As the date of the Battle of Kursk approached, I was under increasing psychological pressure, and in addition to inspecting the front line, I also called the commanders of the divisions every day to check their preparations. Although I was careful and cautious, and told the commanders at all levels below, I still couldn't escape when it was time for something to happen.

Early in the morning of June 21, we received a telegram from Vatutin, ordering us to make all preparations for battle to prevent a possible German attack.

Danilov pinched Vatutin's telegram and said in a skeptical tone: "Comrade commander, do you think the Germans will attack our defense zone? ”

Before I could speak, the acting chief of staff next to me, Bezikov, preemptively replied: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I think it is completely possible. You must know that the fascist bandits crossed the border in the early morning of June 22 two years ago and did not declare war on us, and I think they will definitely make a big move in the near future. ”

After listening to this, Danilov turned his gaze to mine and asked with a smile: "Comrade commander, what do you think." ”

I heard his question, smiled bitterly, and said in my heart that the German offensive was at the beginning of July, not now, and your judgment is basically accurate. Just as I was pondering what to do with him, a man burst in from the outside. I looked up and saw that it was Lieutenant Colonel Rasmikhin, the chief of intelligence, and seeing his flustered expression, I guessed that something might have happened, and hurriedly asked him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, is there something wrong?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander, a piece of information that we have just intercepted. It says that at three o'clock this morning, they succeeded in seizing position No. 4 on our first line of defense. Rasmikhin said. He handed over the telegram in his hand.

I glanced at the above. There is no deviation from what Rasmikhin said. Hurriedly instructed Bezikov: "Chief of Staff, map." ”

After Bezkov spread out the map on the table in front of us, Danilov glanced at it, then pointed to one of the positions and said in an affirmative tone: "Comrade commander, position No. 4 is here, at the junction of the 51st and 52nd Guards Divisions, under the jurisdiction of the 52nd Division. Once the Germans gained a foothold. They can use this as a starting point for their attacks. In this way, our first line of defense will be cut apart, and we will be divided into separate battles, and finally broken by the superior German forces. ”

While Danilov and I were studying the map, Bezkov walked to the side, picked up the phone on the table, and asked for a call through the operator to the division headquarters of the 52nd Guards Division. As soon as the phone rang, Bezikov angrily scolded at the microphone: "Is it Colonel Nekrasov? I'm Bezkov, and I ask you, have you lost your position No. 4? ”

Hearing that Bezikov was asking Nekrasov about his guilt. Danilov and I also stopped discussing and quietly listened to the Bezikov call. I saw Bezikov slapping the table and scolding: "I ask you, since the position is lost, why don't you report it?" Don't you know the gravity of the matter and are not afraid of being court-martialed? ”

When Bezkov angrily returned to the table, I looked up and asked: "Chief of Staff, what the hell is going on?" ”

Bezkov sat down on the bench next to me, and then said angrily: "According to Nekrasov's report, the Germans quietly touched their positions at about three o'clock this morning. Because the people in that time period were the most tired, no one noticed after the sentry was dealt with by the enemy's spearhead. However, the Germans were not lucky, and when their follow-up troops were passing through the minefield, one of the soldiers accidentally struck a mine, exposing the target and waking up the commanders and fighters in the shelter.

Since some of them were in the trenches, it was difficult for our commanders and fighters to form an organized resistance. After a fierce battle, except for a few who withdrew from their positions, the rest died honorably. ”

"How many people are in our positions?" I waited for Bezikov to finish speaking, and then immediately asked.

"The defenders have a company, and the company commander is a commander with a lot of combat experience." Bezikov replied truthfully: "When he saw the strength of the enemy, he ordered his commanders and fighters to fight and retreat, and withdrew from position No. 4. ”

"When he found out that the enemy had touched his position and engaged the defenders, did he immediately report the situation to his superiors?" I had been to position No. 4 before, and I knew the fortifications there very well, and even if the Germans rushed into the trenches, our defenders could use a few ready-made firing points to hold on and wait for reinforcements, how could they withdraw from their positions so easily? Thinking of this, I asked again, just to find out what kind of countermeasures the defending company commander took at that time.

