When Peter recognized that the person calling him was Zalidyuk, he asked before the other party could explain the reason: "Lieutenant Colonel Zalidyuk, I saw smoke in the direction of the residential area. Is the situation there very dangerous?"
?”
"Comrade Factory Director," Zaldyuk did not answer Peter's question directly, but replied in a very official tone: "Our soldiers are fighting tenaciously against Japanese invaders in residential areas.
fighting……"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Peter interrupted Zaldyuk impatiently before he could finish his words, "As the director of the Red October Tractor Factory, I have the right to know the real war situation in residential areas."
After Peter's reminder, Zaldyuk realized that the person he was talking to was the director of the factory that his troops wanted to protect. There was really no need to hide anything from him about the situation on the battlefield. He was thinking in his mind
He organized some vocabulary and said solemnly: "Comrade Factory Director, the situation on the battlefield is very unfavorable to our army. According to the intelligence we have obtained, the Germans have added another infantry division in order to seize the factory. Our division is surrounded by residents.
The area controlled by the district is constantly shrinking under the pressure of the German army."
Although Peter was mentally prepared for the deterioration of the situation in the residential areas, after listening to Zaldyuk's introduction, he still couldn't help but gasped: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, is the situation really so critical?"
"Yes, Comrade Factory Director, the situation is very critical." Zaldyuk said euphemistically: "In the next two or three days, our situation will be very difficult, but we can still withstand the enemy's attack. But...
"
Zalyzyuk suddenly stopped talking at this point, which made Peter anxious: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, but what, you should hurry up and say it!"
"In any case, those who guard the residential areas and the main entrance of the factory are regular troops. The soldiers have rich combat experience and know how to deal with the enemy." Zaldyuk said with some embarrassment: "But those who guard the factory area are militiamen.
, you also know that they were temporarily armed and lacked necessary military training and little combat experience. Although some officers and combat cadres have been sent to you, if you want to improve their combat effectiveness in a short period of time,
It is also unrealistic. Therefore, we are now worried that the enemy will break through from other parts of the factory area, and then the factory will be in danger of being lost."
Peter was also a smart man. He heard the implication of Zaldyuk's words, and asked tentatively: "Lieutenant Colonel Zaldyuk, if I understand correctly, do you think the enemy will break into the factory from other areas, such as
To the north of the factory where the assembly workshop is located. Am I right?"
"Yes, Comrade Factory Director, you are right. The German army has opened a breakthrough in the north of the factory. Although they cannot develop in depth for the time being, they will continue to invest troops here until they completely occupy the assembly workshop.
." Zalidyuk said worriedly: "The division commander, General Guryev, has gone to the assembly workshop and is preparing to talk to Lieutenant Colonel Sokov who is leading the troops to stay there to see how many days they can hold on there. Because once the Germans occupy
Without the assembly workshop, our division will face the danger of being attacked from both sides."
If there was an emergency in another area, Peter might still feel panicked, but when he heard that the location Zaldyuk named turned out to be the assembly workshop, his mood suddenly became lighter: "Lieutenant Colonel Zaldyuk, you are overthinking.
You must know that the commander who led the troops to defend the assembly workshop was Lieutenant Colonel Sokov who was good at fighting defensive battles. Before you called, I had just received a report from the workshop director Cousteau that they had successfully repulsed them.
The two German attacks resulted in very few casualties."
Since Zaldyuk could not directly contact the assembly workshop, they could only judge the battle to the north of the factory based on the rising smoke. The thicker the smoke, the more intense the fighting there, and vice versa. As for the defenders
What kind of results will be achieved is unknown.
Zalyzyuk said "Oh" in surprise, and then asked: "Comrade director, did they really repulse two German attacks in a row?"
"These results were reported to me by Comrade Cousteau, the workshop director. I believe he would not lie to me about this kind of thing." Peter said: "If they can continue to maintain this state, I think they can hold on for four or five days.
, there should be no problem. As soon as the reinforcements from the other side of the river arrive, we can launch a counterattack against the enemy."
Regarding the counterattack mentioned by Peter, Zalijuk felt that it was too early to speak. With the existing strength of the Guards Division, it was already thankful to God that the Red October Tractor Factory could be defended. How could one dare to hope for a counterattack. Considering that Gurye
The husband had already set off. In order to avoid misunderstandings, he quickly added: "Comrade factory director, please inform Comrade Cousteau about the division commander's visit to the assembly workshop to avoid misunderstandings."
But before Peter had time to call Cousteau, the jeep Guriev was riding in had arrived outside the assembly workshop. He sat in the car and looked at the burning German tanks in the distance and everywhere in front of the factory.
With the corpses visible, his eyebrows could not help but rise, and then he said to himself: "What the hell, how could this happen? How could they eliminate so many enemies in such a short period of time?"
After Sokov received a report from the soldiers below and learned that a general had arrived, he immediately ran out to greet him. Although he had never seen Guryev, he recognized him from the two gold stars on his rhombus collar badge.
A major general, and the general who would appear in the factory at this time was most likely Major General Guryev, the commander of the Guards Division. He quickly stood up to attention and reported to the other party: "Hello, comrade general, I am an infantryman."
Brigade commander Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, we are performing combat duties, please give us your instructions!"
"You are Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Guryev nodded to Sokov, and then stretched out his hand: "Let me introduce myself. I am Major General Guryev, commander of the Guards Division. I came here specifically to see you."
"Looking for me?" Sokov heard Guryev say this, and thought to himself: "I'm not familiar with you, and you came to me specifically, what will happen?" Although he was uneasy in his heart, but on the surface
The commander still pretended to be calm and asked: "Comrade General, do you have anything to do with me?"
