Sokov took Samoilov and the soldiers from the guard platoon and left Mamayev's hill and took a shortcut to the southeast of the barricade factory.
There is a barricade fortification here, with five or six soldiers and a dozen militia guarding it. The leader was a sergeant. He saw a small army passing through the ruins and approaching the fortifications where he was. He quickly walked out of the fortifications, waved the red and green signal flags in his hand, and signaled the other party to stop moving forward.
Seeing a barricade in front of him, Sokov quickly ordered the troops to stop in order to prevent unnecessary dances, and then ordered Samoilov: "Comrade Lieutenant, go and contact the sergeant to indicate our identity, and ask how the situation in the factory is."
"I understand!" Samoilov agreed and walked towards the sergeant who was waving the signal flag with two soldiers.
"Comrade Lieutenant," the sergeant saw that a sergeant was walking towards him, quickly put away the signal flag, straightened his body and asked in a polite and just right tone: "Which part of you are?"
"We are from the 41st Guard Division and are ordered to reinforce the barricade factory." After revealing our identity, Samoilov asked bluntly: "How is the situation in the factory?"
"Not very good, Comrade Lieutenant. More than 70% of the factory area fell into the hands of the enemy." The sergeant glanced at the small army not far away and asked Samoilov tentatively: "Are you so many people here?"
Samoilov understood the reason why the Sgt. Now the defenders in the city have been greatly reduced. Every time they reinforce other areas, there are three or four hundred people who belong to the large army. Most of the time, the reinforcements are about the same number as those in his own platoon. He shook his head and replied, "Our large army is still behind. I am the one who escorted our division commander to meet Colonel Lyudnikov."
"Your division commander?" The sergeant heard Samoilov say this, his eyes lit up and he asked repeatedly: "Comrade Lieutenant, are you talking about Colonel Sokov?"
The sergeant's reaction surprised Samoilov, and he asked in surprise: "Do you know our division commander?"
"Yes, Comrade Lieutenant." The sergeant nodded vigorously and replied, "When our army retreated to Stalingrad, we met Commander Trekov and Colonel Sokov on the road, and I knew him at that time."
Sokov saw the sergeant on duty and Samoilov chatting and laughing from afar, and walked over quickly and asked Samoilov in a stern tone: "Comrade Lieutenant, can we continue to move forward?"
Hearing Sokov's voice coming from behind, Samoilov quickly turned around and answered respectfully: "Yes, comrade in the division commander, I have agreed with the sergeant that we can continue to move forward."
"Hello, Comrade Colonel." The sergeant said excitedly when he saw Sokov appearing in front of him: "I'm glad to see you again."
When he heard the sergeant say that he saw him again, Sokov couldn't help but look at the other party carefully, feeling that he had no impression at all, so he asked curiously: "Comrade Sergeant, have we ever met before?"
"Yes, comrade of the division commander." Samoilov said, "This sergeant said that during his troops retreating to the city, he had seen you and Commander Choikov."
Samoilov's explanation reminded Sokov of his first time as Cui Kov's deputy, he did meet the commanders and fighters of the 138th Division in the suburbs. The sergeant in front of him must have seen him at that time. He stretched out his hand to the sergeant and said friendly: "Hello, comrade Sergeant, since he is a reunion of old comrades, let's shake hands."
The sergeant wiped both hands hard on the clothes on the back of his waist, then held Sokov's hand tightly, and said excitedly: "Hello, Comrade Colonel! I am also very happy to see you again."
"Comrade Sergeant," Sokov said to him after shook hands with the Sergeant: "We must immediately rush to the division headquarters and meet your division commander Colonel Lyudnikov, but I don't know the way. I wonder if you can send someone to us as a guide?"
"Shait, come here." The sergeant turned around and shouted in the direction of the barricade. A militia in work clothes walked out of the fortifications. The sergeant told him, "This commander is going to the division headquarters, you can lead them a way."
Perhaps to reassure Sokov and the others, the Sgt. also explained specifically: "Sait is a militia from the barricade factory and is very familiar with the environment in the factory. It is absolutely true that he will lead you."
Sokov and the soldiers of the guard platoon followed Shait through the barricades and entered the factory area, which was full of ruins and rubble. Shait turned his head and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the area ahead will often be bombarded by the enemy. When passing by later, please speed up and bend down to avoid being hit by shrapnel."
"Comrades," Samoilov turned his head and shouted at his subordinates: "Have you all heard what Sait said? When you pass the artillery blockade later, remember to bend over and act quickly, do you understand?"
"I understand!" The soldiers of the guard platoon replied in unison.
Soon, the guard platoon entered the artillery blockade area. Fortunately, the Germans' current shell stock is limited and they dare not continue to shoot as unscrupulously as before, but they still fire cold guns from time to time. When Sokov and his friends passed through this area, at least ten shells exploded in the ruins on their left and right sides. The air waves lifted up the bricks and stones on the ground and threw them all over the world. Fortunately, the soldiers had already received a warning from Shait, and when they heard the sound of shells coming, they immediately found a place to hide. Although it took some time, there were no casualties.
The command center of Lyudnikov is located in the tool room of an abandoned factory. In the house of more than ten square meters, there is only Lyudnikov who is watching the map at his desk, and a radio operator who keeps calling to the phone.
Hearing footsteps, Lyudnikov raised his head and happened to see Sokov entering the door. He was stunned at first, then recognized Sokov, with a look of surprise on his face. He walked over to Sokov, and at the same time stretched out his hand and said excitedly: "Hello, Colonel Sokov, I'm glad to see you here. If I'm not wrong, are you bringing troops to reinforce us, right?"
"Yes, Colonel Lyudnikov." Sokov held the other party's hand and replied affirmatively: "I am leading the troops to reinforce you."
"It's so good, Colonel Sokov." As Lyudnikov asked, he instinctively tilted his head, his eyes crossed Sokov's shoulder and looked out of the house: "How many people have you come?"
"There are only fifty people outside who have followed me to enter the factory." Sokov just finished speaking, he saw Lyudnikov's smile froze on his face, and he quickly added: "But there is another regiment coming here. They have more than a thousand people, which can fully assist you in resisting the enemy's attack."
Sokov walked to the table, looked down at the map, and asked, "Col. How is your situation here?"
"Not good, very bad." Lyudnikov shook his head and said, "Because our troops have severely reduced their troops in recent battles and lack effective anti-tank weapons, they cannot resist the enemy's fierce attack at all. Now, the enemy is less than four hundred meters away from my command."
Hearing that the enemy was less than four hundred meters away, Sokov's muscles twitched violently twice. He quickly turned around and ordered Samoilov who followed him in the door: "Comrade Lieutenant, bring your people into the position immediately. You must not let the Germans rush here."
Shortly after Samoilov left with his men, the gunshots and explosions outside became more dense, and it seemed closer to this place. Sokov could not help but frown secretly when he heard the sound of gunfires getting closer and closer, thinking that if Belkin's troops could not arrive in time, he might have to move back with Lyudnikov.
Just as Sokov was thinking about it, a soldier carrying a rifle and a steel helmet suddenly broke in outside the door. He shouted at Lyudnikov in a hurry: "Comrade Commander, it's not good. The enemy broke through the position of the 768th Regiment and was rushing towards here, less than one hundred meters away."
"What, the distance is less than a hundred meters?" The soldiers' words shocked Sokov and Lyudnikov. They rushed to the door and looked at the place where the gunshots were the most intense. Sure enough, some German soldiers were leaping forward in a short distance, approaching the edge of the factory. It may only take one or two minutes to rush to the command department.
Chapter completed!