Red Moscow

  Chapter 463 Inside the Building (Part 1)

  There is no moon in the sky, but the fire from the burning buildings in the city can illuminate the way forward for a group of people walking through the ruins. Sokov found that as far as he could see, there were ruins everywhere, and he couldn't see any complete buildings at all. The intensity of the German bombing and shelling of the city was evident from this.

   "Damn, these **** Germans!" Yakov couldn't help complaining when he saw all this: "Look at what they have done to destroy such a great city?"

"Who is talking in the back?!" A voice suddenly came from the front of the team: "Do you want the Germans to find us?" Appearing in front of Sokov and Yakov, he lowered his voice and asked, "Who was talking just now?"

  With the help of the firelight, Sokov recognized the person who was interrogating as the squad leader of the security squad, and quickly apologized on behalf of Yakov: "I'm sorry, Comrade Sergeant, I was wrong. I dare not speak casually. Please forgive me!"

   After seeing clearly that the speaker was Sokov, the sergeant squad leader immediately swallowed all the words he was going to complain about. "Comrade Brigadier, the area ahead is occupied by the enemy. When we pass, we need to keep absolute silence. Please stop talking from now on."

  After the soldiers left, Yakov approached Sokov and whispered, "Misha, I'm really sorry just now..."

  Sokov hurriedly made a silent gesture to Yakov, and said to him in a low voice: "Don't talk now, what's the matter, we will talk about it when we get to the place."

  The city is full of ruins, and the original streets have long since changed. Even if you are a native of Stalingrad, walking in such a city at night with low visibility, you will inevitably get lost. Fortunately, the soldiers who led Sokov and his team had walked this tortuous road countless times, so they were able to successfully lead everyone through the ruins and to the vicinity of the Vasily Building.

  Seeing the four-story building in the distance, Sokov felt that he might be almost there. He quickly called a soldier beside him and told him: "Comrade soldier, go ahead and ask your squad leader, are we going somewhere?"

The soldier agreed, and was about to step forward, but was stopped by Sokov who changed his mind: "Forget it, I'd better ask in person." After speaking, he quickened his pace and walked forward, Yakov quickly followed.

   After catching up with the sergeant leading the way, Sokov asked in a low voice, "Comrade sergeant, how long will it take before we reach our destination."

   "Comrade Brigadier," the sergeant replied in a low voice, "We are only two or three hundred meters away from the building, and we will reach our destination in a few minutes."

The group walked forward for another hundred meters, when suddenly there was the sound of a gun bolt being pushed ahead, and then someone asked sharply, "Stop! Password?" They hid behind the ruins closest to them.

"It's one of our own." The sergeant hiding beside Sokov quickly replied: "I am Sergeant Dulonin of the brigade guard company. I have an urgent matter to see Sergeant Vasily." He was afraid that the person who asked for the password would be The Germans pretended, so they didn't say that the brigade commander Sokov was by his side, but only said that they had something to see Vasily.

   A moment later, a soldier wearing a steel helmet appeared behind a broken wall not far ahead. He said with a smile, "It turned out to be Sergeant Duroenin. I almost misunderstood him."

Sergeant Durotin recognized that the person speaking was a soldier he was familiar with, so he whispered to Sokov, "Comrade Brigadier, it's one of our own." After speaking, he stood up and looked at the other side He walked over to where he was, and asked, "Why are you the only one on duty tonight?"

   "How could it be me alone?" The soldier said and turned on a flashlight covered with a red cloth, and turned around in the direction of the building. Soon, a red dot also appeared in the direction of the building, and it circled around like a gourd. After finishing all this, the soldier turned to Du Luoning and said, "Comrade Sergeant, take your men and turn left five meters away from me. A landmine has already been planted in front of me."

When Sokov saw that there was only one soldier on duty outside the building, he was very dissatisfied with Vasily. He felt that his vigilance was not high. In such an important position, there was only one soldier. If the enemy sneaked in Whistle, what can I do? But what happened next made him feel that he was worrying too much. Although there was only one sentry here, there was at least one machine gun in the building, facing where he was standing. If the sentry finds that something is wrong, they only need to send out a signal, and the machine guns in the building can fire wildly, knocking out the sneak attacking enemies. Moreover, the front of the sentinel is covered with landmines. Although it is only a few meters away, if the enemy wants to sneak attack him, they may end up stealing chickens and losing money.

  Sokov and the others entered a traffic trench according to the position guided by the sentinel. Sergeant Durotin whispered to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, we can follow this traffic trench and directly enter the building."

   When everyone was walking along the traffic trench, Sokov unexpectedly found that besides the sentinel, there were at least three other soldiers hiding in the traffic trench. They are all equipped with submachine guns, even if a large group of enemies rush up, with the weapons in their hands, they can resist for a while.

Before entering the building, Yakov approached Sokov again and said in an approving tone: "Misha, although I have never seen this Sergeant Vasily, judging from his defensive deployment, he will Must be a good commander."

  Several soldiers were sitting on the stairs, whispering and laughing, watching a group of people coming in from outside the building, they stood up quickly. After seeing Sokov in the crowd clearly, they all raised their hands to their foreheads, saluted Sokov, and said in their mouths: "Hi Brigadier, we have defended this place and did not let the Germans move forward."

"Good job, comrades, you are all good." Sokov took two steps forward, reached out to shake hands with these soldiers one by one, and finally asked the soldier who spoke: "Comrade fighters, do you know that Sergeant Vasily Where is it?"

   "I am here, Comrade Brigadier." Before the soldier could speak, a low voice came from behind Sokov: "I am here."

  Sokov turned around and saw Vasily walking towards him with a sniper rifle on his back. His original brand-new military uniform was now covered with dust, and there were patches of brown spots on it, which looked like bloodstains or something. After he came to Sokov, he stood up and saluted and said: "Comrade Brigadier, Sergeant Vasily reports to you that we are holding on to the building, please give instructions!"

