The major and Andrei were surprised because Sokov captured several German tanks and a group of tank crews with just two tanks. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes but heard others talking about it, he would have thought that the other party was there.
boast.
Everything that happened before him made it difficult for the major to speak. When he saw the Soviet soldiers helping Sokov escort the prisoners out, he asked with some surprise: "Where did these people come from?"
"They were locked up by the Germans in a room in the alley next to it." Sokov explained to the major: "After the German commander surrendered to us, those who were guarding them also surrendered, so I took the opportunity to
We also rescued these soldiers."
"Comrade soldier," the major said with emotion: "Four tanks, two assault guns, and dozens of German prisoners. If the superiors knew about your achievements today, they would definitely award you a medal."
"More than that," Sokov said, shaking his head: "The tanks captured were not four, but ten. To be precise, a total of ten tanks and two assault guns were captured."
A look of surprise appeared on the major's face: "But there are clearly only four tanks on the street. Where did they get ten tanks?"
"When I went over to count the prisoners of war just now, I found that there was an alley next to it, and there were six tanks parked in it."
When the major heard what Sokov said, his face twitched a few times, and then he said in an unbelievable tone: "Impossible, this is absolutely impossible, how can there be a tank next to it?"
"If you don't believe it, I can go with you and have a look."
The major called the newly rescued second lieutenant and said to him: "Comrade second lieutenant, I will leave this place to you for the time being. I want to go to the street in front and take a look."
Sokov led the major forward along the street, preparing to check out the tanks parked in the alley.
When the two came to the street and looked at the six tanks parked here, the major couldn't help but take a breath. He turned to look at Sokov and asked: "Comrade soldier, I really admire your courage. How powerful is the enemy?"
We are many times stronger, but you actually dared to take the initiative to provoke them, and even won the fight. This is simply unbelievable. I want to ask, weren't you afraid when you made such a decision?"
"Afraid, of course I am afraid." Sokov replied truthfully: "When I came here and saw several tanks parked in the alley, I felt very scared. If there were any tankers hiding in the tanks,
, fired at me with a machine gun, and I was definitely doomed. Fortunately, I was lucky. The tank crew here also received the surrender order from their superiors. When they saw me coming, they didn’t say anything and walked out with their hands raised.
.”
"Comrade soldier," the major took out the cigarette case from his pocket, handed it to Sokov, and asked, "I don't know what to call you?"
"My last name is Sokov."
"Well, I will call you Sokov from now on." The major said, "My name is Yosifov, nice to meet you." After saying that, he extended his hand to Sokov.
Sokov held the other person's hand: "Hello, Major Yosifov, nice to meet you."
"What are you going to do with these tanks and assault guns?" Major Yosifov asked: "Burn them all with one fire?"
"Why burn it?" Sokov asked rhetorically: "I just checked. At the other end of the alley, there are two trucks loaded with gasoline barrels. They should be refueling these tanks and assault guns. We
It is absolutely possible to drive these tanks and assault guns to our army's defense areas and use them to attack the Germans in the future."
"Sokov, to be honest, I also want to drive these tanks back. The Panzer III tank is a medium tank, and the T-26 tanks we currently equip in large quantities are light tanks and cannot defeat the Panzer III tank at all." Yosifo
The husband shook his head and said: "Unfortunately, there are not so many tank drivers, so there is no way to drive back."
"Who says there are no tank drivers?" Sokov said: "There are many tank drivers among those prisoners."
"But how can the enemy be willing to help us drive the tanks back to our defense area?"
"Okay." Sokov suggested to Yosifov: "Beside the German tank driver, sit one or two soldiers from our army, responsible for guarding them and forcing them to drive the tank towards our defense area. As for the remaining
As for the tank soldiers at the bottom, let them walk with the tanks."
"Sokov, what you said is a good idea, let's do it like this." After Major Yosifov finished speaking, he threw the cigarette butt in his hand on the ground and urged Sokov: "Let's go back quickly, don't let the people outside
Comrade, please wait impatiently."
