Kosgaard quickly stood up and respectfully reported to me: "The Italian equipment received for the first time, which I assigned to the unarmed fighters of the 1st and 2nd regiments; The Hungarian equipment received for the second time, I assigned to the 3rd regiment, the 4th regiment. After two days of acclimatization training, the soldiers of the large army have mastered the use of weapons. ”

"Well done!" After complimenting him, I turned my head again, looked at the commanders present, and asked, "General Chuikov will come to the division tomorrow morning to hold a flag-awarding ceremony for us. ”

"Comrade division commander," Gaidar replied first, "there are many people in our regiment who know how to build, and I will immediately go back and arrange for people to build a rostrum, which can be used tomorrow when the flag is presented." ”

"Also, we don't have PA equipment like radio, so how can we make sure that every soldier can hear what General Chuikov said on the rostrum?" Then I asked a crucial question, no matter how loud a person's voice is, he can't make thousands of people hear what he says without the help of equipment.

When I had finished, everyone fell silent, frowning and pondering what I had said. To be honest, I have noticed this problem before, but I have never found a suitable solution, and I am now bringing it up in public, just hoping that everyone will work together to come up with an effective solution.

After waiting for a long time, I didn't see anyone talking, so I couldn't help but be a little anxious and urged: "Why, haven't you come up with a good solution?" After speaking, my eyes looked at Shederikov, Oleg, Kosga, and Gaidar in turn, but I didn't expect them to shake their heads at me with regret.

Just as I was disappointed, Pugachev, who was sitting in the corner of the table, raised his right hand high. Seems to have something to say to me. So I pointed my hand at him. Said: "Captain Pugachev." Do you have any good ideas, come and hear them. ”

Pugachev stood up, looked left and right, leaned forward slightly with his hands on the table, and said with some embarrassment: "Comrade division commander, comrade regiment commander, I have an idea, but I don't know if it will work." ”

"What are the ideas. Just say it bluntly, don't be such a mother-in-law. His former boss Oleg said impatiently.

I also said with great interest: "Comrade Pugachev, since you have thought of a way, you might as well talk about it." As for whether it is a good way, everyone can make a judgment after hearing it. ”

After receiving my encouragement, Pugachev confidently and boldly said what he had in mind: "Before the flag presentation ceremony begins, we will arrange a number of loud commanders and fighters between the phalanxes in a certain order, and they will relay General Chuikov's words to the commanders and fighters who will not be heard later. In my opinion, in the absence of a megaphone. In this way, General Chuikov's speech could be heard by every commander and fighter. ”

After listening, I nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, yes," he said, "Captain Pugachev's proposal is quite good. Then he looked around and asked the other commanders and fighters, "Do you have any different opinions on this plan?" ”

"It's a good idea, I don't have a problem." Shederikov was the first to agree.

Then Oleg, Kosga, and Gaidar also expressed their stance one after another, agreeing to Pugachev's proposal.

"Since you don't have any objections, let's go back to your respective units. After returning home, he conveyed to the commanders and fighters that he would present the flag tomorrow. Alright, adjournment! ”

The commanders walked out, and when I saw Gaidar walking outside the headquarters, I called out to him from behind: "Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar." "Maybe it's because he's not used to his new rank, Gaidar doesn't stop and is still walking outside. I quickly raised my voice and shouted again, and then he stopped, turned to look at me blankly, trying to figure out why I had left him alone.

I walked up to him and said to him: "Comrade Gaidar, when you go back, announce to him my appointment of Second Lieutenant Mihayev." At the same time, he asked him to select professionals from the scope of the whole division and form a division engineer company. ”

Gaidar saluted me and said loudly: "Yes!" Then he turned and left Command.

The next day, just after dawn, I was awakened by the sound of a loud military trumpet.

I used to think that the Soviet army did not have a military horn, and when attacking, it relied on the commander to shout slogans; When I get up, I rely on the conductor to blow the whistle. At this moment, when I hear the horn sounding, I still feel quite fresh.

