"What, your brigade commander died?" Chuikov couldn't help being shocked when he heard the news, and quickly asked: "Where is his body?"
"No more," the soldier said with a cry: "At that time, a group of enemies rushed near the building. He personally led the people to fight back. Unexpectedly, he was directly hit by a shell. We didn't even find his body."
Chuikov took off the big-brimmed hat on his head and looked sadly at the rows of corpses in the open space without saying a word. But Klimov, who was standing next to him, saw that the veins on his temples were exposed.
Although the soldier did not know Chuikov, he knew from the three gold stars on his rhombus collar that the person standing in front of him was a lieutenant general. He quickly asked tentatively: "Comrade General, we only have 25 people and one tank left.
The ammunition is almost used up, and the tank's shells are also out. If the enemy attacks again, we may not be able to stop them. Can you send us some reinforcements?"
"Comrade soldier," Chuikov said, looking at the unknown soldier: "We must stop the enemy. Once they occupy the station, they will split the defense line of our group army. I will send people as soon as possible to get the ammunition you need.
Send them here; as for reinforcements, I will try my best to find them for you."
"Comrade Commander," Klimov turned his head and glanced at Mamayev Heights in the distance, and whispered in Chuikov's ear: "How about we transfer some of Lieutenant Colonel Sokov's troops here?"
Chuikov looked at Mamayev Hill, thought for a long time, and then shook his head and said: "No, we can't move the troops on Mamayev Hill. You know, that is also the focus of the German attack. As long as the enemy takes Mamayev Hill,
At Jevgan, we can use artillery fire to blockade the entire city and control the river transportation lines on the Volga River. We cannot take this risk."
Seeing that Chuikov rejected his proposal, Klimov said reluctantly: "But, Comrade Commander, look, there are only 25 defenders left in the station, and there is also a serious lack of ammunition. If the Germans
If they launch an attack again, they won't be able to stop it."
"Adjutant, I understand what you said." No matter what Klimov said, Chuikov was not willing to use Sokov's troops easily. He looked at Klimov and said: "Otherwise, from now on
From the security battalion of the Army Group Headquarters, fifty people will be dispatched to strengthen the defense here?"
"Comrade Commander, fifty people are too few." Klimov originally wanted Chuikov to give more people, but as soon as the words came out, he immediately realized that if troops were transferred from the guard camp, the defense of the headquarters would be
The force will become weak, so he quickly changed his words and said: "If manpower is transferred from the guard battalion, then the force responsible for the security work of the headquarters will become weak. Comrade Commander, could you please think about it again?"
"First draw fifty people to strengthen the defense here!" Chuikov said in an unquestionable tone: "This afternoon, troops should enter the city. Then let them take over the defense of the station, and at the same time, we will transfer our soldiers back.
Already."
…………
In a small town more than ten kilometers west of the central railway station, the headquarters of the German 24th Armored Division is stationed. The division commander, Major General Schild, wearing the Iron Cross on his chest, looked at him standing with a frosty face.
The commander of the 21st Grenadier Regiment in front of him was Colonel Lengok.
After a long time, he said: "Mr. Colonel, please tell me why a regiment of yours attacked the Central Railway Station in Stalingrad for a whole day and night, but failed to succeed and instead lost more than 300 brave men.
Imperial soldiers, and fifteen precious tanks?”
"Mr. Commander, please listen to my explanation." Although the weather in Russia in September was a bit chilly, Lengek's forehead was still covered with sweat. He took out his handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat, and explained in a panic.
Said: "We have concentrated our strength and launched an attack with all our strength. Unexpectedly, the Russian resistance was too tenacious. My soldiers have rushed into the station building several times, but they have been driven out."
Schild felt that the failure of the attack on the Central Station was simply a shame for himself. You must know that the 24th Armored Division had never lost a battle in these months of fighting. On the contrary, he often fought with one battalion.
The strength of the Soviet army defeated a brigade or even a division of the Soviet army. This time, a regiment was mobilized to attack the central railway station with only a few hundred people to defend it, but it came back defeated. Schild wanted to immediately lose the battle.
