After Lilia flew away, Sokov felt that he should report the results of the women's flying squadron to his superiors to boost the sluggish morale. He returned to the basement and ordered the radio operator to report to the front and group army headquarters at the same time.
A telegram was sent to report the results of Raisa's battle.
After instructing the telegraph operator to send the telegram, Sokov put the matter behind him, because there were more important things waiting for him to deal with. In addition to causing the collapse of many buildings in the factory area, the German bombing also
It also destroyed so much of the northern and eastern walls that the factory director Peter had to send militiamen to defend these places to prevent enemies from rushing into the factory through these gaps.
After answering Peter's call, Zinchenko discussed with Sokov: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, director Peter just called and said that because many walls collapsed during the German bombing, in order to prevent the enemy from passing through these gaps
After breaking into the factory area, he had to send out militiamen for defense. But now there is a serious shortage of combat personnel, so he plans to withdraw the annihilation battalion from us in order to strengthen the defense of those areas."
"Comrade Deputy Factory Director," Sokov waited for Zinchenko to finish speaking, then said to him with a serious expression: "There are only more than 170 people in my army left, and there are only two militiamen in the assembly workshop.
There are more than a hundred people. If the annihilation battalion is withdrawn, do you think we can hold this place with our current strength?"
Zinchenko shook his head and replied truthfully: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, although your troops are very powerful, please forgive me, if the enemy launches a strong attack from this direction, you will not be able to defend it at all."
He stopped here, organized some vocabulary in his mind, and then continued, "But the walls of the factory area collapsed in many places during the German bombing. If we didn't send people to defend those places, the enemy would be able to arrogantly
He broke into the factory area."
Sokov disagreed with Zinchenko's reason. He stood up and walked back and forth indoors with his hands behind his back. He thought to himself: Even if the wall is not blown down, a two-meter-high wall can destroy the enemy.
Block it out? Don't let Peter transfer the annihilation battalion away. With the militiamen in his hands, it is almost impossible to block the enemies who rush into the factory area. Let them move away. The defense here in the assembly workshop
will become weak.
After repeated consideration, Sokov decided to find a way to delay the transfer of the annihilation battalion, because the original order he received was to assist in the defense here for a few days, and once the reinforcements arrived, he could withdraw to Mamayev Heights
Thinking of this, he stopped and said to Zinchenko: "Comrade Deputy Factory Director, the reinforcements sent to you by your superiors will arrive soon. How about waiting for the reinforcements to arrive and then transfer the annihilation battalion away?"
"
"Well..." Regarding Sokov's proposal, Zinchenko said with some embarrassment: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I can't make the decision on this matter. I need to ask the comrade, the factory director, for instructions."
Sokov knew that in the Red October Tractor Factory, Peter was the one who kept his word. There were some things that he didn't nod to. Even a deputy director like Zinchenko couldn't make any decisions, so he nodded and looked aside.
He pursed his lips on the phone and said, "Comrade Deputy Factory Director, please call and ask for instructions as soon as possible."
Zinchenko called Peter and repeated Sokov's meaning to him. Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Peter said resolutely: "No, Comrade Zinchenko, the annihilation battalion must return to the factory immediately. Those
If we don’t send people to defend the gap opened by the explosion as soon as possible, what will happen if the Germans sneak in during the night?”
"But, Comrade Factory Director." Zinchenko was also anxious when he heard Peter's instructions: "If the annihilation battalion is transferred away, then the defense force of the assembly workshop will become extremely weak. If it is attacked by the German army,
I'm worried that I won't be able to hold on."
"Comrade Zinchenko, why don't you understand that even if the defense force of the assembly workshop has been weakened, they have received help from the regular army after all." Peter said impatiently: "And the defenses in other areas are almost
The uniform militiamen, even if they are large in number, will be even more vulnerable to the German attack."
After repeated negotiations with Peter, Zinchenko hung up the phone and said helplessly to Sokov: "I'm sorry, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, according to Director Peter's wishes, the annihilation battalion must be launched after dark.
He was transferred before." After saying that, before Sokov could express his position, he said to the ashen-faced Bolshak, "Major Bolshak, take the time to prepare and prepare to lead the annihilation battalion before dark.
Return to the factory building."
Half an hour later, Sokov stood at the door of the ruined factory building, looking at the annihilation battalion in the distance. He felt deeply disappointed. He felt that with his current strength, he could not stop the German infantry supported by tanks.
, it was simply a fantasy. He was even thinking about whether he should urge Chuikov and ask him to get reinforcements here quickly.
Brisky walked up to Sokov, saw his disappointed look, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Brigadier, we still have some new rockets here. Do you think they can be used when the Germans attack."
For these rockets, Sokov originally planned to use them at the most critical moment, but now that the annihilation battalion has been transferred, it is equivalent to being drained from the bottom of the cauldron. If the rockets are not used, I am afraid that they will not be able to stop the German attack. So he nodded and said
: "Okay, Comrade Captain, if the German army uses tanks in their attack tomorrow, shoot out the rockets."
As soon as the two reached an agreement on the use of rockets, the operator hurriedly ran out of the basement. He waved a telegram in his hand and said excitedly to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, telegram,
The telegram is a telegram sent to you by the Army Group Headquarters."
A telegram from the Army Group Headquarters? When Sokov took the telegram from the operator, he thought to himself: Is it necessary to re-verify the results of the Women's Flying Squadron? He held the telegram in front of his eyes and browsed it quickly. Waiting
After seeing the content above clearly, he couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise. He thought he had seen it wrong, so he read it again twice before finally confirming that what he saw was true and correct.
Seeing Sokov's sudden smile, Brisky guessed that there must be something good in the telegram and asked curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander, what is written in the telegram to make you so happy?"
"Comrade Captain, take a look." Sokov thrust the telegram into Briski's hand and said to the operator: "Let's go back to the basement."
Brisky received the telegram and saw that it read: "From now on, the 437th Fighter Aircraft Regiment is under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Sokov... Signature: Chuikov." There is also a contact code with the 437th Fighter Regiment at the back.
.
Brisky thought to himself, this is a great thing. With the assistance of the air force, even if the fighter battalion is transferred, he is absolutely sure to hold on to the important position of the assembly workshop. He quickly caught up with Sokov, smiling.
Said: "Comrade Brigadier, this is a great thing. With the cooperation of the Air Force, it will not be a problem to defend this place."
After Sokov established contact with Khostnikov's regiment command post by phone, he first asked the other party what he could do for him. Khostnikov quickly ordered the Germans to shell the airport every other day.
He told the story again, and at the end of the telegram, he also asked Sokov to help find the location where the German artillery was hidden.
In response to Khostnikov's request, Sokov was naturally duty-bound. If he did not first eliminate the German artillery and allowed them to bombard the airport unscrupulously, how could the subsequent air-ground coordination be carried out? Therefore, he immediately ordered the radio
The crew members sent a report to Lieutenant Grisa who was operating behind enemy lines, asking them to quickly find the German artillery positions that were bombarding the airport.
…………
Early the next morning, a Yak-1 fighter jet added to the 437th Flight Regiment by superiors landed on the runway under the guidance of the ground control tower. After Alexey waited for the plane to stop, he immediately took the mechanic on board.
After a detailed inspection and confirming that the aircraft was in good condition, he called a ground crew member and ordered: "Go to the dormitory of the Women's Flying Squadron immediately and inform Sergeant Katya to come here to receive her.