Bezikov thought for a moment and replied: "The company commander said that the incident happened suddenly, and there was no time to warn them, and only after knowing that they had retreated to the positions of friendly troops, did he report the situation to the regimental headquarters by telephone. ”

"Nonsense, it's nonsense." After listening to Bezikov's account, Danilov took the case, "Fortunately, the German army is a sneak attack by a small force, if it is a large force, then our first line of defense may be completely broken through by the enemy." ”

I waited for Danilov to finish speaking, and softly instructed Bezkov: "Chief of staff, call Colonel Nekrasov, shoot the company commander who has lost his position on the spot, and at the same time order him to immediately organize forces and retake position No. 4 for me." ”

After I finished speaking, Bezkov said with some hesitation: "Comrade commander, is it a bit too much to shoot the company commander?" You must know that after all, he led the troops to resist for a long time before withdrawing from the position. ”

I looked at Bezikov and said with a solemn expression: "Chief of Staff, you must remember that when a large corps fights, military discipline must be strict. If Colonel Nekrasov could not organize troops to regain the lost positions, I would have removed him from his post as well. ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander is right." Danilov immediately agreed with my approach, "Nekrasov, as the division commander, has an unshirkable responsibility. If he is unable to regain the lost position within the allotted time, then I recommend that he be removed from office immediately. ”

"Comrade Commander, since we can intercept this information, presumably the intelligence department of the Front Army Headquarters can do the same." Lieutenant Colonel Rasmikhin cautiously asked, "Do we need to report this matter to our superiors?" ”

"You're right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Rasmikhin's words reminded me, although the position was lost. will be scolded by superiors. But if the matter is hidden from the superiors. The consequences are severe. I went along the lines and said, "You go and send a telegram to the headquarters of the front army, and report the loss of position No. 4 to your superiors by telegram. When relieving the siege, we should make a special note that as soon as we learn of the loss of our positions, we will organize our forces to counterattack and we will definitely be able to restore the positions occupied by the Germans in the shortest possible time. ”

Rasmikhin went out to send a telegram. And Bezikov still stood still. I glanced at him and said angrily: "Colonel, what are you still doing standing here, why don't you hurry up and call Nekrasov and inform him of my decision just now." ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander, I'll do it." Bezikov said yes in a panic, turned around and walked to the telephone, picked up the microphone and began dialing.

After connecting, Bezkov said loudly into the microphone: "Colonel Nekrasov?" I'm Beziakov. The commander ordered that the company commander, who had lost his position, be shot on the spot. And you. Organize your troops immediately and retake the lost positions, otherwise you will be court-martial......"

Before he could finish his sentence, I walked over and grabbed his hand and took the microphone out of his hand. Listening to Colonel Nekrasov's slightly panicked voice coming from the headphones, I deliberately slowed down my tone and said: "Colonel Nekrasov, I'm Oshanina, I order you, immediately organize your troops, and as soon as I arrive, launch a counterattack on position No. 4." ”

When I put down the phone, Bezikov nervously whispered: "Leda, are you really going to go to the front?" ”

I was afraid that Bezikov and Danilov would stop me, so I made clear to them the reason for my departure: "Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff, if we simply give Colonel Nekrasov an order to retake the position, he may be too nervous and make a wrong decision, and the troops will not be able to retake the position even if they suffer heavy casualties." ”

After I finished explaining, I asked the commander of the artillery of the army group, Povsky, who was sitting next to me: "Colonel Povsky, how much artillery can we use near the first line of defense?" ”

The artillery commander, who had just taken office, quickly got up from his seat, straightened up and reported to me: "Comrade commander, we have deployed a cannon artillery regiment, a mortar regiment and a guards rocket artillery battalion in the first line of defense, which can provide sufficient artillery support for the troops attacking the fourth position. ”

