red moscow

Chapter 2960

“Captain Nazarov!” Sokov’s gaze lingered on Nazarov. “The annihilation battalion still has over 150 combat-ready officers and soldiers left. When they are reorganized, 50 men will be assigned to Captain Yefim’s battalion.”

“Comrade Brigade Commander, this…” Nazorov originally wanted to complain a bit, but seeing Sokov’s glaring eyes, he could only say helplessly, “Alright, I’ll give fifty men to the First Battalion.”

"Go back to your respective units," Sokov said to the two men. "Hurry up and clean up the battlefield, treat the wounded, and build fortifications to guard against a possible German counterattack."

"Lieutenant Colonel," the liaison officer asked after the two battalion commanders left, "how many days do you think we should hold out here before launching a new offensive?"

Upon hearing the liaison officer's question, both Sokov, Belkin, and Karsokov cast strange glances at him.

Seeing the three men staring at him intently, the liaison officer felt a little guilty and asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

Sokov coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and then said, "Comrade Major, who told you that we plan to hold out here for a few days?"

“Isn’t that so?” the liaison officer retorted. “You’ve deployed two battalions in the settlement. Doesn’t that mean you intend to prevent the Germans from retaking the settlement?”

Sokov laughed upon hearing this: "Comrade Major, my infantry brigade has more than two battalions, so deploying two battalions in the settlement does not mean that we are going to stop the attack on the Germans."

The liaison officer looked puzzled: "Lieutenant Colonel, I don't quite understand what you mean. Could you explain in more detail?"

"Major, come here!" Sokov beckoned the liaison officer to the table and pointed to the map on the table, explaining to him: "I have deployed the 1st and 3rd battalions in the settlement, while the 2nd and 4th battalions have been moved in this direction. Regardless of whether the enemy launches a counterattack on the settlement, they will all launch an attack on the enemy positions here at 2 p.m.

The liaison officer looked at the circled location on the map, a look of surprise on his face: "Lieutenant Colonel, I don't understand, why did you choose to attack the enemy at this location?"

“The reason is simple.” Seeing that the liaison officer did not understand his operational intentions, Sokov explained further: “This location is less than three kilometers from Skyrmanovo. Once Skyrmanovo is attacked by our forces, the enemy here will definitely go to reinforce it. In this way, the defense will become weak, and we can easily take this place.”

After listening to Sokov's explanation, the liaison officer nodded slowly and then said, "If our army successfully captures Skirmanovo, and the nearby settlements are under your control, then a complete defensive line can be re-established." He then looked at Sokov, "Lieutenant Colonel, am I right?"

“Very correct, Comrade Major.” The liaison officer’s words showed that he was not an ignorant fool. Sokov nodded with satisfaction and then said, “Once we clear out the enemy in the Skirmanovo region and re-establish a new defensive line here, we will be able to eliminate the threat to the north of Volokolamsk!”

Upon hearing the name Volokolamsk, the liaison officer's eyes dimmed.

"Major, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Belkin asked with concern when he noticed the liaison officer's expression was off.

“No, Lieutenant Colonel.” The liaison officer waved his hand at Belkin and said, “Back then, the Germans used six divisions to launch a fierce attack on Volokolamsk, and it took them a long time to barely capture the city. Now, even if the higher command issues a counterattack order, can our current incomplete units take this ancient city back from the Germans?”

Sokov remained silent when the liaison officer raised the question, because he knew perfectly well that on the same day the counter-offensive at Skyrmanovo ended, Rokossovsky had received Zhukov's orders to launch a counter-offensive in the Volokolamsk region and to find a way to recapture the city from the enemy.

Although the cavalry achieved some good results on the first day of the battle, even managing to storm into the city, they were soon surrounded by the German army. Fortunately, General Puliev commanded well, and after a fierce battle, he finally led the remaining troops out of the encirclement, avoiding total annihilation.

Belkin was not a time traveler, so he naturally didn't know the progress of the battle to capture Volokolamsk a few days later. Therefore, when he heard the liaison officer ask this question, he confidently said, "As long as we can clear the enemy from the Skirmanovo region, we can launch an attack on Volokolamsk from the north and east at the same time. I believe our commanders will definitely be able to take this ancient city back from the Germans."

The liaison officer hadn't held out much hope of retaking Volokolamsk, but after hearing Berkin's words, he suddenly felt more confident: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you're right. As long as we eliminate the enemy in Skirmanovo, we can launch an attack on Volokolamsk from the north and east at the same time, and the city will be taken back sooner or later."

As the group was talking, a soldier walked in from outside. He looked around, walked straight to Karsokov, and whispered a few words to him.

Seeing this, Sokov quickly asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there something you need?"

Upon hearing Sokov's question, Karsokov quickly replied, "Comrade Brigade Commander, this soldier said that there are reporters from Pravda outside who hope to interview us?"

Upon hearing this, Sokov raised his eyebrows. He remembered Stavsky, who had come to headquarters with him, and guessed that this might be the man. He quickly said to the soldiers, "Quickly, invite the comrades from Pravda in!"

After the soldier turned and left, he quickly led the two men into the command post.

Sokov recognized the person walking at the front as Stavsky, who had come to headquarters with him. He quickly stepped forward and greeted him, "Hello, Comrade Stavsky, we meet again!"

Stavsky was about to identify himself when he heard someone call his name, and his expression froze. When he saw Sokov walking towards him, his face lit up with surprise and delight: "It's you! Lieutenant Colonel, we meet again!"

When Belkin saw Sokov and Stavsky shaking hands, he couldn't help but ask Sokov with some surprise, "What, Comrade Brigade Commander, do you know each other?"

“Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander,” Sokov explained to Berkin, “this is Comrade Vladimir Stavsky, editor and reporter from Pravda. I met him on my way back to headquarters from Moscow and came here with him.”

