Red Moscow

  Chapter 657 Battlefield fire brigade (Part 1)

"Since the enemy has already started to move south, will our retreat at this time turn into a rout?" Seeing that Chuikov urged the troops to retreat, Khrushchev expressed his concerns: "If the enemy takes the opportunity to follow and pursue, then Our troops risk being driven into the Volga by the enemy."

  Although Chuikov agreed with Khrushchev's concerns, he couldn't just watch the troops fall into a siege and be eaten up by the enemy bit by bit. He said anxiously: "Stop the attack now and let the troops withdraw, we can still preserve most of our strength. If it is too late, it will be too late, Comrade Military Commissioner, make up your mind quickly!"

   Khrushchev did not express any opinions on whether to retreat or continue to hold on. Instead, he took out a cigarette case from his pocket, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. He took out the matches and struck a few without igniting them. He was so angry that he threw the matches and cigarettes on the ground and stomped hard.

Seeing Khrushchev's gaffe, Chuikov knew in his heart that the opponent was hesitant about whether to fight or withdraw, so he said euphemistically: "Comrade Military Commissar, it is actually not difficult to prevent the troops from retreating into a rout. It is necessary to leave a unit for cover, and the Gurdiyev and Gorishny divisions can be withdrawn smoothly."

   "Chuikov, which army do you plan to let go?" Khrushchev looked up at Chuikov and asked, "You won't be playing Misha again, right?"

Chuikov, who was originally quite calm, couldn't help but blush when Khrushchev guessed what was on his mind, and said in embarrassment: "Yes, Comrade Military Commissar. Colonel Sokov's troops are very good at defensive warfare. This can be seen from the fact that the enemy has never been able to break through the Mamayev Post. If his troops are cut off, we can withdraw more troops to the Red October factory."

"I'm afraid this won't work." Khrushchev looked down at the map on the table and continued, "Look, Misha's 41st Guards Division is now on the left flank, a few kilometers away from the enemy's position In broad daylight, troops are mobilized under the noses of the enemy to take over the defense, and they will definitely be bombed and intercepted by the air force along the way, and when they arrive at their destination, it is estimated that there will not be many people left."

Chuikov heard Khrushchev's favoritism towards Sokov, but now to reverse the unfavorable situation, he really had to dispatch the reserve team under Sokov. Direction, explained to Khrushchev: "Comrade Military Commissar, I am not talking about the two regiments occupying the enemy's position, but the regiment left behind on Mamayev Post."

   "The regiment that stayed at Mamayev Gangdo?" Khrushchev looked at Chuikov blankly, "Comrade Chuikov, what is going on here, you have confused me."

"Comrade Military Commissar, let me report to you." Krylov felt that he should appear on the stage at this moment, so he took the initiative to say to Khrushchev: "According to the battle plan reported by Sokov, after successively capturing the enemy's After the first and second lines of defense, he would put the second echelon, the 125th Guards Regiment, into battle. But somehow, after he had completed his original combat intention, the second echelon remained at the Mamayev, no movement."

   "So that's how it is." Khrushchev nodded and asked back, "General Krylov, are you planning to let Misha put this army into battle?"

"Exactly, Comrade Military Commissar." Krylov replied in an affirmative tone: "The distance from the northern hill of Mamayev Kurgan to the defensive position of the 351st Regiment is less than two kilometers. If the husband gives the order, they should be able to reach the designated combat area within 20 minutes."

   Khrushchev did not speak, but took out a cigarette from the cigarette case again and put it on his mouth. This time Krylov took the initiative to strike a match, lit a cigarette for him, and then asked cautiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you think this is okay?"

After taking a few puffs of cigarettes, Khrushchev nodded slowly and said, "Okay, General Krylov, you call Misha right now and ask him to send the 125th Guards Regiment immediately. Take over the defense of the 351st Regiment and cover the retreat of Gurdiyev's and Gorishny's divisions."

  Seeing that Khrushchev agreed to send Sokov's troops to fight, Chuikov and Krylov couldn't help but smile at each other. With the assistance of this new force, more vitality can be preserved for the city. Chuikov said to Krylov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, after you call Colonel Sokov, you will inform Gurdiyev and Gorishny and let their two divisions withdraw from the battlefield under alternate cover."

  ...

  Sokov was in the headquarters, discussing with Ivanov, Sidolin and others how to get the troops back to Mamayev Post smoothly. After receiving a call from Krylov, he was suddenly dumbfounded.

