Whether the German 14th Armored Division could be prevented from crossing the river depended on whether the pontoon bridge could be blown up smoothly. So Sokov made a special trip to the engineer company's station and urged them to find a small boat that could carry explosives as quickly as possible.
.
More than half an hour later, when six engineers carried a rubber boat to Sokov, the engineer company commander said to Sokov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, we found a rubber boat. We can use it."
Come to deliver the explosives to blow up the bridge."
Sokov glanced at the rubber boat in front of him and felt that if he put hundreds of kilograms of explosives on it, it would not tip over if there was another person sitting on it, so he nodded and said, "Not bad, just use this rubber boat."
Bringing explosives to blow up the pontoon."
Seeing that Sokov was very satisfied with the rubber boat, the engineer company commander turned around and told his men: "Let's do it."
After hearing the company commander's order, the engineers immediately walked to a nearby low cave and moved explosives from inside. Sokov watched as the engineers moved boxes after boxes of explosives from the cave to the outside.
, I was still thinking to myself: How much explosives did Major Ozor give to the engineer company? After blowing up the two bridges on the Aksay River, there was still so much left?
After a while, when he saw the engineers carrying explosives to the rubber boat, Sokov quickly shouted: "Stop, everyone, stop."
In the surprised eyes of everyone, the engineer company commander walked up to Sokov and asked cautiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what can I do?"
"Comrade Company Commander," Sokov pointed to the rubber boat on the ground, then pointed to the explosives held by the engineers, and asked curiously: "You won't tell me that you plan to put all the explosives on the ground now."
Is there a rubber boat?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." The engineer company commander nodded and replied affirmatively: "Aren't you going to use this rubber boat to blow up the enemy's pontoon? So I asked the soldiers to put all the explosives in it first."
"Comrade Company Commander," Sokov interrupted him: "I want to remind you to clarify one thing." He pointed towards the Aksay River in the distance with his hand and said, "The location where the rubber boat is launched.
It's at least more than 800 meters away from here. How many soldiers do you plan to let carry a rubber boat filled with explosives to walk 800 meters?"
If Sokov hadn't said anything, the engineer company commander really planned to let his soldiers carry this rubber boat loaded with more than 200 kilograms of explosives, walk 800 meters, and then throw it into Axel
When He heard what Sokov said, he realized how ridiculous his idea was, so he waved to the soldiers and said, "Put down all the explosives. You can go and rest first."
After Sokov and other soldiers left, he looked at the engineer company commander and asked: "Comrade company commander, after the rubber boat is launched, a soldier must be arranged to stay on the boat. One is to control the direction of the rubber boat, and the other is to control the direction of the rubber boat at the appropriate location.
When the time comes, light the fuse of the explosive."
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." The engineer company commander nodded and said: "The task of detonating the explosives will be completed by Corporal Sokarov. He has served in the army for more than twenty years. I believe he can do an outstanding job.
to complete this task.”
"Where is Corporal Sokarov?" Thinking that Sokarov was about to perform an arduous and dangerous mission, Sokov said to the engineer company commander: "I want to see him."
After a while, a short soldier in his forties with a mustache came to Sokov. Because this was a battlefield, he was worried that there might be German snipers nearby, so he did not ask Sokov.
He saluted his husband, but straightened his body and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, Corporal Sokarov has been ordered to get up, please give instructions!"
"Hello, Corporal Sokarov." Sokov stepped forward and held the other person's hand, and said solemnly: "Tonight you have to carry out a very difficult task. If you can successfully blow up the Aksay River,
The Germans will not be able to erect a new pontoon bridge in this area for a long time. However, if the task is not completed and the enemy successfully erects the pontoon bridge and the tanks successfully rush to the shore, our defense line will be destroyed.
breakthrough."
After Corporal Sokarov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he immediately replied: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please rest assured that if I cannot complete the task you assigned me, I will never come back to see you alive."
"The mission must be completed, and people must come back alive." Sokov put his hands on Sokarov's shoulders and said to him: "Comrade Sokarov, you are not young, but you are still a
Named Corporal. If you can successfully complete the mission and come back, you will be promoted to Staff Sergeant. I will personally take care of this matter."
