Red Moscow

  Chapter 322 Plane Crash

  What he saw and heard in the police station reminded Sokov that although the German army had not yet reached Stalingrad, the agents they sent were trying to sneak into the city. For them, this is not a difficult task. Nowadays, small troops retreating from the front line are entering the city one after another every day. It is not surprising if there are a few disguised Germans among them.

  As soon as he returned to the brigade headquarters, Sokov sent Assia back to the health team, and then called a meeting of all company commanders. At the meeting, Sokov first briefly introduced the truth about his being detained by the police, and then expressed his gratitude to the commanders who cared about him. Finally, he said: "comrades commanders, we have called you here today, There are important tasks to be assigned."

Seeing that the commanders took out pens and paper and prepared to record, Sokov continued: "Comrades, the fortifications on Mamayev Post have basically been completed. Starting today, troops will be dispatched one after another. Enter the tunnel..."

"Comrade Brigadier," Vanya couldn't help interjecting when he learned that the troops were about to enter the tunnel, "I think it's better to let our soldiers enter the tunnel when the German army approaches Mamayev's post. The air in the tunnel It is cloudy and the lighting is seriously insufficient. People will feel a strong sense of depression when staying inside. I am worried that the soldiers will have a nervous breakdown if they stay inside for a long time."

  What Vanya said was also what many commanders present wanted to say. At this moment, when they heard that someone had expressed their feelings, they all echoed, "That's right, let's let the soldiers enter the tunnel when the Germans approach the Mamayev Post."

"No." After the tent became quiet again, Sokov said firmly, "In order for the soldiers to adapt to the life in the tunnel as soon as possible, starting today, the soldiers of each unit will be divided into two groups, and they will be stationed in the tunnel in turn, 24 hours a day. Once. After a week, everyone must live in the tunnel forever."

"Comrade Brigadier," Vanya said anxiously, "I don't understand why you insist on letting our soldiers live in the tunnels. You know, even if we are bombarded by the Germans, we are behind the Mamayev Gang. The campsite will not suffer too much loss!"

"The shelling may not cause much damage to the camp behind the hill." Sokov looked at Vanya and said with a serious expression, "But have you ever thought that once the Germans send bombers, they will attack Mamayev?" If we bomb the hill, our camp behind the hill will become the focus of the bombing, and even if I don’t tell you what kind of casualties will happen to the troops, you can imagine it yourself.”

Sokov didn't want to get entangled with his commanders on this kind of issue. He said in an orderly tone: "I now announce that the first and second battalions will be stationed in the tunnel on the south slope, and the third battalion will be stationed in the tunnel on the north slope. The fourth battalion As the reserve team of the whole brigade, continue to stay in the current camp."

"Also, recently some Germans disguised themselves and mixed with our troops retreating into Stalingrad. In order to prevent the fortifications of Mamayev Post from being detected by the Germans, we must strengthen the security work on the highlands and surrounding areas. Understand? "

   After everyone agreed unevenly, Andre asked tentatively: "Comrade Brigadier, I would like to ask, how large an area should we complete the security work?"

"All roads leading to Mamayev Post must immediately set up checkpoints to conduct strict checks on passing pedestrians and vehicles." Sokov said solemnly: "The fortifications on the north and south slopes must be Send special personnel to station and set up machine gun fire points to prevent possible sneak attacks by the German army...Patrol teams should be sent to areas and minefields where barbed wire is erected to conduct 24-hour uninterrupted patrols. If suspicious people are found approaching, if the warning is invalid, you can Kill directly."

  Sokov's last words stunned everyone. After a long time, a company commander tentatively asked: "Comrade Brigadier, is this appropriate?"

"It's nothing inappropriate." Sokov waved his hand at the company commander, and said plausibly: "It's a time of war, and anyone who approaches a military building without authorization may be a saboteur. After your warnings are ineffective, just start Gun, if the superior blames it, I will bear all the responsibilities."

After all the commanders left one after another, Belgin asked Sokov curiously: "Comrade Brigadier, before we got permission from our superiors, we set up checkpoints and guarded Mamayev Hill and the surrounding areas without authorization. Does it fit?"

"Comrade Commissar, the war is imminent. In order to reduce the casualties of the troops in the battle, some things must be planned." Sokov replied: "Although the German army only needs to launch an attack on Mamayev Post, they can figure out our fortifications." Where is it. But I hope that before the battle begins, the Germans must not be allowed to sneak into our defense zone."

