Red Moscow

After Sokov put down the phone, he still felt as if he was dreaming.

The news that the base camp intends to let its own troops form a Guards with the 37th and 39th Guards Divisions is really shocking.

When he told the news to Ivanov, Sidolin and others, everyone cheered.

After the cheers stopped, Ivanov asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, I wonder who the headquarters plans to appoint as the commander of the Guards?"

Ivanov's question immediately attracted everyone's attention, and everyone turned their attention to Sokov in unison, wanting to hear how he answered.

"Commander Chuikov said that the appointments of the two generals, Guriyev and Joludev, were rejected after they were reported to the headquarters." The chances of me taking up this position are very high.”

As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Sidolin rushed to say: "Comrade commander, I think that if the superiors really want to form this guard army, then the post of army commander must belong to you. You know, in the In the battle to defend Stalingrad, you have commanded large corps in battle many times, and you have accumulated rich command experience."

Everyone agreed with Sidolin's statement. After all, Sokov's performance throughout the battle was obvious to all. If he can't hold the post of army commander, who else can?

"It may take some time before the formation of the Guards." Anisimov asked, "But I don't know when the superiors will prepare new recruits for us?"

"Now the Voronezh Front and the Southwest Front are attacking Manstein's troops." Sukov knew very well that as soon as the battle in the direction of Stalingrad was over, the headquarters of the Supreme Command would turn its attention to In the direction of the battle, the supply of the Don Front may be slowed down or even stopped. "I think the recent supply work of the superior should be tilted towards these two front armies."

"In this way, we will not be able to get replenishment of soldiers." Sidolin said with a sigh: "According to the usual practice, soldiers and weapons and ammunition will be replenished to important combat areas first. I estimate that I am afraid it will take four or five years." It will be the turn of the month to replenish our troops."

Sokov couldn't help feeling anxious when he heard Sidolin say that it would take four or five months to replenish troops. He clearly remembered that the Battle of Kursk started in early July, if the replenishment of soldiers had to wait until April and May, there would not be enough training time at all. In open terrain, fighting with ill-trained troops is tantamount to death.

Thinking of this, he shook his head and said, "No, we absolutely can't wait until April and May to replenish our troops. We must find a way to replenish the missing troops in each regiment within a week."

"What, replenish the missing soldiers within a week?" Sidolin couldn't help but get dizzy when he heard Suokov say this, and he asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, where can we find so many soldiers in such a hurry?" Ah, do you mean to have us recruit factory militias and city dwellers?"

"The Battle of Stalingrad has ended, and the focus of the next work is to clean up the ruins and resume normal production. These tasks require a lot of manpower." Sukov said: "This means that our soldiers cannot be replenished." Consider factory militias and city dwellers."

"Then where should it be supplemented?" Sidolin asked rhetorically.

"Chief of Staff, have you forgotten the guerrillas who fought with us?" Sukov reminded Sidolin: "Although the combat effectiveness of the guerrillas is extremely poor, no matter what, they are better than those who have not received military training." Residents, have more combat experience."

"Comrade commander, you are right." Sidolin heard Sokov mentioned the guerrillas, and immediately said excitedly: "Especially the Ignatov brothers' guerrillas, they not only have a large number of people, but also have the strongest combat effectiveness." .They have cooperated with us before, if they are included in their team, there shouldn’t be much problem.”

"Chief of staff, immediately send a telegram to the Ignatov brothers' guerrillas, asking Captain Mishiga and Deputy Captain Vovga to come to Mamayev Gang." Sukov said with a smile: "Let them see you." See old friends like Guchakov."

"This is a good way." Sidolin replied with a smile: "Captain Guchakov once fought side by side with them and established a deep friendship in combat. After they meet, we will persuade them to join our army. Presumably It shouldn't be much of a problem."

"Comrade Commander," Ivanov asked Sokov while Sidolin was sending a telegram, "Should the regimental commanders be recruited to the division headquarters and officially announce the reorganization plan to them?"

