Chapter 854 Military Academy

If the troops attacking the Soviet position at this moment were not the 305th Infantry Division of the German Army, but the Engineer Battalion, the artillery fire from the artillery regiment would not be able to destroy many enemies at all, because they were a combat team of three or five people, with the help of the bomb crater. Step by step approaching the Soviet position. Once shelled, they can use the nearby craters to hide in order to minimize casualties.

  The officers and soldiers of the 305th Division followed the assault guns in groups and charged towards the Soviet positions. Now that the assault guns in front were killed, they lost their cover and became lambs waiting to be slaughtered. Hearing the screeching sound of shells in the air, those who reacted quickly rushed directly into the crater next to them, and those who reacted slower were blown away by shells in groups.

The artillery shells falling in the German ranks exploded violently. In the deafening bursts of explosions, gunpowder smoke and flames rose into the air, and the German soldiers who were lifted into the air by the air waves were cut into pieces by the intertwined shrapnel and gravel. Fragments, the rain of blood that was still in the air had already been vaporized by the high temperature generated by the explosion, and the soil mixed with stumps, broken arms and weapon parts fell down like a goddess scattering flowers.

Fortunately, the artillery of the Soviet army was limited, and the shelling of the enemy only lasted for a few minutes, and then stopped abruptly. However, at least two hundred German soldiers were lying on this piece of Russian land forever, and could no longer stand up. As soon as the artillery of the Soviet army stopped, the surviving German soldiers got up from the ground one after another and fled to the back desperately. They just wanted to escape as far away from here as possible.

Sokov, who was staying in the division headquarters, received a call from Savage and learned that the enemy had retreated, so he just said lightly: "I see!" Lyudnikov said, "Comrade Colonel, the enemy's attack has been repulsed by our artillery."

   Learning of the enemy's attack and being repelled again, Lyudnikov had a relaxed expression on his face. Since he led his troops into the barricade factory, there have been battles every day, but this is the first time he has seen such an easy battle like today. He nodded slightly, and said to Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, I heard the commander say that you are very good at fighting, and I was still quite unconvinced. I thought that even if you can fight, can you have more combat experience than me?" Compared with people who have been in the army for more than 20 years? But after these two days of fighting, I think what the commander said is very reasonable. You are indeed a person who is very good at fighting. If nothing else, just talk about the army I am afraid that the number of casualties is less than one-fifth of mine."

Regarding Lyudnikov's praise, Sokov smiled lightly and said modestly: "Comrade Colonel, you are too flattered. I haven't been in the army for a long time, and I haven't been to a military academy. I'm also blind to these fighting methods." Elusive."

"Speaking of the military academy, I think of one thing." Lyudnikov had studied at the famous Frunze Military Academy before the war. Hearing that Sukov had never been to a military academy, he said enthusiastically: "Wait for us After repelling the German attack on Stalingrad, I suggest you go to the Frunze Military Academy to learn and master more command skills, which will be very helpful for your future promotion."

  Sokov remembers that the Frunze Military Academy moved out of Moscow shortly after the war began, but he didn't know exactly where. Hearing Lyudnikov mention the school at this moment, he couldn't help asking curiously: "Comrade Colonel, I heard that the academy has moved out of Moscow. I don't know where it has moved?"

"Tashkent." Lyudnikov replied briefly: "After the war broke out, the academy moved to Tashkent, and offered a crash course for cadre training, and the study time was only three months." Perhaps worried that Sokov had concerns, he went further Explained, "Even if you enter the military academy to study, it is impossible for the superior to assign a new commander to replace you in such a short period of time. Therefore, after you finish your studies, you can still return to the original army."

  Lyudnikov's words made Sokov's heart flutter a little. He knew that he had never been to a military academy, and that he was able to become the commander of the Guards Division had a lot of luck. But if you still want to continue to be promoted, without the experience of studying in a military academy, it may be very difficult to go further.

   "Comrade Colonel," Sokov asked tentatively, "If I want to study at the Military Academy, who do I need to apply to?"

