After reading the telegram, Gurov sat in his position without saying a word, Krylov sighed with regret, and Chuikov was so angry that he tore the telegram to shreds, threw it to the ground, and circled back and forth in the headquarters with his hands behind his back. And I, a seconded officer, in order to prevent Chuikov from venting his thunderous anger on me, so I wisely chose silence is golden.

Seeing that Chuikov was on the verge of rampage, those staff officers who came in and out from time to time consciously lightened their pace; The communication soldier who made the call also tried to keep his voice down as much as possible. They were all afraid that once they alarmed Chuikov, who was in an unhappy mood, they would incur a scolding for themselves.

After walking in the headquarters for a few minutes, Chuikov's mood gradually calmed down, he walked back to the table, and said to Krylov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you go and call or send a telegram to the commanders of the participating units to say that there is some accident on the part of the Air Force, and there is no air support. At present, to complete the counterattack against the German army, they can only rely on their own strength. They were told that all units should carry forward the fighting spirit of not fearing hardship or death, and wage a stubborn battle against the enemy. Speaking of this, he lowered his voice and said to himself: "As long as we can hold out until tomorrow, Rodimtsev's 13th Guards Division can be fully thrown into battle, so that our chances of victory will be higher." ”

After receiving Chuikov's order, Krylov immediately went to the side of the signal corps and asked them to convey the commander's order to the commanders of the units below.

With the order of Chuikov was given, the offensive that had been stalled began again. At the same time as the good news was frequent, the commanders of the various units also complained to Krylov one after another, saying that the troops had suffered heavy casualties. The intensity of the offensive began to weaken. It is hoped that the command will send them additional reinforcements.

After hearing Krylov's report. Chuikov slapped the table and roared: "Chief of Staff, tell them, I have no reserves here, and if you want to defeat the enemy, you can only rely on their own strength. The soldiers were gone, and the commanders continued to rush forward; The commander is gone," said Chuikov, taking off his large-brimmed hat from his head. slammed it on the table, gritted his teeth and said, "Let the military commanders of each unit rush up with their guns!" ”

After Gurov waited for Chuikov to lose his temper, he hurriedly persuaded him with kind words: "Comrade commander, don't get angry. To tell the truth, the number of these troops participating in the counteroffensive was indeed a little smaller, and they were all light and heavy troops, without heavy weapons, to overcome the strong fortifications of the German army. It's very difficult. Otherwise, let's figure it out. Cobbling together a little reinforcement for them? ”

Chuikov sighed, sat down, and said with a bitter face: "I also want to send reinforcements to them, but Comrade Military Commissar, you also know our current situation, where can we draw troops?" ”

After Krylov waited for Chuikov to finish speaking, he cautiously said: "Commander, Comrade Military Commissar, can we transfer the 6th Heavy Tank Brigade over?" You must know that they still have 19 heavy tanks, if they are assigned to the counterattack force, they can improve the current offensive strength of our army? ”

Unexpectedly, Cui Kefu directly shook his head and vetoed his suggestion: "No, the heavy tank brigade is the reserve of the whole group army, it is currently stationed near the big granary in the south of the city, and it also plays a role in protecting the left flank of our department. ”

Seeing that Krylov's proposal was vetoed by Chuikov, Gurov hurriedly coughed, and after attracting our attention, he said unhurriedly: "Comrade commander, in fact, we still have a force to use. At this point, he glanced at me with meaningful eyes, and continued, "As far as I know, Colonel Oshanina's independent division has suffered little losses in the recent battles, and if necessary, we can use this force to attack the 44th and 76th German divisions in the north, so as to contain the main German army. ”

When I heard Gurov say this, I couldn't help but shudder, and my heart went around for a long time, and it seemed that I still wanted to beat my independent division. I quickly turned my eyes to Chuikov, eager to know what he thought?

When Chuikov heard Gurov's construction, he didn't immediately express his position, but looked at me and asked, "Comrade Oshanina, what do you think about the construction of Comrade Military Commissar?" When he asked, he put the decision in my hands.

Since I knew that Mamayev Hill would be an important area for the German army to attack in the future, if I let the independent division participate in the counterattack now, it would be more than worth the loss, and when the troops are exhausted, where can we still draw enough troops to defend the high ground? Thinking of this, I hurriedly stood up, not caring that what I said might offend Gurov, but I still said bluntly: "Commander, military commissar, chief of staff, I do not agree with the independent division to be put into counterattack operations. ”

"Why?" Gurov and Krylov asked in unison.

