After ending the call with Chuikov, Zakharov nodded at me, just grabbed his notebook and walked out of the communication room without saying a word.

As soon as he left, Tokareva, who was sitting in front of the walkie-talkie, asked in a low voice: "Comrade commander, is the situation in the city very bad?" ”

I know what Chuikov said just now, she has heard a lot, and she still knows a little about the situation in the city, and the reason why she asked me is just to confirm it again.

I nodded and said regretfully: "Yes, judging from the situation reported by Commander Chuikov, the situation in the city is very bad, and I guess this is also the reason why he insisted on sending all the female soldiers in the group army over." ”

"So what to do?" Tokareva asked worriedly: "If this is the case, comrade commander, if they do not withdraw, there will be danger." Is there anything we can do to help them? Although she was worried about Chuikov's situation, she tried her best to keep her voice low in order not to cause unnecessary panic among the female soldiers around her.

Hearing her worries, I hurriedly comforted her and said, "Don't worry, second lieutenant, although the situation in the city is very bad now, I believe that Comrade Commander will survive in the end." I'm sure it won't be long before the situation in the city stabilizes, and he'll bring you all back. ”

Tokareva quietly looked to the left and right, and saw that the other female signal soldiers were busy, so she leaned close to my ear and whispered: "However, I heard the commander just now say that the enemy's shells have fallen at the door of the headquarters and exploded, and there are ......casualties almost at any time."

Before she could finish her words, a communications soldier not far away suddenly stood up. Hold up the microphone in your hand to me. In an uncertain tone, he said to me: "Comrade commander. The call seems to be looking for you. ”

"You seem to be looking for me?" After repeating the words of the female soldier, I asked rhetorically: "Comrade soldier, why can't you be sure whether you are looking for my phone number or not?" ”

The female soldier who came with us to the east bank blushed and quickly apologized to me and explained: "I'm sorry, comrade commander. The caller said that he was looking for General Oshanina, but I saw that the rank on your collar badge was only colonel, so I couldn't be sure. ”

I looked down. But no, he was still wearing his former military coat, and the general's uniform was still resting with Razumeyeva. I smiled apologetically at the female soldier, took the microphone in her hand, put it close to my ear, and asked politely, "Hello, I'm Oshanina, who are you?" ”

The voice of General Zakharov, who had just left, came from the earpiece: "Comrade Oshanina, I am here with the commander, please come immediately." The commander and the military commissar have something to look for you. ”

After handing the phone back to the female soldier, I walked over to Tokareva again. He gently patted her on the back with his hand and comforted her in a low voice: "Comrade Ensign, don't worry, believe me, the commander will be fine." With that, I straightened up, straightened my uniform, and strode out of the communications room.

There were quite a few people in Yeremenko's house, and in addition to him, Khrushchev, and Zakharov, there was also Deputy Commander Golikov, who had just returned. I walked into the room, stood up and saluted the four of them, and asked politely, "Comrade Commander, do you have anything to do with me?" ”

Yeremenko looked up at me and, instead of answering my question, asked strangely: "Comrade Oshanina, why didn't you wear your new uniform?" ”

Hearing his question, I quickly replied with a smile: "Comrade commander, I want to wait until I return to Mamayev Post before officially putting it on." ”

After listening to my answer, Yeremenko looked at several people present, and then everyone laughed, and Khrushchev first said: "It seems that our female general is in a hurry, and now she can't wait to return to Mamayev Gang." When he had finished speaking, Yeremenko said to me in a kind tone: "Comrade Oshanina, don't worry, judging by the current situation, you will have to stay here for at least a few more days." When you go back later, you will change into your new uniform, which will be very helpful for your next work. ”

Although I did not understand the meaning of Yeremenko's words, I immediately replied loudly: "Yes, Comrade Commander. When I got back, I put on my new uniform. ”

General Golikov also got up from his seat, stretched out his hand to me, and said in a friendly voice: "Comrade Oshanina, allow me to congratulate you on your return to the rank of general. ”

