Sokov and Belkin returned to the headquarters, and Sidorin immediately came up to them and asked, "Brigadier Commander, Political Commissar, the observation post on the top of the hill just now reported to me that a plane has landed on our position, can we be killed?" I’m scared, are you all okay?”
"It's okay." Sokov waved his hand and said, "That was a crashed our military plane. Although it hit the ring fortification on the top of the hill, fortunately there was no explosion. Except for the pilot being knocked unconscious, there was no Casualties.”
"The pilot is still alive?" According to Sidorin's idea, the plane fell from the sky. If the pilot had not parachuted, he would have been smashed to pieces. Now when he heard that he was still alive, he couldn't help but said with emotion, "This The pilot had such a nice tone.”
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. It had been almost half an hour since the soldiers carried Lugansky to the health team. Regardless of whether the opponent was dead or alive, there should be accurate news, so he took He picked up the phone and asked the communications soldier to connect to the health team. When he heard someone speaking, he asked directly, "I am Sokov. How is the pilot who was just sent to the health team? Is he awake?"
The health worker who answered the phone quickly replied, "Hello, Comrade Brigade Commander, Military Doctor Pavlov is treating him. The pilot only suffered a slight concussion and some contusions on his body. It is not life-threatening. He will be fine after two days of observation."
After putting down the phone, Sokov felt that the matter should be reported to Chuikov. After all, it was more appropriate for the Army Headquarters to come forward than him to contact the Air Force. He picked up the microphone and wanted to call the command post. When he heard Krylov's voice coming from the receiver, he immediately said, "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff, I am Sokov."
"This is Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Krylov asked politely, "What do you want?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation is like this." Sokov reported to Krylov, "Two of our fighter planes were shot down while competing for air supremacy with enemy planes over the Volga River. One of the planes fell on on our hills. Fortunately, there was no explosion when the plane fell. The pilot luckily survived and now has no life-threatening injuries except for minor concussions and contusions. I would like to ask you to contact the Air Force and send them The pilot will take him back."
After learning that Sokov and the others had rescued a pilot, Krylov quickly picked up a pen and began to write down, "Do you know his name and which aviation regiment he is from?"
"Sergei Danilovich Lugansky, with the rank of Air Force Captain." Sokov replied, "He is a squadron leader of the 270th Fighter Aviation Regiment."
After Krylov recorded what Sokov said, he repeated it again, "... is a squadron leader of the 270th Fighter Aviation Regiment. Don't worry, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I will contact his unit immediately . Before that, let him stay with you to recuperate."
After Sidorin waited for Sokov to put down the phone, he took the initiative to ask him, "Comrade Brigadier, let's go to the health team to visit the pilot named Lugansky?"
"Going to visit the pilot?" Sokov was surprised by Sidorin's suggestion. He asked in confusion, "Chief of Staff, what are we going to do to visit the pilot?"
"Comrade Brigadier, you don't know something." Sidorin explained. "If this battle to defend Stalingrad cannot end quickly, our area will become a key area for the German army to compete for. They will not only bombard with artillery, but also use Planes explode. It is very difficult for artillery to destroy our tunnel fortifications; but if the planes carry bombs that can penetrate the ground, then the thousands of commanders and fighters in the tunnels will be in danger of being wiped out. But if we do a good job with the Air Force If we have a good relationship and let them drive away those enemy planes trying to bomb Mamayev Heights for us, they must be willing to do it."
Not only did Sokov not feel that Sidorin's statement was alarmist, on the contrary, he felt that it was very reasonable. When enemy planes bombed the high ground some time ago, I was always on tenterhooks, fearing that one or two bombs would penetrate the soil and fall directly into the tunnels to explode. You must know that when a bomb explodes in a closed space, the power generated will increase exponentially, causing huge losses to the defenders in the tunnel. But if we establish a good relationship with the Air Force and let them strengthen their fight for air supremacy over the Mamayev Hills, we can effectively reduce the bombing of highlands by enemy aircraft.
