After the Germans destroyed the armored train that posed a great threat to them, after resting for two hours, they launched a new round of offensive against the positions of the 35th Guards Division.
The 101st Regiment was deployed on the right wing. Although the casualties were similar to those of the two regiments on the left wing, because they were not supplemented by militia troops, there were only more than 300 people left on the position.
Seeing the German tanks appearing in the distance, the commander of the 101st Regiment immediately ordered a battalion commander with a bandage on his head: "Third Battalion Commander, the Germans have dispatched seven tanks. You immediately arrange for a few soldiers to hide in the tank." In the crater in front of the position, wait for the tank to approach and blow it up with anti-tank grenades or cluster grenades.”
When the young battalion commander heard this order from the regiment commander, the corners of his mouth twitched violently. He knew very well that neither anti-tank grenades nor cluster grenades could be thrown too far due to their weight, that is, Said that the soldiers who sent to bomb the tanks were waiting to be killed by German bullets or die together with the German tanks. There was no hope of survival at all. But after hesitating for a while, he still replied resolutely: "I understand, comrade leader, I will make arrangements right away."
The third battalion commander walked out of the headquarters, which was half destroyed by artillery fire, and came to the area where his battalion was holding firm. The soldiers were originally sitting in the trench to rest. When they saw the battalion commander approaching, they stood up one after another and leaned against the trench wall to salute him.
After the continuous battles of the third battalion, there were only more than 80 people left, less than the strength of a company. To blow up the seven approaching German tanks, at least double the number of men would have to be dispatched, which meant that another fourteen men would have to be reduced from the existing strength.
The third battalion commander stopped and said in a voice that everyone could hear: "Comrades, the enemy tanks are rushing towards us. I need fourteen people to hide in the crater outside. Once the tanks get close, they will Blow it up with anti-tank grenades or cluster grenades. Who among you would like to go on this mission?"
After a brief silence, more than 20 soldiers immediately took a step forward and expressed their willingness to carry out this near-death mission. Seeing these soldiers, the third battalion commander's eyes were moist. He sniffed, walked over and picked out fourteen soldiers, and then said to the rest of the soldiers with red eyes: "You stay here first until they fail to complete the task." , you go up again.”
Fourteen soldiers climbed out of the trench holding anti-tank grenades or cluster grenades, and crawled to the crater in front of the position to hide. According to their thinking, as long as they wait until the German tanks pass by, they can just stand up and throw grenades or grenades to blow up the tanks.
However, after suffering several losses from the Soviet army, the German army became smarter. They knew that the Soviet army in this defensive position did not have long-range anti-tank weapons, so the tanks moved very slowly to ensure that the infantry protecting them could follow them. superior. When the first German tank approached the bomb crater where the Soviet soldiers were hiding, the soldier hiding inside suddenly stood up and raised the anti-tank grenade in his hand. Just as he was about to throw it out, the German soldiers following the car The infantry opened fire, killing the warrior who attempted to drop the bomb.
Finding a Soviet anti-tank man hiding in the crater, the infantry quickened their pace, passed over the slow-moving tanks, and carefully searched the crater ahead. Once the Soviet soldiers hiding inside were discovered, they were shot immediately. In just a few minutes, eight soldiers were killed in the crater by German infantry.
Seeing their comrades dying under the enemy's gunfire one after another, the commanders and soldiers on the position became anxious. The third battalion commander came to a light machine gun and said to the machine gunner: "Machine gun, kill those damn German devils."
The machine gunner nodded, immediately pulled the trigger, and fired at the searching German soldiers. Several unlucky German soldiers were hit by bullets and spiraled into the crater on the side. When the German tanks discovered the machine gun fire on the Soviet position, they immediately stopped and turned their muzzles to fire there. Although the shot missed, the mud stirred up by the explosion still scattered the third battalion commander and the machine gunner.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the commander of the third battalion quickly said to the machine gunner: "No, the enemy has discovered your position and immediately moved to a new shooting position."
