After some consideration, Chuikov decided to call Rodimtsev to the headquarters for detailed discussions. Considering that this road was not safe, he ordered the operator to send another telegram to Sokov shortly after sending the telegram to Rodimtsev.
In the telegram, Chuikov ordered him to escort Rodimtsev to the Krutoy Deep Trench, and then the 42nd Guards Regiment stationed there would escort Rodimtsev to the new army headquarters.
After receiving the telegram, Sokov immediately ordered Andre to gather his troops and prepare to escort Rodimtsev to the Krutoy Deep Trench. While Andrei was gathering his team, he walked towards Rodimtsev who was not far away.
Still far away, he heard Rodimtsev saying to the political commissar and chief of staff, "...you stay here, find a way to find the scattered troops and reorganize them, and fight with the Germans here Fight..."
Sokov was afraid of disturbing Rodimtsev's assignment, so he stopped and was ready to wait for the other party to finish speaking before walking over. Unexpectedly, Rodimtsev noticed that Sokov was walking towards him, so he stopped and said apologetically to him, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I'm sorry, but I have to trouble you to wait a little longer while I finish the task first." Finished setting up.”
"It's okay, Comrade General." Sokov originally didn't want to disturb Rodimtsev's work. When he heard what he said, he quickly replied, "It's still early. You can arrange your work slowly."
Rodimtsev nodded, turned to his chief of staff and said, "Chief of Staff, it is said that the commander of the 34th Guards Regiment has died. You will temporarily take over the post of commander. And you, comrade colonel," What he said next was to the commander of the 39th Guards Regiment, "You also have to find a way to find your regiment and reorganize the soldiers..."
Although Rodimtsev just asked Sokov to wait, it still took him more than half an hour to complete all the tasks. After doing all this, he came to Sokov's side and said, "Okay, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, we can set off now."
Sokov considered that when he came from Mamayev Heights, he encountered sporadic German soldiers several times and exchanged fire. Although there were more than a hundred people around him at the moment, if any German soldier was hiding in the ruins and shot Rodimtsev coldly, he would still be unable to prevent it. For the sake of safety, he divided the team into three echelons. The first echelon consisted of the ninth company and one platoon, and was led by the company commander Guchakov to open the way in front; the second echelon consisted of himself, the guard squad, and the soldiers of the second platoon. The third echelon consists of three rows, led by Captain Andre himself, walking behind the entire team.
The three echelons are one hundred meters apart. This formation is adopted. First, to prevent too many people from being crowded together and becoming targets of German attacks when attacked by the Germans. Second, to ensure that no matter which echelon is attacked, When the Germans attack, the other two echelons can provide timely support.
Rodimtsev saw many people wearing sailor uniforms appearing in the ruins along the way. He couldn't help but curiously asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, where did these sailors come from?"
"They are from the 92nd Infantry Brigade, and their members are mainly sailors from the Baltic and North Sea fleets." Sokov knew very well that Rodimtsev and the others were isolated from the world during the few days they were trapped in the basement. God, it is normal to not know that new troops have arrived, so he patiently explained to Rodimtsev, "Since you lost contact with the army headquarters, Commander Chuikov sent the troops who had just crossed the river." Troops, deploy in your original defense zone."
"So that's it." Rodimtsev looked at these sailors in black uniforms, holding weapons and going in and out of the collapsed buildings. He couldn't help but said with emotion, "If it weren't for them, I think Germany would be People must have occupied this area a long time ago.”
"Comrade General," Sokov asked tentatively, eager to know why the troops of the 13th Guards Division disappeared without a trace in their defense zone, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Excuse me, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Regarding his savior, Rodimtsev said politely, "As long as I know, I will definitely tell you everything."
