After the meeting, I summoned Oleg and Vylor to my headquarters, intending to discuss with them how to settle our troops, after all, even if Basmanov left with a company, the strength of the station would be as high as five or six hundred, and there would be a considerable number of commanders and fighters without German uniforms.

As soon as I walked into the headquarters, I first walked up to Shura, leaned down and said to her: "Shura, immediately send a telegram to Lieutenant Colonel Shederikov to tell him that Captain Basmanov is returning to our military defense area with a convoy full of supplies. In order to smoothly pass through the German blockade line of Guò, Captain Basmanov and they all changed into German uniforms, please pay attention to identification, and do not misunderstand with your own people. ”

Shura agreed, and immediately put her finger on the button to send the report, and started the report with a click.

After I had given Shura the message, I turned and returned to my place. When I looked up, I found Oleg and Vylol, who were still honestly standing next to them, and hurriedly beckoned the two to sit down.

As soon as Oleg, who was full of displeasure, sat down, he said thoughtlessly: "Comrade division commander, I can't figure it out?" ”

"I can't figure it out, what can't I figure it out?" Oleg's words confused me, and I stared at him for a while before I asked tentatively: "Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, what do you mean is that I shouldn't have asked the German second lieutenant to tell the commanders about the combat experience just now?" ”

Unexpectedly, after listening to this, Oleg waved his hands desperately and said in a loud voice: "No, not this thing?" ”

If it's not this, then what is it that can't be figured out? I didn't speak, just looked at him quietly, waiting for him to take the initiative to give me an answer.

After a brief silence, he finally spoke: "You ordered the release of all German prisoners. I don't have a problem with this. But you also put them on duty with our fighters. Although in a patrol of five people. There are four of us, but I'm not at ease, I don't think you should trust them like that. ”

When I heard that this was the case, the stone hanging in my heart fell to the ground, and I leaned back, leaned back in my chair and said disapprehantly, "I thought it was something, but this is it." Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, you just said that. The ratio of the German soldiers on duty to our soldiers was 1:4, and there were no bullets in the guns on their backs, so nothing could happen. ”

"But why should these German soldiers be on duty with our soldiers?" Oleg asked, puzzled, "Do you trust them so much?" ”

Listening to Oleg's words, I thought about it for a moment and replied to him: "Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, I believe in them. Because these newly released German soldiers were not the kind of SS soldiers who had been brainwashed by the Nazis. Rather, ordinary Wehrmacht soldiers, as long as they understand. Their cooperation with us is not against the Germans, but for the birth of a new Germany, in the confrontation with the fascists represented by Hitler, then they will choose to cooperate with us. ”

"However, in case ......" Oleg tried to persuade me a few more words, but I interrupted without hesitation, and I turned my head and asked Velol: "Commissar Velol, I asked you and Lieutenant Colonel Oleg to come here to study how to conceal our surplus forces from the German troops who will arrive tomorrow." Do you have any good ideas? ”

Velore frowned and thought for a moment, and said hesitantly: "If you want to hide, you can only let those troops who do not have German uniforms hide on the second floor of the waiting hall of the station first." I went up to check it, and although the building was destroyed by German artillery fire, there were still quite a few places upstairs where the troops could be hidden. In addition, I also have a building yì. ”

"What is built? Say it, Vylore. ”

"I think that after the new Germans are placed in the warehouse, a cordon should be drawn on the platform and those Germans are not allowed to come, so as to reduce the possibility of us being detected......

As soon as Vellore said this, there was a loud noise outside the door, and I faintly heard a familiar voice shouting outside, "...... Let me in, let me in, I have an important situation to report to the division commander. ”

Hearing the commotion outside, I couldn't help frowning, and I ordered Shura, who was turning his head to look around, "Shura, you go out and see, what's going on outside, why is it so noisy?" ”

Shura nodded, stood up and opened the door and walked out. After a while, Shura stood at the door, holding the door in his hand, and reported to me: "Comrade division commander, there is a soldier named Boris outside, who said that he has an important situation to report to you, but he was blocked by the sentry at the door. ……”

"Let him in." Without waiting for Shura to finish, I gave the order straight to the point.