I hurriedly stretched out my hands to hold his hand, shook it vigorously, and said gratefully: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army. ”

After the greetings are over, let's get down to business. Yeremenko restrained the smile on his face, picked up the notepad on the table, looked at it twice, and then threw it back on the table, and said with a stern expression: "According to Chuikov's report, the situation in the city is very bad. Then he looked up at me again and asked, "Comrade Oshanina, you have been in the city for a short time, can you tell us what you think of the Germans?" ”

After sorting out my thoughts, I began to express my opinion: "...... As the enemy's troops rushed into the city, the areas they occupied were intertwined with our defense area, and they had to reduce the use of aircraft and artillery for fear of accidental injury. In the street battles at Stalingrad, not only were the planes and artillery on which the enemy had relied ineffective, but even the tanks that covered the infantry attack were very limited. It was precisely because of this sudden change of tactics that the Germans were very uncomfortable at first, and they still rigidly used the field attack style, and as a result, we were beaten to the ground.

But in any case, the technical and tactical level of the German army was much higher than ours. After a series of defeats, they fully learned the lessons of the past, and while continuing to use the method of infantry charging covered by tanks and armored vehicles, they adopted a new method of warfare. They continued to move and flexibly intersperse operations by taking platoons, squads, and even combat groups as units, passing back and forth through various building complexes and streets, freely choosing places where our army's defenses were weak, and striking by surprise, causing great trouble to the defense of the defenders in the city.

Over time. Germans who are constantly learning in battle. Their style of play is getting more and more proficient. In addition to continuing to send small units for harassment operations. Their large forces poured into the city from all directions, and under the cover of tanks and armored vehicles, they seized the buildings in the city step by step, gradually compressing the defense line of our army. This style of play has greatly reduced our army's mobile combat capability, and we have no choice but to concentrate a large number of troops to fight a hard-to-head positional war with them. ”

Yeremenko's face turned iron-blue, and he gritted his back molars and asked: "This kind of enemy fight." It's a headache for our commanders, what do you think we should do to deal with it? ”

"The heaviest fighting is currently in the factory area north of the city. Although most of the buildings here collapsed in the shelling and bombardment of the enemy, the ruins of the buildings that still stand are very strong. At present, the army group is ordering its subordinate troops to take advantage of the complex terrain and the buildings that can be used to build new fortifications. ”

"Will the newly introduced fortifications have a good defensive effect?" Khrushchev asked curiously.

I nodded hurriedly and said affirmatively, "Yes." Comrade Military Commissar, this newly launched fortification. Completion can become a strong fortress. ”

"What kind of new fortifications, tell me?" My words aroused Golikov's curiosity, and even he couldn't help but interject.

I hurried to the new fortifications designed by Mihayev and briefly introduced them to the four of them, because I was afraid that I would not be able to explain clearly, so I borrowed a pen and paper from Zakharov and drew a simple schematic diagram on the paper.

When I finished speaking, Yeremenko asked for the sketch in my hand, and after looking at it for a while, he handed it to Khrushchev. Khrushchev also looked at it for a while and handed it to Golikov. When the sketch was circulated in the hands of the four of them, it was put back on the table. Yeremenko stood up with his hands on the table and asked them: "Comrade commanders, what do you think of this fortification map provided by Comrade Oshanina?" ”

"It's just amazing!" Zakharov began by saying: "I think the person who designed this fortification is simply a genius. As long as one of these fortifications is built in a building at an intersection, only a few dozen sandbags need to be prepared, and a platoon of troops can be put to block several times the enemy's attack. ”

"Yes," Khrushchev agreed, "I also think that the construction of such fortifications in the city can cause great trouble for the enemy." ”

"What about your opinion, General Golikov?" Seeing that his deputy commander did not express his opinion, Yeremenko deliberately named him by name and asked him to express his opinion.

