After repelling two German attacks in a row, Sokov was worried that the Germans would not play according to the rules and would concentrate their superior forces to attack Lugansk without waiting for the elimination of the Sixth Army of Khalitonov and the fast cluster of Popov. Therefore, he urged the 125th Regiment in the city to seize the time to repair the work and prepare for street fighting with the enemy.
After the order was issued, Sokov was still worried and took people to the city to inspect. After receiving the news, the regiment commander Lieutenant Colonel Yershakov immediately rushed over to greet him with several staff officers.
"Ltd Colonel Comrade," Sokov and others saluted Yershakov, and asked bluntly: "How are your fortifications being repaired?"
"Report to the commander of the division," Yershakov quickly straightened his body and replied: "We have followed your orders to build necessary fortifications in important streets..."
"It's not possible to just say it. I want to see the fortifications you have built with my own eyes." Sokov interrupted the words afterwards: "See if it's as reliable as you said."
Yershakov quickly waved to the two jeeps parked not far away, signaling the driver to drive the car: "Comrade Commander, the city is too big, you should sit in the car and inspect it."
Sokov sat in the passenger seat, his eyes quietly observed the outside environment through the windows of the car windows. Fortifications made of sandbags and logs were established at the intersection. There were sandbags on the windows of the building on both sides, and machine guns were installed, which could form cross-three-dimensional firepower with the fortifications on the ground, blocking this section of the street.
As for the tripods used for anti-tanks, although they can be seen, the number is too small. Sokov counted along the way, only more than 30, and they are all placed on important streets. He felt that he should explain to Yershakov later to make more anti-tank tripods and have them on every street as soon as possible.
Two jeeps stopped at the church square in the center of the city. Sokov and Yershakov got off one after another. Yershakov trotted to Sokov and asked guiltily: "Comrade Commander, how do you think the fortifications of our regiment are being built?"
Based on observations along the way, Sokov felt that the 125th Regiment had done a good job in defense, so he nodded and said, "Overall, it seems OK."
Yershakov was somewhat at ease when he was able to get Sokov's "okay". He heard Sokov continue to say: "This church is the commanding heights of the whole city. Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, in addition to arranging machine gun fire points, you should also arrange elite snipers on it and kill the German commanders at a long range...
You build barricades on the crossroads and set up machine gun positions in the buildings on both sides. This can form three-dimensional crossfire and block this block. This idea is very good, but it is not enough."
Hearing Sokov say that his fortifications are still imperfect, Yershakov quickly asked modestly: "Comrade instructor, I don't know where we have shortcomings, please give me advice."
"When German tanks pass through barricades, they will definitely be full of speed. If you arrange two rocket launchers in the buildings on both sides," Sokov said. "That will you easily destroy the enemy's tanks. German infantry who have lost the cover of the tank will not gain any advantage in our city."
"So that's how it is." Sokov's words made Yershakov suddenly realize: "I understand, comrade of the division commander. I will arrange soldiers carrying rocket launchers in the buildings behind the barricade fortification as soon as possible to carry out anti-tank operations."
"Comrade," Sokov was discussing the advantages of existing fortifications with Yershakov and the areas where improvements were needed. The Naval Captain Shamrikh, the commander of the Third Battalion, ran over from a distance. He came to Sokov and said breathlessly: "A general is inspecting the defense zone of our battalion."
"A general?" Shamrich's report made Sokov stunned. He thought to himself: I haven't heard of any general coming to Lugansk for inspection recently. He asked subconsciously: "Which general is from which part and where is it now?"
"He said he was the commander of the First Guard Infantry Army," Shamrich said anxiously: "He said he wanted to meet the city's highest-level commander. I called the division headquarters and Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin said you came to the city to inspect. I guess you would come to the church area, so I came over to try my luck, but I didn't expect to meet you."
"It is Lieutenant General Kuznetsov, commander of the First Guards Army," Sokov asked casually: "What did he do in Lugansk? You must know that his troops can be in the establishment of the Voronezh Front."
"Comrade Commander, you're wrong." Shamrich waved his hand and said, "It's not the First Guards Army, but the commander of the First Guards Infantry Army, just a major general."
When I figured out that the person who came was not Lieutenant General Kuznetsov, but a strange commander of the guards, a thought flashed through Sokov's mind: "Does the superiors plan to send troops to take over his defense?"
Three jeeps, including the jeeps brought by Shamrich, drove quickly along the street. Sokov soon arrived near the command post of the Third Battalion, and Sokov often saw a group of soldiers standing on the roadside. From the military coats they wore and the large-brimmed hats they wore, Sokov saw that this was a group of officers.
The car stopped five or six meters away from the crowd. Sokov got off the bus and saw the major general in the crowd. He quickly ran over and saluted the other party: "Hello, Comrade General, I am Colonel Sokov, the commander of the 41st Division of the Guards. Is there any place to serve you?"
"Comrade Colonel," the general muttered dissatisfiedly, "Do you know, how long have I been waiting for you here?"
"Comrade General, I'm so embarrassed." Sokov didn't know what the other party was coming, so he could only laugh and said, "I'm inspecting defense in the city. I don't know you're here, so it took a long time."
"Comrade Colonel, I want to ask why we need to build fortifications in the city?" The general asked angrily: "Don't you know that our troops are almost driving the Germans across the Dnieper River? There will be no more war here, so what other fortifications will be built?"
"Comrade General, although our Voronezh Front and the Southwest Front have won some victories on the battlefield, they may not be able to drive the enemy across the Dnieper River for the time being." Since the other party is not his direct boss, Sokov has no need to be polite to speak to him. He said bluntly: "I am worried that the German army will carry out a large-scale counterattack, and Lugansk will also be threatened. We do not have the right to hand over the city that our commanders and soldiers have recovered after bloody sacrifice to the Germans, so I will deploy the defense work in the city."
"Col. My army command is in Milerovo, northeast of the city. In order to better attack the enemy, your division will be temporarily under my command from now on." The general said, "and said to a colonel next to him: "This is my chief of staff, and he will assign tasks to you."
"Sorry, Comrade General." Sokov did not receive any orders from his superiors, so he had the right to not accept the other party's orders. He replied in a humble manner: "Before receiving the orders from his superiors, our division was still affiliated with the 62nd Army. No one except Commander Cui Kov could give me orders."
"Col. I ask you to find out if it is the command division of the army or the other way around?" The general was furious when he saw Sokov unwilling to accept his orders: "If you disobey the military order, believe it or not, I will immediately remove you from your post and send you to the military court."
Regarding the general's threat, Sokov sneered and replied: "Comrade General, I ask you to figure out one thing. This is Lugansk, the defense area of ​​my 41st Guard Division. The orders given to me by the front and the army-level commands are to guard the city at all costs. If we are to be assigned to a certain army, the superiors will notify me.
But unfortunately, I have not received any such orders so far. Sorry, Comrade General, if you have nothing to do, please leave my defense zone. Even if your superiors want to place my troops to command, you need to present your superior's authorization letter first before I will obey your order."
Chapter completed!