red moscow

Chapter 2919

Sokov walked into the tent and saw Karsokov was on the phone. Judging from the tone of his voice, the person he was talking to should be Captain Nazorov, the commander of the third battalion.

As he was patiently waiting for Karsokov to finish the call, another phone on the table rang. Sokov quickly reached out and grabbed the receiver, putting it to his ear: "This is Sokov!"

Belkin's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I see that the Third Battalion's position has been heavily bombarded by the Germans. It looks like the enemy is planning to attack from that direction. Do you think I need to bring some reinforcements over?"

But Sokov did not make a statement easily. Instead, he asked, "What is the situation of the Fourth Battalion? Are there any unusual movements by the enemy?"

"It's very quiet in front of the Fourth Battalion's position, and there are no signs of enemy activity." Belkin said, "It seems that the Germans don't intend to waste their artillery shells in the direction of the Fourth Battalion today."

"Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, I think you should stay in the reserve team. That way, even if the enemy suddenly launches an attack on the Fourth Battalion's position, I will feel more at ease with you there."

"Okay," Belkin could only say helplessly after hearing what Sokov said, "Then I will continue to stay here in the reserve. But if the situation in the Third Battalion is critical, just give me a call and I will bring people over to reinforce them."

When Sokov hung up the phone, he saw that Karsokov had just finished his call, so he asked quickly, "What did the third battalion commander say?"

"The third battalion commander reported that he had withdrawn his troops to the second-line position after the shelling began."

"That's not what I'm asking." Sokov waved his hand at Karsokov and continued, "I'm asking if the enemy has made any moves."

"No enemy movement was detected in front of the Third Battalion's position," Karsokov reported, "but there were signs of enemy activity on the right wing of the position, and it seemed that they wanted to launch an attack on our friendly forces."

"So that's how it is. This way, we can explain the enemy's abnormal behavior."

Karsokov asked in surprise: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I don't quite understand what you mean."

"If my guess is correct, the enemy intends to launch an attack on the friendly forces on the right wing of my brigade." Sokov explained to Karsokov: "They are worried that they will be attacked from the flank and rear during the attack, so they suppress the positions of the third battalion with artillery fire, making it impossible for our officers and soldiers to leave the fortifications and thus pose no threat to them."

"So this is it." Karsokov nodded in realization. "The enemy is so cunning."

The phone rang. Sokov thought Belkin had something else to say, so he picked up the receiver and said, "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, is there anything else?"

Unexpectedly, there was silence for a moment, and then Politic's voice came: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, this is Colonel Politic."

"It's you, Comrade Colonel." Sokov realized that he had made a mistake and asked embarrassedly, "What can I do for you?"

"It's like this, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Politik explained, "I saw that the position in the northwest was under enemy artillery fire, and I guessed that there might be a fierce battle there next. I called you to ask if you need support from my unit?"

"Comrade Colonel, thank you for your kindness." Sokov thought that the enemy's target should be the friendly forces on the right wing. Although the Third Battalion was under heavy artillery fire, the probability of a battle was small, so he tactfully rejected Politic's proposal: "We have enough capabilities to deal with the German attack, so we won't bother your troops to participate in the battle."

"Okay then." Politic was not angry after being rejected by Sokov, but said generously: "Since you don't need support, my troops will stay put. But when you feel the situation on the front line is critical, don't be embarrassed, just call me, and I will find a way to help you."

"Comrade Brigade Commander," Karsokov said with a smile after Sokov hung up the phone, "I never expected that Colonel Politik would not think about how to let the troops rest, but would only think about fighting the Germans."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I think we should move the 31st Division to another location?" Sokov scratched the back of his head and said, "Their current location is too close to the front line. If you were the commander of this unit and saw friendly forces fighting the enemy not far away, would you be able to remain calm and let your troops continue to rest there?"

