When Sokov walked out of the factory, he saw a team in the distance, trotting towards his location. Sokov's sharp eyes immediately saw that the people at the front of the team were Belkin and Vanya.
.Seeing the political commissar whom he had not seen for many days, Sokov's heart was filled with joy. Just when he wanted to speed up to meet him, something unexpected happened.
A German bomber got rid of the entanglement of the Soviet fighter jets and dived towards the advancing troops, dropping bombs and strafing. The advancing troops were suddenly enveloped in gunpowder smoke.
Seeing his troops being bombed and strafed by enemy planes, Sokov's heart felt as if someone had violently tugged him. He looked at the smoke-filled place and shouted: "Political Commissar! First Battalion."
Long!" he yelled as he ran forward.
Briski, who was following behind, saw another German bomber diving in his direction, and quickly shouted: "Comrade Brigadier, it's dangerous, get down!" He rushed to Soko as quickly as possible.
Next to her husband, she hugged the other person's shoulders and used all her strength to push him to the ground. As soon as the two of them lay down, the battle dropped by the enemy plane exploded seven or eight meters away, and the dust raised was scattered.
The two of them were one.
Briski looked up at the sky and saw that the enemy plane had already lifted up again and was flying to other places. Then he stood up, pulled Sokov up as well, and said in a reproachful tone: "Comrade Brigadier, you didn't
Did you see any enemy planes in the sky? How could you take such a risk?"
When Sokov was crushed by Briskey, his arms and legs suffered varying degrees of contusions. However, he was worried about the safety of Belkin and Vanya, and did not care about his own injuries, so he urged Brischi: "
Hurry up and see the political commissar and the first battalion commander to see how they are doing?"
"Don't worry, comrade brigade commander. The political commissar and the first battalion commander are all fine!" The smoke in the distance dissipated, allowing Briski to see the people there clearly. After looking at it for a while, he said in surprise: "Look
, they are coming towards us."
Looking in the direction of Briski's finger, Sokov saw the familiar Belkin and Vanya, stumbling out of the smoke. Sokov was eager to know whether the two were injured, so he completely
Regardless of the possibility that the enemy plane in the sky would swoop down again, he walked towards Belkin and his companions in three steps and two steps at a time.
"Comrade Brigadier!" "Comrade Political Commissar!"
Sokov and Belkin held each other's hands, thinking that everyone had just been on the verge of death. They couldn't help but sigh with emotion when they met at this moment: "Comrade Political Commissar, are you not injured?"
"No." Belkin shook his head and said, "The bombs dropped by the enemy are still far away from me." He turned to look at the troops approaching one after another, and added with a serious expression, "But we still suffered some casualties.
"
"First battalion commander," Sokov let go of Belkin's hand, shook Vanya's hand again, and asked with concern: "You are not injured, are you? How many casualties were there in the battalion?"
"The specific data haven't been calculated yet." Vanya said solemnly: "I estimate there were at least thirty casualties."
"Brigade commander, political commissar." Seeing that Sokov was actually standing in the open talking to Belkin and the others, Briski quickly came over and urged: "It's too dangerous here. Let's go back to the basement."
"Yes, Comrade Political Commissar." After Briski's reminder, Sokov immediately realized that this was not the place to talk. If another enemy plane came and dropped two bombs or swept a shuttle, the 73rd Infantry Brigade would be
About to lose half of the important commanders: "Let's go to the basement."
In order to prevent a possible German attack, Vanya immediately sent a company of soldiers into the trenches to assist the fourth battalion and the militia in the defense. The remaining soldiers and all the wounded followed Sokov and the others into the basement.
Asiya, who was treating the wounded, suddenly saw a dozen more wounded, and they all looked familiar, and she couldn't help showing a surprised expression on her face. After staring at the wounded for a while, she recognized one of them.
The sergeant with the head injury was from the 1st Battalion. He quickly grabbed the other man and asked curiously: "Comrade Sergeant, aren't you from the 1st Battalion?"
"Yes, Comrade Asiya." The sergeant also recognized Asiya: "I am from the 1st Battalion, why are you here?"
"I was ordered to come here to take care of the wounded." After Asiya answered the other party's question, she asked: "Comrade Sergeant, why are you here?"
"We were ordered to come here to strengthen the defense." The sergeant replied: "We were bombed by enemy planes on the way, and dozens of people were injured or killed. The wounded who came in with me are all from the first battalion."
"Who is leading the team when you come this time?" Asiya heard that the First Battalion was here to support, and she felt more at ease. She knew that the First Battalion had many fighting backbones and was Sokov's most valued unit. As long as there were
They are here, so there should be no problem guarding the assembly workshop. While helping the sergeant bandage his wounds, she asked tentatively: "Who is leading the team when you come here this time? Is it Captain Vanya?"
The sergeant knew that Asiya was the wife of the brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, so he did not keep this matter a secret from her, but answered truthfully: "Yes, not only is Captain Vanya here, but also the farewell
Political Commissar Erjin is here too!"
"What, the political commissar is here too?" Asiya was stunned for a moment when she heard this, but she quickly returned to normal. While continuing to help the sergeant bandage his wounds, she asked: "There is no need to do politics here.
Propaganda work, what are you doing here, Comrade Political Commissar?"
In response to Asiya's question, the sergeant smiled bitterly and replied with some embarrassment: "Asiya, I don't know about this. As long as we can defeat the enemy, it doesn't matter who commands us."
While Asya was dressing the wounds of the wounded, Sokov held a brief military meeting in his command post to discuss how to fight the next battle.
After Sokov first introduced Belkin and Vanya to Colonel Bely, he then said: "Comrade Colonel, although we have the support of the air force, there are too many enemy aircraft. If we want to control the air superiority on the battlefield, it may not be possible.
It’s too easy. If this happens, your tank battalion may not be able to deploy in a short time.”
Hearing that his tank battalion might not be able to fight for a period of time in the coming battle, Belly did not feel the slightest relief. Instead, he frowned: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I want to ask you, what do you think about your situation?"
Can the existing troops defend the assembly workshop?"
"If the Germans don't send out tanks," Briski said quickly before Sokov could say anything, "we should be able to hold this place."
"Comrade Captain," Bely turned to look at Briski and said with a sneer: "Do you think the Germans will not send out tanks in order to seize this place?"
"It's impossible if the enemy doesn't dispatch tanks." Seeing Brisky's face flushed with shame, Sokov rescued him in time: "We lack anti-tank weapons and can only rely on soldiers holding explosive bags.
Or use anti-tank grenades to rush up and blow up enemy tanks at the risk of your own life."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, I have a suggestion." Seeing that Sokov was also troubled by the enemy's tanks, Beley took the initiative and said: "Although we no longer need to take the initiative to attack the enemy, we can place a few tanks behind the position.
Use it as a fixed turret. You know, our T-34 tank can easily penetrate the armor of the German Panzer III and IV tanks at a distance of 500 meters."
"Comrade Brigadier, this is a good idea." Belkin waited for Bely to finish speaking, and immediately interrupted: "If tanks are used as fixed forts, then we will have anti-tank power, even if the German army dispatches more tanks
, we can also beat them into piles of scrap metal."
"Yes, by using tanks as fixed forts, we are close to the problem of insufficient anti-tank weapons." Seeing that Belgin also supported his opinion, Belei struck while the iron was hot and said: "And the tanks are scattered in different places, and the enemy
Even if planes bomb, it will not be easy to destroy them."
"Two comrades, battalion commanders," seeing that both Bely and Belkin planned to use tanks as fixed forts, Sokov did not immediately express his position, but looked at the other two battalion commanders and asked: "What do you two think?
Like them, do you support the use of tanks as fixed turrets?"
Vanya and Briski looked at each other, then nodded together and agreed in unison.
Seeing that everyone's opinions were unified, Sokov said smoothly: "Since everyone agrees with Colonel Bely's opinion, then ten tanks will be deployed and deployed near the defensive position to be used as a fixed fort."
After hearing Sokov's words, Bely stood up immediately and said impatiently: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I will arrange for the tanks to serve as fixed forts right away."
"Wait a minute, Comrade Colonel." Sokov quickly stopped Bely and said to him: "I haven't finished speaking yet."
