As soon as the German artillery bombardment ended, a regiment of the German 24th Armored Division deployed near the Red October Factory launched an attack on the defensive zone of the 39th Guards Division.
Although the bombardment has ended, the residential area where the Guards Division is stationed is still shrouded in rising smoke and dust. The sun hangs high in the sky like a maroon bright spot, and it is rare to reveal a ray of light from the smoke.
During the fierce bombardment, almost all the buildings and fortifications held by the Soviet soldiers were destroyed by the German artillery fire. The commanders at all levels who crawled out of the ruins did not even have time to brush off the dust on their bodies and bent down.
Search for your surviving warriors in the ruins and loudly order them to prepare for battle.
Just as the surviving soldiers were struggling to climb out of the collapsed buildings or trenches filled with floating soil, the enemy had already followed the tanks or armored vehicles and rushed into the streets that were originally held by the Soviet troops. Because there were piles of soldiers everywhere on the streets
The enemy tanks and armored vehicles were moving very slowly, and the soldiers with guns bent down followed the vehicles, staring warily at the ruins on both sides of the street.
Although their advance was very slow, the Soviet commanders and fighters were unable to stop their advance. They finally set up a machine gun in the ruins, and after only half a shot, it was blasted into the sky by German tank fire. See you.
The enemy tanks were so troublesome that some soldiers hid in the ruins with cluster grenades, preparing to blow up the tanks with grenades when they passed by. However, the actions of these soldiers were discovered by the soldiers following the vehicles, and they were not surprised.
When they threw the cluster grenades, they were knocked down by the enemy's dense bullets...
Seeing that the position he was holding was being lost bit by bit, Guryev became anxious. He quickly called Chuikov and reported to him the situation here, and requested: "Comrade Commander, my troops have just finished their mission."
The shelling has completely destroyed the organization, and now the commanders and fighters are fighting independently. If we don't get support, I'm worried that once the enemy breaks through our defenses in the residential area, they will rush towards the factory area."
Chuikov was shocked by Guryev's words. He knew very well that once the German army broke through the residential area of the 39th Guards Division to the west of the Red October Factory, the enemy might march straight in, pass through the factory area, and reach the Volga.
By the river. Thinking of this, he quickly said into the microphone: "General Guryev, behind us is the Volga River. If you don't want your troops to be driven into the river by the Germans, then do everything you can to hold on. As for
Reinforcements, I will find a way."
Although Chuikov did not explicitly say that he would send reinforcements, Guryev still saw hope and said quickly: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander. As long as I am alive, I will definitely be able to defend my defense zone."
After Chuikov put down the phone, he turned to Krylov and said: "Chief of Staff, the situation in Guriyev is very bad now. Do you think you should let Sokov bring people to support?"
"Comrade Commander!" Krylov's face showed a dumbfounded expression: "It is estimated that there is also a fierce battle at Mamayev Heights at this moment, how can we randomly dispatch troops? You know, the Red October Factory fell, and the enemy was the most numerous.
Rush to the Volga River and drive us down the river. But if Mamayev Heights is lost, not only will our defense line in the city be divided into two sections, but even the ferry that connects us with the outside world will be occupied by the enemy.
The consequences will be unimaginable."
"But the situation in Guryev is very bad." Chuikov knew that Krylov was telling the truth, but the 39th Guards Division was currently in a critical situation, and he could not ignore death, so he said awkwardly: "Otherwise,
Shall we send out the headquarters’ security forces?”
"Comrade Commander, I want to remind you." Hearing that Chuikov planned to send out the guard battalion again, Krylov quickly reminded him: "Our original guard battalion was handed over to Sokov by you. Now he is in charge of it.
Those who protect the safety of the headquarters were transferred from the other side just two days ago. If they are sent to the Red October Factory, who will be responsible for the safety here?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, if we do nothing to save us, once the enemy captures Guryev's defense area, they can march straight through the Red October Factory, rush to the Volga River, and drive us all into the river." Chuikov's expression
Seriously: "Sending out the guard battalion is not only to relieve Guryev, but also to ensure the safety of our headquarters."