After packing up, I went to the outside of the headquarters and found that not only was my guard squad standing outside the door, but there were also several columns of soldiers behind them. Seeing me coming out, Pugachev and Vera hurriedly ran over and raised their hands to salute me, and then Pugachev reported: "Comrade division commander, the guard battalion has been assembled, please instruct!" ”

Pointing to the newly added fighters in the back rows, I asked Pugachev curiously: "Comrade Captain, are these fighters newly added to the guard battalion?" ”

Pugachev nodded vigorously and said affirmatively: "Yes, Comrade Division Commander." I saw that the number of your guard squad was too small, so it would be difficult to ensure your safety, so I took some soldiers from the units that had participated in the battle and formed a temporary guard company. Later, when there are more people in the division with combat experience, I will fill up the other two companies. ”

"Comrade Captain, good job." After complimenting him, I asked, "Do you know where Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar and their rostrum are?" ”

"Report to Comrade Division Commander, I know." Pugachev, after answering my question, cautiously asked: "Do you need me to take you over to check it out?" ”

"Well, yes, I'd like to check it out." I nodded and said, "In this way, Comrade Captain, let the new fighters disband first, and take the guard squad with me." ”

Led by Pugachev, I came to a newly opened glade. The area of this open space is not large, only more than 200 square meters, and there is a newly built wooden platform on the edge of the open space. Perhaps due to the urgency of time, the wooden platform made of logs is very simple, only about a meter above the ground, and there are small staircases on both sides to facilitate the use of the platform.

In the distance, Mihayev was clearing down felled trees with a group of fighters. When they saw me, they brought someone to inspect it. Hurriedly ran over. From afar, he raised his hand and saluted me. He said loudly: "Comrade division commander, Second Lieutenant Mihayev, the commander of the engineer company, reports to you that our company is being ordered to clear the remaining trees in the clearing!" ”

I returned the salute and said, "Take a break, do you have a lot of work?" ”

"A lot, Comrade Division Commander. Last night, we cut down the trees in this area overnight and set up a simple rostrum for today's flag ceremony. And now we're taking the rest of the wood. Cleared out of the open space. Speaking of this, he paused for a moment and cautiously asked, "Are we allowed to continue, Comrade Division Commander?" ”

"Of course, it goes without saying." I quickly replied, "Keep going." ”

I continued to walk in the forest with Pugachev and the guard squad, checking the stations of the regiments and the training of the troops.

It took me an hour to walk around the whole camp, and I was quite satisfied. Judging by the training of the troops, although the formation time is short. The equipment is relatively backward, but due to the impact of successive battles. The fighters of several regiments could barely be considered well-trained and morale-high.

After inspecting the camp, I summoned several regimental commanders to the headquarters for an impromptu meeting while Chuikov had not yet arrived.

After everyone was seated, I started with Sederikov and asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, how is your regiment prepared?" ”

Sederikov hurriedly stood up and replied: "Everything is ready." However, in the early battles, our regiment was attritional, and I don't know when our superiors will be able to replenish us with new soldiers. ”

"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Oleg also stood up and chimed in, saying, "In the battle a few days ago, our regiment was reduced to five companies, and together with the transfer of manpower to form a guard battalion, it means that we are now nearly 600 fewer than when we were at full strength. ”

I raised my hands and pressed them down, sat them down, and introduced to everyone: "When General Chuikov called me last night, he only mentioned the establishment of our division, but did not mention whether we will be replenished with new soldiers, so don't get too hopeful. ”

Hearing me say this, Kosgaard said with some melancholy: "Our division has such a big shortage, didn't the superiors consider supplementing us?" ”

"That's not what I said, Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard." I heard his grumbling, and quickly stopped him, and said sternly: "Compared with the other divisions of the army group, we have the largest number of people. As far as I know, there are some divisions that have only one or two hundred men left in the whole division after brutal fighting. If the higher authorities want to replenish the troops, the priority will be these troops. You can find your own way to recruit the troops that we are short of, such as the small units that have been scattered, or the militia units that will temporarily join our division after retreating into the cities. ”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander."

At this moment, the phone placed in the corner rang, and Razumeyeva, who was sitting next to her, hurriedly picked up the microphone and said politely: "Hello, this is the division headquarters, where are you?" ”

I didn't know what the other party said, she hurriedly covered the microphone, looked at me and said loudly: "Report to the division commander, the sentry called and said that a convoy of forty trucks was found approaching the station of our division. ”

"Can you see the number of the unit that came here?"

Razumeyeva hurriedly removed her hand and asked the other party loudly: "The division commander asked, can you see the other party's number clearly?" Soon, she said "I know", hung up the phone, looked up at me and said: "Comrade division commander, the sentry report said that there were three jeeps in front of the convoy, and it should be General Chuikov who is coming." ”

I nodded and said to the commanders present: "Comrade regiment commander, it seems that General Chuikov is here. Let's go, come with me to the forest to meet you. ”

Our group had just walked out of the forest when the distant convoy had stopped. A group of commanders came down from three jeeps, surrounded by a general, and when I looked closely, it was none other than Chuikov.

