After saying these two words, he waved at the transports gathered around, signaling them to give way. Then he bent down and shouted down, "Get ready to drive." ”

Seeing that the tankmen refused to help, but wanted to drive the tanks away, Lieutenant Morozov and his men gave up, and they stood in a row hand in hand, blocking the way of the tanks.

"What the hell are you trying to do?" The tank crew scolded angrily: "If we delay our mission, can you be responsible?" ”

At this moment, I saw the rank of second lieutenant on the epaulette of the tank soldier, and I was about to stand up and help Lieutenant Morozov to say a few words, but I heard Lieutenant Morozov reply loudly: "We can afford this responsibility!" As he spoke, he pointed in the direction of the forest where he had stopped, raised his voice and said, "Comrade tank soldier, we are transporting artillery shells to the front line, and a truck has fallen into a mud puddle, blocking the road for other vehicles. Now the artillery at the front is bombarding the enemy, their shells are being consumed all the time, and if we can't get the shells forward in time, when the shells are gone, those cannons will become a pile of useless scrap metal. ”

As soon as Lieutenant Morozov finished speaking, his subordinates added: "Yes, comrade tankmen, you can help us, as long as you pull out the truck that has fallen into the mud pit, it will not delay you much." ”

In order to make the tank lieutenant change his mind, some people even began to lure him: "Friend, help, we have a few bottles of vodka distributed by the superiors here, and we can give them to you." Just ask you to do it well and help us pull the truck out. ”

For such an inducement. The tank lieutenant was clearly unmoved. He continued to listen absentmindedly to the pleas of the transporters. At the same time, he looked around impatiently, as if to observe how to get rid of the pestering transports.

Seeing that the tank lieutenant was unmoved, Lieutenant Morozov jumped straight into the tank, stood beside the lieutenant, patted him on the shoulder and said in a friendly manner: "Comrade tank soldier, please do us a favor!" You know, we are transporting shells to the front, if not in time. Our artillery will not be able to suppress the enemy with artillery fire! ”

"I'm sorry, Comrade Lieutenant." After listening to his words, the second lieutenant of the tank corps said coldly: "I don't have time, we have a combat mission and need to rush to the front line immediately." With that, he leaned down and shouted again into the tank in a commanding tone,

Seeing that his hopes were disappointed, Lieutenant Morozov suddenly made a surprising move, he jumped out of the tank, glared at the tankmen standing in the turret, and shouted: "Before you pull our truck out." I'm not going to let you go. Do you understand?! With that, he sat down on the muddy and potholed road. On its back lay directly in front of the tank tracks.

As if they had received a unified order, all the commanders and fighters of the convoy lay down in front of the behemoth of the tank with the lieutenant. The transporters lying on the ground told the tankmen with their actions that if they didn't help them pull the truck out, if they wanted to drive over, they would have to run over them.

Things have developed to this point, and the tank ensign is helpless except to stand in the turret in a daze. At this time, I took two steps forward, walked to the tracks of the tank, looked up at the tank soldiers, raised my voice and said: "Comrade second lieutenant, please come down!" ”

The tank lieutenant turned his head and looked at me with a frown, an expression of panic immediately appeared on his face. He hurriedly got out of the turret, jumped out of the tank, straightened his waist in front of me, raised his hand to his forehead, and said with sincere fear: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, I didn't know you were here. ”

"Ensign, which part are you?" I had been standing on the side of the tank just now, and the ensign had been staring ahead, and it was normal that he hadn't noticed me, so I didn't blame him at all, but looked at him and asked softly.

"I'm Second Lieutenant Atakuz, the platoon commander of the 101st Brigade of the 33rd Tank Army," the second lieutenant said the number of his unit in a clear and loud voice, while explaining to me: "My tank was damaged in yesterday's battle, and our maintenance vehicle dragged the tank to the repair station overnight. No, as soon as it was repaired, I hurried back to the front. ”

I was very curious about how this new tank was broken, so I couldn't help but ask curiously: "How did it get broken?" Was it broken when it was in a face-to-face battle with a German tank? ”

"No, it wasn't broken during the battle with the German tanks." Atakuz shook his head and said: "At that time, we had just repelled a German attack, and when we followed the pursuit, we were bombarded by German heavy artillery. My tank's tracks were blown off, and I was shot in two places, and one tanker was killed......"

