With Hitler being escorted away by several fighters, after the routine, the topic of what follows is light. Zhukov and I were old acquaintances, and we didn't speak in an official tone, but asked amiably, "How is it, Leda." How did you feel when you became a military commander? ”

Hearing Zhukov's question, I quickly replied with a smile: "Comrade Marshal." Ever since I became the commander of the infantry corps, I have felt that the responsibility on my shoulders is heavy, so every decision I make is carefully considered. ”

"Very well," Zhukov said approvingly, "although the 79th Infantry Corps is a newly formed unit, I still hope that you will quickly make it a meritorious unit as you did in command of an independent division." Speaking of this, he sighed and said regretfully, "Since it is still impossible to distinguish the truth of this 'Hitler', I may not be able to give you military credit." By the way, did you report this to the commander of the Front, Vatutin, or the commander of the army group, Kharytonov? ”

"No, Comrade Marshal." Hearing Zhukov's question, I hurriedly shook my head like a rattle and replied: "Since we cannot determine the true identity of the captured 'Hitler', in order to avoid unnecessary confusion, I did not report to the two chiefs of the front army or the group army, but directly reported to you. ”

"Lida, as much as I don't like my subordinates overstepping, but in this matter," Zhukov said, pausing for a moment, and then adding, "I think you have done the right thing, and therefore, I want to praise you." ”

When I heard him say that, I felt a little regret in my heart. Such verbal praise. It would be more affordable to award our army a medal. In this way, I can also make this newly formed infantry corps add an honorary title in front of the number. Although he had an idea in his heart, he still had to say politely: "Thank you, Comrade Marshal." ”

"Judging from the current situation on the battlefield, the German army will not be able to support it for a few days." Zhukov continued to say to me: "As long as the Voronezh Front and the Southwestern Front meet the divisions, then the German troops on the east bank of the Dnieper will either be wiped out by us or driven across the river, and we will soon be able to launch a campaign to clear the German army in Ukraine." ”

Heard Zhukov say so optimistic. My heart twitched violently, and I wondered why all people, including such a good commander as Zhukov, were blindly optimistic that Manstein's troops were vulnerable, as if we could stretch out our hands and the Germans, a giant with external power, would fall with a bang?

Probably seeing that I looked preoccupied, Zhukov asked with some surprise: "Lida, what are you thinking, I think you seem to be worried about something?" ”

I nodded, looked at Zhukov and said, "Comrade Marshal." With all due respect, are we thinking too optimistically? Everyone is unanimously optimistic. The Germans have been beaten to the ground after our winter counteroffensive, and as long as we continue to attack, they will escape all the way across the Dnieper, and a counter-assault is simply impossible. ”

I originally thought that my words would arouse Zhukov's alarm, but after listening to it, he nodded unexpectedly and asked: "Yes, judging from the current situation of friend and foe, it is just like what you just said." The morale of the German units in Ukraine was extremely low, and their collapse was inevitable under the powerful blows of our two fronts. Don't you think that's the case? ”

"Yes, Comrade Marshal." If I am in front of other superiors, there are some things that I will hide in my heart, so as not to bring unwarranted disasters to myself. But in front of the familiar Zhukov, there were some things that I had to say: "Although Manstein is our enemy, I think he is an excellent commander, and the troops he commands cannot be so vulnerable." According to the confessions of the prisoners captured by our army, they received orders from their superiors, and when they were attacked by our troops, except for a small part of the troops left to entangle with our troops, the rest of the troops and technical equipment quickly left the battlefield and moved to the rear. ”

After listening to my words, Zhukov frowned and asked, "Lida, what do you mean by telling me these things?" ”

Seeing that Zhukov's tone was full of suspicion, I quickly explained: "Comrade Marshal, I suspect that Manstein is doing this a huge conspiracy. It should be said that the retreat of the German troops on the southern front carried out by Manstein himself was aimed at luring our army to go deep and stay away from the logistics base. Judging by the current position of our army, it seems that his goal has been achieved. ”

"Someone's coming!" When Chuikov heard me say this, he shouted at the side, which scared me so much that I almost thought he was going to call for someone to arrest me.

As he shouted, an officer who looked like a staff officer came over, raised his hand and saluted, and asked politely: "Comrade Marshal, what instructions do you have?" ”

"Bring me a map!" Zhukov commanded the other side loudly.

After listening to his order, the officer said with some embarrassment: "Report to Comrade Marshal, the maps are all on your plane. ”

"And what are you still standing here for?" Zhukov glared at the other party, and then said sternly: "Why don't you go and get a map." The officer agreed, turned and ran off the plane to get the map Zhukov needed.

The plane Zhukov was on was a special plane, but in fact it was a transport plane that had been simply modified, not to mention that there were no luxurious desks, and even the seats were so simple that the environment there was a world of difference compared to here. I welcome Zhukov's temporary office on Hitler's plane. I immediately ordered Second Lieutenant Gretka to lead the wounded Ike to the tail of the plane, and to pack up the vacated office area.

