Red Moscow

As soon as the German artillery began to test fire, the commanders and fighters of the Guards Division hid in the anti-battery holes or shelters in time to avoid the ensuing intensive shelling. A few soldiers should have been left to observe the enemy's movements, but as soon as Sokov heard that the Germans were shelling, he ordered everyone to retreat into the bunker to hide.

Although it is unlikely that the enemy will attack while taking advantage of the shelling, Sokov hastened to order the third line of defense and the observation post at the top of Mamayev Hill to closely monitor the enemy's movements. If the enemy shows signs of attack, report to the division headquarters immediately.

Regarding Sokov's arrangement, Sidolin nodded with a smile, and said in agreement: "Comrade commander, your method is really good. When the enemy bombards the second line of defense, the third line of defense or Mamayev The observation post on the top of the mountain monitors the enemy, not only has a wide field of vision, it can detect the actions of the German army in time, and the observation post does not have to worry about being bombarded by the enemy."

Just as Sokov finished speaking, the phone on the desk rang. Sidolin grabbed the microphone and said loudly: "I am Sidolin, where are you?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I am the Chief of Staff of the 125th Regiment." An anxious voice came from the phone: "The regiment commander went to inspect the second position and has not returned yet. I am afraid that the enemy's artillery will be trapped."

"What, Ershakov is on the second line of defense?" Sidolin frowned when he heard this: "It's really playing the piano, he didn't honestly stay at the command post on the third line of defense, ran What are you going to do up front?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff," the chief of staff of the regiment quickly explained to Sidolin: "The regimental commander said that individual positions on the second line of defense were destroyed by artillery fire when the enemy launched the first attack, and he is going to supervise the soldiers. We repaired the fortifications. Unexpectedly, less than half an hour after we went there, the enemy's shelling began."

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin covered the microphone with his hand, and asked Sokov for instructions: "Lieutenant Colonel Ershakov, the commander of the 125th Regiment, went to inspect the second line of defense, but was trapped in the position by enemy artillery fire. Come on. What should we do?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, the enemy's shelling is so fierce, if Lieutenant Colonel Ershakov is forced to leave, I'm afraid he will suffer unnecessary casualties." Sokov ordered without hesitation: "Let him stay in the cover of the second-line position." After the enemy's shelling is over, return to the regiment command post to exercise command authority."

"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Regiment," Sidolin said into the microphone: "The division commander ordered Lieutenant Colonel Ershakov to temporarily stay in the second-line concealed department, and it will not be too late to return to the regiment command post after the enemy's shelling is over. .”

"Chief of staff," said the chief of staff of the regiment anxiously: "The enemy's shelling has caused the communication between us and the second-line position to be interrupted. We don't know what the situation of the regiment commander is like now."

Knowing that the communication between the command post of the 125th Regiment and the front position had been interrupted, Sokov hurried over to take the microphone in Sidolin's hand, and asked bluntly, "Comrade Chief of Staff, I will give you two orders now. The first First, as soon as the enemy's shelling is over, you must immediately send out communications troops to restore contact with the front positions; second, once your regimental commander is wounded or sacrificed and withdraws from the battle, you will take over his command. How about that? can you do it?"

The question asked by Sokov caused the regiment chief of staff to be silent for a long time before hesitantly replied: "Comrade commander, I have never commanded the troops alone. If I were to take over the command of the regiment commander, I'm afraid..."

"What are you worried about?" Sokov interrupted without waiting for the other party to finish, "So far, you are the commander who is most familiar with the situation of the 125th Regiment. If I replace the regiment with someone else He still needs to spend a certain amount of time to get familiar with the commanders and fighters below him, which is very detrimental to commanding operations. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Comrade Commander." The chief of staff of the regiment replied tremblingly: "Since this is the case, I will take over the command of the regiment commander if necessary."

Ivanov, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but blushed with shame when he heard his old subordinate say that, wishing he could dig a hole in the ground and get in. He never dreamed that there would be such irresponsible people among regimental commanders. After waiting for Sokov to put down the phone, he asked with a blushing face, "Comrade Commander, if you are worried about the 125th regiment, why not send me to take over the command of the regiment."