"Yes." Sukov considered that after the reorganization of the troops, he would have to readjust the defense zone and replace with new standard weapons. There are many things to do, and he must first unify the thoughts of the commanders: "Immediately let them come to the division headquarters for a meeting. "

Less than ten minutes after Sidolin's telegram was sent, Mihika called back. After reading the telegram, he excitedly reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, good news, Mishiga and his partisans are in the Orlovka area."

"Oh, he's in the Orlovka area?" Sokov said with some surprise, "What are they doing there?"

"It didn't say in the telegram," Sidolin replied, "I guess they are cooperating with the main force to eliminate the enemies in that area. He said that he will arrive as soon as possible, probably tomorrow morning."

"Chief of Staff, send him a telegram, saying that there may be remaining German officers and soldiers along the way, and ask him to pay more attention to safety."

"Understood, I will report immediately."

…………

The heads of the regiments who received the notification came to the division headquarters one after another.

Seeing that everyone was here, Sidolin stood up and said to everyone: "Comrades, we have called everyone here today to announce something. After discussion and research by the division leaders, it was decided that Lieutenant Colonel Belkin The downsizing regiment was disbanded, and all commanders and fighters were organized into three guard regiments.

Everyone knows that most of the commanders and fighters of the downsizing regiment have experienced many battles with the division commander, from Kursk to Stalingrad. With the three guard regiments incorporated into such a combat backbone, the combat effectiveness can be raised to a new level in a short period of time. "

Hearing that the combat backbone of the downsized regiment was going to be incorporated into their own regiments, the three regiment leaders were agitated in their hearts, and they all hoped that Sokov could assign more people to his troops.

"The specific personnel distribution, after two days, we will provide you with a specific list." Sokov waited for Sidolin to finish speaking, then stood up and said to everyone: "Next, I would like to announce that the former head of the downsizing regiment will not Erkin's appointment."

Everyone has seen Belkin's level in these months of fighting. Therefore, the three regiment leaders wished that Sokov would arrange Belkin in his regiment, even if he only served as a deputy, he would get more benefits in the future.

"After the discussion of the division leaders," Sokov did not say that it was his own idea, but claimed that it was the result of the division's collective discussion, lest the following regiment leaders have any opinions: "It was decided to transfer Lieutenant Colonel Belgin to the The 124th regiment, served as the political commissar of the regiment."

Lieutenant Colonel Starcha was overjoyed when he learned that Belkin would serve as his political commissar. He stood up quickly, stretched out his hand to Belgin across the table, and said friendlyly: "Hello, Comrade Political Commissar, I represent the entire regiment." Your commanders welcome you."

"Comrade commander, I have an opinion." Seeing Starcha and Belkin shaking hands, Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko, the head of the 122nd regiment, stood up and said dissatisfiedly: "You know, when attacking the department store, Our regiment and the reduced regiment have been fighting side by side. Let Lieutenant Colonel Belkin come to our regiment, and he can adapt to his job more quickly."

"Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko." Seeing that Papchenko was going to grab Berkin from him, Starcha was a little anxious, and he shouted at Papchenko: "Since the division commander has made a decision, let the Lieutenant Colonel Belkin as my political commissar, then this appointment cannot be amended."

"All right, all be quiet." Seeing that Starcha and Papchenko were tending to quarrel, Sokov quickly raised his hand to stop them. After they quieted down, Sokov continued: "As you all know, Lieutenant Colonel Belkin was my political commissar until the 73rd Rifle Brigade and the 41st Guards Division were merged. When the number of military cadres was sufficient, I I felt that he should still be allowed to do his old job, just in time for the lack of a political commissar in the 124th regiment, so I arranged for him to go to the 124th regiment."

After Sokov finished explaining, he paused for a moment, and asked Papchenko specifically: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you now understand the purpose of my arrangement?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Papchenko quickly replied, "I understand everything now."

