Sidolin knew the situation of the troops best. As soon as Sokov finished speaking, he took the initiative to propose: "Comrade Commander, the only one with the easiest combat missions now is Comrade Belkin's shrinking regiment. Except for the Third Battalion in the city and the Marine Battalion fighting with the enemy in the workers' new village, the remaining two battalions have been staying in the tunnel. If they want to send troops to reinforce friendly forces, I think they are the most suitable ones."
"Chief of Staff, call Comrade Belkin and ask him to come to the command center immediately." Sokov felt that the reduction regiment had been in the tunnel for so long that they should have been out for activities. "We should also assign some combat missions to them."
In less than five minutes, Belkin, who received the notice, ran all the way to the command center. Although he used to be a partner with Sokov, he now has a superior and subordinate relationship. Therefore, he first raised his hand to salute Sokov, and then asked respectfully: "Comrade Commander, Belkin, the leader of the reduction team, is ordered to come, please give instructions!"
"Come here at the map, Commander of Belkin." Sokov called Belkin to the table and said to him: "Today the enemy dispatched a large number of bombers to carry out intensive bombing on the defense areas of our division and the defense areas of friendly forces. According to my estimates, the casualties of friendly forces may be very heavy, so the superiors may draw troops from our division to strengthen the defenses of friendly forces. After our research, we feel that the place where the superiors are most likely to send us is the defense area of ​​the 308th Division..." As he said that, he pointed out the location of the archives building and the stadium on the map with his hands.
When Sokov issued an order to Belkin, he never dreamed that the 308th Division, which had been sticking to this area, had long been transferred by Cuikov, and now the 39th Division of Guriyev's Guards, has replaced the defense here.
"Don't worry, comrade Commander." After hearing Sokov's order, Belkin showed an excited expression on his face: "New First Battalion, the soldiers of the New Second Battalion have been in the tunnel for so long, and they have been suffocated. Now they have finally had a chance to attack the enemy, and I believe they will not disappoint you."
Sokov knew very well about the shrinking regiments belonging to his own line, and believed that they were fully capable of smashing the enemy's attacks in any area. But considering that this was the only mobile unit and could not add more troops to them, he could only apologize to Belkin: "Comrade Commander, I'm sorry, because our troops are short, we cannot replenish your troops when you go to reinforce friendly forces."
Unexpectedly, Belkin said rationally: "Comrade Commander, the two battalions and the regiment directly under the regiment have a total force of more than 1,600. As long as there is sufficient ammunition, we can firmly defend the position."
"More than 1,600 people?" Ivanov, who was standing beside him, was stunned when he heard this number, and then asked back: "How come there are so many people?"
Hearing Ivanov's question, Belkin grinned and replied: "Comrade Deputy Commander, many wounded people have recovered from injury and then directly replenished into the regiment. In this way, there were more than a thousand people unknowingly?"
When they learned that it was a replenishment of the wounded troops, everyone had no doubt about the combat effectiveness of the reduction regiment. Sokov also added: "Some time ago, Captain Vasily took the new battalion to the workers' new village to assist in the war and seized a large amount of weapons and ammunition. This batch of weapons was handed over to your regiment for use."
"This is so good." Seeing Sokov so generous and promised to hand over the captured weapons and ammunition to his regiment, Berkin was overjoyed. He felt that he only needed enough ammunition and had no problem in the friendly positions for a few days. He couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade Commander, don't you know when we will set off?"
"Don't worry." Sokov waved his hand at him and explained: "We just guessed that our superiors might draw troops from our division to strengthen the defense of friendly forces, but whether to go or not, where to go, we still have to wait for the superiors' orders."
Belkin and Sokov partnered for about a year, and knew that he had always been a god. When he heard him say this, he not only did not feel disappointed, but instead said: "Comrade Commander, if you allow it, I want to go back to the army now and let the soldiers prepare to set off."
"Go, Commander Belkin." Sokov pointed at him and said, "Prepare the soldiers."
After Belkin left, Cidolin took the initiative to ask: "Comrade Commander, do you need to call the commander and ask him what arrangements he has for us?"
"No, no, comrade Chief of Staff, don't call the commander." Sokov immediately denied Sidolin's proposal. He knew very well that if he called Cui Kov at this time, it might be the same as the other party's wishes. With just one order, Cui Kov had to set off overnight. But if he didn't call, Cui Kov would have other considerations when arranging his troops to perform tasks. He gestured to stop the other party: "If the commander really planned to draw troops from here, he would call us."
