The battle ended after dark.

While the troops were counting the results of the battle, Colonel Sholov, Major Yatsenyuk, Lieutenant Colonel Peter, and their commissars, who had not been seen for a long time, came to my new headquarters in the church one after another. Although they came at different times, they came to the headquarters for the same purpose. As soon as they saw me, several political commissars scrambled to pull out a document from their briefcase and handed it to me.

I flipped through it and looked at it, and it was all an application for a medal for a brave fighter. In my impression, there should be a big difference between the Sholov regiment, which was the main force in this battle, and the Yatsenyuk regiment and the Peterl regiment, which served as reserves, when reporting the list of meritorious personnel. Unexpectedly, on the application form I held in my hand, the number of meritorious service reported by the three regiments was actually about the same.

After reading their applications patiently, I casually handed it to Boroda, who was sitting next to me, and then looked at the commander and political commissar of the 1132nd regiment, frowned and said: "Major Yatsenyuk, the new political commissar of Zorotu, is the number of people you two reported too much, you must know that although I transferred two infantry battalions from your regiment, they only participated in the battle as reserves." ”

When Yatsenyuk and Zorotuxin heard me say this, their faces immediately flushed with shame. The political commissar of the regiment, Zoro Tuxin, said to me with a wry smile: "Comrade division commander, we were wrong. Although the soldiers of our regiment only participated in this battle as a reserve, if they did not get any honor, it would not only affect their morale, but also make it difficult for the team to lead in the future. ”

I slammed the table and stood up, pointed at Zoro Tuxin, and said in a stern tone, "What did you say?" Do not give the necessary honor to the fighters of your regiment. will affect morale. It's not easy to bring troops. If you don't bring the troops well. What else do you want your regimental commander and political commissar to do? If you feel that you are unable to lead the 1132nd regiment, speak as soon as possible, and I will report to your superiors and ask them to send a new regimental commander and political commissar to take over your duties. ”

After rushing to Zorotu, I looked at Lieutenant Colonel Peter and Political Commissar Avakov of the 1133rd Regiment again, and said angrily: "Let's talk about it, why do you report so many meritorious personnel to come up, aren't you afraid that the troops will not be able to bring them in the future?" ”

Avakov waved his hand again and again and said: "This is not the case. Comrade division commander, you misunderstood. Although the units of our division were also in reserve, during the counterattack, a little success was achieved, and several of the fighters captured a German tank in its entirety. ”

"Oh, the 1133 regiment captured a German tank?" Because when the troops began to counterattack, I came down from the bell tower, and I really didn't know whether the reserves had achieved results after the attack, so I turned my head and asked Boroda, who was looking at the application: "Comrade Chief of Staff." Do you know this? ”

Boroda put down the papers in his hand and looked up. He looked at me blankly, as if he hadn't figured out the situation yet, so I repeated the question, and then he nodded vigorously, and said affirmatively: "I know this, Corporal Yefim of the 1133rd Regiment captured a German tank with three soldiers, and captured all the members. As he spoke, he took one of the many documents, handed it to me, and said: "This result, Commissar Avakov wrote very clearly in the application. ”

I took it and looked at it, and it really recorded in detail how Corporal Yefim led the soldiers to capture the whole process of the tank, and at the same time, there was a sentence written on the back: Because of the brave spirit shown by this comrade in the battle, the 1133rd Regiment specially asked for third-class merit for him and recommended that he be awarded a military merit medal.

Seeing that I squeezed the application in my hand and did not speak, Commissar Avakov's face became cloudy, perhaps he was worried that I would reject the application. I thought about it for a while, although the 1132nd Regiment and the 1133rd Regiment were only used as reserves this time and played a small role in the entire battle, if there was not a single meritorious person, there would indeed be a situation that chilled the commanders and fighters. Now that there is a real hero, let's give it a good commendation. Thinking of this, I handed the form back to Boroda and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, I agree with Corporal Yefim's application for merit, and at the same time change the third-class merit to the first-class merit. After saying this, I deliberately observed the expressions of Peter and Avakov, and saw that the two of them were stunned for a moment, and after looking at each other, their faces showed expressions of joy.

I turned my gaze to Sholov, who had not spoken, and his commissar Gagarin, I cleared my throat with a cough before I said: "Commander Sholov......"

Before I could finish speaking, Gagarin, the political commissar of the regiment, had already spoken first: "I'm sorry, Comrade Division Commander. In today's battle, the fighters of the battalion of Major Caucasov were frightened by the artillery fire of the Germans because of their lack of combat experience, and only then did some of the fighters break away from their positions because of panic. It's all my fault, and I don't usually keep them strict. Comrade division commander, please rest assured, I assure you that in the next battle, there will be no ......"

"Won't anything?" I interrupted him, walked up to him and Shilov, and asked with a deliberately strained face: "Comrade commissar, are you assuring me that in the next battle, no matter how heavy the Germans will be, no one will retreat from their positions?" ”

Gagarin's face flushed, nodded vigorously, and replied resolutely: "Yes, comrade division commander, I promise!" ”

I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I saw his expression on his face when he answered my questions seriously, and I reached out to pat him and Sholov on the shoulders and said kindly: "In this battle, your regimental soldiers have performed well. Whether it was the Caucasian battalion that blocked the enemy head-on, or the Boris battalion, which made a detour to the rear of the enemy and attacked the German artillery positions, they all performed very well. ”

"For the service of the Soviet Fatherland!" Gagarin straightened up and answered me loudly.

