red moscow

Chapter 3021

Ma Lining's face darkened.

He had assumed that if he mentioned the presence of enemy activity nearby, Sokov would readily volunteer to lead the troops to defend the city. However, Sokov's response surprised him, and in desperation, he could only turn to Rokossovsky for help.

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I think what Misha said is true." Rokossovsky said slowly, "I remember that at its peak, the infantry brigade had more than 6,000 men. But now how many are left? More than 1,000. That means that in just over a month, their casualties have reached nearly 80%. Sending them to carry out such a mission is indeed a bit too much for them."

When Malinin heard Rokossovsky say this, his face was full of helplessness: "Comrade Commander, if the infantry brigade does not participate in the defense of the city, our command will be in danger once this enemy joins up with other German troops and launches an attack on Klyukovo."

“Our headquarters faces danger almost every now and then, so what’s there to worry about?” Rokossovsky waved his hand. “Since Misha’s troops are not yet capable of defending the city, let’s assign other troops to carry out this mission.”

"Alright, then I'll arrange for other units to carry out this mission."

While Malinin was on the phone, Sokov said to Rokossovsky, "Comrade Commander, the new rifles we were issued last time played a huge role in the battle to liberate Krasnopolana. But since each rifle only has 200 rounds of ammunition, they were quickly used up in the battle. I don't know when the higher-ups will resupply us with ammunition. Without ammunition, these new rifles will become useless sticks."

"What? The ammunition for the new rifles is all gone?" Rokossovsky asked, somewhat surprised.

“That’s right, Comrade Commander.” Sokov nodded and gave Rokossovsky an affirmative answer: “If it weren’t for the fact that the ammunition for the new rifles had run out during the battle to liberate Krasnopolana, I wouldn’t have refused the Chief of Staff’s suggestion just now.”

“Oh, I see. I understand now.” Rokossovsky nodded and continued, “I’ll call Zhukov later and have him contact Comrade Ustinov so that the Armaments Department can send you some more bullets.”

After a brief pause, Rokossovsky asked again, "Misha, is there anything I can help you with?"

"I estimate that the German army will launch an attack on Klyukovo soon. Our ammunition is almost exhausted, and staying in the city will probably not be of much use." Sokov made his request to Rokossovsky: "I wonder if we could be allowed to withdraw our brigade to the outside of the city first?"

Rokossovsky pondered Sokov's request for a long time before slowly nodding and saying, "Alright, Misha, since you want to take your troops to retreat and camp outside the city, then hurry up and go. As for the ammunition you need, I will find a way to provide it to you as soon as possible."

As Sokov turned to leave the headquarters, Malinin had just finished a phone call. Somewhat puzzled, he asked Rokossovsky, "Comrade Commander, why did Lieutenant Colonel Sokov leave?"

“He plans to take his troops to camp outside the city,” Rokossovsky said with a soft sigh. “I have already agreed to his request.”

Upon hearing this, Malinin's eyes widened like saucers: "What? The infantry brigade is going to withdraw and garrison outside the city? Commander, what's going on? You know, the enemy could launch an attack on Klyukovo at any time. The more troops we have in the city, the higher our chances of holding it. But you're just letting the infantry brigade leave so easily..."

Rokossovsky raised his hand to interrupt Malinin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have also given this decision a lot of thought. In the battle to liberate Krasnopolana, the infantry brigade not only suffered heavy casualties, but the two battalions equipped with the new rifles have also run out of ammunition. Are we going to leave them in the city to fight the Germans with bayonets?"

Seeing that Malinin seemed to want to say something more, Rokossovsky stopped him again and continued, "Comrade Chief of Staff, contact Comrade Ustinov immediately and ask the Armaments Department to send us a batch of ammunition for the new rifles tonight. Only when the infantry brigades have enough ammunition for their new rifles can they be effective on the battlefield."

“I understand, Comrade Commander.” Ma Lining nodded and said, “I will call the Armaments Department immediately and hope they can replenish the ammunition as soon as possible.”

