red moscow

Chapter 3019

"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, do you mean to immediately deploy additional troops to prevent the enemy from driving out the troops that have entered the city due to insufficient manpower?"

“Yes, Comrade General!” Sokov nodded, giving Kazakov an affirmative answer: “That’s exactly what I meant. If you don’t object, I intend to commit the First Battalion and the Second Battalion, which just arrived, to the battle.”

Kazakov thought for only a few seconds before decisively nodding in agreement to Sokov's suggestion: "I think it's a good idea. Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, put your troops into battle immediately."

Sokov left the command post and went to the area where the troops were waiting. He instructed the two communications soldiers beside him: "You two go and call over Captain Yefim, the commander of the first battalion, and Captain Alexa, the commander of the second battalion. Tell them I have an important mission to give them."

The two communications soldiers returned shortly after they left with Yefim and Alexa.

"Comrade Brigade Commander!" After the two battalion commanders saluted, they asked somewhat eagerly, "The Fourth Battalion has already stormed into the city, when do we join the battle?"

"Although the Fourth Battalion has stormed into Red Polyana, their forces are limited. If the enemy recovers and launches a counterattack, I think the Fourth Battalion will soon be driven out of the city." Sokov said to the two battalion commanders, "So I now order you to immediately lead your troops into the city and assist your comrades in the Fourth Battalion in clearing out the enemy inside."

Upon hearing Sokov's order, the two battalion commanders were overjoyed. After saluting, they turned and ran back to their respective units to prepare for battle.

A dozen minutes later, the officers and soldiers of the First and Second Battalions, carrying their weapons, jogged into Red Polyana to assist the officers and soldiers of the Fourth Battalion in clearing out the German troops in the city.

Sokov stood in a position with a good view, holding up his binoculars to watch the troops rushing into the city. As he was calculating whether they were capable of holding off the enemy's counterattack, he heard Belkin's familiar voice behind him: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I've brought the Third Battalion!"

Sokov quickly put down his binoculars, turned around and shook hands with Belkin, who had just arrived: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, you've worked hard!"

"It's not hard work, it's not hard work." Belkin looked around and asked, "Comrade Brigade Commander, where are our brigade's soldiers? I don't see a single one of them."

Sokov pointed in the direction of Krasnopolana and said to Belkin, "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, the First, Second, and Fourth Battalions have already stormed into the city and are engaged in fierce fighting with the stubborn enemy."

Berkin turned and glanced at the Third Battalion waiting not far away, then tentatively asked Sokov, "What about the Third Battalion?"

He was probably worried that Sokov would be unwilling to commit the 3rd Battalion to the battle, and he emphasized that "if they see their comrades in the other three battalions fighting the enemy in the city, while they are standing here doing nothing, they will probably be upset."

"Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, our brigade has been severely weakened in the recent battles..."

Belkin looked at Sokov with a questioning gaze, thinking to himself, "The troops were weakened in the battle, isn't that something everyone knows? Why are you suddenly bringing this up?" However, in order to understand Sokov's intentions, he did not interrupt easily, but listened quietly.

“…In the past, to capture a city like this, we would only need to send two battalions at most to handle any unforeseen circumstances,” Sokov continued. “But now our forces are limited, and three battalions alone are far from enough. So I plan to send three battalions to cover the artillery battalion as it enters the city.”

"The artillery battalion has also entered the city?" Belkin asked hesitantly.

“Yes, let the artillery battalion enter the city as well.” Sokov said in an unquestionable tone, “Although the army group’s artillery has bombarded the city many times, there are certainly still many hidden fortifications that have not been destroyed. The existence of these fortifications will pose a huge threat to our troops fighting in the city. Once the artillery battalion enters the city, it can destroy these damned fortifications with direct fire, clearing the way for our soldiers to advance.”

Upon hearing Sokov's words, Belkin naturally did not object and quickly summoned Captain Nazorov, the commander of the 3rd Battalion, and the commander of the artillery battalion.

Upon their arrival, Belkin immediately assigned them tasks: "Captain Nazorov, the commanders of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Battalions are currently making progress against the enemy inside the city. Your 3rd Battalion's mission is to enter the city and reinforce them. And you, artillery battalion commander, although our army has bombarded the city many times, there are bound to be some strong fortifications and firing positions that have survived. Your battalion's mission is to use direct fire to destroy the enemy's firing positions and clear the way for our attacking forces."

