Chapter 875 is expected

  The conversation between Sokov and Chuikov was clearly heard by Sidolin, Ivanov and others who were standing nearby. Regarding the bet they made, they were not optimistic about Sokov in their hearts, thinking that he might lose.

After the room was quiet for a while, Sidolin spoke first, shaking his head and reminding Sokov: "Comrade Commander, although the superior has added four battalions to us, it is a pity that the commanders and fighters are not ready to fight back. If you rush into the battle, it may be difficult to achieve the desired results."

"The chief of staff is right." Regarding Sidolin's statement, Ivanov promptly expressed support: "The soldiers added to us have not had time to familiarize themselves with this area, so let them participate in the attack with insufficient preparation. I'm afraid it won't work well."

Seeing that Sidolin and Ivanov had the same point of view, they both thought that they would lose in this game, so they asked with a smile: "Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Commander, I heard the tone of the two of you speaking, it seems that you think Am I doomed?"

"Isn't it?" Anisimov made up his mind, "Comrade Commander, to be honest, I don't think you can win this bet. After all, our army's counterattack this time will get the air force and a large enough number of troops." Artillery support, as long as the Germans are not blind or deaf, they will definitely guess that this is a long-prepared counterattack by our army. If I were Paulus, I would definitely draw troops from the city to reinforce the Don River without hesitation The defenders of the river basin, so as not to be cut off from the rear."

"Commander Anisimov, you are not Paulus, and Paulus is not you, so it is impossible for you to make the same decision." Although the other three division leaders were not optimistic about him, Sokov was still confident Said: "I always believe that as long as the Stalingrad Front Army has not launched an offensive, Paulus will not send any reinforcements to the defenders in the Don River Valley, and will still concentrate on the final attack on the factory area."

After Sokov finished speaking, he saw that Ivanov seemed to want to refute himself, so he raised his hand to stop him, and then said: "Comrade deputy commander, you don't need to persuade me anymore. This time, I will lose or win this bet, or I will win." Let’s speak from the facts. Anyway, the friendly army’s attack on the enemy in the Don River valley will start in a few hours.”

Seeing Sokov's stubbornness, Ivanov sighed softly, and said rather helplessly: "Comrade commander, since you insist on your opinion so much, I think you won't listen to what I say. Then we Just wait until the friendly attack begins, and see how the enemy in the city reacts."

  ...

  When the artillery units of the Southwest Front Army and the Don River Front Army carried out powerful artillery strikes against the German, Italian, and Romanian troops entrenched in the Don River Basin, the news reached the German headquarters in Grubinskaya.

Paulus stared at the telegram sent by the forward commander, and after a while, he raised his head and sent a telegram to his own Schmidt: "Chief of Staff, do you think the Russians are suddenly imposing a strong attack on our defenders in the Don River Basin?" What is the purpose of the artillery attack?"

"The intention is obvious." Schmidt looked for some areas under artillery bombardment on the map, and said confidently: "It may be that the progress we have made in the city has frightened the Russian Supreme Command, so they He ordered the troops deployed in the north of our army to carry out an assault on our flanks and rear. In this way, we tried to divert our attention and win a precious respite for the defenders in the city."

  Schmidt's analysis is not aimless. As early as early September, early October, and even early November, the Soviet army had launched attacks on the flanks of the German army, trying to contain the German army in this way so that they could not concentrate all their forces to capture the city.

Based on this consideration, Paulus nodded after listening to Schmidt's words and said: "Chief of Staff, you are right. Don't look at the Russians making such a big commotion, their purpose is nothing more than In order to relieve the pressure on the defenders in the city."

"Your Excellency, Commander!" Schmidt waited for Paulus to finish speaking, and asked tentatively: "The defenders in the Don River Basin are almost Italian and Romanian troops. I am afraid that with their combat effectiveness, it may be difficult to stop the Russians. attack. Do you think we should send troops to reinforce them?"

   "Reinforce them?!" Paulus waved his hands and said, "No, Chief of Staff, we don't need to send troops to reinforce them."

"But if the Russian assault breaks through the friendly defense line, then our rear will be exposed to the Russians." Seeing that Paulus was unwilling to send reinforcements, Schmidt carefully reminded him: "At that time we will There is a danger of being attacked in the abdomen."