I hurriedly stepped forward, raised my hand at Chuikov and saluted, and said loudly: "Hello, Comrade Commander, welcome to the Independent Division. ”

"Why did you come out in person, Comrade Oshanina?" Chuikov asked curiously.

Before I could answer, a familiar voice sounded next to me: "What's the matter, Comrade Oshanina, you only welcome General Chuikov, don't you welcome me?" ”

I looked in the direction from which the voice came and saw Serdyuk, the military commissar of the army group.

"It's you. Comrade Military Commissar. I raised my voice and said loudly. Excuse me. I didn't pay attention to your ......"

"I understand that in your mind, General Chuikov is the most important, and the rest are just foils." His good-natured taunt immediately caused laughter from the commanders around him.

Chuikov was afraid that I would not be able to get off the stage, so he hurriedly said: "Okay, let's not stand here, let's go to the headquarters of the independent division first." With that, he took the lead and walked forward. It didn't go far. When he saw Shedelikov and them standing straight on the side of the road, he stopped, turned his head and asked me: "Oshanina, have I seen these commanders, why do they look so familiar?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander," I hurriedly came to Chuikov's side and introduced him: "Last time I accompanied you to the division headquarters of the 208th Division to receive their division, you have seen them before. Let me introduce you once again, this is the commander of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov. This is the second regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg...... "Every time I introduce someone, the person whose name is said. They all raised their hands and saluted Chuikov.

When Chuikov walked forward again, I hurriedly told several regimental commanders: "You should immediately return to your respective ranks and lead the troops to gather in the open field, understand?" ”

"Understood!" The four of them agreed in unison, turned and trotted away.

As soon as the regiment commanders left, a familiar voice came from the side: "Division Commander Oshanina, are you really ignoring me?" ”

I turned my head to see that it was little Sidorin, who was now looking at me with a grin. I reached out and patted his steel helmet and asked with a smile, "Little one, aren't you angry with me?" ”

Sidorin shook his head vigorously and said apologetically: "Sister Oshanina, the commander later told me that you drove me away from the independent division, not because you hated me, but for the sake of my safety. I was wrong, don't blame me! ”

"Look at what you said, little Sidorin, I think you are my little brother, how can I blame you. Let's go, go to my headquarters. With that, I put my arm around his shoulders and walked forward together.

Except for Chuikov and Serdyuk, the only one who could enter the command headquarters with me was Sidorin Jr., and the rest of the commanders stayed outside the house. After Chuikov sat down, he instructed Sidorin: "I said Comrade Herald, go and bring in the flag of the independent division." ”

Sidorin agreed, turned and ran out of the headquarters. After a short time, he walked in again, followed by a captain who carried a rolled flag on his shoulder.

Chuikov asked the captain to spread the flag on the table, so that I could see the true face of the flag.

While I was looking at the flag, the captain was still next to me and gave me an introduction: "This flag is made of red silk with gold tassels on the edges, and measures 145x115 cm. The obverse center is embroidered with a hollow Venus with a diameter of 60 cm, and in the center of the Venus is a sickle and an axe. Above the Venus was the slogan 'Destroy the German invaders', and below it was the name of the Separate Division. On the back of the flag, in the center is an embroidered portrait of Lenin, 48x46 cm in diameter, with the slogan 'For the Motherland' above and the Russian abbreviation of the USSR below. The flagpole is wooden, 2.5 meters long, 4 centimeters in diameter, dark brown in color, with a metal hoop at the top and two gold bands. ”

I stretched out my hand and stroked this new military flag belonging to the independent division, and I couldn't help but feel passionate, I finally had my own troops, and the flag of my own troops.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Chuikov asked the captain to roll up the flag and waved him to leave first.

After the captain left, Serdyuk said to me: "Comrade Oshanina, there are no outsiders here, I have a few words to say to you. In fact, according to your ability and military exploits, you should have been promoted to the rank of colonel a long time ago, but due to many reasons, we have been suppressing your promotion, I hope you don't blame us. ”

I was thinking about the flag that I had taken away, and when I heard Serdyuk say this, I didn't come back to my senses for a while. It took me a moment later to understand what Serdyuk had just said. He hurriedly stood up and replied: "Comrade Military Commissar, Napoleon once said: A soldier who does not want to be a marshal is not a good soldier. Although I also want to be promoted, frequent promotion is not necessarily a good thing for me, just like if I want to build a high-rise building, I must lay a solid foundation, if I want to get a high rank and a higher position in the army, I must have a solid network, so that my career in the army can go further. ”

Hear my answer. Chuikov nodded in satisfaction. Approvingly, "Not bad." It's best if you think like that. Speaking of this, he raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said to Serdyuk, "Comrade Military Commissar, the time is not early, we should go to the flag ceremony." ”

"Okay, let's go!" Serdyuk said and stood up.

