After driving some distance, I heard Chuikov and Bandurin, who were sitting in the back, chatting like two old friends.

Chuikov asked tentatively: "Comrade Bandurin, I went to the 229th Division a few times ago, but I have never seen you, you are newly transferred, right?" ”

Cui Kev's question also aroused my curiosity, you must know that some time ago, when I was still in the 229th Division, I found that there was only one commander-level commander at the division level, Colonel Saren, not to mention the director of the political department, not even the political commissar of the division. Later, he met Pan Chenko, a battalion-level political commissar from the Political Department of the Front Army, and there was a temporary division political commissar in the division.

Bandurin was silent for a moment, and then replied: "Comrade commander, I am an old comrade-in-arms of the division commander of Sazen, and I was the head of his political department long when he was still the regiment commander. In order not to delay the fighters, after a study by the division party committee, it was decided that Comrade Sazhin, the division commander, would first lead five battalions into the designated positions, while I and Comrade Troning, the division's political commissar, would wait for the remaining four battalions to be assembled before rushing to the battlefield to join the division commander. ”

Chuikov nodded and said thoughtfully: "Well, I understand this situation, when the 229th Division entered the battlefield, the whole division only had five battalions of troops, but it had to defend an area with a width of fifteen kilometers, and its strength was weak. If all nine battalions arrive at the same time, with sufficient anti-tank forces, your division will be able to hold on to a vantage point and reliably protect the junction of the 62nd and 64th armies from attacking the flanks and rear of the 62nd Army. ”

Bandurin replied with a wry smile: "Our division was deployed in the Kharkov direction at that time to prevent the enemy troops in the region from moving north to attack Moscow, but no one expected it. The real target of the enemy's offensive was Stalingrad. After the division commander drove out with five battalions. We gathered the remaining four battalions. It took two days. When the troops were assembled and we were about to set off, the commander of the military transport in charge of the railway dispatch told us that because of the large number of troops to be drawn to the Don valley and the incessant bombing of the railway line by enemy aircraft, our division would have to wait at least a month if it wanted to take the train. The military situation is in full swing, and we don't have time to wait a month. So I walked to the battlefield here. Although we hurried and hurried, it took us almost ten days to reach the battlefield. By this time, the division headquarters had already left its original combat position, crossed the Don River and retreated in the direction of Stalingrad. So we crossed the Don again, inquired along the way, found the location of the division, and joined Colonel Sazhen. ”

"Comrade Bandurain," I could not help asking, hearing this, "I was also in the 229th Division the other day, when a commissioner came from the Political Department of the Front. Appointed acting political commissar by Colonel Sazhen, where has he gone now? ”

Bandurin looked at me. He replied: "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, are you talking about Comrade Panchenko, the battalion-level political commissar?" Seeing that I nodded in affirmation, he continued, "After Comrade Truning and I returned to the division, the political commissar was naturally Truning, and Panchenko, the acting political commissar, became the deputy political commissar of the division. ”

Hearing Colonel Sazhen's arrangement for Panchenko, my good impression of him increased a few points, at least he was not a person who crossed the river and demolished bridges, and immediately felt much closer to him psychologically.

"Comrade Bandurin," said Chuikov again, "since you have known Colonel Sazhin for a long time, can you tell me your personal opinion of Sazhin?" ”

Bandurin nodded briskly and said, "Yes, Comrade Commander. We're going to have to drive for a long time anyway, so let me tell you the story of me and Colonel Saján.

In the second half of 1939, after graduating from the Frunze Military Academy, I was assigned to serve in his regiment. At that time, the division commander was only a lieutenant colonel and regiment commander, and for him, I was a political worker with neither work experience nor combat experience, and could only play tricks, so when I reported, he only took the letter of introduction and glanced at it, then turned his head and asked the regimental political commissar Truning, who was sitting next to him: 'Comrade political commissar, are there any vacant positions in our regiment?' ’

Truning, who was quite friendly, came over and took the initiative to shake hands with me before replying: The third battalion has just been replenished, and there is a shortage of a political deputy battalion commander, so Comrade Bandurin can be allowed to take this position.

After listening to this, Comrade Sazhin looked at me for a long time and reluctantly agreed to the political commissar's proposal. So in this way, I went to the 3rd Battalion to take up the post of political deputy battalion commander. Less than half a month after I arrived in the battalion, the unit was transferred to Leningrad to participate in the war against Finland.