"I don't think there is any need to send out a guard battalion." Krylov knew from the shelling that ended not long ago that the German army used powerful forces this time to try to break through the Soviet defense line and rush to the Volga River. Even if
Guryev blocked the Germans, and they might rush to the river from other directions. If there were no guards in the headquarters, there would be the risk of being beaten by the Germans at any time. It was out of this consideration that he insisted on
Said: "I think troops can be transferred from other places to strengthen General Guryev's defense area."
"But didn't you just say that Sokov might have been attacked by the enemy and unable to mobilize troops?"
"Yes, I said that." Krylov said to Chuikov: "But now in the Red October Factory, in addition to the mixed regiment composed of the remnants of the 184th Infantry Division, there is also Colonel Gurdiev
The 308th Infantry Division, no matter which unit they have, can rush over to support Guryev."
Hearing what Krylov said, Chuikov raised his hand and slapped his forehead hard, and said repeatedly: "Confused, I am so confused! How could I forget that there are other troops in the Red October Factory? Staff
Commander, immediately call Colonel Gurdiev and order him to immediately send the 347th Regiment to support Gurdiev."
Before Krylov picked up the phone, shouts came one after another from outside: "Air raid, air raid siren, take cover, everyone, take cover!"
"Air raid?!" Although German aircraft often appeared over the Volga River, bombing ferries and ships traveling on the river, they seemed to have never bombed other targets on the banks of the Volga River, so Chuikov heard this
The shouting felt very strange. He walked to the door and asked a soldier who was looking into the air outside: "What happened? Why is it so noisy outside?"
"Comrade Commander." Seeing that the commander was asking him, the soldier quickly stood up straight and replied respectfully: "There are about twenty enemy planes coming towards us. I'm afraid they are preparing to attack us."
We carry out bombings."
"Hell, how can you be so sure that the enemy planes are coming to bomb us?" Chuikov said with some displeasure: "Maybe the enemy is preparing to bomb the troops standing in the factory area."
"Comrade Commander, the sky above the factory area is filled with gunpowder smoke, and the enemy planes cannot see the target clearly." Seeing that Chuikov did not believe his words, the soldier quickly explained: "And we are close to the river, and the wind blowing from the river has blown away the gunpowder smoke.
If we are separated, the enemy will easily find us..."
Before the soldier finished speaking, the enemy planes had already flown over the headquarters, and then began to dive and drop bombs. The bombs landed on the shore and exploded, and columns of water mixed with sand rose into the sky. Various simple fortifications appeared like
Like a paper toy, it was torn to pieces by the force of the explosion and thrown high into the air.
A bomb fell and exploded not far away. Chuikov felt someone push him hard from the side, causing him to fall to the ground unprepared. He originally thought that someone pushed him from the side in order to save himself.
I fell to the ground and looked around. Except for the soldier who was talking to me, who was lying on the ground with his head in his arms, he couldn't see anyone else at all. He must have been overturned by the air wave of the explosion.
Chuikov crawled from the ground, quickly turned around and ran into the headquarters, shouting loudly to Krylov: "Chief of Staff, inform the units directly under the headquarters to pay attention to air defense!"
Krylov dropped the microphone in his hand and said loudly to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, the phone line has been blown up, and our communication with the outside has been interrupted."
"Colonel Yulin," Krylov said to Chuikov, then turned around and called the director of the communications corps, and ordered him: "Immediately send someone to contact the units directly under the headquarters and let them prepare for air defense. Hurry.
Go, don’t wait!”
After Yulin dispatched the communication troops, Chuikov asked Krylov: "Except for the Red October Factory, what is the situation in the other areas?"
"Fierce battles also took place at the silicate factory and the barricade factory." Krylov replied: "But what is strange is that although the Dzerzhinsky Tractor Factory also suffered heavy shelling from the Germans, the shelling
After it was over, no trace of the enemy was found in that direction."