  Seeing Sokov's distraught look, Ivanov asked curiously, "Comrade commander, is something wrong?"

"The superior is going to terminate this counterattack." Sukov held the microphone and said to everyone with a wry smile: "Order us to immediately send the 125th Guards Regiment to the north to take over the defense of the 351st Regiment and cover Gur Diev's and Gorishny's divisions retreat."

   "Why is this?" After hearing Sokov's words, Ivanov became angry: "What right do they have to send our troops to cover their retreat?"

  The division political commissar Anisimov, who had always had no sense of presence in the division, stood up uncharacteristically and said, "Two division commanders, don't you think this order is a bit abnormal?"

"Of course it's abnormal." Sokov said casually: "We actually asked us to dispatch the reserve team to rescue the friendly forces on the right wing. You know, the defense zone of the 39th Guards Division is less than one kilometer away from them. In the early battles, the loss of soldiers was relatively large, but there is still no problem in responding to the retreat of the Gurdiyev Division and the Gorishny Division."

"Comrade commander, you don't understand what I mean." Seeing that Sokov misinterpreted his meaning, Anisimov quickly explained: "As far as I know, Comrade Khrushchev, the military commissar of the front army, is currently serving as the commander of the army group. Ministry, I think the order issued by the superior must have been approved by him."

Anisimov only briefly mentioned Khrushchev, and did not continue, but Sukov understood what he meant: If Chuikov and the others wanted to issue such an order, it was obviously through Khrushchev. husband's permission. Under such circumstances, no matter how much dissatisfaction there is, they can only insist on executing the order and dispatch the 125th Guards Regiment who stayed on Mamayev Hill to cover the retreat of friendly troops.

   "Comrade Chief of Staff, call Lieutenant Colonel Ershakov." Sokov knew that he could not escape the fate of the fire brigade, so he could only weakly order Sidolin: "Let him come here immediately to accept the combat mission."

   "What about the 122nd and 124th regiments?" Sidolin looked at Sokov and asked, "Should they continue to hold their positions, or should they retreat to Mamayev Post alternately under cover."

"Let them withdraw." Although Sokov did not receive an order to retreat from his superiors, he still made a decisive decision: "We need more troops to protect Mamayev Hill. Consumed in insignificant places."

If Sokov had said this before receiving Krylov's call, maybe Ivanov would argue with him a few more words, but at this moment he has realized that the two regiments responsible for counterattack missions will be in the future. The main force defending Mamayev Gang, so after Sokov finished speaking, he just nodded slightly and did not express any objection.

   Yershakov, who was staying in the tunnel, felt restless because Sokov had delayed sending his troops to attack. After receiving the call from Sidolin, he immediately smiled. He said to the chief of staff of the regiment: "Comrade chief of staff, it seems that our regiment is ready to be sent to the field. I will go to the command post to receive orders. You first assemble the troops and prepare for the attack."

  Yershakov trotted all the way to the command post. After he raised his hand to salute Sokov and the others, he asked breathlessly, "Comrade commander, is it our regiment's turn?"

   "Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Ershakov." Sokov nodded and asked, "If I order you to attack now, how long will it take for the troops to leave the tunnel?"

"No more than five minutes, Comrade Division Commander." Ershakov said excitedly, "Before I came, I ordered the chief of staff to assemble the troops, and the troops can start immediately after receiving the order to attack. "

"Then after a quarter of an hour, you can lead the troops to attack." Sokov knew very well that many uncertain factors would prevent the troops from attacking within the stipulated time, so he gave Yershakov an extra ten minutes Time: "Come here on the map, and I'll give you a brief introduction."

   Since Yershakov had been staying in the tunnel, he had no idea what the situation outside was like. Hearing that Sokov told him to go to the map, he walked over happily, waiting for Sokov to assign him a task.

"Lieutenant Colonel Ershakov," Sokov pointed to the map on the table, and said to Ershakov, "After you and your people leave the tunnel in Beigang, immediately move to the northwest. .”

   "Moving to the northwest?" Ershakov asked in confusion: "Comrade commander, isn't the task of our regiment to attack the west and give way?"

"The situation has changed unexpectedly." Sokov said with some difficulty: "The main force of the Germans has moved south from the direction of Orlovka, and is now in the northwest of Mamayev Hill, and Gurdiyev The 351st regiment of the division fought. The task of your regiment is to rush to take over the defense of the regiment as soon as possible, block the enemy going south, cover the two divisions on our right flank, and safely withdraw to the Red October factory."

  (end of this chapter)