Due to the urgent military situation, Zhukov, who had been dismissed from his post and sent to Leningrad, was urgently transferred to Moscow to serve as the representative of the Supreme Command of the Western Front...in fact, he was commanding the defense of the entire Moscow.
Therefore, in times of war, talented commanders do not need to worry about removal or transfer. Their career will be promoted by the enemy, because no one can defeat the enemy except these talented commanders.
On the contrary, those officers who have used their fame and reputation in peacetime will show their true colors.
Zhukov did not complain at all about this. When he received the order, he only said: "I need to transfer the most elite troops to Moscow!"
The 333rd Regiment is certainly one of the most elite units.
In terms of training and equipment, the 333rd Regiment can hardly be called "elite" because they are even a mixed army composed of various arms. Some are even equipped with only pistols but no rifles until they are incorporated into mechanized units.
Only then did the situation of the 9th Army change.
However, judging from the record of this unit, they are truly "elite": the breakout from Brest, the beautiful defensive battles and breakout battles on the old border, and the counter-siege in Kiev and the final attack on Ao
Desa.
Every battle is remarkable, and even truly elite ones such as the 5th Airborne Brigade do not have such impressive results.
Therefore, "shooting the first bird", it was a matter of course to mobilize the 333rd Regiment to defend Moscow.
After leaving the affairs of the guerrilla headquarters to Major Varenka, Shulka and others boarded the train to Odessa under the escort of the guard.
As mentioned before, transferring a unit from Kiev requires a big detour. Fortunately, the 333rd Regiment is in Odessa instead of Kiev, which saves a lot of trouble.
So Shulka, Major Gavrilov and the deputy instructor got off the bus directly at the Odessa port.
It was after nine o'clock in the evening, and it was still raining in the sky, but the amount of rain was much lighter.
The three people put on their raincoats and got off the train. They saw darkness all around. Although they could vaguely see people coming and going, there were no lights or flashlights... any light could attract enemy bombers' bombs. Everything was in danger.
It's operating in the dark.
Even in order to avoid the risk of exposure, troops are required to hand over flashlights, lighters, cigarettes and other items before entering the port.
Even Shulka and others were no exception... Several large baskets were piled at the entrance, and the soldiers guarding the door took the trouble to whisper:
"Please hand over your lighter, flashlight, anything that can shine!"
"Put cigarettes here, put lighters here..."
Gavrilov was a little reluctant to part with the two packs of German cigarettes he brought from the front headquarters, so he asked: "The cigarettes don't light up on their own, can I take them with me?"
"No, comrade!" the soldier replied: "If you have a cigarette in your pocket, you will always find a way to light it!"
"Will you give it back to us?" Shulka asked.
"Oh, of course, comrade!" the soldier replied, then took Shulka's cigarette and put it into his pocket naturally.
Seeing Shulka's protesting eyes, the soldier said: "Comrade, you can mark the items, and then we will fly them to Crimea by plane!"
Several soldiers laughed.
Then Shulka realized that this was indeed a stupid question. Now the supplies are all shipped from Crimea, and there is no reason to bring the supplies back to Crimea, which is relatively wealthy, including cigarettes.
Then walking into the entrance, Shulka and others soon discovered that they couldn't even take away rifles, pistols or even raincoats.
"You will be on the ship soon, you don't need raincoats!" said the soldier in charge of collecting the raincoats.
Major Gavrilov complained: "They almost took away our uniforms and let us get on the ship naked!"
"Keep your voice down, Major!" Shulka said, "If they hear it, they might actually do it!"
Then Shulka and Major Gavrilov laughed, but the deputy instructor had no reaction at all.
"Comrade Deputy Instructor!" Shulka couldn't help but asked doubtfully: "Are you always so serious?"
"Any questions?" the deputy instructor asked.
"No, there's no problem!" Shulka was a little embarrassed. This may be the need for his work!
After groping in the dark for a long time, I finally found the location of the 333rd Regiment... It was really not easy to find a unit in the dark. I had to ask people and directions, even though the 333rd Regiment was so...
But I didn’t really know for sure until I asked face to face.
At this time, the 333rd Regiment was all disarmed. In fact, they left their equipment on the front line and were soaked in the rain without wearing raincoats.
Seeing Shulka and others, the soldiers couldn't help shouting excitedly:
"Comrade commander, comrade company commander, we thought you wouldn't be able to catch the ship!"
Shulka joked: "If we can't catch up, you can just mess around!"
"Of course not, Comrade Company Commander!" the actor said: "During the time when you were not in the army, it seemed like we were missing something!"
"Really? Don't think you can fool me, Okunev!" Shulka said: "You were taken away because of your cigarettes, I tell you... mine was taken away too!"
The soldiers burst into laughter.
But Leonyev said: "He is right, comrade company commander. In fact, not only us, but also comrades from other units are asking this!"
"What?" This made Shulka confused: "What are they asking?"
"Ask when you will come back!"
"Yes! Shunikov asked several times in a row!"
"And the third battalion of Walra'am!"
…
"Why do they care about this?" Shulka asked as he found a seat and sat down.
"Because everyone knows you are the 'escape hero'!" The actor laughed: "They think the army is safe only when you are here!"
Shulka couldn't help but laugh when he heard this... Can such a force be called an elite? An elite that defends Moscow?
The deputy instructor stood up at this time, cleared his throat, and then said in a very serious tone: "Comrades, I think I must emphasize one thing. From now on, the 'escape hero' will no longer exist, Comrade Shulka."
He is a 'breakout hero', do you understand?"
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Instructor!"
…
The soldiers answered one after another.
When the deputy instructor sat back, Shulka asked in confusion: "Why, comrade deputy instructor? It's just a nickname!"
"You will know later!" the assistant instructor replied: "It's not just a nickname!"