In order to strengthen the practice with the Front Command, Sokov urged the new head of the group army's communications corps to set up a telephone line that can talk to the rear. After several days of hard work, the telephone line was finally set up.
After learning that the telephone line had been set up, Sokov couldn't wait to order the communications officer to connect to the front command. Soon, the communications officer told Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the telephone number of the front command has been connected. General Malining is by the phone, you can call him."
"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said respectfully after receiving the phone: "I am Sokov."
"Hello, General Sokov, I'm glad to talk to you." Malining said with a smile: "How are the fortifications in your places?"
"Not ideal," Sokov replied awkwardly: "Now as the temperature warms up, the snow begins to melt, and our trenches are filled with water, and the soldiers cannot stay in such a place."
"Yes, it is not easy to build fortifications like this." Malining said understandably: "The water in the trenches is so irritating that people cannot stay in the water for a long time. Otherwise, there will be a lot of frostbite without waiting for the enemy to attack."
Sokov was very worried that the German army would launch an attack at this time, and that he would not have enough fortifications, so he could only fight with them. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff, although we have changed to the Sixth Army, the configuration of personnel and command systems is still the same as the original combat cluster. I don't know when the superiors can add new troops to us."
"General Sokov, I'm going to talk to you about this. Since you ask, I'll talk to you." Malining said on the phone: "Based on our coordination with friendly forces, we have decided to assign the 45th, 99th and 226th infantry divisions of the former Sixth Army to you for command."
When Sokov heard that his superiors were about to add three infantry divisions to him, he was overjoyed. He hurriedly asked, "Isn't it possible that when will these three infantry divisions be in place?"
"General Sokov, these three divisions were transferred to the backbone for replenishment not long ago. It is estimated that it will take as soon as one month to join the combat sequence of your army."
When Sokov learned that the replenished troops would not arrive in a month, he felt a little disappointed. But he thought that after these troops completed rest and replenishment, he would join his own army. He only needed to fight one or two battles to form combat effectiveness, so that he could save himself a little worry.
Sokov paused for a moment and then asked, "What about the artillery and tank troops? You know, the five most elite divisions of the German army are now facing us. If there are not enough tanks and cannons, it will be very difficult to block their attack."
"Misha," Sokov's words came to his earpiece, and Rokosovsky's voice suddenly came out of the earpiece: "What's wrong with you? You actually learned to start bargaining with your superiors like others."
Sokov was scared and trembled at first, but soon found that Rokosovsky was not angry, so he said with a smile: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I asked my superiors for troops and equipment, which is also to better deal with the enemy. Do you think so?"
Hearing Sokov talking to himself with a smile, Rokosovsky shook his head with a wry smile, and then said, "Misha, don't you know that after the battle some time ago, our army's tanks and cannons were seriously damaged. Especially the troops of the Southwest Front, due to the lack of fuel and ammunition, almost throw away all the tanks and cannons when retreating. We are now unable to provide you with the artillery and tanks you need."
Sokov knew that Rokosovsky was telling the truth. After being hit hard by the German army, the Southwest Front had already been defeated. Many troops had no time to blow up when they threw away these weapons and equipment. As a result, most of them fell into the hands of the Germans. It won't take long before the Germans would use these weapons to turn around and attack the Soviet army.
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov felt that the best way to do so at present is to stick to the existing positions and not provoke the Germans easily. Otherwise, once the hornet's nest is stabbed, the enemy will probably be unable to resist it. Therefore, he must figure out what Rokosovsky planned: "I want to ask, do we really only need to stick to the existing areas?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Rokosovsky asked back: "Why, the Germans scared you?"
"How is this possible?" Sokov replied: "I am not afraid of the enemy. I am only worried that my superiors will order our troops to attack the enemy in the most unsuitable season. In today's climate, it is very unsuitable to attack the enemy. Instead, it is easy to consume all the reserves we have accumulated. In this way, in the next few months, the initiative on the battlefield will be completely in the hands of the enemy."
"Don't worry, Misha." Rokosovsky heard his concern from Sokov's words, so he comforted him and said, "As long as I am still the commander of the front army, I will never let your troops launch meaningless attacks on the enemy in seasons that are not suitable for combat. But no matter what, to maintain the stability of the existing front line with the enemy, you must lay minefields and wire mesh in front of the position, and arrange anti-tank obstacles..."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov also wanted to establish minefields on the positions and lay out obstacles to anti-tanks and infantry. At that time, the skilled woman was unable to cook without rice. The warehouse in the Red Army Village had long been looted by the German army, and he had no things available at all. Therefore, he could only say in embarrassment: "But there are no things you mentioned in our warehouse."
"I will arrange a convoy to send you barbed wire, mines and various anti-tank obstacles as soon as possible," Rokosovsky said on the phone. "But you have to assure me that you must put all these things where they should be in the shortest time."
"No problem, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov was overjoyed to learn that Rokosovsky was willing to provide him with enough supplies to establish a defensive position. He quickly assured the other party: "As long as the materials you promised can be shipped in time, I promise you that all of them can be placed in place within 24 hours."
Chapter completed!