Faced with such a bad situation, Meretskov was anxious like an ant on a hot pan. Without saying a word, he walked back and forth in the headquarters with his hands behind his back. The staff officers and communications officers who were making telephone calls and sending telegrams also deliberately lowered their voices, so as not to affect the thinking of the commanders of the front armies and invite unwarranted disasters.

The most anxious was the commander of the 8th Army, Starikov, who watched Meretskov walking around the house without stopping, and couldn't help but raise his voice and remind the other party loudly: "Comrade General, the current situation on the Sinavino Heights is very dangerous, you have to find a way as soon as possible." Otherwise, before the German artillery fire stopped, all the commanders and fighters of our army on the high ground would have died. ”

Hearing Starikov say this, Meretskov slowed down, and after walking back and forth in the house a few more times, he came to Starikov, stopped, looked up and asked: "Comrade Starikov, do you have any good ideas in the face of the situation in front of you?" ”

Starikov obviously did not expect Meretskov to suddenly ask him this, and was stunned for a moment before replying: "We should immediately send reserves to the high ground, and we must hold the position." ”

"Reserves?!" When Meretskov heard this word, he sneered and said in a mocking tone: "My comrade general, do you still have reserves in your hands?" You know, at this moment the Germans are pouring thousands of bombs and shells onto the high ground, and the KV heavy tanks, which even the anti-tank guns can't destroy, are being blown to pieces by the enemy's high-explosive shells. Even if there are reserves, entering the position under such dense artillery fire, do you think that the flesh and blood of the commanders and fighters are indestructible? In addition to adding unnecessary casualties. It doesn't help. ”

Starikov asked with some panic: "Comrade General." So what to do? Know the way. After the German bombardment and artillery bombardment, infantry would be dispatched to attack the heights. The terrain on the north side of the high ground is flat and undefendable, and if the defenders are not replenished, the troops alone will not be able to hold the position with heavy casualties. ”

Meretskov turned his head to me, and said to me, "Lida, I know that you have a lot of ideas. Tell me, do you have any suggestions? ”

I nodded vigorously. He replied, "Comrade General, I have a solution. Take a look. With that, I walked to the map, picked up the sticks leaning against the wall, pointed to the Sinavino Heights on the map, and continued: "Comrade General, General Starikov, please see, from the analysis of the current situation, the Germans are planning to use aerial bombs and artillery shells to consume our troops on the high ground. They will then send infantry to attack in an attempt to recapture the high ground occupied by our troops in one fell swoop. What we can do now. It was immediately in contact with the commander of the Leningrad Front, General Govorov, and asked them to support us with heavy artillery and naval guns to suppress the German artillery positions. At the same time, the Air Force of the Leningrad Front should be requested to dispatch fighter jets to drive the enemy's bombers away from the area where they are currently fighting, so that they can no longer pose a threat to our ground forces. The next thing we had to do was to order the 3rd, 24th and 265th Guards Divisions, which were on both sides of the heights, to immediately launch a feint attack on the enemy's positions, so that the Germans on the north side of the heights could not draw enough troops to participate in the attack. With that, I leaned the stick back against the wall.

Meretskov nodded with satisfaction and said: "Your suggestion is quite right, I will call the commander of the Leningrad Front, General Govorov, and the commander of the Baltic Fleet, Admiral Tributs, and ask them to immediately suppress the German artillery positions with heavy artillery and naval guns." He lifted his leg and walked to the conference table, where he prepared to contact the Leningrad Front by telephone. His hand touched the phone, and instead of picking up the microphone immediately, he turned his head and asked me: "After the bombing and shelling of the commanders and fighters on the high ground, the number of survivors will not be too large, and there will be a serious shortage of defensive forces, where should we draw troops to supplement them?" ”

I walked up to Meretskov and replied: "Comrade General, the regiment of the 140th Infantry Brigade and the 327th Division on the high ground is estimated to have suffered all casualties, and it will be very difficult for them to hold the high ground again. The 19th Guards Infantry Division, which had completed the task of conquering the high ground, also suffered heavy casualties and urgently needed to replenish its troops, weapons and ammunition, and was also unable to complete the task of holding the high ground. I propose that the 22nd, 23rd, and 137th Infantry Brigades of the 4th Guards Army, which had been assigned to the left and right flanks of the heights, be sent to the heights. They had not been in battle, their troops were fully organized, and they could hold the high ground completely. ”

"Comrade General, the task of transferring troops of the 4th Guards Army has been entrusted to me, and I will go and call General Rogensky and ask him to give orders to the three brigades and let them immediately move closer to the heights and prepare to receive the defensive positions of the 140th Infantry Brigade and the regiments under the 327th Division." After Starikov finished speaking, he also came to the table, ready to call the command of the 4th Guards Army.

"Please wait, Comrade General." I saw that he had already picked up the microphone and quickly stopped him.

Seeing that I stopped him from calling, Starikov looked at me blankly and asked puzzledly: "Is there anything else you would like to add?" Major Oshanina. ”

"yes, Leda. Do you have anything left unfinished? Meretskov also asked.