"Logically speaking, even if you are trapped in the ruins of the basement, your troops should continue to fight on the spot." Sokov asked puzzledly, "But why did they disappear without a trace?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you are mistaken. They did not disappear, but continued to fight the Germans in various places." Rodimtsev heard Sokov's question and immediately replied, "Because The terrain of the city is long and narrow, so the defense areas of my two regiments were deployed very scattered. According to my analysis, our defense line must have been broken through by the enemy after I lost contact with the outside world, and many of our division's fire support points were destroyed by the enemy. were eliminated, and the remaining troops were moved to other places.
In the past, when the headquarters wanted to know the situation of our division, I reported directly to the commander or chief of staff. But after we were trapped, the radio station also lost contact. As a result, there are situations where superiors want to know the situation of the troops, but cannot find the grassroots troops; and situations where battalion and company level commanders want to report the battle situation, but don't know who to report to. It is precisely because of these reasons that the superiors mistakenly believed that all officers and soldiers of our division were missing. "
After listening to Rodimtsev's explanation, Sokov immediately realized that even though the 92nd Infantry Brigade had been stationed here, there were still commanders and fighters of the Guards Division fighting tenaciously against the Germans, but without Rodimtsev With such an important role, the communication between superiors and subordinates inevitably went bad. The superiors did not understand their actual situation, so there were rumors that the entire division was missing.
Rodimtsev squinted his eyes and looked at the Mamaev Hill shrouded in gunpowder smoke. He frowned and asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, it seems that the situation there is not good. The enemy's shells have destroyed the people on your mountain." The soil has been turned over..."
"Comrade General," Sokov rushed to say before Rodimtsev finished speaking, "despite the fierce enemy artillery fire, it is not easy for them to occupy Mamayev Hill." Thinking that Rodimtsev would follow him into the tunnel fortifications in a while, it was necessary to explain to him to eliminate the doubts in his mind, "There are more than a dozen thick layers of soil above our tunnel, and the enemy's artillery shells cannot be fired at all." Our fortifications cannot be destroyed, so you can rest assured.”
Sokov's words gave Rodimtsev reassurance. He smiled and nodded and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, with your brigade standing firm on Mamayev Heights, we don't have to worry about the enemy attacking our defense line." Separate it.”
After more than an hour of trekking, Sokov and the others finally entered the tunnel one after another.
Seeing Sokov bringing Rodimtsev back, Belgin and Sidorin came up to meet him. They surrounded Rodimtsev and asked, "Comrade General, we are relieved to see that you are still alive." ”
Rodimtsev turned his head and glanced at Sokov beside him, and said with emotion, "Without Sokov's rescue, I think I would still be trapped in the dark basement."
Hearing that Rodimtsev was brought out of the basement by Sokov, Sidorin curiously asked, "Comrade General, can you tell us the details?"
"I'm afraid I don't have time now." Rodimtsev raised his hand and looked at his watch and said, "I need to rush to the Krutoy Deep Trench as soon as possible. Colonel Yelin is still waiting for me there."
"Comrade General, I think you must be tired and hungry now, why don't you eat something here before leaving." Belgin heard that Rodimtsev was leaving, and quickly persuaded him, "As for Colonel Yelin, I You can send someone to inform him and ask him to come here to see you."
Rodimtsev did not refuse Belgin's kind offer to stay. After all, he had been trapped in the basement for the past few days and had not been able to eat or sleep well. Now he finally had the opportunity to eat hot meals. Such a good opportunity , Rodimtsev will naturally not let it go easily. Besides, he also knew that if you go out from the north hill of Mamayev Hill, you can enter the Krutoy Deep Canyon in a few minutes at most, so he nodded and asked politely, "I wonder what you are having for lunch today?"
When Belkin heard Rodimtsev's question, he immediately understood that the other party did not refuse his request. While ordering people to prepare food, he replied, "Comrade General, you have been in the basement these days, and you must not have eaten well. We are here Hot red cabbage soup is served every day, so you must drink a few more bowls later.”
Knowing that they were entertaining General Rodimtsev, the cooks quickly brought hot beetroot soup, sliced cheese, dried sausage, etc. Seeing that things were put on the table, Sokov pointed with his hand and said to Rodimtsev with a smile, "Comrade General, the food is a bit crude. Please forgive me."