Comrade commander, you should know that the winter in Finland is quite long and cold, with heavy winds and snow, and the temperature is below minus 30~40 degrees all year round. When the war broke out, it coincided with the shortest day season of the year, and the long dark night greatly limited the superiority of our army's aviation. At the beginning of the war, there was a heavy snowfall, and the snow in the war zone was up to one meter deep, which caused great inconvenience to the movement of our army, but provided an opportunity for the Finnish army, which was good at skiing, to show his skills. ……”

When Chuikov heard this, he raised his hand to interrupt his later words, and said with some impatience: "What is the terrain of Finland, we all know in our hearts, I once commanded a group army in the Soviet-Finnish war. You better get straight to the point. ”

"The task of our regiment was to attack the Mannerheim Line on the Karelian Isthmus, which consisted of 3 defensive strips with a depth of about 90 km, due to the fact that the enemy's line of defense had a complete system of fortifications. Relying on natural obstacles such as lakes and swamps, each defense zone has built a large number of permanent firing fortifications and civil firepower points, as well as nearly 1,000 underground bunkers, and communicated with each other by trenches and communication trenches. In the face of the fortifications that are now strong and easy to defend and difficult to attack, several attacks launched by our regiment before and after have not been effective, but have suffered heavy casualties. When the attack of the 1st and 2nd Battalions was again frustrated and forced to retreat, the Finnish troops on the defensive line took the opportunity to launch a counter-assault in an attempt to break through the positions of our troops in one fell swoop. At this moment, I rushed forward with the newly formed three battalions, engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, and after a vicious fight, we completely annihilated the enemy.

When the battlefield was being cleared, Sazhin and Truning came to us and praised the results of our battalion. It was at this moment that I saw a smile on his face for the first time. After this battle. The work I undertake. It was also used to help the wounded, transport materials, and clean up the battlefield. It became responsible for the political propaganda of the whole battalion and was qualified to participate in the formulation of operational plans. ”

"Colonel Sazhin is a hero who has repeatedly performed in battle, but he also has many shortcomings. I've heard more than one person say that he has a short temper and is a difficult person to get along with. Chuikov couldn't help but interject again, expressing a little of his opinion about Sazhin.

"Yes, Comrade Commander. After arriving in the group, I heard many people say that he has a strange temper. But after really getting closer, it turned out that he still had a lot of advantages. Although he was sometimes rude, he often lashed out at his subordinates and jumped to his feet to lose his temper when formulating battle plans. But when the matter is over, he will make the bloody subordinates who were scolded by him apologize.

In battle, he also had shortcomings. Whenever he was in the middle of a war, when the situation was not good, he would say to Troning: 'Comrade commissar, this is up to you. I'll go to the front and see. With that, he took a few guards with him. Run to the fiercest and most dangerous places on the battlefield, and even engage in face-to-face firefights with enemies.

It is undeniable that this operational characteristic of his will naturally add infinite strength and courage to the commanders and fighters on the front line, and will be able to stabilize the most dangerous positions or make the most difficult positions to be broken through by our troops. But he forgot that he was a commander, and that he should stay in the headquarters to coordinate the overall situation, instead of charging into battle like an ordinary soldier. This shortcoming of his, if it was a company platoon commander, would not be very obvious; When he commands a regiment or a division, it becomes more and more dangerous. You must know that once he has any accident in battle, the troops will be paralyzed without a leader, and then there is a risk of sabotaging the important mission entrusted to us by the superiors. ”

When Chuikov heard him say this, he nodded unexpectedly, and then said: "Comrade Bandurin, you are quite right. When the enemy broke through the division's defensive line and approached his division headquarters, he did not listen to the persuasion of his subordinates and quickly retreated, but stayed and fought the enemy. As a result, when he left the division headquarters, he was discovered by the approaching German tanks, his jeep was hit by a shell, and he himself was killed on the spot, and the 192nd Division, which had lost its command, was quickly routed by the enemy. If it weren't for the strong fortifications of the 62nd Army on the banks of the Koska River, it is estimated that they would have been completely annihilated. ”

Speaking of Zakharchenko's sacrifice, Bandurin also sighed, and said with emotion that when he returned to the division, he must persuade Colonel Sazhin well, and not let him easily go to the front line and risk in battle.

The conversation between the two still gave me some inspiration. I am thinking that since the Mannerheim Line was able to inflict heavy losses on the powerful Soviet army in the Soviet-Finnish war, if such a line was built in the city of Stalingrad, it would be possible to inflict heavy losses on the enemy while preserving as much of our army's vitality as possible.

Just as he was thinking about it, he heard Bandurin behind him asking: "Comrade Commander, I saw that your herald looks very young, probably not even eighteen years old." ”

This topic aroused my curiosity again, because in my eyes, Sidorin was simply a child who had not grown up, but why would Chuikov use him as a herald? You know, there are many more experienced and nimble warriors than Sidorin. Unexpectedly, as soon as Chuikov opened his mouth, I knew that his choice was right, and if it were me, I would do the same.

I only heard Chuikov say leisurely: "Comrade Bandurin, the name of the herald Sidorin is Levolid. Timofeevich. Sidorin, 16 years old. ......" At this point, he looked at Bandurin and wanted to say something, raised his hand to stop him, and then continued, "His father's name is Timofey. Sidorin was the chief of operations at the headquarters of my 62nd Army. Before the war, I knew Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin when he was still an operational staff officer at the command of the Belarusian Military District. ”

Timofey. Sidorin, Chief of Operations, I linked this name to the position, and immediately understood who Chuikov was talking about, it turned out to be the same Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin who died in an air raid by enemy planes when he went to the Don River crossing with the artillery chief Browder to stop the troops from retreating.