Golikov hesitated for a moment, and then said carefully: "The benefits of this new type of fortification, everyone has already said it, and I will not repeat it here. I will say that there is not much artillery left in the city at present, and if such fortifications are built in large quantities, where will we find so many artillery and gunners? Even if there is only one anti-tank gun and one mortar in each fortification, if you build a hundred, you will need 200 guns of all kinds and matching shells. With our current state of transportation, it is difficult to provide adequate supplies for these fortifications. ”

Golikov's words poured cold water on the heads of all of us, and it seems that the kind of fortification I am talking about will be very difficult to promote in the city of Stalingrad in the current situation.

After carefully observing the expressions of everyone present, Yeremenko finally expressed his opinion: "I think this kind of fortification should be promoted on a large scale in the city, and if there are no anti-tank guns, it will be replaced by anti-tank rifles. After all, relying on such fortifications, while reducing the casualties of our troops, it is also possible to kill and wound the enemy in large quantities. At this point, he paused deliberately to see if any new construction had been proposed. After waiting for a while, seeing that no one was speaking, he continued: "The situation in Stalingrad is very bad at the moment, and I think we should prepare for the worst in advance." That is, once Stalingrad is lost, what will we do? ”

"What else can I do?!" Zakharov, who was a little anxious, said: "Of course, it is necessary to organize troops to carry out a counterattack and take the city back from the enemy." ”

"Take it back?!" Golikov said in a contemptuous tone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if the city is really completely occupied by the enemy, as Comrade Commander said, what kind of forces do we use now to achieve the kind of counterattack operation you are talking about to retake the city?" ”

Golikov's words. Let Zakharov be speechless. He didn't speak again. Instead, he bowed his head and pondered.

Seeing that Zakharov was speechless by himself, Golikov did not continue to attack, but stood up and asked Yeremenko for instructions: "Comrade commander, I think that in the current situation, the command of the Front Army must send people to the city to study with Comrade Chuikov how to hold the city. I beg you to leave this task to me! ”

I was deeply moved by Golikov's words, knowing that Chuikov's command was in a precarious situation, and if I went to him at this moment. It was almost like sending him to death, but Golikov knew that there were tigers in the mountains and wanted to go to the tigers, so he had to rush to the city at the risk and fight side by side with Chuikov.

Yeremenko also became hesitant because of Golikov's request, and he tried to persuade the other party to change his mind: "Comrade Deputy Commander, the situation there is very dangerous in Chuikov, you better cancel the trip for the time being!" ”

Golikov shook his head slowly, and said in a resolute tone: "Comrade commander, it is precisely because of the bad situation in the city. I have to go to Chuikov. As soon as I go to Chuikov's headquarters, his commanders and fighters will take a look. Even the deputy commander of the front army has come to us, then the city will definitely be able to hold it. In this way, they can strengthen their determination to hold the city. ”

Golikov's words had already been said to this point, and Yeremenko knew that there was no point in opposing it, he stood up again, grabbed Golikov's hand and shook it a few times, and said with emotion: "Comrade Golikov, pay attention to safety, you must come back safely." ”

"I will." Golikov said briefly. Then he shook hands with Khrushchev, Zakharov, and me one by one.

When I shook the outstretched hand of General Golikov, I nervously did not know what to say, so I could only imitate Yeremenko and say: "Comrade Deputy Commander, please pay attention to your safety and return here safely." ”

When Golikov left, Yeremenko began to give me orders: "Comrade Oshanina, I give you a task. Tomorrow a new division will arrive here, and you will be responsible for organizing them to dig trenches and fortifications near the docks. After explaining the task, he also took the initiative to explain: "The current situation is very bad, and we must prepare for the worst." Even if the enemy occupies Stalingrad, it is necessary to resolutely block them in Xi'an on the Volga River, and absolutely not allow them to push any further. Wait for new reinforcements to arrive, then cooperate with them in a counterattack to take the city back from the enemy. ”

On the way out of Yeremenko's room and towards the telecommunications room, I thought to myself: since the situation in Stalingrad has suddenly deteriorated to the point of this, what is the situation on the Mamayev side? And what about Karpov, who was rebelled against us? Thinking of this, I couldn't help but speed up my pace and walk towards the telecommunications room, trying to find out the situation of the independent division as much as possible.

