Under the leadership of Samoylov, it only took Sokov a few minutes to arrive near the exit of the Papuchenko regiment command post. Recalling that there were almost no detours on the way here, Sokov felt in his heart
I couldn't help but mutter: I just wandered around for a long time and couldn't find this place. I wonder if it's because I don't have a strong sense of direction, I got lost, or I encountered a ghost. How could I be so evil?
After exchanging the code with the soldiers guarding outside the exit, Sokov and others climbed out of the sewer and entered Papuchenko's regiment command post. Papuchenko, who was directing the battle, saw Soko covered in mud.
When her husband appeared in front of her, she couldn't help being shocked and asked quickly: "Comrade Commander, what's wrong with you?"
"An enemy entered the sewer and fought with us." When Sokov said this, he turned and glanced at Samoylov who followed him: "Although the guard platoon suffered most casualties, all the enemies who entered the sewer were killed.
We were wiped out."
"Comrade Commander, are you not injured?"
"No." Sokov waved his hand to Papuchenko and asked: "How is the battle outside?"
"Comrade division commander, the battle was very difficult." Papuchenko reported to Sokov seriously: "The enemy may have suffered losses from us twice in a row. Now they have become more cautious. They did not easily attack into the community.
Instead of launching a charge, we stayed at the edge of the community and used assault guns to destroy the buildings our troops were holding on to one after another. Our troops holding on to these buildings suffered heavy casualties."
After listening to Papuchenko's story, Sokov understood that the enemy wanted to use powerful artillery fire to level the entire community. If the soldiers were allowed to stick to the building, it would inevitably cause huge losses. So he ordered Papu
Puchenko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, immediately order all troops to withdraw to the east of the square through the sewers."
"Comrade Division Commander, you are saying that all troops should be withdrawn to the east side of the square." After hearing Sokov's order, Papuchenko thought that the gunfire outside was too loud, and he did not want to listen to it.
Wrong, he quickly asked: "Did I hear correctly?"
"No, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you heard nothing wrong." Sokov pointed outward with his hand and continued: "Look, the enemy is using assault guns to destroy the buildings on the west side. I think at most it only takes
In two hours, all the buildings on the west side will be turned into ruins. If you continue to let the soldiers stay in those buildings, it is equivalent to letting them die. Immediately give an order, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, to have the soldiers withdraw through the sewers.
"
Seeing Sokov's resolute attitude, Papuchenko had no choice but to comply. He turned to the regiment chief of staff sitting nearby and said: "Immediately issue an order to each battalion and deploy them in the building on the west side of the square.
All troops are withdrawn."
The regiment chief of staff had just heard the order issued by Sokov. When he heard Papuchenko say this, he did not dare to neglect. He quickly picked up the phone and called the battalion commanders one by one to arrange the retreat order.
.
Two minutes later, the regiment chief of staff stood up straight and reported directly to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, the order to retreat has been issued to all battalions. I believe it won't be long before all the troops on the west side of the square will withdraw."
Knowing that the troops could be withdrawn soon, Sokov nodded slightly. He thought to himself that the following days would be the most difficult period for the Stalingrad defenders. If one more soldier is saved, more soldiers will be saved.
By preserving some strength, when the big counterattack begins, your troops will be able to achieve even greater feats.
Sokov suddenly remembered the tank detachment commanded by Lieutenant Agavon. He had been out of the sewer for so long and had not seen them yet and did not know whether they were safe. So he tentatively asked Papuchenko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, are you
Do you know how the tank detachment is doing?"
"Tank unit?!" When he suddenly heard Sokov's question, Papuchenko couldn't help but be startled, but then he thought of who Sokov might be talking about, and quickly asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, what did you say?
Is it the tank detachment commanded by Lieutenant Agafond?”
"Yes, that's them." Sokov nodded and then asked, "How are they now?"
"According to reports from the troops below, the tank detachment lost three tanks." Papuchenko reported to Sokov: "Lieutenant Agafen took the remaining tanks and moved to a location close to the factory area." He
I don't know why Sokov suddenly asked about the tank detachment. He thought he was going to assign a task, so he took the initiative and said, "Comrade division commander, if you have any tasks to give them, I can send the communications troops to inform them."
"No, no need." Sokov waved his hand to Papuchenko and said: "Today's new workers' village is full of ruins, and the range of movement of tanks is restricted. It is better to let them stay near the factory area, where the terrain is conducive to tanks.
maneuver."
After another half an hour, the regiment chief of staff received calls from the battalions and reported to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, all the troops deployed by the battalions in the buildings on the west side of the square have been withdrawn.
.”
"Very good!" After listening to the report of the regiment's chief of staff, Sokov nodded again and issued a new order to Papuchenko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, since the troops have withdrawn to the east side of the square, then
You leave one company behind to defend the enemy, and the rest of the troops withdraw through the sewers toward the factory area."
"What? The direction of the troop withdrawal to the factory area?" Hearing Sokov's order, Papuchenko's eyes widened in surprise: "Comrade division commander, are we no longer holding on to the Workers' New Village?"
"Since the Germans want a new workers' village, we will give it to them first." Sokov said with a sneer: "Since they like to demolish houses with artillery fire, let them slowly consume the artillery shells here. Their artillery shells are not unlimited.
After the houses in Workers' New Village are demolished, the artillery shells will probably be exhausted, and if they want to attack the factory area, they will be unable to do so due to lack of ammunition."
"Comrade Division Commander," although Papuchenko did not dare to blatantly object to the order issued by Sokov, he was still unwilling to give up the Workers' New Village, so he carefully reminded Sokov: "If the superiors know that it is
We voluntarily abandoned Workers' New Village, and I'm afraid you will be blamed. Therefore, I beg you to think twice about retreating."
Sokov did not answer his question, but asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko, when did I tell you that I was giving up the Workers' New Village?"
"But you just said clearly that we should withdraw our troops towards the factory area." Sokov's words confused Papchenko. He thought that the division commander was going to deny it, so he quickly reminded: "It's not just me, the company chief of staff
I heard it too." He turned to look at his chief of staff, "You think so?"
"Well," the regiment chief of staff heard Papuchenko's question, glanced at Sokov guiltily, and replied awkwardly, "Yes, comrade regiment leader, I heard it too... I heard it."
"You heard it right, I did ask you to withdraw the troops to the factory area first." Seeing that neither of them understood his intention, Sokov patiently explained to them: "Now the Germans are using assault guns to destroy
The buildings in the workers' new village will not be of much use if the troops stay here, but will only increase casualties. Therefore, I will order you to temporarily withdraw to the direction of the factory, wait until dark, and then return here through the sewers to allow the enemy to come.
An unexpected blow."
After Sokov's explanation, the two men finally understood what was going on, and quickly replied in unison: "Understood, comrade division commander, we will immediately give the order to the troops to evacuate to the direction of the factory."
When Sokov saw the chief of staff of the regiment pick up the phone and start calling each battalion to arrange the retreat and stay of the company to monitor the enemy, he spoke to Papchenko and took Samoilov and the others into the sewer.
, took the lead in rushing towards the factory area.
