"How? I really don't have one." Sokov smiled bitterly and shook his head. "When the bullets run out, the only way to hold the position is to fight the enemy with bayonets."
"Misha, is it true that we can only fight with bayonets?" Seeing Sokov repeatedly mentioning that we can only fight with bayonets with the enemy, Seryosha felt a headache. He knew very well that the German army focused on firepower output, so in In terms of hand-to-hand combat, they are inferior to the Soviet army. But even if the German army's stabbing skills are not as good as the Soviet army, they still have a numerical advantage. Even if two or three soldiers are replaced by one of their own, the German army will be the winner in the end.
"There is another way."
Hearing what Sokov said, Seryosha seemed to grasp a life-saving straw. He quickly asked: "Misha, tell me quickly, what is the solution?"
"We can only change equipment on the battlefield." Sokov said helplessly: "Let the city send a batch of Soviet-style weapons here to replace the German-style weapons in the hands of the soldiers. But the hasty change of equipment, the soldiers If you are not familiar with weapons, your combat effectiveness may be compromised.”
"Misha, what time has it been, and you are still looking forward and backward." Seryosha didn't care what weapons the troops used as long as he didn't fight the Germans with bayonets. "Hurry up and ask the rear to send us weapons."
Sokov picked up the phone and asked the communications soldier to connect to the garrison's company command post. However, the phone rang for a long time, but no one answered. Seeing that no one answered the phone, Sokov could only ask the communications soldier to connect the third platoon left behind.
As soon as he heard the voice of the third platoon leader, Sokov said bluntly: "I am Sokov. I am ordering you to immediately pull a cart of munitions and rush to the defensive position in the west as quickly as possible. Do you understand? ?”
"Understood, comrade division commander." The third platoon leader who answered the phone quickly replied: "I will organize the transportation of people immediately."
"Wait a minute," Sokov suddenly remembered that no one from the garrison company answered the phone, so he ordered the third platoon leader, "Send someone to the garrison company to have a look. I just called them, but they still can't get through."
"Comrade division commander, I was about to report this to you." The third platoon leader said hurriedly: "Some subordinates just reported to me that the garrison company is retreating."
"Retreat?" Sokov didn't understand what the third platoon leader meant, and asked: "There are no enemies in the city, where are they retreating to?"
"My subordinates reported to me that the garrison company had left the city in a car. I don't know where they went."
"These bastards are greedy for life and afraid of death." After listening to the report of the third platoon leader, and then contacting the hesitation shown by the commander of the garrison company when he asked him to strengthen the city's defense, Sokov immediately realized that the so-called retreat, In fact, he just ran away. He cursed fiercely into the microphone: "He actually abandoned his position and ran away."
"Comrade division commander, what should we do?" The third platoon leader asked nervously: "Now that we are the only platoon left in the city, how should we defend ourselves?"
"Immediately arm the residents," Sokov said anxiously, "and set up defenses around several arms warehouses to prevent the Germans from seizing our arms after rushing into the city."
"Comrade Division Commander, even if we arm the residents, I'm afraid our strength is too weak." The third platoon leader said with concern: "It is not realistic to defend the arsenal."
"Blow it up if you can't hold it," Sokov said loudly: "We must not leave the armaments in the city to the Germans, and we cannot let them use our weapons to attack us. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." The third platoon leader replied: "I will blow up the arsenal at the last moment, and I will never let a single gun or bullet fall into the enemy's hands."
After the German army's attack on the frontal positions failed, the German commanders immediately realized that if the Soviet troops on the highlands on both sides were not cleared, it would be basically impossible to break through the frontal defenses and rush into the city. So he changed his tactics in time and changed the focus of his attack to seizing the high ground on the left and right wings.
As soon as the battle started, it became intense. The German troops, divided into two groups, launched an attack on the high ground on both sides under the cover of mortars and machine guns.
Due to the hasty deployment of the Soviet army, there were no decent fortifications on the highlands on both sides. Soviet commanders and fighters who stood firm on the high ground suffered heavy casualties under German mortar and machine gun fire. However, despite this, they still used all available terrain to desperately block the German attack.