For Sokarov, what Sokov said before was just some cliché. Now that he heard that he would be promoted to sergeant after returning safely, he asked with some excitement: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, if I can
Will I really be promoted to sergeant if I successfully complete the mission and come back?"
"Yes, Corporal Sokarov." Sokov nodded and said affirmatively: "I guarantee with my own personality that not only will you be promoted to sergeant, but you will also receive a medal for bravery."
For Russian soldiers who love honor, being promoted to a military rank is certainly worthy of their happiness; but getting another medal will make them feel extremely glorious. Corporal Sokarov straightened his body and replied with an extremely solemn expression.
: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please rest assured that no matter what difficulties I encounter, I will successfully complete this task."
At about ten o'clock in the evening, Sokov, the engineer company commander, Sokarov and twenty engineer soldiers came to the river. They first carefully piled the explosives on the rubber boat, and then pushed the boat into the river.
Before Sokarov boarded the ship, Sokov held his hand, shook it vigorously twice, and said: "Corporal Sokarov, I wish you a triumphant return!"
"Serve the Soviet Motherland!" After Sokarov said these words, he turned around and got on the rubber boat, using the oars to control the rubber boat to float downstream.
Looking at the rubber boat gradually blurring in the Aksay River, Sokov asked the engineer company commander in a low voice: "Comrade company commander, according to the plan, how far away from the pontoon should Corporal Sokarov disembark?"
"According to our original plan," the engineer company commander replied: "Corporal Sokarov should have lit the fuse a hundred meters away from the pontoon and abandoned the ship. But he felt that abandoning the ship too early might cause an accident.
Unexpected things, such as the fuse being too short and premature explosion; or the rubber boat being deflected by the current, drifting downstream from the pontoon without closing the gap, etc..."
Seeing the engineer company commander, Sokov talked for a long time without getting to the point. He quickly interrupted what he was saying: "Comrade company commander, tell me the point. Where does he plan to abandon the ship?"
"Fifty meters, Comrade Chief of Staff." The engineer company commander quickly replied: "Sokalov feels that it is most appropriate to abandon the ship when the distance is fifty meters."
"Fifty meters?!" Sokov repeated the distance and muttered in a low voice: "After he jumps into the river, he will be swept downward by the river water for a certain distance. By the time he climbs ashore, it is estimated that he will not be far away from the explosion point.
Wouldn't the shock wave generated by the explosion of thirty to forty meters and two hundred kilograms of explosives pose a life-threatening danger to him?"
"It's hard to say," the engineer company commander heard Sokov's whisper and said quickly, "If he's lucky, he should be fine."
Sokov looked at the pontoon bridge a kilometer or two away, sighed softly, and then said: "I hope he can come back alive and well." He turned around and asked the engineer company commander, "Arrange it well.
Is there someone who will take care of you?"
"Two soldiers are arranged upstream and downstream of the pontoon bridge." The engineer company commander said: "No matter where he comes ashore, our people can pick him up."
Ten minutes later, a huge bright orange fireball suddenly rose in the distance. The rising smoke formed a huge rolling black mushroom in the air. Then there was an earth-shattering explosion. The pontoon bridge on the Aksay River,
It was like being lifted up by a big hand, and in just a moment, it was blown apart in a series of explosions. The huge shock wave caused the river water around the pontoon to boil like a pot, and countless floating objects floated on the river.
The fish and shrimps that were shocked to death floated downstream along the river.
"Successful!" Seeing such a big movement in the distance, Sokov knew that the operation of blasting the pontoon bridge was successful, and quickly ordered the engineer company commander: "Comrade company commander, you immediately send someone to look for Sokarov. After you find him,
, take him to the 138th Division Headquarters to find me."
Sokov hurriedly returned to the 138th Division headquarters for two purposes. One was to use the phone there to report to Chuikov that the pontoon bridge had been blown up; the other was to help the engineer company when they could not find Sokarov's whereabouts.
