Chapter 353 The situation is getting worse and worse
"Captain Briski, take us to your battalion headquarters." Sokov said to Briski: "We need to carefully study the route of the convoy so that they can transport the supplies safely."
Briski was just about to ask Sokov, just wait until night falls and drive the convoy directly over. What else is there to study? But before he could say anything, he heard Sokov say first: "Although the convoy is only a few kilometers away from here,
Twenty kilometers, but if such a large convoy has to pass through the defense lines of the German army and our army, if we are not careful, the entire army will be destroyed."
Regarding Sokov's statement, Briski felt that it was quite reliable. Among other things, just a few minutes ago, when the armored vehicle that Christopher was riding in drove towards his position, the brigade commander
He also personally directed the artillery to fire at them. A convoy of twenty trucks and several armored vehicles had a much larger target than one armored vehicle. No matter who fired on the enemy or our side, it would cause huge losses to the convoy.
However, before heading to the battalion headquarters, Sokov ordered his subordinates in an unquestionable tone to move the remaining personnel and equipment of the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion between the two hillsides. He did not want these young girls to stay here.
This wrong location became a target for German artillery fire.
Arriving at the battalion command post in the tunnel, Sokov walked to the table, leaned over and slapped the map twice with his hands, and then said to Christopher: "Comrade Lieutenant, come here and point out the location where the convoy is hiding."
Let me see."
Christopher stood next to Sokov, looked down at the map for a while, then pointed to a location and said decisively: "Comrade Brigadier, it's right here. There are German troops two kilometers away from our hiding place.
There was probably a platoon holding a defensive position. When the armored vehicle I was riding passed there, it did not arouse their alertness. Therefore, I felt that it would be useless to let the convoy pass there under the German flag after dark.
Any questions.”
As the war situation fell into chaos, not even the front commanders, not to mention the grassroots commanders, might be able to figure out where the Soviet and German defense lines were. However, Christopher had just returned from behind enemy lines and should be familiar with the situation of the defense lines.
Still understanding something, he continued to ask: "Then where is our army's defense line?"
"There is one place here," Christopher pointed to a location on the map, and then quickly pointed to another place and said: "There is another place here. On the way back, the only defense line of our army that I discovered was
These two places.”
After taking a look at the location of the Soviet defense line, Sokov found that there was no bypass road nearby, and asked with a serious expression: "Comrade Lieutenant, without negotiating with friendly forces, the convoy you led will
, can you successfully pass through our army’s two lines of defense?”
"Comrade Brigadier, I think we can only gamble on luck." Christopher pondered for a long time and replied: "I came back this time, firstly to contact the brigade headquarters, and secondly to explore the road. In my opinion
, Our army’s two lines of defense are simply fake, but when our armored vehicles bypassed the defense line, there was no reaction at all. I even doubted whether there were any troops of our army stationed in the defense line.”
Kristoff's words reminded Sokov of the German tank detachment that caused heavy losses to the Women's Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion. The enemy should also penetrate into the rear of the Soviet defense line from that direction. Since the Germans can pass, then Kristoff
Dove's convoy should also be able to pass.
Thinking of this, he said to Christopher: "Comrade Lieutenant, you should return to the hiding place of the convoy immediately, and when it gets dark, lead them over along the route we chose!"
Before leaving, Christopher asked: "Comrade Brigadier, where will the supplies be stored after they are brought back?"
Briski, who was standing aside, suddenly brightened up after hearing Christopher's question. He wanted to say to Sokov immediately: "Comrade Commander, our warehouse here is still empty. You can put it in."
The supplies are all stored here on the north slope." However, he only said these words in his heart, but did not say it out loud. He wanted to wait for Sokov's final decision.
Unexpectedly, Sokov said to Christopher: "Comrade Lieutenant, after the supplies were brought back, all kinds of military supplies were stored here on the north slope. As for the weapons and ammunition, they were all transported to the warehouse on the south slope for storage. In addition, those
The truck is of little use to us. We can send people to the dock and hand it over to the transportation troops there, and they should be able to use it."
"Comrade Brigadier," Briski seemed unconvinced by Sokov's arrangement: "Why should weapons and ammunition be stored in the warehouse on the south slope? You know, we also have enough space on the north slope to store Comrade Lieutenant's convoy.
The supplies brought back.”
"Comrade Captain," Sokov looked at Briski and said, "I know you still have enough space in the warehouse here, but I don't dare to put weapons and ammunition here." When he said this, he saw Briski.
With a confused look on his face, he explained to him, "Don't forget, there are more than a dozen oil storage tanks above your heads. Once the oil tank is hit by an artillery shell or bomb, it will cause a violent explosion, even if it is a few meters away.
The soil layer and the high temperature generated by combustion may also detonate the weapons and ammunition in the warehouse, and I can't take this risk."
After listening to Sokov's explanation, Briski obediently shut his mouth. He knew very well that what Sokov said was true. In order to protect the oil storage tanks above his head, the City Defense Committee even called in
A women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion to prevent German air attacks on the northern slope.
After Sokov finished handling matters on the northern slope, he returned to the brigade headquarters behind the southern slope. As soon as he entered the tent, Sidorin came up to him and said: "Comrade Brigade Commander, a few minutes ago, I received
A call came from the front headquarters and the situation became even worse."
From the moment the German tank detachment passed through the Soviet defense line and rushed to the north slope of Mamayev Hill to show off its power, Sokov had an ominous premonition in his heart. He felt that the Soviet army's great rout was about to begin, so he
He quickly walked to the table and said to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please brief me on the situation."
"According to a report from the Front Army Headquarters, the German 16th Tank Division, with the help of the 3rd and 60th Motorized Rifle Divisions, stormed the 62nd Group Army and the Tank Division from the area from Vergachi to Lenok north of Stalingrad.
