Red Moscow

  Chapter 682 Underground Passage (Part 2)

   "Sewers, what sewers?!" Chuikov might be too tired, and seemed a little absent-minded about what Sokov said: "What does it have to do with our mobilization of troops..."

   Before Cuikov could finish his words, his whole body was shocked, and then he became sober. He asked into the microphone: "Colonel Sokov, what did you just say? We can use the sewers in the city to mobilize troops?"

   "That's right." Sokov said in a positive tone: "If we skillfully combine the existing fortifications with the sewers in the city, it will be very helpful to our defense."

   "Tell me in detail."

"Comrade Commander, let me use an analogy." Seeing that Chuikov asked him to continue, Sokov expressed his true thoughts without hesitation: "For example, a building occupied by our army, It was occupied by the enemy. If it was in the past, it would have organized troops to counterattack. Even if the buildings were recaptured, the casualties of the troops would be very heavy. But if we use the sewers, it will be another situation. We can send small teams Go through the sewers, enter the building occupied by the enemy, strike unexpectedly, and retake the lost building with minimal cost."

Chuikov was having a headache because of the troops' counterattack and casualties during defense. When he heard Sokov's words, his eyes suddenly lit up. When the Soviet army was laying defenses in the direction of the position, a group of commanders and fighters came out from the exit of the sewer, beat them with grenades and bayonets, and fled in embarrassment.

   "Colonel Sokov, your proposal will be very helpful to our next battle." After completing the picture in his brain, Cuikov smiled and said to the microphone: "On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the group army, thank you."

"This is what I should do." After Sokov said this, he tentatively asked Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask one more thing. Can the 138th Division come to replace us on time after dark?" defense?"

"I don't think there should be any problem." Chuikov replied in an uncertain tone: "In any case, our troops defending the barricade factory have two divisions, and we have sent hundreds of people to take over your defense. There should be no problem." what is the problem."

  Although Cuikov did not give himself a positive answer, Sokov felt much more at ease in his heart. As long as all troops combine the sewers with the existing fortifications, the chances of stopping the enemy are much greater. At that time, Lyudnikov will be able to send someone to take over his defense on time.

   Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Seryozha hurriedly asked: "Comrade commander, you asked us to come here, what's the matter?"

Sokov didn't answer him immediately, but looked at Agranov and said: "Comrade Captain, I think your subordinates should have told you that he found me coming out from under a bombed-out ruin, yes ?"

"Yes." Agranov did not deny it, and after nodding, he frowned and asked, "Comrade commander, I would like to ask, when did you enter that building, why didn't my people find out?" You know, I set up observation posts on the roofs of several nearby buildings, but none of them found out when you entered."

   "Because I didn't pass by the ground," Sokov said with some pride, "No matter how many observation posts you set up, you won't be able to find my whereabouts."

   "Didn't it pass from the ground?" Hearing what Sokov said, Agranov and Seryosha couldn't help but look at each other, "Could it have passed from the ground?"

  Hearing Agranov's question, Sokov nodded and said with certainty: "That's right, I just passed under the ground!"

   "Comrade commander, don't be joking." Agranov thought Sokov was joking with him, so he said with a smile: "We are only here for a few hours, how can we have time to dig some tunnels..."

"It's not the tunnels, but the sewers." Sokov corrected him: "We have always ignored the criss-crossing sewers under the city, so that we did not combine it with the existing fortifications. Let's go, I will take Go and see."

Sokov led the two to the entrance of the sewer downstairs, pointed to the hole with his hand, and said, "Every building has an entrance to the sewer. We can use the sewer to mobilize our troops. Just imagine, When the enemy finds that one of our buildings is constantly being rushed out by troops, what kind of psychological pressure will it cause them.”

Agranov stared at the entrance of the sewer for a while, and then raised his own question: "Mr. Commander, the temperature in the sewer is unpleasant and there is no ventilation. If too many people enter, will there be suffocation?" the situation?"

"Now the weather is getting colder and colder. As the temperature drops, the silt in the sewer will be frozen, and then there will be no choking temperature." Regarding Agranov's concerns, Sokov told He explained: "You should have heard me report to the commander just now. I believe he will soon order the troops of the entire army to use the sewers reasonably to mobilize troops or attack the enemy. As long as more entrances are opened, Then the ventilation in the sewer will be better, and no matter how many people go in, there is no need to worry about the so-called suffocation accident.”

"Comrade Commander," just after Sokov finished speaking, Seriosha also raised his own doubts: "If the enemy finds our sewer, sprays fire into it with a flamethrower, or throws grenades, explosives, or even Sending people into the sewer, how should we deal with it?"

  Seryozha's words stopped Sokov, and he didn't know how to answer for a moment. I can only say to the two with a straight face: "I called you here to ask you to go back and search for the sewer entrances in each building, and let the soldiers go down to familiarize themselves with the terrain. One is for the next battle, and the other is Soldiers can hide there when the enemy shells or bombs."

When the two were about to leave, Sokov thought that Guchakov was leading people to rescue the residents buried in the basement, so he reminded Agranov: "Comrade Captain, Guchakov is leading people on my way out." In that building, to rescue the residents trapped in the basement, you'd better send someone to help him."

   "Yes!" Hearing Sokov's order, Agranov quickly agreed, "I'll arrange the manpower right away."

After Agranov left, Sokov asked Seryosha for a cigarette, lit it and asked the other party: "It's going to be dark soon, and the troops coming to take over the defense should arrive soon. Have you thought about it?" What to do with the anti-tank guns in the basement?"

   "Dispose of the anti-tank guns in the basement?" Seryozha asked suspiciously, "Why do you want to dispose of them?"