"I'm sure I won't be able to keep my cool." Karsokov shook his head and said, "Even if I can follow the orders of my superiors and stay behind the warring parties to rest, the officers and soldiers below will also be impatient and will keep coming to me to ask for battle."

"Since we both agree, I will call the commander and ask him to move the 315th Division to the rear for rest as soon as possible."

"Wait a minute." Karsokov said, "The enemy is now shelling the Third Battalion's position. If the 315th Division chooses to retreat at this moment, if the Third Battalion sees it, it may cause bad rumors, which will affect the morale of the troops."

Sokov thought about it carefully and it seemed to be true. Although the officers and soldiers of the Third Battalion were not fighting with the German army at the moment, but were hiding in the second-line positions, if they saw the troops behind them start to retreat, it would definitely shake the morale of the army. Maybe the enemy's ground attack has not even started yet, and the defense line may collapse.

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right." Sokov said fluently, "The retreat of the 315th Division at this moment will definitely affect the morale of the 315rd Battalion and make the officers and soldiers panic. I think it won't be too late to wait until the enemy's shelling ends and see what the specific situation is, and then call the commander and ask him to withdraw the th Division to the rear."

However, the German shelling had not stopped yet, and Politik appeared in the brigade headquarters with Haranchuk.

Seeing the two people appear, Sokov was stunned and asked, "Comrade Colonel, why are you here?"

Without waiting for Politik to answer, he turned to Haranchuk and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Haranchuk, you are injured. Why are you here instead of resting at the base?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." It was Politic who spoke first. "I saw the enemy shelling our friendly positions and couldn't sit still any longer, so I brought Haranchuk here. If the enemy launches a ground attack later and you need help, just let me know. I will arrange for troops to cooperate with you."

"Comrade Colonel, thank you for your kindness." Seeing that Politic had come to him on his own initiative, Sokov could only explain to him why he didn't need their assistance: "Although the enemy's artillery fire is fierce, they may not attack." "Why is that?" Politic asked puzzledly: "If they don't plan to attack your position, why do they want to bombard? Don't they have too many shells to use up?"

"Comrade Colonel, please look at the map." Karsokov pointed to the map on the table and explained to Politic: "A regiment of the 316th Infantry Division is deployed on the right wing of my brigade. Every time the enemy launches an attack on the regiment's defense zone, we will take some measures, such as artillery bombardment or sending troops to attack, to disrupt their attack. They should soon launch an attack on the friendly positions. In order to avoid our flank attack, they launched a fierce artillery bombardment on the third battalion's position, forcing our officers and soldiers to stay in the fortifications."

After Sokov's explanation, Politic immediately understood why Sokov refused to join the battle when he offered to do so. However, he still asked unwillingly: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I think what you said makes sense, but will the enemy really not attack your brigade's position?"

"Although there is a possibility that the enemy will attack, I think the possibility is low." Sokov said lightly.

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Haranchuk, who had been silent since entering the tent, looked at Sokov calmly and said, "I don't quite understand what you mean. You might as well explain it more clearly."

"Lieutenant Colonel Haranchuk," Sokov turned his gaze to Haranchuk, "Your division is now stationed in the defense zone of our brigade. What do you think of our terrain here?"

After hearing Sokov's question, Haranchuk thought for a moment and then said, "Except for a small hill where the Fourth Battalion is located, the rest of your brigade is either forest or clearing in the forest. I am very curious, why can't the Germans take such a place that can be said to be indefensible?"

"There are many reasons why the Germans couldn't take our brigade's defense zone," Sokov said seriously, "but the main reason is that it has no strategic value at all."

After saying this, Sokov saw that both Politik and Haranchuk had blank expressions on their faces, so he explained: "Even if we are occupied by them, this is not a suitable place to gather troops and store supplies, so the Germans never regarded us as the focus of their attack, otherwise our brigade would not have been able to hold out here for so long. Compared to us, Volokolamsk on the right wing is not only a city, but also a transportation hub to Moscow. If the city can be occupied, the German army can complete a new assembly there and then quickly rush to Moscow."

