"Boom", followed by an earth-shattering explosion, Sokov, who was hiding behind the ruins 20 meters away, felt that his internal organs were shaken out of place, and his ears were also shaken to the point of pain. But
The soldiers hiding in the surroundings came out of their hiding places one after another before the smoke cleared to see the effects of the blast.
Sokov stood up straight, calmed down on the spot, and then walked slowly and leisurely towards the explosion point. The first thing he said after seeing Andre was to ask directly: "Comrade Captain, how many straps are attached to your cluster grenade?"
A grenade?"
"Twelve, comrade brigade commander," Andrei heard Sokov's question and immediately replied with some excitement: "If the gap between the iron railings was not too small, I would have tied a few more grenades."
Hearing Andrei say this, Sokov almost kicked him directly. He said to himself that we used six bombs to blow up fortifications, but only eight bombs to blow up tanks. When I asked you to blow a hole, you actually used ten.
Two grenades, the shock made my blood boil, my throat felt sweet, and it almost killed me half of my life.
Sokov originally wanted to teach Andrei a lesson, but when he saw that a hole had been blown through the ventilation window that could be bent through, he decided to find the whereabouts of Rodimtsev first, and then settle the score with Andrei later.
, then ordered him: "Captain, since the entrance of the cave has been blown open, immediately send two soldiers in to take a look."
After Andrei waited for his soldiers to get into the hole, he asked a little unsteadily: "Comrade Brigadier, do you think General Rodimtsev will be in the basement?"
"I don't know." Sokov stared at the dark hole and said angrily: "Whether the general is inside or not, we will find out when your soldiers come out?" He was worried that the grenade explosion just now was too powerful.
If someone was really in the basement, would they be injured?
After waiting for about three or four minutes, a soldier who went to explore the path came out of the hole and reported excitedly to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, we have found General Rodimtsev!"
"What, have you found General Rodimtsev?" Even though Sokov looked confident when he ordered people to blow up the cave entrance, he was not sure at all. Especially when two soldiers were ordered to go into the cave to understand the situation.
Later, he became even more uneasy. When he heard the soldier's report that Rodimtsev had been found, he felt particularly excited and quickly asked: "Where is he? I want to go in and see him."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, please wait a moment, the general will come out soon." When the soldier said this, he suddenly pointed towards the entrance of the cave with his hand and said excitedly: "Look, isn't that the general?"
Sokov looked in the direction of his finger, and sure enough he saw Rodimtsev bending over and coming out of the hole. Andrei quickly stepped forward and tried to help him, but Sokov pulled him aside.
Sokov grabbed one of Rodimtsev's hands and helped him come out of the hole. At the same time, he asked with concern: "Comrade General, are you okay?"
Rodimtsev looked a little haggard. After he got out, he took a few deep breaths and then said to Sokov: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you don't know, I have been in the basement for a long time and I want to take a breath of fresh air."
Air is such a luxury thing. I thought I would never make it out alive, but who knew I would see the light of day again one day."
Sokov grinned and was about to echo a few words when Rodimtsev suddenly opened his arms and gave him a bear hug. He came close to his ear and said with some choking: "Listen, Misha.
, it was you who saved my life and that of my men, we will always remember your friendship."
In response to Rodimtsev's gratitude, Sokov politely replied: "Comrade General, what are you talking about? You are my superior. If you are in danger, I will definitely come to rescue you. This is my duty."
.”
After Rodimtsev let go of Sokov, he took a step back. He sniffed, turned his eyes to the entrance of the cave, and said as if nothing had happened: "Including me, there are 37 people in the basement.
, in addition to the staff, communications corps, and health workers, there are also my chief of staff, political commissar, and the commander of the 39th Guards Regiment."
Learning that the commander of the 39th Guards Regiment was also trapped in the basement, Sokov said with some surprise: "No wonder your division's troops are missing. It turns out that the main mid-level and senior commanders are all trapped here."
Sokov's words made Rodimtsev shocked: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, what did you just say, my troops are missing?"
"Yes, Comrade General." Sokov nodded and replied affirmatively: "According to the information I have, you have lost contact with the commander of the 39th Guards Regiment, and the regimental command post of the 34th Guards Regiment
The regiment commander was hit by German artillery fire and has been killed. As for your troops, unfortunately, I don’t know where they are?"
