red moscow

Chapter 2745

Time passed quickly and it was September 9. Because General Yeremenko of the Bryansk Front failed to fulfill his promise to the Supreme Command to "crush Guderian", Guderian and Kleist's armored groups met in Lokhvitsa, and the Southwestern Front was surrounded by the German army.

On September 9, the vanguard of the German 20th Army rushed into Kiev. In less than a day, almost all of Kiev's area on the right bank of the Dnieper River fell into the hands of the German army. The 6th Army commanded by Vlasov received an order to move to the Yagotin area.

After receiving the order from the front headquarters, Colonel Del said to Vlasov anxiously: "Comrade Commander, since the front headquarters has given us the order to retreat, should we immediately execute the order from our superiors?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Vlasov said sternly, "Our main force has been entangled by the Germans. Do you think we can just withdraw?"

"However, the city of Kiev on the right bank of the Dnieper River has almost all fallen into the hands of the German army, and our troops have been scattered." Del reminded Sokov: "We should follow the orders of our superiors and withdraw the headquarters to the Yagotin area, where we can accommodate the scattered troops and organize effective resistance."

Faced with Colonel Del's suggestion, Vlasov chose to refuse: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it is precisely because our troops were dispersed by the Germans that we cannot choose to retreat. If we really retreat to the Yagotin area under this circumstance, it will affect the morale and spirit of the troops. As a commander, you should understand that once the troops lose their morale and spirit, they will only think about escaping and have no intention of resisting. Once the troops lose their organization, they will become lambs to be slaughtered in front of the enemy."

Seeing that Vlasov was so stubborn, no matter how dissatisfied Colonel Del was, he had no choice but to obey him, because the other party was his superior.

However, the headquarters' stay did not change the situation in the right bank city to the Soviet army's advantage. On the contrary, it put the headquarters in danger.

The battle continued until the afternoon, when the 17th Infantry Division of the 50th Army under the command of German General Werner Kiehnitz appeared near the army headquarters. Although the guards around them put up a tenacious resistance, the resistance was quickly crushed due to the gap in manpower and equipment.

Seeing that the enemy was about to rush into the building, the chief of guards quickly transferred Sokov's special company up, hoping that they could stop the German attack.

If Sokov had commanded a battle-hardened army with rich combat experience and equipped with sophisticated equipment, it would not have been a big problem to stop the attack of the German infantry division. Unfortunately, two-thirds of his soldiers were recruits who had been in the army for less than a month, and most of them had never experienced the blood and fire of the battlefield. Many recruits heard bullets whizzing over their heads and saw their comrades being killed, and they deserted out of fear.

The battle lasted only a dozen minutes, and Sokov's special company, which originally had more than 200 people, was reduced to less than 50 people, basically the original old team of the special company.

"Lieutenant Konstantin." Sokov knew that if he continued to fight, he would be doomed to be annihilated. He quickly called Konstantin and told him, "You and your men hold on here. I will take the commander and the others to move."

Konstantin nodded, and led his own platoon of soldiers to stubbornly resist the German attack, relying on the crude fortifications outside the headquarters. Sokov led Zhukov, Yegor and others into the building, preparing to move Vlasov and others quickly.

"Captain Sokov," Vlasov frowned when he saw Sokov, whose face was blackened by gunpowder smoke, appear in front of him. "Aren't you leading people outside to stop the enemy's attack? Why are you here?"

"Comrade Commander," Sokov saw that things had come to this point, and there was no sign of evacuation in the headquarters, and he couldn't help but get anxious: "My troops are almost wiped out. If you don't leave, when the Germans rush in, you will be their prisoner."

Sokov thought of Vlasov being captured in the Battle of Lyuban. He used to be very surprised. How could Vlasov, the commander of the assault army, be captured when so many commanders and fighters successfully escaped the German encirclement? But from today's situation, he suddenly understood that Vlasov knew that the situation outside was irreversible, but he still chose to stay here just to earn himself a good reputation of "not fearing danger".

But at this moment, Sokov would not give him the chance to pretend. If he continued to pretend, not only would he be captured by the Germans, he might also become a prisoner, which he did not want to see. He turned to Zhu Kewen and others behind him and said, "Second Lieutenant Zhu Kewen, take your men, the commander and the chief of staff and leave here immediately."

Zhu Kewen nodded, then ordered Churhin, Giuburo and others to carry Vlasov and Colonel Del out of the headquarters and move in a direction where the enemy had not been found yet.

With Vlasov's transfer, the staff and signalmen in the command center also dispersed. Some followed Sokov, Vlasov and others to escape, while others took off their military uniforms and fled to nearby houses, intending to hide there and find a way to leave Kiev after peace was restored outside.

When they left the headquarters building, Sokov and Vlasov's small unit had about 70 people. However, due to continuous encounters with sporadic enemies along the way, some officers and soldiers died in the battle, and some were scattered. When they arrived at a building near the Dnieper River, there were less than ten people left.

Sokov looked back at the survivors around him. Apart from Vlasov, Colonel Del, Lieutenant Zhukov and three prisoners, there were only Romanov and a communications staff officer with little combat effectiveness.

Sokov walked to the window and looked at the bridge across the Dnieper River with his binoculars. He saw German troops at the bridgehead. They occupied advantageous terrain and even set up machine guns on the sandbag fortifications. If he tried to force his way through, he would probably be shot into a sieve by the German machine guns before he could reach the bridge.

"Captain Sokov, what's the situation outside?" Even at this point, Vlasov still didn't realize the seriousness of the problem and kept asking Sokov: "When can we cross the bridge and get to the left bank of the Dnieper River?"

"Comrade Commander, take a look for yourself." Sokov handed him the binoculars and said with a wry smile, "The Germans have already taken control of the bridgehead and set up machine guns. We can't get through with just a few of us."

