"I have contacted General Guryev," Chuikov said on the phone: "He will send the 117th Guards Regiment back to the defense area as soon as possible to replace your troops. After completing the defense handover, your troops will immediately move northwest The enemy launches an attack from the direction and rushes to Orlovka at all costs, and establishes a support point there, waiting for the friendly forces outside the encirclement to come over and join you."
When he heard the name of Orlovka, Sokov couldn't help but tremble in his heart. He thought that last time he was ordered to go north to Orlovka to meet the troops who broke through the siege. After holding on for a day, Only then did they learn that the reinforcements that had broken through the German defenses had been destroyed on the way. Moreover, before leaving, he encountered the enemy and was injured.
Once bitten by a snake and afraid of well ropes for ten years, Sokov felt an inexplicable fear of Orlovka. Now when he heard Chuikov's order, he couldn't help but hesitate: If he really wants to lead his troops northward again, he must To break through the German defenses, by the time you reach the place, you will probably not have many people left around you. But if he didn't go, Chuikov might dismiss him on the spot.
"How's it going, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov?" Chuikov saw that Sokov didn't speak again. He understood the other party's difficulties, but he had no choice. Several infantry divisions that crossed the river into Stalingrad had already entered the battle; hold on. The original defenders in various factories also launched a counterattack against the enemy. However, these 50,000 to 60,000 troops only advanced two to three kilometers after suffering huge casualties. If the fight continues at this pace, it will take at least half a month to join forces with the troops outside the encirclement. Therefore, he could only place his hope on Sokov: "Is there any difficulty?"
"Comrade Commander, there must be difficulties." Sokov is now chasing a duck, and there is no way out. He can only bite the bullet: "But we will find a way to overcome it. When we hand over to the 117th Guards Regiment After securing the defense, immediately launch an attack to the northwest."
After putting down the phone, Sokov let out a long sigh and asked Bely: "Comrade Colonel, the commander has just given us a new order."
"What order?" Bele asked curiously.
Sokov took out a map from his satchel, unfolded it, spread it on the sandbag, pointed to Bely and said: "Comrade Commander ordered us to hand over the defense to the 117th Guards Regiment immediately after they return to the defense area, and then Attack in a northwest direction, rush towards Orlovka, and establish a stronghold there to wait for friendly forces outside the encirclement to arrive and join forces."
"Playing the piano randomly is just playing the piano randomly." After clearly seeing the situation between the enemy and ourselves marked on the map, Bely said unhappily: "Comrade Brigadier, this is obviously asking us to die."
He drew a dotted line from the Red October Factory to Orlovka with his fingernail, and finally poked it twice with his finger, and said with a serious expression: "Comrade Brigadier, you saw it, from our place to Orlovka Lovka is thirty kilometers long, with four lines of German defense in the middle. Do you think we have the strength to break through the four lines of German defense?"
"It's very difficult." Sokov said truthfully: "Even if we use all the strength of the tank battalion and the first battalion, plus the cooperation of the air force, after breaking through the four lines of defense of the German army, I estimate that we will not be able to survive. Who is it?"
After listening to Sokov's words, Bely looked up to the sky and sighed. He said helplessly: "Comrade Brigade Commander, although I know very well in my heart that the order issued by Comrade Commander is to let us die. But an order is an order, Now that it has been issued, we can only implement it instead of discussing it here."
Sokov had long guessed that Bely would have such an attitude, so he said to him: "Comrade Colonel, the first thing we have to do now is to transfer the first and third tank companies, and at the same time replenish all the tanks. Fuel and ammunition.”
Bely nodded: "I immediately contacted Captain Sereda and asked him to transfer the first and third companies. By the way, we also have ten tanks that serve as fixed turrets. Can we also transfer them?"
Although the assembly workshop also falls under Sokov's jurisdiction, under the current circumstances, what he has to consider is how to break through the four lines of defense of the German army, rush to Orlovka to establish a defensive position, and wait for the arrival of friendly forces outside the encirclement. , so the defense of the assembly shop becomes less important. He nodded vigorously and replied: "Bring them all in. Although the defense in the assembly workshop will become weaker if these tanks are moved away, as long as our attack can be stronger, the enemy will not be able to mobilize its forces to attack the factory area again."
"Since you have no objection, I will contact Captain Sereda immediately." Bely turned towards the walkie-talkie and said, "Ask him to bring all the tanks over."
…………
Forty minutes later, more than twenty tanks left in the assembly workshop rumbled over and parked in the parking lot outside the club.
When Sokov and Bely saw the tank troops arriving, they immediately got off the rooftop and went outside to greet them. As soon as he walked out of the club, Sokov saw a familiar figure. He couldn't help but frown, walked quickly to the man, and asked with a straight face: "Yakov, why are you here?"
Yakov said with a smile on his face: "Misha, I heard that you are doing well here. I came here with the tank crew to see if there is anything I can do for you."
"It's nonsense, it's nonsense." Sokov said in a stern tone: "Major Yakov, your task is to assist the factory in improving the tanks, not to go to the front to charge into battle. It's too dangerous here, you'd better go back to the assembly workshop Bar."
Seeing that Sokov was about to push him away, Yakov became a little anxious: "Misha, I know you have an important combat mission next, but you are not afraid of danger, so what do you have to fear from me? You should take me with you. Take action."
"Yakov, don't forget your special identity." Sokov pulled Yakov aside and said to him forcefully: "If you are in any danger here, not only will it involve me, I’m afraid Commander Chuikov is also involved.”
"I understand what you mean." After Yakov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he said with a normal expression: "But Misha, I am also a soldier. When my comrades are fighting tenaciously with the enemy in front, I can hide Are you doing nothing in the safe place behind? As for my identity, please forget this. On the battlefield, I am a soldier like you who takes up arms and fights the enemy in order to defend the great motherland."
