If we do not set a deadline for the Volkhov Front's preparations for the campaign, and wait for them to slowly replenish their troops and weapons before launching the Sinavino Salient Campaign, I estimate that it will be at least a few months or even half a year away.

Although in the headquarters of the Front on the first day, both the commander of the 8th Army, Major General Starikov, and the artillery commander of the Front, Colonel-General Degtyalev, were all complaining about the need to assemble troops in place in a short time. When he learned that Stalin had given a death order that the Battle of the Sinavino Salient must be launched on 17 July, and that if the delay of anyone prevented the campaign from being launched on time, all of them would be brought before a military court-martial, regardless of their rank, they immediately showed unprecedented efficiency. In just one day, more than a dozen infantry divisions, tank brigades, and artillery regiments participating in the campaign all entered their designated positions at 11 o'clock in the evening of the 16th.

I always thought that General Gagan's 4th Guards Corps, as the first echelon of the campaign offensive, would be the first to attack the German positions after the artillery fire was ready. However, after checking the plan of this campaign, I unexpectedly found that I had made a mistake: it turned out that it was not the 4th Guards Army that was responsible for the first echelon of the attack, but General Starikov personally commanded the 6th Guards Army. General Gagan's troops, as the third echelon, were tasked with expanding the results of the battle, intensifying the assault, completing the entire breakthrough and accomplishing the rendezvous with the Leningrad Front.

At the same time, I also found out from the plan reported by the artillery command that Degtyalev was also an incompetent commander, and he even made a mistake about the number of artillery units under his command and the types of artillery. It turned out that the artillery units of the Front had not 24 artillery regiments. Rather, 12 artillery regiments and 9 mortar regiments. 4 separate mortar battalions. 3 Katyusha artillery battalions of M-13 type, 7 Katyusha artillery battalions of M-30 type. Although the artillery commander was incompetent, the staff officers under him were not ambiguous, and from the plan book, the artillery positions were arranged in an orderly manner, and the density of artillery per kilometer reached the 180 guns I suggested.

I was watching the battle plan when I suddenly heard someone shouting at me. When I looked up, Meretskov was standing in front of me, and it turned out that he was calling me. I hurriedly got up and saluted him: "Hello, Comrade Commander, I was looking at the battle plan just now, and I didn't notice your arrival, please forgive me!" ”

Meretskov raised his hand and pressed it down, and said politely: "Leda, don't be so outside, sit down and talk." ”

Although I verbally agreed. But he stood still and did not move. I knew in my heart that the leader told me to sit down. But before he sat down, I couldn't sit down as a subordinate.

After Meretskov sat down, I sat down again. I knew that he had come to say hello suddenly, and that he must have something to say to me, so I straightened my back and looked at him with my eyes, waiting for his inquiry.

My guess was correct, he first looked at the information in front of me, nodded, looked up and asked me: "Lida, I see that you are here to read this battle plan, and you have been watching it for two hours. I want to know, do you have any different views on this plan? ”

I picked up the book and flipped through it, pulled out one of the pages, pushed it in front of Meretskov, and said politely: "Comrade commander, I have a somewhat different opinion on the way in which the Leningrad Front participated after the campaign was launched. ”

Meretskov picked up the page, scanned it with his eyes, put it back on the table, and asked curiously: "What is the difference in opinion?" Let's hear it. ”

"Comrade Commander, look here!" I stood up, leaned forward slightly, picked up the pencil on the table, clicked on a few lines and said: "After the campaign is launched, the Neva cluster of the Leningrad Front will cooperate with the offensive launched by the Volkhov Front with heavy artillery and aviation. ”

Meretskov's eyes were fixed on the documents on the table, he nodded, and said: "I also specifically mentioned this point yesterday, because Comrade Stalin was afraid that crossing the Neva would be a difficult task, so he canceled the plan of the Leningrad Front to cross the river, and only let them support our offensive with long-range heavy artillery, the naval guns of the Baltic Fleet, and aviation. Zhilu said that the attacking troops of our front only crossed the Neva River to meet them. Speaking of this, he raised his head, raised his eyebrows, and said with some surprise: "Could it be that your different opinion refers to this matter?" ”

I nodded, and said affirmatively: "Comrade commander, I personally feel that if the Leningrad Front, with the 55th Army and the Neva Battle Group, launched an offensive in the opposite direction at the same time after the offensive of our Front was launched, the results would have been much greater. But now if they do not cross the river to cooperate in the battle, it means that our front army will independently break through the entire German defensive zone. To break through an area of up to sixteen kilometers in depth, this is by no means an easy task. You see, could you call Comrade Stalin and ask for instructions so that the Leningrad Front could revise its operational plan and send troops across the river to cooperate with the offensive of our Front? ”

After listening to my words, Meretskov waved his hand almost without thinking and rejected my proposal: "No, this campaign deployment was formulated by the Supreme High Command, and Comrade Stalin's order is not allowed to be discussed, but can only be carried out unconditionally. With that, he got up and left.

