Sokov and Belkin returned to the headquarters, and Sidorin immediately came up to them and asked: "Brigade commander, political commissar, the observation post on the top of the hill just now reported to me that a plane has landed on our position, can it be taken?"
I was scared, are you all okay?"
"It's okay." Sokov waved his hand and said, "That was a crashed our military plane. Although it hit the ring fortification on the top of the hill, fortunately there was no explosion. Except that the pilot was knocked unconscious.
There were no casualties."
"The pilot is still alive?" According to Sidorin's idea, the plane fell from the sky. If the pilot had not parachuted, he would have been smashed to pieces. Now that he heard that he was still alive, he couldn't help but said with emotion: "This
The pilot's tone was really nice."
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. It had been almost half an hour since the soldiers carried Lugansky to the health team. Regardless of whether the opponent was dead or alive, there should be accurate news, so he took
He picked up the phone and asked the communications soldier to connect to the health team. When he heard someone speaking, he asked directly: "I am Sokov. How is the pilot who just sent to the health team? Is he awake?"
"
The health worker who answered the phone quickly replied: "Hello, Comrade Brigade Commander, Military Doctor Pavlov is treating him. The pilot only suffered a slight concussion and some contusions on his body. It is not life-threatening. He will be fine after two days of observation."
"
After putting down the phone, Sokov felt that the matter should be reported to Chuikov. After all, it was more appropriate for him to contact the Air Force headquarters than himself. He picked up the phone and tried to call the headquarters, but heard the voice from the receiver.
After Krylov's voice, he immediately said: "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff, I am Sokov."
"This is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Krylov asked politely, "What can I do for you?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation is like this." Sokov reported to Krylov: "Two of our fighter planes were shot down while competing for air supremacy with enemy planes over the Volga River. One of the planes landed.
On our hill. Fortunately, there was no explosion when the plane crashed. The pilot luckily survived and now, except for minor concussion and contusion, his life is not in danger. I would like to ask you to contact the Air Force and send me a message.
Their pilot took it back."
After learning that Sokov and the others rescued a pilot, Krylov quickly picked up a pen and started recording: "Do you know his name and which aviation regiment he is from?"
"Sergey Danilovich Lugansky, with the rank of Air Force Captain." Sokov replied: "He is a squadron commander of the 270th Fighter Aviation Regiment."
After Krylov recorded what Sokov said, he repeated it again: "...It's a squadron leader of the 270th Fighter Aviation Regiment. Don't worry, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I will contact him immediately
Troops. Before that, let him stay with you to recuperate."
After Sidorin waited for Sokov to put down the phone, he took the initiative to ask him: "Comrade Brigadier, let's go to the health team to visit the pilot named Lugansky?"
"Going to visit the pilot?" Sokov was surprised by Sidorin's suggestion. He asked in confusion: "Chief of Staff, what are we going to do to visit the pilot?"
"Comrade Brigadier, you don't know something." Sidorin explained: "If this battle to defend Stalingrad cannot end quickly, our area will become a key area for the German army to compete for. They will not only use artillery bombardment, but also
It is very difficult to destroy our tunnel fortifications with aircraft bombs and artillery; but if the aircraft carries ground-penetrating bombs, then the thousands of commanders and fighters in the tunnels will be in danger of being wiped out. But if we engage in an affair with the Air Force
If we have a good relationship and let them drive away those enemy planes trying to bomb Mamayev Heights for us, I think they will be willing to do it."
Not only did Sokov not feel that Sidorin's statement was alarmist, on the contrary, he also felt that it was very reasonable. When enemy planes bombed the highlands some time ago, he was always on tenterhooks, fearing that there would be one or two bombs.
It breaks through the soil and falls directly into the tunnel to explode. You must know that when the bomb explodes in a closed space, the power generated will increase exponentially, causing huge losses to the defenders in the tunnel. But if you have a good relationship with the Air Force
, allowing them to strengthen their fight for air supremacy over the Mamayev Hills, so that they can effectively reduce the bombing of highlands by enemy aircraft.
