red moscow

Chapter 2955

Lobachev said with some surprise, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, so you came with Comrade Stavsky?"

“That’s right, Comrade Military Commissar.” Sokov had just witnessed that not only Lobachev, but also Rokossovsky and Malinin’s attention was focused on Stavsky, as if he were invisible. He replied with a bitter face, “I met Comrade Stavsky on my way back to the army group headquarters, so I came here with him.”

"Oh, I see." Lobachev nodded and said, "Go report to the commander and chief of staff now; they have a combat mission for you."

Sokov nodded, quickly walked up to Rokossovsky and Malinin, and saluted them: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff, greetings!"

"Misha, you're back!" Rokossovsky stepped forward, shook Sokov's hand, and asked with a smile, "What were your thoughts when you were watching the parade from the reviewing stand yesterday?"

“I have many thoughts, Comrade Commander,” Sokov said. “Although the enemy currently holds the advantage on the battlefield, we will certainly defeat their offensive and thwart their attempt to occupy Moscow.”

“You seem quite confident.” Rokossovsky said, then turned to Malinin, who was standing beside him. “Next, the Chief of Staff will reassign you to your next tasks.”

When Sokov heard Rokossovsky say this, his heart skipped a beat. He wondered if his superiors intended to disband the infantry brigade and relieve him of his post as brigade commander, assigning him a sinecure instead. With this thought, he asked somewhat nervously, "What? A reassignment? Has my infantry brigade already been disbanded?"

Rokossovsky and Malinin exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.

After a while, Rokossovsky figured out what was going on and couldn't help but chuckle: "Misha, you've got it wrong. Your infantry brigade is still stationed near headquarters, waiting for you to return and continue commanding. I said 'reassigning tasks' because your brigade's mission is no longer to hold a certain position, but to prepare for the counterattack in a few days."

Upon learning that the infantry brigade was safely at the headquarters, Sokov's heart returned to its place. He turned to Malinin and said respectfully, "Comrade Chief of Staff, please assign the combat mission."

“Come here, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov.” Malinin beckoned Sokov to the map hanging on the wall and began explaining the combat mission the infantry brigade would undertake: “In late October and early November, the Germans captured several settlements on our right flank, including Skirmanovo. The Hitlerites are threatening the Volokolamsk-Istra highway from the south; they can not only shell this highway but also cut it off at any time and enter the rear of our army group’s main force in this direction. Therefore, we must drive the enemy out of Skirmanovo and eliminate their threat to our army group’s lines in a timely manner.”

Sokov frowned slightly as he looked at the area circled by Malinin with his pointer. Sending an infantry brigade to launch a counterattack against the Germans over such a large area seemed like a drop in the ocean. Whether they could recapture the lost settlements from the Germans was uncertain, but the troops launching the counterattack had a very high probability of being encircled by the Germans, and even risking total annihilation.

After Malinin finished explaining the situation, seeing that Sokov had no reaction, he asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, is the mission clear?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I'd like to ask a question," Sokov said slowly, staring at the map on the wall. "Was this counterattack in the Skirmanovo region carried out independently by our infantry brigade, or was it assisted by other friendly forces?"

“Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, so that’s what you’re worried about.” Malinin smiled upon hearing this. “This counterattack operation in the Skirmanovo region will certainly not be limited to just your infantry brigade. According to the decision of the army group headquarters, we are preparing to draw General Puliev’s 50th Cavalry Division, Chernyshov’s 18th Infantry Division, and Katukov’s Tank Brigade, as well as several artillery units and Guards mortar battalions to participate in this operation.”

Hearing Malinin's words, Sokov felt much more at ease. He knew that Priev was the commander of Dovator's cavalry division, which had about 9 combat-ready men; while Chernyshov's 18th Militia Division had been re-formed on September 19th, and shortly afterward, it had been awarded the honorary title of the 11th Guards Division for its outstanding performance. Katukov's 4th Tank Brigade had also been awarded the honorary title of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade shortly thereafter.

Considering that fighting alongside such heroic units would surely yield good results, Sokov nodded and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, I will resolutely obey the orders of headquarters. When will this counterattack begin?"

