Just as Lüdecker was planning to abandon the fortress, the Soviet bombers returned one after another after completing the bombing, and the shelling of the fortress became sparse. At this moment, the phone on the table rings, bringing him bad news.

The adjutant picked up the phone and listened for a moment, then a panicked expression appeared on his face: "Your Excellency, the cadet corps stationed south of the fortress reports that the Russians have launched an attack on the positions they defended. ”

When Rudek heard the adjutant's report, he couldn't help but be shocked, and then asked rhetorically: "Ask them, how many troops are there in the attacking Russians, and can they hold it?" ”

As soon as the adjutant waited for Ludek to finish speaking, he hurriedly asked into the microphone: "The commander asked you, how many troops do the Russians have, and can you stop them?" ”

"Mr. Lieutenant Colonel," the commander of the cadet corps, Captain Ernst and other adjutants, hurriedly replied, "the Russians have dispatched about two battalions of troops, and with the cover of tanks, it may be difficult for us to hold them back." ”

Lüdecker came to the telephone, and after hearing Captain Ernst's report clearly, he did not wait for the adjutant to speak to report to him, and then preemptively said: "Adjutant, you tell Captain Ernst to do everything possible to hold his position, and I will send men to support him at once." ”

The adjutant nodded, then said into the microphone, "Captain, did you hear it all?" Your Excellency the Commander orders you to resolutely hold off the Russian attack, and he will send troops to reinforce you as soon as possible. ”

Captain Ernst learned that Lüdecker was ready to send reinforcements to him, and immediately said: "Please rest assured, Your Excellency, that as long as there is one man left in the cadet corps, we will never allow the Russians to occupy our position." ”

The adjutant put down the phone, looked at Rüdek and asked, "Your Excellency, commander, where should we send troops to support the cadet corps?" ”

"Draw a battalion from the 31st Grenadier Division and let them carry some more anti-tank weapons." Rüdek looked out the window at the billowing smoke and gritted his teeth and said, "As long as our soldiers take out the Russian tanks, their infantry will be vulnerable." ”

"Your Excellency, Commander," said the adjutant after waiting for Rüdecker to finish speaking, still standing still, and with some hesitation, "if men are drawn from the 31st Grenadier, then their defensive zone will be empty. If the Russians take the opportunity to attack there, I fear that the Russians will gain a foothold in the fortress. ”

"Lieutenant Colonel," Rudek said sternly, staring at his adjutant, "don't forget that the positions that were attacked were held by the cadet corps. Every member of the cadet corps is an alternate officer or non-commissioned officer, how can we use them as ordinary soldiers? As long as they survive, they will be able to quickly replenish the newly formed units and serve as officers at all levels, so that our troops can form combat effectiveness in the shortest possible time. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Your Excellency, Commander." When the adjutant heard Lüdek say this, he immediately understood what was going on, and hurriedly replied loudly: "I will immediately send reinforcements to them to ensure that the cadet corps can hold their positions." ”

The Soviet troops, which launched an attack on the southern fortress, met with stubborn resistance from the officers and men of the cadet corps. The tanks covering the attack were either destroyed by the iron fists fired by the soldiers hiding in the rubble, or by the German soldiers who rushed up with explosives strapped to them. With the arrival of reinforcements from the 31st Grenadier Division, the Soviet commander knew that if he continued to fight, he would not be able to achieve anything but more casualties, so he decisively ordered his troops to withdraw from the battle.

Relieved to learn that the cadets had successfully repelled the Soviet attack, Lüdecker personally called the commander, Captain Ernst, and said: "Captain, although you have repelled the attack of the Russians, you cannot take it lightly, so it is possible that they will take advantage of the night to come up again and attack ......"

"Your Excellency, please rest assured of this." Captain Ernst assured Lüdeck: "I will send enough men to monitor the movements of the Russians." At the same time, I have ordered the passage to the position to be mined. If the Russians don't come, they will inevitably suffer huge losses. ”

As soon as it was dark, a communications staff officer hurried into Rüdek's headquarters, raised the telegram in his hand, and excitedly reported: "Your Excellency, I have good news for you. ”

"What, good news?" Ludek took the telegram from the other party's hand, and did not read it immediately, but asked curiously: "Lieutenant, what good news?" ”

"I just received a telegram from the 73rd Infantry Division that they had sneaked through the Russian line and had reached the north of the fortress." Although Lüdek held a telegram with detailed content in his hand, the communications staff officer still made a serious report: "...... They were still three to five kilometers away from the fortress, and in about an hour, they would be able to reach the fortress. ”

"Great, that's great." When Ludek heard the news, he hurriedly lowered his head and quickly read the telegram in his hand, and then said: "Adjutant, immediately inform the defenders of the northern fortress that a friendly army is about to enter the fortress, let them pay attention to the response, and don't fight with their own people." ”

When the adjutant called the commander in charge of the defense to the north, Rüdek fell into deep thought again, knowing in his heart that the troops that could pass through the direction of the Soviet army would certainly not be able to carry any heavy weapons. Their accession, in addition to an increase in some numbers, did not increase their combat effectiveness accordingly.

After the adjutant finished the phone call, when he came over to report to Lüdek, he saw his commander looking worried, so he asked curiously: "Your Excellency, Commander, our reinforcements have arrived, you should be happy, why do you look so preoccupied." ”

"That's right, it's a good thing that reinforcements are coming." Lüdek looked up at his adjutant and said expressionlessly: "But if they have to pass through the Russian defense zone, they will definitely not carry any heavy weapons, and the weapons, ammunition and food they carry with them are also very limited." If the Russians had besieged the fortress and not attacked it, I would have thought that in less than a week, the officers and men in the fortress would be so hungry that they would not even be able to pull the trigger. ”

From Lüdek's words, the adjutant heard that he still had the intention of breaking out, so he said cautiously: "Your Excellency, I think you should know very well that if we withdraw from the fortress without receiving the order, you will be court-martialed, and even your relatives will be sent to a concentration camp by the Gestapo." ”

"Do you think I'm going to do something stupid like this?" Ludek smiled bitterly and said: "If I really want to break through, I will convey my intention to the Führer through the senior general, and after obtaining his permission, we can justifiably withdraw from the fortress." ”

Not to mention that Rüdek was in a hurry to leave this impregnable fortress, even his lieutenants were no exception. After Ludek finished speaking, the adjutant asked tentatively: "Your Excellency, I wonder which general you intend to make this request to the Führer through which general?" ”

"Guderian! His Excellency Guderian, Acting Chief of the General Staff! Without hesitation, Rüdek said: "I think it is only fitting that he should convey to the Führer my intention to retreat." ”