Seeing that Sokov was unwilling to contact Cuikov on his own initiative, Cidolin did not force him. He picked up the phone and connected to the underground arsenal. He said to the officer who was answering the phone: "Comrade Captain, I am Cidolin. When Commander Belkin takes someone to your place to get the equipment later, you will hand over all the German equipment seized some time ago to them."
"Leave it all to them?" After hearing this, the captain guarding the arsenal asked in surprise: "Comrade Chief of Staff, will he not leave a part of the troops that hold the Mamayev post?"
"Not leaving any of them, and hand over all German weapons and supporting ammunition to the officers and soldiers of the shrinking regiment." Cidolin said firmly: "Apart from them, no other troops use German weapons."
Sidolin put down the phone and was about to complain to Sokov, saying that the officer who was in charge of the arsenal was a damn thing, and the phone ringing on the table rang again. He thought it was the officer who called it, so he picked up the phone and asked impatiently: "What else is there?"
The receiver was silent for a moment, and then there was a laugh from Choikov: "Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin, who made you so impatient? Could it be me?"
"How is this possible, Comrade Commander." After hearing that it was Cui Kefu's voice, Cidolin laughed and said, "I thought it was called by the officer guarding the arsenal."
"Arsenal?!" Cui Kefu asked hesitantly: "Why do you think of contacting the officers who were in charge of the arsenal in the middle of the night?"
When Sidolin heard this question, hesitatedly looked at Sokov. Seeing that the other party nodded slightly and signaled to tell the truth, he said to the microphone with confidence: "Comrade Commander, after this big bombing during the day, we probably suffered considerable casualties among the several divisions that were standing in the factory area. Therefore, the division commander and I decided to make our division's reserve team ready for combat and ready to rush to the friendly defense zone at any time."
"Ltd. Colonel," said Cui Kefu unexpectedly, "I made this call just to ask you if you can draw troops to support friendly forces. I didn't expect you to be ready long ago. This really surprised me. I want to ask, how many troops can you draw?"
Sidolin gave Sokov a thumbs up and admired his future. Sidolin asked to the microphone: "Comrade Commander, we are going to send the reduction regiment of the Commander Erkin to reinforce the defense areas of friendly forces. Can you tell me which combat area to send them to?"
"The 39th Division of General Guriyev's Guards suffered more than half of the casualties in the afternoon bombing." Cuikov said with a serious expression: "So, I plan to send your troops to his defense zone."
"Comrade Commander," Sidolin and others said, and asked quickly: "I wonder where the latest defense zone of the 39th Guard Division is?" He asked this because friendly forces inevitably lost positions when resisting the German attack. In order to avoid letting reinforcements plunge into the enemy's defense zone, it is necessary to ask clearly in advance.
"The defense zone of the 39th Guards Division is located on the north side of the Archives Building and the east side of the Stadium." Cui Kefu said: "Your mission is to take over the defense of the Archives Building."
"To the north of the Archives Building and to the east of the Stadium?" Sidorin stared at the map and repeated the place name that Cui Kefu said, and said in surprise: "Isn't this the defense of the 308th Division?"
"The Germans occupied the silicate plant. In order to prevent them from taking the opportunity to rush to the barricade plant, I have made corresponding adjustments." Cuikov explained: "The troops of the 308th Division retreated to the south to continue to build a new line of defense, while the 39th Guards Division replaced the defenses on the north side of the Archives Building and the east side of the Stadium."
"I understand, Comrade Commander." After recording the place name that Cuikov said, Sidolin asked again: "When can our troops set off?"
Cui Kefu replied: "There are burning everywhere outside and smoke everywhere. If you can get lost by marching at night, it is better to wait for dawn before letting them set off."
After finishing the call with Cuikov, Sidolin quickly reported to Sokov about the change of the defense lines of the 39th and 308th Divisions of the Guards. Sokov originally planned to wait until dawn before letting Belkin and the others set off. But it was said that the friendly forces had adjusted their deployment and immediately realized that the situation in the north was worse than what he had imagined. He quickly ordered Sidolin: "Chief of Staff, inform Belkin to bring people to collect ammunition. Three hours later, I will lead the troops to set off in person."
"What, are you going to the forefront again?" Sidolin learned that Sokov was planning to take action himself, so he quickly persuaded him: "Comrade Commander, go to reinforce friendly forces with Commander Belkin, you should stay here!"
"Yes, comrade of the division commander, the chief of staff is right." Ivanov also said: "You are the commander of the first division and should stay in the division command to reinforce friendly forces. It is enough to have Commander Belkin take action."
Chapter completed!