red moscow

Chapter 3039

"What? You captured two 300mm railway guns?" Zhukov was also surprised when he heard Rokossovsky's report: "So the German army has not given up the idea of ​​bombarding the city of Moscow."

“That’s obvious, Comrade Zhukov,” Rokossovsky said. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t have brought these railway guns for attacking fortresses from the rear.”

"Which unit captured these two railway guns?"

"It was captured in battle by Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's infantry brigade," Rokossovsky explained to Zhukov in detail. "Because the enemy was constantly attacking Klyukovo, I sent Sokov with his infantry brigade to provide support. However, after arriving near Klyukovo, he did not immediately lead his troops into the city. Instead, he launched a surprise attack from the German flank and rear, disrupting the enemy's advance and successfully capturing the village of Kamenka and the nearby passing station, capturing the railway guns that the Germans intended to use to bombard the city of Moscow."

After listening, Zhukov slowly nodded: "This Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is quite good. It seems a bit of a waste to only appoint him as a minor brigade commander."

“I had considered appointing him as a division commander, but his experience was too limited. If he were promoted too quickly, it might provoke opposition from other senior commanders,” Rokossovsky explained. “Therefore, it’s better to leave him in the position of brigade commander for a couple more years until the time is right, and then give him a more important role.”

“Such a capable commander, keeping him in the position of brigade commander for a long time will probably have an impact on his development,” Zhukov said. “He won’t accumulate experience in large-scale operations, and his future achievements will be very limited. The position of division commander will probably be the ceiling for his career.”

"Comrade Zhukov, don't underestimate Lieutenant Colonel Sokov just because he's only a brigade commander now. At its peak, his infantry brigade was almost equivalent to a division." Rokossovsky continued, "His command skills have gradually improved through continuous battles. I believe that with his abilities, his future achievements will be limitless."

After Zhukov and Rokossovsky chatted for a few more minutes about Sokov, Zhukov suddenly said, "Koschika, tell Lieutenant Colonel Sokov to make sure to protect these two railway guns. I will send someone to take over these two guns as soon as possible."

After Rokossovsky ended his call with Zhukov, he put down the receiver and said to Malinin, "Comrade Chief of Staff, Zhukov asked us to find a way to properly store the two captured railway guns. Do you have any good suggestions on this?"

“The best solution, of course, is to immediately send troops to take over the railway gun and set up guards around it to prevent the Germans from sending troops to seize it.” Malinin said with difficulty, “But we have limited manpower at hand right now and simply cannot spare any manpower to protect the railway gun, so the task of guarding the railway gun can only be temporarily done by the infantry brigade.”

“That’s for sure.” Rokossovsky nodded. “Even if I don’t call Misha, he will increase the vigilance on the train guns. What I’m asking is, are there any other precautions?”

“Another point, of course, is the issue of air defense,” Malining continued. “If the enemy finds that they cannot retake these two railway guns through a ground attack, they may very well send in their air force to bomb the transfer station where the railway guns are parked.”

“Hmm, you’re right.” Rokossovsky nodded. “The infantry brigade doesn’t have an anti-aircraft artillery unit. I think we can draw a 37mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft artillery battalion from the army group headquarters’ direct units and deploy it around the railway guns to perform air defense duties.”

“I think that’s fine,” Malinin said, looking at Rokossovsky. “If you have nothing to add, I’ll contact the commander of the air defense forces and have him send an anti-aircraft artillery battalion to Kamenka village as soon as possible.”

“I have nothing to add. Call the commander of the air defense forces now and have him send out an anti-aircraft artillery battalion as soon as possible,” Rokossovsky said. “I’ll call Misha now and have him strengthen the protection of the railway guns to prevent them from being destroyed by the enemy.”

Rokossovsky quickly called Sokov's command post.

“Misha!” Upon hearing Sokov’s voice, Rokossovsky cut straight to the point: “I’m calling you to tell you that the higher-ups are very interested in the railway guns you’ve captured, so you must strengthen the protection of them to prevent them from being damaged by the Germans.”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander," Sokov said with a smile. "I have already deployed a company of troops around the railway guns, and the enemy will definitely not be allowed to get close."

