Lemusev looked the sergeant up and down, and saw bandages wrapped around his head and arms, and blood was oozing out of it, and asked with concern: "Comrade Sergeant, are you injured?"
The Sgt. grinned and tried to squeeze a smile on his face: "Comrade Captain, have you seen that all of us have more or less injured? My injuries are relatively mild compared to them."
Hearing the sergeant say this, Lemusev glanced at the other soldiers and saw that it was indeed everyone was injured. Judging from the expressions on everyone's faces, the injuries on their bodies would not be pretended. Lemusev thought to himself: No matter how stupid the Germans are, they would not send a group of wounded soldiers to sneak in as internal supporters. Once the fight starts, their subordinates can easily eliminate all the wounded soldiers.
Lemusev had already believed in his heart that these were all his own people, so he waved his hand to lower his gun. However, for the sake of safety, he turned to face the sergeant and continued to question: "Comrade Sergeant, you said you are from the 42nd Guards Regiment, but as far as I know, the regiment evacuated this area after the failure to attack the station. Since the troops have been withdrawn, why are you still here?"
"Comrade Captain, you are right. The main force of the 42nd Guards Regiment has indeed retreated." Seeing that Lemusef questioned himself, the sergeant quickly stepped forward and said, "But the ones who had been removed were only serious injuries. After we lost contact with the main force, we used one person or two or three people in a group. In the booth of the railway boardroom, in the basement of the station, behind the platform line, and even under the carriage, we continued to hold on and fight, making it impossible for the Germans to completely occupy the entire station."
Although it is now possible to confirm that the soldiers standing in front of him are all their own people, Lemusev is still continuing to question: "Why did you suddenly appear here?"
"We heard gunfire and explosions coming from the station building," the sergeant replied, "I guess it must be our people who launched another attack on the station, so I rushed over immediately. Unfortunately, we were still one step late, and the enemy has been repelled by you."
"Captain Lemusev," just as Lemusev was planning to find a health officer and reband the wounds of the Guards soldiers, he heard the voice of the second battalion commander: "I suspect they are spies sent by the Germans, and they should be arrested immediately and handed over to the comrades of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for screening." After that, he waved his head to the subordinates behind him and signaled them to arrest all the soldiers.
"Comrade Major," Lemusev saw that the second battalion commander was indiscriminate, and was about to seize the soldiers who had just escaped from the enemy's siege. He quickly reached out to block the sailors of the second battalion and said sternly to the second battalion commander: "Can't you see that they are our own comrades?"
"Captain Lemusev," said the second battalion commander with some anger when he saw Lemusev blocking his way, "All Guard soldiers are lies. Think carefully, have you found traces of the Guards after we crossed the river and entered Soviet Street and Lenin Street? A guard division of tens of thousands of people disappeared just like this? I suspect that they have surrendered to the Germans and have become shameful traitors..."
The second battalion commander's hurtful words angered the guard soldiers who had just escaped. The sergeant picked up the submachine gun in his hand, aimed at the second battalion commander who was making a fuss, and said sternly: "Shut up, I don't allow you to insult the honor of our guards. Even if we fight to the last person, we will never surrender to the Germans."
Seeing the sergeant lifting his gun, the other guard soldiers did not dare to show weakness, and pointed their weapons at the second battalion commander. The sailors beside the second battalion commander hurriedly raised their guns to aim at the guard soldiers. The sailors of the first battalion, as they did not receive Lemusev's order, just stood aside and watched the tense sides stare at them.
The words of the second battalion commander aroused Lemusev's thoughts. He thought to himself: The second battalion commander made sense. Before crossing the river, the brigade commander told us that between the Charica River and Mamayev, there was a guard division of tens of thousands of people commanded by General Rodimtev, who would fight side by side with him. Then the troops had entered the city continuously, but they did not hear any news about the guard division, as if they had disappeared from the world. What was going on with this small guard division that emerged from the station at this moment? We still need to observe carefully.
When Lemusev came to his senses, he found that the two groups of people in front and behind him were actually at the point of gunfire, and he quickly said sternly: "What are you all doing? How can you point the gun at your comrades? Put it down quickly, put it down."
When the guard soldiers heard Lemusev say this, they all lowered their guns. The sailors of the Second Battalion did not receive the orders of the Second Battalion Commander, they still felt that they had not put down their guns, but everyone turned their attention to the Second Battalion Commander, waiting for the orders he gave.
When the second battalion commander heard Lemusev say this, he waved his hand reluctantly and ordered his subordinates: "Put down all the guns." After that, he turned around and left. The sailors were stunned for a moment and followed them away.
"Comrade Sergeant, you are wronged." After Lemusev and the second battalion commander walked away, he held the sergeant's hand and said to him: "I'll ask the sanitary to deal with your injuries, then eat something, and then retreat to the back to rest."
"Comrade Captain, thank you." The sergeant stood there without moving his nest. He said gratefully: "If you didn't help us, maybe we would be really arrested as deserters or traitors. If you don't object, we are willing to follow you!"
Lemusev hesitated for a moment when the Guards sergeant said, "Comrade Sergeant, is this your opinion alone, or your entire opinion?"
"Is this still necessary? Of course it is the opinion of all of us." After the sergeant said that, he turned his head and asked the other comrades standing not far away: "You guys say, am I right?"
"That's right, the Sergeant is right. We are willing to follow you to continue to attack the Germans!"
"Comrade Captain, accept us!"
“…”
As soon as the sergeant finished speaking, the other guard soldiers agreed.
"Okay, comrades, please be quiet!" Lemusev raised his hand and pressed down, saying to the guards: "Since you are willing to join, I welcome you on behalf of all the commanders and soldiers of the First Battalion. But we will leave here soon. Please hurry up and take a break, eat something, and then we will set off."