"The shells of those anti-tank guns are almost gone, and there is no way to get them back to Mamayev Gang without towing vehicles." Sokov took a puff of cigarette, and then said: "I can't Leave those anti-tank guns to the Germans and let them use them against us."

   "Isn't there friendly troops coming to take over the defense soon? I think these anti-tank guns can be handed over to them."

Regarding Seryozha's proposal, Sokov immediately waved his hand and rejected it: "No, there is only an infantry battalion here to defend. Do you think artillery can be found among them? Besides, whether they can hold this place is still a question. , so all anti-tank guns must be blown up before we leave."

   "Blow it up?!" Hearing this, Seryozha couldn't help trembling all over, and then reminded Sokov: "Misha, why don't you think about it carefully?"

"There is nothing to consider," Sokov said in an unquestionable tone: "When you see Lieutenant Porochenko later, tell him what I mean, and immediately put those anti-tank guns that have been exhausted. Blow them all up, not a single one can be left for the Germans."

   "But we don't have the explosives to blow up the cannons." Seryozha said embarrassingly: "Besides, to blow up the cannons, they must be removed from the building, otherwise the explosion may cause the house to collapse."

"It doesn't need to be so troublesome," Sokov said lightly, "Let Lieutenant Porochenko put a grenade into the barrel of each anti-tank gun and the gun can be blown up. Even if the Germans occupy this place, If they want to use these anti-tank guns again, they have to restore them first."

   After dark, Ataman brought troops to take over the defense of Liumian Street.

  Before the official handover, Sokov saw the seemingly small team and asked with a frown, "Captain Ataman, how many people are there in your battalion?"

  Ataman turned his head and glanced at the troops standing in the open space, and replied with some embarrassment: "Report to Comrade Colonel, there are still 115 people in my battalion."

   "Why are there only so few people?"

   "We have just withdrawn from the battlefield, and there are only so few people left." Ataman said with a painful expression: "Many comrades in arms died in the battle, and the battalion commander and three company commanders also died."

   Hearing that the battalion commander and three company commanders of the battalion were all killed, the muscles on Sokov's face twitched violently twice, and he asked, "What kind of equipment do you have?"

   "There are two light machine guns, and a dozen submachine guns, and the rest are rifles."

   "Captain Agranov," Sokov turned his head and shouted at Agranov who was standing not far away after listening to Ataman's words, "come to me."

  Agranov heard Sokov calling himself, trotted up to him, and asked respectfully, "Comrade commander, what instructions do you have?"

"Didn't you seize a lot of weapons and ammunition just now?" Sokov pointed at Ataman and told Agranov, "Leave four captured MG34 general-purpose machine guns for Captain Ataman and the others. Fifty submachine guns and matching ammunition."

   Agranov didn't expect Sokov to be so generous. He wanted to give so many weapons and ammunition to the friendly army at once, and he couldn't help showing a embarrassed expression on his face. Seeing him standing still, Sokov stared at him, and said in a stern tone, "Comrade Captain, what are you still standing here for? Didn't you hear my order?"

   "Yes!" Agranov could only reluctantly agree, and turned back to his subordinates, explaining that they handed over weapons and ammunition to friendly forces.

"Thank you, Comrade Colonel!" Seeing that Sokov gave himself so many weapons at once, Ataman quickly took Sokov's hand with both hands, and said gratefully: "With the weapons you provided, our soldiers You will be able to fight the enemy better."

When Agranov handed over the weapons to Ataman's subordinates, Sokov told Ataman about the sewer again, and finally emphasized: "Captain Ataman, the sewer can not only be used to mobilize troops , when you are shelled or bombed by the enemy, you can also use it as an air-raid shelter. Even if the building is blown down, don’t be afraid, you can choose to escape from other exits.”

"Understood, Comrade Colonel." Ataman waited for Sokov to finish, then nodded quickly and said, "I will send soldiers to familiarize themselves with the sewers here as soon as possible, so that they can be used in the next battle. "

After handing over the defense and weapons, Sokov left Liumian Street with the guard company and the second company of the Marine Battalion, and headed towards the gully. He planned to join Shamrih's troops there and return together Mamayev Gang.

   On the way, Seriosha asked Sokov in puzzlement: "Misha, I don't understand why you are so generous to your friendly troops and give them so many weapons and ammunition at once?"

   In fact, not only Seryozha had this question, but even Agranov who was beside him also had the same puzzlement. Hearing Seryozha's question, he turned his attention to Sokov, wanting to hear how he explained it.

  Sokov did not directly answer this question, but asked instead: "Sergesha, do you still remember the bayonet fight between the Marine Battalion and the enemy?"

"Remember!" Hearing this question, Seryozha first glanced at Agranov next to him, and then continued: "The commanders and fighters of the Marine Battalion behaved very bravely and wiped out the enemy who was much more numerous than them with bayonets. .”

"If it weren't for our army's lack of ammunition, the situation of fighting bayonets could be avoided safely, and we wouldn't have sacrificed so many good comrades in arms." Sukov sighed and said, "I just asked Captain Agranov to give The ammunition consumption of the friendly weapons is quite terrifying. If we keep them in our hands, it won’t be long before these weapons will become fire sticks because they have no ammunition. Do you understand?”

Hearing Sokov mention the tragic hand-to-hand combat, Agranov couldn't help showing a painful expression on his face. Although his company did not participate in this battle at the time, seeing so many familiar comrades fall, his The heart is still bleeding. At this moment, after Sokov's explanation, he finally understood why Sokov wanted to hand over so many burst weapons to the friendly army, because he was worried that there would be unnecessary hand-to-hand combat again due to insufficient ammunition.

  (end of this chapter)