It was a joyful thing that the troops were to be reorganized into a group army. Sokov quickly ordered Vitkov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, inform the commanders of each division and brigade to come to the command center for a meeting."
The troops stationed in the Red Army Village were not distributed enough, so after receiving the notice from Vitkov, all the division commanders, brigade commanders, their chief of staff and political commissars came to Sokov's command.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Witkov stood up and said to the commanders who were still talking: "Comrades, please be quiet, we will start the meeting now."
When everyone heard Vitkov say this, they shut up and looked at Vitkov standing in front of them, trying to figure out what big thing happened in such a hurry to attract himself.
"Comrades, let me tell you good news." Witkov raised a telegram and said excitedly to everyone: "We have just received an order from our superiors that our Sokov combat cluster will be adapted into the Sixth Army..."
Hearing this, Shivakov couldn't help asking: "Didn't there already have a Sixth Army? Why did we adapt us into the Sixth Army?"
"General Kharidonov's Sixth Army was attacked by the German Skeleton Division, Flag Guard Division and Imperial Division in the battle some time ago. The troops were severely damaged, and even Commander Kharidonov was injured." Witkov explained to everyone: "Now the superiors have announced the abolition of the former Sixth Army's command headquarters, and we will form a new Sixth Army, consisting of our combat cluster and part of the former Sixth Army's troops."
Sivakov asked the question in his heart on behalf of everyone: "Who will serve as the commander after the formation of the new Sixth Army?"
"The base camp decided to appoint Major General Sokov as the commander of the Sixth Army, and I will serve as the chief of staff of the Army." When Vitkov said this, he pointed at Lunev, who was sitting behind, and continued: "Let me introduce you to you, this is Lieutenant General Lunev, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he will serve as the military member of our Army."
Everyone was very happy when they heard that the commander was still served by Sokov, but they heard that a deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to serve as the military committee member, and they immediately became silent.
Seeing that everyone was not talking, Sokov understood what they were worried about. However, since his superiors had sent Lunev, it was obviously impossible to let him go back. The only way was to find a way to make everyone have a good relationship with him so that they could live in peace in the next years.
Sokov stood up and said to the commander present: "Comrades, the Sixth Army is a unit with a glorious history. They have fought tenaciously with the enemy on different battlefields. Now we have all become members of this glorious force, so we must continue to carry forward the glorious traditions of this unit..."
In fact, after hearing that the military committee member was the deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he couldn't help but worry about Sokov. After all, many of his tactics were not up to the forefront. If the deputy minister of Internal Affairs fought with him, it would probably be impossible to defeat the enemy as easily as before in the following days.
Lunev came here to serve as a military commissioner, but he was actually very nervous. Although he was the deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he was the kind of deputy minister with a low ranking. Moreover, there were only two squads of soldiers escorting him this time, and he was very worried that he would be excluded after he arrived here.
But judging from the current situation, Sokov not only did not have the intention to exclude him at all, but also respected him very much. Faced with Sokov's show of kindness, Lunev felt that he should have made some statements. After Sokov finished speaking, he stood up and said, "Comrades, when I learned that I could come to your heroic troops and fight against the invaders with you, I was very excited. Since I had never been to the battlefield before and had no combat experience, in order not to affect Commander Sokov's combat decision, Commander Sokov's future military affairs will be decided by Commander Sokov..."
Sokov never dreamed that Lunev would say this. He looked at Lunev in surprise, thinking to himself what the other party was doing to say these words? Is he planning to really cooperate with him or to say something on purpose on purpose?
Before he could come up with a reason, Lunev had finished what he wanted to say and sat back in his seat. Witkov asked at the commanders in front of him, "Does anyone have any questions?"
Colonel Sheike, the political commissar of the 67th Division of the Guards, stood up and asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask, which troops are planned to be incorporated into the newly formed Sixth Army?"
"We are not sure which troops are joining it at the moment." Witkov replied: "But I can tell you that the superiors should add at least two infantry divisions, as well as several tank brigades and artillery regiments. When appropriate, we must also set up the Army Artillery Command, and a dedicated person will command all the artillery."
"What is our next task?" asked Major General Merkulov.
"As before, continue to stick to the existing position," said Witkov. "Prepare to fight the German offensive."
Seeing that everyone seemed dissatisfied with Vitkov's reply, Sokov stood up and said, "Comrades Commanders, the defense is only temporary. When the time is right, we will still take the initiative to attack the enemy. Just like we beat the three German SSs some time ago to huddle in Balvinkovo ​​and dare not move."
Several commanders of the Guards were jealous of the results obtained by the 41st Guards Division in the early stage. Hearing Sokov say this, they stood up one after another and volunteered to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, if you want to attack the enemy next time, you must hand over this glorious and arduous task to our division to complete."
"Comrades, let's sit down first." Sokov raised his hand and pressed down. After he greeted everyone to sit down, he continued, "Don't look at our number being about to become the Sixth Army. At that time, our troops and equipment had not changed at all. Before we get new supplements and strengthening, we can only continue to stick to our existing defensive positions as before and make plans to welcome the enemy's attack."
When Lunev heard Sokov say he was going to continue to defend the Red Army village, he couldn't help frowning slightly. He thought that there were four guard divisions, three tank brigades and an artillery division here, even if he took the initiative to attack the enemy, he would not be at a disadvantage. When he was about to speak, he thought about what Beria said to him when he left Moscow, so he obediently shut up.
