Chapter 932

   There were not many troops attacking the German positions, and each regiment sent only one company of troops. However, many of the German troops standing on these positions were so drunk that they lost their combat effectiveness and were defeated by the Soviet army.

   Lieutenant Colonel Starcha received a report from his subordinates from the enemy's position, and learned that the enemy had no way to fight back, so he couldn't help thinking of seizing the enemy's position. He personally called Sokov, reported the situation, and cautiously proposed: "Comrade commander, since the enemy has been beaten by us and has no power to fight back, can you take this opportunity to send more troops to separate this position from the enemy?" Take it from your hand?"

"No." As soon as Starcha finished speaking, Sokov refused his request without hesitation: "I know that you are capable of capturing the enemy's position, but have you ever thought about occupying the enemy's position?" After that, what kind of force do you use to defend it? Instead of spreading your forces and being wiped out by the enemy one by one, it is better to stay in the existing position honestly and consume as much of the enemy's vitality as possible. Wait until the time is right before launching the final general attack Not too late."

  To Sokov's surprise, Chuikov called from the headquarters less than half an hour after the call between him and Starcha ended. He asked straight to the point: "Colonel Sokov, I heard that you sent troops to attack the enemy's positions at night and achieved good results, right?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sokov replied excitedly: "The Germans may think that tonight is Christmas Eve, and we will not take action against them, so they are very paralyzed. It caused huge casualties to myself. Although the results of the battle have not yet been calculated, I estimate that at least three or four hundred enemies have been eliminated."

  If it was the past, Cuikov would definitely praise Sokov greatly when he heard such a result. But after listening to it today, I was unexpectedly silent. After a long time, he said: "Judging from the results of the battle, you have eliminated so many enemies, and you are fully capable of occupying the enemy's position. But why did your subordinates face you after making this suggestion to you?" What about your refusal?"

  Chuikov's words made Sokov stunned. He thought to himself that he had clarified the serious relationship with Cuikov when he was at the headquarters. Why are the old things brought up again now? "Comrade Commander," Sokov said cautiously, "I have reported to you that we are indeed capable of capturing the enemy's positions. But our division's strength is insufficient. Once troops are sent to occupy these positions, it will lead to The division of forces enables the enemy to break us up individually. I have reported this to you when I was at the headquarters."

"That's right, you did report it." Chuikov said in a slow tone, "I received an order from my superiors saying that you did not consider taking back the area occupied by the enemy when you have the upper hand. This is an extremely dangerous Let me give you a wake-up call, and let me order you to occupy these positions."

"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." Hearing Chuikov's order to occupy the German positions, Sokov immediately retorted, "I think it will be difficult for me to carry out your order, after all, our division has limited strength, so we can barely occupy these positions. In the days to come, I am afraid it will be difficult to block the enemy's attack."

In order to prevent Chuikov from forcibly giving himself orders, Sokov also specially emphasized: "Comrade commander, the current position of our division has formed a salient. The left and right wings of the salient are very fragile. The Germans only need to initiate A strong attack can encircle the main force of our division. Once this happens, the consequences may be very serious."

"I understand, Colonel Sokov." Chuikov sighed softly, and said helplessly, "That's the order my superiors gave me. But I understand your situation, don't worry, I will report this matter to my superiors in detail , I hope they can cancel this unrealistic order."

Sidolin and Ivanov, who were standing next to them, waited for Sokov to put down the phone and asked anxiously: "Comrade commander, what is going on? Why did the superiors know about it before we reported it?" What happened to us?"

   "Isn't this simple?" Sokov replied with a wry smile: "In our army, there are people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and they will report this news to their superiors through special channels."

   "People from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Sidolin thought for a while, and then a shocked expression appeared on his face: "Could it be Lieutenant Samoilov? You know, he is the only one from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the entire division."

"It's impossible." Out of trust in Samoilov, Sokov denied Sidolin's guess without hesitation: "Even if Lieutenant Samoilov used to be a member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but secretly He definitely wouldn’t have done such a small report. Because he didn’t even know that I was talking to Stalcha. If there is any doubt, the people around Lieutenant Colonel Stalcha would be extremely suspicious.”

"Comrade commander, do you mean that there are people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the regimental headquarters of the 124th regiment?" Ivanov asked this question in surprise, but Sukov could not speak, and decisively denied it: " I don't think this is possible, I know all the commanders in the regiment, they are all old subordinates who have followed me for many years, how could there be someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?"

  Sokov didn't speak, but thought dumbfoundingly in his heart, it seems that the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had placed people in the division a long time ago, but they were not noticed. But in order not to cause unnecessary panic, Sokov still decided to pretend to be confused and not to investigate who was placed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Maybe he can make good use of him in the future.

Thinking of this, Sokov waved his hand and said, "Okay, as for whether there are people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the 124th regiment, we will not discuss it for the time being. Chief of Staff, you should immediately call the heads of the regiments and reiterate my order again." , After completing the night attack mission and causing heavy casualties to the enemy, immediately withdraw to the original position, and no one is allowed to occupy the enemy's position without authorization."

  Although Sokov repeatedly emphasized that the troops were insufficient and could not occupy the positions at his fingertips, Sidolin always disagreed in his heart. However, when he just heard Sokov mention the concept of "bulge", he was shocked into a cold sweat. He checked the map carefully and found that what Sokov said was very reasonable. The three guard regiments were located in A protruding part, the defense of the left and right wings is extremely weak, as long as the enemy attacks from both sides, the main force of the division is in danger of being encircled. Therefore, after hearing Sukov's order, Sidolin agreed very readily.

