Red Moscow

  Chapter 78 Mission

   When Sokov returned outside the city and announced to the commanders and fighters the order to rush to Susinich immediately, his heart trembled, fearing that the comrades who had been driving for three days in a row would complain. Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, everyone behaved very calmly, as if they were used to this kind of situation.

  Seeing that no one complained, and no one raised any objections, Sokov couldn't help but secretly heaved a sigh of relief, and then announced: "Comrades, time is running out. Let's go to Susinich immediately and set off~!"

  More than a hundred sleds drove south for more than three hours, and a position built by the Soviet army appeared in front of them. Just as Sokov was thinking in his heart: Malinin only told me to rush to Susinich as soon as possible, but he didn't explain where to deploy the defense and who to report to. What should I do later?

   While thinking wildly, Sokov suddenly saw a tent beside the road ahead, and a soldier standing guard outside the tent. Seeing the sled team approaching, he immediately turned around and poked his head into the tent, as if reporting to someone inside. After a while, the curtain was lifted, and three officers walked out from inside. They stood by the roadside with their hands behind their backs, watching the approaching sleigh team.

  Sokov guessed that these officers might be here to pick him up, so he slowed down the driver of the car, jumped off the sled, and ran towards the officers on the snow.

"Are you Lieutenant Sokov?" Sokov came to the three officers, and before he could speak, an elderly major said first, "I am the deputy of the 11th Guards Infantry Division." Chief of Staff, Major Vlasic, was ordered to wait for you here."

   "Hello, Comrade Major. I am Sokov." After explaining his identity, Sokov tentatively asked the major, "How do I arrange my troops?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Captain." Major Vlasic smiled and pouted at a second lieutenant next to him: "My adjutant will lead your soldiers into the trenches and bunkers of the starting position." Then he directed Another lieutenant said, "Comrade Lieutenant, Captain Sokov's troops have arrived. You immediately take the soldiers of the communication company with you and help them lay the telephone line."

  After explaining the work to his subordinates, Major Vlasic shook his head at Sokov: "Let's go, Comrade Captain, come with me. The division commander is still waiting for you at the division headquarters."

   Sokov followed the major down to a nearby traffic trench, striding forward. The soldiers encountered along the way quickly stepped aside, leaned their backs against the moat wall, straightened their waists and saluted the two of them.

   Entering the division headquarters, the major walked quickly to a general, raised his hand to salute him and said, "Comrade commander, I have brought Captain Sokov!"

   When Sokov heard the major addressing the general as division commander, he guessed that this person should be Major General Chernyshov, the commander of the 11th Guards Division, and hurried forward. When he raised his hand to salute, he unexpectedly found that Major General Kazakov, the artillery director of the Army Group, was standing next to Chernyshov. He couldn't help hesitating, not knowing whether to salute Kazakov first or to Chernyshev saluted.

   Kazakov sensed his embarrassment, so he smiled and said: "Captain Sokov, you should report to Commander Chernyshov first."

Hearing what Kazakov said, Sokov quickly turned to Chernyshov and said: "Comrade Commander, Captain Sokov, the commander of the Istria Battalion, has reported to you that our battalion has arrived at the designated location, and I will wait for you." order, please instruct!"

"Comrade Captain, you came just in time." Chernyshov showed a happy smile on his face: "I am worried about the lack of troops in the division. Now that your battalion is here, we will be more confident in capturing the city. Yes. Comrade Captain, listen, the task of your battalion is..."

   After the division commander finished speaking, Sokov asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, can I ask how many troops we have to attack Suhinich's enemies?"

"Comrade Captain, I do not intend to keep this matter a secret from you. Our attack will take place five days later, at nine o'clock in the morning on January 29. Two infantry divisions will be involved in the attack. Our division is responsible for attacking the Soviet Union. Sinich's east of the city, while General Kiryukhin's 324th Infantry Division launched an attack from the northeast of the city." Chernyshov said here, turning his eyes to Kazakov: "Besides In addition, there are army artillery to provide you with artillery support."

"That's right, before the attack, there will be an hour of artillery preparation." Kazakov said at this time: "As soon as the shelling stops, you will launch an attack immediately. Your starting position is four miles away from the German position." Kilometers, this distance is not short."

  When Kazakov said these words, Sokov murmured in his heart: his shock distance was as long as four kilometers, and it would take at least half an hour to get close to the enemy's position. In such a long period of time, the Germans probably recovered from the shelling long ago, and they were waiting in battle. As soon as their troops approached the position, they began to shoot wildly, causing the commanders and fighters to fall down in pieces like harvested rice. Down, blood flowed like a river in front of the position.

"Comrade Captain, since the mission has been clarified, you should return to the troops immediately." Chernyshov waited for Kazakov to finish speaking, and said to Sokov in a business-like tone: "Familiarize yourself with the terrain of the combat area as soon as possible." , It will be very helpful for your next battle."

   After returning to the camp, Sokov took several company commanders to the first trench to observe the terrain. When he saw through the binoculars the deployment of the German positions on the outskirts of the city, he couldn't help but take a breath, and saw the dense barbed wire like a spider's web, wrapping the German positions. Moreover, there are ravines and minefields between the barbed wire fences. Even if the opponent's German army does not shoot, it will take at least an hour for your own troops to pass through such an area.

Vanya, who was standing aside, said sullenly: "Comrade battalion commander, I have just seen the terrain. There are seven barbed wire fences on our offensive road. Behind these barbed wire fences, there are ravines and minefields. We have to Under the fire interception of the German army, passing through such a zone will inevitably pay huge casualties."

   "Comrade Battalion Commander," Second Lieutenant Vasya, the engineering platoon leader, waited for Vanya to finish his speech, and then asked Sokov for a job: "Please allow me to enter this area after dark to open up a passage for the infantry."

"Comrade Second Lieutenant, I will let you open the way, but don't worry now, the attack will not start until five days later." Sokov put down his binoculars, turned around and shouted at Pavel who was standing not far away: "Pavel Corporal, come over to us."

Pavel, as the deputy platoon leader of the security platoon, was leading a security squad to perform security work nearby. When he heard Sokov calling himself, he trotted to Sokov: "Comrade battalion commander, do you have any questions?" What instructions?"

Sokov pointed forward with his hand and said to Pavel: "Comrade Corporal, after dark, you take a few soldiers to perform reconnaissance missions. I order you to find out the enemy's situation within three days. Do you understand the strength and deployment of troops?"

   "Understood, Comrade Battalion Commander." Pavel nodded and said solemnly, "I'll go back and make preparations. When it gets dark, I'll take people to carry out reconnaissance missions."

  (end of this chapter)