Red Moscow

At dawn, Sokov arrived at the position of the first battalion.

Yesterday evening, the German army launched a fierce attack in this area.

After a night of fierce fighting, the enemy's three consecutive attacks were all repelled without exception.

Due to the fierce artillery bombardment by the German army, the criss-crossing trenches of the First Battalion's position had collapsed into jagged ridges of earth, and half-burnt tree trunks were still emitting wisps of black smoke.

Accompanied by several soldiers, Sokov stepped on the loose soil that covered his shoes and came to a group of soldiers who were repairing fortifications. He asked them loudly: "Where is your battalion commander? Is Captain Yefim anywhere?"

The busy soldiers heard someone talking next to them, stopped their work, and looked up at Sokov and others.

After seeing that the person coming was Sokov, a corporal came over, saluted Sokov and said, "Report to Comrade Brigade Commander, the battalion commander is in his command post."

"In his command post?" Sokov thought of the first thing he did after arriving here, which was to go to the battalion command post to find Captain Yefim, but he found that the command post had collapsed: "But, wasn't his command post destroyed?"

"Yes, Comrade Brigade Commander." The corporal nodded: "The battalion command post did collapse in the German artillery fire, so the battalion commander went to the new command post."

"Where is the new command post?" Sokov ordered the other party: "Comrade Corporal, please take me there."

Led by the corporal, Sokov quickly arrived at the new command post of the 1st Battalion.

With the help of the dim candlelight in the room, Sokov could see clearly that there were seven or eight people inside.

Before he could say anything, he heard Yefim's voice: "Comrade Brigade Commander, why are you here?"

"Your battalion has been fighting all night. I came here to learn about the casualties." Sokov came to the simple wooden table, sat on the tree stump that served as a stool, looked up at Yefim and asked, "Tell me, what are the casualties in your battalion?"

"More than half of the battalion was killed or wounded!" Yefim replied with a painful expression. "All the squad leaders and platoon leaders were killed or wounded. The company commanders, deputy company commanders, and instructors of three companies were also killed. They were replaced by temporary personnel. And more than a dozen signalmen in the battalion were killed in the process of transmitting information."

Since the infantry brigade had just been formed, it didn't have many things, especially communication equipment. Apart from two radios, it didn't even have a telephone. Because of this, even though the command post of the first battalion was only 500 to 600 meters away from the brigade headquarters, to convey orders or report battle results, messages had to be delivered through signal soldiers.

The most urgent task is to ask the superiors to allocate communication equipment for me so that I can keep in touch with the three battalions at any time. As for the fact that more than half of the casualties in the first battalion are over, there is no need to worry. After all, I was discussing the formation of the fourth to sixth battalions with the deputy brigade commander and the chief of staff yesterday. Now it seems that those soldiers who have not yet been organized can be directly added to the first battalion.

"Captain Yefim," Sokov said, "There are quite a few officers among the people we took in yesterday. We can let them serve as company commanders. As for the lost soldiers of the first battalion, I will replenish them in time."

"Comrade Brigade Commander, this is great." Yefim saw Sokov coming to his command post. He thought that after seeing the heavy losses of his first battalion, he would definitely send him to the rear for rest, but he didn't expect that he would be replenished with new soldiers. He quickly assured Sokov: "After the first battalion is replenished, we are confident that we can stop the enemy's attack."

"When I came, I saw that the positions of the first battalion were destroyed by artillery fire." Sokov said, "You must hurry up and repair the fortifications. Otherwise, when facing the fierce attack of the enemy, the troops without the protection of the fortifications will not be able to resist their attacks."

"Don't worry, Comrade Brigade Commander," Yefim said, "As long as the additional personnel can arrive in time, we will definitely repair the work as soon as possible and be ready to fight the enemy."

Sokov nodded and continued, "If you have any other difficulties, please raise them while I am here."

Yefim hesitated for a moment, then said, "Comrade Commander, can you help us set up a telephone line? This way, you can not only keep abreast of the situation at the front, but also give us orders in a timely manner?"

"Of course," Sokov replied, "Even if you don't tell me, I plan to connect a telephone line to each battalion so that they can communicate with each other more easily."

