"Comrade Commander, I'll introduce you to you." Anisimov pointed to one of the middle-aged men with a beard and said, "This is Comrade Rezakov, the editor-in-chief of the Issue News; next to him is the reporter Avdonen." After a pause, he introduced Sokov to the two journalists, "This is our division commander Colonel Sokov."
"Hello, Editor-in-Chief Rezakov! Hello, Comrade Avdonen!" Sokov reached out and shook hands with the two journalists, and said in a friendly tone: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Guard Division, I welcome your arrival!"
While Rezakov and his friends shook hands with Sidolin and Ivanov, Anisimov approached Sokov's ear and whispered: "Comrade Commander, according to reliable information, it turns out that the base camp is preparing to send reporters from the Red Star to interview you. But before departure, it was replaced by the editor-in-chief and reporter of the Issue News. It seems that the superiors attach great importance to you!"
Compared with Anisimov's face full of joy, Sokov was calm. He couldn't figure out which newspaper, "Red Star" or "Issue", was more well-known. He thought there were only two journalists, and when he was about to ask people to prepare tea for them, a young girl in a military uniform and carrying a camera around her neck suddenly broke into from outside.
Seeing the girl appear, Anisimov smiled on his face and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, this is the photographer Kopalova. She risked her life today and took a lot of photos to the forefront."
It is a very amazing thing for a young female photographer to appear here. Sokov quickly reached out to the other party and smiled and said, "Hello, Comrade Kopalova, I'm very happy to see you!"
Unexpectedly, when Koparova heard Sokov say this, the smile on her face stiffened. After a while, she reached out and grabbed Sokov's hand and said dryly: "Hello, Comrade Colonel, I'm very happy to see you!"
"Please, Comrade Koparova." Anisimov reached out and made a call to Koparova, and said with a smile: "After walking outside for a few hours, you must be tired and thirsty. Come and sit down and have a cup of hot tea." After that, he took the lead and walked towards the square table where many people sat.
As Sokov and Koparova walked side by side towards the table, they suddenly heard the female photographer beside him whispering: "Misha, I hate you!"
When Sokov heard this almost whispering words, he was stunned: It seemed that he had never met this female photographer before. Why did she say this? Also, why did she call herself Misha? Did she know her before?
With questions, Sokov came to the table and sat down, smiled at Rezakov, and said, "When he was just talking to the commander, he mentioned you, saying that you should have arrived at the division headquarters three hours ago. Seeing that you had not appeared for a long time and were worried about some accident, we have arranged the troops to search for your whereabouts."
After saying this, Sokov remembered that he should report safety to Cuikov and at the same time cancelled the search mission to Selyosha. He turned his head and said to Sidolin: "Chief of Staff, since Comrade Rezakov and his friends have arrived at the division headquarters safely, the task of asking Selyosha Company to conduct the search can be cancelled. In addition, call the commander and inform him of the good news of the arrival of the reporters."
"Col. Sokov," Rezakov asked when Sidolin got up and called, "After we arrived at Mamayev, we followed the political commissar Anisimov to go around, which was why it took so long. I have a question to ask you, can you give me an answer?"
Sokov looked at Rezakov, who was expressionless and thought that the other party's expression was not like asking questions, but more like questioning himself. He tried hard to keep a smile on his face, nodded, and said, "Comrade Rezakov, if you have any questions, just ask."
"Although it was my first time to come to Stalingrad, I knew very well that Mamayev's hill was the commanding heights of the whole city. Once the enemy occupied it, they could bombard any corner of the city with artillery fire and block the transportation lines on the Volga River." Rezakov asked coldly: "Am I right, comrade Colonel?"
"You are right. Once the Mamayev hill is occupied by the enemy, they can not only set up artillery on the top of the mountain, bombard every corner of the city and block the Volga route, but also use this as the starting point for the attack to seize the ferry behind us and cut off the city's connection with the outside world." Sokov gave a positive answer to the question raised by Rezakov: "So, we are doing our best to defend the Mamayev hill."
"Is that so?!" Rezakov sneered and said, "But I don't look like it. As far as I see today, there is no defensive position on the hillside facing the enemy except the craters and corpses. I want to ask you, Comrade Colonel, is this what you are here to defend Mamayev's hill?"
Although Rezakov did not slap the table and stare at him when he spoke, his words still made Ivanov and others look embarrassed. Sokov just smiled faintly and said without hesitation: "Comrade Rezakov, the German army attacking the city has powerful artillery and air force. Any fortifications we have established on the front positions will be destroyed under their artillery and bombardment. As a commander, I have no right to let my warriors stay here fortifications and wait for death."
