In the period before the start of the offensive, in addition to adjusting the deployment, it is necessary to wait for the superiors to replenish their troops and technical equipment. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 In addition to the five divisions that would have been available in October, Rokossovsky was supplemented by three infantry divisions from the base camp reserve, and Rudenko's 16th Air Force was reinforced by the 2nd Bomber Aviation Corps.

Although the replenishment of troops was far less than the losses of the troops, Rokossovsky was also content. He knew in his heart that the base camp was to put the main forces in a place that could decide the fate of the entire campaign, and the troops that played the leading role in the counteroffensive this time were not his own Don Front, but Vatutin's Southwestern Front. Because of this, Vatutin was not only given enough men to replenish the infantry divisions, which were greatly deficient, but also a large number of armored units.

In addition, the Stalingrad Front, which was in the city, was somewhat replenished, since the task of this front was to break through the enemy's defenses, advance quickly, join up with the South-Western Front, and form an encirclement of the enemy group.

While everything was in full swing, the Germans seemed to sense something, and on the 11th, they suddenly launched a strong attack on a frontage five kilometers wide with five infantry divisions, two armored divisions, and two engineer battalions, and it was the first time that they had formed such a highly dense battle formation in the attack on Stalingrad.

The 138th Infantry Division, commanded by Lyudnikov, held to the north of the barricade factory, which was the focus of the German offensive, and the German 544th, 546th, and 577th Infantry Regiments, which were attached to the 336th Engineer Battalion and the 45th Separate Engineer Battalion, launched a fierce attack on them from this direction.

Due to the small number of defenders, the Germans once rushed to a place only a hundred meters from his headquarters, seeing this, Lyudnikov, who was unwilling to lose his position, called Chuikov and shouted in the microphone: "Comrade commander, the Germans are only a hundred meters away from my headquarters, please immediately order the artillery to open fire, hit with Katyusha, and fire at me!" ”

Seeing that the defensive positions of the 138th Infantry Division were in a precarious position, Chuikov immediately ordered the artillery commander Pozharsky to open fire on the location of the division headquarters in Lyudnikov.

After being covered by dense artillery fire, the enemy who stormed the position was eliminated, and there were few commanders and fighters left of the 138th Infantry Division. According to Lyudnikov's report, only seven fighters and a badly wounded regiment remained in his 118th Infantry Regiment, and the remaining men of the other two regiments combined were less than three hundred. But even so, they still held their positions in this area of 700 meters wide and 400 meters deep, relying on the ruins and broken walls, until the counterattack was launched on January 25, 43.

Because of their bravery and tenacity in the defense of Stalingrad, after the battle, the base camp named the area they held "Lyudnikov Island" and promoted the 138th Infantry Division to the 70th Guards Division.

The tense situation in Stalingrad was quickly reported to Zhukov. After some consideration, he finally called Rokossovsky and asked in a consultative tone: "Comrade Rokossovsky, the situation in the city is very difficult at present, the Germans are frantically attacking the last positions held by our troops, and if we do not give them a little support, I am afraid that they will not be able to hold it." ”

Although Rokossovsky knew that it was not the best time to attack, if he acted rashly, not only would he not be able to help the defenders in the city, but on the contrary, he would surprise the Germans and expose the intention of the imminent counteroffensive to the German army. Therefore, after waiting for Zhukov to finish speaking, he said euphemistically: "Comrade General, the enemy has built a strong defense on the side facing us, and has laid minefields and barbed wire. If we send too few troops, we will not be able to break through the enemy's defenses; But sending too many troops would alarm the Germans, and I fear that this would reveal our imminent intention to launch a counteroffensive. ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky," Zhukov said with some displeasure after waiting for Rokossovsky to finish, "the barricade factory that Lyudnikov is holding is only fifteen kilometers away from your nearest troops, and as long as you launch a feint, you can effectively attract the attention of the German army and thus reduce the pressure on friendly troops." Why, in this case, do you still plan to see death and not save you? ”

Seeing that Zhukov said so harshly, Rokossovsky knew that if he continued to shirk, it would inevitably cause dissatisfaction among the other party, and after a moment of silence, he said decisively: "Okay, Comrade General, since you say so, then after dark, I will send troops to attack from the north of the city to attract the attention of the German army and relieve the pressure on the defenders in the city." ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's relief, Zhukov's face showed a smile, and he said with satisfaction: "That's right, Comrade Rokossovsky, it is also our comrades-in-arms who are fighting the enemy in the city, and we only need to take a small action and make a little movement behind the enemy to attract the enemy's attention and reduce the pressure on our comrades-in-arms, and it is absolutely necessary to do so." ”

Seeing Rokossovsky put down the phone, Malinin asked worriedly: "Comrade commander, we are going to launch a feint attack on the enemy from the north of the city, I don't know which force you plan to use?" ”

Rokossovsky stared at the map for a moment, and then said: "Call the commander of the 66th Army and ask him to wait after dark, and the 7th Guards Independent Tank Regiment will cover the 243rd Infantry Division and launch an attack on the German positions north of the city." In addition, he called General Rudenko again and asked him to dispatch the 588th Women's Night Bombardment Regiment to bomb the German garrison and turn them upside down. ”

"Understood," said Malinin very cooperatively about Rokossovsky's arrangement: "I will immediately call the commanders of the two army groups and ask them to prepare for the attack." ”

Seeing Rokossovsky put down the phone, Malinin asked worriedly: "Comrade commander, we are going to launch a feint attack on the enemy from the north of the city, I don't know which force you plan to use?" ”

Rokossovsky stared at the map for a moment, and then said: "Call the commander of the 66th Army and ask him to wait after dark, and the 7th Guards Independent Tank Regiment will cover the 243rd Infantry Division and launch an attack on the German positions north of the city." In addition, he called General Rudenko again and asked him to dispatch the 588th Women's Night Bombardment Regiment to bomb the German garrison and turn them upside down. ”

"Understood," said Malinin very cooperatively about Rokossovsky's arrangement: "I will immediately call the commanders of the two army groups and ask them to prepare for the attack." ”