Sokov and Belkin returned to the command center, and Sidolin immediately came up and asked, "Brig Commander, Political Commissar, the observation post at the top of the hill just reported to me that an aircraft had landed on our position, but it scared me. Are you all okay?"
"It's okay." Sokov waved his hand and said, "It was a wrecked plane of our army. Although it hit the ring fortifications on the top of the hill, it is fortunate that there was no explosion. Except for the pilot's knock, there were no casualties."
"The pilot is still alive?" According to Cidolin's idea, the plane fell from the sky. If the pilot had not jumped, he would have fallen into meat sauce. When he heard that he was still alive, he couldn't help but sigh: "The pilot's tone is so good."
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. At this moment, it had been almost half an hour since the soldiers carried Lugansky to the health team. No matter whether the other party was alive or alive, there should be accurate news. So he picked up the phone and asked the correspondents to connect to the health team. When he heard someone talking, he asked straightforwardly: "I am Sokov. How is the pilot who just sent to the health team? Has the person woke up?"
The health officer who answered the phone quickly replied: "Hello, comrade brigade commander, military doctor Pavlov is treating him. The pilot only had a slight concussion and had some contusions on his body. He was not in danger of his life. He would be fine after two days of observation."
After putting down the phone, Sokov felt that the matter should be reported to Cuikov. After all, it is more appropriate for the matter of contacting the Air Force to be contacted by the Group Army Command than himself. He picked up the microphone and wanted to access the command center. After hearing Krelov's voice coming from the receiver, he immediately said: "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff, I am Sokov."
"It's Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Krelov asked politely: "Is there anything you have?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, this is the case." Sokov reported to Krelov: "Two fighters of our army were shot down over the Volga River and were fighting for air supremacy with enemy planes. One of them landed on our hills. Fortunately, the plane did not explode when it fell. The pilots were lucky enough to survive. Now there is no life danger except for minor concussions and contusions. I would like to ask you to contact the Air Force and take their pilots back."
When Krelov learned that Sokov and his friends had rescued a pilot, he quickly picked up the pen and started recording: "Do you know what his name is and which aviation regiment belongs to?"
"Sergey Danilovic Lugansky, rank of Air Force Captain." Sokov replied: "He is a squadron leader of the 270th Destroyer Air Force."
After recording what Sokov said, Krelov repeated: "...is a squadron leader of the 270th Destroyer Air Corps. Don't worry, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I will contact his troops immediately. 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 Brigade Commander, let's go to the health team to visit the pilot named Lugansky?"
"Go to visit the pilot?" Sokov was surprised by Sidolin's proposal. He asked in confusion: "Chief of Staff, what are we going to visit the pilot?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander, you don't know anything." Sidolin explained: "If this Stalingrad defense battle cannot end quickly, we will become the key area for the Germans' struggle. They will not only bombard the cannons, but also bomb them with planes. It is very difficult for cannons to destroy our fortifications; but if the plane carries bombs that can drill into the ground, then the thousands of commanders and fighters in the tunnel will be in danger of being destroyed. But if we have a good relationship with the Air Force and let them expel the enemy planes that are trying to bomb Mamayevgang for us, they must be happy to do it."
Not only did Sokov not feel alarmist about Sidolin's statement, but on the contrary, he also felt that it made sense. When enemy planes bombed the high ground some time ago, he was worried that one or two bombs would penetrate the soil and land directly into the tunnel to explode. You should know that the power generated by bombs exploded in a closed space will increase exponentially, causing huge losses to the defenders in the tunnel. But if they have a good relationship with the Air Force, they will strengthen the competition for air supremacy above Mamayev's hill, so that the enemy planes bomb the high ground can effectively reduce the bombing of the high ground by enemy planes.
Thinking of this, Sokov nodded and said, "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff. We will go to the health team to visit the injured pilot after dark."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, why don't you go now?" Cidolin asked in confusion: "Why should you wait till evening?"
"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 it is at night and his health improves, it is undoubtedly the most appropriate for us to visit him."
"Well, comrade comrade commander." After hearing Sokov said this, Cidolin did not refute, but nodded and said, "Then let's wait until it's dark before visiting Captain Lugansky."
However, the plan could not keep up with the changes. After dark, when Sokov and Sidolin were preparing to visit Captain Lugansky in the health team, they suddenly received a call from Rodimtev. The commander of the Guard Division said hurriedly on the phone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the situation is not good. The Chief of Staff of the Division just sent me a telegram saying that the German army had once again occupied the station and the expert building, and the 92nd Infantry Brigade, which was standing in this area, was defeated."
"What, the 92nd Infantry Brigade was defeated?" Sokov was frightened by the unexpected news and was covered in white-haired sweat. He hurriedly asked, "Comrade General, is this news reliable?"
"The intelligence was informed by my chief of staff." Rodimtev said in a affirmative tone on the phone: "He saw with his own eyes the sailors of the 92nd Infantry Brigade retreating. Since the 34th and 39th Guards were still gathering and gathering, it would be difficult for them to send for use in a short period of time. I now order you to send someone to figure out the situation there immediately, and if necessary, organize troops to take the station back from the enemy."
Sokov and Sidolin were worried that if the war continued, their troops would be in short supply. At this moment, when he heard Rodimtev's order, he couldn't help but say in embarrassment: "Comrade General, although our brigade has five or six thousand commanders and fighters, there have been heavy casualties in the battle these days. If we mobilize our troops to seize the station, it will inevitably weaken the defensive power of Mamayev."