, you can ask the 138th Division to send manpower to assist in the search.
As soon as he entered the 138th Division headquarters, Lyudnikov stepped forward and hugged Sokov, saying repeatedly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, this is great, it's great. I didn't expect it to explode so easily."
The German pontoon bridge was destroyed. I have sent people to check it out. Only about 40 to 50 meters of the pontoon bridge is left. The rest of the blown parts either sank to the bottom of the river or were washed downstream by the river. In short
By the way, the German pontoon bridge is finished."
Sokov nodded, picked up the phone on the table, and said to Lyudnikov: "Yes, the comrades of the engineer company have done a good job. I will report this news to General Chuikov immediately."
After the call was connected, Sokov said into the phone: "Comrade General, I have good news for you. We have successfully blown up the German army's pontoon bridge on the Aksay River. They could only cross the river in a short time.
"
"Great, this is really great!" Chuikov was very happy when he heard the news. He asked with a face: "What are the names of the soldiers who blew up the pontoon bridge? I want to take credit for them~!"
"Comrade General, Corporal Sokarov of the engineer company that blew up the pontoon bridge," Sokov said into the microphone: "Before he set off, I told him that as long as he could successfully complete the task, I would personally promote him
He will be promoted to the rank of sergeant, and a medal for bravery will be awarded to him. Comrade general, I can make the final decision on the matter of promotion, but the issue of awarding the medal can only be made by you."
"No problem." Chuikov heard what Sokov said and replied very readily: "For such a hero, just a medal for bravery is not enough, I think. We also need to inform him of his deeds.
To the commanders and fighters of the entire group army, calling on everyone to learn from him. By the way, where is he now?"
"Comrade General, the situation is like this. Corporal Sokarov took a rubber boat carrying two hundred kilograms of explosives, lit the fuse fifty meters away from the pontoon, and then abandoned the ship." Sokov replied: "
Now that the task of blowing up the bridge has been successfully completed, I have sent comrades from the engineering company to look for him."
"What, he abandoned the ship fifty meters away from the pontoon?" Chuikov, who was originally extremely excited, became serious after listening to Sokov's report: "It's too dark tonight, there's nothing in the sky
Moon, visibility is very low, can you confirm that Corporal Sokarov lit the fuse fifty meters away?"
When Sokov heard the question raised by Chuikov, he thought to himself: Ginger is still hotter than old. He only thought that Sokarov abandoned the ship fifty meters away from the pontoon, but he forgot that because it was too dark, the visibility was poor.
Limited, Sokarov may not be able to light the fuse at the exact location and then abandon ship.
As soon as the phone was put down, the engineer company commander ran over breathlessly and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, my men have searched up and down the river, but they have never found Sokarov.
"
Sokov asked anxiously: "Is it possible that it was too dark and you couldn't see clearly, so you didn't find it?"
"No." The engineer company commander shook his head and said: "The remaining pontoon bridge is still burning, illuminating the surrounding river very brightly. I sent the soldiers to respond and searched back and forth twice after the explosion.
But Sokarov’s whereabouts are still not found. Comrade Chief of Staff, what should we do?”
Fortunately, Sokov's other purpose in going to the 138th Division Headquarters was to ask Lyudnikov to dispatch troops to help search for Sokarov's whereabouts if necessary. Originally this was just a backup plan of his, but
At this moment, it seems that it is imperative to ask Lyudnikov to send troops.
Lyudnikov saw Sokov's eyes glancing towards him, and without waiting for the other party to speak, he said first: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to say anything, I understand what you mean. I will send two platoons of soldiers immediately
, let them assist the engineer company in finding the whereabouts of Corporal Sokarov."
"Comrade company commander, have you heard everything?" Sokov said to the engineer company commander: "Colonel Lyudnikov is going to lend you two platoons. Later you will take these soldiers to the pontoon bridge.
Downstream, search carefully for me. If you want to see people alive or dead, you must find the whereabouts of Corporal Sokarov, do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff." The engineer company commander nodded and said, "Corporal Sokarov is my subordinate, and I will definitely try my best to find him."