Thinking of this, Sokov nodded and said, "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff. Let's go to the health team to visit the injured pilot after dark."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, why don't you go now?" Sidorin asked puzzledly, "Why do you have to wait until night?"
"Captain Lugansky has a slight concussion and is resting now. I think it is very inappropriate for us to disturb him at this time." Sokov said, "When his health improves in the evening, It is undoubtedly the most appropriate for us to visit again.”
"Okay, Comrade Brigadier." After hearing what Sokov said, Sidorin did not refute, but nodded and said, "Then let's wait until dark before visiting Captain Lugansky."
However, the plan could not keep up with the change. After dark, when Sokov and Sidorin were preparing to visit Captain Lugansky in the health team, they suddenly received a call from Rodimtsev. The commander of the Guards Division hurriedly said on the phone, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, the situation is not good. The division chief of staff just sent me a telegram, saying that the German army once again occupied the station and the expert building. The 92nd Brigade was routed."
"What, the 92nd Infantry Brigade was defeated?" Sokov was so frightened by the unexpected news that he was sweating all over his body. He quickly asked, "Comrade General, is this news reliable?"
"The information was informed to me by my chief of staff." Rodimtsev said in a positive tone on the phone. "He saw with his own eyes that the sailors of the 92nd Infantry Brigade were retreating. Since the 34th and 39th Guards Regiments were still In the process of gathering and gathering, it will be difficult for them to be put to use in a short period of time. I now order you to immediately send people to find out the situation there, and if necessary, organize troops to take back the station from the enemy's hands."
A few hours ago, Sokov and Sidorin were still worried that if the war continued, the troops in his hands would be stretched thin. Now when he heard Rodimtsev's order, he couldn't help but said in embarrassment, "Comrade General, Although our brigade has between 5,000 and 6,000 officers and men, we have already suffered heavy casualties in the past few days of fighting. If we deploy our troops to seize the station, it will inevitably weaken the defense of Mamayev Heights."
Rodimtsev knew that what Sokov said was the truth and could not continue to press him. He could only sigh and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I know all about the situation of your brigade. Deploy troops from your brigade." After capturing the station and driving away the enemy, you must leave troops to hold on, which will inevitably weaken your strength on Mamayev Heights."
When Sokov heard what Rodimtsev said, he thought to himself, "Since you know this, why do you still need to draw troops from us?" He secretly made up his mind, even if Rodimtsev moved Chuikov out , I will not dispatch troops to compete with the German army for the station, which will consume all the effective strength in my hands.
"Let's do this, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov." Rodimtsev said hesitantly, "I think it is really difficult for you to send troops at this time. How about this, you send people to figure out what to do. Why was the defense line of the 92nd Infantry Brigade so easily broken through by the Germans?"
Seeing that Rodimtsev no longer insisted on sending troops to fight for the station, the boulder that Sokov was worried about finally fell to the ground. It should not be difficult for him to figure out the reason for the retreat of the 92nd Infantry Brigade, so he expressed his attitude to Rodimtsev, "Don't worry, Comrade General. I will immediately take people to find out what happened." Well, just wait for my news."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he called Seryosha in and told him, "Comrade Lieutenant, assemble the guard company immediately. I will take you to perform combat missions."
Seryosha now obeyed Sokov's words. When he heard that there was a combat mission, he turned around and left the headquarters without saying a word and went outside to gather people. Sidorin said worriedly, "Comrade Brigadier, since the Germans can defeat the 92nd Infantry Brigade composed of sailors, it means that their strength is very strong. If you lead a small force out at this time, I’m afraid I might be in danger.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said to Sidorin, "the German army has occupied the station and the expert building, which will pose a great threat to our flanks. Therefore, I must find out the enemy's strength in the shortest possible time. . This matter is of great importance, and I wouldn’t trust it if I left it to others, so I need to go there myself.”
Fortunately, both Sidorin and Belkin were used to Sokov's character, and knew that no more persuasion would be of any use. They could only tell him a few words about paying attention to safety, and then watched him and the soldiers from the guard company leave. .