"Order the troops attacking the factory area, increase the intensity of the attack, and drive the Russians into the Volga River within today." Paulus said with a sneer: "Once we occupy the entire city, the Russians will be in the Don River Basin." There is no point in launching an attack. The Russians will retreat obediently without us sending troops to reinforce the defenders in the Don River valley."

  After listening to Paulus' words, Schmidt couldn't help thinking. In his heart, he felt that Paulus' words were very reasonable. The main purpose of the Russians launching such a large-scale offensive was not to relieve Stalingrad. If their own troops occupied the entire city, the efforts of the Russians would be in vain, and it would be meaningless for them to attack the defenders in the Don valley.

  After thinking about this truth, Schmidt nodded and said: "Understood, Your Excellency Commander. I will immediately notify General Kurzbach and let his troops attack the factory area with all their strength."

"Remember!" Seeing that Schmidt picked up the phone and was about to call General Kurzbach, the commander of the 51st Army, Paulust specifically told him: "Let them take the entire Stalinger today." Le."

"clear!"

  ...

Chuikov always remembered the bet he had made with Sokov. When the friendly forces launched a powerful artillery attack on the enemy's position in the Don River Basin, he couldn't help calling Yeremenko on the opposite bank, and asked anxiously: " Comrade Commander, do you have any news about the Southwest Front and the Don Front?"

"General Chuikov." Yeremenko replied with a serious expression: "So far, I can only tell you that the artillerymen of the two fronts are preparing artillery fire on the enemy's defensive positions. Even if an attack is to be launched, it will take Wait until the artillery preparations are over."

   "Comrade Commander," Chuikov had already guessed that Yeremenko would give him such an answer, and then asked, "I want to ask you, do you think friendly troops can break through the enemy's defense?"

"This is the first time our army has gathered so many troops to carry out a powerful assault on the enemy." Hearing Chuikov's question, Yeremenko said in a somewhat uncertain tone: "But what kind of results will this assault achieve?" , It depends on the situation after the friendly army puts the ground troops into battle."

Yeremenko considered that Chuikov's call to himself was definitely not for such a matter that he didn't know the answer for the time being, so he tentatively asked: "General Chuikov, do you have other intentions in calling me? "

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Chuikov thought that he would ask Yelymenko later, so he didn't hide it from him. He told the other party about the bet he had made with Sokov, and finally said: "...if you want To counterattack the frontal enemy without the cooperation of tanks, I am afraid it will be difficult to succeed. I would like to ask if you can send a tank battalion from the east bank to assist Colonel Sokov's troops in the counterattack."

"It's nonsense, it's nonsense." After hearing Chuikov's explanation of his visit, Yeremenko said angrily: "Don't say that I can't provide you with tanks now, even if I can, I don't agree with you rushing to the The enemy launched an attack. This can be said to be a kind of suicide, not only is it difficult to obtain results, but it may also lose the little vitality in the city."

  Cuikov originally thought that Yelymenko would be overjoyed if he mentioned that he was going to launch a counterattack today. Unexpectedly, the other party's reaction was far beyond his expectations. He asked with some embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, I think that once the friendly army's ground offensive begins, it will be able to attract the attention of the German army in the city. You can hit them hard when they're in a mess."

"No, General Chuikov, I don't agree with you sending Sokov's troops to take risks." After Yeremenko sent four infantry battalions to supplement the 41st Guards Division, he once considered that he would be on the first day of the counteroffensive. , Let Sokov's troops go into battle. But after he reported this plan, it was denied by the Supreme Command. It was for this reason that he disagreed with Chuikov to let Sokov's troops take risks on the first day of the counteroffensive: "At least wait until our front army has also launched a counterattack and the battle situation is generally clear before considering taking Sokov's army to the next level." Corf's troops are in battle. Understand?"

   After putting down the phone, Chuikov picked up the cigarette case on the table, shook out a cigarette from it, put it in his mouth but did not light it, and quietly recalled the conversation between himself and Yelyomenko in his mind. Seeing that Chuikov had a cigarette in his mouth but did not light it, Krylov quickly lit a match, leaned over to help him light the cigarette, and asked cautiously, "Comrade Commander, what did the Commander of the Front Army say? Agree to allow Sokov's forces to launch a counterattack today?"