After leaving the first battalion command post, Sokov went to the second battalion position.

The focus of the enemy's attack last night was the first battalion's position, and only sporadic fighting occurred in the second battalion.

When approaching the first battalion's position, Sokov suddenly saw a Sherman M3 tank half-buried in a pit and hurried over.

Lieutenant Kozak, the tank commander, was chatting with several soldiers from the Second Battalion. When he saw Sokov coming, he immediately stopped the conversation, stood at attention and saluted.

"Hello, Lieutenant Comrade!" Sokov shook hands with the other party and asked with a smile: "In the battle last night, how many German tanks did your tank crew destroy?"

Kozak pointed in the direction of the battlefield and said proudly: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the destroyed German tanks are all there, you can count them yourself."

Sokov looked ahead of the position and saw four blackened tanks a few hundred meters away. He could not help thinking that although the firing rate could not reach 350 rounds per minute, the Sherman tanks half buried in the pit as fixed firing points were still quite useful and could destroy so many tanks. However, since this type of tank had just started mass production in August, some of them were given to the Soviet army as a priority.

"Well done." Sokov nodded to Kozak, then asked politely, "Are there any difficulties?"

"In last night's battle, the shells and bullets were almost all used up." Kozak said, "Since our tanks serve as fixed firing points and do not need to attack, it is not important whether there is fuel or not. But if there are no shells and bullets, then this tank will become scrap metal."

Sokov looked at the tank equipped with two different caliber guns, 37mm and 75mm, nodded slightly, and said, "Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant, I will arrange for people to deliver the shells and bullets you need as soon as possible."

After inspecting the three battalions, Sokov returned to the brigade headquarters.

"We received a telegram about ten minutes before you came back," Cherkasov said. "It was from Chief of Staff Colonel Malinin. He said that a batch of ammunition and supplies were on the way and would be delivered in an hour at most."

Sokov was very relieved to learn that the supplies were on the way. The German army had launched an attack since yesterday evening. Although they were repelled, the troops' ammunition consumption was extremely alarming. If they could not get timely replenishment, the officers and soldiers would probably have to fight the German army hand-to-hand with bayonets.

"Chief of Staff," Sokov said to Cherkasov, "the formation of the 4th to 6th Battalions will be temporarily suspended. More than half of the 1st Battalion were killed or wounded in the battle last night, and all the company commanders were killed. You must immediately select officers and send them to the 1st Battalion to serve as company commanders. In addition, send another 300 soldiers to the 1st Battalion to restore their organization as soon as possible."

"Yes, Comrade Commander," Cherkasov nodded and said, "I'll arrange it right away."

After Cherkasov left, Sokov said to Belkin: "Comrade Deputy Brigade Commander, our brigade only has two radios for communication, one of which you brought back from the encirclement."

"That's right." Belkin confirmed Sokov's statement: "With these two radios, we can keep in touch with our superiors at any time."

"It's not enough to just keep in touch with the superiors." Sokov said with emotion, "We only have a radio, but no telephone. If the front line wants to report the situation to us, they can only send messengers to deliver messages. Last night, more than a dozen messengers from the first battalion who came to deliver letters died. After I learned the news, I thought to myself, if we had telephones to communicate with the battalions, then these messengers would not have sacrificed their lives in vain."

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"Then let's send a telegram to the headquarters." Belkin waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and immediately reminded him: "Ask them to provide us with a batch of communication equipment."

Seeing that Belkin did not object to his statement, Sokov turned to Morozova who was sitting in the corner and said, "Comrade Morozova, send a telegram to the army headquarters immediately and ask them to provide us with a batch of communication equipment."

A few minutes later, Malinin received a call from the Infantry Brigade. He quickly walked to Rokossovsky and handed him the telegram: "Comrade Commander, this is a telegram from the Infantry Brigade, asking us to provide them with a batch of communication equipment."

Rokossovsky stared at the telegram and thought for a while, then called the communications chief Maximenko and ordered him, "Comrade Communications Chief, immediately prepare a batch of communications equipment and send it to the infantry brigade."