Walking into the telecommunications room, I went straight behind Tokareva, put my hand on her shoulder, and asked with a pleasant face: "Comrade Ensign, I want to get in touch with the independent division as much as possible, can you help me?" ”

"No problem." Tokareva agreed very happily, and then she smiled and said to me: "Comrade commander, I know the call code of the independent division, please wait a moment, I will answer it for you immediately." ”

After not doing much, Tokareva handed me the headset and microphone, and at the same time politely said: "Comrade commander, it is connected." ”

I smiled at her, took the headphones and put them on, and shouted into the microphone, "Hey, hey!" ”

An unfamiliar male voice came from the headphones: "Hey, this is the headquarters of the independent division, where are you?" ”

Hearing that it was not Razumeyeva's voice, I was stunned for a moment, and then I remembered that it was the male communications soldier who temporarily took over her work who answered the phone, and quickly identified myself: "I am Oshanina, please help me call Commissar Kirillov, or Chief of Staff Akhromeyev." ”

"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." The other party said politely: "Please wait, I will ask the political commissar to speak to you immediately." ”

Soon, Kirillov's voice came out of the headphones: "Thank God, Comrade Oshanina, you finally called. The day you're away is a mess everywhere. ”

Kirillov's words made my heart panic, and I quickly asked: "What's the matter, what's wrong?" ”

"Since the early hours of this morning, the enemy has dispatched a large number of warplanes to bomb the city indiscriminately. Not only was the Mamayev Gang bombed by the enemy, but the positions on the heights to the north were also ploughed aside by the enemy's dense artillery fire, and the troops of the 4th Regiment suffered nearly a third of the casualties. ”

"Hell. How so? I asked angrily, "What do Gaidar and Shapin do for food?" How did you let the troops suffer so many casualties? ”

"The enemy is cunning. After their planes swept over the high ground, they rushed into the city to bomb it, and the shells exploded directly in the city. Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar thought that the enemy, as usual, would selectively ignore the Mamayev post, so he organized the fighters to hurry up and build fortifications. Unexpectedly, when they were busy, the enemy's artillery came with a burst of artillery fire, and hundreds of commanders and fighters who were building fortifications fell in the artillery fire. ”

After listening to Kirillov's explanation, my feelings calmed down. See the bombardment and shelling of the enemy. It's not Mamayev Hills, let alone Gaidar, even I, I would take it lightly, and as a result, I was caught off guard by the enemy, and hundreds of commanders and fighters were sacrificed in vain. I struggled to control the feelings of the word and asked, "Is there anything else?" ”

Kirillov, perhaps afraid that the operator next to him would hear, deliberately lowered his voice and said mysteriously: "There is another important matter, someone has been sent from there." ”

"Someone sent over there?!" I repeated his words, and I couldn't help but feel a little excited. Because what he said in his mouth was Captain Karpov's Eastern Battalion. "Did anyone say anything?"

"Got it." Kirillov replied quite simply. Then he was a little stumbling: "However, I'm in some trouble at the moment." ”

"Trouble, what trouble?" Kirillov didn't know how to do it today, and he kept talking about half and half left, which almost made me die, and I urged impatiently: "Hurry up, what happened?" ”

"The plan you carried out yesterday morning did work, and in the evening the Germans brought back two companies from the front and changed their forces with them. When they entered the new defense area, because it was getting late and they had not contacted us in advance, they were afraid that if they acted without permission, they would have a misunderstanding with our troops or be discovered by the Germans. So they were stationed first, ready to make a decision on the movement of the troops after establishing contact with us today. Speaking of this, Kirillov couldn't help but sigh, "I didn't expect that at dawn, I found that the left and right flanks, I don't know when, were deployed with German troops." As a result, they had to proceed cautiously and remain in the camp. After dark, he sent a trusted subordinate to bring us a message asking us to guide them in a way out of their predicament. ”

"Is the messenger gone?" I hurriedly asked.