"Needless to say, we now belong to the 62nd Army. If you want to enter the military academy, you must apply to Commander Chuikov." Lyudnikov said with a smile: "With his appreciation for you, I will definitely agree to your request."

   "Comrade Colonel, do you know the admission requirements?" Sokov waited for Lyudnikov to finish speaking, and immediately asked: "I don't know if I meet the admission criteria."

"Colonel Sokov, since the academy mainly trains combined army commanders with extensive knowledge from the regiment to the military level, the entry requirements for the students are extremely strict. It is required that they must graduate from the Advanced Command School of the Combined Armed Forces and have served in the military for more than two years. Battalion-level commander, has practical experience in unit command, has good combat literacy, is under 38 years old, and has a military rank of captain or major.” After Lyudnikov finished the enrollment criteria, he saw Sokov’s With a cloudy expression on his face, he added: "But don't worry, based on your performance on the battlefield and the achievements you have made, as long as you submit an application, I think Comrade Commander will definitely agree."

   Originally Sokov was very confident about entering the Frunze Military Academy, but after hearing what Lyudnikov said, he seemed a little uneasy. He thought to himself: I have to go to the headquarters for a meeting tomorrow, should I have a private talk with Chuikov to see if he will allow me to enter the military academy?

   While thinking wildly, the phone rang. Sokov glanced at the several phones on the table and found that the phone in front of Lyudnikov was ringing. He thought it was a subordinate of the division who was going to report to Lyudnikov.

Unexpectedly, Lyudnikov picked up the phone and listened for a moment, then said respectfully: "... yes, Comrade Commander, he is right across from me, do you want to talk to him?...Okay, I will immediately Put him on the phone."

  Sokov took the phone from Lyudnikov, and asked a little blankly into the microphone: "Hello, Comrade Commander, do you have any instructions?"

  According to his thinking, Chuikov might want to ask whether the road from the barricade factory to the headquarters is safe. Unexpectedly, I heard Chuikov ask on the phone: "Colonel Sokov, I heard that you gave director Peter a copy of the design drawings. Is there such a thing?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Hearing that Chuikov asked about self-propelled artillery, Sokov immediately regained his spirits: "I think we should also have a kind of technical equipment similar to the German assault gun, so we gave it to the Peter Factory. Chang drew a sketch and wrote some design ideas to him.”

   "Do you think this kind of technical equipment can be deployed in troops after it is produced?" Chuikov asked.

   "Comrade Commander, I think that as long as the output can be guaranteed, this kind of technical equipment will soon be installed on a large scale in the army." Sokov replied: "This will help improve the strength of our artillery."

"But I think you may have forgotten one important thing." After waiting for Sokov to finish speaking, Chuikov deliberately reminded him: "Our communication with the other side has been interrupted. I am afraid that many materials for the production of this new type of technical equipment cannot be obtained." Bring it in from outside."

   Hearing what Chuikov was worried about, Sokov couldn't help laughing. He said into the microphone: "Comrade Commander, if I'm not mistaken, the meeting tomorrow night may be related to our army's future major operations. Don't you have confidence in us defeating the enemy? Anyway, I think the enemy will be defeated sooner or later." We have defeated, and we can find ways to overcome some of the difficulties we are currently facing."

"Colonel Sokov," Cuikov didn't respond to Sokov's joke, but said with a serious expression: "I talked carefully with the director Peter, and he said that if all the reserve forces are used, it will take about two days. In time, a prototype of the automatic artillery can be produced. After the prototype is produced, it will be up to you to test this technical equipment on the battlefield, and provide the necessary data for Peter and the others, so that they can improve in the future.”

  After chatting about self-propelled artillery for a while, Chuikov was about to hang up the phone, but Chuikov hurriedly stopped him and said hesitantly, "Comrade Commander, I want to ask you one more thing."

  Chuikov heard Sokov speaking to himself in this tone, and immediately asked vigilantly: "Colonel Sokov, what happened to you, why are you talking to me in such a tone?"

