On the way to the square, Basmanov continued to tell me about their battles in the city, and I did not interrupt him, but listened patiently to his report.

After waiting for half an hour, Basmanov saw a three-wheeled motorcycle coming down the street towards the square, and he hurriedly ordered the commanders and fighters of the guard company to prepare for battle.

After the motorcycle drove into the square, it drove to a stop not far from the tent. As soon as the car came to a stop, a German officer wearing a large-brimmed hat came out of the sidecar. The officer looked around, and found that there were many fewer soldiers guarding the baggage, so he couldn't help frowning, and shouted loudly: "Someone, someone!" ”

Hearing his shout, Basmanov hurriedly grabbed his pistol in his hand and met him with a soldier who knew German. Coming to the officer, from the rank on the other side's epaulettes, Basmanov saw that the other party was a captain.

Seeing someone appear in front of him, the captain asked with an annoyed expression: "What's going on, why are there so few soldiers guarding the baggage, where are the rest of the people, are they hiding in tents and sleeping?" ”

Because the officer spoke quickly and urgently, Basmanov did not understand what he was saying at all, but just glanced at the soldier next to him, and then put the pistol against the officer's chin. The soldier also rushed to the motorcycle, and pointed the muzzle of the submachine gun at the German soldier who was still sitting on the motorcycle.

The German officer was held to the chin with a gun, and even a fool understood that there was an enemy standing in front of him, and he had the heart to shout, but when he saw the sneering face of the soldier opposite, he obediently closed his mouth.

Basmanov led the two into the empty tent, where he prepared to deal with them. Just when they were about to make their move. Two men came in from the outside. Basmanov looked back. One was his own fighter Mikhailov. The other man was Lieutenant Braun, who showed us the way into town.

Seeing Braun appear here at this time, Basmanov asked Mikhailov with dissatisfaction: "Mikhailov, what are you bringing this German here?" ”

Seeing that Basmanov was angry, Mikhailov had to explain: "Lieutenant Braun has just seen that you have captured the officer who has just returned, and he said that he has something important to say to you, and I must bring him to you." ”

Basmanov couldn't get angry at his men in front of the Germans, so he had to shake his head at the soldiers who knew German, and said with a displeased face: "Ask him." What's the matter? ”

The soldier walked up to Braun's side and, after whispering a few words to him, turned to Basmanov and reported: "Lieutenant Braun said that this is his friend, Captain Pereler, the commander of the 9th Motor Infantry Company. He was just a worker before he joined the army, not a Nazi, so please don't kill him. ”

When Braun saw that the soldier had finished translating, he grabbed Basmanov's hand and spoke in German, as if he had been interceding for his friend. The latter impatiently threw his hand away. The soldier was instructed: "You sue him, if this Captain Pelleer is honest and obedient." I can not kill him. If he tried to run away or report to a patrol passing by, I wouldn't spare him. ”

Although the soldier had not yet had time to translate, Braun apparently understood Basmanov's words and thanked him in the Russian he had just learned. Then he came to Captain Peller's side and muttered in a low voice, probably explaining the precautions.

When I heard Basmanov say this, I interrupted him and asked bluntly: "Comrade Captain, there is something I would like to ask you. As far as I know, in the guard company there are fighters who know how to drive armored vehicles, but there are no people who know how to operate tanks. Judging from the few guns that decided the outcome just now, the person who can hit the enemy's barricade fortifications impartially is at least the level of a veteran tank soldier with many years of rich experience. Can you sue me, what the hell is going on? ”

Basmanov replied with a smile: "The division commander is the division commander, and the key problem is seen at a glance. You guessed it right, the fighters who drove the tanks were really not from the guard company, but from a regiment and a battalion. ”

"A regiment, a battalion?!" After I repeated what Basmanov said, I immediately thought of the original Captain Nikolai's troops, and asked curiously: "Captain Basmanov, if I am not mistaken, do you mean that after Captain Nikolai's troops converged with you, you selected a few soldiers from his battalion who knew how to drive tanks, and drove tanks to the south gate to help in the battle?" ”

"Where is Captain Nikolai?" I remembered that in the battle plan, one regiment and one battalion were responsible for the attack in the north of the city, and the sound of gunfire and explosions coming from the city came from their attack area. So at this moment I heard Basmanov mention Nikolai's troops, so I asked bluntly: "Are the casualties of the first battalion large?" ”

To my question, Basmanov pondered for a moment, and then replied hesitantly: "Comrade division commander, as far as I know, when a battalion sent a small unit to infiltrate the city to clear the enemy patrol, it was detected by the enemy, and then an exchange of fire ensued. Seeing that the action had been detected by the enemy, Captain Nikolai decisively ordered his troops to launch a strong attack, broke through the German defenses in the north, rushed into the city, and rushed along the streets to the square and our division. In the course of their battle, the German tank and armored troops also ran out of their resting places, trying to drive their respective tanks to counter our attack. However, these German soldiers who recklessly broke in were all killed by us quietly.

