Although the anti-aircraft guns and rifles on the ground successfully shot down an enemy plane, the bombs dropped by the remaining three enemy planes hit the factory and an earth-shaking explosion occurred. The plane that completed the bomb drop quickly pulled up the nose, preparing to hover in the air for a while, and then dived and dropped the bomb again.
The flight commander who led the team to carry out the bombing mission was Captain Hansrudel, the German ace pilot. Seeing that one of his planes was shot down by ground air defense fire, he notified the other two pilots through the on-board radio: "The Russians have powerful anti-aircraft artillery on the ground. In order to avoid unnecessary losses from our subsequent bomber formations, we must find a way to destroy it."
"Captain," replied Leo, a German pilot who was flying to Rudel's left, immediately: "When I was just performing dives, I saw several anti-aircraft guns firing on the ground, let's destroy it."
"No, Lieutenant Carl was not shot down by anti-aircraft fire on the ground." Another pilot, Mark, retorted: "It seems to be shot down by a rifle."
"It's really a hell, how can a rifle shoot down an airplane?" Leo said disdainfully: "You're not dazzled."
"Stop arguing," Rudel worried that the two would argue in the communication channel, so he quickly stopped them: "Let's change direction and continue to drop bombs into the factory, and pay attention to the Russians' ground air defense firepower."
"I understand, Captain." The two pilots agreed, circled in the air for half a circle, and chose to dive towards the factory from the south.
The soldiers from the anti-aircraft artillery positions and the fighter battalion were all deployed in the north of the factory, watching the enemy planes dive from the south. Due to the obstruction of the factory, they could not shoot, so they could only watch the bombs falling from the air hit the factory again.
Rudel knew that the Soviet army deployed air defense firepower on the north side of the factory, so he led two other aircraft to try his best to avoid attacking from the north to avoid the ground's air defense firepower.
Sokov, who was staying in the basement, frowned when he heard the rumbling and explosions coming from his head. He picked up the phone and asked Brisky: "Comrade Captain, what are our air defense firepower doing? Why are the enemy bombs constantly landing on our heads and exploding?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Brisky replied with a bitter face: "The enemy seemed to have noticed our deployment. In order to avoid being hit by our ground air defense fire, enemy planes tried their best to avoid the north when they dropped bombs."
"Cunning Germans," Sokov cursed hatefully, put down his phone and said to Zinchenko, who was sitting in front of him: "After we shot down an aircraft, we had already noticed that we had deployed air defense firepower in the north of the factory that could threaten them. Therefore, they chose to drop bombs from several other directions, so that our air defense firepower could only stare at it."
After hearing this, Zinchenko and the others couldn't help looking at each other. After a long time, he asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, what should we do? You must know that if we let the enemy planes continue to bomb, even if our factory is strong, it will sooner or later. Once the factory is blown down, the tank assembly work will have to be stopped."
"Comrade Deputy Director," Cousto coughed gently and said a little embarrassedly: "In fact, even if the German bombing cannot collapse the factory, our assembly work will have already stopped."
"What, the assembly work has stopped?" Zinchenko was shocked when he heard Cousto's words: "When did this happen? Why didn't you report it to the factory?"
"Yesterday, the factory was bombarded, all the walls on the north side of the factory were blown up, and the driving tracks were also blown off two places." Cousto reported with a red face: "Driving cannot be used, we can use native methods to lift the tank's turret. However, the German shelling caused a large amount of bricks and rubble to accumulate on the assembly line. It will take at least one week to clean it all."
Speaking of this, Cousto couldn't help but look up at the top, and then continued: "The German bombing will make more rubble piled up on the assembly line, making our cleaning work more difficult."
When Cousto reported the production work to Zinchenko, Sokov was thinking in his mind that the enemy plane changed the direction of the attack, making the air defense position deployed on the north side of the factory seem to be useless. Even if he wanted to change the direction now, it was not realistic. If the enemy plane discovered soldiers moving on the ground, as long as he threw two bombs down, it would inevitably cause huge casualties. Because he was too devoted, he didn't hear Ballshaq's call.
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Balshak saw that he was already absent-minded after seeing him screaming twice, so he quickly raised his voice and called again. Seeing Sokov's gaze turned to him, he couldn't wait to ask: "What should we do if we fighters who are air defense? Let them retreat and hide?"
When Sokov heard Ballshak say this, he almost instinctively wanted to give orders to withdraw the soldiers of the fighter battalion. But when he spoke, he swallowed it back. He said to Ballshak: "Major, according to the confession of the German prisoners, the enemy will definitely bombard us indiscriminately. It is absolutely impossible to send only four bombers. Therefore, the soldiers cannot be withdrawn for the time being."
"If the Germans bombard us," Zinchenko couldn't help but interrupt, "they could not stop them just by just a few anti-aircraft guns and more than a hundred rifles. Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, if possible, I hope you can report to the Army Command and ask the superiors to dispatch planes to assist in the war."
"Okay, Deputy Director." Sokov thought for a moment about Zinchenko's proposal, then nodded and agreed: "I'll call the Group Army Command again, hoping that they can find a way to provide us with air support."
After connecting to the Army Headquarters, Cui Kov personally answered the phone. He asked to the microphone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, are you doing anything?"
"Comrade Commander," although Sokov had hit a nail in front of Cuikov a few hours ago, in order to better defend the assembly workshop, he had to bite the bullet and say: "Based on the information we have, the enemy is about to bombard us, because I beg you whether you can contact the Front Command and ask the Air Force to send planes to support us and drive the enemy bombers away from the factory."
"Let the Air Force assist in the war?" Seeing Sokov submitting the same application for the second time, he did not return to the absolute side, but asked tentatively: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, can't you think of any way to deal with the German plane?"
"Comrade Commander, we arranged an air defense fire network composed of infantry on the north side of the factory, and successfully shot down an enemy plane in the battle just now." Sokov said to the microphone: "Now the enemy planes have learned their lessons and have dived bombs from positions where our air defense fire cannot be used. Now there are only three enemy planes, which has already made us overwhelmed. If more enemy planes fly over, I am worried..."
"Okay, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Cuikov guessed from Sokov's report that he might be really powerless now. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "I immediately contact the Front Command and requested that they send planes to drive away the enemy planes above the factory."
…………
When Cuikov was talking to Sokov, Chief of Staff Krelov stood aside, and he vaguely heard the content of the conversation between the two. As soon as Cuikov put down the phone, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, are you really going to call the Front Command?"
"If we let the Germans bomb the Red October tractor factory be indifferent, the enemy may occupy an offensive starting point in the factory." Cuikov looked at Krelov and said, "Our command is only two or three kilometers away from the factory. Once the enemy occupies the entire factory, our command will be exposed to the enemy, and then we may be driven into the Volga River by the enemy."
"But," Krelov understood the truth that Cuikov said, but he was worried that Cuikov's request would be rejected by the commander of the front army, Yeliaoméko, and asked nervously: "If the superiors do not agree to send the air force, what should we do?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, we can only try our luck." Cui Kefu said with a wry smile: "If my request was rejected by Commander Yeliaumko, I would contact Major General Heliujin Air Force of the 8th Air Force in private. He had a good relationship with me. I would like to ask him to dispatch a squadron, but there should be no big problem."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Cui Kev had made up his mind, Krelov stopped persuading him, but nodded and said, "I will immediately order someone to call you from the Front Command."
After the phone was connected, Cui Kefu took the microphone from the communications director and said nervously to the microphone: "I am Cui Kefu, the commander of the 62nd Army."
"It's Cuikov." Khrushchev's voice came from the receiver. He asked anxiously: "We see the city's fires soaring into the sky. The battle between you and the enemy must be very fierce, right? How about it, can you defend the city?"
Faced with Khrushchev's question, Cui Kov didn't know how to answer for a while. He thought for a while before he replied with a firm expression: "Military Comrade, if the Germans want to occupy the city, they can only step in on our bodies. Even if there is one soldier left, we will continue to fight with the enemy."
"Very good, Comrade Cui Khov, you said very well." Khrushchev said with satisfaction: "We must have this fearless revolutionary spirit and heroism in order to completely defeat the invaders." After saying this cliché, he remembered that Cui Khov would not call for no reason, and quickly added, "Is there anything I can serve you?"
"Military Comrade," Cuikov heard Khrushchev's question and hurriedly said, "The enemy is about to carry out intensive bombing on the assembly workshop of the Red October Tractor Factory. You know, we are seriously lacking air defense firepower. In order to avoid the factory being bombed into ruins by enemy planes, I ask the Front Command to send air force support to drive away the enemy planes above the factory."
After listening to Cui Kov's request, Khrushchev asked back: "Comrade Cui Kov, if I remember correctly, the troops that stood firm in the Red October Tractor Factory are Major General Guriyev's 39th Guard Division?"
"Yes, comrade of the military committee." Cuikov nodded and replied, "In addition to General Guriyev's Guard Division, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov is currently leading a battalion and is sticking to the assembly workshop."
"What, what did you say?" Khrushchev asked in surprise: "Comrade Cuikov, who did you just say to lead the troops to stick to the assembly workshop?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Cuikov knew that Khrushchev and the others knew Sokov, so he deliberately mentioned his name. At this moment, he heard Khrushchev being asked, and answered truthfully, "It is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade."
"Hehe, how could it be him?" Khrushchev couldn't help but say with annoyance when he learned that Sokov personally led his people to stand in the assembly workshop: "Isn't he still injured, how could he send him to such a dangerous place?"
"Comrade of the Military Commission, it was decided by Lieutenant Colonel Sokov himself." Cui Kov deliberately pretended to be innocent and said, "It was only after the troops entered the assembly workshop that I realized that Lieutenant Colonel Sokov was led by himself. In this case, I can't drive him back, right? Doing so will affect the morale of our army."
"I know, Comrade Cuikov." Khrushchev said unhappily: "I will discuss with the commander immediately and find a way to send a plane to the Red October Tractor Factory." After putting down the phone, Khrushchev said to Yelemenko, who was sitting opposite him, "Comrade Commander, Cuikov just called and said that according to reliable information, the enemy plane was about to bomb the assembly workshop of the Red October Tractor Factory. Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, led a battalion and stood there."
"Hehe, what's going on?" Yelyemko learned that Sokov led his troops to stand in the assembly workshop, and responded to Khrushchev's reaction when he heard the news: "He should be injured, how could he stay in such a dangerous place?"
"Comrade Commander, where should Lieutenant Colonel Sokov stay? This matter will be discussed later." Khrushchev said to Yelemenko with some anxiety: "The most urgent task now is to send planes to the Red October Tractor Factory and drive away all the enemy planes in the bombing plant."
Whether it was Khrushchev or Yelemenko, both knew that Stalin was very interested in Sokov. If such a commander known to the Supreme Commander himself died because of his negligence, he would probably cause unnecessary trouble for himself. Thinking of this, Yelemenko picked up the phone on the table and directly called the headquarters of the 8th Air Force Army, notified Major General of the Air Force, and asked him to send an airplane to the Red October Tractor Factory immediately.
Heliujin heard that Yeliaomenko was very anxious when he issued the order, and immediately realized that the matter was urgent. As soon as he put down the phone, he called his chief of staff and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the superiors ordered us to send planes to support the Red October Tractor Factory. Which flight regiment is still on standby?"
The Chief of Staff thought for a while and replied: "The day before yesterday, the 437th Flight Regiment has arrived a new flight squadron. I think they can be sent to the Red October Tractor Factory."
"What?" Heliujin was shocked when he heard the Chief of Staff say this. "Are you talking about the female flight squadron?" Seeing the Chief of Staff nodding to show his affirmation, he immediately waved his hand and said, "No, no, they are all flying Jacques-1 aircraft, and they are probably not the enemy's opponents."
"Comrade Commander." The Chief of Staff reminded Heliujin: "But we have no flight squadron to use except them."
Chapter completed!