As the 3rd Battalion and the artillery battalion advanced toward Krasnóplena, Kazakov saw the artillerymen pushing the cannons forward behind the infantry and asked in bewilderment, "What's going on? Why did Sokov move all the artillery up there?"

“I think we should call Lieutenant Colonel Sokov over and ask him what happened,” Olli suggested from the side.

"Alright, let's call him over and ask him."

Upon receiving the notification, Sokov, along with Belkin and Karsokov, went to Kazakov's command post.

After all three saluted Kazakov and Orel, Sokov asked, "Comrade General, what brings you here?"

Kazakov pointed to the artillery units approaching the city in the distance and asked curiously, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I just want to ask, why did you decide to send the artillery into the city as well?"

Seeing Kazakov's puzzled expression, Sokov had no choice but to reiterate the theory of "bayonet on a cannon" to him, and finally said: "With the assistance of artillery, even if the enemy hides in the most solid fortifications, our cannons can send them to meet their maker."

In this way, with the assistance of the artillery battalion, the four infantry battalions of the infantry brigade continuously destroyed one stronghold or firing point after another, eliminating the enemy hiding inside, and gradually nibbling away at the entire city.

When Sokov reported to Kazakov that his troops had occupied two-thirds of the city, Kazakov asked an unexpected question: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, since your troops have occupied two-thirds of the city, why haven't I seen our army's flag flying over the city yet?"

Hearing Kazakov's words, Sokov's lips twitched involuntarily. According to tradition passed down from the Tsarist era, when attacking a city, the army's flag must be planted on the city's highest point as quickly as possible to signify the occupation of the city. He had been so focused on how to quickly clear the German troops from the city that he had forgotten such an important ceremony.

“I understand, Comrade General,” Sokov readily agreed. “I will immediately contact the troops in the city and have them plant the flag on the high ground as soon as possible.”

Fortunately, communication with the troops in the city was still open, and Sokov's orders quickly reached the battalion commanders. Less than fifteen minutes later, Kazakov was surprised to find that flags had been raised in several places in the city.

Seeing this, Sokov couldn't help but chuckle to himself. It must be that the four battalion commanders, upon receiving orders, immediately instructed their soldiers to raise their flags at the high ground as soon as possible, signifying the capture of the city.

Before Kazakov could finish his reflection, Rokossovsky called: "Comrade Kazakov, how's the situation on your end? When will you be able to take Krasnopolana?"

"Comrade Commander! I was just about to call you with this good news." Kazakov reported to Rokossovsky: "After a fierce battle, the officers and soldiers of the infantry brigade have successfully occupied two-thirds of the city, and I believe that it will not be long before they can control the entire city."

"And what about the flag?" Rokossovsky pressed. "Was our flag planted on the highest point in the city?"

"Yes, our flag has been planted on the highest point of Red Polyana."

“That’s wonderful,” Rokossovsky said excitedly. “The Supreme Commander himself just called me to ask how the battle for Red Polyana was going. Now I can finally tell him with confidence that we have recaptured the city.”

After learning about the information that interested him, Rokossovsky ended his call with Kazakov and personally called Stalin to report on the situation in Krasnopolana.

After Stalin and Rokossovsky finished giving a detailed account of the situation in Krasnopolana, he slowly asked, "Comrade Rokossovsky, is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's infantry brigade capable of completely controlling the entire Krasnopolana?"

Upon hearing this question, Rokossovsky remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Comrade Stalin, the infantry brigade suffered heavy losses in the recent battles. I'm afraid with their current strength, they are not capable of capturing the entire city."

“You must know how important Red Polyana is, even if I don’t tell you,” Stalin said on the phone. “You need to find a way to send troops to support the infantry brigade and make sure they can liberate Red Polyana.”

“But Comrade Stalin,” Rokossovsky said with difficulty, “I have limited troops at my disposal, and the enemy’s offensive in the direction of Sun Mountain City seriously threatens the defensive zone of my army group. Therefore, a considerable portion of our forces are concentrated in that area.”

