After receiving the order to recruit female soldiers, it immediately caused an uproar among the recruiting officers. Looking at the order received, everyone's first reaction must have been made by their superiors, how could those delicate young girls charge into battle with rifles as high as them? So everyone called their superiors to verify the matter.

Major Pudo Prigola of the 327th Infantry Regiment received seven or eight such calls in just five minutes. The phone rang one after another, which made him upset, and he just hung up a phone, and before he could catch his breath, the phone rang again.

He grabbed the headphones, pressed them tightly to his ear, and asked viciously, "Hey, who is it this time?" ”

The other party was silent for a moment, and then said, "What's the matter, Comrade Major, who are you angry at?" ”

Hearing this voice, the major immediately jumped up from his seat, held the microphone with both hands, straightened up and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Commander, may I ask what instructions do you have?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Major." Lukin asked slowly on the phone, "I just heard from my subordinates that your 327th Infantry Regiment has set up a recruiting station near the station to recruit new recruits from the fleeing civilians, is there such a thing?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Pudo Prigora reported in a proper manner: "The establishment of the recruiting station was an order personally given by the division commander, and I was only acting on orders. ”

"Oh, I see." Lukin nodded after hearing this, and said casually: "About the recruiting station, I will call and ask Colonel Krasnoretsky to see what is going on." As he spoke, he was about to hang up the phone.

Hearing that Lukin was about to hang up the phone, Pudo Prigora hurriedly shouted: "Comrade commander, please wait a minute, I have another strange thing to report to you." ”

"Strange things?" The Major's words intrigued Lukin, and he asked curiously, "Tell me, Major, what is it that makes you feel strange?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." The major said cautiously: "In the order issued by the division commander, in addition to ordering us to set up a recruiting station to recruit refugees, he also ordered us to recruit all women of appropriate age if they are willing to serve as soldiers. ”

"What, conscription of female soldiers?!" Lukin was taken aback by Portoprigora's words, and he thought he had misheard, so he asked again: "Is it the order from Colonel Krasnoretsky that you have already recruited female soldiers while recruiting new soldiers?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." The major was a little angry and said: "The commanders in charge of recruiting troops below were all confused when they received this order, and they kept calling to inquire about it......

"Alright, Comrade Major." Lukin didn't wait for the major to finish speaking, and directly interrupted him, "Since the order of the superior is like this, then you can carry it out." After saying this, he paused for a moment, and then added, "As for what is going on, I will ask Colonel Krasnoretsky for clarification." ”

After Lukin finished the call with the major, he picked up the microphone again, heard the voice of the operator from inside, and immediately ordered angrily: "I'm Lukin, give me the command of the 109th Infantry Division, find Colonel Krasnoretsky." ”

A moment later, Lukin heard Krasnoretsky's voice coming from the earpiece, and immediately asked solemnly: "Comrade Colonel, I would like to hear your explanation of why you made an unauthorized claim and conscripted refugees into the army without asking your superiors for instructions. What's more, it's just too lawless for you to conscript women into the army. ”

Krasnoretsky heard Lukin speak to himself in such a stern tone, and immediately panicked, and said again and again: "Comrade commander, please listen to my explanation, the situation is not as ...... as you imagined"

"Then tell me your reasons," Lukin said angrily, "If you can't convince me, all the recruiting stations that have been set up will be canceled immediately." ”

Seeing the embarrassed expression on Colonel Krasnoretsky's face, Rokossovsky hurriedly stretched out his hand and said at the same time: "Colonel, the establishment of a recruiting station and the recruitment of female soldiers, these are my ideas, give me the microphone and let me personally explain it to Comrade Commander." ”

Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Krasnoretsky breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly handed the microphone to the other party like a hot potato.

Rokossovsky took the microphone, took a deep breath, and then said politely: "Hello, Comrade Commander, I am Rokossovsky. ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky," Lukin immediately understood who was the initiator of the unauthorized establishment of the recruiting station, and said very unceremoniously: "Tell me, why didn't you contact the local military service bureau and set up the recruiting station without authorization, you must know that this is a violation of the regulations." Also, until the men of Russia die, it will not be the turn of those young girls to put on military uniforms and fight like men. ”

Lukin's anger over the recruitment was expected by Rokossovsky. He waited for the other party to finish speaking, and then said unhurriedly: "Comrade commander, please listen to my explanation." Due to the heavy casualties of the troops in the battle, it was not enough to contain the scattered troops who had retreated from the front line in order to hold back the increasingly ferocious German offensive. In this case, we can only recruit new recruits from the refugees who have fled and replenish them into the army. As for why the recruiting station was set up without going through the Selective Service Bureau, it is because it is now a time of war, every minute is precious, and if we wait for the comrades of the Selective Service Bureau to complete the conscription and send the recruits to the troops according to the normal procedure, it will be delayed for at least four or five days. ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky," Lukin's tone softened after figuring out what was going on, "now that you know that we will face a ferocious German attack next, will the recruits recruited from among the refugees make a difference?" You know, what is needed on the battlefield is not numbers, but fighters, fighters with real combat effectiveness. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Rokossovsky said confidently: "As long as these recruits are mixed with the veterans of the army, as long as they fight one or two battles, they will grow up quickly." ”

"What about the female soldiers? Comrade Rokossovsky," Lukin couldn't help but interrupt him, and asked in a loud voice, "You can't let these delicate female soldiers, with infantry about the same height as them, rush up and fight the enemy with bayonets, right?" ”

"Comrade commander, I believe that in our troops, there is a need for more than just fighters who can fight bayonets or drive tanks." Rokossovsky said in a calm tone: "They are now fully qualified for health care and communications. I believe that these young girls, after taking off the Braggi and putting on the uniform of the Red Army, will be able to use their youth and blood to defend our great motherland. ”

After hearing Rokossovsky's words, Lukin was silent.

"Didn't he listen to me at all?" Holding the earpiece, which suddenly lost its voice, Rokossovsky's heart became unsteady, and he thought anxiously: "Maybe I should find some other reason to convince him." ”

"Dear Konstantin Konstantinovich," Lukin finally spoke, "you are right, there is no distinction between men and women in destroying the enemy and defending our great Fatherland. Well, I'm in charge of this, so I'll let the recruiting station recruit female soldiers and replenish them to the health camp or communications team. Later, I will go to the various recruitment stations and tell the commanders in charge of recruiting that they should open the door to girls who are willing to join the army. ”

Hearing Lukin's statement, the stone hanging in Rokossovsky's heart finally fell to the ground, and after he put down the phone, he smiled and said to Krasnoretsky, who was standing opposite the desk: "Okay, colonel, I have already explained to Comrade Commander, he agreed with our approach, and said that he would go to the recruiting stations to inspect the implementation of the conscription order later." (To be continued.) )