In order to retaliate for the ambush, the Germans not only used more than a dozen tanks to bombard the building, but also summoned four bombers to bombard the building indiscriminately. Fortunately, when the enemy shelling and bombing were going on, the soldiers in the building hid in the basement. No matter how noisy the bombing was outside, it did not cause much damage.
About five minutes after the shelling and bombing stopped, Vasily received another observation post report from a nearby building: "Comrade Sergeant, about two platoons of enemies were discovered on the west side of the building. Under the cover of three tanks, they were moving toward Building approaching.”
After Vasily put down the phone, he said to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, please stay here for a while. I will take people out to repel the enemy's attack and then come back."
After Vasily left, Seryosha asked with some worry: "Comrade division commander, do you need me to bring someone to help Sergeant Vasily? I'm worried that with his small force, he won't be able to stop the enemy's attack."
"Don't worry, Seryosha." There must be many people who have no confidence in whether they can hold the Vasily Building, but these people certainly do not include Sokov. He knows very well in his heart that he is really the Bavarian in history. Pavlov's building, with far fewer soldiers and equipment than it is now, could hold out for two months under the enemy's siege. Is Vasily still inferior to Pavlov? Therefore, in the face of Seryosha's worries, he said with confidence: "I think Sergeant Vasily and the others will be able to repel the enemy's attack."
Less than half an hour after Vasily left, he returned to the basement. He reported happily to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, we have repelled the German attack, killing and wounding more than 40 German troops. Destroyed two tanks."
Sokov was not interested in how many German soldiers were killed. After all, there were only two platoons of German soldiers. Even if they were all killed, would it be comparable to the ambush just now? He was concerned about how the other party could blow up the enemy's tanks: "Comrade Sergeant, what anti-tank weapons do you have here?"
"There are only a few anti-tank rifles." Vasily just finished answering this question, and immediately realized what Sokov wanted to ask, and quickly added: "But the tank that was just destroyed was not destroyed with an anti-tank gun. .”
"It wasn't destroyed with an anti-tank gun?" Vasily's words aroused Seryosha's curiosity: "I want to ask, how did you kill the enemy tank?"
When Vasily heard this question, he smiled lightly and replied: "I have reported to the division commander a long time ago that we have many passages to the outside world. When the enemy's tanks covering the infantry rushed over, there were two soldiers carrying anti-tank grenades. They reached the vicinity of the enemy tank through the sewer, hid in the ruins, and while the tank was approaching, they decisively threw anti-tank grenades and killed the enemy tank."
Sokov has never been fond of the anti-tank grenades used by the Soviet army. The grenades are too heavy and may blow up if thrown by an untrained bombardier. Thinking of this, he asked tentatively: "Sergeant Vasily, are the two comrades who blew up the tank back?"
"After a soldier threw a grenade, he was discovered by the enemy who was following him. He was fired upon and sacrificed on the spot." Vasily replied with a solemn expression: "And another soldier was also hit by shrapnel exploded by the grenade. He was injured by the explosion, but fortunately the injury was not serious. After the nurses bandaged it, it was no longer a serious problem."
"Comrade Division Commander," Vasily continued after a moment of silence after the report: "The Germans have suffered such a big loss. I think they will not give up and will send troops to continue attacking. It is not very safe here. You’d better return to Mamayev Heights as soon as possible.”
In fact, as early as when enemy planes bombed the building, Seryosha was on tenterhooks, fearing that a bomb with no eyes would penetrate the floor and fall to the basement to explode. Although by the end of the air raid, nothing happened as he was worried about, he always wanted Sokov to return to Mamayev Heights as soon as possible. Hearing what Vasily said at this moment, he quickly agreed: "Yes, Misha, it is too dangerous here. I think we should return to Mamayev Heights as soon as possible."
"Lieutenant Seryosha," Sokov saw Seryosha making noises beside him, so he said to him with a straight face: "We have fifty or sixty people. If we leave the building now, we will definitely be discovered by the enemy. If they Do you think we can return to Mamayev Heights safely if we are bombarded by planes or artillery fire?"