After Sokov's explanation, the two immediately understood: "No wonder the Germans knew that you had a lot of troops gathered here, but they never made you the focus of their attack. It turns out that in their minds, you are not their main target at all."

After a pause, Politic asked tentatively: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, if the German army really attacks your friendly forces on the right wing, what are you going to do?"

"We have just replenished a batch of artillery shells, which can be used to launch artillery strikes against the German troops attacking friendly positions."

"Well, that's not bad." Politic, who had seen the artillery fire of the infantry brigade, nodded slowly: "The artillery fire you have can cause considerable casualties to the Germans."

"Comrade Colonel, since you are here, I have something to discuss with you."

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, please tell me what's going on?"

"I plan to have your division withdraw to the rear for rest." Sokov was worried that Politic would misunderstand, so he explained to him: "Your base is too close to the front line. If a battle breaks out, it will affect your rest."

Sokov's words were very tactful, and Politik understood what he meant: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I understand what you mean. After dark, I will call General Rokossovsky and ask him to allow my troops to retreat to the rear for rest and replenishment."

"In fact, we don't have to wait until after dark." Sokov pointed to the phone on the table and said, "You can call the commander right now and ask him what he thinks and where he plans to arrange them to rest."

After thinking about it, Politic finally accepted Sokov's suggestion and called Rokossovsky to ask where his troops should be transferred to for rest and replenishment.

After listening to Politic's question, Rokossovsky thought for a while, and then said: "Colonel Politic, I plan to transfer your division to Sun Mountain City, and you will be responsible for the defense of the city."

Politic asked cautiously: "Can we get additional troops in Sun Mountain City?"

"Comrade Colonel, I authorize your division to recruit new soldiers in Sun Mountain City." Rokossovsky said decisively: "I will arrange for the logistics department to send you the weapons and equipment needed by the new recruits as soon as possible."

After Politik hung up the phone, he smiled and said to Haranchuk: "Haranchuk, good news, good news. General Rokossovsky asked our division to withdraw to Sun Mountain City and set up a recruitment point in the city to recruit new soldiers to supplement the troops."

When Sokov heard Politic mention Sun Mountain City, his mouth twitched. He thought that according to Rokossovsky's memoirs, the city would soon become an empty city because all the residents had fled, and the Germans would occupy the city without a single drop of blood. Even if Politic's 315th Division rushed over now, it would probably not be able to recruit many soldiers in the city to supplement the troops.

He wanted to open his mouth to remind the other party, but then he changed his mind and thought that since Rokossovsky had already made arrangements, it would be inappropriate for him to say more. He just hoped that Politic would be lucky and recruit some soldiers before all the residents of Sun Mountain City were evacuated.

When Politik and Haranchuk went back to arrange the transfer of the troops, Captain Nazorov, the commander of the third battalion, called and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the enemy's large-scale artillery bombardment of our battalion's position has stopped. I have ordered the officers and soldiers to return to the front-line positions one after another."

"What are the enemy's movements?" Sokov asked nervously, "Have they launched an attack on your battalion?"

"No, Comrade Commander, we have not found any trace of the enemy in front of our battalion's position." Nazorov paused for a moment and continued, "But according to the report from the observation post, a group of enemies are rushing towards the friendly positions on the right wing of our battalion. It seems that they are preparing to launch an attack there."

"If I order you to attack, will it be difficult?"

After hearing Sokov's question, Nazorov was silent for a long time before he answered, "Comrade Brigade Commander, if you really want us to attack, there should be no problem. However, although the enemy's large-scale artillery bombardment has ended, they are firing cold artillery at the open space in front of our battalion's position. If we want to attack, we will definitely suffer some casualties."

"I understand." Sokov said into the microphone, "Have the soldiers stay in the fortifications and wait for orders. I will call you when we need to attack."

(End of this chapter)