Sokov took Samoilov and the soldiers of the guard platoon, and after leaving Mamayev Heights, they took a shortcut to the southeast of the barricade factory.
There was a barricade fortification here, guarded by five or six soldiers and a dozen militiamen. The leader was a sergeant. He saw a small force passing through the ruins, approaching the fortification where he was, and quickly walked out of the fortification.
, waving the red and green signal flags in his hands to signal the opponent to stop advancing.
Seeing a barricade in front of him, Sokov quickly ordered the troops to stop in order to prevent unnecessary dancing, and then told Samoylov: "Comrade Lieutenant, please go over and contact the sergeant to identify us.
, by the way, I would like to ask how the situation is in the factory."
"Understood!" Samoilov agreed, leading two soldiers and walking towards the sergeant waving the signal flag.
"Comrade Lieutenant," the sergeant saw that it was a sergeant walking towards him. He quickly put away the signal flag, straightened his body and asked in a polite and appropriate tone: "Which department are you from?"
"We are from the 41st Guards Division and were ordered to reinforce the barricade factory." After Samoylov revealed his identity, he asked directly: "How is the situation in the factory?"
"It's not good, Comrade Lieutenant. More than 70% of the factory area has fallen into the hands of the enemy." The sergeant glanced at the small unit not far away and asked Samoilov tentatively: "You guys are here.
Are there so many people?”
Samoilov understood the reason why the sergeant asked. Nowadays, the garrison in the city has been greatly reduced in strength. Every time reinforcements are sent to other areas, there can be as many as three to four hundred people who belong to the large force. Most of the time, the reinforcements are as strong as
The number of people in his platoon was about the same. He shook his head and replied: "Our main force is still behind. I am escorting our division commander to see Colonel Lyudnikov."
"Your division commander?!" When the sergeant heard what Samoylov said, his eyes suddenly lit up and he asked repeatedly: "Comrade lieutenant, are you talking about Colonel Sokov?"
The sergeant's reaction surprised Samoilov. He asked in surprise: "Do you know our division commander?"
"Yes, Comrade Lieutenant." The sergeant nodded vigorously and replied: "When our division was retreating towards Stalingrad, we met Commander Chuikov and Colonel Sokov on the road. I got to know him at that time.
"
Sokov saw the sergeant on duty and Samoilov chatting and laughing from a distance, so he walked over quickly and asked Samoilov in a stern tone: "Comrade Lieutenant, can we continue to move forward?"
?”
Hearing Sokov's voice from behind, Samoylov quickly turned around and stood at attention, respectfully replied: "Yes, comrade division commander, I have already made an agreement with the sergeant, we can continue to move forward."
"Hello, Comrade Colonel." Seeing Sokov appear in front of him, the sergeant said with some excitement: "Nice to see you again."
Hearing the sergeant say that he saw him again, Sokov couldn't help but look at the other person carefully. He felt that he had no impression at all, so he asked curiously: "Comrade Sergeant, have we met before?"
"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Samoylov said from the side: "This sergeant said that he had seen you and Commander Chuikov when his troops were retreating to the city."
Samoilov's explanation reminded Sokov that he had indeed seen the commanders and fighters of the 138th Division in the suburbs when he was Chuikov's deputy. The sergeant in front of him must have seen him at that time. He asked the sergeant
He stretched out his hand and said friendly: "Hello, comrade sergeant, since we are reunited with old comrades, let's shake hands."
The sergeant wiped his hands on the clothes on his lower back, then held Sokov's hand tightly and said excitedly: "Hello, comrade colonel! I am also very happy to see you again.
.”
"Comrade Sergeant," Sokov said to him after shaking hands with the sergeant: "We have to rush to the division headquarters immediately to see your division commander, Colonel Lyudnikov, but I don't know the way. I wonder if you can
Send someone to be our guide?"
"Shait, come here." The sergeant turned around and shouted in the direction of the barricade, and a militiaman in overalls walked out of the fortification. The sergeant told him: "This commander is going to the division headquarters.
, you show them the way."
Perhaps in order to reassure Sokov and others, the sergeant also specifically explained: "Shait is a militia member of the barricade factory and is very familiar with the environment in the factory. It is absolutely right to ask him to lead you."