Looking at his back, I couldn't help but think of the conversation I overheard between two staff officers last night while eating in the restaurant. They say that Meretskov, who served as chief of the General Staff, was later arrested and censored by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for various reasons. Almost all of those arrested with him were executed or exiled, and he was the only one who returned to the army unharmed. Perhaps it was this unspeakable experience that filled his heart with fear of Stalin, so when he carried out any of Stalin's orders, no matter how unreasonable they may seem, he would do them unconditionally. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but sigh softly, and said in my heart that this upcoming battle seems to be more auspicious.

The time of the offensive campaign was set at two o'clock in the morning of the 17th, when the artillery units of the Front Army first carried out a heavy artillery bombardment of the enemy's defensive positions, and after the shelling was over, the infantry launched a charge.

The time of the attack was conveyed by me to the commanders of each echelon one by one by telephone. General Starikov after listening to my briefing on the time of the offensive. Suddenly, he asked, "Major Oshanina." I would like to ask. Do I need to send sappers in advance to infiltrate enemy minefields to clear mines? ”

Sapper demining?! Didn't it be said at yesterday's meeting that the tank units would be responsible for demining, but why did the matter of sending sappers to clear the mines suddenly come up again?

Meretskov, who was giving orders in the command headquarters, saw me holding the microphone in a daze, and hurriedly walked over and asked with concern: "Lida, what's wrong?" Who are you talking to? ”

I covered the microphone and reported in a low voice: "Comrade commander, General Starikov of the 8th Army. He asked if sappers should be sent to clear the mines in front of the enemy's positions and clear a passage for the attacking troops. ”

"Didn't you say that it was better to use tanks for demining? This Starikov is really fooling around, give me the phone. After that, he took the phone, raised his voice and said, "Is it Starikov?" I'm Meretskov. I said, "What's the matter with you, don't you know that with the current density of artillery, after the heavy shelling of the enemy, almost all the mines in the minefield will be reimbursed?" Even if there are some left, after our tanks drive over. You can get rid of them all. Well, you don't have to say it. As said at the meeting that day, when the shelling had been carried out for an hour and a half, that is, at half past three in the morning, let the two tank brigades of your army group strike quickly, and as soon as the artillery fire stopped, they immediately rushed to the station occupied by the Germans, and quickly took it and destroyed all the defenders. At the same time, let the troops occupying the station quickly repair the fortifications and turn it into a starting point for our assault on the heights of Signavino. ”

Putting down the phone, Meretskov saw that the commanders who were participating in the command of the campaign were walking into the command headquarters one after another, and he didn't bother to talk to me, and walked straight towards them. Then a large group of generals gathered around the wooden table and began to study the map.

When the hour hand was about to point to two o'clock, the chief of operations, Colonel Semyonov, picked up a telephone on the wall, dialed it, and then held the microphone and said to the artillery commander Degdialev: "Comrade General, the telephone of the artillery unit has been connected. ”

Degtyalev, who had been seated, glanced at Meretskov, and when he saw that the latter smiled and nodded at him, he stood up with his hands on the table, walked quickly to Semenov's side, and took the microphone. He put the microphone to his ear and said unhurriedly: "I am the commander of the artillery of the Front, Colonel-General Degtyalev. With that, he stopped and looked up at the watch on his wrist. When the time was just pointing to two o'clock, he sharply raised his voice and shouted: "All artillerymen, open fire!" ”

About a dozen seconds later, the rumbling of cannon came from outside.

Hearing the rumbling of artillery outside, Meretskov became calm, and he beckoned to the generals in the room: "The shelling will continue for two hours, everyone sit down and rest first." After General Starikov's infantry attacked, we will study the next step of deployment. ”

The waiting was very boring, and the atmosphere in the headquarters was extremely dull, and a large group of generals sat around the table, some were looking at the map, some were leaning back in their chairs, looking at the big log on the roof in a daze, and no one spoke.