"Comrade Colonel, you are wrong." Rezakov said relentlessly: "In order to defend the great Soviet motherland, it is worth it even if it pays a great price. I think every soldier who sticks to Stalingrad should understand this."
"You are right, Comrade Rezakov." Sokov said in a steady tone: "I believe that in order to defend the motherland and Stalingrad, the soldiers are willing to pay their youth, blood, and even precious lives. But we as commanders should not let the soldiers pay unnecessary costs..."
Seeing that the two were at odds and there was a possibility of arguing at any time, Anisimov hurriedly came out to smooth things over: "Teacher Commander, Comrade Rezakov, don't be excited, say something slowly."
Ivanov may not be disgusted with Rezakov's attitude, so he came out to rescue Sokov: "Comrade Rezakov, in order to defend Mamayev's post, we have paid the price of tens of thousands of casualties in command and fighter casualties. If the division commander had not used the tactics properly, I think the casualties would have to be at least several times."
Rezakov did not expect that the casualties of the defenders in Mamayevgang would be so heavy. He couldn't help but say "ah" in surprise, and then hesitated: "I'm sorry, I don't know that the casualties of the troops would be so large."
Seeing that Rezakov was no longer aggressive, Sokov said slowly: "Our defensive positions on the top of the hillside and the reverse slope are all at the dead end of German artillery fire. In this way, no matter how fierce the enemy's artillery bombardment is, the casualties that can cause us will be minimal. And the defenders who are standing on the top of the mountain can give them a head-on strike while the enemy is rushing up and hit them with a fallen water."
In order to let the other party understand his defensive intention in more detail, Sokov also took out paper and pen, and explained to them in detail while drawing pictures. Sokov knew very well that the entire process of Rezakov and his friends interviewed him would definitely report to their superiors in detail after they went back. They could use them to let their superiors better understand how they stood by Mamayev.
Under Sokov's explanation, Rezakov's face showed a surprised expression. He never dreamed that such a defensive battle could be used to completely overturn his previous cognition. After understanding that he had blamed Sokov by mistake, he secretly regretted it in his heart, feeling that he shouldn't treat the other party with that attitude.
After Sokov introduced the situation, he saw Sidolin walking in from outside and asked curiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, where have you been?"
"That's right. When I called Lieutenant Seriosha, he had already led people to set off." Sidolin reported to Sokov: "I just sent someone to get him back."
As soon as Sidolin finished speaking, Selyosha appeared at the door. He explained to Sokov awkwardly: "I'm sorry, comrade in the division commander, I'm worried about the safety of the political commissar, so as soon as I received the order, I took Samoilov's third platoon before the troops assembled."
"Seryosha?!" Before Sokov could speak, a surprise voice suddenly came from behind him: "My God, Seryosha, is it really you?! You are still alive!!"
When Selyosha heard someone calling his name, he looked behind Sokov in surprise. After seeing the person who called him clearly, he showed an incredible expression on his face. Without thinking, he pulled Sokov aside and walked towards the person who called him: "Oh my God, I'm not wrong! Kopalova, why are you here?"
Seriosha came to Kopalova and asked in surprise: "Kopalova, why are you here?"
"You forgot, I'm a photojournalist." Kopalova smiled sweetly at him and said, "It's normal to appear on the battlefield."
Selyosha originally wanted to say something, but accidentally saw Sokov standing next to him and suddenly became a little panicked. He quickly said to Kopalova: "Kopalova, I'm sorry, I have something to do. I'll talk to you if I have time another day." After that, he didn't even hold Kopalova's outstretched hand and hurriedly walked outside.
From the conversation between Seriosha and Koparova, Sokov heard that the two knew each other and had a very unusual relationship. Seeing Seriosha walk out of the division headquarters, he hurriedly chased after him, wanting to ask what was going on.
"Seryosha!" After Sokov walked out of the division headquarters, he saw that Seryosha's back was not far away, and quickly stopped him, "Wait a minute, I have something to ask you."
Selyosha stopped and turned his head and asked, "Misa, what's the matter."
"Seryosha, I think you seem to know Koparova." Sokov asked tentatively: "Why, have you ever dealt with me before?"
"What's wrong with you? Misha, there are no outsiders here, why do you have to pretend to be confused?" Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Seriosha showed an unhappy expression on his face: "Even if you have registered to marry Asia now, no matter what, Kopalova used to be your girlfriend, so you can't pretend you don't know each other."
"What, Koparova is my girlfriend?" Sokov was so angry that he was so angry that he stared at the other party for a while before asking with difficulty: "Sheriosa, is this all true?"
Selyosha raised his hand and touched Sokov's forehead, saying, "Misha, did you really lose your memory in that shelling, and you didn't even know your girlfriend?"
Chapter completed!