The thoughts in my head, although favorable to the situation of the war, would offend people to speak out, at least Starikov, who was standing in front of me at the moment, would hate me to death after listening to my new advice. However, for the sake of the overall situation, I hesitated again and again, but still mustered up the courage to speak: "Comrade General, since the 4th Guards Army and the 6th Guards Army belong to two different command systems, the coordination between them will be very poor when conducting large corps operations, and there may be a situation where fighters may be delayed. In order to improve the existing command situation, I propose to replace the commander with a higher rank to command the troops. ”

As soon as I said this, I saw that Starikov's face immediately turned iron-blue, and his eyes staring at me were almost bursting with fire, if it weren't for Meretskov beside him, I guess he would have twitched a big ear.

For my proposal, Meretskov lowered his head and thought for a while. only to raise his head. Frowning and asking, "Leda." Who do you think should command the troops of these two armies? ”

"Comrade General, our troops participating in the Battle of the Sinavino Salient are divided into three echelons. The first echelon is the 8th Army under the command of General Starikov, and the second echelon is the 2nd Assault Army under the command of Lieutenant General Krykov," I deliberately accentuated the words "Lieutenant General rank when referring to Krykov," the third echelon is the 4th Guards Infantry Corps under the command of General Gagan. Among the three commanders. General Krykov had the highest military rank. I think it is appropriate for him to assume the position of front-line commander of the offensive forces. ”

After listening to this, Meretskov did not say anything, but looked at Starikov and asked: "Comrade Starikov, what do you think of Major Leda's opinion?" ”

Meretskov threw the question directly at Starikov, making his face red and white for a while. He was silent for a few moments before he gritted his back molars and said, "I think Major Oshanina's proposal is correct at this stage. Placing my 6th Guards Army and General Rogensky's 4th Guards Army under the command of General Krykov would greatly improve the situation of poor coordination and poor command among the troops. ”

Meretskov saw that Starikov did not object. Directly dialed the phone of the command of the Front, and Stepakh, who answered the phone, said: "Comrade Chief of Staff. I beg you to inform General Krykov of the 2nd Shock Army immediately and ask him to come immediately to the provisional headquarters of the 8th Army. ”

When Stepimakh received this inexplicable phone call, he was visibly stunned, and then asked in surprise: "Comrade General, can I ask you the reason for summoning General Krykov to the provisional command of the 8th Army?" ”

Because of the urgency of time, Meretskov did not be polite with Stepakh, and said straight to the point: "I plan to adjust the command of the forward troops, and I intend to hand over the command of the 4th Guards Army and the 6th Guards Army to him." When you call him, tell him to come as soon as possible, time is running out. ”

He then called Admiral Govorov and the commander of the Baltic Fleet, Admiral Tributs, asking them to support us with artillery fire and air force to defend the Signavino Heights.

As soon as the call with the command of the Leningrad Front ended, Stalin's call came again. He shouted angrily on the phone: "Comrade Meretskov, what the hell is going on? Why are the tens of thousands of commanders and fighters of the Neva cluster still trapped in the valley by the Neva River? Did you even let your troops attack the depth of the German defenses? ”

Hearing Stalin's rage, Meretskov involuntarily shuddered. Others may find it strange that a man who has been in the army for decades can tremble with fear at a few words from the Supreme Commander. Only I understand that Meretskov was arrested by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in late June 1941, and he was severely tortured by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to force him to confess to the attempted coup d'état with Vanikov, Kulik, Pavlov and others. Although he was abused by the cripples and had several ribs broken, he gritted his teeth and did not admit to being framed against him. It was not until September, when Stalin, who lacked a sufficiently good commander, remembered him that he was released and sent to the Leningrad region.

It took a while for Meretskov to return to normal, his mood stabilized, and he clearly reported to Stalin: "Report to Comrade Stalin, at the moment the Germans are using bombers and artillery to pour thousands of bombs and shells on the Signavino Heights, in an attempt to destroy our troops with powerful firepower and then retake the heights. ”

"And what did you do?" In Stalin's voice, the smell of gunpowder was still strong.

"On the advice of Major Oshanina, I telephoned General Govorov of the Leningrad Front, and Admiral Tributs, commander of the Baltic Fleet, asking them to suppress the German artillery positions with artillery fire and to dispatch Air Force fighters to drive the German bombers away from the area where we were fighting. At the same time, I intend to order the troops on both sides of the heights to immediately attack the German defenses, to contain their defensive strength, so that they cannot draw more troops to participate in the battle for the heights. ”

After listening to Meretskov's answer, Stalin's voice softened a lot: "This deployment is good, it seems that Leda still has some ability." ”

"Comrade Stalin," Meretskov said, glancing at me, added: "Major Oshanina also suggested that, in order to improve the command of the troops, it was proposed that the 4th Guards Army and the 6th Guards Army, which were divided into different systems, be placed under the command of Lieutenant General Krykov of the 2nd Shock Army. Having said this, he stubbornly suggested to Stalin: "It is a bit of a condescension to make her an operational staff officer, and I think she should be put in a more important position." ”

"Comrade Meretskov, please tell Leda. To say that her analysis was correct, after further analysis by the Supreme High Command, the target of the German offensive in the southern region was indeed Stalingrad. Get her ready to go to her new job. (To be continued......)

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