red moscow

Chapter 3034

Over the next two days, Sokov, using intelligence provided by scouts, boldly devised a series of raid plans, sending out several small units of dozens of men each night to raid German encampments.

Although each raid yielded very limited results, it had an unexpected effect. The severely sleep-deprived German officers and soldiers were simply unable to launch an attack on Leninno during the day, leaving the 3rd Battalion soldiers guarding the fortifications with nothing to do.

When Sokov arrived at the Third Battalion's position with several guards, he saw soldiers sitting in the trenches, either smoking or chatting idly, as if they were not there to fight, but only to participate in voluntary labor.

Upon seeing Sokov's arrival, the soldiers hastily ended their conversations, or threw their cigarette butts on the ground, stood up, leaned against the trench wall, and paid their respects to Sokov as he passed by.

Sokov arrived at Nazorov's battalion command post and was about to lift the curtain to go in when he heard voices inside, so he stopped.

A strange voice came from inside and said, "Comrade Battalion Commander, when others are on defensive missions, there are always endless battles. But since our battalion was stationed here, apart from the first battle on the first day, we haven't seen a single enemy. If this continues, by the end of the war, the honors our battalion will receive will probably be far less than those of the other battalions."

"Don't worry, the war won't end tomorrow," Nazorov's voice came. "We still have many battles to fight. Isn't it a good thing that the enemy hasn't attacked these past two days? You know, since the day we entered Sun Mountain City, our brigade has been fighting non-stop, from Krasnopolana to Klyukovo. The soldiers are already exhausted. Now that we finally have a plan to rest, you're still complaining so much."

Another unfamiliar voice came: "Comrade Battalion Commander, the main reason the enemy isn't attacking is because the brigade commander keeps sending small units to raid the German encampments under the cover of night, keeping them awake all night and preventing them from launching an attack on us during the day. But why does he only send other battalions, and not let us carry out the night raids?"

Sokov intended to continue listening, but then an officer emerged from inside. He had just lifted the curtain when he saw Sokov standing outside. After a brief moment of surprise, he immediately stood at attention and saluted Sokov: "Good day, Comrade Brigade Commander!"

Those talking in the command post immediately stopped when they heard the officer's voice and went to the door to salute Sokov.

Sokov raised his hand in return and said, "It's too cold outside, let's go inside and talk."

Inside the command post was a kerosene stove for heating and boiling water, and the spout of the teapot on the stove was constantly spewing hot steam outwards.

After Sokov found a place to sit down, an officer went to the stove, picked up the still-steaming teapot, and poured water into a teacup.

"Comrade Brigade Commander!" The officer approached Sokov and handed him a teacup: "It's cold outside, have some hot tea to warm yourself up."

Sokov recognized the officer as the first speaker, thanked him, took the teacup from him, looked up at him, and asked, "Lieutenant, I heard everything you said outside. What's wrong? You've only been away from the enemy for two days, and you're already getting impatient?"

Hearing Sokov say this, the officer scratched the back of his head and said embarrassedly, "We can hear gunfire every day from our friendly positions on the left flank, but it's quiet here. It does feel a bit strange."

The left flank the officer referred to was Petrovskoye, which was defended by the 11th Guards Division. Although the two places were a dozen or twenty kilometers apart, the sound of gunfire could be heard from that direction at any time.

Sokov didn't speak immediately, but instead scanned the room with his eyes, trying to see what their expressions were.

“Comrade Brigade Commander!” Nazorov interrupted as he saw Sokov scanning the room. “Those present are all company commanders and deputy company commanders. Due to the heavy casualties suffered by the troops in the earlier battles, many of the commanders present are newly recruited, and you probably don’t recognize them.” He then introduced the officers present to Sokov.

After Nazarov finished his introduction, Sokov placed his teacup on the table and stood up to say to everyone, "Comrades, I understand your feelings very well. I know you are eager to face the Germans head-on as soon as possible. But don't be impatient. As Captain Nazarov said, the war will not end tomorrow. You will have many, many more battles to fight in the future."

"Comrade Brigade Commander," the officer handing Sokov a teacup couldn't help but ask, "when will we be able to join the battle?"