The junction of the 4th Army..."
"The 16th Armored Division was commanded by Germany's famous one-armed general Hube," Sokov said with a frown as he looked at the map on the table, "He chose the breakthrough point very well.
, are usually the weakest. With the combat effectiveness of this division, even one division can break through our army's defense, not to mention that its left and right wings are assisted by two motorized infantry divisions. It seems that our army's defense line
It will collapse soon, and then it will be time to fight the enemy in street battles."
"The situation can't be so bad, right?!" Regarding Sokov's statement, Belkin said with some doubts: "Although it was an armored division and two motorized infantry divisions that stormed our defense line, our tanks were
The 4th Army can counterattack them and crush their attempt to break through our defense line."
"Comrade Political Commissar, our army does not have the strength to counterattack." Sidorin said with a grimace: "Although we have a tank army, it is only in name. The army is composed of infantry divisions. They can block German tanks.
The assault is very good. Wherever there is excess power, we can carry out counterattacks against the German troops."
"I remember that in this area, there is the famous Tatar trench, which is twenty meters deep, and there are strong fortifications nearby." Belgin said with some disbelief: "I believe that our troops can definitely take advantage of it.
Favorable terrain to block enemies trying to rush towards the Volga River."
Belkin's words ignited hope in Sidorin's heart: "The political commissar is right. I have carefully observed the terrain here. Even if the German army breaks through our defense line, there are many small rivers here.
and ravines, the German tanks could only advance along the roads. On both sides of these roads, there were only some hills, and the troops deployed on the hills could slow down the advancement of the German tanks."
"If our army can deploy more anti-tank fighters on the hills on both sides of the road, it will be able to eliminate a large number of German tanks in the procession." Belkin said with some pride: "In the newspaper some time ago,
Isn’t it said that four soldiers, relying on four anti-tank rifles, wiped out seventeen enemy tanks in half a day? I believe that such a deed will soon happen in the area from Vergachi to Lenok.
."
Sokov wanted to pour cold water on both of them and make them sober up. But then he thought about it, the war situation was not favorable for the Soviet army now, and it was the time when they needed to boost their morale. If the commanders were no longer confident, what else could they hope for?
Are the morale of the soldiers high? So he remained silent and listened quietly to the two of them having sex.
After both of them calmed down, Sokov said to them: "I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"
Belkin thought that he had heard too much bad news recently, so he said to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, let's talk about the good news first."
"The good news is that the troops led by Christopher successfully captured a German warehouse in the Mallet Rososhka area. The captured materials will be transported back by truck tonight to supplement the weapons needed by our department.
Ammunition and various supplies.”
"This is really good news." Although after this period of storage, there are already a lot of weapons, ammunition and various military supplies in the warehouse, but if there are new supplies, no one will have too much. This news makes
After Belkin was happy for a while, he asked again: "Comrade Brigadier, what about the bad news?"
"The bad news is about the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion." Sokov said with a straight face: "You must have seen that when they were bombarded by the Germans, they had no power to fight back. When I go over to inquire,
Only then did I realize that the female soldiers in the anti-aircraft artillery battalion had only received simple anti-aircraft anti-aircraft training and did not know how to use anti-aircraft artillery to deal with enemy tanks, resulting in heavy casualties. I just went to see the whole battalion.
There used to be 15 85mm anti-aircraft guns and 197 commanders and combatants. Now there are only five anti-aircraft guns and more than 60 commanders and combatants left, and the organization has almost been destroyed."
"I really didn't expect that the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion suffered such heavy casualties in the battle just now." Belkin said with some sadness: "We should immediately contact the leaders of the Red October Tractor Factory and ask them to put this unit
Withdrew and rested."
"There is no need to contact the factory leaders." Sokov immediately expressed his opposition to Belkin's proposal. "Since the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion followed the order of the city defense committee and stationed near the north slope to establish air defense positions. All of them have
Before the soldiers died, I thought their superiors would not give them orders to retreat. Therefore, I sent people to place them in the open space between the north and south slopes, so that they would not be directly attacked by German artillery fire."
"Today's situation is getting worse and worse, so we must prepare for battle in advance." Sokov began to issue orders to Sidorin: "Order all battalions to immediately close the roads in the minefields and send troops into field fortifications.
Although we are preparing to fight with the enemies who rush near Mamayev Heights."
"Comrade Brigade Commander, I think the soldiers will be very happy when they hear this order from you." When Sidorin heard Sokov's order, he said with a smile on his face: "They hide in the tunnel fortifications every day.
They are almost exhausted inside, so being able to stay outside on the surface and breathe fresh air is simply a pleasure for them."
"Compared with fresh air, life is more important." Sokov felt that he needed to give Belgin and Sidorin another warning: "In order to reduce the losses of our brigade commanders and fighters in the enemy's shelling and bombing, we have
It may cause the soldiers to stay in a tunnel that is depressing and difficult for each other for a long time. I hope everyone can be mentally prepared."
Although Belgin and Sidorin felt particularly uncomfortable while staying in the tunnel, they knew very well that if they wanted to save their lives in the battle, staying in such a fortification was the safest way.
After listening to Sokov's words, Sidorin even took the initiative to say: "Comrade Brigade Commander, our brigade headquarters is located at the foot of the hillside. If it encounters a German bombing, it may be in danger of being destroyed. I think it is better to move it."
Go into the tunnel."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right to remind me." If he hadn't heard that Hube's troops were storming the junction between the 62nd Army and friendly forces, Sokov wouldn't have felt any danger. But at this moment, he felt that he had commanded the brigade.
It was a wrong decision to place the brigade headquarters outside the tunnel, so he nodded and said: "We should move the brigade headquarters into the tunnel. We can't delay it any longer. Move it now."