red moscow

Chapter 2920

"Comrade Brigade Commander, how do you plan to support our friendly forces?" Karsokov asked impatiently as soon as Sokov put down the phone.

"Although the enemy has stopped its large-scale artillery bombardment of the Third Battalion's position, they are still firing cold artillery." Sokov said, "If we rashly let the Third Battalion attack, it may cause some unnecessary casualties. Anyway, we just replenished the artillery shells today, so we can let them provide artillery support to friendly forces."

"I will call Lieutenant Artyom right away and ask him to send an artillery observer to the front line to provide firing parameters for the artillery battalion."

While Karsokov was calling Lieutenant Artyom, the artillery staff officer, another phone on the table rang and Sokov grabbed the receiver.

Panfilov's anxious voice came from the receiver: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, this is Panfilov."

"Hello, General Panfilov!" Sokov asked politely, "How can I help you?"

"Enemy tanks and infantry have rushed into the position of the 1073rd Regiment, and my soldiers are fighting with the enemy with bayonets." Panfilov shouted anxiously: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I beg you to send the mobile force in your hands to reinforce us."

"I'm sorry, Comrade General." Sokov rejected Panfilov's request without hesitation: "The mobile force I have is now stationed more than ten kilometers away from the 1073rd Regiment. Even if I ask them to rush over immediately, it will probably take two or three hours to get to you."

Upon learning that Sokov could not send mobile troops to support him, Panfilov seemed very anxious: "What should we do? All the defense areas of our division have been attacked frantically by the German army. There is no extra force to reinforce the 1073rd Regiment. If the enemy breaks through from there, then our division may be surrounded, and then Volokolamsk will not be able to be defended."

Sokov understood the principle of "the lips and the teeth are cold", but the mobile forces under his command were now deployed behind the 1073th Battalion's position, which was an important area for the German army's assault. Not to mention that he did not dare to mobilize them easily, even if he could, it would take two or three hours to reach the defense zone of the rd Regiment.

"Comrade General, I can order the artillery to provide you with artillery support." Sokov comforted Panfilov and said, "Use fierce artillery fire to separate the enemies who rushed into your position from their follow-up troops, so that you have enough time to destroy the enemy..."

Before Sokov could finish his words, he felt someone pulling his sleeve. He turned around and saw that it was Karsokov.

When Karsokov saw Sokov turned his head, he quickly mouthed a sentence silently: "Don't forget there is a 315th Division."

The garrison of the 315th Division was no more than three kilometers away from the defense zone of the 1073rd Regiment. If Colonel Politik led his troops to reinforce, they would reach their destination in less than an hour. However, Sokov was not qualified to mobilize other troops, not to mention that the commander of this unit had a higher rank than himself. So after thinking for a moment, he said to the microphone: "Comrade General, if you want to get reinforcements from the troops, I suggest you call the commander, maybe he can meet your requirements."

"But when I called the commander this morning, he told me that he didn't have any reserve troops at all..."

"Comrade General, morning is morning, and now is now." Sokov couldn't tell Panfilov directly that there was a troop that had just returned from behind enemy lines in his defense zone. But if Panfilov called the army headquarters at this moment, Rokossovsky might send Colonel Politic to reinforce: "You might as well try your luck and call, maybe you will get something unexpected."

"Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Panfilov sighed and said, "Then I will call the commander to see if he can provide help to our division." Before he put down the phone, he thanked Sokov for the artillery support he was willing to provide: "Thank you for the artillery support you are about to provide us."

When Sokov put down the phone, Karsokov couldn't help but ask curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander, why didn't you tell General Panfilov directly about the 315th Division in our brigade's defense zone, but let him call the commander for help?"

Sokov looked at his chief of staff and said sternly, "Comrade Chief of Staff, although Colonel Politik's 315th Division is in our defense zone, I am not qualified to give orders to send them to reinforce friendly forces. Only the commander can mobilize them. Do you understand?"

"Oh, so that's how it is. I understand." Karsokov continued, "But will the commander agree to mobilize this unit?"

