Red Moscow

"Colonel Sivakov," Sukov sneered in his heart when he realized that the other party really had the intention of taking credit, but asked calmly on the surface: "I want to ask, who will unify so many troops coming here at once?" Where is the command?"

"I'm still not clear about this." Sivakov shook his head and said, "I think Comrade Commander will definitely consider this issue and send a suitable candidate to take up the command post."

Sokov didn't want to get entangled with the other party on this matter, so he changed the subject: "Comrade Colonel, since our two divisions have joined forces, shouldn't we re-demarcate the next defense zone?"

"Should be, should be." Sivakov nodded repeatedly and said: "Colonel Sokov, you are familiar with this area, how to divide the defense zone is up to you."

Now that the other party has given the initiative to him, Sokov will naturally not let go of such a good opportunity. He put the map in front of Sivakov, pointed out the defense areas of several regiments and said: "This is the defense area of ​​each regiment of my division. I can hand over the defense area of ​​the 122nd regiment to you."

"Okay, Colonel Sokov." Sivakov nodded, "I will immediately order the troops to take over your defense."

Sokov left Ivanov in charge of the transfer of defense, and he and Anisimov returned to Mamayev Post with the guards. As soon as he entered the headquarters, Sidolin greeted him, and asked with concern: "Comrade commander, why are you and the political commissar the only ones back? Where did the deputy division commander go?"

"He and the commander of the friendly army are handing over the defense." Sokov said as he walked towards the table where the telephone was placed: "I came back because I have something important to report to the comrade commander."

After the call was connected, Chuikov asked with some surprise: "Colonel Sokov, you called me again so soon, what's the matter?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander, it is a very important matter." Sokov did not go around in circles, but said truthfully: "Colonel Sivakov told me that General Batov intends to send two infantry divisions, A tank brigade and two artillery regiments came to attack the central station."

After listening to Sokov's report, Sokov pondered for a long time before he said: "Colonel Sokov, if the superior orders your division to evacuate the existing defense zone after Batov's troops arrive, what should you do then?" manage?"

"Comrade Commander," Sokov persisted in Stalingrad for so long. Seeing the opportunity to personally capture Paulus alive, he would never let the opportunity pass by, so he said firmly: "I suggest that you Report the matter to your superiors, and let our division carry out the task of capturing Paulus alive."

Perhaps because he was worried that Chuikov was looking forward and backward, he added specifically: "All the commanders and fighters of our army fought bloody battles to defend this heroic city. This will allow us to capture Paulus alive and comfort the sacrificed heroes."

"You make sense." Chuikov, who was still hesitant, immediately made up his mind when he heard Sokov say this: "I will immediately call General Rokossovsky and discuss the matter with him. report."

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin said when Sukov made the phone call and learned the whole story from Anisimov. He still felt a little uncomfortable about the behavior of the friendly army. So as soon as he saw Sokov put down the phone, he immediately asked: "If the friendly forces really want us to withdraw our existing defenses, what should we do?"

"If the target of the friendly army's attack is the central railway station, then let them go." Sokov was very satisfied with the "smoke bomb" he released. At least the friendly army who wanted to grab credit did not know the accuracy of the Paulus headquarters Location: "I have ordered the 122nd Regiment to move south immediately to join the Belkin Regiment."

"However, once the enemy discovers the movements of the 122nd Regiment, won't our intentions be fully exposed?" Sidolin reminded Sokov, "I think it's better to wait until after dark before mobilizing troops."

"No, it's going to be mobilized during the day." Sokov said with a sneer, "And it will be mobilized with great fanfare. I just want the Germans to find out that we have increased our troops to the south of the city."

Seeing Sidolin's bewildered expression, Anisimov quickly explained to him: "Chief of Staff, I haven't finished what I just said. The reason why the division commander concentrates his forces is to drive as many enemies as possible In the south of the city, let them go head-to-head with the 64th Army going north, so that we can use the strength of our friendly forces to destroy more enemies."

"Yes, this is a good idea." Sidolin's eyes lit up when he heard Sokov say this: "There are so many enemies near the German headquarters. If we want to eliminate them one by one, it will take too long. The loss of soldiers is not small. But if we only drive them away, then the resistance we face will be much smaller. That's it, I will immediately notify Commander Belkin and drive the 122nd regiment to meet up The news told him to make him ready to respond."

As soon as Sidolin picked up the phone, he suddenly remembered an important question, and quickly turned his head to ask Sokov: "Comrade commander, who should command the troops after the two regiments meet? Is it Lieutenant Colonel Belkin or Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko?"

If Sidolin didn't mention it, Sokov really didn't think of this question. He thought about it carefully in his mind, and felt that although both of them were regiment commanders, Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko had served as regiment commander for a longer period of time and had more experience in commanding large troops than Belkin, so he decisively Said: "Let Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko command, Belkin as his deputy."

When Belkin received a call from Sidolin, he was very happy to learn that the main force of the division had joined the friendly forces. But then he heard Sidolin say that the troops of the 122nd Regiment were moving towards his own defense zone, so he said puzzledly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, didn't the division commander say that in order not to arouse the suspicion of the enemy, we should not take too big measures here?" military action?"

"That was before, and the situation is different now." Sidolin felt that there were some important things that could not be concealed from Belkin, so he said truthfully: "Now the 64th Army has entered the city from the south of the city, and The 65th Group Army, which has just joined forces with us, will also send troops to participate in the attack on the railway station area. If we still follow the original plan, I am afraid that your regiment will either be ordered to withdraw, or placed under the command of other divisions."

Belkin didn't want his troops to be transferred or assigned to other troops when victory was in sight, so he quickly asked, "Chief of Staff, continue talking, what should we do next?"

