Red Moscow

Under the leadership of Samoilov, Sokov only took a few minutes to get near the exit of the command post of the Papchenko Regiment. Recalling that there were almost no bends on the way here, Sokov couldn't help muttering in his heart: I just walked around for a long time, but I couldn't find this place. I don't know if I didn't have a strong sense of direction, got lost, or encountered a ghost How could the wall be so evil?

After confirming the signal with the soldiers guarding the exit, Sokov and others climbed out of the sewer and entered Papchenko's regiment command post. Papchenko, who was commanding the battle, was surprised when he saw Sokov covered in mud, and quickly asked, "Comrade commander, what's wrong with you?"

"An enemy entered the sewer and fought with us." When Sokov said this, he turned his head and glanced at Samoilov who followed him: "Although the guard platoon suffered more than half of the casualties, the enemies who entered the sewer were all killed. We're wiped out."

"Comrade commander, are you not injured?"

"No." Sokov waved his hand at Papchenko and asked, "How is the battle outside?"

"Comrade commander, the battle was very difficult." Papchenko reported to Sokov seriously: "The enemy may have suffered from us twice in a row, but now they have become more cautious. Instead of launching a charge, we stayed on the edge of the complex and used assault guns to destroy the buildings that our army was holding on to one by one. Our troops holding on to these buildings suffered heavy casualties."

After listening to Papchenko's narration, Sokov understood that the enemy wanted to use the powerful artillery fire to see the entire community razed to the ground. If the soldiers were still kept in the buildings, it would inevitably cause huge losses. So he ordered Papchenko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, immediately order all the troops to withdraw to the east of the square through the sewer."

"Comrade commander, you mean to withdraw all the troops to the east side of the square." Hearing Sokov's order, Papchenko thought the guns outside were too loud, so that he let himself listen Wrong, quickly asked: "Did I hear correctly?"

"No, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you didn't hear me wrong at all." Sokov pointed out with his hand and continued: "Look, the enemy is using assault guns to destroy the buildings on the west side. In two hours, all the buildings on the west side will be turned into ruins. Keeping the soldiers in those buildings is tantamount to sending them to death. Immediately issue an order, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, to let the soldiers withdraw through the sewers. "

Seeing that Sokov's attitude was so firm, Papchenko could only follow suit. He turned to the chief of staff of the regiment sitting aside and said, "Immediately issue an order to the battalions and deploy them in the buildings on the west side of the square." All troops are withdrawn."

The chief of staff of the regiment had just heard the order issued by Sokov. Now that he heard what Papchenko said, he didn't dare to neglect, so he quickly picked up the phone and called the battalion commanders one by one to arrange the retreat order. .

Two minutes later, the chief of staff of the regiment stood up straight and reported directly to Sokov: "Report to Comrade Division Commander, the order to retreat has been issued to all battalions. I believe it will not take long for all the troops on the west side of the square to withdraw."

Knowing that the troops would be withdrawn soon, Sokov nodded slightly. He thought to himself that the following days would be the most difficult days for the Stalingrad defenders. If one more soldier is saved, the more Save a portion of strength, and when the big counter-offensive begins, your troops will be able to make even greater feats.

Sokov suddenly remembered the tank unit commanded by Lieutenant Agafon. He had been out of the sewer for so long, but he hadn't seen them yet, and he didn't know if they were safe. He tentatively asked Papchenko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you know how the tank unit is doing?"

"Tank unit?!" Hearing Sokov's question suddenly, Papchenko couldn't help being taken aback, but then he thought who Sokov might be talking about, and quickly asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, what did you say?" Is it the tank unit commanded by Lieutenant Agafon?"

"That's right, it's them." Sokov nodded, and then asked, "How are they now?"

"According to the report of the following troops, the tank unit lost three tanks." Papchenko reported to Sokov: "Lieutenant Agafon took the remaining tanks and moved to a position close to the factory area." He I don't know why Sokov suddenly asked about the tank unit. He thought that there was some task to be assigned, so he took the initiative to say, "Comrade Commander, if you have any tasks to entrust to them, I can send a signal soldier to notify them."

"No, no." Sokov waved his hand at Papchenko and said, "Today's workers' new village is full of ruins, and the scope of action of tanks is restricted. It's better to let them stay near the factory area, where the terrain is conducive to tanks. maneuver."

After another half an hour, the chief of staff of the regiment received calls from the battalions and reported to Sokov: "Comrade commander, all the troops deployed in the buildings on the west side of the square have all withdrawn. .”

"Very good!" After listening to the report of the chief of staff of the regiment, Sokov nodded again, and issued a new order to Papchenko: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, since the troops have withdrawn to the east side of the square, then You leave a company behind to defend the enemy, and the rest of the troops are withdrawn to the direction of the factory through the sewer."

"What? The troops are withdrawing to the direction of the factory area?" Hearing Sokov's order, Papchenko's eyes widened in surprise: "Comrade commander, are we no longer sticking to the workers' new village?"

"Since the Germans want new villages for workers, we will give them first." Sokov said with a sneer: "Since they like to use artillery to demolish houses, let them slowly consume their shells here. Their shells are not unlimited. After the demolition of the houses in the Workers’ New Village is completed, it is estimated that the shells will be exhausted, and when they want to attack the factory area, they will be unable to do so because of insufficient ammunition.”

"Comrade Commander," although Papchenko did not dare to blatantly object to the order issued by Sokov, he was still unwilling to give up the Workers' New Village, so he carefully reminded Sokov: "If the superior knows that it is We voluntarily abandoned the Workers’ New Village, and I’m afraid you will be blamed. Therefore, I beg you to think twice about retreating.”

Sokov didn't answer his question, but asked instead: "Lieutenant Colonel Papchenko, when did I tell you that I was going to abandon the Workers' New Village?"

"But you just said clearly, let us withdraw the troops to the direction of the factory." Sokov's words confused Papchenko. He thought that the division commander was going to deny it, and quickly reminded: "It's not just me, the chief of staff of the company I heard it too." He turned to look at his chief of staff, "You think so?"

"Uh," the chief of staff of the regiment heard Papchenko's question, glanced at Sokov guilty, and replied awkwardly: "Yes, comrade commander, I heard it too... I heard it."

"None of you heard it wrong. I did ask you to withdraw your troops to the factory area first." Seeing that neither of them understood his intentions, Sokov patiently explained to them: "Now the Germans are using assault guns to destroy The buildings in the workers' new village, the troops staying here will not play much role, but will only increase the casualties. Therefore, I will order you to temporarily withdraw to the direction of the factory area, and then return here through the sewer after dark, and let the enemy come here. A surprise blow."

After Sokov's explanation, the two finally understood what was going on, and quickly replied in unison: "Understood, Comrade Commander, we will immediately give the troops an order to withdraw to the direction of the factory."

Seeing that the chief of staff of the regiment picked up the phone and started calling the battalions, Sokov deployed the retreat and lingering companies to monitor the enemy, so he talked to Papchenko and took Samoilov and the others into the sewer first. , rushed to the direction of the factory first.