red moscow

Chapter 2754

Sokov's idea was simple: before the Yagotin area was completely lost, he would take in as many scattered defeated soldiers as possible to strengthen his own strength and prepare for the next breakout. However, plans could not keep up with changes. Due to the fierce offensive of the German army, many areas were lost one after another. The small troops that escaped from Kiev had to bypass Yagotin and retreat to a safe area. At the same time, as the losses of the frontline troops increased, Colonel Del transferred a large number of personnel from Sokov's special company to strengthen the front line to strengthen the defense there.

Seeing that the special company, which had originally increased by 500 to 600 people, had shrunk to 40 to 50 people in an instant, Major Mira's face turned pale. After returning to the tent at the edge of the forest, he said to Sokov with a stern face: "Comrade Captain, we have worked hard for so many days and finally expanded the troops to 500 to 600 people. As a result, our superiors ordered that our people be withdrawn."

Although Sokov was unwilling, he had to obey the orders of his superiors, considering that the frontline needed more people to fight. Seeing Major Mira complaining, he could only comfort her and said, "Major, since it is an order from our superiors, we can only obey it. Besides, the frontline does need manpower now. If there are no more soldiers, we can just recruit more."

"Comrade Captain, if only things were as simple as you think." Mira said with a bitter face, "Our defense zone has been shrinking little by little under the enemy's continuous attacks. Even if there are still officers and soldiers escaping from Kiev, I'm afraid they can't get through the German defense line and retreat to us safely. Even if we want to take in more defeated soldiers, it will not be easy."

Sokov didn't say anything, but he was thinking in his heart that the Yagotin area would be completely lost in two days. It would be a pipe dream to break out with the limited troops he had.

Just as he was worrying, the curtain was opened from outside, and then Lieutenant Zhu Kewen rushed in: "Comrade Captain, Comrade Captain."

Sokov turned to face Zhukov, and seeing his happy face, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Lieutenant, what's the matter?"

"Comrade Captain, guess who's here?"

"Who's here?" Sokov muttered to himself. Since the small city of Yagotin where he was yesterday was subjected to crazy bombing and heavy artillery fire from the enemy, the headquarters had withdrawn from the city and set up camp in the forest outside. The only people who could come to him at this moment were Vlasov and the other three army group leaders. Colonel Del had just left not long ago and would definitely not come again. The only people who came could be Vlasov or Military Commissar Nikolsky: "Who is it? The commander or the military commissar?"

Unexpectedly, Zhu Kewen shook his head and said, "It's not them, it's someone else."

After hearing this, Sokov said impatiently: "Comrade Lieutenant, just tell me who is here. I am in a bad mood now and I don't want to play guessing games with you."

"Yes, Comrade Lieutenant." Major Mira also said, "Tell us quickly who is here."

Zhu Kewen turned to face the outside of the tent and said, "Come in, Comrade Second Lieutenant."

The next moment, a second lieutenant officer without a military cap, with a bandage on his head and his face blackened by gunpowder smoke, walked in quickly from outside.

"Lieutenant," Mira looked at the person who came in and asked in confusion, "Who are you?"

"Lieutenant Constantine," Sokov, who was beside Mira, took a few steps forward and grabbed the lieutenant's arm before the other party could answer. He said excitedly, "It's you, Lieutenant Constantine. Are you still alive?"

"Yes, Comrade Lieutenant, I am still alive."

The person who spoke was Lieutenant Konstantin, who had led people to block the German army outside the headquarters a few days ago. After Sokov led Vlasov and others to move, he thought he had died, but he didn't expect that he was standing in front of him alive. Seeing the dead man standing in front of him alive, Sokov couldn't help but lose his composure: "Weren't you surrounded by the Germans? How did you break out in the end?"

"Comrade Captain, not long after you left, the Germans bombarded our position. Unfortunately, I was knocked unconscious by the shells, and when I woke up, I found myself lying among the dead bodies." Constantine said, "I secretly crawled out of the dead body and hid in a nearby building where there were no Germans. I guessed that you must have crossed the Dnieper River, so I also tried to get as close to the Dnieper River as possible to see if I could find a boat to cross the river.