The machine gunner put away the machine gun, bent over and ran a few steps along the trench. The shooting position just now was hit by a shell fired by another tank. A stream of mud mixed with countless bullet casings rose into the sky, and when it fell, it made the helmets of nearby soldiers clank.
While the attention of the German tanks and infantry was attracted by the machine guns on the position, a soldier not far from the tank suddenly jumped out of the crater and threw himself into the bottom of a nearby tank. After a loud bang, the tank body jumped on the spot, and then puffs of black smoke came out from where it lay. The two tank crews, who were on fire, helped each other climb out of the open turret, stumbling. and ran towards the back.
When the remaining four soldiers saw that their comrades had successfully blown up a German tank, they all jumped out of the bomb crater where they were hiding, desperately pounced on the German tanks not far away, and perished with them. But in the end, only one soldier succeeded, and the other three soldiers fell under the gunfire of the German infantry hiding behind the tank.
Two of the seven tanks were destroyed. In order to prevent further destruction, the remaining five accelerated their speed, abandoned the infantry covering them, and rushed towards the Soviet position.
Looking at the tanks rushing over, the soldiers who had just been brushed off did not wait for the third battalion commander's order, strapped grenades on themselves, and crawled out of the trenches one after another, so the German tanks that were speeding up climbed away.
When the third battalion commander saw his soldiers crawling towards the German tanks again, he quickly shouted to the machine gunner on the side: "Fire with the machine gun and eliminate the infantry behind the tanks." As the order was given, the machine gunner set up the machine gun. , shooting at the infantry behind the tank so that his comrades could successfully approach the German tank.
The moving German tank discovered that the machine gun on the position had come back to life, posing considerable danger to the infantry following it. It quickly used the vehicle-mounted machine gun to suppress the Soviet firepower. Under the intensive firepower of the German army, the Soviet machine gunner was shot and fell next to the machine gun before he had finished firing a bullet tray.
Seeing the sacrifice of the machine gunner, the third battalion commander quickly pulled the machine gun out from under him, mounted it on the mound next to him, and continued to shoot at the German infantry behind the tank. Seeing that the machine gun on the position was silent for only a moment, the German tank started firing again. It quickly stopped and fired a shot at the position of the third battalion commander.
The shell landed behind the trench and exploded. The flying shrapnel embedded itself in the back of the third battalion commander. He endured the pain and after firing the last bullet in the shell tray, his body tilted and he fell in the trench. Thanks to the support of machine gun fire, the soldiers who climbed out of the trenches this time approached the German tanks and died with them with only two sacrifices.
The German tanks were blown up and the German infantry lost their support. They suddenly lost the courage to continue advancing and retreated from the Soviet positions.
Seeing the German troops retreating, the commanders and fighters of the third battalion who stood in this area did not cheer. Although the battle that had just ended was not very intense, they paid a huge price. Not only did the battalion commander die, but more than twenty soldiers were sacrificed in order to blow up the German tanks. In the end, only fifty people were left in the whole battalion.
After the regiment leader learned that the Third Battalion had suffered heavy losses, he felt that with his current strength, as long as the Germans made another such attack, his position would be breached. Therefore, he called Glazkov and asked him for instructions: "Comrade Division Commander, there are only more than 200 people left in our regiment, and we lack anti-tank weapons. Once the German army launches another attack, we will not be able to defend it at all." of."
After hearing the report from the commander of the 101st Regiment, Glazkov glanced at Zalitzman beside him. He was determined to let the other party take the remaining militia company to reinforce the 101st Regiment. But then I thought about it, this militia force of more than a hundred people had little combat effectiveness. Even if they were sent to the defense area of the 101st Regiment, it would be difficult to hold their position. Anyway, Commander Chuikov has informed himself that if he cannot hold his position, he can withdraw with his troops to Mamayev Heights. Thinking of this, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Colonel, since the German attack has been temporarily repelled by you, you should immediately lead the troops to move in the direction of Mamayev Heights."
"What?!" After hearing Glazkov's order, the commander of the 101st Regiment was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "Comrade Division Commander, we are six or seven kilometers away from Mamayev Heights. If we are retreating during the retreat, If we are pursued by the German army, the entire army may be destroyed.”