When Rodimtsev was trapped in the basement, he was short of water and food, and because he didn't know when he would be able to escape, a strict rationing system was implemented in terms of food and drinking water. Not long after he was rescued, he had just finished explaining the mission to his subordinates and followed Sokov here. He was so hungry that his chest was pressed against his back. At this moment, when he saw the hot red cabbage soup placed in front of him, he was not polite. , drank a large bowl of red cabbage soup in just a few mouthfuls.
Seeing that Rodimtsev had finished the soup in the bowl, Sokov quickly took the bowl from his hand, filled him with another bowl, handed it over again, and said with concern, "Comrade General, the red vegetables here are There is still a lot of soup, please drink it slowly."
Rodimtsev smiled gratefully at Sokov as he took the soup bowl from Sokov's hand. This time when he drank the soup, he seemed more polite. After taking a sip, he put down the soup bowl and said to Belkin and Sidorin, "Comrade commanders, don't you want to know how I was rescued?" , I can tell you in detail now."
After Rodimtsev finished explaining the entire rescue process, Sidorin looked at Sokov and said in surprise, "Comrade Brigadier, you actually thought of blasting from the side to create a passage on the ground to pull the general and the others out of the basement. rescued."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin, you are right. Thanks to Sokov this time, otherwise we would still be trapped in the dark basement at this moment." Rodimtsev said with emotion, "We have been trapped in the basement for two days. God, it’s not like the soldiers don’t have grenades in their hands, but I didn’t think of using this method to blow up a passage for myself.”
As soon as Rodimtsev finished his meal, Colonel Yelin and his men broke in from outside. Seeing Rodimtsev who looked tired, Yelin's eyes couldn't help but turn red. He quickly stepped forward and came to Rodimtsev. After raising his hands in salute, he gave his division commander a warm hug and said excitedly, "Comrade division commander, it's so great to see you are still alive." alright."
"Colonel Yelin," Rodimtsev said equally excitedly, patting Yelin's back with his hand, "I am equally happy to see you. When we were trapped in the basement, I was desperate. , thought we would die there silently, but fortunately Lieutenant Colonel Sokov rescued us in time."
Yelin let go of Rodimtsev, faced Sokov, raised his hand and saluted, and said solemnly, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, on behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 42nd Guards Regiment, thank you, thank you for rescuing Our division commander."
Rodimtsev smiled gratefully at Sokov as he took the soup bowl from Sokov's hand. This time when he drank the soup, he seemed more polite. After taking a sip, he put down the soup bowl and said to Belgin and Sidorin, "Comrade commanders, don't you want to know how I was rescued?" , I can tell you in detail now."
After Rodimtsev finished explaining the entire rescue process, Sidorin looked at Sokov and said in surprise, "Comrade Brigadier, you actually thought of blasting from the side, opening a passage on the ground, and pulling the general and the others out of the basement." rescued."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin, you are right. Thanks to Sokov this time, otherwise we would still be trapped in the dark basement at this moment." Rodimtsev said with emotion, "We have been trapped in the basement for two days. God, it’s not like the soldiers don’t have grenades in their hands, but I didn’t think of using this method to blow up a passage for myself.”
As soon as Rodimtsev finished his meal, Colonel Yelin and his men broke in from the outside. Seeing Rodimtsev who looked tired, Yelin's eyes couldn't help but turn red. He quickly stepped forward and came to Rodimtsev. After raising his hands in salute, he gave his division commander a warm hug and said excitedly, "Comrade division commander, it's so great to see that you are still alive." alright."
"Colonel Yelin," Rodimtsev said equally excitedly, patting Yelin's back with his hand, "I am equally happy to see you. When we were trapped in the basement, I was desperate. , thought we would die there silently, but fortunately Lieutenant Colonel Sokov rescued us in time."