During the time I stayed in the city, I joined other combat teams. Since we were too few in number and did not have much of an advantage in street fighting, these combat teams were either dispersed or wiped out by the Germans. Fortunately, I was lucky and escaped every time..."

Although Konstantin was standing right in front of him, Sokov still felt a cold sweat in his heart when he heard him talk about the battles he had experienced in Kiev.

After the other party had finally finished speaking, Mira asked, "How is the city now?"

Konstantin did not speak, but turned to look at Sokov, wanting to find out the identity of Major Mira first: "This is Major Mira, the commander we met in Berezan, and now the deputy commander of our special company."

When Konstantin learned that the major, who was two ranks higher than Sokov, was Sokov's deputy, he could not help showing a surprised expression on his face. But he soon regained his composure and reported to the other party: "Comrade Major, the surviving combat teams in the city are still fighting tenaciously. Yesterday, some soldiers of the internal security forces blew up several buildings on Khreshchatyk Street, where German officials from the Occupied Area Affairs Bureau were located. They were killed in the attack."

Hearing this, Sokov's eyebrows could not help but rise. He remembered that the attack Constantine mentioned took place on September 1941, 9. After the internal security forces completed the attack here, they continued to carry out sabotage operations nearby, causing explosions and fire accidents in the next few days. Kiev citizens kept pouring water on their roofs to avoid being affected by the fire. No one went to put out the fire, and it lasted for four days and four nights.

The German army used these events as an excuse to start a brutal cleansing of the Jews in Kiev. On September 1941, 9, 28 notices were posted in the city of Kiev, requiring the local Jews to gather at the intersection of Melnikov Street and Degtyarevskaya Street on September 2000, 1941, so that the German army could implement the "relocation plan". The next day, tens of thousands of people gathered at the designated location. They were required to walk from Melnikov Street all the way to the Babi Yar Gorge guarded by the German army on the outskirts of Kiev.

When they approached the canyon, all men, women and children were required to take off their clothes and fold them up, and to sort out their valuables. Then, they were divided into several teams and entered the canyon. The German army massacred them with machine guns. On September 1941 and 9, 29 alone, 30 Jews were killed.

Although Sokov was aware of the impending tragedies, he was powerless to do anything. After all, the fall of Yagotin was imminent, and it was unknown whether he could escape the German encirclement. How could he have the strength to save others?

"Comrade Captain," Mira waited for Konstantin to finish speaking, then turned to look at Sokov and asked, "Do you think we need to report this to the commander?"

"There's no need for that." Sokov shook his head and said, "Even if Comrade Commander knew about this, what's the use? It's difficult for us to even defend Yagogin with our current strength, so how can we have extra strength to support the combat teams in the city?" "Comrade Captain, can we hold on here?" Konstantin asked.

Sokov did not speak, but walked out of the tent and walked around it. Seeing that no one was outside, he returned to the tent and said to the three people: "According to my analysis, the Germans will be able to completely occupy this area in one or two days at most. The problem we need to consider now is not whether we can defend Yagotin, but whether we can escape the German encirclement."

"Comrade Captain, do you mean that we will soon launch a breakout operation?" Major Mira asked cautiously.

"That's right." Sokov nodded and continued, "Although we only have 40 or 50 people left, it may not be a bad thing. With fewer people, we have a smaller target. If we want to break out, the chances of escaping the German encirclement may be higher."

Zhukov's expression became complicated after hearing what Sokov said. After thinking for a long time, he said, "Comrade Captain, I will go check the soldiers' ammunition and supplies and make preparations for the breakout in advance."

Sokov nodded and told the other party, "Second Lieutenant Zhukov, don't tell everyone that we are about to break out, so as not to cause unnecessary panic. If anyone asks, just say that we must be ready for battle at any time."