After Atakuz finished briefing the situation, I glanced at the transporters who were still lying on the ground, and then said to him: "Comrade second lieutenant, do you see those transports?" Would you rather watch them lie in the mud than help them? ”

Atakuz's face turned red, and then he said to me sincerely: "Comrade commander, I was wrong, I'm going to help them tow the truck out of the mud pit." With that, he raised his hand and saluted me again, turned around and climbed into the tank.

Watching the tank lieutenant climb onto the tank, I quickly approached Lieutenant Morozov, crouched down and said to him: "Comrade lieutenant, the tank crew has promised to help you tow the truck out." If you don't get out of the way, the tanks won't be able to get through. ”

Lieutenant Morozov listened to me, immediately got up from the ground, and at the same time turned to his men and shouted: "All right, comrades, stand up. Comrade Commander said that the tank crew was willing to help us pull the tank out of the mud pit. Following his order, the transporters rose from the ground and shook the dirt off their bodies vigorously while making way for the activated tanks.

The transporters attached the towed chains to the tank's hitch, and Atakuz directed the tank to begin towing the truck that had fallen into the mud pit. The horsepower of the tank engine was stronger than the jeep I was in, and I easily pulled the truck out. But that wasn't all, because Lieutenant Morozov and they spotted the other vehicles driving out of the forest. There is also a danger of falling into a mud pit. So the chains of the second truck were attached to the tank hitch.

I stood aside. Looking with interest at the tanks of Atakuz, the trucks of the convoy were pulled out of the forest one by one. When the last two trucks were left, I turned to Morozov, who was standing next to me, and asked, "Comrade lieutenant, have you ever thought about being an infantryman?" ”

Lieutenant Morozov looked at me, nodded vigorously, and said affirmatively: "Comrade commander, I am very willing to be an infantryman, but it is a pity that my superiors say that the convoy lacks experienced commanders. Resolutely refused to let me go to the infantry unit. ”

Through these two contacts, Lieutenant Morozov made a very good impression on me, and when I heard that he also wanted to be an infantryman, my mind to pry the corner of the wall became more vivid. I coughed and asked tentatively, "Comrade Lieutenant, if I can get your superiors to change their minds, will you come to my unit?" ”

"Comrade Commander, are you telling the truth?" Morozov was stunned for a moment when he suddenly heard me say this, and then asked in surprise: "Are you really willing to let me into your unit?" ”

"That's right. Comrade Lieutenant. "Morozoff's reaction was a bit beyond my imagination, I was just asking tentatively. I didn't expect him to be so excited, so I asked in confusion: "Why are you so excited to hear that you can reach my troops?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Lieutenant Morozov explained, somewhat embarrassed, "I have heard more than once that you and your great deeds have been made. If I want to go to an infantry unit, I would definitely like to go to a unit where the commander is capable. ”

Hearing Lieutenant Morozov's flattery, my vanity was slightly satisfied, and I made a vow to him proudly: "Lieutenant, I can give you the post of battalion commander if you wish to come." The rank also promotes you to the rank of Captain. ”

After listening to me, the corners of Morozov's mouth twitched violently a few times, and then he said in a decisive tone: "Comrade commander, as long as you can convince my superiors, I will immediately report to your unit. ”

After all the trucks had been pulled out of the forest, Lieutenant Morozov beckoned the transporters to get into the cars and drove the vehicles towards the area where the fighting was most intense. And I told the driver to speed up and rush to Yakovlevo as soon as possible, hoping to get lucky enough to meet Apanashchenko, who was hanging out at the front, and send him back to the rear.

