red moscow

Chapter 3057

Sokov emerged from the sidecar, nodded to the saluting sentry, thanked the motorcyclist, and strode into the command post.

Upon seeing Sokov walk in from outside, Belkin immediately went up to him and asked anxiously, "Comrade Brigade Commander, where did you just go?"

"I'm having dinner with the commander and the others at the army group headquarters." Seeing Belkin's anxious expression, Sokov asked, "Is something wrong?"

“The sentry at the village entrance reported to me that you left the village on a three-wheeled motorcycle, and there was no one else with you except the driver,” Belkin replied. “I was worried that you had encountered danger and was about to send someone to look for you, but I didn’t expect you to come back first.”

After Sokov understood what had happened, a bitter smile appeared on his face. He explained, "I had something to discuss with General Dovator, the commander of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, but he left right after dinner, so I had to find a motorcycle to catch up with him. Because it was urgent, I didn't tell you and made you worry. I'm really sorry."

"I see." Belkin breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good!"

After a brief pause, Belkin continued, "By the way, Major Vasya has arrived with the Fourth Battalion and the prisoners of war. I've arranged for them to be stationed on the west side of the village."

"There don't seem to be many houses on the west side of the village. Vasya brought back about four thousand people. How will they camp tonight?"

"Don't worry," Belkin said with a smile. "Major Vasya and his men brought plenty of tents; there's enough room for everyone."

Sokov thought about the weather outside, which was probably around minus ten or twenty degrees Celsius. He was still uneasy about letting the soldiers stay in uninsulated tents: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, the temperature is low tonight. Will something happen if the soldiers stay in uninsulated tents?"

“Comrade Brigade Commander, don’t worry.” Belkin comforted Sokov when he saw that he looked worried. “Major Vasya is not a new soldier. He must have a lot of experience in field camping. There shouldn’t be any problem settling thousands of officers and soldiers in.”

Now that Belkin had made his point, any further questioning from Sokov would be seen as a sign of distrust. He quickly sat down at the table and said to Belkin and Karsokov, who was reviewing documents, "Colonel Malinin told me that the additional equipment from higher command will arrive as early as noon tomorrow, at which point we can use these weapons to arm the rescued prisoners of war."

“Even if we replenish the prisoners of war with weapons, I’m afraid they won’t be able to form a fighting force immediately,” Karsokov said with some concern. “I wonder if the higher-ups could give us a few more days so that the prisoners can familiarize themselves with the weapons and build relationships with the existing officers and soldiers in the brigade.” Karsokov, who was already worried about Dovator’s safety, frowned upon hearing his chief of staff’s words. “Comrade Chief of Staff,” he said, “time is precious for both us and the Germans right now. If we advance quickly enough, the Germans won’t have time to reorganize their troops and construct new defensive lines. If the higher-ups really give us a few more days to allow the prisoners to integrate with the existing officers and soldiers, it might delay our advance, giving the enemy a chance to regroup and inflict greater casualties on us in the following battles.”

“The brigade commander is right. If we stop to rest, we will give the enemy a chance to catch their breath. Once the enemy reorganizes their troops and builds new defenses, it will make our subsequent operations more difficult.” Belkin agreed with Sokov’s statement. After thinking for a moment, he suggested to Sokov: “Comrade brigade commander, I think it would be better to have Captain Yefim’s battalion cooperate with the cavalry corps’ operation to pursue the fleeing enemy.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” As soon as Belkin finished speaking, Karsokov added, “The Fourth Battalion and those prisoners of war can stay in the village to wait for their equipment. We will use the First and Second Battalions as the first echelon to follow the cavalry and eliminate any enemies we encounter along the way. The Third Battalion will be the second echelon, operating with the brigade headquarters, and can also provide support to the First and Second Battalions if necessary.”

Karsokov's words gave Sokov a sudden inspiration. He thought to himself, "Yes, I can have Yefim's 1st Battalion and Alex's 2nd Battalion move with the cavalry. On a battlefield covered in snow, infantry can sometimes be more effective than cavalry. Moreover, when the 1st Battalion captured the German railway guns at the rendezvous point near Kamenka village, they also captured two 20mm Flak 38 light anti-aircraft guns. These quadruple rapid-fire guns are perfect for dealing with German machine gun positions."

Thinking this through, Sokov nodded and said, "What you said makes a lot of sense. Then the first and second battalions will be the first echelon, and they will set off immediately after dawn to join the cavalry corps. The third battalion will be the second echelon, and will follow the brigade headquarters, setting off at noon tomorrow. Vasya's fourth battalion will remain in the village to replenish its weapons, and then give them another day to practice and regroup before joining the brigade headquarters the day after tomorrow morning."

“Yes, Comrade Brigade Commander.” Karsokov nodded. “I will immediately notify the battalion commanders and have them prepare overnight.”

"Also, Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov added, worried that Yefim might find the two 20mm Flak 38 light anti-aircraft guns inconvenient to carry and simply leave them in the village. "You must tell Captain Yefim that his battalion must take those two 20mm anti-aircraft guns with them when they set off, understand?"

As Sokov's chief of staff, Karsokov naturally understood Sokov's character and knew that the equipment he had ordered to be carried would definitely play an important role in the upcoming battle. So he nodded in agreement: "Understood, Comrade Brigade Commander. I will have Captain Yefim and his men take those two 20mm anti-aircraft guns."

Just as Sokov had feared, when Yefim received Karsokov's call, he was already thinking that the two captured 20mm quadruple anti-aircraft guns were inconvenient to carry, and he planned to leave them in the village and then launch a light attack. However, just as he thought Karsokov had finished assigning the task and was about to hang up, he heard the other man emphasize again: "Comrade Captain, there's one more thing I almost forgot. The brigade commander personally instructed that your battalion take those two 20mm Flak 38 quadruple anti-aircraft guns with you when you set off. Don't forget."

Upon hearing Karsokov's words, Yefim's face immediately turned sour, but since it was an order from his superior, he had no choice but to obey unconditionally, even if he had objections. He forced a smile and replied, "Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff, we will take those two quadruple anti-aircraft guns with us when we set off."

(End of this chapter)