After listening to Rokossovsky's complaints, Stalin pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "In that case, I'll call the commander of the Moscow garrison and have him send some troops to support you."

Upon learning that Stalin was preparing to send the Moscow garrison to participate in the battle of Krasnopolana, Rokossovsky was very excited. He quickly told Stalin, "If I can get the support of the garrison, then I am confident that I can completely wipe out the enemy in the city and regain control of Krasnopolana."

As evening approached, two infantry battalions from the Moscow garrison arrived at the outskirts of Krasnopolana.

Kazakov, who had been informed by Rokossovsky long ago, was overjoyed to see the arrival of this force. After chatting with the commander in charge for a few minutes, he ordered them to immediately enter Krasnopolana to join the infantry brigade fighting in the city and try to drive the enemy out of the city as soon as possible.

The infantry brigade fighting in the city already held a significant advantage. Now, with the addition of fresh troops, they were even more formidable. They managed to drive the remaining enemy out of the city before nightfall.

Vasya's fourth battalion, though having fought the longest, saw its commanders and soldiers become incredibly excited upon seeing the enemy escape the city, and they gave chase.

The German commander had planned to regroup his troops after they withdrew from the city, then construct defenses on the spot, ready to launch another attack on Red Polyana at any time. However, the soldiers of the Fourth Battalion, who followed closely behind, gave them no chance to catch their breath. They opened fire on the routed German troops with assault rifles, making it impossible for them to regroup and forcing them to continue their panicked retreat.

The Fourth Battalion followed the routed German troops for four or five kilometers before having to stop the pursuit when they ran out of ammunition.

Fortunately, Kazakov, reminded by Sokov, realized that the commanders and soldiers of the Fourth Battalion had run out of ammunition and could not continue fighting. He quickly transferred two battalions from the garrison command to replace the Fourth Battalion, which was building defensive fortifications.

After Krasnaya Polyana was recaptured by the Soviet army, Sokov led members of the brigade command into the city.

He found a relatively intact church to use as his temporary command post, and ordered the accompanying communications soldiers to find the whereabouts of several battalion commanders and to come to the church as soon as possible to attend a temporary military meeting.

Half an hour later, all four battalion commanders appeared in Sokov's temporary command post.

Sokov stared in astonishment at Vasya, whose arm was in a sling and whose forehead was bandaged. After a long pause, he finally asked, puzzled, "Major Vasya, how did you get wounded?"

Vasya grinned and explained to Sokov, “Comrade Brigade Commander, it’s like this. Shortly after our battalion stormed into the city, we were met with a counterattack from the enemy. One of the German units rushed up to my battalion command post, and I personally led two platoons to fight them in hand-to-hand combat. That’s when I was wounded.”

After listening to Vasya recount how he was wounded, Sokov felt a little ashamed. He thought to himself that if the 1st Battalion had joined the battle earlier, even if the enemy launched a counterattack, they might not have been able to reach the vicinity of the 4th Battalion's command post. In that case, Vasya could have avoided being wounded.

"Major Vasya!" Sokov asked with concern, "Your injuries look quite serious. How about I arrange for someone else to temporarily take over your duties, and you go to the field hospital to recuperate?"

But Vasya rejected Sokov's suggestion: "Comrade Brigade Commander, thank you for your kindness. My injury is not serious and will not affect my ability to command the battle in the slightest."

Since Vasya was unwilling to go to the field hospital to recover, Sokov did not force him. After all, the field hospitals were now experiencing a shortage of medicine due to the large number of wounded. Even if a lightly wounded soldier like Vasya went to the hospital, his recovery time would not be any shorter than if he stayed on the front line.

“In that case, you shall remain in the camp,” Sokov instructed Vasya. “However, I remind you that until your injuries are fully healed, you are not permitted to personally lead troops back to the front lines, even if you participate in combat. Can you agree to that?”

Vasya felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at Sokov staring at him. In his true feelings, if the 4th Battalion continued fighting, he would still lead the charge whenever the opportunity presented itself. But now, in front of Sokov, he could only steel himself and say, "Don't worry, Comrade Brigade Commander, I won't lead any more charges until I recover from my injuries."

(End of this chapter)