Sokov returned to his command post and immediately said to Belkin and Karsokov, "Deputy Brigade Commander, Chief of Staff, hurry up and pack up, we need to move out immediately."

The two were taken aback, then asked in unison, "We just arrived in Klyukovo, why do we have to move again?"

"Just now when I was at headquarters, the chief of staff told me that German troops had appeared a few kilometers away, and it won't be long before they launch an attack on Klyukovo," Sokov explained to the two men. "The infantry brigade has suffered heavy losses in the fierce fighting, and is also facing a shortage of ammunition. If we stay in the city, we will definitely be assigned to defend it. Do you think we still have the ability to defend the city?"

Upon hearing Sokov's question, Belkin slowly shook his head, indicating that he was simply incapable of participating in the defense of the city.

Karsokov, however, directly pointed out the crux of the problem: "If the higher-ups really assign us to defend the city, the infantry will probably have no choice but to fight the enemy with bayonets."

"Oh, right." Karsokov's words reminded Sokov, who quickly asked, "Where is the artillery battalion now?"

“They’re still outside the city and haven’t entered.” Karsokov replied, “I’ll contact the artillery battalion commander immediately and tell him and his battalion not to enter the city, but to immediately move with their artillery to the village we’re preparing to occupy.”

Two hours later, the infantry brigade moved into the village of Klyukovo, southeast of Klyukovo.

Sokov chose this village as his garrison because he had been stationed there in his previous life, and his entire army had been nearly wiped out in a nighttime German attack. Because of this experience, he knew very well which parts of a village were key defensive points.

Upon arriving at the village, Sokov convened a meeting of the battalion commanders in the village Soviet office.

Seeing his commanders mostly unharmed and seated around the long table, Sokov was pleased. These were his core men; their loss in battle would have been heartbreaking. "Comrade Brigade Commander!" After everyone was seated, Captain Nazorov, the commander of the Third Battalion, was the first to stand up and ask, "We just entered Klyukovo, so why are we withdrawing? What happened?"

"Captain Nazarov!" Sokov said, looking at Nazarov, "You all know very well the casualties our brigade suffered in the battle to liberate Krasnopolana, even if I don't say it. Besides the heavy casualties, the 1st and 4th Battalions, equipped with the new rifles, have run out of ammunition. Those new rifles that once proved so powerful on the battlefield are now just sticks without bullets. Tell me, under these circumstances, what are your chances of winning if we continue fighting the Germans?"

When Nazorov heard Sokov's question, he lowered his head and pondered for a long time. Finally, he slowly shook his head and said dejectedly, "If the battle to defend Sun Mountain City had started before, we would have had a good chance of holding the city. But now, I think it's basically impossible."

After Nazorov sat down, Sokov continued, "The reason I requested the commander to withdraw the infantry brigade to be stationed outside the city was not because I was frightened by the enemy's strength, but because waiting for ammunition resupply here would be faster. More importantly, once we have replenished our ammunition, when the headquarters is forced to evacuate from the city under enemy attack, we can rush over to support them and protect their safe retreat to the new headquarters."

Before the meeting, the battalion commanders had some reservations about the hasty withdrawal from Klyukovo, but now they realized that they had misunderstood the brigade commander. It turned out that the brigade commander had already considered the possibility of the city falling.

After Major Vasya finished speaking, he stood up and tentatively asked, "Comrade Brigade Commander, when will the higher command be able to replenish our ammunition?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Captain Yefim, the battalion commander, also stood up and echoed, "Yes, Comrade Brigade Commander, our battalion and the fourth battalion have run out of ammunition. If we don't replenish it soon, we won't be able to participate in the next battle."

Sokov was eager to replenish the troops' ammunition as soon as possible, but these matters were not up to him; when supplies would arrive depended entirely on the logistics department. At this point, he could only reassure the two men, saying, "Comrades, don't worry, I believe we'll receive ammunition supplies as early as tomorrow."

After a brief pause, Belkin suddenly remembered something and quickly reminded Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, we haven't informed the field hospital about our transfer to Klyukovo village yet. If any wounded soldiers recover and go directly to Klyukovo, they might not be able to find us in the city and could be incorporated into other units."