After Bely sat down again, Sokov said to everyone: "Comrade commanders, the position that the fourth battalion is currently holding is a trench more than thirty meters away from the factory. There is no anti-gun hole in it. Once it is attacked by the Germans,
If shelled, the soldiers in the trenches will suffer heavy casualties."
"Comrade Brigade Commander," Vanya interjected: "When the enemy starts shelling, I think we can temporarily hide the troops, and then let them re-enter the position after the enemy's shelling ends!"
"First Battalion Commander, you put it lightly." Briski heard Vanya say this and sneered: "In the past, when the factory was intact, we could still let the soldiers take shelter in the factory. Now the factory is under enemy shelling and bombing.
There is only an empty frame and piles of ruins left, where did you let our soldiers hide?"
Briski's words left Vanya speechless. He did not expect that there was not even a decent fortification in the assembly workshop. Therefore, he could only turn his attention to Sokov for help, hoping to get help from him.
useful information.
Seeing everyone's eyes looking at him, Sokov was really dumbfounded. He thought to himself: You are all waiting for me to make my decision. If I leave this brigade in the future, won't you be able to fight?
Sokov held the edge of the table with both hands, stood up and said: "Comrades, commanders, in order to prevent the enemy's shelling from causing excessive casualties to our soldiers holding the position, I am going to ask the soldiers to retreat during the shelling.
Take shelter in the basement."
"What, let the soldiers hide in the basement?" Brisky couldn't help shouting in surprise when he heard what Sokov said: "Comrade Brigadier, the exit of the basement is to the south of the factory, and our defensive position is at the south side of the factory.
To the north. If the enemy infantry secretly approaches our position under the cover of bomb craters and smoke during the shelling, then after the shelling ends, the enemy will have already rushed in before our soldiers have even covered the distance of nearly 100 meters.
Our position..."
"Captain Briski, don't get excited." Belkin knew Sokov well and knew that he must have a detailed plan when he said this. Before Briski could finish speaking, he interrupted him and spoke slowly.
He said: "Let's first listen to what Comrade Brigade Commander said."
Seeing Belkin helping him to speak, Sokov smiled at him and continued: "I plan to dig out several exits on the north side of the basement and use communication trenches to connect them to our defensive positions. When the enemy is shelling, our
Soldiers can retreat into the basement to hide, leaving only a few observation posts to monitor the enemy on the position; after the enemy's shelling ends, our soldiers can re-enter the position along the communication trench."
"The brigade commander's method is good." Seeing that Sokov solved the problem he was worried about in a few words, Vanya couldn't help but said excitedly: "In this way, we don't have to worry about the troops holding the position being attacked by the enemy.
During the shelling, a huge price will be paid."
"Also, we don't need to put too many troops on the position." Sokov continued: "I think it is quite appropriate to send a hundred people at a time."
"One hundred people?" After hearing the number Sokov said, Briski asked hesitantly: "In a trench three to four hundred meters wide, there are only one hundred people? In other words, everyone is responsible.
About four meters wide."
"Yes, Comrade Brigade Commander," Belgin asked worriedly after hearing this: "One hundred people is a bit small. If there are too many enemies attacking, our soldiers will not be able to defend it at all."
"Don't worry, I only put such a small number of troops on the position, fully considering that the enemy will not adopt a dense formation when attacking." Sokov said confidently: "With the weapons in the hands of our soldiers,
The equipment and the firepower network weaved are enough to block the enemy's offensive."
Seeing that Sokov was so confident, Belkin couldn't bear to pour cold water on him. He nodded and agreed: "Okay, comrades, commanders, now that we know what to do next, let's all go back to our respective places.
Let the troops prepare, maybe the enemy will launch a new attack soon."
Briski stood up and walked a few steps towards the door, then stopped and turned to ask Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, who do you plan to entrust to be responsible for digging the exit on the north side of the basement?"
"I plan to leave this matter to Cousteau." Sokov looked at Brischi and said: "Anyway, he is the workshop director here. He is familiar with the structure of the basement and knows where to dig the exit."
"Understood!" Brisky raised his hand and saluted Sokov, turned around and walked out of the command post.