Chuikov said in a sad tone: "16-year-old Levolid. Timofeevich. Sidorin, after the outbreak of war, asked his father to take him to the front. His father, through his connections, made him a private in the guard company of the army group headquarters. Because I have seen them father and son together many times. Plus they look a lot like each other. That's why I remembered him. He was brave. The guns are well played again, and each mission is done brilliantly.

Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin died at noon on July 26 at the crossing of the river, and that evening Sidorin Jr. came to me at the command post, and as soon as he saw me, he reported: 'Comrade Commander, the body of Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin has been transported and is now parked outside the command post. ’

I know that Levolid was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin. When I saw him appear in front of me, I had mixed feelings for a while, and I didn't know what to say to him. Sitting next to me was Konstantin, a member of the Military Council, a divisional commissar. Kirikovic. Abramov turned his head and said coldly to him: 'Comrade private, give the body of Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin to the commander of the guard company of the headquarters and tell them to dig the grave and prepare the band and other things necessary for the funeral. ’

Since Abramov did not know Levolid before, let alone the father-son relationship between him and Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin, he could not understand the young man's mood at this moment. So the attitude of speaking seems to be very blunt.

I saw little Sidorin pursing his lips tightly and tears rolling in his eyes. But he tried to control his emotions and did not let himself cry, but saluted Abramov and turned away.

It was not until Levoled's departure that I was relieved of my grief and told Abramov in a stern tone: 'Comrade Military Commissar, your attitude towards Comrade Private just now is incorrect. ’

'Why do you have to say that, Comrade Chuikov. Abramov was confused by what I said, and he asked puzzled.

Because the private soldier just now is the biological son of Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin! ’

After listening to my words, Abramov looked at me with wide eyes, and in a tone of disbelief, asked tentatively: 'Really?!' ’

When he heard my affirmative answer, he cried out in amazement and ran after Levolid.

When Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin returned from the burial, Abramov offered to let Sidorin Jr. serve as his guard, but I refused, saying that I would take good care of his son for the sacrificial Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin.

The next day, I drove to my observation post, and when I passed by the cemetery where Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin was buried, I saw little Sidorin, lying on the ground, crying very sadly. I hurriedly asked the driver to stop, opened the door and shouted at him without thinking: 'Red Army soldier Sidorin, get in the car immediately and follow me!' Bring a submachine gun and extra bullets! ’

Hearing my shout, little Sidorin jumped up from the ground, dusted off the dirt from his body, straightened his uniform, and ran as fast as he could to carry out the order. Soon he ran back with his submachine gun in his hand and got into my jeep with peace of mind.

We chatted on the way, and I learned that his mother had been evacuated to Siberia. I cautiously asked him, 'Sidorin, do you miss your mother?' Seeing him nod shyly, I continued to ask, 'Do you need me to let you leave the army and go to the rear to find your mother?' ’

I didn't expect him to hear me say this, and the tears in his eyes actually burst out of his eyes. I knew then that I had made a mistake and touched the boy's sore spot. After wiping away a handful of tears, he said to me firmly: 'Comrade Commander, I will not leave. Even if you drive me away from here, I will not leave the front line, and I will avenge my father and other fallen commanders and fighters. ’

From that time on, Sidorin the Younger was my herald, and he never left me again. He is more mature than his peers and even in battle, he behaves bravely and happily. It's just that in the dead of night, he will still quietly shed tears for his sacrificial father......"

Listening to Chuikov's story about Sidorin, I felt my nose start to sour again, and I quickly turned my head to look out the window, pretending to be careless, and raised my hand to wipe away a tear that ran down my cheek. As soon as he wiped away his tears, he heard a clear sobbing sound next to him, turned his head to look, and saw the driver holding the steering wheel with one hand, and the other hand raised and wiped it on his face.

Chuikov's voice sounded behind him: "You all have to remember that as long as the war is not over for a day, then our relatives and friends may leave us at any time for various reasons. Therefore, we must defeat the fascist bandits and drive them out of our land, so that our relatives and friends can enjoy a peaceful life that belongs to them. ”

There was a crowd of refugees on the side of the road, and this was the first time I saw an evacuee since I crossed. I saw them helping the old and the young, and they were trudging the side of the potholed road. There were no young men inside, all old people, women and children, some of them carrying packages, some of them carrying suitcases in one hand and children in the other, and they walked forward with difficulty. Especially those elderly people, they are supported by others, stop and go, hardly go far, they have to stop and rest for a while, if there is no faint rumbling cannon, it is estimated that they are really unwilling to continue to take a step forward????

When I saw the miserable situation of the refugees, I couldn't bear it, so I turned around and asked Chuikov: "Comrade commander, do you need to help them?" Even if it's just a few people for a ride. ”

Unexpectedly, Chuikov directly shook his head and denied: "No, Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, we still have important tasks to perform, and we can't delay our trip because of them." Speaking of this, he glanced outside, sighed and said, "I can only sympathize with them, we can't help them." (To be continued......)