Seryosha simply considered that it was not safe in the building, but he forgot that there was a long way to go back to Mamayev Heights. If his whereabouts were really discovered by the Germans, he would probably be attacked less than halfway. German artillery fire or bombing may even be intercepted by snipers on the road. Sokov's outfit makes him the first target of snipers as long as he steps outside.
After thinking about this key issue, Seryosha felt a little regretful. How could he persuade Sokov to leave at this time? Wasn't this asking everyone to go out and die. He quickly said to Sokov: "Misha, you are right. If we leave the Vasily Building now, we may indeed attract enemy attacks. I think it is better to wait until dark before leaving."
Seeing that Sokov was unwilling to leave, Vasily was particularly anxious: "Comrade division commander, if the enemy launches a fierce attack on the building again, I'm worried that I can't guarantee your safety..."
"Don't worry." Seeing that Vasily was so concerned about his own safety, Sokov was quite moved. He said to him with a smile on his face: "Aren't there Seryosha's guards lining up here to protect me? Even if When the enemy rushes in front of me, I can also pick up a gun and fight them face to face. You know, not long ago, I often had to carry a gun on the battlefield."
In order to reassure Vasily, Sokov also specifically asked Seryosha to take people to the ground floor to set up defenses, so that even if the Germans crossed the minefield and rushed into the building, they could resist for a while.
As soon as Seryosha left, the phone on the table rang. Vasily quickly grabbed the receiver, put it to his ear and said loudly: "I am Sergeant Vasily."
Captain Andre's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Sergeant, is the division commander still with you?"
"Yes, Comrade Captain." Vasily glanced at Sokov and asked tentatively: "Do you want to speak to the division commander?"
Before Andre could make any reply, Sokov reached out to take the phone, put it to his ear and said, "Captain Andre, this is Sokov, what can I do?"
"That's it, Comrade Division Commander." Andrei couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Sokov's voice, and quickly explained: "I saw the enemy plane hovering above you, and I was worried about something, so I thought I called to ask, but the phone line was cut off. I quickly sent two communications soldiers, who also died near the building. ...Thank God, the comrades in the communications class have just restored the phone line, so I can talk to you."
"Comrade Captain, let me inform you of what happened here." Sokov said into the microphone: "A group of enemies passed by the street on the north side of the building. I ordered Vasily and the others to use the terrain to use mortars from a high position. We used machine guns and machine guns to teach the enemy a hard lesson and killed more than 200 German soldiers. The enemy may have sent out planes to bomb us in order to retaliate. Fortunately, we were all hiding in the basement and the enemy's bombs could not hurt us at all. Nothing of ours.”
After confirming that Sokov was safe and sound at the moment, Andre felt much more at ease. He continued: "I just received a call from the chief of staff. He asked me to ask you when you can return to Mamayev Heights."
"If you leave the building during the day, the target is too big and you may be shelled or bombed by the enemy." After hearing Andre's question, Sokov repeated what he just said: "To be on the safe side, I think it's better to wait until Leave after dark."
After Andrei put down the phone, he called the eighth company commander Yegor over and told him: "Comrade Lieutenant, as soon as it gets dark, you will lead a squad to the Vasily Building and be sure to pick up the division commander from there. .”
"Don't worry, comrade battalion commander." Sokov stayed at the forefront, which made the grassroots commanders feel very uneasy and feared that he would be in danger. Upon hearing Andre's order at this moment, Yegor quickly replied: "I will definitely send the division commander and the others back to Mamayev Heights safely."
Sokov, who was staying in the basement of the building, naturally knew that everyone wanted to leave here as soon as possible, so when it got dark, he asked Vasily to find a soldier as a guide, and he took the guard platoon and Shulka with him. and the little boy, left the Vasily Building and quietly headed towards Mamayev Hill.