For reasons, Lengek was removed from his post.
Schild said angrily: "According to the information I have received, the defenders at the station only have three T-34 tanks and three to four hundred soldiers, and the equipment they use is not as good as ours. Why do they still use it?"
Why don’t you get off the station? What’s going on?”
After Lengek wiped the sweat from his forehead again, he said to Schild: "Your Excellency, division commander, I assure you that if we can get the support of more tanks, we will definitely be able to take down the station."
When Schild heard what Lengerk said, he did not immediately express his opinion. Instead, he turned his attention to a colonel sitting at the conference table: "Colonel Ribel, I would like to ask how many tanks you have that can be put into battle immediately.
.”
The colonel named Ribel was the commander of the 26th Armored Regiment. After hearing Schild's question, he quickly stood up from his seat, shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said helplessly.
: "I'm sorry, Your Excellency, Division Commander. Within a week, I don't think my armored regiment will be able to go into battle?"
Before Schild could speak, Lengek asked first, "Why?"
"Why else?!" Ribel said with a wry smile: "Our tanks have run out of fuel, and the high-explosive shells have also been fired. Colonel Lengok, you can't let me attack the Russian infantry with armor-piercing shells, can you?"
"Colonel Heim." Schild felt that the failure of the 21st Grenadier Regiment's attack on the Central Railway Station would affect the morale and morale of the troops to some extent, so he looked at Heim, the commander of the 26th Grenadier Regiment and asked: "
I plan to leave the task of attacking the Central Railway Station to your regiment. How about it? Are there any questions?"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander!" Heim quickly stood up and replied: "Our regiment is currently too far from the central train station. If we exchange defense zones at this time, it may cause unnecessary confusion."
After hearing Heim's answer, Schild couldn't help but snorted coldly, and then said to Lengerk: "Mr. Colonel, I will give you another chance. If your regiment cannot seize the Central Railway Station before dark today,
If you do, you will lose your colonel's epaulettes."
…………
Sokov saw the battle at the Central Railway Station last night from the observation post on the top of the hill. Hearing the sound of gunfire from the station, he couldn't help but want to pick up the phone several times.
Chuikov asked Chuikov if he could send troops to support the defenders at the station. But in the end, reason defeated his impulse. He understood that the next battle here on Mamayev Hill would be even more brutal. Even though he had more than 5,000 troops now,
Whether it can be supported until the end of the Battle of Stalingrad is still unknown.
At dawn, he returned to the tunnel from the observation post and ordered the observation post to not only monitor the movements in the direction of the Central Railway Station, but also to closely monitor the movements on the Volga River. Once he saw a large force crossing the river, he would be notified immediately.
.
After staying up all night, Sokov returned to the headquarters in the tunnel. He felt as if his eyes were filled with lead and became heavier and heavier. He said to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I'm sleepy. First, I'm sleepy."
Sleep for a while. If there's anything important, wake me up."
After not knowing how long he had slept, Sokov suddenly felt someone shaking his shoulders vigorously. He opened his eyes drowsily and asked sleepily: "What's the matter?"
Sidorin's voice came to his ears: "Comrade Brigade Commander, there was a call from the observation post on the top of the hill, saying that a large number of troop transport ships appeared on the river, and it seems that a large force is crossing the river!"
Hearing that troops were crossing the river, Sokov immediately woke up. He sat up straight and while putting on his boots, he said to Sidorin: "It seems that the troops supplemented by the superiors for the group army have arrived. I'm here
Go take a look at the observation post above, and I’ll leave this place to you.”
When Sokov arrived at the observation post on the top of the hill, the observation post staying here immediately reported to him: "Comrade Brigade Commander, a unit is crossing the river." After saying that, he handed over the telescope he was holding.
.
Sokov took the telescope from the observation post and looked in the direction of the Volga River. Sure enough, he saw several ferries on the river, which were crowded with Soviet commanders and fighters. Looking from a distance, he could only see a dense forest.