"I think they will agree." Sokov replied, "After all, what we need to do now is to do everything we can to defend Volokolamsk. If the city is lost, it means that our army's defense line has been breached by the Germans. Not only will the Panfilov Division retreat to the rear, but we will also have to abandon our existing positions and retreat to the rear to avoid being surrounded by the Germans."

"By the way, when you called Lieutenant Artyom just now, did you tell him how to use artillery fire to support friendly forces?"

"I have given you a clear explanation." Karsokov nodded and reported to Sokov, "I told Lieutenant Artyom to use heavy artillery fire to cut the enemy attacking the friendly positions into two parts, so that they cannot take care of each other. This will make it easier for the friendly forces to eliminate the enemies that have broken into their positions."

After listening to Karsokov's report, Sokov smiled and nodded, then said: "As long as our artillery carries out blocking fire on the enemy attacking the friendly forces and turns over all the land, it will be enough to crush the enemy's attack on the friendly forces."

"What about the third battalion?" Karsokov asked cautiously, "Should we just let them stay where they are?"

Sokov thought about it and felt that the friendly forces were in a critical situation. It was far from enough for him to provide them with artillery support. So he picked up the phone on the table and called the commander of the third battalion, Nazorov: "Comrade Captain, this is Sokov!"

"Comrade Brigade Commander, what are your instructions?"

"Is the enemy attacking your friendly forces on the right wing?"

"Yes, Comrade Brigade Commander." Nazorov gave Sokov an affirmative answer: "I can clearly see from the observation post that the enemy's tanks and infantry have rushed into the friendly positions, and the two sides have started close combat and hand-to-hand combat."

Sokov heard Nazorov's report, which was consistent with what Panfilov had just said on the phone. He nodded slowly and said, "Comrade Captain, I have ordered the artillery to intercept the enemy attacking the friendly positions for about 20 minutes. After the bombardment, you send two companies of soldiers to charge the chaotic enemies. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Comrade Brigade Commander." Nazorov nodded and said, "After the artillery fire of my brigade stops, we will immediately charge the enemy."

At the same time, Panfilov called the army headquarters. Malinin answered the phone. After recognizing General Panfilov's voice, he asked directly: "General Panfilov, the observation post just reported to me that some enemies have rushed into the position on the left wing of your division. Is this true?"

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Panfilov did not deny Malinin's statement, but reported truthfully: "An hour ago, the German army suddenly launched a fierce artillery attack on the position of the 1073rd Regiment, and the regiment commander was seriously injured in the bombardment. Because the regiment commander was injured, the troops lost unified command. Therefore, after the enemy's shelling stopped, they were unable to organize effective resistance, and the German army easily broke through the position. Fortunately, the officers and soldiers did not retreat, and they are still fighting tenaciously with the enemy."

"General Panfilov, your men are really great." Malinin continued, "So what are the conditions in the other areas?"

"It's not good." Panfilov shook his head and said, "There are battles everywhere. That's why I can't spare any manpower to consolidate the position of the 1073rd Regiment. I called you in the hope of getting your help."

"Isn't the left wing of your division an infantry brigade?" Malinin asked in surprise, "Why, didn't you call Lieutenant Colonel Sokov for help?"

"They have," Panfilov answered truthfully. "He said he could provide them with artillery support and intercept the enemy attacking the 1073rd Regiment's position, but he could not send ground troops to support them."

"Wait a moment, General Panfilov. I will go and ask Comrade Commandant what he says."

"Comrade Commander," Malinin covered the microphone and turned to Rokossovsky for instructions, "General Panfilov reported that their division's defense zone was attacked by the German army. The position of the 1073rd Regiment on the left wing has been breached by the enemy. He hopes to get our support?"

"Isn't the left flank Misha's area?" Rokossovsky looked up at Malinin and asked, "Did he take any measures?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov told General Panfilov that he was willing to provide them with artillery support and intercept the enemy's artillery fire attacking the left wing of Volokolamsk." Malinin reported: "However, due to various reasons, it is temporarily impossible to send ground troops to support them."

"Misha can't even go to reinforce Panfilov, so how can I conjure up a force to help them?"

