Chapter 80: Take the initiative

  Chapter 80 Active Attack

  The company commanders responded loudly, getting up and preparing to return to their respective companies and prepare for the attack. But just as they were about to walk out of the command post, they suddenly heard the voice of Belkin, the political deputy battalion commander: "Wait a minute, comrades company commanders, please wait a moment." The company commanders guessed that he might have something to say. After saying that, they all stopped and looked at Belkin curiously.

"Comrade Battalion Commander," Belkin stopped the company commanders, and turned to Sokov with a serious expression: "The information that the enemy in Sukhinich is retreating was not reported by our scouts, but from several The so-called residents. I very much doubt the authenticity of this information. Maybe this is a trap set up by the Germans. Those few people are spies sent by the enemy to lure our army into being fooled. Therefore, I propose to stop all military operations immediately .”

Belkin's words made the company commanders hesitate, and they couldn't help thinking in their hearts that they would launch an attack on Suhinich without artillery preparation based on what a few residents said. Is it too hasty?

   Seeing the hesitant expressions on the faces of the company commanders, Sokov couldn't help but feel angry for no reason, thinking that this Belkin really messed with me. I just gave the order to attack, and you actually jumped out and sang against me. So, he said to Belkin with some displeasure: "Comrade political deputy battalion commander, let me remind you of one thing. In the Istria camp, I have the final say on military matters." After finishing speaking, he Facing the company commanders again, "What are you guys doing here? Hurry up and go back to your respective companies to prepare for battle. Our attack will start in five minutes."

  Seeing that Sokov was angry, the company commanders left the command post in a panic, and returned to their respective companies to prepare for the attack. But Belgin saw that the company commanders had left, and said anxiously: "Comrade battalion commander, I ask you to think carefully again, and don't make a decision so hastily. Once something goes wrong, it will be the next step." Court-Martial!"

Seeing that the attack was about to start, Sokov didn't want to have unnecessary arguments with Belkin, but before the official attack, he felt that it was necessary to report to his superiors so that the troops would not be bombarded by their own artillery when they just entered the enemy's position . He picked up the phone and let the signalman connect to the division headquarters, ready to report directly to Chernyshov or Rokossovsky.

  Seeing that Sokov wanted to talk to the division headquarters, Belkin hurriedly asked with a straight face: "Comrade battalion commander, do you really want to report this unconfirmed news to your superiors?"

When Sokov heard Chernyshov's voice coming from the receiver, he waved his hand at Belkin, signaling him not to speak, and then said into the microphone: "Hello, Comrade Commander, this is Sokov Captain!"

   "Captain Sokov?!" Chernyshov was taken aback when he heard that the person calling him was actually Sokov, and hurriedly asked, "Is there any new situation in your place?"

   "It's like this, Comrade Commander." Sokov said quickly: "A few residents just came to the camp and said that the Germans are evacuating Susinich in a panic..."

"It's impossible!" Before Sokov finished speaking, Chernyshov exclaimed in surprise: "Captain Sokov, you must have made a mistake, or the resident who reported the situation to you is Spies sent by the Germans..."

  Just as Sokov was considering how to explain to Chernyshov, another voice suddenly came from the receiver: "General Chernyshov, what happened to Captain Sokov?"

"Comrade Commander," Sokov heard Chernyshov say to him respectfully, "Captain Sokov reported to me that several residents of the city ran to report to him that the Germans were evacuating." Sukinich..."

Rokossovsky got up and took the microphone from Chernyshov, and asked in a stern tone: "Captain Sokov, are you really sure that Sukhinich's enemies are retreating?" He is also full of doubts about what Sokov said. According to his thinking, even if it is a residential area, the Germans will fortify it, let alone an important city like Susinich. Soon Sokov reported to himself that the enemy was retreating into the city. It could also be explained that the enemy was preparing to fight him in the streets, but it was too unreasonable to withdraw from the city.

When Kazakov heard Rokossovsky's question, he said unambiguously to Orel next to him: "Comrade Orel, there is no doubt that this is a trick played by the Germans. There is some conspiracy."

  Sokov heard Rokossovsky asking himself this question, and couldn't help but feel hairy: the scouts he sent had not yet returned, and the news that the German army was about to withdraw was also heard from a few residents who had escaped from the city. If it is true, it is correct to send troops to attack; but once the information is not true, if you make such a claim, you will be sent to a military court just as Belkin said.

"Lieutenant Sokov, why don't you speak, are you dumb?" Seeing that Sokov didn't reply for a long time, Rokosovsky raised his voice and said dissatisfiedly: "I'm asking you, the Germans are Can you confirm the news of the retreat?"

   "I can't, Comrade Commander." Sokov bit the bullet and replied, "But I personally think that the information provided by the residents is accurate."

   Rokossovsky waited for him to finish speaking, and immediately asked blankly: "Then what action did you take?"

   "I have issued a combat order to the whole battalion," Sokov raised his hand and glanced at the German watch that was seized not long ago on his wrist, and continued: "We will launch a full-scale attack in two minutes."

Rokossovsky was very dissatisfied with Sokov's approach of cutting first and then playing, but considering that the Istria Battalion is the main battalion assigned to the 11th Guards Division, if their offensive is terminated at this moment, it will inevitably It will have a bad effect on the next battle. Out of this consideration, after a little thought, he said decisively: "Captain Sokov, I order your battalion to launch an attack on Suhinich immediately. Remember, keep in touch and report to me at any time about the situation in the city. . Got it?"

After obtaining Rokossovsky's consent, Sokov's hanging stone finally fell to the ground. He said to the communications squad leader Maxim: "Comrade Corporal, send someone to take a radio station with me. We need Report the situation in the city to Comrade Commander in a timely manner."

  Sokov walked out of the command post and saw that the commanders and fighters of each company had left the trenches one after another and formed a skirmish formation in front of the position. Sokov trotted to the front of the queue, pointed the submachine gun in his hand at Susinich in the distance, and shouted loudly: "Soldiers of the Istria Battalion, for the motherland, for Stalin! Go forward~!"

  (end of this chapter)