"No." As for Ivanov's request, Sokov refused without hesitation: "You are the deputy division commander, not the regimental commander. I cannot let you take risks in front."

Just after rejecting Ivanov's unrealistic request, the phone on the desk rang again. Sokov thought it was another call from the Chief of Staff of the 125th Regiment, so he picked up the receiver and put it to his ear, and said angrily, "What else is there?"

"Colonel Sokov, what happened?" Chuikov's voice came from the receiver: "Why are you so angry?"

"Hello, Comrade Commander." Recognizing that it was Chuikov's voice, Sokov hurriedly stood at attention, and asked respectfully into the microphone, "Do you have any instructions?"

Cuikov did not immediately explain the reason for the call, but asked instead: "Tell me first, why did you get so angry just now?"

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Sokov hurriedly reported to Chuikov that Lieutenant Colonel Ershakov was trapped in the second line of defense by enemy artillery fire, and finally said anxiously: "I I was worried that something might happen to him that would affect the troops' operations, so I couldn't help being a little impatient." As for the fact that the chief of staff of the regiment was not qualified for the post of regimental commander, it was after all the "family scandal" of the Guards Division, so he did not tell Cui Kefu.

After figuring out what was going on, Chuikov said into the microphone: "Colonel Sokov, since it is a war, casualties are inevitable. Doesn't the 125th Regiment stop fighting without its commander? Find someone to take over The position of regimental commander is enough, if you really don’t have manpower, I will send you a commander from the headquarters. They all have rich command experience, and being a regimental commander should be more than enough.”

Sokov knew very well that the commanders Chuikov mentioned should all be brigade-level and above commanders whose troops had been wiped out. It would be a bit wronged him to let them take up the post of regimental commander. So Sokov politely refused and said: "Thank you, Comrade Commander, for your kindness. I think our division can still find a suitable candidate to take over the post of regimental commander."

After talking about this, Cuikov remembered the purpose of his call, and asked with concern: "I heard that the enemy is bombarding the second line of defense fiercely. How about it? Can you hold it?"

Before Sokov went to Moscow, he had told Sidolin and Ivanov to strengthen the fortifications of the second line of defense, so he was full of confidence in holding this line of defense. Hearing Chuikov's question at this moment, he quickly replied: "Please rest assured, Comrade Commander, our soldiers can rely on ready-made fortifications to repel any German attack of any scale."

"The artillery on the left bank is ready to provide you with artillery support at any time." Chuikov said with satisfaction: "I believe that under your leadership, the comrades of the Guards Division will be able to crush the enemy's attack."

Sokov reported a few more words to Chuikov about the current situation. Just as he was about to put down the phone, he suddenly heard Chuikov say: "By the way, there is one more important thing. From now on, the Don Front Army and the Stalingrad Front Army Merge and create a new Stalingrad Front."

Knowing that the two fronts were merging at this moment, Sokov couldn't help being stunned for a moment, and then asked, "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask who is the commander of the new front?"

"The commander of the new front will be General Rokossovsky." After Chuikov finished speaking, without waiting for Sokov to ask, he said, "As for Commander Yeremenko and Comrade Khrushchev, There are other uses."

Knowing that the new commander of the Front Army was Rokossovsky, Sokov felt much more at ease. In fairness, Rokossovsky's level of commanding operations is much higher than that of Yeremenko. It is undoubtedly the best choice for him to be in charge of the finishing work in the Stalingrad area.

After finishing the conversation with Chuikov, Sokov said to Sidolin, Ivanov and the other three: "Comrades, I have some important news for you. From now on, the Don River Front Army and the Stalingrad Front Army will officially merge. A new Stalingrad Front was formed, with General Rokossovsky as its commander."

Since the beginning of the Battle of Stalingrad, the numbers of the troops have been changed several times. Sidolin and the others are used to this, so the expressions on their faces did not change when they heard the news.

