces with our friendly troops!"

"What? What did you say?" Hearing the content of the battalion commander's announcement, Rodionov thought he had heard it wrong, and quickly said loudly into the microphone: "Repeat again, what happened?"

"Report to Comrade Brigadier Commander!" This time the battalion commander tried his best to control his emotions and reported in a calm tone: "One of my companies has just joined forces with the friendly troops going south at the Soviet farm."

"We met, we really met!" This time it was Rodionov's turn to be excited, his lips trembled a few times, and he asked heavily, "Which part is the other party?"

"They are troops of the Southwest Front Army, the vanguard company of the 45th Brigade of the 4th Tank Army under the command of General Kravchenko." The battalion commander continued to report: "After we joined forces with our friendly forces, the German troops who originally wanted to fight our army met. The situation was not good, so they put down their weapons and surrendered to us."

"Great, Comrade Captain, this is really great." Rodionov said excitedly: "I will rush over immediately to meet with the commander of the friendly army."

After the call was over, the communications soldier tentatively asked Rodionov: "Comrade Brigadier, do you need to report this good news to the army immediately?"

"Wait, wait a little longer." Rodionov tried his best to say in a calm tone: "I will report to the military headquarters after I see the commanders on the opposite side and record the names of the commanders and fighters who joined forces first. Not too late."