"Sergeant Vasily, you and your subordinates are doing well." Sokov held Vasily's cold hand and said with a smile on his face: "I heard that you stayed here and wiped out more than a dozen German army vehicles." tanks, and killed hundreds of German soldiers, which is really a remarkable feat.”

"Comrade Brigadier," Vasily replied with some embarrassment after hearing Sokov's praise to himself: "Since we occupied this building, the superiors have sent us a lot of reinforcements, and they have sent us a lot of reinforcements every day. Resupply ammunition and supplies. It is because of this assistance that we can hold this place."

   "Comrade Vasily," Sokov saw a large group of people standing around him, and he coughed lightly when he saw that there was a large group of people standing around him, and it was difficult to say something in public. Then he pretended to be casual and asked, "Can we talk in another place?"

Hearing what Sokov said, Vasily realized that there were people standing around him. It would be a little inconvenient if he had something important to discuss. He quickly turned his body to one side and said to Sokov: "Brigade Commander Comrade, go to the place where I live, it’s not far from here, it’s on the second floor of the unit in the middle.”

  Sokov originally thought that he had to leave the building first and enter the building through another entrance before he could get to Vasily's resting place. Unexpectedly, Vasily led them directly up the stairs to the second floor, and while walking, he turned his head and said to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, some places on the roof were damaged by German shells, you go upstairs." Be careful."

   Apart from Sokov, Yakov was the only one who followed Vasily upstairs. The two followed Vasily, stepped on the broken floor, and walked upstairs cautiously. After arriving on the second floor, Vasily led the two of them through a hole in the wall through which several people could pass, and came to a room with candles.

  Vassily stopped, turned around and said to Sokov with a smile: "Comrade Brigadier, here we are. This is where I live and my temporary command post."

Looking at the three burning candles on the candlestick on the fireplace, Sokov reminded Vasily in a panic: "Comrade Vasily, how can you light candles in the house? It will be discovered by the enemy." .”

   "Don't worry, Comrade Brigadier." Vasily replied with a smile: "There are two layers of thick curtains blocking the light, so that the target will not be exposed. You and the major, please sit down."

As soon as Sokov and Yakov sat down on the chair Vasily brought over, Vasily came over with two ceramic teapots in one hand and a teapot in the other, and said to the two with a smile: "Comrade Brigadier , you must be tired and thirsty after walking such a long distance, come on! Have some tea."

   Sokov and Yakov each took a teacup, held it in their hands, and let Vasily pour tea for themselves. Sokov said with some emotion: "Sergeant Vasily, you have a good life here."

Vasily grinned and replied: "Comrade Brigadier, due to the good location of this building, the enemy's artillery and aircraft cannot destroy it, and we can rely on the favorable terrain to stop those enemies who try to pass in front of the building. Generally speaking, fighting here is better than other places."

  Sokov waited for Vasily to pour himself tea, took a sip, and then asked: "Sergeant Vasily, I want to ask, how many defenders are there in the building now?"

"There are still 62 combat soldiers, Comrade Brigadier." Vasily replied without hesitation: "In addition to the reinforcements sent to us by the brigade, we also accommodated some friendly troops that were dispersed. In addition to combat soldiers, There are still 17 original residents in the building who were unwilling to evacuate to the rear, but volunteered to stay and help us cook and take care of the wounded."

Sokov did not expect that there were nearly 80 people in this building. After Vasily reported, he asked with some concern: "Sergeant Vasily, with so many of you crowded in the building, even if the enemy Cannons and planes couldn't destroy the building, but surely the casualties would have been great, right?"

"It's like this, Comrade Brigadier." Vasily explained: "In normal operations, we only use half of our troops as a reserve at most, and the rest hide in the basement. The enemy's shelling and bombing caused unnecessary casualties. If we needed help, they would come to support us immediately."

   "Comrade Sergeant," Yakov couldn't help asking curiously when he heard this, "I want to ask, how do you summon them when you need them? Could it be that you sent messengers to notify them one by one?"

Hearing Yakov's question, Vasily grinned, and then replied: "Comrade Major, we have a phone here! If we need support from our comrades hiding in the basement, we only need to call them and they will be able to help you." Immediately come out of the basement and enter their respective combat positions in the shortest possible time."

"Sergeant Vasily," Sokov asked curiously, remembering that the German army first assembled on the opposite side of the square on January 9 before attacking the building, "but when the enemy assembled on the opposite side of the square, did you all attack the building?" What measures have been taken?"

Vasya was confused by Sokov's words. He looked at Sokov and asked inexplicably: "Comrade Brigadier, there is no other way except to prepare for battle. You know, between us and the enemy If they gather for four or five hundred meters, even if they use machine guns to shoot, as long as they hide behind the tanks, we will not be able to cause any casualties to them, but will expose the position of the machine guns and be bombarded by enemy tank guns."

   "Have you seen the new rockets I sent you?" Sokov looked at Vasily and asked, "Have you used them in battle?"

"No, the number of that new type of rocket is too small, and we have never used it before." Vasily replied very simply: "If you launch it rashly, it's okay to hit the target. If it's all empty, then it's not Was something good wasted?"

Hearing that Vasily thought that there were too few rockets of that kind and dared not use them, Sokov couldn't help but glanced at Yakov who was sitting next to him, and then said to Vasily with a wry smile: "Yes, Comrade Sergeant, The number of the new type of rockets is a bit small. But it is perfect for you to use them to bombard the enemy's troops. I think that in tomorrow's battle, you should first try this kind of rockets and see it How powerful is it? When it runs out, I will order someone to replenish it for you.”

  (end of this chapter)