red moscow

Chapter 3114 German Reinforcements Arrive
Sokov had just ended his call with Karsokov and hadn't even returned the headset and microphone to the radio operator when the operator reported again: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the Commander-in-Chief wants to speak with you!"

"What? Commander wants to speak with me?" Sokov quickly instructed the radio operator, "Connect me immediately."

Soon, Rokossovsky's familiar voice came through the headset: "Misha, how is your brigade's progress? What position have you reached so far?"

Sokov quickly replied, "The advance is going very smoothly, Comrade Commander!" He gave a detailed report on how the troops had quickly captured the town and the current offensive on the village, his tone tinged with pride. "I have ordered the artillery units to move forward and move together with the advance battalion. The purpose of this is to prepare to quickly open a passage with artillery fire if our troops encounter strong enemy fortifications."

After listening to Sokov's report, Rokossovsky nodded in satisfaction on the other end of the phone, a slight smile playing on his lips. He admired Sokov's flexible tactics; such innovation was especially valuable in a rigid military system. "Misha," he said, "I think it's very appropriate to have the artillery clear the way for the infantry without the support of armored units."

His voice revealed approval: "After the battle, write a report and submit it to me. I will then promote your tactics throughout the entire army group. This may provide a reference for other units and help avoid unnecessary losses."

Hearing this, Sokov felt a surge of warmth in his heart. The approval of his superiors regarding his deployment was deeply gratifying. As a frontline commander, he knew all too well the dangers of encountering rigid, rule-bound superiors. If they insisted on using outdated tactics, even if victory was achieved by chance, the cost was often heavy, and the troops would be left vulnerable in subsequent battles due to lack of reinforcements. Rokossovsky's enlightened attitude undoubtedly instilled greater confidence in Sokov.

“Misha!” Rokossovsky paused for a moment, then his voice grew even more somber. He continued, “After more than half a month of retreat, the German army has established strong defenses in new areas. Our subsequent offensive will become increasingly difficult. As a frontline commander, you must prepare yourself mentally in advance. Understand?”

As an experienced commander, Sokov naturally had a deep understanding of the changing battlefield situation. The Soviet army continued its advance, but due to the need to divide forces to defend recaptured territory, coupled with casualties in combat, the number of troops available for frontline operations was dwindling; meanwhile, the retreating German army, having consolidated its defensive positions, had more concentrated forces and stronger resistance. With this shift in power, the Soviet army was bound to find the battles increasingly difficult, and each advance would likely come at a greater cost. "I've long been mentally prepared for this situation, so you can rest assured."

Rokossovsky nodded in satisfaction at Sokov's reply, knowing he could trust this young commander. He then added in a more conciliatory tone, "If you encounter any difficulties, contact me directly, and I will find a way to resolve them for you. Whether it's ammunition resupply or troop support, I will prioritize your unit." These words reassured Sokov, who knew he was not fighting alone; the support of his superiors was key to overcoming the difficulties.

"Comrade Brigade Commander!" Just as Sokov handed the headset and microphone to the radio operator beside him, Yefim rushed over, grabbed Sokov's arm, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "My troops have successfully captured the village! Look—the red flag is already being raised in the center of the village!"

Sokov squinted his wind-dry eyes and stared intently in the direction Yefim had pointed. Sure enough, a bright red flag was fluttering on the highest rooftop in the village, standing out starkly against the gloomy sky. However, Sokov's face remained expressionless. He simply turned his head and asked in his usual calm tone, "Comrade Captain, is it 'occupation' of the village, or 'control' of the village?"

His question stemmed from a tradition within the Soviet army that had been passed down since the Tsarist era: during an attack, simply planting a flag on the roof of a target building signified "occupation"; while "control" meant that the entire area was completely under our control and the remaining enemy forces had been largely eliminated—there was a fundamental difference between the two.

Yefim's excitement subsided slightly. He listened intently for a moment; sporadic gunfire still echoed through the village, occasionally punctuated by the explosions of grenades. But he answered decisively, "Only a few remnants of the enemy are putting up a last stand. My troops and Captain Nazorov's have essentially taken control of the entire village." "After completely eliminating the remaining enemy," Sokov began, "the First Battalion will remain to rest, while the Third Battalion will become the vanguard of the entire brigade. Once the artillery battalion arrives, we will continue our advance into the enemy's defensive perimeter."

Upon learning that his 3rd Battalion had become the vanguard of the entire brigade, Nazorov couldn't help but beam with joy. However, when he heard that they would be moving with the artillery battalion, he couldn't help but ask with a troubled expression, "Comrade Brigade Commander, why does our battalion have to move with the artillery? If we encounter the enemy during the advance, the artillery's combat effectiveness is probably not even as good as that of an infantry company."

“The artillery battalion is operating alongside your battalion,” Sokov said sternly, his face displeased. “If we really encounter an enemy attack, is your 3rd Battalion just for show, unable to even mount a basic counterattack?”

Nazorov, embarrassed by Sokov's criticism, blushed and said somewhat awkwardly, "Comrade Brigade Commander, I was wrong. Since the artillery battalion is going to operate with our battalion, we will certainly ensure their safety."

“That’s right, Captain Nazorov.” Sokov’s face broke into a smile again. “Since you’re operating with the artillery battalion, protecting their safety is your inescapable responsibility. And if you encounter German defensive positions during your advance, a barrage of artillery fire from the artillery battalion can destroy the enemy’s fortifications and open a path for you, thus reducing your casualties during the attack.”

Just then, a scout in camouflage ran up, breathless, and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, something bad has happened! German armored units have appeared in the distance and are moving towards the village!"

Because of the cover of the forest, Sokov could not see the enemy reinforcements and could only continue to ask the scouts: "How many tanks and armored vehicles do the Germans have, and how many infantry?"

"I roughly counted that the enemy had two tanks, four armored vehicles, three or four trucks full of soldiers, and seven or eight three-wheeled motorcycles."

After listening to the scout's report, Sokov silently calculated the German forces; there should be over two hundred. To stop them, he only needed to send up the 3rd Battalion. After all, they still had nearly eight hundred men, making the troop ratio 4:1, giving him the advantage.

"Third Battalion Commander!" Sokov said to Nazorov, "You heard that, didn't you? The enemy's total strength is only about two hundred men, but they have tanks and armored vehicles. Are you confident you can stop them?"

Nazorov's expression turned serious. After thinking for a while, he nodded vigorously and said with certainty, "Don't worry, Comrade Brigade Commander, our battalion will definitely be able to hold off the enemy's reinforcements."

(End of this chapter)