I kept my eyes on the map and said in a pretended contemplative manner: "Judging from the current situation of the enemy, the Mamayev Heights, the docks, and the Central Railway Station are the focus of their attack. At present, the independent division is holding two of the three important areas, and once it is transferred to participate in counterattack operations, the original defense area becomes empty. If they are entangled by the enemy in battle," said I, in order not to irritate those present, I deliberately replaced the word "encirclement" with the relatively mild "entanglement." "As soon as the German troops bypassed the area where they were fighting and swooped in, then there was a possibility that these areas of defense would be lost."

"Isn't it enough to have even one regiment?" Krylov asked unwillingly: "You know, the independent division now has five regiments and nearly 7,000 troops." ”

"I'm sorry, Comrade Chief of Staff." I'm like a miser now, trying to turn back those who ask me to borrow money, "My troops are not only defending the Mamayev Hill and the docks, but also the 107.5 Heights and settlements near the river. Judging from the current situation, we may not be replenished for a long time, so in terms of the use of troops, I have to be careful and put every soldier to use. ”

My words made Gurov and Chuikov laugh, and Chuikov pointed his finger at me and said angrily and funny: "I have known you for so long. I didn't expect you to look like a miser. Cover your belongings tightly. He refused to let go at all. Okay, I'm not going to beat you up this time, just sit down! ”

Hearing that Chuikov himself said that he would not fight my idea of being an independent division, I excitedly saluted him before sitting down again.

After I sat down, Chuikov consulted with Gurov and Krylov: "At present, the defensive front of the independent division is too wide, and such a platoon is arranged. will dilute their battle severely. In this way, when Rodimtsev's guards division came, two regiments were drawn to participate in the counterattack, and one regiment went to the 107.5 heights to take over. If he still has extra troops, then ask him to transfer a battalion or a company to the group army headquarters to serve as a guard, knowing that the number of troops outside the headquarters is not much. ”

By noon, when the counteroffensive was carried out, there were no more telegrams or messages reporting back from the victory, but one bad news after another. The general meaning was due to the fact that the Germans in the counterattack area threw a considerable amount of infantry and tanks, under the cover of aircraft artillery. A counterattack was carried out against our troops. After a fierce battle, the morning's gains were almost all in vain. The counter-attacking forces were forced to retreat in most areas.

When Chuikov heard the bad news, he gritted his back molars and asked Krylov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if our counterattack is completely defeated by the Germans, in your estimation, where will the enemy's offensive target be?" ”

Krylov flipped through the telegram in his hand, and then said in an affirmative tone: "Report to Comrade Commander, Comrade Oshanina has already said just now that the focus of the enemy's offensive will be Mamayev Hill and the Central Railway Station. Judging by the current direction of the spearhead of the German offensive, Comrade Oshanina's judgment is accurate. ”

"To keep the enemy at bay, we must not let their dirty boots step on the soil of our cities. Comrade Chief of Staff, you immediately call the commanders who are holding the central railway station and ask them to lay anti-tank mines on the road leading to the station and place more snipers in nearby buildings. ”

When Chuikov had finished speaking, I asked cautiously; "Comrade Commander, there is little point for me to continue to stay here, can I go back to Mamayev Gang?"

When Chuikov heard this, he waved his hand at me and said without thinking: "Go, Colonel Oshanina, I ask you to remember that you must keep the enemy firmly in check, and you must not allow them to occupy the Mamayev Heights, otherwise the Guards Division, which is about to cross the river, will be blocked by the Germans on the high ground." ”

"Please rest assured, commander, that as long as I am alive, I will never give the Mamayev post to the Germans." After saying that, I raised my hand and saluted, and I was about to turn around and leave.

At this moment, Gurov stopped me and told me with concern: "Comrade Oshanina, the road is not very safe, it is either shelling or bombing, you should pay more attention to your own safety." ”

"Thank you, Comrade Military Commissar, I will pay attention, please rest assured." With that, I saluted him again and turned around and strode out of the command.