"Comrade Commander, have you forgotten that there is still a troop on standby?" Malinin said, "It would be most appropriate for them to support Panfilov."

"Which unit?" Rokossovsky asked puzzledly.

"Comrade Commander, how could you have forgotten?" Malinin quickly reminded Rokossovsky, "In the defense zone of the Infantry Brigade, isn't there Colonel Politik's 315th Infantry Division? They are not far from the position of the 1073rd Regiment. If we set out now, we can reach the position of the 1073rd Regiment in at most half an hour."

"But nearly one-third of the 315th Division was killed or wounded in the battles over the past two days, and now there are only about people left." Hearing Malinin's proposal, Rokossovsky hesitated and said, "I'm worried that if we send them to Panfilov's defense zone, there won't be many people left after this battle."

"Comrade Commander, if we don't send troops to support, the position of the 1073rd Regiment may be occupied by the Germans." Malinin analyzed the interests to Rokossovsky: "If the left wing is lost, the defenders of Volokolamsk will be surrounded by the Germans. Once the Panfilov Division is cut off and loses its supplies from the rear, it will not be able to hold out in the city for long."

"Then I'll call Misha," Rokossovsky said with a serious expression, "and ask him to inform Colonel Politik to go and support the 1073rd Regiment."

Rokossovsky quickly called the infantry brigade headquarters and heard Sokov's voice coming from the receiver. He said straight to the point: "Misha, this is Rokossovsky! Do you know where Colonel Politik is?"

"Yes, his troops are stationed in the forest behind the Second Battalion of my brigade." Sokov guessed that Rokossovsky called him to ask Politic to lead his troops to reinforce the friendly forces on the right wing, so he asked tentatively: "Do you have any orders that you need me to convey to them?"

"General Panfilov called and said that the position of the 1073rd Regiment on the left wing was breached by the enemy. Now the officers and soldiers are engaged in close combat and hand-to-hand combat with the Germans. The situation is very unfavorable to them. Therefore, he asked me to provide them with some help."

"Comrade Commander, that's exactly what happened," Sokov said. "The enemy broke through the position of the 1073rd Regiment, and a melee broke out in the fortifications. I have ordered the brigade's artillery to fire at the enemy attacking the friendly positions, cutting the enemy in two so that they can't take care of each other, making it easier for friendly forces to destroy the enemy that rushed into the fortifications."

"Besides the artillery fire interception, what other help did you provide for them?"

"I have issued an order to the third battalion near the 1073rd Regiment's defense zone. Once the artillery fire stops, immediately launch a charge towards the chaotic enemy, try to eliminate some of the German troops' manpower and reduce the defensive pressure on friendly forces."

"Well, Misha, you've been very thoughtful. But this is far from enough."

"Comrade Commander, do you want to transfer the troops of the 315th Division to help the 1073rd Regiment consolidate its position?"

"Yes, that's what I think." Rokossovsky said on the phone: "Now tell Colonel Politik to immediately lead his troops to your right wing to assist the 1073rd Regiment in repelling the German attack."

Sokov knew that every minute on the battlefield was precious, so he quickly called Politic: "Comrade Colonel, I received a call from the commander. He said that the defense line of the 1073rd Regiment on the right wing of my brigade was breached by the enemy. He asked me to tell you to immediately lead the troops to reinforce the 1073rd Regiment and to eliminate all the enemies that broke into the defense line."

"I will gather the troops immediately." Upon hearing that there was a battle, Politic did not hesitate at all and immediately called for the troops to gather. However, he still raised his own difficulties: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov and my troops have just arrived here not long ago and are not familiar with the surrounding terrain. If there is no one to lead the way, I am afraid that we will not be able to rush to the position of the 1073rd Regiment to reinforce in time."

"Comrade Colonel, don't worry, gather your troops first." Sokov comforted Politik and said, "I will send you a guide immediately to lead you into the friendly defense zone."

Without even putting down the phone in his hand, he ordered Karsokov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, call the commander of the second battalion immediately and ask him to send a few soldiers who are familiar with the terrain to the garrison of the 315th Division to serve as guides for Colonel Politik and take them to the defense zone of the 107th Regiment."

(End of this chapter)