Zalitzman heard the conversation between Glazkov and the regiment commander and suggested: "Comrade General, if you have no objection, you can have the troops of the 101st Regiment withdraw to our Dzerzhinsky factory area. After they rested there for a while, they retreated along the Volga River to the Mamayev Hills."
Regarding Zalitzman's proposal, Glazkov frowned and thought about it, and felt that it was a good idea. If the 101st Regiment were to move at this moment, it would definitely be pursued by the German army. Maybe the troops had not arrived yet. Mayev Gang had already been routed or completely wiped out. Therefore, he nodded to Zalitzman to express his agreement with the other person's opinion, and then said into the microphone, "Comrade Colonel, you immediately take your troops to withdraw from the position and move in the direction of the Dzerzhinsky Factory. Send someone to pick you up."
After putting down the phone, Glazkov looked at Zalitzman and said: "Comrade Deputy Director, the 101st Regiment may be withdrawn soon. At that time, please bring the militia to pick them up and bring them to Dzerzhinsky Factory.”
"Comrade General," Zalitzman asked hesitantly after Glazkov finished speaking: "If I take the troops away, what will you do here?" There is a reason for him to ask this. After the hand-to-hand battle, there were no more than ten people left alive in the entire division. If the Germans rushed over again, they would have no power to fight back.
"Comrade Zalitzman, don't worry." Glazkov guessed Zalitzman's thoughts and said to him with a smile: "You take my 101st regiment to Dzerzhinsky, and I There will definitely be no danger in taking the other two regiments to Mamayev Heights."
After Zalitzman left with the militiamen, Glazkov immediately called the 102nd Regiment and ordered Dubyansky, who was supervising the battle there, to immediately move the troops in the direction of Mamaev Hill.
Dubyansky heard Glazkov's order and asked with some confusion: "Comrade division commander, if we retreat at this time, the enemy will rush to the factory area. There are no regular troops in the factory area. It’s some newly formed militia, do you think they can hold off the enemy?”
"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," Glazkov said with some dissatisfaction in response to Dubyansky's question: "The retreat was approved by the Army Group Headquarters. Even if we don't withdraw, do you think that with our existing troops and technical equipment? , can it block the enemy’s attack?”
Glazkov's rhetorical question left Dubyansky speechless. After being silent for a long time, he replied: "Understood, comrade division commander, I will immediately organize the 102nd Regiment to prepare for retreat."
When calling the headquarters of the 100th Regiment, the chief of staff of the division supervising the operations here heard the retreat order and did not raise any questions, saying that it would be implemented immediately. However, he asked another question: "Comrade Division Commander, I heard that there are not many people left in the division headquarters. Do you think you need me to send a small force to protect you?"
"No need." Glazkov replied simply, "I still have several staff members who are capable of fighting. We can reach Mamayev Heights safely. You should seize the time to prepare for the transfer."
Although Glazkov kept saying that he did not need protection, the division chief of staff was not at ease. After he ended the call with Glazkov, he immediately called Deputy Division Commander Dubyansky: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, have you also received the retreat order from the division commander?"
"Yes, we have received the order to retreat and are making preparations." Dubyansky knew that the division chief of staff would not call him casually, and there must be something important, so he quickly asked: "What can you do? ?”
"That's right, Comrade Deputy Division Commander." The division chief of staff quickly replied: "After the division headquarters was attacked by the Germans, there were not many people left. I was worried about what danger the division commander would encounter during the transfer, so I planned to send People go and protect him.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff." Dubyansky did not wait for the Chief of Staff to finish speaking before interrupting him: "Based on my understanding of the division commander, he definitely did not agree with your suggestion."
"Yes. Comrade Deputy Division Commander." The division chief of staff nodded and said, "The division commander rejected my proposal to send someone to protect him."
"Chief of Staff, listen to me." Dubyansky felt that Glazkov's safety was very important, so he said to the division chief of staff: "You and I will each send a platoon back to the division headquarters to protect the division commander when he goes to Mamaye Fu Gang.”
