According to Sokov's plan, the tank drove out from the west side of the factory building, made a circle in the open space to the north, and then left from the east side of the factory building. Unexpectedly, when the tank drove to the open space to the north, unexpected problems occurred. There were large and small craters everywhere, blocking the way of the tank.
Seeing this, Sokov scratched the back of his head and said to Guryev in embarrassment: "Comrade General, I'm so sorry for making you laugh."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov," Guryev couldn't help but smile when he saw Sokov's deflated look. He said with a smile: "Too many bomb craters is certainly a bad thing for you, but it's also a bad thing for the Germans. Not a good thing. If these craters can block your tanks, they can also block German tanks."
Since the anti-aircraft gun on the roof became inoperable, Sokov has been worrying about what weapon to use against enemy tanks. Although the new rockets are powerful, their hit rate is not satisfactory when used against fast-moving tanks. Now Guryev's words reminded Sokov that there were hundreds of bomb craters in the nearly one kilometer distance from the wall to the factory. After the German tanks rushed in from outside the factory, they were bound to slow down because of these craters. Speed, and then use new rockets to attack, you can achieve huge results.
"Comrade workshop director," Guryev waved to Cousteau, who was standing not far away, "please come to me!"
Cousteau trotted up to Guryev and asked respectfully: "Comrade General, what are your instructions?"
Guryev pointed with his hand at the tanks blocked by bomb craters and said: "Comrade workshop director, your tanks have stopped. You should find a way to make them move."
"Make them move?!" Guryev's words made Cousteau dumbfounded. He asked without thinking: "Comrade General, how should I make them move?"
“If I remember correctly, there should be a bulldozer in the workshop,” Guryev reminded Cousteau when he saw that he was at a loss: “Let the bulldozer fill up the crater so that the tank can continue to move forward. "
"Jiang Tong, what you said makes sense, I will make arrangements right away." After saying this, Cousteau turned and left.
After Cousteau walked away, Guryev asked Sokov with a serious expression: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I want to ask you, if the Germans concentrate their forces to attack here, how long can you hold on?" No. Waiting for Sokov to answer, he added, "I want to hear the truth, not the kind of clichés that are used to perfunctory superiors."
"It's hard to say, Comrade General." In response to Guryev's question, Sokov hesitated for a moment and replied: "If the enemy still maintains the scale of today's attack, then we can hold on for half a month or even longer. I think there should be no problem.”
Sokov's answer surprised Guryev. According to his idea, with the 300 or so men under Sokov, plus the hundreds of workers in the workshop, as long as the German offensive force exceeds one battalion, they will be unable to resist it. Unexpectedly, Sokov was so confident and said he could hold on for half a month.
The number of German troops Guryev was considering attacking the factory suddenly doubled today. If they want to use this as a breakthrough, an increase in troops is inevitable. Thinking of this, he asked with some worry: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, let me ask you, if the enemy doubles the offensive force, how long do you think you can hold on?"
Sokov closed his eyes slightly and silently calculated the number of German troops that the new rockets could destroy. Then he opened his eyes and said, "Comrade General, I can't guarantee that there will be more, but if you hold on for three to five days, there should be no problem."
Guryev came to the assembly workshop today just to know how long Sokov and the others could last in the face of the fierce German fortifications. According to his estimate, being able to hold on for 48 hours was already very impressive. After all, the only troops with real combat effectiveness were the more than 300 people Sokov brought from Mamayev Heights. Unexpectedly, Sokov's answer exceeded his expectations. He smiled awkwardly and said, "Really? Can you persist for such a long time under the fierce attack of the German army?"
Seeing that Guryev was skeptical about his statement, Sokov did not defend himself. He thought to himself: With your IQ, you will definitely not be able to come up with such a tactic as "hiding the truth from the truth", and naturally you will not be able to understand this. The power of the strategy. But now that Guryev's question has been asked, he can only reply tactfully: "Don't worry, Comrade General, we are confident to hold on here."