"After the 122nd regiment joins your regiment, the task of your two regiments is to drive the enemies around you to the south of the city as much as possible, and let the troops of the 64th Army go to destroy them." Sidolin said on the phone: "As for the unified command of the two regiments, the division commander has already given clear instructions to give it to Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko, and you will be his deputy."

Hearing that he had become a deputy, Belkin was not unhappy at all, and quickly replied: "Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff, I will carry out your orders well."

…………

After dark, Sokov received a call from Ivanov from the 124th regiment's position. As soon as he heard the other party's voice, Sokov asked first: "Comrade deputy division commander, what's the matter?"

"That's right. Several commanders from the 65th Army want to see you." Ivanov asked hesitantly, "Can I take them directly to Mamayev Post?"

What should come, finally came. Sokov sighed softly, and said helplessly, "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, bring them here. I'll wait for you at the headquarters."

After waiting for more than half an hour, Ivanov arrived at the command post with four officers wearing otter fur caps. Since they were all wearing new-style epaulets, Sokov could see their ranks at a glance. When he found that one of them was actually a major general, he couldn't help being shocked. He thought that the other party must be the supreme commander arranged by Batov, so he quickly adjusted his military appearance and walked over to salute the general: "Hello, general. Comrade, I am Colonel Sokov, commander of the 41st Guards Division, and welcome to Mamayev Post."

"Hello, Colonel Sokov." After the general raised his hand in return, he introduced himself to Sokov: "I am Major General Makarenko, commander of the 321st Infantry Division." Then he pointed to a colonel beside him, He added, "This is Colonel Duchenko, my division political commissar."

After greeting Duchenko, Sokov turned his gaze to the other two colonels, and asked politely, "May I ask you two colonels, which division leader are you?"

A tall and thin colonel was the first to answer: "I am Colonel Merkulov, commander of the 304th Infantry Division, and this is Colonel Sheyko, my political commissar."

After inviting everyone to sit down, Sokov asked curiously: "I don't know how many division commanders and political commissars came to my headquarters overnight. Do you have any advice?"

"That's right, Colonel Sokov." Major General Makarenko said first, "We are here under the order of Commander Batov to assist you in capturing the Central Railway Station."

Sidolin keenly heard from the other party's words that the other party was here to assist him in the battle, so he couldn't help interjecting and asked: "Comrade General, I would like to ask, since you are attacking the railway station, who will unify you?" Command these troops? Is that you?"

Unexpectedly, when the other party heard Xidolin's question, he shook his head and said, "It's not me."

"Who is that?" Sidolin continued to ask: "I wonder when the commander in charge of the unified command will arrive at Mamayev Post?"

"He's already here," Major General Makarenko replied with a smile.

"What, he's already here?" Sidolin couldn't help being taken aback, his eyes swept over the other three colonels, secretly wondering who among them would be the supreme commander of several troops.

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you don't have to guess." Since Sokov did not introduce Sidolin to Makarenko, he did not know Sidolin's name and position, so he could only call him by military rank: "served The supreme commander, who is far away and close at hand, is Colonel Sokov, the commander of your division."

Sokov couldn't help being a little dumbfounded when he heard Makarenko say this: "Comrade General, what are you talking about? How many troops will I be the supreme commander of?"

"Yes, Colonel Sokov." Major General Makarenko nodded and explained to Sokov: "Before we came here, Commander Batov personally explained to us. He said that from now on, the infantry No. 23. The 304th and 321st divisions, as well as a tank brigade and two artillery regiments are under your command, and form a new Sokov battle group."

Makarenko's words made Sokov very surprised. He never dreamed that Batov would hand over so many troops under his command to him to command. He was silent for a long time before he asked tentatively: "Comrade General, are you telling the truth? General Batov really prepared a combat group and entrusted me to command it?"

"That's right, Colonel Sokov, that's exactly what it is."

"But. You are a general, and I am just a colonel." Sokov quickly glanced at the general star on Major General Makarenko's shoulder, and said with some embarrassment: "It is not appropriate for the colonel to command the general." Bar?"

"There is nothing inappropriate." Makarenko said carelessly: "As long as it is an order from a superior, let alone a colonel with great military exploits commanding us, even if an unknown captain commands us, we will firmly Obey." At this point, he turned his head and asked his colleagues sitting next to him: "Guys, are you right?"

The other three colonels replied neatly: "Yes!"

However, Sokov was still a little hesitant. The combat group he commanded had already surpassed an army. If he didn't get the permission of a higher-ranking commander, it might be a bit unfair. After hesitating for a long time, he asked again: "Comrade General, the establishment of a combat group is only General Batov's idea. I still need to report to Commander Chuikov and get approval from the Front Army Command."

"Colonel Sokov, don't worry, these things have already been arranged." Major General Makarenko said to Sokov with a smile: "Actually, the establishment of a combat group with you as the supreme commander is not General Batov, but General Rokossovsky, the commander of the Front Army. General Batov just conveyed the order from his superiors to us. And I believe that the Front Army Command also notified the matter General Chuikov."

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin leaned close to Sokov's ear and whispered to him, "This matter is of great importance. I will call the commander immediately to check."

"Okay, you go." Sokov looked at Makarenko while Sidolin was on the phone and asked, "Comrade General, I would like to ask, where is your army?"

"Still on our way." Makarenko replied, "It is estimated that at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, we will be able to arrive at today's meeting place. A few of us are here to report to you first."

Sidolin quickly finished the phone call, came back with a happy face, and said to Sokov in a low voice: "Comrade commander, I have checked with the commander, and there is indeed such a thing. He is about to call you. Unexpectedly, our call was made first. Since so many troops are under your command, shouldn't you assign combat missions to everyone?"