Almost at the same time as my order was given, Boris, who was carrying a rifle, rushed in, and without bothering to salute me, he said loudly: "Report to the division commander, something has happened!" ”

"What's going on?"

"There are two...... Two German soldiers, deserted...... Escaped! Boris panted and reported.

"What?! Some German soldiers have escaped! "Hearing this earth-shattering news, all three of us jumped up from our positions. Oleg grabbed Boris by the collar and asked nervously, "Hurry up, what's going on?" ”

Perhaps Oleg was pushing too hard, and Boris was strangled and coughed violently. After a brief panic, my feelings had calmed down a little, and when I saw that Boris was choked enough, I hurriedly went over, asked Oleg to let go of his hand, and then asked Boris: "Tell me, what's going on?" ”

After Oleg let go of Boris's collar, Boris still covered his throat with his hand, gasped for breath for a while, and when he felt a little better, he replied to me: "Division commander, two German soldiers have escaped with empty guns. ”

"How did you escape, and in what direction?"

"Just now when I was standing guard, I saw two men in German uniforms walking along the railroad tracks to the south. Because it was a bit far away, I couldn't see each other's faces clearly, and with the guns they were still carrying on their backs, I thought it was our patrolling soldiers, so I didn't care. Unexpectedly, the two of them walked farther and farther, and they both left the station seventy or eighty meters away, and they didn't stop. I sensed something was wrong. Hurriedly shouted at them to stop. I didn't expect it to be okay if I didn't shout. Hearing my shout, the two of them ran away, for fear of exposing the target, I did not dare to shoot, but chased after me. The two of them ran too fast, and I chased after some distance but couldn't catch up, so I hurried back to report to you. ”

After listening to his words, my face felt hot and hot. I just thought that Oleg swore that the German prisoners would cooperate with us, but I didn't expect that the words were still in my ears, and there was actually a desertion incident. I gritted my back molars and asked, "How long have they been running?" ”

"Less than five minutes." Boris hurriedly replied, and then added: "The two men may not be familiar with the road, so they fled south along the railway line." ”

"Commander, what should I do?" Oleg asked me for instructions.

I thought quickly about the terrain south of the station, and I had the impression that there was a road that was close to the railway, and if someone had to chase it by motorcycle, it would have been possible to catch up. So I hurriedly ordered Oleg: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you take Boris." In addition, another squad of fighters pursued south along the railway line by motorcycle. If you live to see people, even if you are killed, you must bring back their corpses to me. ”

"Yes, I promise to get the job done." Oleg agreed, turned around and shook his head at Boris next to him: "Follow me." ”

Velore looked at the backs of the two of them leaving, and asked in a bit of a panic: "Comrade division commander, do you say that they can catch these two German soldiers who escaped?" ”

"Needless to say, of course we have to catch them. If they had fled back to the Germans, all our disguises would have been exposed. At this point, I instructed Villore: "Go and call Captain Grams, he will give me an explanation for this desertion." ”

After Villore left, I looked at the map on my desk in a daze, and secretly calculated the distance from the station to the nearest German camp to the south. The two places were five kilometers apart, and it took the two German soldiers about twenty minutes to reach their destination, as their bodies permitted, and now almost ten minutes later, which means that Oleg's motorcycle team had to stop them before they finished the rest of the race, otherwise they were all over.

Villore came back quickly, because Captain Grams's residence was in the box office not far from the headquarters. Grams obviously knew about his subordinates' escape, so he also looked stern when he entered the door.