The two were talking when they suddenly saw a three-wheeled motorcycle approaching from a distance. Sokov clearly saw an officer wearing a big-brimmed hat sitting on the sidecar, and couldn't help but said curiously: "Comrade General, look, there is a motorcycle coming over there, it seems to be delivering a message somewhere."
When Guryev heard what Sokov said, he couldn't help but turn his head and look. When he saw the approaching motorcycle clearly, his face suddenly turned livid. Not long after, the motorcycle stopped in front of the factory. The officer jumped out of the sidecar, trotted to Guriev, took out the folder under his arm, and took out a piece of paper. He handed it to Guryev and said: "Comrade division commander, this is a phone call sent to us by our group army headquarters."
"The telegram sent to us by the Army Headquarters?" When Guryev received the telegram, he couldn't help but ask: "Did something happen?"
After Guryev read the contents of the telegram, his face became even more ugly. He folded the telegram and stuffed it into his briefcase. Then he tried his best to put a smile on his face and said to Sokov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, something urgent happened here and I need to return to the division headquarters immediately. I’ll leave it to you to take charge of things here.”
After saying this, Guryev took the accompanying security personnel and followed the motorcycle reporting the news, heading towards the division headquarters. Guryev looked at the assembly workshop building that was gradually going away, and thought to himself: If the information given to us by our superiors is true, then we should readjust our deployment and try to extend the time we can hold on to the defense zone.
As soon as Guryev returned to the headquarters, he couldn't wait to ask Zaldyuk: "Comrade Chief of Staff, are the intelligence you just ordered to send true?"
"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Zaldyuk nodded vigorously and said in a positive tone: "According to the information sent back by the group army's scouts, the German 24th Armored Division is moving north, and it seems that it is also coming to attack. From Red October Factory.”
"Hell, really hell." Guryev said regretfully: "Our troops lack all kinds of anti-tank weapons. If the Germans use armored troops to launch an assault, we will not be able to stop them at all."
Zaldyuk reported to Guryev: "Comrade Division Commander, if the 24th Armored Division wants to go north, it will definitely pass through Mamayev Hill. The infantry brigade standing there will give them a head-on attack."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are really too optimistic." Guryev poured cold water on Zalidyuk without hesitation: "Do you think the troops stationed at Mamayev Heights will have anti-tank weapons? ? I just came back from the assembly workshop, at least there, I didn’t see what kind of weapons the soldiers of the infantry brigade were equipped with.”
Guriyev's words silenced Zalijuk. He knew very well that once the German armored division entered the battle, it would be the straw that broke the camel's back. Those soldiers who were struggling to support would definitely be killed. The German army collapsed under the ferocious attack. This unit, which had high hopes from its superiors, was in danger of being completely destroyed.
Thinking of this, Guryev asked Zaldyuk: "Comrade Chief of Staff, according to the normal speed, how long will it take for the German army to arrive at the Red October Factory?"
Zalyzyuk did not answer this question, but picked up a telegram on the table and looked down at it. The contents of the telegram were the same as the one he sent to Guryev. They were reconnaissance forwarded by the Army Headquarters. The soldiers reported that the German 24th Armored Division was moving north and seemed to be preparing to cooperate with the 295th Infantry Division and the 100th Jäger Division to capture the Red October Factory.
"Comrade Division Commander," when Zaldyuk raised his head again, he said to Guryev: "If the German army uses the armored division to attack residential areas, and the terrain there is not conducive to the deployment of armored forces, we can still find a way to stop them. What I am worried about now is that the enemy will choose the breakthrough point to the north of the factory area. The terrain there is very suitable for armored troops to attack. In addition, the defenders in that direction do not have anti-tank weapons. Facing the torrent of steel rushing up, they will definitely It is irresistible. As long as the enemy occupies the assembly workshop building, he will use that as the starting point of the attack to launch an assault on our rear. By then we will be surrounded by the enemy."