“We are still stockpiling combat supplies, so it will probably take a few more days to prepare,” Ma Lining said solemnly. “During this time of stockpiling combat supplies, you must be prepared for battle so that you can be deployed to the battlefield at any time when supplies are sufficient.”

When Sokov left headquarters, Malinin knew he wouldn't be able to find the infantry brigade's location, so he arranged for a staff officer to take him there.

On the way, the staff officer asked Sokov curiously, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, did you really go to Red Square to attend the military parade yesterday?"

Sokov thought it wasn't something worth keeping secret, so he didn't deny it: "Yes, I did watch the October Day parade from the reviewing stand in Red Square yesterday."

The staff officer seemed very excited when he heard Sokov say this. He asked cautiously, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I heard someone say that Comrade Stalin has moved to the Kuibyshev region. I wonder who presided over yesterday's military parade?"

“Comrade Staff Officer, I don’t know where you heard this rumor from.” As soon as the staff officer finished speaking, Sokov immediately corrected him, saying, “Comrade Stalin has always stayed in Moscow and has never left. He personally presided over yesterday’s celebrations and parade, and I saw him standing on Lenin’s Mausoleum and giving a speech.”

"So, Comrade Stalin really did stay in Moscow," the staff officer said, his voice trembling slightly. "That is to say, we are fighting the Germans here not only to defend the ancient city of Moscow, but also to protect Comrade Stalin's safety."

Sokov smiled faintly: "Comrade Staff Officer, you are right. The battle we are fighting here is not only to defend Moscow, but also to defend Stalin."

When Sokov arrived outside the infantry brigade's command post, the sentries on duty immediately recognized their brigade commander and turned to shout inside, "The brigade commander is back! The brigade commander is back!! Comrade brigade commander is back!!!"

At the sentry's shout, a group of people poured out of the command post, led by the deputy brigade commander Belkin, followed by Karsokov, Romanov, and several battalion commanders.

Berkin came up to Sokov, grabbed his hand, shook it vigorously, and said excitedly, "Comrade Brigade Commander, we've finally been waiting for you to come back!"

Then, Karsokov and the battalion commanders stepped forward to shake hands and greet Karsokov.

After everyone returned to the command post, Sokov said to Belkin, "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, have there been any changes in the brigade while I was away?" Upon hearing Sokov's question, Belkin's expression stiffened, and then he hesitated before saying, "Comrade Brigade Commander, during your absence, the infantry brigade underwent restructuring, leaving only four infantry battalions and the brigade's direct subordinate units. The artillery and tank units have been placed under the command of the army group headquarters."

Upon hearing this, Sokov's lips twitched involuntarily.

He wasn't bothered by the small number of tanks being transferred. However, he had two artillery battalions under his command, one of which was equipped with 122mm howitzers, making it a formidable weapon for conquering cities and territories. Now that they had been transferred, it meant that the infantry brigade's offensive capabilities had been greatly weakened.

"Don't we still have a reserve force of about a thousand men, which is still under our brigade's command?"

“No more.” Belkin shook his head again and said, “As I just said, apart from four infantry battalions and some brigade-level units, the rest of the troops have been transferred or reassigned to other units.”

Seeing that Sokov remained silent, Chief of Staff Karsokov continued, "Comrade Brigade Commander, according to what I understand, the Army Group Headquarters is preparing to launch a counterattack in a certain area. Do you think the higher command will allow us to participate in this operation?"

Sokov looked up at Karsokov and said solemnly, "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have just returned from the army group headquarters. Colonel Malinin has assigned our brigade a new combat mission, which is to participate in the counterattack operation in a few days. Therefore, from now on, the troops must actively prepare for war and be ready to be engaged in combat at any time."

"Comrade Brigade Commander, may I ask where we will participate in the counterattack?" Captain Yefim, the First Battalion Commander, asked.

"According to orders from headquarters, our brigade will participate in the counter-offensive in the Skyrmanovo region," Sokov said. "But don't worry, this counter-offensive is not just our brigade participating. There are also friendly forces, including tank and artillery units, involved. In short, we are not fighting alone this time."