   "That's right, Comrade Commander." Sokov asked with a blushing face, "I want to study at the Frunze Military Academy to improve my command skills. I wonder if you agree with me going to the Military Academy to study?"

"What, you want to enter the Frunze Military Academy?" Cuikov said with some surprise: "We are fighting now. As the commander of a division, how can you leave your combat post casually?" He reminded Sukov kindly, "Although the situation in the city is unfavorable to our army, we will soon take major military actions to reverse this unfavorable situation. If you leave at this time, you will not only give up the honor that is at your fingertips, but you will even be hurt by others." criticized."

"Comrade Commander, you misunderstood." Sokov didn't want people to misunderstand that he wanted to be a deserter, so he quickly explained to Chuikov: "I mean, I will go to Fulong after defeating the enemy attacking Stalingrad." Study at the Chi Military Academy. But Colonel Lyudnikov said that to enter the academy, you must get permission."

"Since after defeating the enemies in Stalingrad, there is nothing wrong with studying at the Frunze Military Academy." Knowing that Sokov did not leave Stalingrad right now, Chuikov was relieved immediately. He promised Sokov: "As soon as the enemy is defeated, I will personally recommend you to study at the Frunze Military Academy."

"Thank you, Comrade Commander, thank you very much." Hearing that Chuikov agreed to go to the Frunze Military Academy to study after the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, Sokov couldn't help being overjoyed. He knew very well in his heart that as long as he went to Studying for three months is very helpful for my future, so I keep expressing my gratitude to Chuikov.

Seeing Sokov put down the phone with a smile on his face, Lyudnikov immediately extended his hand to him and said friendlyly: "Colonel Sokov, please accept my heartfelt wishes and wish you good grades in the academy. "

Sokov shook hands with Lyudnikov and said with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, the commander just agreed to recommend me to study. Whether I can enter the academy or not will wait until we defeat the enemy who attacked Stalingrad." just got it."

"The commander has agreed to recommend you to the Frunze Military Academy, and that's almost done." Lyudnikov said with a smile on his face: "You know, the most famous generals today: Zhukov, Rokosov Sky, Konev, Vasilevsky and others have all studied at the Frunze Military Academy. If you can enter this academy, you must be able to gain their trust and respect."

  The few people mentioned by Lyudnikov were all famous generals in the Great Patriotic War, especially the first three, and they were even called "the Troika of the Soviet Army". Not to mention Vasilevsky, he is the future chief of staff. Being able to be called alumni with these famous generals is very helpful to my future.

   It is certainly a joyful thing to be able to study at the Frunze Military Academy. But Sokov didn't get excited for long, and turned his attention back to the defense of the barricade factory. For him, the immediate priority is to resolutely defend the barricade factory and wait for the arrival of the Soviet counteroffensive.

Sokov calmed down and said to Lyudnikov: "Comrade Colonel, I have an idea now. When I go to the headquarters for a meeting tomorrow, if all commanders above the regiment level go, once the enemy conducts a sneak attack at night, then the enemy will be killed." Who will command the troops? Without a unified command, the troops may fall into chaos."

  Lyudnikov thought about Sokov's statement for a moment, and felt that it was really possible, so he asked humbly: "Colonel Sokov, tell me, what should we do?"

"In my opinion, when we go to the meeting, it is enough to bring Lieutenant Colonel Guzman of the 650th Regiment and Commander Belkin under me." Sokov suggested to Lyudnikov: "As for the remaining The two infantry regiment commanders and one artillery regiment commander below, let them stay in order to deal with possible enemy situations."

   After two days of getting along, Lyudnikov already had great trust in Sokov. Although he was not obedient to what he said, at least he would not sing against him. Therefore, he only thought about the plan proposed by Sokov for less than a minute, then nodded and said: "You are right, when we go to the meeting, there must be a regimental commander sitting here in the factory. According to the You can do what you say, just let Lieutenant Colonel Guzman, the commander of the 650th regiment, and Commander Belkin follow us to the meeting, and the remaining regiment leaders will stay in the factory to deal with possible emergencies.”

  (end of this chapter)