For the majority of Soviet commanders and fighters, being encircled means that this unit is facing the end of being wiped out at any time. Regarding this situation, neither Guryev nor Zaldyuk wanted to see it.
"Comrade Chief of Staff," seeing that Zaldyuk did not answer the question he was most eager to know, Guryev took the trouble to ask the question again: "I want to know how long the German 24th Armored Division will have and how long it will last. Reach us?”
"I estimate that it only takes them two hours to reach the residential area." Zalijuk said: "If they want to reach the north of the factory, it may take another hour."
"So, if the German 24th Armored Division wants to launch an attack to the north of the factory, it will have to wait at least three hours?" After Guriyev asked this question, he deliberately paused, waiting for Zaldyuk to give him an accurate answer. .
"That's right, Comrade Division Commander." Zalijuk nodded and said: "If the German army really regards the north of the factory as a breakthrough, then in only three hours or less, their armored divisions can move towards the assembly line. The workshop attacks.”
"The 120th Guards Regiment left one battalion behind," Guriyev stared at the map for a while before decisively giving the order: "The other two battalions rushed to the assembly workshop immediately to strengthen the defense there."
Guryev's words startled Zaridyuk, and he quickly reminded him: "Comrade division commander, you cannot transfer the 120th Guards Regiment. In addition to guarding the main entrance of the factory, the mission of this regiment must also be in critical situations." Always reinforce the 112th and 117th regiments that are defending the residential areas. If they are transferred away, what will we use to support the troops that are defending the residential areas?"
"Didn't I leave a battalion behind?" Seeing Zaldyuk pushing back and forth, Guryev said impatiently: "If the garrison in the residential area needs support, just move this battalion up. But if not Strengthen the defense in the assembly workshop. Once the German army breaks into the factory area, we will not be able to escape the fate of being surrounded."
Seeing that Guryev was so stubborn, Zaridyuk knew that no further persuasion would lead to any results, so he could only bite the bullet and said: "Okay, comrade division commander, since you have made a decision, I will arrange the troops immediately." Transfer.”
Before Zalijuk could arrange the troop movement, a distress call came in. The commander of the 112th Regiment said anxiously: "Comrade Division Commander, the situation here is very bad. The Germans have occupied seven or eight buildings in a row." "If you don't send reinforcements to us and drive the enemy out of these buildings, they will gain a foothold there."
Regarding the request of the leader of the 112th Regiment, Zaldyuk did not dare to make the decision without authorization. He could only look to Guryev for help, hoping to get useful information from him. Fortunately, Guryev also knew that if the residential area was lost, the enemy would be able to rush straight to the gate of the factory, and a fierce battle would be inevitable. He thought for a while and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the residential area is currently in an emergency. Strengthening the defense of the assembly workshop can be put aside for the time being. You can first transfer a battalion from the 120th Regiment to support the 112th Regiment."
"Okay!" Seeing that Guryev agreed to send reinforcements to the 112th Regiment, Zaldyuk agreed loudly, and then said into the microphone: "Comrade Colonel, don't be anxious, the division commander will send troops to reinforce you immediately, you must keep an eye on Stay, we must not let the Germans continue to advance."
Putting down the phone, Zalyzyuk was going to discuss with Guryev again to see if he should not send so many troops to strengthen the assembly workshop. In any case, there were nearly a thousand armed personnel there. As long as the factory buildings were used rationally as defenses, There is still a lot of confidence that the enemy's attack can be blocked.
Just when Zalidyuk was about to start speaking, a communications staff officer came over and handed Zalidyuk a newly received telegram. After Zalyzyuk read it, he had an expression of disbelief on his face. Seeing his expression, Guryev asked curiously: "Chief of Staff, what's the matter?"
"Comrade Division Commander, this is really rare good news." Zaldyuk handed the message in his hand to Guryev and said excitedly: "The German 24th Armored Division was hit by fierce artillery fire while moving north. , many tanks were destroyed, and they will be unable to continue moving north in the short term."
Set a small goal first, such as remembering in 1 second: Shukeju