Kirillov replied: "Not yet." Then he asked me, "Do you need to say a few words to him?" ”

"No, you don't." I resolutely refused, but I said to Kirillov very tactfully: "Comrade commissar, please convey to the messenger and ask her to go back to tell the person who sent him, and wait patiently for a while. When to move, in which direction, we will inform him in advance, and arrange to meet the team. ”

"Understood, I'll relay your intentions to the messenger." After Kirillov finished saying this, he suddenly asked again: "Comrade Oshanina, after you arrived on the east bank, how did the leadership of the front arrange your work?" Will you stay in the Front to arrange work, or will you return to the Separate Division soon after? ”

"Comrade Political Commissar, how to arrange my next work, the superiors have not given me an accurate answer." Due to the current confusion of the situation, whether Stalingrad can be held is a question, and whether I can return to the Mamayev post has also become unknown, so I cannot give Kirillov an accurate answer, and can only say vaguely: "At present, the head of the front has arranged a temporary job for me, and after this work is completed, I will decide whether I will go or stay." ”

"I see." Kirillov's voice was clearly filled with unconcealable disappointment, "Comrade Chief of Staff and I, we hope that if you have the opportunity, you can return to your post in the independent division." ”

"There will be such a day, Comrade Political Commissar. Don't forget, I personally went to negotiate with the other party. If they don't see me before they act, they may change their minds on the fly. ”

"Since that's the case, then I'm relieved." Although I was vague about what I said, Kirillov said in a relieved tone: "I look forward to your return to the command as soon as possible. Break a leg! ”

"Good luck!" After that, I cut off the contact.

Putting down the headphones and microphones, I turned my head to look around, and saw that the girls were still busy at their respective posts, and it seemed that the situation was bad today, and even the communication lines could not be idle. I looked down at Tokareva in front of me and told her, "When you are not so busy with work later, you can arrange for the girls to take turns to rest." There will be a lot of work ahead, and if you don't know how to rest, you will be exhausted by your body. ”

For my concern, Tokareva said gratefully: "Got it, thank you, comrade commander. ”

I went back to the shelter where I lived, and Razumeyeva, who stayed behind, greeted me and asked with concern: "Comrade division commander, how is the situation in the city?" ”

I looked at the empty bunk beds and asked curiously, "Where have the girls gone?" ”

Razumeeva glanced at the empty beds and replied: "Today several commanders came to the headquarters of the Front, saying that there is a shortage of people in all units at present, and there is an urgent need for experienced manpower, so they took all the girls who live here. ”

Seeing that there were no outsiders in the shelter, I didn't have so many scruples, so I took Razumeyeva to the table in the middle of the room and sat down, and told her about the situation in the city.

Razumeyeva was also taken aback when she heard this, and she, like Tokareva, was particularly worried about the safety of Chuikov, and asked me vigorously: "Comrade division commander, since the enemy has discovered the location of the headquarters of the army group and is still bombarding them with artillery fire, is it dangerous for them, commander?" ”

Hearing her ask, I replied with some uncertainty, "Probably not." After saying this, I realized that I was wrong, what should not be, but definitely not, in my known history, Chuikov is famous for the Battle of Stalingrad, this battle won a heavy victory, which became an important cornerstone of his later promotion to marshal. So I immediately changed my tone and said in an affirmative tone: "Lieutenant Lazumayeva, don't worry, Commander Chuikov will definitely be fine. Moreover, the deputy commander of the Front, General Golikov, also rushed to the city overnight, and if the command of the army group was really in a very dangerous situation, he would personally arrange for the headquarters to be transferred. ”

After listening to my words, Razumayeva patted her chest again and again, and said happily: "As long as Comrade Commander does not have an accident, it is really good." ”

I looked up at my watch, and it was getting late. Yawned and stretched, and said to Razumeyeva: "Comrade lieutenant, if you are fine, rest early." There's more important work to be done tomorrow, and I don't want my deputy to be lethargic at work because of lack of sleep. (To be continued......)