As it turned out, Sokov's estimate of the situation was too optimistic. The soldiers sent by the three regiments lay in the snow and were frozen overnight. Except for a German corporal sneaking over to surrender in front of the 122nd Regiment's position, the other two regiments had no gains at all.
The next day, after receiving the report from Lieutenant Colonel Papchinko, Sidolin smiled bitterly and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, more than 30 of us soldiers were in different places, risking frostbite, and lurked for a whole night, and only one German soldier came to surrender. Do you think it is necessary to continue tonight?"
"No need," Seeing the call from the Anti-Faxi Temple Alliance, the results achieved were not ideal, Sokov thought in his heart that he was too anxious and should wait for the call to continue for a few more days. He was sending people to pick up the German officers and soldiers who surrendered, and perhaps more people would come. Thinking of this, he said to Sidolin: "No need to send people to perform such tasks for the time being."
Political Commissar Anisimov said: "Comrade Commander, I think the Germans are very stubborn, and they still hold a glimmer of hope. They think that Manstein and Hort's troops will come to rescue them soon, so they will continue to fight tenaciously."
"Time will break their hopes." Sokov said to Anisimov with a smile: "The enemy is indeed very tenacious today, but as time goes by, they find that the reinforcements promised by their superiors to them have not appeared for a long time, and their hearts will definitely be shaken. In addition, the constant shouting of the Anti-Faxi Temple Alliance in Ublich will cause many German soldiers to change their minds, from the original resolute resistance to hesitation, and even run over to surrender to us in groups."
"Comrade in the division," Anisimov asked dissatisfiedly: "How long do you think the situation you are talking about will be realized?"
"I'm definitely ten days at most," Sokov thought to himself that Paulus was about to surrender at the end of the month, so he said with confidence: "When our friendly forces narrow the encirclement and completely cut off the connection between the enemy and the outside world, they will become panic. Then they will persuade them to surrender, and there will be many enemies who will surrender."
Although Anisimov did not believe Sokov's words, he could not find a reason to refute for a while. He could only smile and shut his mouth tactfully.
Sokov told Cydolin: "Chief of Staff, I guess the enemy's attention is now concentrated in their rears, because our friendly forces are moving forward step by step and narrowing their encirclement, and may not actively attack us in a short period of time."
"If the enemy does not attack, can we take the initiative to attack?" Ivanov asked in anger.
"Don't worry, Deputy Commander, Comrade Sokov said to Ivanov: "Our troops are not enough. Even if we counterattack and seize some positions, we cannot defend them."
Seeing that Sokov was still a cliché, Ivanov was simply amused and crying, so he wanted to refute it. Sokov was talking about something again. He could only smile bitterly, look down at the map in front of him, and pretend to study the troops' next combat operations.
Sokov calculated the time in his mind that Paulus had only two weeks before surrender, and the shrinking regiment deployed on the right wing could also be quietly mobilized. If the troops of the 64th Army took the lead and spent so long laying out the plan, it would be equivalent to making wedding clothes for them.
Thinking of this, he said to Cydolin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you remember the reason I said the reason why I kept the troops in the city a few days ago?"
"Remember." Sidolin dreamed that the honor of captive Paulus would fall into his division, and naturally remembered what Sokov said. At this moment, when he heard Sokov mention it suddenly, he immediately realized that Sokov might want to use the troops deployed on the right wing. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, are you planning to secretly transfer the reduction regiment into the city?"
"Yes, that's what I thought about."
Seeing that Sokov affirmed this, Ivanov also became interested: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask, where did you transfer the commanders and fighters of the reduction regiment to the residential area of ​​the south of the city and the central area?"
"We are not sure whether Paulus has moved his command to the central district." Before Sokov issued an order to Sidolin, he specifically reminded him: "In order to avoid alarming the snake, the reduction regiment must ensure concealment when mobilizing, so that the enemy cannot find any movement. If Paulus finds that we have such a unit under his nose, I think he will definitely choose a new place to establish his command for security reasons."
What Sokov is most worried about now is that his appearance has led to many historical deviations. If Paulus really discovered that he had arranged a force in the city and was about to take down his command, he would definitely change his mind and move the command to another position. If Paulus really did this, it would be difficult for Sokov to find his hiding place. Even if the German command was not sure where the German command was, how could he capture Paulus?
"Don't worry, comrade of the division commander, I will never let the enemy notice our intentions." Ciedorin continued, "Then where should we place the Belkin regiment?"
"I think it's better to put it in the position where the Third Battalion is now." Sokov said thoughtfully: "The area controlled by the Third Battalion is relatively large. Even if one or two thousand people are hidden, it may not be discovered by the enemy."
"Okay." Cidolin said excitedly: "I will call Captain Belkin immediately. I guess he has been waiting for this good news." After that, he picked up the phone and pointed at the microphone: "I am Cidolin, please contact me for the reduction team and find Captain Belkin."
After the phone was connected, when Cidolin heard Belkin's voice, he said excitedly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I will tell you good news. The division commander just issued a combat order to your regiment, allowing you to secretly turn to the third battalion without being noticed by the Germans."
"Turn towards the location of the Third Battalion?" Berkin asked in surprise when he heard this order: "So, is the division commander planning to attack the enemy in the city?"
Regarding Belkin's question, Sidorin did not answer immediately, but turned his head to look at Sokov and said to him: "Comrade Commander, I think you should come and explain the task to Belkin in person."