Not far away, I heard someone in front of me asking in a low voice: "Is that Comrade Commander in front of you?"
Hearing someone speaking, Seryosha was afraid that danger would occur and quickly stood in front of Sokov. Sokov felt that the voice was very familiar. He frowned and thought for a moment, and immediately figured out who it was. He quickly pushed aside Seryosha who was blocking him, and asked to the other side: "Is this Lieutenant Yegor coming?" ?”
"Yes, Comrade Commander, it's me." Yegor led a few soldiers out from behind a pile of rubble and came to Sokov. He straightened his body and reported: "I have been ordered to send you back. From Mamayev Kurgan.”
Hearing what Yegor said, Sokov couldn't help but smiled bitterly and shook his head. He knew very well that all the commanders, including Andrei, wished he could return to Mamayev Heights as soon as possible so that the burden on their shoulders would be lifted. The responsibility is not that heavy. Thinking of this, he waved his hand at the other party and said: "Lieutenant Yegor, please ask your people to lead the way for us."
When starting again, Yegor kept walking on Sokov's side. His idea was simple. If he encountered an enemy on the road, he could quickly stand in front of Sokov and block bullets for him.
After walking for a while, maybe because he felt it was too boring to immerse himself in the journey, Yegor asked in a low voice: "Comrade division commander, I heard that the fighting in the factory area is very fierce?"
"Although there is fighting going on here, compared with the factory area, it can only be regarded as child's play." Sokov said sideways to Yegor: "In some areas where the fighting is fierce, a battalion needs to go up. It was all gone in less than an hour.”
"Ah?! Is the fighting there so fierce?" Sokov's words startled Yegor, and he asked in a panic: "Then can our troops block the enemy's attack?"
"We will block it, Comrade Lieutenant." Sokov said confidently in order to build up the confidence of the soldiers to win: "Although the enemy has the upper hand now, the final victory still belongs to us."
Yegor was dubious about what Sokov said, but since the other party was his superior, he did not dare to refute, so he could only pretend to believe it and keep nodding.
From the other party's expression, Sokov guessed that he did not completely believe what he said. He coughed slightly and continued: "Comrade Lieutenant, think about it, why are the enemies in the old city and Mamaye in the south of the city?" Fugang's attack, not only did it not strengthen, but it became weaker and weaker?"
Sokov's words stopped Yegor. He thought for a long time but couldn't come up with an answer. He could only ask with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander, what is the reason?"
"Because we adopted correct tactics in the early battles, and the soldiers fought bravely, the enemy was hurt and frightened. Therefore, the area we defended was a restricted area for them, and they were unwilling to do so easily. Get involved." Sokov said with a smile: "If we didn't teach the Germans a lesson in the early stage, I think the brutality of the fighting here would not be worse than the factory area in the north of the city. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." After listening to Sokov's explanation, Yegor agreed happily: "I believe in your words. The final victory in this war will definitely belong to us."
Yegor was dubious about what Sokov said, but since the other party was his superior, he did not dare to refute, so he could only pretend to believe it and keep nodding.
From the other person's expression, Sokov guessed that he did not completely believe what he said. He coughed slightly and continued: "Comrade Lieutenant, think about it, why are the enemies in the old city and Mamaye in the south of the city?" Fugang's attack, not only did it not strengthen, but it became weaker and weaker?"
Sokov's words stopped Yegor. He thought for a long time but couldn't come up with an answer. He could only ask with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander, what is the reason?"
"Because we adopted correct tactics in the early battles, and the soldiers fought bravely, the enemy was hurt and frightened. Therefore, the area we defended was a restricted area for them, and they were unwilling to do so easily. Get involved." Sokov said with a smile: "If we had not taught the Germans a lesson in the early stage, I think the brutality of the fighting here would not be worse than the factory area in the north of the city. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." After listening to Sokov's explanation, Yegor agreed happily: "I believe your words. The final victory in this war will definitely belong to us."