"Very well, Comrade Colonel." I am very pleased with what Povsky said, as long as we have sufficient artillery support, it will be easy to destroy the enemy entrenched in position four. So, I continued: "You will come with me later to the headquarters of the 52nd Guards Division, where you will direct the artillery to cover the German troops in their positions." ”

To this order, Povsky replied with a smile on his face: "Understood, comrade commander, I am more than happy to go to the front with you. ”

Just as we were ready to go, Lieutenant Colonel Rasmikhin hurried into the command headquarters again, handed me a telegram with a serious expression, and at the same time said: "Comrade commander, a call back from the headquarters of the front. ”

The telegram was brief, with one sentence: "Take back, take back the lost positions for me." "The inscription is Vatutin's name.

I looked at this telegram and couldn't help but feel funny, Vatutin, who also seemed to be a very cultured person, how could the order given be so vulgar? However, I did not care about his tone, but waved the telegram in his hand to Danilov and Bezikov, and said: "See, Commander Vatutin personally sent a telegram, let us immediately take back the position. So I'm going to rush to the front at once, and I'll leave it to you here. ”

On the way to the headquarters of the 52nd Guards Division, Colonel Povsky, who was sitting next to me, suddenly spoke: "Comrade commander, you are doing the right thing!" ”

Hearing this thoughtless sentence, I couldn't help but ask in confusion: "Comrade Colonel, I don't understand what you mean?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." The middle-aged artillery commander explained to me: "As far as I know, the Supreme Commander himself will never condone any attempt to conceal any unfavorable news, even inconclusive, from his superiors, and he will unceremoniously punish those commanders who hope for the next success and do not report to him the present defeat." That's why I think it's the right thing for you to report to your superiors in a timely manner. ”

Powsky's words shocked me into a cold sweat. If Rasmikhin hadn't just told me that the intelligence services of the Front Command were also likely to intercept the German telegram, perhaps I would have waited until Position No. 4 had been recaptured before reporting the matter to Vatutin. I didn't expect that I escaped a catastrophe by mistake, I was so lucky.

As we got closer to the first line of defense, our convoy of four jeeps was stopped more and more often. From time to time, you can see the checkpoints set up by our commanders and fighters on this road paved with cinders, and I have to repeatedly show my ID for the commanders and fighters at the checkpoints to check.

Not far from the division headquarters, we were stopped by another checkpoint. Judging by the size of the sandbag fortifications on both sides of the checkpoint, at least one platoon of troops was stationed here. An ensign reached out and stopped our car, and when the car stopped, he walked towards my car with two fighters.

After checking his documents, he raised his hand and saluted, returned them to me, and continued: "Hello, Comrade Commander, please forgive me for not recognizing you just now. ”

"Have you seen me before?" I asked politely as I put my papers back in my pocket.

"Yes, Comrade Commander." The second lieutenant replied respectfully: "I have seen you several times when you visited our division's defense area before. With that, he turned and waved his hand at the checkpoint behind him, signaling the fighters there to remove the barricade in the middle of the road.

Before our car started, the second lieutenant kindly reminded me: "Comrade commander, the front is ahead, and we don't know if the Germans have a small force lurking nearby, so you must pay attention to safety." ”

"Thank you, Comrade Second Lieutenant." I nodded gratefully at the ensign's concern: "I'll take care of it." ”

When we arrived at the division headquarters, we were greeted by the division chief of staff, who told me that the division commander had gone to the regimental headquarters of the 223rd regiment, where he would direct the troops to launch a counterattack on position No. 4. (To be continued.) )

PS: I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to book friend Li Yunxi, Blue Sky Shadow, Love to Be Frank, Ruixindu, KJS12, XXXXXXJJ Children's Shoes for their two votes! Thank you for the book friend lonely guest, book friend 111018224708442, sdjnzwm, blackduke, mundane things, sleeping animals, magic ※ apocalypse, Panlong Nest Stone, original:=D point, thindy, jackkk2007, trance fish children's shoes for your valuable vote! Thanks to the 588 tips of book friends and rain children's shoes! Thank you for the book friend book friend 150312140227937, trance fish, and l599xl children's shoes!