Sokov considered his own deployment, only Cydolin, Ivanov and Anisimov knew about it. As the leader of the reduction regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Belkin also needed to know about this, so he walked to Cydolin, took the microphone from his hand, and said, "This is the situation of my political commissar. According to my analysis, Paulus's troops will definitely shrink into the city after being hit hard by our army. Paulus's headquarters is likely to be located in the residential area in the south of the city or the central commercial area. The purpose of my arrangement there is to prepare to choose the right time and launch a fierce attack on the enemy's headquarters. Whether Paulus can capture Paulus alive depends on your luck."
When he learned that his troops had the opportunity to capture Paulus alive, Belkin immediately secreted his adrenal glands. He said excitedly: "Misha, don't worry, as long as Paulus's headquarters is really located in a residential or central area, I promise you that the honor of capturing Paulus alive in the end will definitely belong to our division."
Belkin's words reminded Sokov that he had been accustomed to treating the three guard regiments differently from the shrinking regiments. At this moment, he heard Belkin say this, and he said a little embarrassedly: "That's right, it's right, the honor of capturing Paulus alive must belong to our Guards 41st Division."
After a moment of pause, he continued: "I think it is necessary to remind you that your regiment cannot be noticed by the enemy during the transfer process; and, after entering a new station, do not launch any attack on the enemy at the moment, even if your troops have an absolute advantage in some areas."
"Don't worry, Misha." Belkin and Sokov took a long time to get on, and knew his character very well. At this moment, he heard his repeated reminders and realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly stated: "I will ask the commanders and fighters to pay attention to hidden things during the transfer process, and will never let the enemy notice it."
After he expressed his attitude, he suddenly remembered another important thing: "Misha, our regiment has been transferred. Who will replace the vacant position? If the enemy finds that there is no one on our position, we will notice our mobilization."
"I will ask the commander immediately," Sokov said to the microphone: "If he can withdraw his troops to replace your defense, it will be better. If he really can't find the troops to take over, I can only trouble Director Peter and ask him to send some militias to your positions."
After Sokov finished his call with Belkin, he immediately asked the communications troop to connect to the Army Command. Since Cuikov was talking to Batov, Krelov answered the call: "I am Krelov, Colonel Sokov, what's wrong with you?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," although the person who answered the phone was not Cuikov, Krelov still had some things to decide. Sokov didn't go around in circles and said bluntly: "I want to ask if the group army can send troops to replace the defense zone of the reduced regiment of our division?"
"What, send troops to replace the defense zone of your division's shrinking regiment?" Krelov asked in confusion, "Why?"
"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov knew that if he didn't communicate with Trikov and Krelov, he would probably not be able to get the troops to defend himself, so he said tactfully: "Based on the current situation, I feel that the Germans are likely to transfer their headquarters to the city. Therefore, he intends to transfer Belkin's shrinking regiment into the city, and prepare to give the enemy an unexpected blow when necessary."
"Give the enemy an unexpected blow." Krelov heard Sokov say this and pursed his lips and said disapprovingly: "How many enemies do you think you can kill by then? One thousand, two thousand or five thousand? Colonel Sokov, it's not that I'm pouring your cold water. If you want to destroy so many enemies, you may be beaten up with your shrinking group."
"No, Comrade Chief of Staff, you misunderstood what I mean." Sokov quickly defended himself: "I transferred the reduction regiment to the south of the city, not to let them eliminate many enemies, but to have more important tasks."
"More important task, what task?"
Before Sokov could answer, he heard Cuikov's voice coming from the receiver: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is Sokov calling to say?"
"He intends to transfer Belkin's downsizing regiment into the city and ask the group army to send him troops to replace the downsizing regiment defense zone."
"Give me the phone number, I'll ask what's going on." Cuikov took the phone and frowned and asked, "Col. Sokov, why did you think of transferring the reduction team to the city? Tell me your reasons."
"Comrade Commander, according to my judgment." Sokov could only repeat his reasons again: "After the enemy was hit hard by our army, it would definitely shrink into Stalingrad, and the German command would also retreat into the city. After my repeated thinking, Paulus was most likely to set up his command in the residential area of ​​the south of the city or the central area. I transferred the Belkin regiment into the city, intending to launch a sudden attack on his command when the time was right. Even if Paulus could not be captured alive, as long as a group of senior German generals were killed, the German army would fall into chaos because of the loss of unified command, and our army would become relaxed."
"Col. Sokov, you're so light." Cuikov sneered: "Do you really think that Paulus's moves the headquarters into the city will make you easily discover? What's more, this is just your judgment, which is even more unreliable."
From the tone of Cuikov's speech, Sokov noticed a trace of ominousness, and he asked tentatively: "What about you, Comrade Commander?"
"Even if Paulus moved his headquarters to the city, whoever said it would definitely be placed in the residential or central area of ​​the south city." Cui Kefu said unhappily: "Will he not set up his new headquarters in the factory? You must know that the area here is vast and there is a lot of room for movement. Even if it is attacked by our army, it can be transferred at any time."
If Sokov didn't know the real history and knew where Paulus was captured, perhaps Cuikov's statement would have shaken him. Not only did the central area have many stone buildings, but there were also many places with solid stone buildings in the factory area. Paulus could have set up the headquarters in the factory area.
Chapter completed!