Chapter 614 Friendly Army

  In the evening, the troops who came to take over the defense arrived late.

  Sokov stared at the troops crossing the river on the other side of the hill, called Asker over, and asked, "Comrade Captain, is the troops crossing the river your 292nd Division?"

  Unexpectedly, after looking through the binoculars for a while, Askell shook his head and said, "No, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the unit that is crossing the river is not from our 292nd Division."

   "What, isn't it your division's troops?" Sokov heard Askel say this, and quickly shouted at Samoilov who was standing aside: "Second lieutenant, let the soldiers prepare for battle!"

"Wait a minute, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Askel quickly stopped Sokov: "Although they are not from our 292nd Division, among the people who are crossing the river, I happen to know a few of them. It should belong to the 298th Division."

Knowing that it was the 298th Division that was coming, Sokov breathed a sigh of relief, and said to Samoilov, who had not yet had time to walk away: "Don't let the soldiers prepare for battle. It is the 298th Division who is crossing the river." Commander."

  The commanders and fighters who crossed the river did not immediately climb up the hillside, but lined up by the river. Sokov saw several commanders walking towards the hillside under the protection of a dozen soldiers. Askel, who was standing next to him, hurriedly said to him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, look, it is Major General Vasilyev, the commander of the 298th Division."

   Don’t look at Sokov commanding several colonels, but he is only a lieutenant colonel after all. Now a general is walking towards the hillside. If he is still standing in the trench without moving, it would be too naive. Sokov looked around, seeing that Bely, Gurdiyev and others were not there, so he decided to meet Vasilyev alone.

Sokov walked towards Vasilyev along the slope. He stopped ten meters away, stood at attention on the spot, raised his hand to his forehead, and said loudly: "Comrade General , Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, reports to you, I obey your orders, please instruct!"

After Vasilyev raised his hand to return the salute, he stepped forward to hold Sokov's hand, and said with a smile on his face: "It's not easy, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you are really not easy. We have been attacking for a few days. It’s amazing that you took the position in just one hour.”

   Facing Vasilyev's praise, Sokov grinned silently, and then replied: "Comrade General, we were just lucky and caught the Germans by surprise."

  Vassiliev looked at the commanders and fighters who were still busy on the hillside, and asked curiously: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, are these all your subordinates?"

   "It can be regarded as my subordinate."

   "It's your subordinate, it's your subordinate," Sokov's answer puzzled Vasilyev: "How do you call it your subordinate?"

"It's like this, Comrade General." Sokov explained: "My immediate unit has only one battalion, and the wounded have been escorted to the rear in the morning. It is Colonel Gurdiyev who is staying on the hillside to build fortifications. 308th Infantry Division."

   The two were talking, and unknowingly came to the trench on the top of the hill. Vasilyev leaned down and looked down the hillside, and said with emotion: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the terrain here is too dangerous. If you hadn't taken it by surprise, we don't know how much sacrifice we would have to make."

"That's right," Sokov said, nodding his head, "the attacking troops must first brave the enemy's artillery and machine guns to cross the river. After crossing the river successfully, they will rush up the steep hillside. And stick to the hillside The enemy at the top can sit back and wait for work, condescendingly use firepower to kill our attacking troops."

"Our long-range artillery fire can't hit the enemy's firepower point at all." Vasilyev said with a wry smile: "When it is fired far away, the shells fly over the enemy's position; when it is fired close, the shells fall on the hillside and explode. , can't hit the enemy's target at all. But when we launch an attack, the enemy on the high ground can destroy every target that appears in their field of vision like a target."

   "Comrade General," Vasilyev saw that the sky was getting dark, and Vasiliev was still discussing the fortification with himself, so he asked tentatively, "Are your troops here to take over the defense?"

   "That's right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, our division is here to take over the defense." Vasilyev looked at Sokov and asked, "Can you hand over the defense to me now?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade General, not yet. Because the troops holding the position are not under my command." Sukov knew that after leaving this position, the 308th Division might break away from his command, so he had to make it clear first Responsibility, "I will have Colonel Gurdiyev brought in, and he will hand over the defense to you."

After finishing speaking, Sokov shouted at Samoilov who was standing not far away: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, call Colonel Gurdiyev and ask him to come here, and say that he will take over their defense." Allies have arrived."

   When Samoilov went to call, Sokov asked Vasilyev again: "Comrade General, do you have any tank soldiers in your division?"

   "Tank soldiers?!" Vasilyev nodded, and replied: "Yes. There are two tank brigades of tank soldiers. The tanks were all lost in the battle, so they were changed to infantry and under my direct command."

   "It would be nice to have tanks in your division."

   "Great, what's so great?" Vasilyev asked puzzled: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, can you find tanks for them?"

"You guessed right, Comrade General." Sokov nodded vigorously, "We still have a dozen or so tanks on the ground, because the tank soldiers want to move with me, but these tanks cannot be taken away. Since your men have Tankers, then I'll hand over all the tanks to you."

  Vassiliev turned his head and glanced at the commanders who followed him into the trench, and said casually: "Who knows where the comrades of the tank brigade are, and asked them to come and receive the tanks?"

  As soon as his voice fell, a lieutenant said first: "Comrade commander, I know where the comrades of the tank brigade are, and I will go find them."

  The lieutenant left, and Gurdiyev appeared in the trench. Seeing Vasilyev standing in front of Sokov, he hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and said, "Hello, Comrade General, I am Colonel Gurdiyev, commander of the 308th Division, and I am here to hand over the defense to you." .”

   "Is there a defense map?" Vasilyev asked.

   "Yes, I'll show it to you right away." Gurdiyev took out a square-folded drawing from his briefcase, unfolded it, and introduced the deployment of the entire position to Vasilyev.

   After listening to Gurdiyev's explanation, Vasilyev took over the drawings and prepared to find a place to sign for them. A staff officer hurried forward, bent down with his back to Vasiliev and said, "Comrade commander, put the blueprint on my back."

  Vassiliev put the blueprint on the back of the staff officer, and wrote on the paper in full swing: "The 298th Division took over the defense of the position from the 308th Division. Signature: Vasiliev!"

   After finishing all this, Vasilyev held out his hand to Gurdiyev and said friendlyly: "Comrade Colonel, after my troops enter the position, you and your subordinates can leave."

  (end of this chapter)