"Captain Grams," I said coldly, as I looked at him, "as you must know, two soldiers escaped with empty guns. I called you here to hear your opinion and what are you going to do with these two deserters when they are caught? ”

After listening to Mihayev's translation, Grahms replied without hesitation: "Your Excellency, I will shoot all my subordinates in front of them." ”

Grams's statement made me feel better, and if he had pushed and refused to deal with the deserters, perhaps I would have ordered him and his men to be disposed of at once. In such an extraordinary period, there must be no unstable factors around us. Now that he had clearly stated the way to deal with it, I nodded slightly, and continued: "Since Mr. Captain already has a solution in mind, then go and gather all your subordinates now." When those two deserters are captured by Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, you can shoot them in front of your men. ”

After listening to my words, Grams nodded with a bitter face, and said with difficulty: "Okay, Your Excellency Division Commander, I will personally shoot these two damned deserters." ”

As we left the headquarters, I whispered to Vellol: "Commissar Vellol, you should immediately transfer the troops and strengthen the defenses south of the station, so that even if the Germans attack, we will have time to react." As soon as I wanted to leave, I suddenly felt that maybe things would not become as bad as I thought, so I added: "If Lieutenant Colonel Oleg brings back the deserters, then only a few more sentries need to be added to the south." ”

Velore hurriedly replied: "Understand, comrade division commander, I will arrange it." ”

Grahms quickly assembled his troops on the platform, and fearing that something might happen again, Vellor sent a company of troops to stand guard around the thirty or so German soldiers, and surrounded them.

Glahms turned a blind eye to the heavily armed commanders and fighters around him, and when his men had finished their formation, he came up to me, raised his hand and saluted, and reported: "Your Excellency, Captain Grams, reports to you that Company E of the former German 103rd Infantry Regiment has been assembled. Listen to your instructions! ”

After glancing at the German ranks. Said angrily: "Mr. Captain." The only order I can give you now is to stand by now! ”

After hearing this, Grams quickly turned around and walked to his queue and loudly announced to his subordinates: "Stand still!" ”

In this way, dozens of German officers and soldiers with empty guns on their backs were surrounded by hundreds of Soviet commanders and fighters with loaded guns, and the platform was quiet, and not a single one spoke. Even if someone coughs. Cover your mouth with your hands so as not to disturb the tranquility of the scene.

After waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour, it turned out that Boris's shout suddenly came: "Division commander, comrade division commander, where are you?" ”

I listened intently, and Boris's voice did not appear flustered, proving that their actions were still rewarding, so I replied loudly in the direction of the voice, "Here I am!" ”

Soon, I saw Boris squeeze out of the middle of the fighters on the south side of the platform. He came to me, raised his hand with a happy face, and reported: "Comrade Division Commander. We brought back two deserters. ”

Hearing Boris's report, two shouts of relief rang out around me. That's why it's two. It was because the German officers and soldiers had to hear the interpreter to know what Boris was talking about, so their reaction was half a beat slower than that of our soldiers.

There was a rush of footsteps from afar, and then I heard someone shouting, "Let go, comrades, let go, let Comrade Lieutenant Colonel pass!" Comrades, let one ......"

The soldier on guard made way of a passage, and then Oleg strode through the middle, followed by a dozen or so soldiers, and two soldiers whose hands were cut behind their backs and were escorted by the soldiers, needless to say, these two must have been deserters who had just been captured.

Oleg walked up to me, raised his hand and saluted, "Report to the division commander, two deserters have been captured by us. What should we do with them? ”

I raised my chin in the direction where Captain Grams was and said, "Give these two men to Captain Grams." ”

"But, comrade division commander,......" Oleg looked at Grams, and said with some embarrassment: "Just hand over the deserters to Captain Grams?" ”

"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg." I said lightly: "Give these two men to Captain Grams, he knows what to do with deserters." ”

When Oleg heard my order, he had no choice but to reluctantly agree: "Yes." Then he commanded the warriors behind him: "Did you all hear me?" Immediately carry out the order and hand over the two deserters to Captain Grams. ”

The two German soldiers, who were tied behind their backs, were fiercely retreated to the German queue by the angry soldiers. After the two stumbled to the front of the line, a German sergeant suddenly opened his mouth and shouted loudly.