For a unit severely lacking manpower, every soldier is precious. This is especially true for wounded soldiers coming from field hospitals. These soldiers have seen combat, possess rich experience, and are considered key personnel upon joining the army. If wounded soldiers discharged from the field hospital in Khimki were to rashly travel to Klyukovo, they would likely be recruited by other units.

Having grasped this point, Sokov immediately turned to Karsokov and instructed him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, contact the director of the field hospital immediately and tell him that our brigade has moved to the village of Klyukovo. Remember, make sure it's the village of Klyukovo, not the city of Klyukovo. Understand?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Brigade Commander." Karsokov nodded and assured Sokov, "I will convey your message to the director of the field hospital as soon as possible."

Karsokov acted swiftly. After speaking, he turned and walked to the radio operator's position, saying to Morozova, "Comrade Morozova, immediately send a telegram to the field hospital, saying that the infantry brigade has moved to the village of Klyukovo, and that all the wounded who have recovered and been discharged should report to the village. One thing to note is that we are in the village of Klyukovo, not the city of Klyukovo, so make sure the discharged wounded don't go to the wrong place."

At 2 a.m., two sentries on duty at the east end of the village faintly heard the roar of car engines in the distance. After observing carefully for a while, they found a convoy with its headlights on, heading in their direction.

The two men didn't dare to delay and immediately ran to inform the company commander. The company commander, upon learning of this, then reported the news to Battalion Commander Captain Alex.

Captain Alexa was alarmed when he learned that a convoy was heading towards the village. He immediately sounded the battle alarm and ordered his men to wake up the sleeping soldiers and quickly move into the defensive positions outside the village.

When the troops began their operation, Alexa felt that such an important matter had to be reported to Sokov so that he could make the final decision.

Sokov was awakened from his sleep by the noise and learned that a convoy was heading towards his village of Klyukovo. He was startled, but calmly arranged for the other three battalions to prepare for battle. Regardless of whether the convoy belonged to the Soviet or German forces, precautions had to be taken in advance.

Amidst a flurry of intensive preparations, the answer was finally revealed. It wasn't the enemy that arrived, but a convoy dispatched by the Weapons and Equipment Department, carrying supplies primarily intended for infantry brigades.

Sokov met with the transport team leader in his command post. He shook the leader's hand and said, "Lieutenant, thank you so much. It's so late, and you're still working so hard to transport our combat supplies."

The transport team leader replied politely, "Lieutenant Colonel, it is our duty to transport supplies for you. But today is relatively good. It's only about forty kilometers from the weapons and equipment department's warehouse to here, and we arrived at our destination in just over an hour. Unlike in the past, when it was common for supplies to take two or three days to arrive on the road."

"Lieutenant, I will arrange for men to unload the supplies from the truck as soon as possible." Sokov said with a smile, "Now I will send someone to take you and your men to rest. After the truck is unloaded, I will send someone to call you."

Faced with Sokov's kindness, the transport captain did not refuse. After all, it was not uncommon for transport missions to go for days and nights without sleep. Now that he had time to rest, he naturally would not let such an opportunity pass him by. He returned to where the convoy was parked, gathered his men, and, following the men sent by Sokov, went to rest in a nearby house.

After the supplies on the truck were unloaded, Sokov received the list of transported supplies, and he could no longer suppress the smile on his face.

This supply includes 500 assault rifles and 1 million rounds of ammunition. Even if we calculate based on 1,500 rifles, each rifle would have over 600 rounds of ammunition, enough for a medium-sized battle.

However, what pleased Sokov the most was the six rocket launchers and the two hundred rounds of ammunition. With this anti-tank weapon, the commanders and soldiers on the front lines could destroy German tanks with minimal casualties when facing an attack.

Looking at the rocket launcher on the table, Belkin and Karsokov stared at each other in disbelief, having no idea what it was.

After a long while, Belkin couldn't help but ask Sokov, "Comrade Brigade Commander, what is this chimney-like thing for?"

(End of this chapter)