"How is the situation in the city?" Sokov learned that he had been unconscious for a day and a night and did not know what changes had occurred in the defense lines on the left and right wings of Mamayev Heights. He quickly asked Belkin: "Our troops on both wings are still there. Stand your ground, right?"
Bergin heard that Sokov did not ask about Mamayev Heights, but directly asked the troops on both wings. He knew that Sokov was full of confidence in holding Mamayev Heights, and quickly replied: "Our right wing is close The 42nd Guards Regiment, under the command of Colonel Yelin, still held their position. On our left wing, the 92nd Infantry Brigade and the remnants of the 34th and 39th Guards Regiments were repeatedly fighting for position with the enemy. ?”
When he heard that the Guards soldiers on the right wing were still holding on to their position, Sokov felt secretly happy, but when he heard that the two regiments and an infantry brigade on the left wing were all reduced to remnants, he couldn't help but feel sad. Shen: "Comrade Political Commissar, please tell me immediately, whose hands is the Central Railway Station? We or the Germans?"
In response to Sokov's question, Belkin was silent for a moment and replied with some difficulty: "Comrade Brigadier, the station is the focus of repeated battles between the enemy and us. Before I came to see you, the station was still in our hands. As for whether it has been taken away by the Germans now, I’m not sure.”
From Belkin's words, Sokov realized that the Central Railway Station had become the focus of competition between the two sides, just like the German army's battle for Mamayev Hill in history. Due to their sudden emergence, the possibility of the German army to capture Mamayev Heights was infinitely close to zero, so the focus of their attack became the Central Railway Station invisibly.
"Comrade Brigade Commander, it's great that you're awake." Before Sokov could say anything, Golia's surprised voice came from the door. After the captain finished expressing his emotion, he strode in, squatted down next to Sokov, and asked with concern: "How do you feel?"
"I'm fine." Sokov thought it was Belkin who informed Goliya, so he cast a questioning look at him. Belkin had been partnering with Sokov for a long time, so he naturally understood what the look he cast meant, so he shook his head slightly, spread his hands, and indicated that he didn't know why Goliath came. Sokov turned his attention to Goliath again and asked curiously: "Comrade Captain, why are you here?"
"That's right, Comrade Brigadier." Golia quickly replied: "The soldiers were very worried when they saw that you had been unconscious, so they asked me to come and see you. I didn't expect that I was lucky. I just walked to It’s great to see you awake outside the door.”
"Comrade Captain, thank you." After Sokov waited for Golya to finish speaking, he looked at him and said sincerely: "Thank you for sending me back to Mamayev Heights."
"Comrade Brigadier, look at what you said, how can you say thank you to me?" Golia replied in a panic: "If you hadn't bravely blown up the German tank, my men and I might have died there. on the hill."
Sokov was eager to know what happened next, so he asked curiously: "Comrade Captain, what happened after I was injured and fainted, can you tell me?"
Golia had already guessed that after Sokov woke up, he would ask what happened after that day, and he was already prepared. At this moment, when he heard Sokov's question, he quickly replied: "Comrade Brigadier, I was on the hillside that day and saw you injured when you blew up the enemy tank. When I was in a hurry, the first company commander led two armored vehicles from the north. Return. He saw how you blew up the enemy tanks in the distance, so he followed suit and ordered the armored vehicles to rush towards the enemy tanks and blow up the remaining two tanks at close range..."
After listening patiently to Golya's introduction to the situation, Sokov then asked: "Apart from the armored vehicle I was in, were there any other casualties in the troops?"
"Yes." Golia nodded and said affirmatively: "The first company commander and others did not master the skills of bombing tanks, so that when the soldiers on one of the armored vehicles blew up the tank at close range, half of them were killed by shrapnel. . However, during our retreat, there was no exchange of fire with the enemy along the way, and the whole process can be considered very smooth."
After talking to Goliya for a few more words, Sokov felt that since he had woken up, he should report to the army headquarters and report to Chuikov about his move northward. Even if his physical condition prevents him from going to the headquarters, it is still necessary to make a phone call.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he moved, he felt like needles pricking his whole body, and he couldn't help but groan in pain. Asiya ran over quickly and asked with concern: "Misha, you are still injured, just lie down and don't move."
Seeing that he was unable to move, Sokov turned to look at Bergin on the other side and said apologetically to him: "Comrade Political Commissar, I need to report to Commander Chuikov immediately. Please help me find a phone."
There was a phone outside the ward, but it was an internal phone and could only be used within Mamayev Heights. It was impossible to communicate with the army headquarters. Belkin walked out of the ward, picked up the phone, made a call to the communications company commander, and ordered: "Comrade company commander, the brigade commander needs to report to the group army headquarters immediately. You should bring someone over immediately and install a device for him." Dedicated phone number.”
After making the call, Belkin walked in and said to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, I have called the commander of the communications company and ordered him to send someone immediately to install a dedicated phone for you, so that you can directly Speak with Commander Chuikov."
Ten minutes later, the commander of the communications company personally brought someone over and helped Sokov install a dedicated line that could communicate directly with the army headquarters. After the company commander connected the phone, he handed the microphone to Sokov and said respectfully: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the phone has been connected. You can speak now."
Sokov took the microphone in his hand and put it to his ear. After hearing Krylov's voice, he quickly said: "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff, I am Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Koff, I will report to you now."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?!" Hearing that it was Sokov talking to him, he asked in surprise: "Have you returned to your headquarters?"
"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." Faced with a series of questions raised by Krylov, Sokov quickly replied: "I have not returned to the headquarters, I am still in my ward, so I have work to report to the commander, so I The commander of the communications company was ordered to install a dedicated line for me. Is Comrade Commander here?"
"He's not here!" Krylov answered simply. "After he learned the news about your awakening from Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin, he has already hurried to Mamayev Heights. I believe that in a few minutes, He will appear in front of you. If you have anything, just report it to him in person."
Sokov never dreamed that Chuikov would be so concerned about him. As soon as he heard that he was awake, he couldn't wait to come over to visit him. Considering that there might be German stragglers on the road from the Army Group Headquarters to Mamayev Heights, Sokov quickly called Golya and told him: "Comrade Lieutenant, Commander Chuikov is heading towards Mamayev Heights." When Yevgang comes, you should immediately bring someone to greet him to prevent him from having any accidents on the way..."
Before Sokov could finish speaking, Chuikov's familiar voice came from the door: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you don't need to send anyone to greet me, I'm already here!"