As Zhukov sat on the sofa by the porthole, I heard him mutter, "Damn Hitler, he also made the plane so luxurious." ”

I saw that Zhukov liked the plane very much, so I took the opportunity to ask him and said: "Comrade Marshal, it would be a waste to park this plane here anyway, so why don't you let the pilot fly this plane away when you leave later." ”

Zhukov looked around at the interior of the cabin and was silent for a moment. Then he asked, "The pilot on this special plane." Where is it now? ”

I heard Zhukov say that. Knowing that he also had a mind on the plane, otherwise he would not have asked about the German pilots. I turned my head to look at Captain Yushchenko, who was standing next to me, and he immediately stepped forward and reported to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal of the Soviet Union, the German pilots were all killed by us in the battle. ”

"All killed?" Zhukov asked Yushchenko tentatively, and when he nodded in affirmation, he said in a regretful tone: "Alas. It's a pity, such a plane requires at least two pilots to fly, and there are only two pilots on my special plane, and if one of them is piloted, maybe the last two planes will not be able to return safely. Alas, this time it's okay. Anyway, it won't take long for our troops to succeed in capturing Zaporosh, and then find a pilot to fly the plane back. ”

The officer brought the map, and a stack of what was said to be a newly received battle report. Zhukov looked at the battle report for a while, and then frowned and looked up the current location of the troops on the map. It's been a long time. He called me to his side, pointed to the map and said, "Leda." It seems that your analysis is correct. Since the beginning of the winter counteroffensive, our troops have advanced about 6 to 700 kilometers on the winter roads in the face of heavy snowstorms, and because the roads and bridges along the way have been completely destroyed by the Germans, our army's logistics supply bases and airfields have far from keeping up with the pace of advance of the combat troops. So far, after three months of fighting, our troops have not only suffered losses but are also very short of supplies and necessary air support. In particular, the situation of General Vatutin's Southwestern Front was particularly bad, with only 137 tanks left in the subordinate Popov Rapid Group and the 4th Tank Army, and many of the tanks in the cluster were almost immobile due to the lack of fuel. ”

I silently listened to Zhukov's account of the current situation between friend and foe, and did not express my own opinion, because I knew in my heart that Zhukov would take the initiative to ask me if he wanted to listen to my opinion. Before he spoke, I remained honestly silent.

Zhukov saw that I didn't speak, and didn't ask my opinion, and said bluntly: "The other units of the 6th Army, which are currently only a few dozen kilometers away from Zaporosh, will attack Zaporosh under the cover of the 25th Tank Army. Since the tank corps is currently running low on fuel and ammunition, I ordered the corps to halt its advance for the time being and continue to rest briefly in place while waiting for fuel and ammunition to be replenished. Their offensive will resume the day after tomorrow, on 19 February. ”

In the evening, Zhukov's plane, escorted by fighters, flew in the direction of Moscow. Looking at the planes in the sky as they faded away, I turned around and ordered Kirillov: "Comrade commissar, call all the battalion commanders for a meeting. With that, I walked towards Hitler's plane, where I was much better than in a tent with air on all sides.

In order to keep communication open with the units below, I had Lieutenant Razumeyeva and some members of the communications company board Hitler's plane as well. After they had set up the telecom, I gave the first order to Razumeyeva: "Comrade lieutenant, immediately send a message to the army headquarters that our troops, after fierce battles, have managed to seize the airfield in Zaporosh, and ask the command to instruct the next course of action. ”

After about ten minutes, Kharidonov's call back arrived, and his order was simple, to suspend the offensive of our army and rest in place. When the main forces of the army group and the 25th tank army launched an offensive from the northeast of Zaporosh, a unit was sent north to cover the flanks of friendly forces.

At this moment, the battalion and regimental commanders who were able to come to the meeting all got on the plane, because the seats were limited, except for the two division commanders of Bantai Laiyev and Gurtiev, as well as several regiment commanders who had seats, the rest of the battalion commanders stood aside.

After reading Kharytonov's telegram to everyone, I asked: "Comrades, if you have any thoughts about this telegram from your superiors, you can tell me and listen to it. ”

As soon as I finished speaking, Lieutenant Colonel Sedjerikov was the first to stand up and said loudly: "Comrade commander, give this glorious task to our regiment, and we promise to complete it well." ”

"No, how can you take all the good things." As soon as Shederikov's words were finished, someone stood up to express their dissatisfaction. Hearing that familiar voice, I didn't look at it, and I knew that it was Gaidar, the commander of the fourth regiment, who spoke, and he said loudly: "Comrade commander, the matter of covering the flanks of friendly troops should be left to our regiment, and I assure you that as long as our regiment is there, the Germans will never be allowed to threaten the flanks of our friendly troops." ”

"Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, the current task of your regiment is to ensure the safety of the airport, and the responsibility is heavy, and it cannot be transferred casually." Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, the commander of the second regiment, who spoke after him, said, "This task should be left to our regiment." ”

When I saw my old subordinates fighting for the task, I couldn't help but have a smile on my face. But when I saw Gurdiev and his three regimental commanders sitting in a precarious position, I felt a little uncomfortable in my heart, saying that several regimental commanders of the Pantai Leev Division were competing for tasks, and you and your subordinates were sitting in a daze like clay sculptures.

Kirilov, who is good at reading words and feelings, may have noticed the strangeness on my face, and hurriedly coughed a few times to stop the argument between Sederikov and the others, and then looked sideways at Gurdiev and asked with a smile: "General Gurdiev, which force do you think should be sent to carry out this mission?" ”

Hearing Kirillov's question, Gurtiev hurriedly stood up from last night, straightened his waist and said loudly: "Comrade commander, on behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 308th Division, can I give you an opinion?" ”

I nodded and said with a smile: "Say, General Gurtiev, if you have any opinions, you can speak freely here." Speaking of which, I turned to Kirillov and jokingly said, "Whether you are right or wrong, you will not be blamed, and we will definitely change it." ”

With my encouragement, Gurdiev continued: "I think you look down on our 308th Division a little, and you have handed over all the battles you have to your old troops, but you have always let our division serve as a reserve, or perform some insignificant guard tasks. You must know that in the Battle of Stalingrad, our division also fought a bloody battle with the Germans for several months, and all the surviving commanders and fighters were good. If there is no fight like this, it will hurt their self-esteem. Therefore, I resolutely request that our division go north to carry out this mission of covering friendly forces. (To be continued......)

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