Time is waiting, minute by minute. When a telephone against the wall suddenly rang, everyone's attention was drawn to it. I was closest to the phone, so I hurriedly walked over and picked up the microphone and said politely: "This is the headquarters of the front army, please have something to say!" ”

"Is it Major Oshanina?" The voice of General Starikov came from the microphone.

"Yes, I'm Oshanina." After revealing my identity to the general, I asked tentatively: "Comrade commander of the group army, do you have any information to report to Comrade General?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Major. I would like to ask you to give the microphone to Comrade General, I have good news for him. Starikov's voice was filled with uncontrollable joy.

I covered the microphone and looked up at Meretskov, to my surprise that all the people were staring at me. I was a little embarrassed, so I had to cough to stabilize my mood a little before I reported: "Comrade General, it's General Starikov who has called, and he said that he wants good news to report to you personally. ”

As soon as I heard the good news, the generals, who had been waiting impatiently, rushed over and surrounded me in the middle. The diminutive Meretskov struggled to push aside a few generals who were blocking him, walked up to me, took the microphone, and then said into the microphone with some nervousness: "Starikov?" I am General Meretskov. ”

When Meretskov and Starikov were on the phone, everyone stared at him intently, wanting to know what the good news Starikov said was the first time.

I was standing next to Meretskov, and I heard his conversation with Starikov very clearly. As soon as he heard that it was Meretskov who answered the phone, Starikov on the other side of the microphone immediately said excitedly: "Report to Comrade Commander, I have good news for you." Five minutes earlier, my 19th Guards Infantry Division, under the cover of a tank brigade, had seized the station from the Germans, and the troops were currently clearing out the remnants of the enemy. ”

"What? I didn't hear clearly, so please say it again. After listening to Starikov's report, Meretskov was a little incredulous, so he asked again.

"Comrade General, the 19th Guards Infantry Division of our group army has seized the station and is clearing out the remnants of the enemy."

"Great! General Starikov. This was really good news, so much so that Meretskov got excited, and he shouted into the microphone: "I congratulate you, General Starikov. Congratulations! ”

I was not the only one with pointed ears next to me, and seeing Meretskov put down the phone, Chief of Staff Stepimach took a step forward and asked in disbelief: "Comrade commander, is it all true?" Have General Starikov's troops already captured the station occupied by the Germans? ”

Meretskov turned to look at him, nodded vigorously, and said softly: "Yes, the 19th Guards Infantry Division has captured the station, and the troops are clearing out the remnants of the enemy. ”

"Ulla!" I don't know who took the lead in shouting, this slogan made people's blood boil, so the whole room shouted in unison: "Ula! Ulla!! Ulla!!! ”

After shouting a few slogans with everyone, I looked down at my watch, there were still two minutes to go, it was only four o'clock, according to the plan, this period should still be the time for shelling, why would General Starikov's 6th Guards Army attack in advance? However, seeing that everyone was in the mood, I didn't want to pour cold water, so I had to hide this speculation in my heart. When I have the opportunity to meet General Starikov, ask him about it.

But soon someone also found out what I was thinking about, and the commander of the artillery, Colonel-General Degtyalev, walked up to Meretskov, pointed the watch on his wrist and said: "Comrade General, what is going on?" According to the plan, the artillery will be prepared for two hours, but you see, it is only two hours, and Starikov's troops have already occupied the area of the station. ”

Hearing what Degtyalev said, everyone also found out about this problem, so they started talking about it. Seeing the chaos in the room, Meretskov slammed the table and said loudly: "Commanders, comrades, please be quiet. After everyone had calmed down, he continued: "I'll call Starikov and ask what's going on?" With that, he walked back to the telephone, picked up the microphone and began dialing.

Receiving Meretskov's call, Starikov was also stunned, and it took him a long time before he replied: "Comrade commander, my troops only attacked on all fronts after the shelling was over. Due to the advance movement of tanks and infantry in front of the German positions, as soon as the shelling stopped, the troops went on the offensive. The Germans, who were dazed by our artillery fire, had not yet recovered their senses, and the position had already been occupied by us. ”

Meretskov put down the phone, turned around and told Degtyalev about it. The admiral also felt that the situation was a little wrong, and hurriedly called his artillery headquarters to ask his subordinates what was going on. The result was quickly reported that it was because the campaign was launched too hastily, and many artillery regiments did not have enough ammunition reserves, so that the shelling only lasted a little more than an hour and a half, and the shelling had to be stopped because the shells ran out. (To be continued......)

PS: Bow and thank the book friends Bright Knight 2011, Marshal Linlin, and Xiaoliang Kitchen Knife for their precious monthly passes.