“Oh, I see.” After figuring out how Sokov and Stavsky knew each other, Belkin walked up to Stavsky, extended his hand, and introduced himself: “Hello, Comrade Stavsky! I am Lieutenant Colonel Belkin, deputy brigade commander. It’s a pleasure to meet you! On behalf of all the officers and soldiers of the brigade, I welcome you!” After Stavsky shook hands with Karsokov, the liaison officer, and others, Sokov looked at the young man standing behind him with a camera hanging around his neck and asked, “Comrade Stavsky, may I ask who this comrade is…?”

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, let me introduce you. This is Comrade Bulinov, the newspaper's photojournalist!"

"Hello, Comrade Bulinov!" As Sokov shook hands with Bulinov, he remembered Kopalova, whom he had known in his previous life, and couldn't help but ask, "I'd like to ask you about someone."

"Please speak, Comrade Commander," Blinov said politely.

“Kopalova!” Sokov said the name he knew very seriously, and asked tentatively, “Do you know her?”

Upon hearing the name Sokov mentioned, Blinov turned to look at Stavsky, then turned to Sokov and asked, "Is she a staff member of Pravda?"

“Yes,” Sokov nodded. “She’s a photojournalist for Pravda!”

“Impossible, absolutely impossible.” No sooner had Sokov finished speaking than Blinov shook his head vigorously: “I know all the photographers at Pravda, but none of them are named Kopalova. Or perhaps she’s not a photographer at all, but a print journalist or editor. Comrade Stavsky, have you ever heard of that name?”

Stavsky thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I've never heard that name in the newspapers either. Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, are you sure she's from Pravda?"

Sokov's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself that although it was possible that Kopalova had not yet joined Pravda, many things might have changed in this life, and perhaps Kopalova did not even exist.

Seeing Sokov remain silent, Blinov kindly reminded him, "Comrade Commander, maybe that person is just lying to you. She's not an employee of Pravda at all. By the way, when did you meet this person? We must deal seriously with people who impersonate newspaper staff."

“I met a girl while having coffee in a café.” To avoid things getting out of control, Sokov had to start making up a story: “I saw that she was carrying a camera, so I asked her where she worked, and she told me that she was a photojournalist for Pravda.”

After listening to Sokov's far-fetched explanation, Blinov pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said to Sokov, "Comrade Commander, I know all the photographers at the newspaper, and there is definitely no such person as you described. You must have been deceived by her."

"Probably." Sokov didn't want to dwell on the matter and quickly changed the subject, asking Stavsky, "By the way, Comrade Stavsky, what brings you here?"

“I almost forgot about the important matter.” Reminded by Sokov, Stavsky immediately remembered the purpose of their visit and quickly said, “I heard from General Rokossovsky that your troops were the first to recapture a settlement from the Germans, and we came here specifically to interview you.”

Although Sokov and Stavsky had met twice and were not strangers, he still felt a little uncomfortable being interviewed by the other party, and quickly pushed Belkin and Karsokov out: "Comrade Stavsky, if you want to conduct an interview, you can ask my deputy brigade commander and chief of staff. They played a huge role in the battle to liberate the settlements."

Stavsky's attention was indeed diverted by Sokov. He took out a pen and paper and said to Belkin and Karsokov, "Comrades, could you tell me how our army captured the settlements from the Germans?"

Fortunately, Belkin had given many interviews before and was very experienced in this area. Therefore, when faced with Stavsky's questions, he did not appear flustered at all and spoke fluently, giving the other party a detailed account of the battle.

After Belkin finished his story, he picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and then asked Stavsky, "Comrade Stavsky, would you be interested in taking a walk through the settlement and chatting with the commanders and soldiers who participated in the battle?"

"Can I really go to the settlement?" Stavsky asked excitedly. Seeing the astonished expressions on Sokov's and the others' faces, he quickly explained, "I've always wanted to go to the front lines and chat with the commanders who defeated the enemy. But my request was refused by General Rokossovsky."

"Why?" Belkin asked, puzzled.

“The reason is simple,” Sokov interrupted Stavsky before he could speak, “Comrade Commander doesn’t allow you to go to the front lines for your safety. You should know that the front lines are not only at risk of enemy artillery fire at any time, but those walking in the trenches are also at risk of being sniped by enemy snipers.”

"A sniper?!" Stavsky, seemingly unaware of this concern, asked with some surprise, "What do they do?"

“They are specially trained sharpshooters,” Sokov explained to the other man. “Their mission is to hide near enemy positions and snipe valuable targets. And you, Comrade Stavsky, in the eyes of German snipers, are worth the equivalent of a general!”

"Really?" Stavsky said somewhat awkwardly after hearing Sokov say that he was as important as a general. "I don't think I'm that valuable."

“Believe me, Comrade Stavsky,” Sokov said, staring into Stavsky’s eyes. “Your value is absolutely equivalent to that of a general, which is probably why the commander doesn’t allow you to go to the front lines for interviews.”

Hearing Sokov's words, the photographer Blinov beside him became anxious: "Comrade Commander, the settlements ahead should also be considered the front line, right? If Comrade Stavsky goes there, can his life be guaranteed?"

“Comrade Bulinov, you can rest assured about that.” Seeing Bulinov’s concern for Stavsky’s safety, Sokov quickly reassured him, “The entire settlement is now under our control, and I have deployed two battalions there. With them there, Comrade Stavsky’s safety is guaranteed. If you want to go to the settlement for interviews, you will not encounter any danger.”

“Comrade Brigade Commander,” Belkin said, immediately volunteering after Sokov finished speaking, “I will take Comrade Stavsky and the others to the settlement.”

(End of this chapter)