Seeing that everyone's reaction was different from his own imagination, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. According to his thinking, if Yeremenko continued to command the battle to eliminate Paulus, it would take at least April and May to annihilate the German Sixth Army. With Rokossovsky in charge, this goal can be achieved in early February. However, during the annihilation of the Paulus Army in February, Sokov could only rot him in his stomach, and he could not tell anyone, which made him very depressed.

After the German shelling lasted for more than half an hour, it finally stopped.

The Chief of Staff of the 125th Regiment, who was criticized by Sokov, immediately dispatched communications troops to overhaul the front telephone line before the smoke cleared, and tried to restore the connection with the second line of defense in the shortest possible time. . The communications soldier knew that he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, and immediately set off with the coil on his back after receiving the order.

Seven or eight minutes later, the chief of staff of the regiment received a call from Yershakov from the second line of defense, and only then did he know that the enemy's artillery had not only blown up the telephone line, but also blown up the bunker where Yershakov was hiding. up. If it weren't for the short bombardment time of the enemy, it is estimated that the soldiers in the shelter could come out to rescue in time, I am afraid that Ershakov would have been suffocated to death in the collapsed shelter.

The chief of staff of the regiment learned that Yershakov was still talking, and quickly asked with concern: "Comrade commander, are you not injured?"

"A slight wound to the arm, but it's not a problem." Yershakov said to his chief of staff: "The commander of the second battalion died in the enemy's shelling. I intend to stay here to take over his command. The regiment commander You will be in charge of the place.”

The chief of staff of the regiment lacked the ability to act on his own. After hearing this order from Yershakov, he couldn't help being anxious: "Comrade commander, I think you should let the deputy battalion commander of the second battalion command the troops. You should return to the regiment command post as soon as possible." Come on. Otherwise, the teacher will blame me, and I can't bear it."

When Yershakov heard what the regiment chief of staff said, he couldn't help asking in surprise: "What, the division commander also knows about my work on the second line of defense? Who told him?"

"I told him." The chief of staff of the regiment said with some embarrassment: "I lost contact with you at the time. I was worried that something would happen to you, so I reported the matter to the division headquarters."

"Chief of staff, you are really unnecessary." Ershakov said with some embarrassment: "When the enemy shelled, I hid in the shelter of the second battalion. What could happen?"

"But, wasn't the shelter you were in destroyed by enemy shells?"

"That...that was just an accident." Ershakov replied: "Do you think I'm all right?"

"Comrade commander, I think you should go back to the command post of the regiment." The chief of staff of the regiment suggested to Ershakov again: "Otherwise, the division commander will blame me, and I can't bear it."

"Okay, okay." Seeing that the chief of staff of the regiment repeatedly lifted Sokov out to talk about the matter, Ershakov could only say helplessly: "I will explain to the deputy battalion commander of the second battalion and return to the regiment command post immediately. .”

After the shelling ended, the Germans again attacked the second line of defense of the Guards Division. Since the Soviet commanders and fighters built solid fortifications here, and the enemy did not understand the distribution of Soviet firepower, their intensive shelling did not have much impact on the combat effectiveness of the defenders.

Under such circumstances, their attack on the second line of defense of the Guards Division naturally did not take advantage of it. After an hour of fierce fighting, the attacking Germans were forced back to their starting point.

After being repelled by the Soviets twice in a row, Lensky was surprisingly angry. He called Paulus himself and begged him: "Your Excellency, Commander, please order the artillery to attack the Russian positions again. Ready to try again."

"General Lensky." Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Paulus said in a stern tone: "Immediately stop the attack attempt on the Russian position, order the troops to turn to defense on the spot, strengthen the existing fortifications, In order to deal with possible counterattacks by the Russians."

"Ah, turn to the defense on the spot?" When he heard this order, Lensky's first feeling was that he had misheard, and he specifically reminded Paulus: "Your Excellency, the Russians have limited forces now, and only How can they attack us if they can hide in the fortifications for defense?"

"The Russians on the opposite side of you are indeed incapable of counterattacking you. But what about the Russians behind you?" Paulus said on the phone: "According to the information just obtained, the Russians have about one infantry division and one tank brigade , is storming our position, trying to rush to Mamayev's post, and join forces with the Russian troops standing there."