"Next, I want to talk about the issue of soldiers." Seeing that the other party had no objections, Sokov continued: "Although the total strength of our division is still more than 6,000 people, there are still many shortages of soldiers. So we need to replenish our troops as soon as possible."

"Comrade Commander," asked Ershakov, commander of the 125th regiment, "where should we recruit troops?"

"Comrades, with the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, the resumption of factories and the reconstruction of the city will be put on the agenda. At that time, a large number of manpower will be needed to complete these two arduous tasks, so , We cannot recruit recruits from the militia or residents.” Sokov said to the crowd: “Some people may ask, if recruits cannot be recruited from the militia and residents, then where should the soldiers we lack come from? "

"Can the superior give us additional troops?" Papchenko asked loudly.

"No." Sokov shook his head and explained to the other party: "Since our Voronezh Front Army and Southwest Front Army are attacking the Manstein Group along the Dnieper River, the supplementary forces of the headquarters of the Supreme Command will be given priority. These two armies are fighting."

"So, we won't be able to get supplements from our superiors in a short period of time?"

Seeing that the crowd began to whisper to each other, discussing the problems faced by the troops in low voices, Sokov did not interrupt them, but let them continue the discussion. After everyone had finished discussing, he said: "The higher-ups can't replenish our troops, so we can only find a way."

"Since the superiors can't replenish our troops, and they can't recruit militiamen and residents from the city." Starcha said with a sad face, "where should the new recruits be recruited?"

Seeing that everyone looked helpless, Sokov asked with a smile, "Did you forget the guerrillas?"

"Guerrillas?!" Hearing what Sokov said, several regiment leaders couldn't help but look at each other. After a while, Starcha asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, I wonder where you plan to recruit guerrillas? As far as I know, under the crazy attack of the German army, there are no guerrillas near our defense zone." Activity."

"There is a guerrilla group of the Ignatov brothers. More than two months ago, they fought side by side with the squad we sent to the enemy's rear and captured two German train stations." Sokov's mouth turned up slightly: " I intend to incorporate this guerrilla unit and distribute the soldiers to the regiments."

Hearing Sokov mention the guerrillas of the Ignatov brothers, all the regiment leaders present were impressed. After all, Guchakov led a small team deep into the enemy's rear, assembled a dozen or twenty guerrillas, and directly captured the Two train stations occupied by the German army and destroyed a large amount of materials stored there by the German army. Because of the outstanding results, Guchakov, who served as the main commander, was promoted to the rank of military and received a medal.

"Comrade Commander, I think this guerrilla team is pretty good. After being incorporated into our army, it can form combat effectiveness very quickly." After praising Brother Ignatov's guerrilla team, Starcha said with some concern. Q: "But we don't even know where they are now? How can we adapt them?"

Regarding Starcha's concerns, Sokov smiled and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, before you arrived, I had already contacted Comrade Mishiga, the captain of the Ignatov brothers' guerrillas. He said his The troops are now at Orlovka, and will arrive at Mamayev Post probably tomorrow morning."

"Comrade Commander," Ershakov stood up and asked, "I would like to ask, how is their equipment?"

"It is said that after the German train station was attacked last time, they moved a large amount of weapons and ammunition back to the guerrilla camp." Sokov said thoughtfully, "I think they should be equipped with all German equipment at this moment." Alright."

As soon as Sokov mentioned the German equipment, Bergin, who had just been appointed as the political commissar of the 124th regiment, immediately remembered an important thing, stood up quickly, and said to Sokov: "Comrade commander, I have a I want to remind you about the problem."

"Please tell me."

"The downsized regiment is all German-style equipment. When it is a single regiment, ammunition supply is not a big problem." Belkin said with a serious expression: "But if it is dismantled and organized into another guard regiment, the logistical supply will become a problem." A big problem."

"We have considered the problem you mentioned a long time ago." Seeing that Belkin had also thought of his own concerns, Sokov quickly explained to him: "After asking for instructions, the Army Command plans to issue us a batch of Standard weapons to replace the original German weapons."