"Comrade Captain," the sergeant couldn't help but show a shocked expression on his face when he heard that the troops were about to move. He asked tentatively: "I want to ask, where will we move next?"
Lemusev pointed at the nail making factory not far away and said, "In that building, the first company of our battalion is stationed. I will lead the soldiers of the second company and the third company to meet with them later."
"What about here?" The sergeant asked in a panic when he learned that the troops were going to move to nearby buildings: "Do we just give the station building to the Germans?"
"How could this happen? The Second Battalion is here to take over the defense of our battalion." Lemusev shook his head and said, "After the defense is handed over, our battalion has only two choices. One is to withdraw and rest, and the other is to transfer to the factory building of the nail factory to continue fighting against the enemy. In order to seize this station building, many of our good comrades have sacrificed here. Let us retreat like this. I guess the soldiers will not agree. Therefore, I plan to move to a new position and continue fighting."
After the Second Battalion took over the defense of the station building, the Second Battalion Commander immediately ordered people to lay a telephone line to the brigade commander, and then proudly reported to the brigade commander Tanasolov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, our battalion is building a defense line in the station building and ready to smash the attack launched by the enemy at any time."
Tanasolov had always had a good impression of the second battalion commander. When he heard him say this, he quickly said with praise: "Good, comrade Major. As long as you can defend the station, the Germans' attempt to divide our army's defense will break down. When our counterattack begins, they will be beaten to pieces. At that time, I will definitely ask for credit from your superiors."
For the Russians who value honor, they know even if they sacrifice their lives in order to get a medal. At this moment, the second battalion commander was overjoyed when he heard Tanasolov say that he wanted to be aware of his situation. He knew very well that as long as he guarded the station building, a medal would soon be hung on his chest.
The second battalion commander quickly expressed his opinion to Tanasolov, who valued him, and said: "Comrade Brigade Commander, please rest assured that even if we sacrifice all of us, we will never take a step back. Only by stepping on our bodies can the enemy break into the station building."
Don't see the second battalion commander all said clichés, but Tanasolov felt particularly helpful in his ears: "Okay, comrade Major, I will wait for your good news."
Shortly after the Second Battalion replaced the defense of the First Battalion, Krimov returned to the Brigade Command with Vrasov. When Tanasolov saw Krimov's appearance, he asked in surprise: "Captain, why are you here? Are you having any latest instructions to bring to us?"
"Hello, comrade Colonel!" Krimov raised his hand to salute Tanasolov, and said dryly: "Comrade Commander sent me to the 92nd Infantry Brigade to serve as a liaison officer to learn about your attack."
"Captain, the political commissar and I are from the army, and the sailors in the brigade do not obey our command very much." After Tanasolov called Krimov to sit down, he began to complain to him: "For example, the First Battalion, he ignored the order to establish a defensive position in the brigade headquarters and secretly launched an attack on the station..."
"Comrade Colonel, I want to correct you a little." Krimov heard Tanasolov's first battalion and quickly raised his hand to interrupt his words: "The first battalion launched an attack on the station, not a private action without any instructions, but an order I gave to them on behalf of the Army Command."
When Tanasolov heard this, his face showed an embarrassing expression: "Captain, even if you can issue combat orders to the troops below on behalf of the Army Command, you should still say it to us so that we can know. Comrade Political Commissar, are you right about me?"
"Captain Krimov," Andreyev, who was sitting aside, nodded, and then said, "Comrade Brigade Commander is right. Even if you are a representative from the Army Command, you must always communicate with us in advance about sending troops to attack the station. So that we can know what we want to do, so that we will not misunderstand that the First Battalion is acting without asking for instructions."
This time, it was Krimov's turn to arrive and was embarrassed: "I'm sorry, Colonel Tanasolov. I was not careful. I wanted to communicate with you before the troops attacked. But in order to understand the situation of attacking the station building in time, I stayed there to watch the battle, and forgot to inform you of the first battalion's attack."
Seeing that Krimov took the initiative to admit his mistake to him, Tanasolov couldn't say anything else. After all, in the Soviet army, this kind of mutual discomfort was too common, so he could only pretend to be generous: "Comrade Captain, forget it this time. If there is a similar situation next time, please be sure to notify us in time."
"Don't worry, comrade Colonel, there will be no next time." In order to resolve the embarrassment in front of you, Krimov changed the topic in time: "Col. Tanasolov, I want to ask, after you arrive here, will there be news about the 13th Guard Division?"
"General Rodimtev's 13th Guard Division?" After seeing Krimov nod, Tanasolov shook his head and said, "No, after our brigade arrived here, we did not receive any news about the 13th Guard Division. The troops of tens of thousands of people seemed to disappear in an instant."
"It is not that tens of thousands of people disappeared at the same time," Krimov explained: "The 39th Guards Regiment of the division is now stationed on the right wing of Mamayev's hill, and the regiment has more than 2,000 troops. General Rodimtev, with the 34th and 42nd Guards Regiments, and the division's direct troops, were stationed in this area. However, after the enemy rushed into the city, they suddenly lost their whereabouts, as if they had suddenly disappeared."
Tanasolov waited for Krimov to finish his words and asked tentatively: "Captain Krimov, do you think they have quietly left the city and crossed the river to the east bank of the Volga River?"
"This is impossible. If a few thousand troops want to cross the river, it is not that easy." Krimov shook his head and said, "If you don't say anything else, even if the ships needed to cross the river are not allowed to do so without the orders of the Army Command."
Andreyev then asked, "Can you contact General Rodimtev?"
"Not contact," Krimov shook his head, "as Colonel Tanasolov just said, they seemed to have disappeared out of thin air."
"What the hell is going on?" Everyone in the command center fell into deep thought.