"What, your brigade commander died?" Chuikov couldn't help being shocked when he heard the news, and quickly asked: "Where is his body?"
"No more," the soldier said with a cry: "At that time, a group of enemies rushed near the building. He personally led the people to fight back. Unexpectedly, he was directly hit by a shell. We didn't even find his body."
Chuikov took off the big-brimmed hat on his head and looked sadly at the rows of corpses in the open space without saying a word. But Klimov, who was standing next to him, saw the veins on his temples protruding.
Although the soldier did not know Chuikov, he knew from the three gold stars on his diamond-shaped collar that the person standing in front of him was a lieutenant general. He quickly asked tentatively: "Comrade General, we only have 25 people and one tank left. The ammunition is almost used up, and the tank's shells are also out. If the enemy attacks again, we may not be able to stop them. Can you send us some reinforcements?"
"Comrade soldier," Chuikov said, looking at the unknown soldier: "We must stop the enemy. Once they occupy the station, they will split the defense line of our group army. I will send people as soon as possible to get the ammunition you need. Send them here; as for reinforcements, I will try my best to find you."
"Comrade Commander," Klimov turned his head and glanced at Mamayev Heights in the distance, and whispered into Chuikov's ear: "How about we transfer some of Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's troops here?"
Chuikov looked at Mamayev Hill, thought for a long time, and then shook his head and said: "No, we can't move the troops on Mamayev Hill. You know, that is also the focus of the German attack. As long as the enemy takes Mamayev Hill, At Yevgang, we can use artillery fire to blockade the entire city and control the river transportation lines on the Volga River. We cannot take this risk."
Seeing that Chuikov rejected his proposal, Klimov said reluctantly: "But, Comrade Commander, look, there are only 25 defenders left in the station, and there is also a serious lack of ammunition. If the Germans If they launch another attack, they won’t be able to stop it.”
"Adjutant, I understand what you said." No matter what Klimov said, Chuikov was not willing to use Sokov's troops easily. He looked at Klimov and said: "Otherwise, from now on From the security battalion of the Army Group Headquarters, fifty people will be transferred to strengthen the defense here?"
"Comrade Commander, fifty people are too few." Klimov originally wanted Chuikov to give more people, but as soon as the words came out, he immediately realized that if troops were transferred from the guard camp, the defense of the headquarters would be The force will become weak, so he quickly changed his words and said: "If manpower is transferred from the guard battalion, then the force responsible for the security work of the headquarters will become weak. Comrade Commander, could you please think about it again?"
"First draw fifty people to strengthen the defense here!" Chuikov said in an unquestionable tone: "There should be troops entering the city this afternoon. Then let them take over the defense of the station, and at the same time transfer our soldiers back. ”
…………
In a small town more than ten kilometers west of the central train station, the headquarters of the German 24th Armored Division is stationed. The division commander, Major General Schild, who wore the Iron Cross on his chest, looked at Colonel Lengek, the commander of the 21st Grenadier Regiment, standing in front of him with a frosty face.
After a long time, he said: "Mr. Colonel, please introduce to me. Why did one of your regiments attack the Central Railway Station in Stalingrad for a whole day and night, but failed to succeed and instead lost more than 300 brave men?" Imperial soldiers, and fifteen precious tanks?”
"Mr. Commander, please listen to my explanation." Although the weather in Russia in September was a bit chilly, Lengek's forehead was still covered with sweat. He took out his handkerchief and wiped his cold sweat, and explained in a panic: "We have concentrated our strength and launched an attack with all our strength. Who knows that the Russian resistance is too tenacious. My soldiers have rushed into the station building several times, but they have been defeated every time." They kicked it out."
Schild felt that the failure to attack the Central Railway Station was simply a shame for himself. You know, the 24th Armored Division had never lost a battle in these months of fighting. On the contrary, a battalion was often used to defeat a Soviet brigade or even a division. This time, a regiment was mobilized to attack the Central Railway Station, which was defended by only a few hundred people, but it failed. Schild wished he could immediately remove Lengerk from his post on the grounds that the battle was unfavorable.