After coming out of the command headquarters, Basmanov, who had been staying outside, ran over and asked with concern: "Comrade division commander, where will I go next?" ”

"Where else can I go? Of course, I went back to Mamayev Hills. ”

"But, comrade division commander," said Basmanov, with some embarrassment, "did you not hear the gunfire in many parts of the city?" The Germans must have rushed into the city, and what if we had gone out at this time and met them head-on? ”

Hearing that the German troops had stormed the city, I panicked a little, but quickly calmed down. I tried to speak to him in a calm tone: "Comrade Captain, although the Germans have stormed the city, there is still hope that I will return to Mamayev Hill smoothly when I leave the city at this time. If you stay here and wait until more and more German soldiers rush into the city, then you won't be able to leave even if you want to. ”

Seeing that I had made up his mind, Basmanov no longer insisted, and hurriedly waved into the distance, and a jeep with the tarps removed from all sides rushed over. As soon as the car arrived, Basmanov helped me to the back seat, and he himself sat in the front passenger seat, while the other two fighters sat next to me, one left and one right.

Although the distance from the headquarters of the army group to the Mamayev post was not far, the speed of the car could not be raised at all due to the fact that the road was full of craters and piles of rubble. Basmanov, who was sitting in the front row, held a submachine gun and watched vigilantly on both sides of the road, as if he was afraid that a few German soldiers would suddenly emerge from behind the rubble.

Halfway through, although the gunfire grew louder and louder. But not a single German soldier appeared. Seeing that the road was safe and sound. I gradually let my guard down.

That's when it happened. Suddenly, from the back of a nearby building, I heard the roar of a motor, and I immediately became alert again. When I sat up straight and pulled out my pistol, Basmanov, who noticed my movements, hurriedly and vigilantly asked: "Comrade division commander, what's wrong?" ”

I pointed my gun at the location where the sound came from and said loudly, "Haven't you heard it yet?" It's the sound of a motor, and there's the sound of a tank's motor over there. ”

Basmanov listened attentively. With a relaxed expression on his face, he immediately said to me casually: "Comrade division commander, it's okay, just listening to the sound of the motor, you know that it is our T-34 tank." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, our car drove to an intersection. The sound of the tank's motor came from the road on the left, and I couldn't help but glance curiously in that direction. This look was not tight, and I was suddenly shocked into a cold sweat, although it was our army's tank that drove over, but it was the German soldier sitting on the tank.

I'm not the only one watching. Even Basmanov and the driver were watching, when they saw the German soldiers sitting on the body. The smile froze on his face. Before they could react, a tank shell flew over, flew over the roof of my car, and exploded in an open space seven or eight meters away.

By this time, even a fool would have known that it was the Germans who had come, but they were riding in tanks captured from our troops. I yelled at the driver, "Hurry up, rush over." Then I shouted at Basmanov: "Hell, Comrade Captain, this is not our tank, it's the Germans." ”

Before our jeep could rush into the shooting corner, the German tank fired another shot, and the shell landed four or five meters behind us and exploded, and the flying shrapnel made the steel helmet on my head clange. The fighter on my left was clearly not as lucky as I was, and at the same time as the explosion was over, his head tilted back hard, and then he rolled off the bumpy jeep.

The infantry on the tank jumped out of the car, guns in hand, and shouted and chased after them. I picked up the submachine gun that the sacrificed soldier had landed on his seat, and pulled the trigger at the German soldiers who were catching up behind. After a barrage of bullets were fired, a soldier who rushed to the front threw the rifle in his hand, covered his chest, and after two turns on the spot, he fell to the ground.

I saw that the blow worked, and I wanted to fire again, but I didn't expect to pull the trigger again, but I found that the bullet had already been fired, so I threw the gun at my feet in anger and crouched down to dodge the bullet that whizzed overhead. Basmanov and another soldier, with their guns mounted on their seats, fired at the German soldiers who were catching up behind them.

When we left the pursuers behind me without a trace, I finally breathed a sigh of relief and said happily: "Fortunately, we came out one step earlier, otherwise we would have been stopped by the German tanks." At this point, I couldn't help but think of the humiliating experience of being captured last time, so I stopped the topic in time and didn't say anything more.