Yosifov returned to his tank, used communication equipment to contact the ambulance team, and asked them to pass through the town as soon as possible. After doing all this, he directed his men to put a cable on the destroyed tank and pull it
Drag it to an open area and make way for the tanks blocking the street.
"Sokov," Yosifov tentatively asked Sokov while his tank was dragging the wreckage of the German tank, "What are your plans next?"
"Major Yosifov, to tell you the truth, I joined the army for only one day and I am an ordinary soldier." Sokov said to Yosifov: "The commander of the company is a captain. He is injured at the moment.
Since he can no longer command the troops, I will temporarily take over his duties. But I am not familiar with the place and I don’t know where to go to get in touch with my superiors, so I can only temporarily stay in the bunker group."
"Sokov, take your people and come with me." Yosifov said sincerely: "We have to rush to Nizhin, and the power to protect the convoy is somewhat weak. If you are willing to join us with your troops,
After you pass your term, I will recommend you to the city defense commander. At that time, he may integrate you into a certain combat unit, so you don't have to worry about becoming children without a father and a mother."
Yosifov's words made Sokov very tempted. If he continues to stay at his current position, no matter how many times he can repel the enemy's attacks, in the end the entire army will be annihilated. If he can follow the ambulance team to his own side,
The defensive area may be a good choice.
Sokov made a quick decision: "Comrade Major, I have decided to go to Nizhin with you."
"Great, this is really great." Yosifov raised his hand and patted Sokov's arm, smiling and saying, "From now on, we are a family."
"Andrei," Sokov turned around and told Andrei: "I plan to follow Major Iosifov to Nizhin. Now you go back to the bunker group and bring the troops here."
Andre had long felt that it was the stupidest thing to do to just stay there and wait after the troops lost contact with their superiors. But such a decision was made by the captain. He, a little soldier, had no right to tell the captain. Now.
The captain was seriously injured, and the person who took over the command of the troops was Sokov. Since he said that he wanted to evacuate the bunker group and follow this convoy to the Nizhin area, he naturally wanted it. After a loud agreement, he left on his motorcycle.
.
An hour later, the ambulance convoy passed through the town smoothly, and the German tank formation escorted by Major Yosifov himself also followed the convoy and slowly advanced in the direction of Nizhin.
In the evening, a sentry on the outskirts of Nezhin saw a convoy heading towards his defense zone. Seeing clearly that it was a Soviet ambulance convoy, he immediately opened the roadblock and allowed the convoy to pass.
As soon as the ambulance convoy passed by, he noticed a long line of German tanks and assault guns appearing behind him. He was immediately frightened and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Battle alert! Battle alert! The German tank troops are coming!"
German tanks are coming!"
His shout caused a panic. The commanders and fighters who were originally staying in the hidden part rushed out in advance, quickly occupied a favorable shooting position, and pointed their guns at the slowly approaching German tank column.
But soon, the officers on the position discovered that the approaching German tank had a red flag fluttering in the wind on the body of the approaching German tank. They quickly shouted to the left and right: "We are our own people, we are our own people. Without my order, no one can do anything."
Just shoot."
After shouting, the officer walked out of the trench and walked towards the tank.
The leading tank was the T-34 tank driven by Major Yosifov. When he saw someone blocking the road, he quickly ordered the driver to stop, got out of the turret, and went over to greet the commander who came to greet him.
"Comrade Major, which section are you in?"
"Comrade Captain," Yosifov said to the officer: "We are coming from Kiev. Our mission is to escort a group of seriously injured people to the military hospital in Nizhin to receive necessary treatment. The ambulance team has entered the city. I
Can I go in and see the city defense commander?"
But the officer looked at the long queue of tanks and asked with a straight face: "Major, please explain to me what's going on with those German tanks at the back?"
"Comrade Captain, please listen to my explanation. These are the German tanks we captured." Yosifov pointed to the German tank soldiers being escorted by soldiers and said with a smile: "Don't you see, those German tanks captured by our soldiers?