“Misha, not only are we interested in the railway guns, but the Germans are certainly unwilling to lose them and will definitely try every means to take them back.” Rokossovsky, worried that Sokov might underestimate the enemy, specifically reminded him, “If the ground offensive fails, they will definitely send in their air force to destroy the railway guns. In other words, you not only need to set up defenses around the railway guns, but also prepare for air defense.” Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Sokov couldn’t help but slap his forehead hard, cursing himself for being blinded by victory. How could the Germans easily give up such heavy artillery as railway guns? If they launched a ground offensive and failed to recapture the two railway guns, they would definitely use other methods to destroy them, including air bombardment and possibly long-range artillery fire.

After figuring this out, he hesitated and said, "But, Commander, our brigade doesn't have any anti-aircraft artillery units. How can we set up anti-aircraft positions around the railway guns?"

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Rokossovsky said. “I will immediately send a 37mm anti-aircraft artillery battalion to your location to establish anti-aircraft positions.”

After finishing his call, Sokov sat down at his desk and began to think seriously about what he might have overlooked.

Berkin leaned closer and asked Sokov curiously, "Comrade Brigade Commander, what did the Commander say on the phone?"

"Comrade Commander said that the enemy is very likely to launch an attack on the village of Kamenka in an attempt to recapture the railway gun." Sokov replied, "If the ground attack fails, they may send in the air force to completely destroy the railway gun. Therefore, while we set up guards around the railway gun, we must also strengthen air defense."

"Strengthen air defense?!" Belkin said, frowning. "But we don't have any air defense forces at all. How can we conduct air defense?"

"Don't worry about that. Commander will soon send us a 37mm anti-aircraft gun battalion to set up anti-aircraft positions around the railway guns," Sokov said. "In this way, even if enemy planes attack, we won't be completely helpless."

"Comrade Brigade Commander, I think it's inappropriate to leave the railway gun in place now that its location has been exposed," Karsokov suddenly interjected. "How about we move it to a safer location first?"

“A safe place?” Belkin shook his head and said, “There’s war everywhere these days, where can you find a safe place?”

Belkin's words gave Sokov a wake-up call. He remembered that when he went to check the train guns, he had seen a section of track near the station that ran through the forest. He immediately had a better idea: "Deputy Brigade Commander, Chief of Staff, stop arguing. I've thought of a place to hide the train guns."

Upon hearing Sokov's words, Belkin and Karsokov immediately stopped arguing and turned their gazes toward Sokov, eager to hear what he would have to say.

“There’s a section of railway track near the station that runs through the forest,” Sokov said. “We can find a locomotive to tow the two railway guns into the forest area, then cover them with camouflage netting. That way, even if the Germans send out reconnaissance planes, they won’t easily find the railway guns. If the Germans can’t even find the location of the railway guns, how can they destroy them? What do you think?”

After listening to Sokov's words, the two nodded in unison and said, "That's right, Comrade Brigade Commander, what you said is a good idea. We'll move the train gun to a safe place. As long as the enemy doesn't discover its whereabouts, they won't be able to find the target whether they want to bomb or shell it."

Seeing that his two deputies agreed with his proposal, Sokov had the communications officer connect him to the battalion's command post.

"Captain Yefim!" Sokov shouted into the microphone, "Listen, here's the deployment: Immediately locate the locomotive, move both railway guns into the forest area, and cover them with camouflage netting to prevent the Germans from discovering them. Also, set up defenses around the railway guns; no one is allowed to approach without a special pass issued by brigade headquarters. If anyone manages to get close, you may choose to open fire decisively. Understand?"

Upon hearing Sokov's words, Yefim realized the importance of the two railway guns and quickly replied, "I understand, Comrade Brigade Commander. I will protect these two railway guns as if they were my own eyes, and I will absolutely not allow them to be damaged."

Just as Sokov was about to hang up the phone, he suddenly remembered Rokossovsky saying that he would soon send an anti-aircraft artillery battalion to the village of Kamenka, and quickly added, "By the way, the commander said that in order to prevent the railway gun from being bombed by enemy aircraft, he is going to send us a 37mm anti-aircraft artillery battalion to strengthen the air defense around the railway gun. When the anti-aircraft artillery battalion arrives, you should personally go and greet it to avoid any misunderstandings between the two sides."

(End of this chapter)