Schild said angrily: "According to the information I have received, the defenders at the station only have three T34 tanks and three to four hundred soldiers, and the equipment they use is not as good as ours. Why can't they capture the station?" What's going on? "
After Lengek wiped the sweat from his forehead again, he said to Schild: "Your Excellency, division commander, I assure you that if we can get the support of more tanks, we will definitely be able to take down the station."
After hearing what Lungek said, Schild did not immediately express his opinion, but turned his attention to a colonel sitting at the conference table: "Colonel Ribel, I would like to ask how many tanks you have that can be put into battle immediately. .”
The colonel named Ribel was the commander of the 26th Armored Regiment. After hearing Schild's question, he quickly stood up from his seat, shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said helplessly. : "I'm sorry, Your Excellency, Division Commander. I don't think my armored regiment will be able to go into battle within a week?"
Before Schild could speak, Lengek asked first, "Why?"
"Why else?!" Ribel said with a wry smile: "Our tanks are out of fuel, and the high-explosive artillery shells are also out. Colonel Lengok, you can't let me attack the Russian infantry with armor-piercing shells, can you?"
"Colonel Heim." Schild felt that the failure of the 21st Grenadier Regiment's attack on the Central Railway Station would affect the morale and morale of the troops to some extent, so he looked at Heim, the commander of the 26th Grenadier Regiment and asked: " I plan to leave the task of attacking the Central Railway Station to your regiment. How about it? Do you have any questions?"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander!" Heim quickly stood up and replied: "Our regiment is currently too far from the central train station. If we exchange defense zones at this time, it may cause unnecessary confusion."
After hearing Heim's answer, Schild couldn't help but snorted coldly, and then said to Lengerk: "Mr. Colonel, I will give you another chance. If your regiment cannot seize the central train station before dark today, If you do, you will lose your colonel's epaulettes."
…………
The battle that took place at the Central Station last night was seen by Sokov from the observation post on the top of the hill. Hearing the sound of gunfire from the station, he couldn't help but want to pick up the phone several times and ask Chuikov if he could send troops to support the defenders in the station. But in the end, reason prevailed over impulse, and he understood that the next battle here at Mamayev Hills would be even more brutal. Although he now has more than 5,000 troops, it is still unknown whether he can last until the end of the Battle of Stalingrad.
At dawn, he returned to the tunnel from the observation post and ordered the observation post to not only monitor the movement in the direction of the Central Railway Station, but also to closely monitor the movement on the Volga River. Once he saw a large force crossing the river, he would be notified immediately. .
After staying up all night, Sokov returned to the headquarters in the tunnel. He felt as if his eyes were filled with lead and became heavier and heavier. He said to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I'm sleepy. First, I'm sleepy." Get some sleep. If there's anything important, wake me up."
Not knowing how long he had slept, Sokov suddenly felt someone shaking his shoulders vigorously. He opened his eyes drowsily and asked sleepily: "What's the matter?"
Sidorin's voice came to his ears: "Comrade Brigade Commander, there was a call from the observation post on the top of the hill, saying that a large number of troop transport ships appeared on the river, and it seems that a large force is crossing the river!"
Hearing that troops were crossing the river, Sokov immediately woke up. He sat up straight and while putting on his boots, he said to Sidorin: "It seems that the troops supplemented by the superiors for the group army have arrived. I'm here Go take a look at the observation post above, I’ll leave this place to you.”
When Sokov arrived at the observation post on the top of the hill, the observation post staying here immediately reported to him: "Comrade Brigade Commander, a unit is crossing the river." After saying that, he handed over the telescope he was holding. .
Sokov took the telescope from the observation post and looked in the direction of the Volga River. Sure enough, he saw several ferries on the river, which were crowded with Soviet commanders and fighters. Looking from a distance, he could only see a dense sea. Steel helmet.