"This is not the place to talk." Guryev looked around and said, "Let's talk somewhere else."
Sokov was about to take Guryev to the headquarters in the basement when he suddenly heard Guryev say: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, call the other commanders over. I have important things to tell you all."
.”
Sokov called a soldier and told him to inform Brischi, Bolshak and Cousteau that they had important matters to discuss and asked them to rush to the basement as soon as possible.
A few minutes later, Briski rushed to the basement after receiving the notice. He saw Sokov and Guryev sitting in the room. When he was about to say something, Guryev pointed to the empty seat next to him.
, said: "Comrade Captain, please sit down first and wait until everyone has arrived."
After Briski sat down at the empty seat, he cast a questioning look at Sokov, trying to figure out why Guryev called him here. Who knew that after Sokov saw the look in his eyes, he
But he shook his head and smiled bitterly, indicating that he didn't know what was going on.
Bolshak and Cousteau walked into the room together, and when they saw Guryev sitting in the room, they both had surprised expressions on their faces. Bolshak took a step forward, stretched out his hand to Guryev, curious
He asked: "Comrade General, why are you here?"
"Comrade commanders," Guryev stretched out his hand and shook Bolshak's hand, then faced the crowd and said, "I called you all here today because the situation on the battlefield is going against me.
development of the military."
Guryev's words surprised everyone. Bolshak asked first: "Comrade General, can you tell us what happened?"
"Okay, I will tell you the answer now." Guryev nodded and continued: "Before I came here, I got news that the enemy had transferred troops from other places in order to seize the Red October Tractor Factory.
An infantry division participated in the attack. If they only attacked the front direction of residential areas and factories, my troops would still be able to block them. But if they attacked from other areas, it would be very detrimental to us. Once the Germans rush into the factory area,
If we gain a firm foothold, our division will be in a situation of being attacked from both sides."
When Sokov heard this, he immediately understood the purpose of Guryev's visit. The other party was worried that he would not be able to defend this place at all, causing the Guards Division to fall into an encirclement by the German army. After Guryev finished speaking, he gently
He coughed and said without changing his face: "Comrade General, I understand what you are worried about. You are worried that we cannot stop the enemy's attack at all, so you came here specifically to understand the situation of the defenders. You are eager to know,
Under such a fierce attack by the German army, we can hold out for a few days so that you can adjust your existing defense arrangements."
When Guryev heard Sokov say these words, he had a shocked expression on his face. He never dreamed that Sokov could see his thoughts so clearly. Fortunately, he recovered quickly.
Normal, he nodded and said: "Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, since you have guessed my purpose, then I want to ask you, how many days can your troops hold out here?"
"Comrade General, you are looking down on us too much." Briski felt very unconvinced when he heard what Guryev said. Regardless of the fact that his military rank was much lower than that of Guryev, he plausibly said: "Don't talk about it for a few days, in the future
With our current troops, if we can stay here for half a month, I don’t think it will be a big problem.”
"Captain Briski, why are you so rude? Didn't you see that I was talking to General Guryev?" Sokov pretended to reprimand Briski, and then said to Guriev with a smile on his face:
"Comrade General, I know what you are worried about. I can tell you responsibly that as long as there is still a soldier of the infantry brigade alive, they will never let the Germans break into the assembly workshop."
Guryev couldn't help but sneered and asked in a mocking tone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, as far as I know, you don't even have anti-tank guns. In the next battle, how do you plan to deal with the incoming tide?"
Where are the Germans?"
"If this is what you are worried about, Comrade General, then please rest assured." Although from the tone of Guryev's words, Sokov heard that the other party did not seem to trust him, he said without any discouragement: "It doesn't matter whether Germany
No matter how many tanks there are, we are confident of destroying them."
Seeing that Sokov was so arrogant, Guryev was about to mock him again when the phone on the table rang. A livid Cousteau on the side picked up the phone, put it to his ear and asked: "
I'm Cousteau, where are you from?" I don't know what was said on the other end of the phone. The expression on his face immediately became rich. He raised his head and looked at Sokov and said excitedly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel,
Tanks, our tanks are coming!"
"Tank, what tank?" When Guryev heard what Cousteau said, he asked in confusion: "Is it a tank from the other side of the Volga River?"
"Of course not, Comrade General." Cousteau said with some pride: "If you are interested, you can go out and have a look. After you look at it, you will understand what is going on."
The group of people left the basement and came to the outside of the factory. Sure enough, they saw a dozen tanks divided into two groups, driving toward the factory with great momentum. When Guryev first saw the tanks, he was startled and instinctively
He reached his hand to his waist, ready to pull out his pistol and shoot at the tank. But when he saw Sokov and the others looking calm, they realized that the approaching tank was not a German tank, but a T-34 common in the Soviet army.
"Comrade Cousteau," Sokov said loudly to Cousteau: "Send a motorcycle over and guide the tanks to circle around the factory. This will give the Germans the illusion that it is us.
Reinforcements have arrived."
After Cousteau had gone away, Guryev asked in confusion: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, can you explain to me where these tanks came from? It is daytime, in order to avoid the Germans."
Shelling and bombing, the other side will never take the risk of transporting so many tanks across the river."
"You are right, Comrade General." Sokov nodded and said, "These tanks are indeed not from the other side, but new tanks recently produced in the factory."
"What, new tanks produced in the factory?" Guriyev asked with wide eyes: "Not only do these tanks have no artillery shells, they don't even have machine gun bullets. How do you plan to let them destroy the enemy?"
Sokov chuckled and then said: "Comrade General, we do know that these tanks have no ammunition, but the Germans don't know. They saw tanks circling around the factory and thought they were supported by an armored brigade, so
They will become hesitant to attack here, which will buy us valuable time to consolidate our direction."