Our group came to the open space where the flag presentation ceremony was held. Seeing that the rostrum was empty, there was no one, but there were thirty bare-handed fighters on each side of the stage. When Chuikov saw these fighters, he asked me curiously: "Oshanina, what do these fighters do?" ”

After a little hesitation, I understood that it was arranged to deliver a message for Chuikov, and hurriedly introduced: "Comrade commander, this is the case, because there is no megaphone in the division, so in order to let every soldier hear what you are saying, I found some soldiers with loud voices. Get your words across. ”

We walked up the stairs to the rostrum, and I saw that the soldiers of the division were neatly arranged in the forest. In the middle of the clearing, there are weapons of the Italian and Hungarian armies captured in these two battles. No wonder Gaidar made the open space for the engineer company so small, it turned out to be just for the purpose of placing weapons.

I heard someone whispering behind me: "You see, the independent division has fought a few battles, and there are really a lot of captures." ”

"Yes, not only light and heavy machine guns, but also twenty or thirty mortars......"

Chuikov glanced back, did not speak, but raised his hand as a step earlier. With the raising of his hand, the commander who was originally speaking on the stage closed his mouth, and the commanders and fighters in front of the wooden platform who were still a little commotion were also silent and quiet.

The soldiers standing on either side of the platform quickly ran forward, arranged in a certain order between the companies, in order to give Chuikov a voice on the platform, and in the absence of a megaphone, this was the most effective way to make Chuikov's speech heard by every soldier.

Chuikov shouted loudly to the commanders and fighters below: "Comrades, I was very excited when I learned that today I could hold a flag-awarding ceremony for the independent division that won a series of battles and achieved great results. I will not say more, but I will only say one word, hoping that the comrades of the independent division will make persistent efforts and make new contributions in future battles. Speaking of this, he paused for a moment, and after the fighters passed on his words, he announced loudly: "I announce the beginning of the ceremony of awarding the flag of the independent division, the flag presenter, Comrade Serdyuk, the military commissar of the group army, the flag bearer, the commander of the independent division, Colonel Oshanina. Comrade Military Commissar, please present the flag! ”

Following his command, the captain just now walked towards me, carrying a brand-new military flag and following by two neatly looking flag guards. Stopping a few paces away from me, he handed the military flag to Serdyuk, who had just come out of the ranks.

Serdyuk took the flag, unfurled it and waved it vigorously a few times, so that the brand new flag fluttered in the wind.

I took a deep breath and walked towards him with non-standard steps, and after saluting, I heard Serdyuk shouting: "Colonel Oshanina, grant you this banner of Lenin, and expect you to hold it high and strive for greater victory!" ”

After receiving the flag, I held it in my left hand and raised my right hand to salute Serdyuk and Chuikov.

After the ceremony, I glanced at the audience and saw Pugachev and Vera standing in the audience, and quickly glanced at them. When Vera was slow to react and was still standing in a daze, Pugachev had already taken the stage first and took over the military flag in my hand. Then he stepped down from the stage with his banner held high, and with two warriors, he walked around the glade where the weapons were placed with great ease, and returned to me.

I turned to stand up to the military flag, and one of the fighters next to Pugachev hurriedly shouted: "All stand upright!" ”

Facing the military flag, I raised my hand to my forehead and said loudly: "Now let us take an oath in the name of the independent division, in the name of our great motherland!" ”

"We take an oath!" The warriors below roared in unison.

"Strike mercilessly at the fascist scum until the last invading German invader is wiped out on the territory of the Soviet Union." I continue to speak the oath in my heart on behalf of the commanders and fighters of the Independent Division.

"We take an oath!" The warriors roared in unison again.

"We will not hesitate to use our own blood, even our lives, to fight for the final victory."

"We take an oath!" This time, even Chuikov and the warriors he brought with him shouted in unison.

"I vow that the sacred military flag of our independent division will one day fly high in the sky over Berlin!"

"We take an oath!"

"Victory will be ours!"

"Victory will be ours!" All of them were repeating the last vow to me.

When I took the military flag from Pugachev's hand and waved it vigorously, a tsunami-like cry erupted in the forest: "Ula! Ulla!! Ulla!!! (To be continued......)