"My troops are missing?" Rodimtsev asked in surprise: "Then which troops are responsible for the defense of our division's defense area now?"
"It's Colonel Tanasolov's 92nd Infantry Brigade. This brigade is mainly sailors from the Baltic Fleet and the North Sea Fleet." Sokov replied expressionlessly: "They are responsible for defending your original combat area."
"What the hell, what the hell, how could a force of several thousand people just say it's gone?" After Rodimtsev said this, he happened to see his chief of staff and political commissar coming from behind one after another.
He came out of the hole and hurriedly stepped forward to inform the two of them of the shocking news they had just heard.
Seeing that Rodimtsev and his deputies were doing research, Sokov was not idle either. He immediately called the radio operator over and ordered the other party: "Send a report to the army headquarters immediately, saying that we have successfully recovered from the collapsed
In the building, General Rodimtsev, who was trapped in the basement, and 36 other commanders and combatants were rescued. Among them were the division chief of staff, the political commissar and the commander of the 39th Guards Regiment."
While the radio operator was sending a report, Andrei walked up to Sokov and asked curiously: "Comrade Brigadier, I don't understand why no one knows about the fact that the general and the others were buried in the basement?"
"Comrade Captain, the reason is very simple." Sokov explained to Andre: "When the German army bombarded this area, most of the commanders and fighters were hiding. When the building where the division headquarters was destroyed by artillery fire, they had no idea.
Has the general been transferred? The soldiers who were responsible for guarding the division headquarters were killed in the shelling, and they are the remains of those soldiers you found."
After Sokov's explanation, Andre suddenly realized: "The soldiers who knew the inside story were all sacrificed in the shelling; while other soldiers were either not in this area at all during the shelling, or they did not know that there was a headquarters here.
Therefore, there was no idea that anyone was trapped in the basement. In addition, there was no radio signal in the basement, so the general could not get in touch with the army headquarters, which gave people the illusion of missing."
"Yes, that's it." When Sokov said this, he thought that fortunately Stalin didn't know about this, and he might regard Rodimtsev as a traitor or a deserter, and what awaits him will be extremely miserable.
ending.
Guchakov, who led his soldiers to eliminate the enemy, came back. He reported to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, we have eliminated the enemies hidden in the building. We killed five people in total. We sacrificed two people and wounded
Eight people."
"Well done, Lieutenant Guchakov." Sokov raised his hand and patted the opponent's shoulder gently twice, and then said: "I will keep your achievements in mind."
…………
The German army's attack on the factory area was extremely fierce. Chuikov continued to receive telegrams or phone calls from commanders of divisions and brigades asking for help. Since he had no reserves at all, he could only say to his subordinates in vain.
: "I don't have a reserve team. You must make full use of your existing strength and resolutely block the German attack."
When he saw the communications staff hurried over with a telegram, he asked impatiently: "Which army is requesting reinforcements?"
"No, Comrade Commander, it's not a telegram requesting reinforcements." The staff officer waved the telegram in his hand and reported excitedly: "It's a telegram from Lieutenant Colonel Sokov. They have successfully captured Rodimtsev and others.
36 commanders and fighters were rescued from the basement under the collapsed building."
"This is really great news." When Chuikov heard the news, his frown suddenly relaxed. He smiled and said to Krylov who was answering the phone at the side: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I really didn't expect that
Cove is so awesome, just a few hours later, they actually successfully completed the task we assigned them."
"Sokov is really amazing." Krylov became happy when he learned that Rodimtsev had been found: "We have been searching for so long without any clues, but as soon as Sokov came forward,
It actually solved the problem.”
"In two days, we will launch a counterattack against the German army and coordinate General Rokossovsky's offensive." Chuikov said to Krylov: "Now that Rodimtsev has been found, urge him as soon as possible.
Gather the troops and continue fighting the enemy in the city center to attract the enemy's attention and reduce the pressure on our army during the counterattack."
Just when Krylov was about to order the operator to send the report, Chuikov changed his mind again: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I thought about it and think I should let him call me. I want to have a good talk with him."
"But, Comrade Commander." Regarding Chuikov's instructions, Krylov said with some embarrassment: "If we could contact him by phone, I think we wouldn't have lost contact with Rodimtsev for so long. If you
If you want to talk to him, it's best for him to come to the headquarters in person."
This chapter has been completed!