After listening to Krylov's introduction, Chuikov had a general understanding of the enemy's intentions. He walked to the table, raised his hand to brush away the dust scattered from the roof, pointed to the map and said: "According to the enemy's input into the battle,
Analyzing the strength of the troops, the enemy is trying to rush to the Volga River from the direction of the Red October Factory and the Barricade Factory. Then he will go back to the rear of Mamayev Hill, occupy the ferry, and cut off our connection with the other side."
"Once our connection with the other side is interrupted." Krylov had long been aware of this problem. Seeing that Chuikov had also discovered it, he said with a sad face: "Not to mention that the troops needed by the army cannot be replenished, even the ammunition is very low.
It will be exhausted soon. Once our ammunition runs out, we will have no choice but to fight with the enemy with bayonets like Sokov and his friends did."
"Therefore we must defend the Red October Factory and the Barricade Factory with all our strength." Krylov also clicked twice on the map with his hand and said: "If necessary, we can combine the Gurdiev Division and Goli
The Schnei Division relocated back to the Red October Factory to strengthen the defense there."
"It's not necessary." Chuikov shook his head and said, "Let them stay between the Red October Factory and the Barricade Factory. If they see danger in any direction, they will immediately rush to that direction to provide support."
"Comrade Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff." The two were talking when an officer suddenly ran in from outside and shouted loudly: "A shelter in the Logistics Department was destroyed by an enemy bomb."
The officer Krylov recognized at a glance was Major Zinoviev from the supply station of the Logistics Department. He quickly asked: "Are there any casualties?"
Major Zinoviev raised his sleeve and wiped it on his face, nodded and replied: "Three people died on the spot and five were injured. One of the officers had his leg pinned down by a fallen log. We are
Organize manpower to rescue."
Although the enemy planes continued to bomb outside, Chuikov waved his hand and said in a tone that left no doubt: "Major Zinoviev, take me to see it immediately."
Zinoviev did not dare to make the decision, so he turned to Krylov for help to see how he would react. Krylov knew that once Chuikov decided on something, no one could persuade him to change his mind, so he rushed to Zinoviev.
Noviev nodded and signaled him to obey the order and take Chuikov to see the collapsed shelter.
Zinoviev led Chuikov through a few hundred meters of traffic trenches, came to a collapsed shelter, and said: "Comrade Commander, we are right here."
Chuikov saw a dozen soldiers, risking enemy bombing, trying to move the burning logs away from the collapsed position. He guessed that the officer Zinoviev was talking about must still be inside.
, so he came over.
When he saw this, he was startled. He saw a lieutenant officer, who was pressed against his waist by five or six horizontal logs. Although some soldiers tried to move the logs, they failed. He could not stand.
The military doctor in the distance saw Chuikov coming in person, so he walked over quickly, leaned into Chuikov's ear, and whispered: "Comrade Commander, the fallen log hit his waist. Even if he is rescued, he
I’m afraid he is also a useless person.”
Chuikov heard what the military doctor meant, which was that the officer's waist was broken by a log. Even if he was rescued, he would probably have to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Although he agreed with the military doctor's opinion in his heart, he did not
It was necessary for the soldiers to take risks to rescue a disabled man who was about to be paralyzed. But as the officer's superior, he could not ignore death, so he turned to the military doctor and said: "Comrade military doctor, as long as he is still alive, we
We must do everything possible to rescue him from it."
Seeing that the military doctor seemed to want to say something else, he quickly raised his hand and interrupted the other person: "Comrade military doctor, my decision has been made, you don't need to say any more. After the soldiers rescue him later, you must immediately perform surgery on him."
Treatment, whether he can survive depends on his luck."
The enemy plane hovering in the sky found that there were many people surrounding the shelter that had been blown down and was still smoking. He immediately realized that the destroyed shelter might be an important command post. Otherwise, what would happen?
Could there be so many people around here? Thinking of this, he immediately pushed the joystick and dived towards the ground.
"Hide, take cover quickly." Hearing the scream of a dive bomber in the air, Chuikov was startled into a cold sweat. After shouting at the top of his lungs for a while, he jumped into a nearby bomb crater to avoid the enemy air attack.