Chuikov did not immediately answer Krylov's question, but after taking a puff of cigarette, he asked back: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you think Sokov's troops should be allowed to launch a counterattack against the German defensive positions today? "

"How should I say it?" To Chuikov's question, Krylov replied solemnly: "In all honesty, I also hope to drive the Germans out of the city as soon as possible, so I naturally hope that the counterattack will be carried out as soon as possible." The better. But I thought about it carefully. When we gave Sokov the counterattack plan, the enemy in front of Mamayev Hill was the Romanian army. With their combat effectiveness, they could not stop the counterattack of the 41st Guards Division. .But since the Germans switched defenses, our counterattack plan has faced a very embarrassing situation..."

"You don't need to say any more." Before Krylov finished speaking, Chuikov raised his hand and interrupted him: "Whether the enemy to attack is the Germans or the Romanians, there is indeed a big difference. But after a long period of After the battle, the morale of the defenders in the city was affected to some extent, since Sokov's troops can launch a counterattack earlier, it can boost the morale of the troops and make everyone more confident in holding their positions."

After Chuikov finished speaking, Krylov asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, do you really think that after our friendly troops attacked the enemy in the Don River valley, the German troops in the city would not attack again?" ?”

"I think this should be a matter of common sense." Cuikov frowned and said, "As a senior commander, when he finds himself under attack from the superior enemy forces, the first thing he has to do is to report to the enemy. Sending reinforcements to the areas he was attacking, rather than continuing to attack areas he has been unable to capture."

  However, Cuikov did not expect that he would be slapped in the face after speaking for less than half an hour. Joludev, the commander of the 37th Guards Division, called him and said anxiously: "Comrade commander, due to the freezing of the river, the German engineers laid a road on the ice for tanks to pass. Now there are almost ten roads on the ice. Two tanks have entered the factory area, and a large number of German infantry are also assembled. It seems that they are planning to launch a full-scale attack on our division's defense area."

"What about the direction controlled by the 45th Infantry Division?" After the highway bridge linking the factory with the outside world was blown up some time ago, German tanks, assault guns and armored vehicles could not enter the factory area. The position, the fighting in the Dzerzhinsky factory, fell into a stalemate. But at this moment when he heard that the German tanks had entered the factory area again, Chuikov's heart became heavy. He knew that the 37th Guards Division was seriously downsized and could only stick to a small area of ​​the factory, most of which were controlled by Sokolov. The Colonel's 45th Infantry Division was in charge. "How are they doing there?"

"There are also a large number of German tanks and assault guns in the area they are in charge of." Zolludev replied on the phone: "It seems that the Germans are planning to launch a fierce attack on the Dzerzhinsky factory today. Commander Comrade, I beg you to send troops to reinforce us."

"Send troops, where can I send troops?" Knowing that the German army was about to launch an attack on the Dzerzhinsky factory, Chuikov's mood became bad. He said angrily: "How about I go there in person and fight side by side with your soldiers."

Knowing that Chuikov was speaking out of anger, Zholudev laughed dryly and asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, isn't there no fighting on Mamayev Post now? Look, let Colonel Sokov send troops over to support Let's go? As long as his troops are here, no matter how fierce the enemy's attack is, we have the confidence to defend the factory."

  Chuikov never dreamed that Ruoludev would have Sokov's idea. He denied this proposal without hesitation: "No, although there is no fighting on Mamayev Gang for the time being, it does not mean that there will be no fighting in the future. If I transfer all the troops to your place, immediately Mayev Gang fell due to the lack of troops and was unable to resist the German attack, can you afford this responsibility?"

  Chuikov’s words startled Zholudev. The reason why he proposed to let Sokov’s troops assist in the defense was because Sokov’s troops had strong combat effectiveness. With them here, he was more confident in defending the factory. But hearing Chuikov make the problem so serious, he didn't dare to stick to his opinion any longer, so he could only ask with a wry smile: "Comrade commander, can you supply us with some additional troops and equipment from other places? With some strength, it may be difficult to hold the position."

  (end of this chapter)