"Comrade Commander," the person who asked this question was Colonel Cydolin, the chief of staff of the 41st Division of the Guards. He stood up and asked, "You are now the commander of the group army, so who will take over the position of the division commander?"
Sokov really couldn't answer this question from Cidolin. He shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands: "Comrade Colonel, please forgive me for not being able to answer your question. I think my superiors may send someone to take over my position."
If Sokov really no longer serves as the commander of the 41st Division of the Guards, it would be very regrettable for Sokov. In any case, in the battle to defend Stalingrad, he and this army have become an inseparable whole. Although the division is still under his command now, who knows whether one day in the future will be suddenly transferred by his superiors and assigned to the command of other army troops. As long as he thinks of this, he feels particularly disappointed.
After the meeting, when Lunev saw that he was the only one in the room, Sokov and Vitkov, he asked his question in his heart: "Comrade Commander, I don't understand that with our existing forces, we can attack the enemy. Why do you choose to remain unmoved?"
"Comrade Military Commissioner," Sokov no longer called him Deputy Minister because the other party is now a military commissioner of the group army: "Yes, our troops seem to be quite large, and there are tank brigades and artillery divisions. But because it is now in the thawing season, the roads are muddy, and the maneuvering of our tanks is limited. If we attack the enemy in this case, our tanks will be trapped in the mud and cannot move, and then they will become targets of German aircraft and cannon bombardment."
Lunev expressed doubts about Sokov's statement: "Comrade Commander, if what you said is true, then how did the enemy attack us?"
"Military Comrade, if you are interested, you can check the weather during the most active period of the enemy to see what the temperature is?" Sokov did not get angry, but replied with a smile: "It was cold at that time, the land was frozen very tightly, and the enemy's tanks and armored vehicles could move freely."
"Military Comrade, the commander is right." Seeing that Lunev seemed to have some misunderstanding about Sokov, Vetkov hurriedly came out to smooth things over: "A few days ago, the German 6th Armored Division dispatched an infantry battalion and an armored battalion to attack the Red Army village, but they were halfway through the road, and they were unable to continue to advance because the road was muddy. At that time, we sent a company to destroy the German armored battalion using the new rockets and rocket launchers he carried, and severely damaged the accompanying infantry battalion."
"Oh, why didn't I see such a battle report?"
Witkov glanced at Sokov and replied, "I think this battle report may still be placed in the Front Command now, so I don't have time to report it to the General Staff."
"Well, there is this possibility." Lunev thought that his understanding of Sokov's troops was through the battle reports in the General Staff. If it was some smaller battles, the other party might not report them at all. He paused for a moment and then asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, then when do you think it is the most appropriate time for us to launch an attack on the enemy?"
"After the superiors supplement our troops, especially tanks and cannons." In response to Lunev's question, Sokov explained to him: "We have sufficient firepower to prevent the enemy from being unable to chew the enemy's offensive because of insufficient firepower configuration."
Before Lunev came here, he was just a civilian officer and had no combat experience. When Sokov said this, he seemed a little confused. Fortunately, Vitkov saw his embarrassment and explained to him: "This is the situation for the military commissioner. The enemy did build strong fortifications in Balvinkovo. If we did not have enough tanks and cannons when we attacked, the offensive troops would not be able to break through the enemy's trenches."
"Comrade of the Military Commission," Sokov felt that instead of spending a long time here to explain to Lunev, it would be better to let him go to the frontline to see it in person, and then he would understand what was going on: "To defeat the enemy, courage alone is far from enough, and reasonable tactics and sufficient firepower are required."
Seeing Lunev nodding in a vague way, Sokov continued: "Military Comrade, if you are interested, I will go to the frontier with you to see what happens when the next battle is done?"
Lunev is a civilian officer with no combat experience. He has never seen any cruelty on the battlefield. Therefore, after hearing Sokov's proposal, he not only did not feel any fear, but instead nodded seriously and replied: "No problem, Comrade Commander, when you attack Barvinkovo ​​next time, remember to call me. I want to see with my own eyes what the most elite SS is like."
“There will be a chance.”
Witkov told Sokov: "Comrade Commander, if we want to capture Balvinkovo, we will need at least two thousand new rockets."
"Two thousand?" After hearing the number proposed by Vitkov, Sokov couldn't help frowning, "I don't know if the military factory behind has such a large production capacity. I'm afraid that even if I ask my superiors, I won't get the number I want."
"The necessary applications are still needed." Witkov reminded Sokov: "Now there are only more than 800 new rockets in the entire army. Such ammunition reserves may not be able to take over Balvinkovo."
"Well, I'll send a telegram to Commander Rokosovsky later and ask him to apply for us." Sokov said helplessly: "I want him to come forward, and I'm afraid it's much better than us."
When Lunev heard this, he asked curiously: "I want to ask, what is a new rocket? Is it the kind that is fired with a rocket launcher?"
"Military Commissioner, how can I explain it to you?" Witkov said with a wry smile: "If you are interested, I will take you to the area where the rockets are stored. Then you will know what the new rockets look like."
"Is this weapon important?" Lunev continued to ask.
Chapter completed!