Vlasov raised his binoculars and looked toward the bridgehead, then frowned. "We must find a way to cross the bridge as soon as possible. Otherwise, once the Germans have completely taken control of the city on the right bank and strengthened the defense of the bridge, we won't be able to leave even if we want to."

Colonel Del smiled bitterly when he heard what Vlasov said. He thought to himself that if Vlasov had listened to his advice and led the headquarters to move at noon, they would have arrived at the location designated by their superiors. But now, the headquarters must have been taken down by the Germans. If the few people left here cannot cross the bridge across the Dnieper River as soon as possible, then the final outcome will be either sacrifice or becoming a prisoner of the Germans. Both of these situations are what Colonel Del does not want to see. "Captain Sokov," Second Lieutenant Zhukov also realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly reminded Sokov: "Although where we are now is temporarily safe, as long as the Germans control the right bank city, they will launch a comprehensive search, and then our situation will become extremely difficult."

"I know, Comrade Lieutenant." Sokov said with a wry smile, "You think I don't want to leave this damn place quickly? But look, the Germans have already controlled the bridgehead. Do you think we can rush through with just a few of us?"

“Comrade Captain, are we just going to sit here and wait for death?” Romanov came over and said sternly, “I think we should find a way to leave here before the Germans completely control the right bank.”

Sokov looked at Romanov sideways and asked expressionlessly: "Do you have any good ideas, Comrade Romanov?"

Romanov was stunned by Sokov's question. He shook his head and said, "Comrade Captain, even if we don't have any good ideas for the time being, we should still try our best."

Colonel Del was unwilling to sit here and wait for death, so he proposed to try to attack the bridgehead occupied by the German army to see if there was any hope of breaking through successfully.

Sokov didn't say anything. After all, there were only nine people left. Even if all of them were taken up, they would still not be enough to fill the gaps between the German machine guns.

Seeing that Sokov didn't speak, Colonel Del became anxious: "Captain Sokov, why don't you speak? Time is the most precious thing for us now. If we can't get out of danger before the German army completely controls the right bank city, then we are completely finished."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov found that not only Colonel Shidel was eager to break out, but even Vlasov, who had been trying to act smart, was looking at him expectantly, wanting to hear what he would say. He could only say helplessly, "If we charge at the bridge, we will die in vain. It is better to stay here and find a way to cross the river after dark."

Vlasov did not hear the answer he wanted, and he was a little annoyed. He said, "Let's vote now. Those who agree to cross the bridge immediately, please raise your hands." After that, he raised his hand first. Colonel Del followed closely, and the communications staff hesitated for a moment and raised his hand as well.

The remaining five people all turned their eyes to Sokov, wanting to follow his instructions.

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"Comrade Commander," Sokov said to Vlasov, feeling relieved that his men chose to stand with him. "It's still six to three now. The vast majority of people are against blindly taking risks. I think we should wait until after dark."

But Vlasov was unwilling to stay here. He was about to order Sokov to lead his men to open a passage as the army commander to cover him to reach the left bank of the Dnieper River smoothly. At this time, a burst of dense gunfire came from outside, making everyone nervous.

Zhu Kewen looked down and said with surprise, "It's our troops. There are about two platoons of them. They are heading towards the bridge."

Vlasov's face lit up when he heard Zhu Kewen say this: "Second Lieutenant, watch carefully what's going on outside. Once our troops break through the German defenses, tell me immediately so that we can follow them and cross the bridge to the other side of the river."

Ideals are full, but reality is skinny. The small unit that suddenly appeared found that the German army had set up defenses at the entrance of the bridge, but they still charged at them with bayonets. Although the officers and soldiers were very brave, they fell on the road to the bridge under the crazy shooting of the German MG34 machine gun.

Seeing that two platoons of soldiers were wiped out in less than three minutes under the machine gun fire of the German army, Vlasov and Colonel Del were shocked. They were thinking that if Sokov had just obeyed their orders and led his men to charge the bridge, then at this moment, they would probably be the only two commanders left.

"Comrade Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing the change in their attitudes, Sokov quickly said, "Although the situation seems to be very unfavorable to us, it does not mean that we have no way to escape. I still say that we will wait until dark and find a way to cross the river."

"Captain Sokov," Colonel Del couldn't say anything at this point, so he could only nod and say, "What you said makes sense, let's do as you say. After dark, we'll find a way to cross the river."

While Vlasov and Colonel Del were resting in a corner, Zhukov whispered to Sokov: "Comrade Captain, do you have any good ideas to cross the river safely?"

"No." Sokov shook his head and said, "Now the bridge has been blocked by the Germans. We can't cross the bridge. We can only consider crossing the river. But the river is too wide and the current is too fast. It is obviously unrealistic to swim across. For now, we can only find a way to find a small boat and then quietly cross the river to the other side."

"Where can I find a boat?"

Sokov thought for a moment and replied, "I remember there's a pier a few hundred meters from here. Maybe we can find a boat there."

"Captain, you are right. There is indeed a dock a few hundred meters downstream, where many ships are docked all year round." Zhu Kewen said, "As long as the Germans don't control that place, we can get a boat there after dark and transport everyone to the other side of the river. There should be no problem."

Time passed by, and seeing more and more German troops rushing to the bridge, Sokov's heart was hanging. If the situation continued to develop like this, before dark, the Germans might control the downstream docks, and then his plan to cross the river might fail. What should he do?
Zhukov also considered the same issue that Sokov was considering: "Comrade Captain, you can see that there are more and more Germans at the bridgehead. I am worried that if they search along the river, they will definitely find the dock downstream, and then our plan to cross the river will be completely ruined."

(End of this chapter)