Hearing what Sokov said, Belkin couldn't help laughing, "Comrade Brigadier, you are too worried. I admit that there are Germans who disguised themselves as ours and sneaked into Stalingrad. But the number must be limited. You How do you know they will definitely come here on Mamayev Kurgan?"

"As long as there are valuable military targets, they are the focus of their reconnaissance." Sokov reminded Belkin: "Comrade Comrade, I think you should know that the position of Mamayev Post is very important. You can look down from the high ground The entire Stalingrad and the Volga River, controlling here can control a large area, including the Volga River transportation line that is the lifeblood of Stalingrad. According to my judgment, the German army will definitely use this place as a key offensive target.”

  Regarding Sokov’s statement, Belkin said unwillingly: “Perhaps the fortifications we built on Mamayev Gang were not noticed by the enemy at all…”

"Comrade Commissar," Sokov interrupted Belgin before he could finish, "I'll tell you an insider tip. When the Germans approached Moscow last year, they attacked the city by air. There were two heavy bombs It fell into the Kremlin, one fell into the armory and exploded, causing all the anti-aircraft gun squads on the roof to die; and the other fell into the George Hall of the Kremlin, but fortunately, the bomb stuck to the ceiling, No explosion.

  The armory is just opposite Stalin's residence and office. The Luftwaffe's ability to drop bombs so accurately must have been guided by ground personnel. Think about it, in a place as heavily guarded as the Kremlin, the Germans can lurk nearby to provide guidance for bombing planes, not to mention our little Mamayev Post. "

  The fact that the Kremlin was bombed by enemy planes is strictly confidential, and the number of people who know it is very limited, and Sokov also learned about it through the historical materials of later generations. When Belkin heard the news, his eyes widened in surprise: "Comrade Brigadier, is what you said true? Was the Kremlin really bombed by enemy planes?"

   "That's right, Comrade Political Commissar." Sokov nodded and gave Belgin an affirmative answer: "What I said is true."

  Belkin was silent for a moment, and suddenly thought of a topic he was interested in: "Comrade Brigadier, do you know why the bomb that fell on the George Hall did not explode?"

   "When the engineers opened the bomb, they found that there was no detonator inside. A note was stuffed inside, which said in German and Russian: 'We are German anti-governmentists'."

  After listening to Sokov, Belkin showed a knowing smile on his face: "It seems that in the *** camp, there are also comrades who stand on the same front as us."

  The two were talking when the phone on the table rang suddenly. Belkin grabbed the microphone, put it close to his ear, and said, "I'm Belkin, where are you?" , "Please rest assured, we will immediately send medical personnel to the crash site."

  After Belgin put down the phone, Sokov asked curiously: "Comrade Commissar, what happened? Whose plane crashed?"

"That's right, Comrade Brigadier." Belkin looked up at Sokov and said, "I just received a report from the City Defense Committee that the plane taken by General Chuikov, commander of the 64th Army, was on its way to Stalingrad. It was intercepted by German fighter jets and unfortunately shot down. According to the report from the observation post, the crash site is three to four kilometers west of Mamayev Hill, and the superior ordered us to send people to find the crashed plane."

Knowing that the plane that Chuikov was on was shot down by a German fighter jet, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little bit in his heart. He thought to himself that if this general who shined in the defense of Stalingrad died because of the plane crash, then The history that comes down may have unexpected shifts.

Thinking of this, Sokov immediately told Belkin: "Comrade political commissar, immediately call the health team and ask Pavlov to dispatch competent personnel to form a medical team and rush with us to the crash site for search and rescue." While Belgin was calling, Sokov rushed outside the tent again, called for Seryozha, and ordered him to gather a platoon of guards and carry out the mission with him.

  The guard platoon was quickly assembled, and the medical team of the health team also arrived. Everyone whispered to each other: "What happened, why did you send a medical team?"

Hearing the commotion outside the tent, Sokov knew that the troops had assembled, and said to Belkin, "Comrade Commissar, I will personally lead people to search and rescue, and I will leave the matter here to you." out of the tent.

  The security platoon soldiers and medical staff who were talking outside the tent immediately fell silent when they saw Sokov coming out of the tent. Sokov stood in front of the queue and said to everyone: "Comrades, the plane of a general was shot down by enemy fighter jets near Mamayev Hill. Our task now is to carry out search and rescue missions. Time It's urgent, everyone get in the car immediately and prepare to go."

  (end of this chapter)