Sokov, who was staying in the frontal position, saw the fierce fighting on the highlands on both sides, and his brows twisted into a knot. He could see that although his men fought tenaciously, the German army had the advantage in numbers and firepower, and it was only a matter of time before they captured the high ground on the left and right flanks.
He raised his hand and looked at his watch. There were still two hours until reinforcements arrived. But according to his experience, the actual arrival time of the reinforcements will definitely be delayed. In other words, he will have to hold on for two hours or even longer with the few troops he has.
"Misha, the enemy has rushed to the high ground on the left and right wings." Seryosha saw through the telescope that the battle in the distance had moved from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain. He couldn't help but asked Sokov worriedly; "What should we do?"
"Persevere, you can only persist." Sokov knew that if he gave the retreat order to the troops on the left and right highlands at this moment, it would inevitably lead to the collapse of the defense line. He could only bite the bullet and said: "Now is the time for the enemy and us to compete for fighting will. As long as we A warrior who fights tenaciously can withstand the enemy's attack."
The battle lasted for more than half an hour. The enemy's attack was finally contained by the defenders, and the enemies who rushed to the top of the mountain were also driven down. Seeing that the enemy was repulsed, Sokov breathed a sigh of relief and said to Seryosha: "Seryosa, call the first and second platoons immediately and order them to withdraw to the frontal position immediately."
"What, tell them to withdraw to the frontal position?" Seryosha did not understand Sokov's order: "Misha, the high ground on the left and right flanks are still in the hands of our army, why should we give up?"
"Our troops are limited, and now we are divided into three areas for defense. No matter where we are attacked, we will not be able to get support." Sokov explained to Seryosha: "In the end, we will be eliminated by the enemy one by one. Don't If you are stalling, give them orders quickly, otherwise when the German attack restarts, they will not be able to withdraw even if they want to."
"Comrade division commander, your phone number." Sokov was handing over the task to Seryosha. The radio operator who was staying in the company command post suddenly leaned out and said to Sokov: "This is Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko's phone number. .”
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov rushed into the company command post, took the earphone and microphone from the operator's hand, and asked impatiently: "Where are your troops?"
"Comrade division commander," Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko replied loudly: "We are still seventy kilometers away from your place, and we hope to arrive within two hours. How is the situation there?"
"It's very bad, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Sokov said in a serious tone: "After a fierce battle, the guard company suffered a lot of casualties. We have been forced to abandon the high ground on the left and right wings and shrink our troops towards the main position."
Knowing that Sokov and the others were in a difficult situation, Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko's expression became serious. He pondered for a moment, and then said: "Comrade Commander, how long can you probably hold on?"
"Judging from the intensity of the German attack, we can hold on to the main position for at most one hour." After weighing the situation silently in his mind, Sokov said to Papchenko: "Then we can only retreat to the city. , engage in street fighting with the enemy, and hold on until your regiment arrives."
After Papuchenko ended his call with Sokov, he immediately called a messenger and told him: "You immediately rush to the front on a motorcycle and tell the commander of the vanguard that the division commander is in danger now. , telling them to speed up their march."
Watching the messenger riding away on his motorcycle, the regiment chief of staff asked tentatively: "Comrade regiment leader, can we make it in time?"
"Yes." Papuchenko turned to look at his chief of staff and said decisively: "I believe that the vanguard troops will arrive in time to rescue the division commander and the others. Don't forget, the battalion commander leading the team is Captain Vasily , he is an old subordinate of the division commander, and when he learned that the division commander was in danger, he naturally had a way to speed up the march."
Papuchenko's judgment was correct. The troops marching at the front with two companies were indeed led by Captain Vasily, the original commander of the first battalion of the downsizing regiment. When he heard the news brought by the messenger, he couldn't help but became anxious and quickly ordered someone to call the two company commanders to him.
Coincidentally, these two company commanders are also Sokov's old subordinates. One is Captain Paulkoski, the former commander of the first company, and the other is Captain Guchakov, the commander of the ninth company. After the two men arrived, Vasily said to them: "Comrades, company commander, the messenger sent by the regiment commander just now said that the situation at the division commander's place is dangerous and I'm afraid it won't last long. I am ordering you now to find a way to overcome all difficulties. , we must rush to the guard company’s position in the shortest possible time to relieve the division commander.”