Steel helmet.
"Comrade Brigade Commander," the observation post said from the side: "There are too many people on the ferry. If we encounter a bombing by the Germans and a bomb falls, at least dozens of people will be killed and injured."
Sokov strongly agrees with the observation post. The Germans are not blind. The Soviet army crossed the river so blatantly in broad daylight. It would be strange if it did not attract German bombing. "Yes, if the German army
If planes bombed them, it would definitely cause huge casualties. However, there was no way. The situation in Stalingrad was so critical that the superiors could only take risks and send troops into the city in broad daylight."
As soon as Sokov finished speaking, two enemy planes appeared in the sky. After passing over the Mamayev Hills, they headed straight for the Volga River. Seeing this, Sokov secretly screamed, "Oh no!"
The plane must have gone to bomb the troop carrier. I wanted to help, but there was no anti-aircraft artillery fire here at Mamayev Kurgan, and the MG34 used for masturbation a few days ago did not have enough range, so I could only watch the enemy planes attack the river.
The ships inside were bombed.
The enemy planes swooped down towards the ferry in the river, dropping bombs and strafing. One ferry was hit by a bomb. In a dazzling fire, countless soldiers standing near the bombing point were blown away. Those who were not blown away
The soldiers were not much better. Many were hit by flying shrapnel. Some died on the spot, while others were howling and rolling on the deck.
Although some ships were not hit by bombs, the bullets fired from the plane plowed through the crowd, and many soldiers fell to the ground. Many new soldiers were frightened when they saw this situation.
Sitting on the deck waiting for death, they jumped into the river one after another. If the water quality was good, they could still swim towards the city. If the water quality was not good, they would splash in the water a few times and then sink to the bottom of the river or be swept away by the rapid water.
Rushed downstream.
When Sokov saw the bombed fleet on the river, he couldn't help but think of the scene in "The Enemy". The ferry on which Vasily was riding was also bombed and strafed by German aircraft when crossing the river. Many soldiers were afraid and
They all jumped into the water to escape, only to be shot to death by political workers on the boat. At this moment, Sokov also saw many soldiers jumping into the water to escape, but he did not see anyone standing by the boat and shooting into the water.
Two of the twelve ferries transporting troops were bombed and sunk, and they sank to the bottom of the cold Volga River together with hundreds of commanders and fighters on them. Three other ferries were damaged, and more than half of the commanders and fighters on board were killed or injured. Although
Despite suffering such heavy losses, all the ships headed towards the ferry in Stalingrad without hesitation.
After the ship docked, the commanders and fighters on the ship immediately disembarked and strode toward the city where the battle was taking place along the road that was riddled with holes. Sokov returned the telescope to the observation post and turned around without saying a word and returned.
tunnel.
About ten minutes later, a tall, unfamiliar general, led by Seryosha, came to Sokov's headquarters. Before Sokov could speak, the general had already taken the initiative and said: "Hello,
Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I am Major General Rodimtsev, commander of the 13th Guards Rifle Division, and I would like to ask, where is the group army headquarters?"
Sokov remembered that in the movie about the Battle of Stalingrad, after Rodimtsev appeared, he reported to Chuikov immediately. The reason why he appeared in his headquarters at this moment was entirely because he occupied it first.
Mamayev Hill, and finally pushed Chuikov to the underground headquarters on the Tsaritsa River.
Sokov quickly stepped forward to salute Rodimtsev and said: "Hello, comrade general, I am Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. The mission of our brigade is to hold on to Mamayev Hill. As for
Comrade Commander's headquarters is in the Tsaritsyn Caves between Pushkin Square and the Tsaritsa River. If you want to see him, I can send someone to be your guide."
Rodimtsev waved his hand and said: "It's too late. When I just landed, I heard gunfire from everywhere. It seems that the enemy has rushed into the city. My troops need to go into battle immediately. You
Can the phone here be used to contact the Army Group Headquarters? I want to contact General Chuikov immediately and ask him to deploy combat missions for us."