Upon learning that the infantry brigade was not fighting alone in this operation, the commanders present couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Berkin tentatively asked Sokov, "Comrade Brigade Commander, what combat preparations should we make recently?"

"We should send scouts to the area where the battle is about to begin to investigate the enemy's defensive deployments," Sokov said to everyone. "Only by understanding the enemy's strength and deployment can we eliminate more enemies in the battle."

No sooner had Sokov finished speaking than Karsokov interjected, "Comrade Brigade Commander, rest assured, I will arrange for a reconnaissance team to go deep into the Skirmanovo region to conduct reconnaissance and find out the enemy's strength and deployment."

Sokov nodded in satisfaction at Karsokov's statement, then asked, "We've had about a third of our troops withdrawn. Have you taken in any new defeated soldiers during this time?"

"No," Belkin replied with a bitter face. "Comrade Brigade Commander, our brigade is currently surrounded by friendly forces. Even if there are small units that have been scattered, they won't be able to reach us before they are taken in by other friendly forces."

"Alas!" As soon as Belkin finished speaking, Major Vasya, the fourth battalion commander, sighed and said, "If we don't get reinforcements, we may have to stop the attack soon after the counterattack begins due to heavy casualties."

Sokov understood this principle all too well, but the extra troops he had were already transferred away by Rokossovsky and his men, and the infantry brigade was stationed in the middle of friendly forces, intentionally or unintentionally cutting off the brigade's supply routes.

“Our only source of replenishment right now is the wounded who have recovered and been discharged from the hospital,” Yefim said abruptly.

But Yefim's words gave Sokov hope. The infantry brigade had lost seven or eight hundred wounded soldiers to field hospitals during the October fighting. Even if not all of them could be discharged, just half of them reinstating the troops would alleviate the manpower shortage.

Thinking of this, Sokov turned to Belkin and asked, "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, wasn't the field hospital assigned to another department by the army group headquarters?"

“No, not at all,” Belkin said, shaking his head. “The field hospital is still under the command of our brigade.”

"I'll go to the field hospital later to check on how many wounded soldiers can be discharged soon," Sokov said to the others.

“Comrade Brigade Commander, I estimate that the vast majority of the wounded who were hospitalized in early October will be able to be discharged,” Belkin said. “In this way, we will have three or four hundred more soldiers to replenish the battalions.”

“Comrade Brigade Commander, our 4th Battalion has consistently suffered the heaviest casualties in combat.” Upon hearing Sokov and Belkin mention their plans to reinstate the wounded to the troops, Battalion Commander Vasya immediately stood up and said, “I don’t want wounded soldiers from other battalions, but I hope that the wounded from our battalion can be re-integrated into our 4th Battalion after they are discharged from the hospital.”

The battalion commanders, who had initially intended to request that Sokov and others prioritize the reinstatement of wounded soldiers to their own units, all fell silent after hearing Vasya's words. Indeed, the fighting at the 4th Battalion's position had been the most brutal throughout the entire October campaign, and the number of wounded sent to the field hospital was also the highest. Now that Vasya had allowed these wounded soldiers to recover and be discharged, re-integrated into the 4th Battalion, it was perfectly reasonable.

"Comrade Brigade Commander." After a brief silence, Captain Alexa, the Second Battalion Commander, asked cautiously, "If all the wounded are sent to the Fourth Battalion, what will happen to our Second Battalion? You know, we also suffered quite a few casualties in the recent battles."

“I think Major Vasya makes a good point,” Sokov said, staring at Alexa. “After the wounded are discharged from the hospital, they should return to their original units. This will avoid disputes over which battalion should be prioritized to reinforce the wounded.”

“Comrade Brigade Commander, you’ve misunderstood me.” Seeing Sokov’s displeasure, Alexa quickly explained, “Our brigade used to have a reserve force, which also suffered many wounded in the fighting. Now that the reserve force has been disbanded, which battalion should their wounded be sent to after they are discharged from the hospital?”

(End of this chapter)