If someone else had given this order, the two company commanders might have complained to him, saying that their troops had reached their limit and it was impossible to speed up the march. But now that they heard that the division commander was in danger, the two company commanders could not remain calm. They quickly ran back to their respective companies and issued orders to the commanders and soldiers to speed up the march.
A few minutes later, slogans of "The division commander is in danger, hurry up and save the division commander" rang out one after another in the middle of the two companies. When the car got stuck in a snowdrift and couldn't move, only a few soldiers stepped forward to help push it. But now that I heard that the division commander was in trouble, everyone felt like they were on fire. When the car got stuck in a snowdrift, they all immediately jumped out and pushed the car out three times, five times, five times, and two times.
Sokov had no idea what was happening here among the reinforcements. Because after the enemy completed the occupation of the highlands on the left and right flanks, they launched an attack on the remaining frontal positions.
Sokov, who was directing the battle on the position, said to Seryosha: "Seryosa, now we have more than 60 people left. We can't all be placed in the trenches. We should immediately take out 20 people and find a place to hide in the back. Rise up as our reserves.”
"Misha, our number is already small. If you take away twenty more people, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold this position."
"Seryozha, haven't you seen that the enemies occupying the high ground on the left and right wings have set up mortars on the high ground and are bombarding us from above?" Sokov said loudly: "If you put all the people away, In the trenches, it is easy to become the target of the enemy. If our soldiers suffer heavy casualties under the enemy's artillery fire, they will not be able to last for two hours."
"Misha, do you really think the reinforcements will arrive in time?" Seryosha looked around and saw the operator sitting in the corner with headphones on his head, receiving information. He should not be able to hear what he said. Then he suggested to Sokov in a low voice: "How about we retreat too?"
Papuchenko's judgment was correct. The troops marching at the front with two companies were indeed led by Captain Vasily, the original commander of the first battalion of the downsizing regiment. When he heard the news brought by the messenger, he couldn't help but became anxious and quickly ordered someone to call the two company commanders to him.
Coincidentally, these two company commanders are also Sokov's old subordinates. One is Captain Paulkoski, the former commander of the first company, and the other is Captain Guchakov, the commander of the ninth company. After the two men arrived, Vasily said to them: "Comrades, company commander, the messenger sent by the regiment commander just now said that the situation at the division commander's place is dangerous and I'm afraid it won't last long. I am ordering you now to find a way to overcome all difficulties. , we must rush to the guard company’s position in the shortest possible time to relieve the division commander.”
If someone else had given this order, the two company commanders might have complained to him, saying that their troops had reached their limit and it was impossible to speed up the march. But now that they heard that the division commander was in danger, the two company commanders could not remain calm. They quickly ran back to their respective companies and issued orders to the commanders and soldiers to speed up the march.
A few minutes later, slogans of "The division commander is in danger, hurry up and save the division commander" rang out one after another in the middle of the two companies. When the car got stuck in a snowdrift and couldn't move, only a few soldiers stepped forward to help push it. But now that I heard that the division commander was in trouble, everyone felt like they were on fire. When the car got stuck in a snowdrift, they all immediately jumped out and pushed the car out in three strokes.
Sokov had no idea what was happening here among the reinforcements. Because after the enemy completed the occupation of the highlands on the left and right flanks, they launched an attack on the remaining frontal positions.
Sokov, who was directing the battle on the position, said to Seryosha: "Seryosa, now we have more than 60 people left. We can't put them all in the trenches. We should immediately take out 20 people and find a place to hide in the back. Rise up as our reserves.”
"Misha, our number is already small. If you take away twenty more people, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold this position."
"Seryozha, haven't you seen that the enemies occupying the high ground on the left and right wings have set up mortars on the high ground and are bombarding us from above?" Sokov said loudly: "If you put all the people away, In the trenches, it is easy to become the target of the enemy. If our soldiers suffer heavy casualties under the enemy's artillery fire, they will not be able to last for two hours."
"Misha, do you really think the reinforcements will arrive in time?" Seryosha looked around and saw the operator sitting in the corner with headphones on his head, receiving information. He should not be able to hear what he said. Then he suggested to Sokov in a low voice: "How about we retreat too?"