Thinking of this, Sokov nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff. Let's go to the health team to visit the injured pilot after dark."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, why don't you go now?" Sidorin asked puzzledly: "Why do you have to wait until night?"
"Captain Lugansky has a slight concussion and is resting now. I think it is very inappropriate for us to disturb him at this time." Sokov said: "When his health improves in the evening,
, it is undoubtedly the most appropriate for us to visit again."
"Okay, Comrade Brigadier." After hearing what Sokov said, Sidorin did not refute, but nodded and said: "Then let's wait until dark before visiting Captain Lugansky."
However, the plan could not keep up with the change. After dark, when Sokov and Sidorin were preparing to go to the health team to visit Captain Lugansky, they suddenly received a call from Rodimtsev. The commander of the Guards Division hurriedly said on the phone
: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the situation is not good. The division chief of staff just sent me a telegram, saying that the German army once again occupied the station and the expert building, and the 92nd Infantry Brigade holding on to this area was defeated."
"What, the 92nd Infantry Brigade was defeated?" Sokov was so frightened by this unexpected news that he was sweating all over his body. He quickly asked: "Comrade General, is this news reliable?"
"The information was informed to me by my chief of staff." Rodimtsev said in a positive tone on the phone: "He saw with his own eyes that the sailors of the 92nd Infantry Brigade were retreating. As the 34th and 39th Guards Regiments
They are still gathering and gathering, and it will be difficult for them to be put to use in a short period of time. I now order you to immediately send people to find out the situation there. If necessary, organize troops to take back the station from the enemy's hands.
"
A few hours ago, Sokov and Sidorin were still worried that if the war continued, the troops in his hands would be stretched thin. Now when he heard Rodimtsev's order, he couldn't help but said in embarrassment: "Comrade General,
, although our brigade has five to six thousand officers and men, we have suffered heavy casualties in the past few days of fighting. If we deploy our troops to capture the station, it will inevitably weaken the defense force of Mamayev Heights."
Rodimtsev knew that what Sokov said was the truth and could not continue to press him. He could only sigh and said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I know everything about your brigade's situation. Deploy troops from your brigade."
After seizing the station and driving away the enemy, you must leave troops to hold on, which will inevitably weaken your strength on Mamayev Heights."
When Sokov heard what Rodimtsev said, he thought to himself: "Since you know this, why do you still need to draw troops from us?" He secretly made up his mind, even if Rodimtsev moved Chuikov
Come out, I will not dispatch troops to compete with the German army for the station, which will consume all the effective strength in my hands.
"Let's do this, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Rodimtsev said hesitantly: "I think it is really difficult for you to send troops at this time. How about this, you send people to find out what's going on.
What’s the matter, why was the defense line of the 92nd Infantry Brigade so easily broken through by the Germans.”
Seeing that Rodimtsev no longer insisted on sending troops to fight for the station, Sokov's heart finally fell to the ground. For him, it should not be difficult to figure out the reason for the retreat of the 92nd Infantry Brigade.
Therefore, he expressed his position to Rodimtsev: "Don't worry, Comrade General. I will immediately take people to find out what is going on personally. Just wait for my news."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he called Seryosha in and told him: "Comrade Lieutenant, assemble the guard company immediately. I will take you to perform combat missions."
Seryosha now obeyed Sokov's words. When he heard that there was a combat mission, he turned around and left the headquarters without saying a word and went to gather people outside. Sidorin said worriedly: "Comrade Brigadier, since Germany
If one can defeat the 92nd Infantry Brigade composed of sailors, it shows that they are very powerful. If you lead a small force out at this time, you may encounter danger."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said to Sidorin: "The German army has occupied the station and the expert building, which will pose a great threat to our flanks. Therefore, I must find out the enemy's strength in the shortest possible time.
The situation. This matter is of great importance, and I wouldn’t trust it to anyone else, so I need to go there myself.”
Fortunately, Sidorin and Belkin were used to Sokov's character, and knew that no more persuasion would be of any use. They could only tell him a few words about paying attention to safety, and then watched him and the soldiers of the guard company leave.