Rodimtev knew that what Sokov said was the truth and it was hard to continue to force each other. He could only sigh and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I understand the situation of your brigade. After you draw the troops from your brigade to seize the station and drive away the enemy, you must leave your troops to hold on. In this way, you will inevitably weaken your strength in Mamayev."
When Sokov heard Rodimtev say this, he thought to himself: "Since you know, why do you need to draw troops from us?" He made up his mind that even if Rodimtev brought Cuikov out, he would not draw troops to compete with the German army for the station, as it would consume all the living forces in his hands.
"This is how, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Rodimtev said hesitantly: "I think it is indeed very difficult to send you troops at this time. Why do you send someone to figure out what's going on and why the defense line of the 92nd Infantry Brigade was so easily broken by the Germans."
Seeing that Rodimtev no longer insisted on sending troops to fight for the station, Sokov finally fell to the ground with the huge rock hanging in his heart. It should not be difficult for him to figure out the reason for the 92nd Infantry Brigade's retreat, so he expressed his opinion to Rodimtev: "Don't worry, Comrade General. I will take people to figure out what's going on immediately. Just wait for my news."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he called Selyosha in and told him: "Comrade Lieutenant, gather the guards' companies immediately. I will take you to carry out combat missions."
Seryosha is now obedient to Sokov. He heard that there is a combat mission, so he turned around and left the command center without saying a word and went outside to summon people. Cidolin said worriedly: "Comrade Commander, since the Germans can defeat the 92nd Infantry Brigade composed of sailors, it means that their strength is very strong. If you lead a small army out at this time, you may encounter danger."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said to Cydolin: "The German army occupied the station and the expert building, which would pose a great threat to our flanks, so I must figure out the enemy's strength in the shortest time. This matter is of great importance, and I am not at ease to leave it to others, so I need to go there myself."
Fortunately, Sidolin and Belkin were both used to Sokov's character and knew that it would be useless to persuade him. They could only remind him to pay attention to safety and watched him and the soldiers of the guard company leave.
Sokov and his friends had just left Mamayev hill. Under the bright moonlight, he saw groups of sailors running towards their place. Sokov quickly said to Selyosha: "Shelyosha, take people to stop them."
Seryosha nodded, then shouted at the warrior behind him: "Come with me!"
When the retreating sailors were stopped, Sokov shouted at them in a furious manner: "Who told you to give up your position without authorization?"
Faced with Sokov's doubts, the sailors looked at each other, and finally a brave sailor replied: "It was our superiors who ordered us to retreat."
Someone took the lead, and the other sailors also echoed: "That's right, we gave up the position and retreated after receiving the order."
Sokov looked quickly into the middle of the sailors, and did not see a person wearing a big brimmed hat, so he raised his voice and asked, "Where is your commander?"
"Sacrificed." One soldier replied in a raised voice: "Our company commander and instructor were both sacrificed in the battle."
"What about your battalion commander?"
"I don't know." The sailors replied neatly: "We had fought well, but suddenly we received an order from the brigade department to give up our existing positions and move towards the ferry."
"Sailors," Sokov shouted at the sailors: "Stalingrad has reached its most dangerous moment, and no one is allowed to retreat, do you understand?"
Before the sailors could speak, some riots occurred in the crowd in the distance. Then Sokov saw several officers with big-brimmed hats walking towards him. Still far away, the man shouted loudly: "Why are you standing here and not moving? Haven't you received my order? Now I order you to continue on your way."
Sokov saw clearly that the person who called was Colonel Tanasolov, the commander of the 92nd Infantry Brigade, hurriedly met and asked loudly: "Comrade Colonel, where are you planning to take the troops?"
"Lt. Col. Sokov," said Tanasolov in a panic: "The German tanks have rushed into the station. If we do not retreat, we will be in danger of destruction of the entire army..."
"Stop, you all stop me." Sokov heard a familiar voice from the crowd: "Whoever allows you to leave the position without authorization will go back to me. If you hear or not, you will return to your respective combat posts."
"Retreat is my order," Tanasolov said righteously at the person who called out: "Comrade Vrasov, have you not seen that the enemy's tank is only less than two hundred meters away from my command center? If you hadn't led people to blow it up by chance, my command center would have been taken down by the enemy."
Sokov had already seen clearly that the person who caught up with him was Vrasov, the director of the brigade political department. He didn't know what was going on, so he stood there quietly as a bystander. Vrasov stopped Tanasolov with both hands and said in a stern tone: "Comrade Colonel, in the navy, the commanders are the last to abandon the ship. As the person who commands the sailors, you should understand this!"
Political Commissar Andreyev came over to speak for Tanasolov and said: "Comrade Vrasov, I think it is necessary to remind you that the situation you are talking about is in the navy, but now you are not the navy, but the army under our command."
After his political commissar finished speaking, Tanasolov shouted at Vrasov again: "Comrade Vrasov, listen to me. We are not afraid of death or escape in the face of battle, but we want to withdraw the brigade command post to the sandbar of the Volga River. We do this to better command the troops." After that, he pushed Vrasov away in front of him and continued to walk towards the Volga River.
Vrasov hurriedly chased forward and asked, "Is that so? But Colonel, how can you command the troops there?"
Tanasolov stopped, turned around and approached Vrasov, and said bluntly: "According to the regulations, there is no need to discuss the commander's orders, hurry up and execute the orders!" As soon as he finished speaking, he kept walking towards the river again, as if he wanted to get out of this place of right and wrong immediately.
Chapter completed!