"Comrade Brigade Commander," the observation post said from the side: "There are too many people on the ferry. If we encounter a bombing by the Germans and a bomb falls, at least dozens of people will be killed and injured."
Sokov agreed very much with the observation post's statement. The Germans were not blind. It would be strange if a large Soviet army crossed the river so blatantly in broad daylight that it did not attract German bombing. "Yes, if German planes bomb them, it will definitely cause huge casualties. However, there is no way. The situation in Stalingrad is so critical. The superiors can only take risks and send the troops in in broad daylight. In the city.”
As soon as Sokov finished speaking, two enemy planes appeared in the sky. After passing over the Mamayev Hills, they headed straight for the Volga River. When Sokov saw this situation, he secretly screamed that it was terrible. The enemy plane must have bombed the troop transport. I wanted to help, but there was no anti-aircraft artillery fire here at Mamayev Ridge, and the range of the G34 I used for masturbation a few days ago was not enough, so I could only watch the enemy planes bombing the boats in the river.
Enemy planes swooped down towards the ferry in the river, dropping bombs and strafing. A ferry was hit by a bomb. In a dazzling fire, countless soldiers standing near the bombing point were blown away. The soldiers who were not blown up were not much better. Many were hit by flying shrapnel. Some died on the spot, while others were howling and rolling on the deck.
Although some ships were not hit by the bombs, many soldiers fell to the ground after the bullets fired from the planes plowed through the crowd. Many new soldiers were frightened when they saw this situation. In order not to sit still on the narrow deck and wait for death, they jumped into the river one after another. If the water quality is good, you can still swim towards the city as hard as you can; if the water quality is not good, you will sink to the bottom of the river after splashing in the water for a few times or be swept downstream by the rapid river water.
When Sokov saw the bombed fleet on the river, he couldn't help but think of the scene in "The Enemy". The ferry on which Vasily was riding was also bombed and strafed by German aircraft when crossing the river. Many soldiers were afraid and They all jumped into the water to escape, but were shot to death by political workers on the boat. At this moment, Sokov also saw many soldiers jumping into the water to escape, but he did not see anyone standing on the side of the boat and shooting into the water.
Two of the twelve ferries transporting troops were bombed and sank, and they sank to the bottom of the cold Volga River together with hundreds of commanders and fighters on them. Three other ships were damaged, and more than half of the officers and men on board were killed or injured. Although they suffered such heavy losses, all the ships sailed towards the ferry in Stalingrad without hesitation.
After the ship docked, the commanders and fighters on the ship immediately disembarked and strode toward the city where the battle was taking place along the roads that were riddled with holes. Sokov returned the telescope to the observation post, turned around and returned to the tunnel without saying a word.
About ten minutes later, a tall, unfamiliar general, led by Seryosha, came to Sokov's headquarters. Before Sokov could speak, the general took the initiative and said: "Hello, comrade lieutenant colonel, I am Major General Rodimtsev, commander of the 13th Guards Rifle Division. I would like to ask, where is the group army headquarters?"
Sokov remembered that in the movie about the Battle of Stalingrad, after Rodimtsev appeared, he reported to Chuikov immediately. The reason why he appeared in his headquarters at this moment was entirely because he had occupied it first. Mamaev Hill, Chuikov was forced to the underground headquarters on the Tsaritsa River.
Sokov quickly stepped forward to salute Rodimtsev and said: "Hello, comrade general, I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. The mission of our brigade is to hold Mamayev Hill. As for Comrade Commander's headquarters is in the Tsaritsyn Caves between Pushkin Square and the Tsaritsa River. If you want to see him, I can send someone to be your guide."
Rodimtsev waved his hand and said: "It's too late. When I just landed, I heard gunfire from everywhere. It seems that the enemy has rushed into the city. My troops need to go into battle immediately. You Can the phone here be used to contact the Army Group Headquarters? I want to contact General Chuikov immediately and ask him to deploy combat missions for us."