.
Sokov and the others had just left Mamayev Heights. Under the bright moonlight, he saw groups of sailors running towards his position. Sokov quickly said to Seryosha: "Seryosa
, bring someone to stop them."
Seryosha nodded, and then shouted to the soldier behind him: "Follow me!"
When the retreating sailors were stopped, Sokov yelled at them angrily: "Who told you to abandon your position without permission?"
Faced with Sokov's question, the sailors looked at each other in confusion. Finally, a braver sailor replied: "Our superiors ordered us to retreat."
Someone took the lead, and the rest of the sailors also agreed: "Yes, we gave up our position and retreated only after receiving the order to retreat."
Sokov quickly looked among the sailors. He didn't see anyone wearing a big-brimmed hat, so he raised his voice and asked, "Where is your commander?"
"Sacrificially." A soldier raised his voice and replied: "Our company commander and instructor were all sacrificed in the battle."
"What about your battalion commander?"
"I don't know." The sailors replied neatly: "We were fighting well, but suddenly we received an order from the brigade headquarters, asking us to abandon our current positions and move towards the ferry."
"Sailors," Sokov shouted to the sailors: "Stalingrad has reached its most dangerous moment, no one is allowed to retreat, do you understand?"
Before the sailors could speak, there was some commotion in the crowd in the distance. Then Sokov saw several officers wearing big-brimmed hats walking towards him. Still far away, the man shouted loudly
Said: "Why are you all standing here motionless? Didn't you receive my order? Now I order you to continue on your way."
Sokov saw clearly that the person calling was Colonel Tanasolov, commander of the 92nd Infantry Brigade. He quickly went up to meet him and asked loudly: "Comrade Colonel, where do you plan to take the troops?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Tanasolov said in a panic: "German tanks have rushed into the station. If we don't retreat, we are in danger of annihilation..."
"Stop, you all, stop." Sokov heard a familiar voice from the crowd: "Whoever allows you to leave the position without authorization, go back to me. If you don't hear me, go back to your respective battles."
post."
"Retreat is my order," Tanasolov said righteously to the person shouting: "Comrade Vlasov, didn't you see just now that the enemy's tanks are only a few meters away from my headquarters?
It's less than two hundred meters away. If you hadn't blown it up by chance, my headquarters would have been taken over by the enemy."
Sokov had already seen clearly that the person chasing him was Vlasov, the director of the brigade's political department. He didn't know what happened, so he stood there quietly as a bystander. Vrasov blocked the tower with his hands.
Nasolov said in a stern tone: "Comrade Colonel, in the navy, commanders are the last to abandon ship. As the person commanding sailors, you should understand this!"
Political Commissar Andreev came over to support Tanasolov and said: "Comrade Vlasov, I think it is necessary to remind you that the situation you mentioned was in the navy, but now you are not the navy, but
It is an army under our command."
After his political commissar finished speaking, Tanasolov shouted to Vlasov again: "Comrade Vlasov, listen to me, we are not afraid of death, we are not running away from the battle, but we are going to command the brigade.
We evacuated to the sandbar of the Volga River. We did this to better command the troops." After saying that, he pushed aside Vlasov who was blocking him and continued walking in the direction of the Volga River.
Vlasov hurriedly caught up and asked: "Really? But Colonel, how can you command the troops there?"
Tanasolov stopped, turned around, approached Vlasov, and said rudely: "According to the regulations, the commander's order does not need to be discussed. Just execute the order quickly!" After saying this, he stopped walking.
He stopped and walked towards the river again, as if he wanted to escape from this place of right and wrong immediately.
Vlasov took another step forward and expressed his attitude loudly: "Comrade Colonel, even if you all escape, our people in the Political Department will not go anywhere. We will stay here and continue to hold our position."
After speaking, he shouted to the sailors standing around, "Comrades, our sailors will never run away from the battle. Those who are not afraid of death will come back with us and drive the enemy away from the station!"
This chapter has been completed!