Red Moscow

After Gelia ordered the troops to stop shooting, he walked out of his command post, looked at the looming figure in the distance, and was thinking about who to send to contact, when he suddenly heard a rush of whistles from the opposite side. Hearing this whistle, Gelia couldn't help being taken aback, because this is a communication signal used by the 73rd Infantry Brigade, which is the current downsizing regiment, how could the other party know?

Just as he was wondering, he heard a short figure walking towards the position, shouting in a childish voice as he walked: "Don't shoot, your own people, your own people!"

"Without my order, no one is allowed to shoot!" After Gelia gave the order to the soldiers around him, he asked the caller, "Which part are you from?"

"It belongs to the 187th Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division." Sidolin quickly replied.

"The 187th Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division?!" Zelia searched the number in his head, and then shouted at Little Cidolin: "There has never been such a unit in Stalingrad. Which part of it are you?"

Little Sidorin, as Chuikov's messenger, had been to Mamayev Post many times. He heard the voice of someone speaking in the trench seemed familiar. After hesitating for a moment, he asked cautiously, "Are you Zelia?"

When Gelia heard that the other party actually called out her order, she couldn't help being taken aback, and quickly asked, "Who the hell are you, and how do you know my name?"

After confirming that the person speaking in the trench was really Gelia, little Sidolin couldn't help being overjoyed. He hurriedly said loudly: "Gelia, can't you even recognize my voice? I'm Sidolin, little Sidolin ah!"

"Ah, it's Little Sidolin." Relia recognized that the other party was Little Sidolin, and quickly climbed out of the trench with two soldiers, walked towards Little Sidolin, and asked curiously, "Aren't you at the army headquarters?" Stay here, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

Little Sidolin replied: "The deputy chief of staff asked me to guide the new troops entering the city..."

"Where is the commander of the friendly army?" After listening to little Sidolin's narration, Zelia said quickly, "Take me to him quickly."

Moments later, Sidolin appeared in front of Kisley with Gelia. After seeing the opponent's rank clearly, Gelia straightened his body and reported to the opponent: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I am the commander of the 5th Company of the Second Battalion of the 41st Guards Regiment's Downsizing Regiment. Regarding the misunderstanding that just occurred, I would like to express my gratitude to you. You apologize."

In the exchange of fire just now, the 187th Regiment suffered more than a dozen casualties, making Kisley's heart full of anger. Seeing the culprit right in front of him at this moment, he became furious: "Comrade Lieutenant, what did you do to treat your own people as enemies? Do you know that we lost more than a dozen casualties in the just-concluded firefight?" Warrior, you are responsible for what happens."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel!" Zelia waited for Kisley to finish speaking, and said calmly: "We didn't receive any notification from our superiors, and we didn't know that friendly troops would arrive after dark, so there was a misunderstanding. It's inevitable."

Gelia's words made Kisley speechless for a while, and after a while, he blushed and asked, "Why are you using German weapons? When I heard the gunshots, I really thought that this building Already occupied by the Germans."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the reason why we use German weapons is because our troops have been equipped with weapons captured from the enemy since the beginning of their formation." Gelia replied: "And in the current transportation situation is so difficult Under certain circumstances, we use German weapons so that we can more easily seize weapons and ammunition from the battlefield to supplement ourselves.”

Seeing that Gelia was neither humble nor overbearing to him, Kisley couldn't say anything more, so he could only change the topic in time: "Comrade Lieutenant, are you the supreme commander here?"

"No, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Gelia turned his head and glanced at the pitch-dark building, and replied, "Lieutenant Goria, the deputy battalion commander, is in the building. I can take you to see him."

A few minutes later, Kisd followed Gelia to the main computer room of the building, where he met Golia. When Goria learned that the other party was coming to take over his defense, he did not immediately agree to hand over the defense of the building, but said politely: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please wait a moment, I want to ask our superiors for instructions." , After obtaining permission, I will hand over the defense to you."

For Goria's proposal, Kisd did not object, but nodded, stretched out his hand and gestured for Goria to call his superiors.