“I think the later we join the battle, the better,” Sokov said unexpectedly. “Only when the enemy’s manpower has been almost completely depleted by our allies can we achieve the greatest victory with the least cost when we enter the battle.”

Sokov's words left not only the company commanders and deputy company commanders confused, but even Nazorov was baffled: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I don't understand what you mean. Could you explain it to us in more detail?"

“Yes.” Sokov thought that the major counter-offensive under Moscow would begin at dawn tomorrow. Although he could not tell the officers the truth before the official order was given, he felt that it was still appropriate to reveal some information to boost morale and unite the troops: “According to reliable sources, two new armies have been deployed between our army group and the 30th Army on the right flank. This means that in the near future, we will launch a powerful counterattack against the Germans.”

"If your forces are largely depleted in these few days of fighting, will you still have the strength to participate in the counter-offensive when it begins? If your battalion is already decimated by the time the counter-offensive starts, you'll only be able to stay put or retreat to the rear to rest, watching helplessly as your allies' commanders and soldiers achieve great feats while you can only watch idly as they do nothing." Hearing Sokov's words, the commanders present became somewhat agitated.

The lieutenant spoke again and asked, "Comrade Brigade Commander, when do you think our army's counterattack will begin?"

"General Zhukov is now commanding the Western Front. Knowing him as I do, if he deems it necessary, he will launch a counterattack against any area occupied by the enemy, regardless of whether our army is prepared or has sufficient combat supplies," Sokov said. "Now, two complete army groups have been added between us and our allies. Do you think General Zhukov, given his personality, would let these two army groups do nothing all day?"

As soon as Sokov finished speaking, everyone shook their heads in unison and replied, "No."

“That’s right, he certainly won’t let those two army groups sit idle; he’ll definitely get them involved in the counterattack as soon as possible.” Sokov said, feigning thoughtfulness. “Based on my assessment, this counterattack will take place within three days to a week.”

"Ah, will there be a large-scale counterattack against the Germans so soon?" Nazorov asked tentatively.

"That's entirely possible..."

Just as Sokov was about to give his men a pep talk, the telephone on the table rang.

Nazarov grabbed the microphone and held it to his ear: "This is Captain Nazarov!"

Sitting across from him, Sokov soon heard Karsokov's voice on the phone: "Comrade Captain, is the brigade commander with you?"

"Yes, Chief of Staff! I'll have him take the call right away!" Nazorov said, handing over the receiver.

"Comrade Chief of Staff!" Sokov pressed the microphone to his ear and asked, "What is it?"

"That's right, Comrade Brigade Commander," Karsokov said on the other end of the phone. "I just received a call from the army group headquarters, asking you and the deputy brigade commander to come to the headquarters for a meeting. They say there are important combat missions to be assigned."

Sokov's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Was the meeting at the army group headquarters to formally announce the launch of the major counter-offensive the following day? However, he tried his best to control his emotions and said in a calm tone, "Comrade Chief of Staff, I'll be right back."

When Sokov hung up the phone, Nazorov asked excitedly, "Comrade Brigade Commander, is the army group headquarters holding an emergency military meeting to plan a counter-offensive?"

“Comrade Captain,” Sokov said, looking at Nazorov across from him, “that possibility cannot be ruled out.”

A dozen minutes later, Sokov returned to the location of the brigade command post.

Even from a distance, he could see several jeeps parked on the roadside outside the command post, and Belkin was pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot plate.

Upon seeing Sokov appear, Belkin immediately strode over to greet him, and from a distance, he shouted, "Comrade Brigade Commander, you're finally back! Hurry up and get in the car, we need to get to the army group headquarters as soon as possible."

After the convoy set off, Belkin asked somewhat excitedly, "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you think today's military meeting will tell us that our army will launch a large-scale counter-offensive against the German army outside Moscow?"

Sokov smiled faintly and said with a normal expression, "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, we cannot rule out the possibility that what you said is true. But we will only know the specifics when we arrive at headquarters."

Belkin seemed very excited. He would look out the car window and mutter that the car was going too slowly. Then he would turn to Sokov and ask cautiously, "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you think our counterattack will achieve the desired results?"

(End of this chapter)