Sokov and the others had just left Mamayev Heights. Under the bright moonlight, he saw groups of sailors running towards his location. Sokov quickly said to Seryosha, "Seryosa, bring someone to stop them."
Seryosha nodded, and then shouted to the soldier behind him, "Follow me!"
When the retreating sailors were stopped, Sokov yelled at them angrily, "Who told you to abandon your position without authorization?"
Faced with Sokov's question, the sailors looked at each other in confusion. Finally, one of the more courageous sailors replied, "Our superiors ordered us to retreat."
Someone took the lead, and the rest of the sailors also agreed, "Yes, we gave up our position and retreated only after receiving the order to retreat."
Sokov quickly looked among the sailors. He didn't see anyone wearing a big-brimmed hat, so he raised his voice and asked, "Where is your commander?"
"Sacrificially." A soldier raised his voice and replied, "Our company commander and instructor were all sacrificed in the battle."
"What about your battalion commander?"
"I don't know." The sailors replied neatly. "We were fighting well, but suddenly we received an order from the brigade headquarters, asking us to abandon our current positions and move towards the ferry."
"Sailors," Sokov shouted to the sailors, "Stalingrad has reached its most dangerous moment, and no one is allowed to retreat. Do you understand?"
Before the sailors could speak, there was some commotion in the crowd in the distance, and then Sokov saw several officers wearing big-brimmed hats walking towards him. Still far away, the man shouted loudly, "Why are you all standing here without moving? Didn't you receive my order? Now I order you to continue on your way."
Sokov saw clearly that the person calling was Colonel Tanasolov, commander of the 92nd Infantry Brigade. He quickly went up to meet him and asked loudly, "Comrade Colonel, where do you plan to take the troops?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Tanasolov said in a panic, "the German tanks have rushed into the station. If we don't retreat, we are in danger of annihilation..."
"Stop, you all, stop." Sokov heard a familiar voice from the crowd. "Whoever allows you to leave the position without permission, please go back to me. If you don't hear me, please go back to your respective combat positions." .”
"Retreat is my order," Tanasolov said righteously to the person shouting, "Comrade Vlasov, didn't you just see that the enemy tanks were only a few meters away from my headquarters?" To a distance of two hundred meters. If you hadn't blown it up by chance, my headquarters would have been taken over by the enemy."
Sokov had already seen clearly that the person chasing him was Vlasov, the director of the brigade's political department. He didn't know what happened, so he stood there quietly as a bystander. Vlasov stopped Tanasolov with both hands and said in a stern tone, "Comrade Colonel, in the navy, commanders are the last to abandon ship. As the person commanding sailors, you should understand this!"
Political Commissar Andreev came over to support Tanasolov and said, "Comrade Vlasov, I think it is necessary to remind you that the situation you mentioned was in the navy, but now you are not the navy, but An army under our command."
After his political commissar finished speaking, Tanasolov shouted to Vlasov again: "Comrade Vlasov, listen to me, we are not afraid of death, we are not trying to escape from the battle, but we are trying to get the brigade command post back." Withdraw to the sandbar of the Volga River. We do this to better command the troops." After saying that, he pushed Vlasov away in front of him and continued walking in the direction of the Volga River.
Vlasov hurriedly caught up and asked, "Really? But Colonel, how can you command the troops there?"
Tanasolov stopped, turned around, approached Vlasov, and said politely, "According to the regulations, the commander's order does not need to be discussed. Please execute the order quickly!" After saying this, he kept walking. Dei walked towards the river again, as if he wanted to get away from this place of right and wrong immediately.
Vlasov took another step forward and expressed his attitude loudly, "Comrade Colonel, even if you all escape, our people in the Political Department will not go anywhere. We will stay here and continue to hold our position." After finishing, he shouted to the sailors standing around, "Comrades, we sailors will never run away from the battle. Those who are not afraid of death will come back with us and drive the enemy away from the station!"