"Comrade Krava," Goria walked behind the female operator and said to her, "Get me through to the regiment headquarters immediately, and I will report this information to the regiment commander immediately."

Belkin was at a loss when he received the call from Goria. He said suspiciously: "Captain Goria, I haven't been notified by my superiors. There are troops coming to your place to take over the defense?" Knowing what was going on, he told Golia, "Don't hang up the phone yet, I'll call the division headquarters and ask."

Sokov received an inquiry call from Belkin, thinking that Belkin had made a mistake, and asked specifically: "My Comrade Political Commissar, during the day, I heard that Commander Chuikov sent his only remaining The guard company was sent to the Dzerzhinsky factory to take over the defense of Building No. 4, isn't it the same guard company?"

"No, Misha." Belkin shook his head and said, "It's a troop that just came from the east bank of the Volga River. Its designation is the 187th Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division. It is led by a deputy commander named Kisley. , He said that he was ordered by Colonel Witkov, the deputy chief of staff of the Army Group, to take defense at Building No. 4."

In order to find out what was going on, Sokov said into the microphone: "Political commissar, don't hang up the phone yet, I'll call the headquarters first to find out what's going on." After finishing speaking, he raised his head and asked Standing opposite Sidolin, "Comrade Chief of Staff, has the Army Group Command mentioned that it will send troops to take over the defense of Building No. 4?"

"No!" replied Sidolin, shaking his head, "I have not received such notice."

Seeing that Sidolin knew nothing about this matter, Sokov picked up another phone and connected to the Army Group Command: "I am Colonel Sokov, please help me find Commander Cuikov, I have an important report to him."

Soon, a slightly tired voice came from the receiver: "I'm Chuikov, Colonel Sokov, call me so late, is there anything important?"

"Comrade Commander, I would like to ask," Sokov asked bluntly: "The superior sent troops to take over the defense of Building No. 4. How did they not greet us?"

"Building No. 4? You mean Building No. 4?" After receiving confirmation, Cuikov asked in puzzlement, "Haven't the troops guarding No. 4 Building been withdrawn? Why would I send troops to take over the defense? ?”

As Kisley's troops had just crossed the Volga River, they were sent directly to the factory by Colonel Witkov, the deputy chief of staff of the army group. The matter had not been reported to the superiors, so that not only the grassroots commanders did not know about it, but even Chuikov Also know nothing about it.

"My subordinates reported to me." After hearing Cuikov's answer, Sokov immediately understood in his heart that it must be because of communication problems in various aspects. This kind of situation is very common in the Soviet army, so he quickly explained to Cuikov Said: "Not long ago, two battalions of the 45th Infantry Division came to Building No. 4 to take over our department's defense. Since I didn't get the relevant notice in advance, I think it is necessary to call you to check."

Hearing this, Chuikov quickly covered the microphone with his hand, and asked Krylov who was standing not far away: "Comrade Chief of Staff, according to the original plan, the troops of the 45th Infantry Division should cross the river tonight, right? They reached the west bank After that, how do you plan to deploy them?"

"Colonel Vitkov, the deputy chief of staff, stays by the river, and he will allocate the troops who cross the river according to the actual situation on the battlefield." Krylov explained to Cuikov: "As for Building No. 4, we are the command building. The militia and staff in the area were withdrawn to form a new defensive zone in the rear."

"I understand." After Chuikov understood what was going on, he let go of his hand covering the microphone, "Colonel Sokov, I understand that the troops of the 187th Regiment were sent by Colonel Vitkov, because he hadn't had time Report to us, so we don't know anything about the defense. Well, you have your men hand over the defense to the 187th Regiment, and then withdraw to the original defensive position."

"Yes, Comrade Commander, I will give them an order immediately!" After finishing the call with Chuikov, Sokov picked up the microphone on the table and said to Belgin: "Comrade Comrade, order those who stand firm in Building No. Troops, hand over defense to incoming friendly forces, and retreat to the archives building."