"I understand, Comrade Captain." Zhu Kewen nodded: "I will convey your meaning to everyone."

At the same time, Vlasov in the headquarters received a telegram from the Supreme Command.

The telegram said: Since the main members of the Southwestern Front Command were killed, the 40th, 21st and 38th Armies of the unit were placed under Timoshenko's command from September 9, and withdrew from the Desna River and Dnieper River line to the Belopoliye and Krasnograd lines to reorganize defense and cover the Kharkov industrial area. The 27th Army of the Southwestern Front and the 6th, 12th and 18th Armies of the Southern Front were transferred to establish defenses from Krasnograd to the Sea of ​​Azov to cover the Donbass direction.

After reading the telegram, Colonel Del frowned and asked Vlasov: "Comrade Commander, why is our army not mentioned at all in the telegram from the Supreme Command?"

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Vlasov stared at the telegram, sighed and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, perhaps in the minds of the Supreme Command, our army has been annihilated by the Germans."

"How is this possible?" Colonel Dell pointed to the telegram and said, "If the High Command believed that we were annihilated by the Germans, why did they send us this telegram?"

Vlasov pinched his chin and thought for a while, then asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how many combat troops do we have so far?"

"Although we have more than a dozen regiment-level troops under our control, our total actual strength is less than 2,000 people." Colonel Del also specifically reminded Vlasov: "Five hundred of them are the defeated soldiers that Captain Sokov has taken in over the past two days."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, this is what I think," Vlasov said to Colonel Del after weighing the pros and cons. "We will hold out in the Yagotin area for another day, and then begin an orderly retreat to Belopolye tomorrow. After joining forces with friendly forces there, we will set up new defenses."

Hearing what Vlasov said, Colonel Del quickly reminded him: "Comrade Commander, we abandoned the Yagotin area without receiving the withdrawal order from the Supreme Command. If the superiors hold us accountable, you and I will be sent to the military court."

Facing Colonel Del's reminder, Vlasov shook his head and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you think that if we continue to hold on to this area, we can stop the German attack? If we continue to fight, we will be annihilated."

Vlasov's words made Colonel Del gasp. As the army group chief of staff, he knew that the other party was not exaggerating. The area controlled by the Yagotin region was only two kilometers long and one kilometer wide. Moreover, the troops were short of ammunition and had no heavy weapons. If they continued to fight, it was only a matter of time before they were annihilated by the Germans.

Although he knew that if he continued to fight, he would either die in battle or be captured, he still did not dare to agree to Vlasov's proposal casually, and could only bite the bullet and ask: "If the superiors hold us accountable, what should we do?"

"Chief of Staff, don't worry." Vlasov said carelessly, "If the superiors want to investigate this matter, I will bear all the responsibility."

"Well, then." Since Vlasov was willing to endorse him, Colonel Del naturally wanted it very much, so he nodded and said, "I will immediately call a meeting of the commanders and convey your order to them."

"Tell them that today and tomorrow will be the last battle for our 37th Army. We must fight bravely and tenaciously to prevent the Germans from discovering our intention to retreat."

Colonel Del nodded, then called over several signalmen and asked them to notify the officers in charge of the operations to come to the headquarters to attend an impromptu military meeting.

Vlasov tapped his fingers lightly, wondering in his mind which place he should choose as the direction for his troops to break out.

"Comrade Commander," Colonel Del sent out the signalman, turned around and saw Vlasov staring at the map in a daze, and hurried over to ask, "It's almost 200 kilometers from here to Belopolye. If we don't have transportation, even if we use a forced march, it will probably take four or five days to reach our destination."

"Chief of Staff," Vlasov looked up at Colonel Del and asked cautiously, "Who owns the railway station in the eastern suburbs of the city now?"

"Of course it is in our hands. The enemy has launched seven attacks on the station, but they were all repelled by the troops defending there." After answering Vlasov's question, Colonel Del suddenly realized the purpose of the other party's question and asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander, are you planning to let our soldiers retreat to Belopoliye by train?"

(End of this chapter)