"Comrade commander," Ivanov frowned and asked Sokov while Sidolin was calling to give the order: "We have been in our current position for a month, but the superiors have never sent us Come new reinforcements, are we going to be in a stalemate with the Germans like this?"

   "Don't worry, my deputy division commander." Seeing Ivanov looking anxious, Sokov comforted him and said, "According to my estimation, the situation will fundamentally improve in half a month at most."

   Regarding Sokov's statement, Ivanov was dubious: "Mr. Tong, how do you know that the situation will fundamentally improve in half a month?"

"It's very simple." Sokov explained: "Analysed from the information I have, the main force of our army on the periphery is moving to Mamayev Post step by step. As long as we join forces with our friendly forces, there will be enough Force. At that time, it will not be too late for us to launch a new attack on the enemy."

   Knowing that half a month later, it is possible to join forces with friendly troops, Ivanov couldn't help but be overjoyed. He hurriedly asked: "Comrade commander, is what you said true? Can we really join forces with the friendly troops who rushed from the west within half a month?"

   "It should be fine." Sokov said confidently.

"What are you talking about?" Sidolin, who had just finished the phone call, saw the joy on Ivanov's face, and was curious about what Sokov said that could make Ivanov so excited, so he asked strangely : "Why join forces with friendly troops within half a month?"

   "That's what happened." Sokov explained to Sidolin: "Based on the information I have, I have analyzed that in half a month at most, the troops coming from the west will be able to join us."

"A friendly army will join us in half a month?" Sidolin became agitated when he heard what Sokov said: "Comrade Commander, then analyze it, whose army will join us?" ? General Rokossovsky or General Vatutin? Or a unit of our Front?"

  Sokov remembered that not long after, the Don River Front Army and the Stalingrad Front Army merged to form a new Stalingrad Front Army, with Rokossovsky as the commander of the Front Army. However, he did not directly explain the matter, but pretended to be thinking, and said after a long time: "I think it should be General Rokossovsky's Don Front Army."

Sidolin stared at the map for a while, then nodded, agreeing with Sokov: "That's right, Comrade Commander. From the analysis of the situation of the enemy and ourselves on the map, there are indeed some troops who can rush over to join us. Probably General Rokossovsky's Don Front."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov was concerned about the troops that were carrying out the night attack, so he didn't discuss with the two of them whose troops would rush over to join forces. "How is the situation of the night attack troops? When can they withdraw?" fighting?"

Sidolin raised his hand and looked at his watch, and replied: "I have just asked the commanders of the regiments, and the night attack troops have begun to withdraw from the battle one after another. In about half an hour, they will all return to the original starting point." position."

Knowing that his order was passed down truthfully, Sokov nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "Very good! Our troops should follow orders and prohibit. The superior has issued an order to advance, even if there is a sea of ​​swords and flames ahead, we must not hesitate. After receiving the retreat order, no matter how much success the battle can achieve, we must withdraw from the battle as soon as possible.”

   "Have the results of the battle been counted?" Ivanov asked.

   "Not yet." Sidolin shook his head and said, "I'm afraid we won't get accurate results until all the troops are withdrawn."

   "After all the troops are withdrawn, we will immediately count the results of the battle." Sokov told Sidolin: "Then report the statistical results to the army headquarters in the shortest possible time."

   After giving the order, Sokov paused for a moment. Seeing that neither Sidolin nor Ivanov spoke, he asked, "Is there anything else?"

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin's eyes fell on Sokov's epaulettes, and he said, "Our superiors have officially notified us that the army's rank reform has officially started. But since there is no condition for overall replacement, I am afraid that it will take a long time Within a short period of time, there will be situations where old military ranks and new military ranks coexist.”

  Knowing that the division had also received an order to adjust military ranks, Sokov asked, "How do you adjust the military ranks of political workers?"

"Reporting to Comrade Division Commander," Sidolin replied respectfully: "Except for Division Political Commissar Anisimov and Head of the Drawdown Regiment Belkin, both of whom have the rank of lieutenant colonel, the rest of the regiment's political commissars have the rank of major. Battalion level The political workers at the company level and the company level have the rank of lieutenant officer. Also, the political workers in the company are still called instructors; while the first-level political instructors in the battalion are called instructors..."

Sokov patiently listened to the division's military rank adjustment, nodded, and said: "Since there is no condition to change to a new military rank at present, all political workers will still wear the existing military rank. Wait until Paul is defeated." Sri Lanka's troops, the superiors will uniformly replace us with new military ranks."

"Comrade Commander," Ivanov looked at his watch, and then said to Sokov with a smile, "You rushed back from Moscow, and you commanded the troops to fight a battle before you could rest. You must be very tired." .There are still a few hours before dawn, so you should hurry up and take a rest."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, Comrade Deputy Division Commander," Sokov wanted to go to sleep, but he took two steps towards the door. He stopped when he remembered an important matter, and said to the two of them, "We put the safety of the Germans on the road." The night is turning upside down, and Paulus will be very angry. I think that after dawn, maybe they will retaliate and launch an attack on our position. You must take precautions, and don't be caught by the enemy by surprise. .”

   "Don't worry, Comrade Master." Sidolin said with a smile: "It's not the first time we have dealt with the Germans, we know what to do, you can rest assured."

  Sokov understands the abilities of Sidolin and Ivanov, knowing that they know what to do after hearing his order, so he doesn't have to worry too much. He nodded, and walked out the door confidently and boldly.

When he came to a nearby room, Sokov could not fall asleep after lying down. He was muttering in his heart, Paulus had suffered such a big loss on Christmas Eve. With his character, would he really come to retaliate? ? If you really send troops to attack your position, resolutely repel them. But if they don't attack, can they follow suit on Christmas Eve and give the Germans another sneak attack?

  (end of this chapter)