Half an hour later, Goria and Gelia, who had completed the transfer of defense tasks, led the commanders and fighters of the fifth company to retreat to the No. 4 building and the outer positions in an orderly manner, and headed towards the archives building in the dark. In order to avoid misunderstanding with his own people along the way, Golia sent a sharp knife squad to take charge of security and liaison in front.

When passing the defense area of ​​the 109th Guards Regiment, Gelia slowed down and asked Golia: "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, our sixth company is still stationed here. Do you want them to retreat together?"

Gelia's question really stumped Golia. Although Belkin called and ordered his troops to withdraw to the archives building, he did not say whether the two companies retreated together or only the fifth company. He hesitated for a while, and finally said with some embarrassment: "I think we should send someone to contact Colonel Omelchenko to see what he means, and then decide whether to withdraw the sixth company to the archives building."

Golia sent communications troops to Omelchenko's regiment headquarters, told him the news of the troops' defense change, and asked him if he could also withdraw the Sixth Company. After Omelchenko got the news that Goria led the troops to retreat, he immediately followed the messenger to catch up with Goria. As soon as they met, he held Goliath's hand tightly and asked curiously, "Comrade Captain, why did you retreat overnight?"

"That's right, Comrade Colonel." Goria quickly replied, "There is a force that just came from the east bank to take over our defense. We were ordered to return to the archives building to strengthen the defense. If possible, I would like to let The Sixth Company will return to construction."

Omelchenko came to see Goria in person, hoping that the other party would leave the sixth company to assist in the defense. After all, there were only more than 50 people left in his regiment, and even with the guard company sent by Chuikov, they would not be able to reach it. Two hundred people are simply unable to resist the fierce attack that the German army may launch. But at this moment, he heard that the new troops coming from the east bank to take over the defense of Building No. 4, he quickly asked, "Comrade Captain, how many people are there in the new army?"

"There are two battalions, about a thousand people." Goria heard Omelchenko's off-screen voice, and explained to him: "These troops are used to defend Building No. 4 and your position. It's more than enough."

Omelchenko calculated silently in his heart. The new recruits consisted of more than a thousand people, and 500 people came out to help him defend, so it should be no problem to hold the position. Then it doesn't make much sense to leave the sixth company of the downsizing regiment. Moreover, the archives building is on the left flank of the factory. As long as the drawdown group can hold its position, the enemy will not be able to attack the factory from the flank. Thinking of this, he said reasonablely: "Comrade Captain, since you are going back to the Archives Building, I will immediately send someone to notify the Sixth Company Commander and ask him to return to the building immediately and return to the Archives Building with you."

Goria originally thought that he would have to argue with Omelchenko for a long time to let the sixth company return to Jian, but who knew that the other party agreed to return to Jian so readily, which was really beyond his expectation. In order to avoid long nights and dreams, Golia quickly dispatched two communication soldiers to return to the position with Omelchenko and notify the commanders and fighters of the Sixth Company to retreat.

After tossing around in the middle of the night, Golia finally returned to the archives building with the 5th and 6th companies, and immediately went to the regiment command post in the basement to report to Belgin.

Seeing Goria walk into the command post, Belkin hurriedly went up to shake hands with him, and said at the same time: "Lieutenant Goria, you have worked hard. I have already reported to the division headquarters about your performance in today's battle. The master is very satisfied with you."

Hearing Belkin praise himself, Golia straightened up quickly and said, "Serve the Soviet motherland!"

"Comrade Captain, judging from your performance today, you have served you very well!" Belkin continued after praising Goria, "Let the soldiers stay in the basement to rest and recharge their batteries. Maybe wait until dawn, and you will participate in the battle again."

"Understood, Comrade Commander!" After Goria finished answering, he asked again: "Are you allowed to leave?"

"Yes, yes!" Belkin nodded vigorously, then slapped Goria lightly on the shoulder twice, and said, "Hurry up and go back and take the time to rest!"

After Goria left, Captain Vanya, the chief of staff of the regiment, breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a sigh of relief: "Comrade regiment commander, once Goria brings the troops back to the construction, we will have enough strength, and friendly troops will come to take over the defense." Before, stick to the archives building."