"I think," began Colonel Sholov, who had not spoken, "that for all the commanders and fighters of our regiment who participated in the battle, they knew their duty, and even if only the last man was left, they would have fought bravely." ”

"I know the way, I know the way, Comrade Colonel." I nodded at him and said, "Although at the beginning, some of the fighters were frightened by the heavy artillery fire of the enemy, behaved in a panic, and even ran back from their positions. But when a company of guards led by Captain Burda appeared in front of them. They immediately remembered their responsibilities. Back to the front line. Pick up the gun in your hand and start a desperate battle with the invading Germans. It was because of the tenacious and courageous battles of these ordinary warriors that we were able to defeat the enemy and achieve brilliant results. ”

As he was talking, the phone on the table rang, and Boroda, who was sitting at the table, picked up the microphone casually, raised his voice and said: "I am Captain Boroda, the acting chief of staff of the division, where are you?" Hearing the other party's answer, he immediately stood up. Straighten up and say respectfully: "Hello, Comrade General. Yes, Comrade Division Commander, she is discussing with several regiment commanders and political commissars about awarding medals to the commanders and fighters who participated in the war. Okay, I'll let her answer the phone right away! ”

Boroda covered the microphone with his hand and whispered to me: "Comrade division commander, it is the phone of the commander of the army group, General Kolovnikov, who said that there is something important to say to you. ”

I walked up to him in a few steps and took the phone from his hand. I also followed his example and straightened my waist. "Hello, Comrade General, I am the acting division commander, Major Oshanina, and I am at your command. ”

"Well done, Comrade Oshanina." The happy voice of General Kolovnikov came from the phone, and he said excitedly: "I have received information that your 378th Division fought a battle with the Germans this afternoon and completely annihilated the invading enemy. Why hasn't the results been reported yet? ”

I set my eyes on Boroda, and he hurriedly made a gesture to signal that the troops were still cleaning up the results, so I replied to Kolovnikov with a respectful attitude: "Comrade General, our results are still being counted. I originally planned to wait for the statistics to be completed before reporting to you, but I didn't expect you to call first. ”

"You will report the specific results after the statistics are completed. Now let's talk about the general situation. "The commander of the army group, perhaps because of my victory, spoke to me in a very friendly tone.

"According to the reconnaissance of the partisans, this time the Germans dispatched a total of three infantry companies, a tank company, and an artillery company to launch a frantic attack on the location of the headquarters of our division. Thanks to the heroic and stubborn resistance of the commanders and fighters of the Sholov regiment, the German attacking troops were held back by our defensive line, and they were never able to move forward. ”

"I'd like to hear how you deploy your forces?"

"Report to Comrade General," I did not hide from his inquiry, and honestly reported to him: "I built the first line of defense three kilometers north of the village, and placed the Caucasian battalion of the Sholov regiment there. At the same time, the Boris battalion of Colonel Sholov was ordered to march in the forest, to make a detour to the rear of the Germans, so that they would make a surprise attack from behind the enemy while the Germans were attacking our frontal positions with all their might, and teach them a hard lesson and cut off the retreat of the Germans. ”

Kolovnikov did not comment on my deployment, and he continued to ask: "What about the second line of defense?" ”

"For the second line of defense, I deployed the first and second companies of guards, as well as a new combat battalion of rescued soldiers. I also drew two tank companies from Colonel Donskoy's tank regiment, one of which was deployed behind the second line of defense as a fixed battery to provide fire cover for the first line of defense. The other company was hidden in the forest to the northwest of the first line of defense, ready to flank and cut off the German retreat when we counterattacked. ”

Kolovnikov hummed and said with interest: "Comrade Oshanina, you must know that if you fight a defensive war, everyone will put half of the troops in the first line of defense, and the other half in the second line of defense as reserves. It's interesting to have such a deployment, it's really ingenious. By the way, did you keep the reserves? ”

"Of course, Comrade General." I replied in the affirmative: "I have drawn two battalions from each of the Pieter and the Yatsenyuk regiment and deployed them to the south of the village as a reserve for the whole battle." ”

"Interesting, interesting. It's so much fun to deploy like this. Kolovnikov praised repeatedly: "It seems that this kind of deployment of your troops can be promoted within the group army." Speaking of this, he paused, changed the topic, and asked: "I just heard the chief of staff say that you are discussing with several regiment commanders and political commissars the specific matters of awarding meritorious service to those commanders and fighters who participated in the war. ”

"Yes, Comrade General. Senior Lieutenant Boroda, the acting chief of staff, and I are examining the applications submitted by several regiment commanders and political commissars for meritorious service, and we plan to convene a celebration meeting at an appropriate time to present medals to these commanders and fighters. ”

"Yes, that's a good idea. How many military medals and awards are needed, I will immediately have someone prepare them and send them to you overnight. ”

I covered the microphone and asked Boroda: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how many military merit medals and awards are needed, have you counted them?" ”

Boroda nodded and replied: "Comrade division commander, I have already counted 21 collectives and 378 individuals who have made meritorious contributions, and a total of 120 military merit medals and 300 certificates of merit are needed. ”

I was taken aback by hearing such a number, but I immediately reported the data to Kolovnikov. After listening to this, he hummed again and said, "I will send someone to send you the military merit medal and award certificate overnight." The celebration meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning, and I will personally go over it and preside over it. After saying that, he hung up the phone directly. (To be continued......)