The soldier sitting on my right suddenly whispered: "I think these German soldiers seem to be drunk, if they hadn't been drunk, it might not have been so easy for us to get out." ”

"What do you know?!" The soldier's words were heard by the sharp-eared Basmanov, who, perhaps afraid that I would be upset, turned his head and reprimanded the soldier, saying: "It is cold now, and the Germans are not accustomed to the climate here, so they can only drink to keep out the cold." ”

Basmanov's words reminded me of last year's Battle of Moscow, if it weren't for the beautiful weather, the temperature plummeted, and the German army was frozen to the point of losing its combat effectiveness, and the final outcome of that battle was still unknown. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but ask: "Captain, do you know when it starts to snow here?" ”

Basmanov frowned and thought for a moment, then said in an uncertain tone: "Maybe it's the same as Moscow, it's snowing in October." However, when I used to read books, I read about the Volga River, which freezes every November. ”

When I walked into the house, Kirillov and Akhromeyev, who had been seated, stood up one after another, greeted them, and asked with concern: "Comrade division commander, are you back?" You didn't encounter any danger on the way, did you? ”

Before I could speak, Basmanov had already preemptively said: "Report to the commissar and chief of staff, we have just encountered German tanks on the way back from the headquarters of the army group, and one soldier was killed in the battle. ”

Basmanov's words frightened the two of them, and Kirillov grabbed my arm and nervously asked: "Comrade Oshanina, are you okay, are you not injured?" ”

"I'm fine." As I spoke, I walked over to the table, sat down, and asked, "How is the situation on this side of the Highlands?" ”

"It is strange to say that today the Germans have neither attacked and shelled our heights, nor have they sent planes to bomb them." After Akhromeyev reported on the situation on the position, he asked rhetorically: "Comrade division commander, how is the situation of today's counterattack operation?" ”

I shook my head and said helplessly: "Originally, in the early stage of the offensive, our troops made some progress, but due to the lack of air force and artillery cooperation, coupled with the limited number of troops, the offensive of the troops stalled near noon. The German troops, at noon, with a considerable number of infantry and tanks, under the cover of aircraft and artillery, carried out a counterattack on our troops, which had now forced our counterattacking troops to retreat and approach the city further. ”

"Has the command been assigned any task by our division?" Kirillov is worthy of being a commander from the headquarters of the army group, and he always considers the problems from the overall situation, "You must know that the troops participating in the battle are not many. If our division were to engage in battle, we would be able to pin down at least the two German divisions in front of them, so that they could not draw forces to reinforce friendly forces. ”

"Comrade Military Commissar once asked the commander to put our division into battle, but when the commander asked for my opinion, I directly vetoed this proposal." I was deeply afraid that Kirillov would have any bad thoughts because of my opposition to the transfer of troops, so I went out of my way to stress: "Since the forces of the army group are limited in the number of troops to counterattack, the results achieved will not be great." Next, the enemy will launch a frantic attack on our city, and the Mamayev Heights, docks, and 107.5 heights that we hold will become the focus of the enemy's attack. Therefore, the strength of our division cannot be arbitrarily transferred, so as not to create an opportunity for the Germans to take advantage of. ”

"The division commander has a point." As soon as I finished speaking, Akhromeyev promptly echoed my opinion.

Seeing that Akhromeyev and I agreed on the same page, Kirillov could not say anything more, so he had to ask: "Did the commander give us any other tasks?" ”

I shook my head, and just wanted to say that in addition to holding the Mamayev post, the superiors did not assign us a task, but suddenly remembered the 13th Guards Division, which was about to arrive in the evening, and hurriedly added: "By the way, this evening, General Rodimtsev's 13th Guards Division will cross the river and come to the city." When the time comes, he will draw the strength of one regiment and change the defense with our three regiments holding on to the 107.5 heights. ”

"What? General Rodimtsev's troops are coming? When Kirillov heard the news, he immediately jumped up from his seat and said to me excitedly: "I have dealt with him before, and I know that he is an excellent commander with rich combat experience, and if the position of the third regiment is handed over to him, my heart will be at ease." ”

I was about to ask Kirillov more about Rodimtsev when the phone on my desk rang. Akhromeyev picked up the microphone, and after listening to a few words, his face became stern, and he said into the microphone: "I see." He hung up.

He looked at me and Kirillov and said with a solemn expression: "Division commander, political commissar, the call is from a forward observation post, saying that two kilometers from the front of the position, we have found our troops in a state of rout, and they are retreating to the Mamayev post. ”

"Are there Germans behind them?" I asked nervously.

Akhromeyev shook his head and replied: "No, no enemy troops were found behind them, the enemy was just shelling the fleeing troops with sporadic artillery fire. ”

I stood up, shook my head at Kirillov and said, "Let's go, Comrade Commissar, let's go to the observation post." (To be continued......)