Red Moscow

  Chapter 101 Women's anti-aircraft machine gun company

Rokossovsky introduced the current predicament to the two division commanders, and after assigning tasks to them, he walked up to Sokov and said to him: "Lieutenant Sokov, from the information we have obtained, The German army intends to launch a counterattack against Suhinich, intending to recapture the city and completely cut off the friendly supply line to the west of us. The enemy in the north will be defended by the troops of the 324th Division; and the south will depend on you camp, we must resolutely hold on to it, and we are not allowed to take a step back!"

  Sokov just heard that the German army will launch a counterattack against Susinich, and he still looks indifferent. According to his thinking, if the enemy comes, he will fight; if he cannot fight, he will retreat. Anyway, there is such a big city of Susinich behind him. But upon hearing Rokossovsky's last words, cold sweat broke out all over his body. In order to confirm that his guess was correct, he also tentatively asked: "Comrade Commander, if I understand correctly, you intend to let our battalion be responsible for the defense of the south?"

"That's right, that's what I mean." Unexpectedly, Rokossovsky nodded in affirmation as soon as he said, "Although you are a battalion, in terms of equipment and number of people, you are better than any infantry battalion in the city." The corps are all strong, so I am very relieved to entrust this difficult task to you."

   After figuring out Rokossovsky's true thoughts, Sokov suddenly felt his legs go weak. The hundreds of German troops who attacked yesterday had only five cannons to provide artillery support, and he was in a mess. If instead of two companies, two battalions came, and the tanks and artillery were strengthened, then even if the entire battalion was wiped out, they would not be able to hold the unnamed high ground.

  He lowered his head and considered whether he should explain his difficulties to Rokossovsky and let other people's troops carry out this arduous and glorious defensive task; at worst, he should also send several troops to cooperate with him. Suddenly I heard Kazakov's voice: "Captain Sokov, there is one more thing I forgot to tell you."

   Sokov looked at Kazakov in surprise, trying to figure out what the other party was going to tell him. Kazakov continued: "Yesterday evening, I just received a women's anti-aircraft machine gun company. In order to strengthen the air defense force in the south of the city, I think they should be deployed in the defensive zone of your battalion."

"Women's anti-aircraft machine gun company?" Sukov came to this time and space for such a long time, and it was the first time he heard of an organized female army. There won't be any gossip, will it?"

Seeing that Sokov remained silent, Kazakov thought that he was unwilling to accept this unit, so he quickly explained to him: "Captain Sokov, this may be the first time you have heard of an organized women's unit. You Rest assured, although this unit has just been formed, their company commanders and instructors are all commanders and fighters who have participated in battles. I believe that under their leadership, the performance of the female soldiers on the battlefield will not let you down."

  As a person from later generations, Sokov knows better than anyone how much Soviet women made in the Great Patriotic War. He straightened his body and asked Kazakov: "Comrade General, I would like to ask, is this unit deployed behind our defense zone, is it under my command?"

   "Does it need to be said?" Kazakov turned his head and glanced at Rokossovsky, and said to Sokov with a smile: "Your rank is the highest, and the unnamed highland in the south of the city is naturally up to you."

  Hearing that the women's anti-aircraft machine gun company was under his command, Sokov couldn't help but smile. He hurriedly asked, "Comrade General, where is the women's anti-aircraft machine gun company?"

   Kazakov did not speak, but turned his questioning gaze to Rokossovsky. After seeing the other party nod his head slightly, he said to Sokov: "Let's go, Captain Sokov, I will take you there now, and hope that they did not suffer any losses in the shelling just now."

   Kazakov beckoned a three-wheeled motorcycle over, swaggered into the sidecar, and then called Sokov to sit behind the motorcyclist. After the two sat down, Kazakov said to the motorcyclist: "Go to the women's anti-aircraft machine gun company."

   When he arrived at the station of the anti-aircraft machine gun company, Sokov was taken aback by the scene in front of him. Next to a half-destroyed, two-story building that was still burning, a group of female soldiers in steel helmets was wailing. Near where they were standing, there were many bomb craters of different sizes. It seemed that they had also been shelled here.

   Kazakov squeezed Sokov into the crowd and asked loudly, "Where is the commander? What happened here?" Because the female soldiers were crying too loudly, his voice was suppressed. Sokov quickly raised his voice and repeated what Kazakov said.

The crying of the female soldiers was much quieter. A slender young female soldier wearing a steel helmet came over, raised her hand and saluted Kazakov and said: "Comrade General, Lieutenant Liuba, the commander of the women's anti-aircraft machine gun company, welcomes you. Report!"

   "What happened to you here?" Kazakov asked with some displeasure: "Why are you crying!"

   Lieutenant Liuba turned to one side, pointed to the ground not far away and said to Kazakov: "Comrade General, please take a look."

   Kazakov looked in the direction of Liuba's finger, and saw a row of corpses lying neatly on the ground, not far away, a dozen male soldiers were digging a hole with shovels. Seeing this situation, the corners of Kazakov's mouth twitched violently a few times, and then he asked, "Comrade Lieutenant, did they all die in the shelling just now?"

"Yes, Comrade General." Lieutenant Liuba nodded vigorously, and then said: "In the shelling just now, three of our anti-aircraft machine guns were blown up, eleven female soldiers died, and fifteen others were injured. .”

  Sokov's heart sank when he heard Liuba's words. On the way here, he asked Kazakov about it, and he knew that there were nine machine guns and nearly a hundred girls in this anti-aircraft machine gun company. But I didn't expect that this company lost a quarter under the enemy's shelling before it went into battle.

  Lyuba's report surprised Kazakov too. He looked around and asked, "Where are the rest of the wounded?"

"Someone has been sent to a nearby field hospital." When Liuba was speaking, she glanced at Sokov, thinking that the captain was Kazakov's adjutant, so she continued to look at Kazakov and asked: " Comrade General, the Germans killed so many of our sisters, and we want to avenge them, when will you assign us combat missions?"

"Come and get acquainted." Kazakov pulled Sokov in front of Liuba, and introduced to her: "This is Captain Sokov, the battalion commander of the Istria Battalion. From now on, your company will formally accepts his command."

  (end of this chapter)