Maximenko stood still and looked at Rokossovsky and asked, "Comrade Commander, we don't have many radio stations to begin with, and we have already provided one to the infantry brigade. If you still want one, it will definitely have a negative impact on the external communications of the army headquarters."

"Comrade, Chief of Signal Corps, I didn't make myself clear. The Infantry Brigade doesn't need radios." Seeing that Maximenko had misunderstood, Rokossovsky quickly explained to him, "The Infantry Brigade is short of everything now. We only have two radios for communication. The communication between the Brigade Headquarters and the frontline can only be completed through signal corps. In order to keep in touch with the frontline at all times, Major Sokov hopes that we can provide them with communication equipment including telephones and telephone lines."

After listening to Rokossovsky's explanation, Maximenko suddenly realized: "So that's how it is. It seems that I misunderstood. Comrade Commander, I will immediately prepare enough telephones and telephone lines for them to facilitate their communication."

"Comrade Commander!" Deputy Commander Romanov asked Rokossovsky cautiously, "The infantry brigade lacks heavy weapons. Do you think it would be a good idea to provide them with some artillery?"

In response to Romanlov's suggestion, Rokossovsky turned his head and looked around the room. He soon saw Kazakov sleeping in the corner, and hurried over to wake him up.

Kazakov opened his eyes drowsily, looked at Rokossovsky standing in front of him, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, what instructions do you have?"

"Major Sokov's infantry brigade lacks heavy weapons." Rokossovsky did not beat around the bush and said directly: "They are under the frenzied attack of the German army. Without artillery support, it will be difficult for them to stop the enemy's attack. Do you think it is possible to provide them with some artillery units?"

"It's not easy, Comrade Commander." Hearing Sorokosovsky's words, Kazakov suddenly came to his senses. He sat up and said seriously, "As the chief of artillery, I command only a few artillery units. If they are further dispersed, I'm afraid..."

What are you afraid of? Kazakov didn't say it, but Rokossovsky knew very well that if the artillery units were dispersed to various combat units, it would be difficult to organize powerful artillery fire to deal with the enemy. However, considering the current situation of the infantry brigade, Rokossovsky continued, "Comrade Kazakov, think of a way, even an artillery battalion will do."

Since Rokossovsky had said this, Kazakov knew that it would be inappropriate for him to refuse. After thinking for a long time, he nodded and agreed to Rokossovsky's request: "Okay, Comrade Commander. Since you have made a request to me, I certainly cannot refuse. But I still say that I don't have many artillery units at my disposal. One battalion is definitely not enough. I can give him a cannon company with four 76.2 mm guns."

Although Rokossovsky felt that it was too petty to give Sokov only one artillery company, he could not force it, considering that Kazakov, the chief of artillery, did not command many artillery units, so he nodded and agreed: "One artillery company is better than no artillery at all."

Just when he wanted to chat a few more words, he suddenly heard the phone on the table ringing. Turning around, he saw Malinin picking up the receiver.

When Malinin answered the phone, his expression was extremely serious, as if he had heard bad news.

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Rokossovsky asked, walking towards him, "you look so serious. What's the matter?"

Malinin put down the phone and reported to Rokossovsky with a serious expression: "Comrade Commander, General Panfilov reported that the German artillery is carrying out a fierce bombardment on the defense area of ​​​​the 1073rd Regiment. It seems that the enemy is preparing to launch an attack in this direction."

Although Rokossovsky knew the terrain of this area very well, after listening to Malinin's report, he still came to the table and leaned over to check the map spread out on the table: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it seems that the enemy's attack in the area where the infantry brigade is located last night was not smooth, so they moved the attack area northward and chose the defense area of ​​the 316th Infantry Division."

"That's right, Comrade Commander." If the German army was still attacking the infantry brigade's defense zone, Malinin might be very worried, but now that the German army's offensive focus has shifted to the 316th Infantry Division in the north, he feels more at ease. "The 316th Infantry Division is fully staffed and has a complete artillery regiment. Even if the German army sends out armored forces to launch a strong attack, they are fully capable of blocking the enemy's offensive."