After about ten minutes of our car moving forward, a high ground appeared on the right side of the road, and I remember that this was the location of the regimental headquarters of the newly formed regiment, and although Sederikov was not here, his chief of staff, Basmanov, should still be there. If Apanashchenko really went to Yakovlevo, then he would definitely pass through here, so it was necessary to ask Basmanov about the situation, so I instructed the driver: "Drive to the heights." ”

As soon as we approached the high ground, seven or eight warriors emerged from the hidden trenches on the side of the road, and after they pointed their weapons at us, a corporal stepped out of the crowd and asked in a loud voice, "Hey, which part of you are from?" ”

I couldn't help but laugh dumbly when I heard him ask, I had asked the tankmen the same thing just now, but I didn't expect someone to ask me the same thing so soon. I asked the driver to stop the car, pushed the door and got out of the car, and said to them: "I am the commander of the army group, Oshanina, are your regimental chief of staff and battalion commander here?" ”

The interrogating corporal, apparently knowing me, turned around and motioned to the fighters to lower their guns, and trotted up to me and reported to me: "Comrade commander, comrade regimental chief of staff and comrade battalion commander are at the command post north of the heights, let me take you up." ”

I nodded, and was about to speak, when suddenly a warrior burst out of the crowd and rushed straight at me. His recklessness startled me so much that my hands were on the holster. Fortunately, he asked in time: "Comrade commander, did you see the convoy transporting artillery shells on the way here?" ”

Seeing that my hand was removed from the holster, I asked the soldier standing in front of me while secretly breathing a sigh of relief: "Comrade warrior, what part of you are from?" ”

The soldier hurriedly stood up and saluted, and respectfully reported: "Comrade commander, I am a soldier of the 5th Company of the 1008th Anti-Tank Destroyer Artillery Regiment. ”

"Fighters of the artillery company?" When I heard his name, I looked him up and down and asked curiously, "Can you tell me why you are here?" ”

"Comrade Commander, please listen to my explanation." The soldier pointed to a high ground a few hundred meters ahead, where smoke was billowing from the gunpowder, and said: "Our company is stationed on the high ground in front, because the number of shells is low, and the company commander, Captain Gagkaev, asked me to come here to have a look." If the convoy doesn't come, we'll have no shells to fire. ”

"Don't worry, comrade warrior." Seeing the anxious look on the little soldier's face, I gently patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, saying, "We met a convoy carrying shells on the road, but we were fast, so we arrived here before them. Wait, they'll be there in a moment. After saying that, I shook my head at the corporal and said, "Let's go, Comrade Corporal, take me to your regimental command post." ”

At the regimental command post, I met Major Basmanov and Captain Rosenberg, who remained here. I didn't bother to greet the two of them, so I asked straight to the point, "How are you doing here?" ”

"Comrade Commander," the answer to my question was Captain Rosenberg, the commander of the 3rd Battalion, who pointed to the map and introduced me: "The Germans are attacking the high ground in front of us, and once they are allowed to occupy it, they can concentrate their forces on our final attack." ”

I stared at the position of his finger and asked lightly, "What kind of troops are used to defend the high ground in front?" "I ask this because I want to judge how long the troops can hold out by knowing how many troops there are.

Rosenberg and Basmanov looked at each other and replied: "There is a company of infantry on the high ground, plus a company of the 1008th Regiment of the 5th Anti-Tank Destroyer Artillery Regiment. Today, they have repelled three successive German attacks, destroyed at least ten tanks, and eliminated two platoons of infantry. ”

Although the new regiment has such a record, it is not easy to repel three German attacks in a row. So I said approvingly, "You played well, but you can't be proud." You must hurry up and repair the fortifications and do a good job of reconnaissance work, so that you can hold back the advance of the German army for a long time. ”

"Comrade Commander," Basmanov asked respectfully, waiting for me to finish, "in our observation post, you can see the situation on the high ground opposite, do you want to go and see it?" ”

"Well, Comrade Major, since you are here, you must go and see." Originally, I was about to ask where the observation post was, but when Basmanov mentioned it first, I agreed: "You can show me the way." (To be continued.) )