Sokov and the soldiers from the guard platoon followed Shait through the barricades and entered the factory area. There were ruins and piles of rubble everywhere. Shait turned to Sokov and said: "Comrade commander, the area ahead is...
You will often be shelled by the enemy, so when passing by, please speed up your steps and bend down to avoid being hit by shrapnel."
"Comrades," seeing Sokov nodding in approval, Samoilov turned to his subordinates and said loudly: "Did you all hear what Shait said? When we pass through the artillery blockade later,
, remember to bend down and move quickly, understand?"
"Understood!" the soldiers of the guard platoon replied in unison.
Soon, the guard platoon entered the artillery fire blockade area. Fortunately, the German army now has a limited inventory of artillery shells and does not dare to continue the bombardment as unscrupulously as before, but it will still fire a cold shot from time to time. Sokov and the others are here
When passing through this area, at least ten artillery shells exploded in the ruins on their left and right. The air waves lifted up the bricks and stones on the ground and threw them in all directions. Fortunately, the soldiers had already received Shait's warning, and as soon as they heard
At the sound of the roaring shells, they immediately found a place to hide. Although it was delayed a bit, there were no casualties.
Lyudnikov's command headquarters was located in the tool room of an abandoned factory building. In the room of more than ten square meters, there were only Lyudnikov who was looking at a map at his desk, and an operator who kept calling into the walkie-talkie.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, Lyudnikov raised his head and saw Sokov entering the door. He was stunned for a moment, and then he recognized Sokov, with a look of surprise on his face.
Walking towards Sokov, he stretched out his hand and said excitedly: "Hello, Colonel Sokov, nice to see you here. If I am not mistaken, you are bringing troops to reinforce us, right?
"
"Yes, Colonel Lyudnikov." Sokov shook the other person's hand and replied affirmatively: "I am leading my troops to reinforce you."
"This is great, Colonel Sokov." When Lyudnikov asked this, he instinctively tilted his head and looked over Sokov's shoulder outside the room: "How many of you are here?"
"Currently, the only troops who have followed me into the factory are the fifty people outside." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, he saw Lyudnikov's smile freeze on his face, and he quickly added: "But there are also
There is a group heading here. There are more than a thousand of them, and they can help you resist the enemy's attack."
Sokov walked to the table, looked down at the map, and asked: "Colonel, how is the situation here?"
"Not good, very bad." Lyudnikov shook his head and said: "Due to the serious attrition of our troops in recent battles and the lack of effective anti-tank weapons, we are simply unable to resist the enemy's onslaught. Now, the enemy
It is less than four hundred meters away from my headquarters."
Hearing that the enemy was less than 400 meters away from here, the muscles on Sokov's face twitched violently twice. He quickly turned around and ordered Samoilov who followed him through the door: "Comrade Lieutenant, bring your people immediately.
Once you enter the position, you must not let the Germans rush here."
Not long after Samoilov left with his men, the gunshots and explosions outside became more intensive, and seemed to be closer. Sokov couldn't help but frown secretly when he heard the sound of gunfire getting closer and closer.
He frowned, thinking that if Belkin's troops could not arrive in time, I might have no choice but to move to the rear together with Lyudnikov.
Just when Sokov was thinking wildly, a soldier carrying a rifle and wearing a helmet suddenly burst in from outside the door. He shouted hurriedly at Lyudnikov: "Comrade division commander, it's not good, the enemy.
We have broken through the 768th Regiment's position and are rushing towards here, the distance is less than a hundred meters away."
"What, the distance is less than a hundred meters?" The soldier's words startled both Sokov and Lyudnikov. They rushed to the door and looked towards the place where the gunshots were the densest. Sure enough,
I saw some German soldiers making a short leap and approaching the edge of the factory. It might only take a minute or two to rush to the headquarters.
Seeing this, Lyudnikov turned around and rushed into the headquarters, grabbed the microphone from the operator's hand, and with a voice that was a little hoarse due to excitement, shouted into the microphone: "Artillery!
Artillery!! I am Lyudnikov. The enemy has rushed to the entrance of my command post. He immediately opened fire and fired at my command post. Use rockets and hit hard!"