Those tank soldiers being escorted?"
"Oh my God," the officer said, "I want to report your situation to my superiors immediately."
"Comrade Captain, please report quickly." Yosifov urged: "My people have been away for a day, and they are sleepy and hungry. After you get permission from your superiors, we can enter the city.
Find a place to eat and rest."
The officer quickly ran back to his command post, contacted his superior by phone, and reported to him that Major Yosifov had brought a group of German tanks.
Soon, the officer got an answer: give their column a pass and let them drive directly to the center of the city, because the garrison headquarters was in the church in the middle of the city.
The tank column quickly drove into the city and headed towards the center of the city.
Along the way, many soldiers and residents saw this convoy. They pointed to the white cross on the tank and the group of prisoners following the tank, muttering quietly and discussing where these prisoners came from.
Soon, the tank arrived at the square in front of the church.
As soon as Major Yosifov jumped off the tank, a lieutenant colonel walked out of the church. He came to Yosifov and asked directly: "Major, are you the commander who escorted the ambulance team here?"
"Yes." Yosifov nodded and gave the other party a positive reply: "I am Major Yosifov, responsible for leading the tank detachment and escorting the ambulance team to Nizhin."
"I am the chief of staff of the garrison headquarters." The lieutenant colonel glanced at the tanks and said with interest: "Major, you did a good job. You actually captured so many German tanks. This is really an amazing result. I
I will report this matter to the garrison commander later and ask him to report your achievements."
Yosifov was not greedy for credit, but called Sokov to his side, and then said to the lieutenant colonel: "Comrade Chief of Staff, this is Sokov. He commanded a small force to occupy an abandoned
The group of bunkers where he stubbornly blocked the enemy and caused a lot of casualties to the enemy. The German tanks behind me, relying on his cleverness, captured all of them without paying any price."
After hearing this, the lieutenant colonel saw Sokov looking up and down and asked with interest: "Comrade soldier, how long have you been in the army?"
Hearing the lieutenant colonel's question, Sokov showed an embarrassed expression on his face: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I just joined the army yesterday."
"What, you just joined the army yesterday?" The expression on the lieutenant colonel's face became cold, and he said absently: "A new recruit, I'm afraid he hasn't participated in any formal military training, right? He alone has to capture so many Germans.
The tank is simply a pipe dream."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, what I said is true." Seeing that the lieutenant colonel did not believe him, Yosifov quickly defended Sokov and said: "I saw the whole process of capturing the German tanks clearly. If
If you don’t believe it, I can call a few other combatants to come over and testify for me.” Then, he told the lieutenant colonel everything that happened in the town.
The lieutenant colonel was still dubious when he heard what Yosifov said. However, he came out this time on the order of the garrison commander to meet the heroes who had captured a large number of German tanks. Even if he did not believe everything Yosifov said,
He also wanted to take him in to see the garrison commander. So he shook his head at Yosifov and said: "Major, come in with me."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Yosifov reminded him quickly when he saw that the lieutenant colonel only allowed himself to follow him in, "Comrade Sokov is a great hero. Can I let him follow me to see the garrison commander?"
"No." The lieutenant colonel answered very simply: "The order I received is to only take you in. As for this soldier, please stay outside first. When the garrison commander wants to see him, let him in.
It’s not too late either.”
Now that the lieutenant colonel had spoken to this extent, Yosifov knew very well that no matter what he said, he might not be able to change this fact. He could only say apologetically to Sokov: "Sokov, I'm really sorry.
Could you please wait outside? After I see the garrison commander, I will report your matter to him."
Sokov didn't care about this, so he waved to Yosifov and said with a smile: "Major Yosifov, hurry in and don't keep the commander waiting."
After watching Yosifov and the lieutenant colonel enter the church, Sokov turned around and returned to the group of soldiers guarding the prisoners. He took out the cigarette that Yosifov gave him and handed it to the second lieutenant who was rescued by him: