"I'll ask you, have you asked for a few more tanks from Director Peter?" Perhaps because he was worried that Sokov would deny it, Cuikov also emphasized specifically: "Don't try to deny it, I have confirmed this from Director Peter."
Sokov thought to himself, you have confirmed the news and asked me what I do. Isn’t this an unnecessary move? However, considering that Cui Kov is his superior, he still answered respectfully: “Yes, Comrade Commander. I did ask Director Peter for several tanks to strengthen the defense of the workers’ new village.”
When he learned that Sokov had used the tanks in the workers' new village, Cuikov couldn't get angry at him anymore, but said indignantly: "Col. Bere's tank brigade was bombarded and bombed by the enemy in the battle to defend the Derrensky Tractor Factory. The tanks of the entire brigade suffered heavy losses. Now they only have less than ten tanks left. I originally planned to let Director Peter use the tanks produced today to supplement Peter's tank brigade, but Director Peter told me that all the tanks were handed over to you."
After Cui Kov's explanation, Sokov finally knew why Cui Kov got angry at him for no reason. It turned out that he took the lead and took away all the tanks that were ready to replenish Colonel Bere in advance. However, Cui Kov got angry at himself for this matter, which still made Sokov a little confused: "Comrade Commander, please be honest. The Derrensky Tractor Factory is now the largest tank production factory in my country, and the technicians and skilled workers who had withdrawn from the Kharkov Machinery Factory were allocated to this factory. They should have the ability to provide the tanks needed for Colonel Berere."
"If I could get the tanks I needed in the Derzhinsky factory, would I get such a big fire?" Cuikov said angrily: "The enemy has rushed into the factory, and the production in the factory has all stopped. The workers are picking up weapons and fighting side by side with our soldiers."
Sokov was afraid that Cui Kov would take a whim and ordered himself to hand over these tanks, so he quickly gave Cui Kov a shot: "Comrade Commander, there are too few troops I can use to stick to the workers' new village, and there are also lack of anti-tank weapons. If you take these tanks away, it will be difficult for us to stop the enemy from advancing to the factory area. Once the enemy occupy the Red October factory, it can attack the Barrier Factory and the Derrensky workers from the south. It is hard to say whether they can defend those two factories at that time."
Cuikov really wanted to transfer all the tanks in Sokov's hands to the Derzhinsky factory. No matter what, it was the largest tank production plant in the Soviet Union. Once it was lost, the consequences would be unimaginable. But when he heard Sokov complaining, he couldn't help but hesitate. He knew very well that once the German army occupied the Red October factory, he could launch an attack from the south and attack the Barrier Factory and the Derzhinsky factory with the enemy in the west. At that time, the defenders of the two factories would be under greater pressure.
"Okay," Cuikov decided to not transfer the tanks from Sokov for the time being, but to remind him: "Col. Sokov, you must assure me that under no circumstances will the enemy not be allowed to occupy the Red October factory."
"I promise you, Comrade Commander." Hearing that Cuikov did not take away the tanks from him for the time being, Sokov put down the huge rock in his heart and quickly replied: "As long as we still have a soldier alive, we will never let the enemy occupy the factory."
The bold words have been expressed, but Sokov has no confidence in whether he can defend the workers' new village and the Red October factory. After all, compared with the enemy, he is at an absolute disadvantage in terms of military strength and equipment.
The shelling outside stopped at some point, and the German infantry again charged towards the workers' village under the cover of tanks. The commanders and fighters of the 122nd Regiment had just experience and did not shoot early to expose their hiding place. Instead, they waited until the enemy approached, and then they shot decisively and knocked down the infantry following the tank in groups.
After the German tanks discovered the fire point in the building, they immediately stopped advancing, turned the gun mouth, and bombarded the exposed fire point. After the fire point was eliminated by the artillery fire, the infantry rushed in and occupied it.
If it were the previous defensive tactics, the buildings that had destroyed firepower points would be soon occupied by German infantry. When the nearby Soviet commanders and soldiers saw a German rushing in to support the building, they immediately rushed over through the sewer to support it.
The German soldiers rushing into the building were shooting at the defenders on the second floor and trying to rush upstairs. At this moment, the commanders and soldiers who rushed to reinforce appeared behind them in a daze, smashing them with grenades, which immediately burst into screams. After the explosion was over, the soldiers rushed into the smoke and replenished guns at the enemies who had not yet died.
Sokov stood at the window of the observation center, raised his telescope and looked at the fierce battle area. He saw that the enemy rushed into the building and fled out in a mess. Before he could run far, he was shot down by the warriors who reappeared at the window. Seeing this situation, Sokov nodded slightly. He felt that his decision to use the sewer to connect all the defensive positions could be regarded as a stroke of genius.
Because the commanders and fighters who were standing in the building did not have long-range anti-tank weapons, and the enemy tanks were surrounded by German infantry, the anti-tank hands could not blow up the tanks, so they could only watch the tank guns firing towards one window after another.
Fortunately, this phenomenon did not last long, and the tank team commanded by Agafon appeared on the battlefield. The new tank driven by Agafon and another tank team formed by a T-34 quickly passed through the central square and rushed towards the German tank that was firing into the building. The other four tanks were divided into two left and right combat teams, detouring from the streets on both sides, preparing to cut off the enemy's retreat.
Seeing Soviet tanks appearing on the battlefield, the German tanks stopped shelling the buildings, quickly turned the guns and fired at Agafon's tank team. Armor-piercing bombs hit the turret of the new tank, and without exception became jumps. The track of another T-34 was blown off by the shells. The tank driver suddenly stepped on the brakes, lost one side of the tracks, and immediately turned around quickly on the spot.
Agafon did not notice that his companion's tank was shot and continued to rush forward. The tank arrived at the west side of the square and stopped, aiming at the German tank parked on the street and began to shoot. The nearest tank was the first to be hit. The shell was penetrated by an armor-piercing projectile. Then the ammunition in the car exploded. The flames rushed out from the open turret entrance and the driver's lookout, and suddenly turned the German soldiers hiding nearby into firemen.
Chapter completed!