I didn't understand what they were talking about, so I asked Mihayev: "Ensign, what are they talking about?" ”

Mihayev's eyes stared viciously at the two German soldiers, and his mouth translated for me: "Soldiers, fellow citizens, these Russians are telling you to take up arms and fight the Germans." Now the troops of our great German Empire, having one foot on the threshold of Stalingrad, will take the city with one more step forward. The soldiers ......"

I have to say that this German sergeant is quite eloquent, and the expressions of many soldiers in the queue have become dazed. And the soldiers around me, after listening to the translations of their companions, also scolded in unison, and the scene became chaotic.

I asked Mihayev in a low voice: "Do you know who this sergeant is?" ”

Mihayev said with some hesitation: "It seems to be the second squad leader in the platoon of Second Lieutenant Gretka, I can't remember the specific name for a while." ”

"If you can't think about it, don't think about it, he's going to be a dead man in no time anyway. A dead man, even a German marshal, is nothing more than an ignorant corpse. With that, I took a step forward, raised my hands above my head, and shouted loudly, "Quiet, please be quiet!" Comrades, please be quiet! ”

There was soon silence on the platform. I walked up to the two deserters, looked at them contemptuously, and then said loudly to the German soldiers, who were standing in order: "Soldiers, I am Colonel Oshanina, the commander of the separate division of the Soviet Army, and I have a few words to say. ”

My words were immediately translated into German by Second Lieutenant Grettka, who was standing at the front of the queue: "Just now I heard this German sergeant say that one of your feet has already stepped into the gates of Stalingrad, and that you can take this city with one more step forward." I want to ask you guys, is this possible? Although the German army is currently under the city, do you think the city will be lost? No, I solemnly tell you here, no, Stalingrad will never fall, and the banner of Lenin and Stalin will always fly high over the city. If nothing else, you should be able to feel that in the defense area of our independent division, even several divisions of the elite Hult Tank 4th Army not only failed to move forward, but suffered heavy losses under our uninterrupted offensive. ”

Facts speak louder than words, and my words made the German soldiers start whispering. Seeing this, I hurriedly struck while the iron was hot and said, "Soldiers, this sergeant said, I tell you to take up arms and go to fight your comrades. Here, I would like to tell you that what he said is also right and wrong. He said that he was right, because it was indeed the Germans who would fight with you in the future; No, because these Germans who are about to fight you, they are Nazis loyal to Hitler, not only enemies of our Soviet Union, but also enemies of your German people. I would like to tell those soldiers who have doubts that if you are now on the same front with us, when the day of the defeat of Germany, you officers and soldiers who have taken up arms and fought bravely against Hitler's fascists will become the heroes of the new German Reich. ”

My words, perhaps a little too unbelievable, were so unbelievable that both the German soldiers and my commanders and fighters were stunned, and the whole platform was silent, because at the moment when Stalingrad was in danger, I announced in a shocking way that we could not only hold Stalingrad, but also defeat the Germans, and if I were not the division commander, they would probably have taken me for a psychopath.

I raised my hand and looked at my watch, and felt that I had said all that I could say, so I walked up to Grams, and said to him: "Captain Grams, I have handed over these two deserters to you, and it is up to you to decide what to do with them." With that, I turned and walked back to the middle of my queue.

Grams's face was red and white for a while, and he hesitated for a long time before turning around and saying something out loud to his subordinates, probably asking for the advice of his subordinates. The German ranks fell silent at first, then shouted in a neat voice, and shouted a simple word.

As soon as I turned my head to look at Mihayev, before I could speak, he had already taken the initiative to smile and say to me: "Comrade division commander, these soldiers took the initiative to ask Captain Grams to shoot these two deserters. The word they shouted was 'shoot'. ”

Grimes turned around and nodded at me, and although he didn't speak, I understood that he had made his final decision. (To be continued......)