After Captain Nikolai came to join me with the men of the battalion headquarters, he heard the fierce fighting in the south of the city, and offered to me that he should go to support the three regiments that were besieging the city. When he saw the tanks and armored vehicles parked in the square, he immediately ordered his subordinates to select soldiers from the battalion who had served as tank crews, and drove the German tanks south along the streets to reinforce them. ”

As we approached the square, we saw a group of people approaching us, and by the light of the fire in the distance, I could see that Nikolai and his group of colleagues were coming, and hurriedly hurried over. As soon as I saw Nikolai's face, without waiting for him to salute, I took his hand first and said in a friendly voice: "Comrade Captain." Your troops are fighting well. Break through the enemy's defenses so quickly. Stormed into the city. Had it not been for your decisive dispatch of fighters who had served as tank crews and the timely reinforcement of the 3rd Regiment with tanks, I think Lieutenant Colonel Koskaard's troops would have paid an even greater price if they wanted to seize the barricades. ”

After shaking hands with Nikolai, I went to shake hands with the deputy battalion commander, Captain Kstrov, and the company commanders, and the Pandereev and Kosga, who were following me, also shook hands with Nikolai. When Kosgaard and Nikolai shook hands, the former grabbed the latter's hand and shook it vigorously. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to him.

After shaking hands with all the commanders, I saw that Kosgaard was still holding Nikolai's hand and still talking something. I coughed heavily, and when everyone's attention was on me, I said in an official tone: "Comrade commanders, although the battle is over, there may still be Germans hiding here." Are we such a large group of commanders standing here to be a target for the Germans? ”

Hearing me say this, Basmanov first came back to his senses, and he quickly said: "Comrade division commander. There's a German battalion near here, let's go there. ”

We followed behind Basmanov. Entering a two-story building, I came to a large and beautifully decorated room. Although the room was tidyed, there were still signs of fighting, and on one side of the large wooden table in the middle of the room, there were many grenade shrapnel and several rows of bullet holes. A map on the table had been burned off a corner, and there was a pool of blood on the ground that had not yet dried up.

But I didn't care so much, and went straight to a chair at the table and sat down, and at the same time beckoned Pantai Leev, Kosga, and Nikolai, who had come in with me, to sit down. He also instructed Basmanov: "Comrade Captain, when you go outside to arrange the guards, if you see Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, by the way, call him and his battalion commanders in." ”

After Basmanov left, I asked Nikolai, who was sitting across from me, with concern: "Comrade Captain, in today's battle, did your battalion suffer heavy casualties?" ”

Nikolai nodded and reported that the troops had taken a strong attack after the sneak attack was exposed. After the attack, while advancing along the streets towards the central square, they were constantly attacked by the German cold guns hidden in the buildings on both sides, and the casualties of the whole battalion were heavy, and almost every squad had soldiers killed or wounded. In particular, the company fought the hardest, and more than half of the company's casualties were lost.

Nikolai was reporting to me the casualties of the troops and the results achieved, when a group of people poured in outside the door, and when I looked up, it turned out to be Shedelikov and the battalion commander under him, and hurriedly greeted him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you are here." After seeing that they were all seated one after another, I continued this time: "Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, report to me the casualties and defense situation of your regiment." ”

Shedelikov hurriedly stood up and replied: "Report to the division commander, at present the defense of our regiment is divided according to the areas captured by the battalions. the 1st battalion of Captain Nikolai, which was responsible for the defense of the north of the city; the second battalion of Captain Sherebryanny, responsible for the defense of the west side of the city; The third battalion of Major Terenkov, responsible for the defense of the eastern part of the city. As for the casualties," said Sederikov, looking at his subordinates, and continued: "Because time is too short, I haven't had time to count them. In my opinion, it is better to let the battalion commanders personally report to you. ”

Shedelikov pointed his hand at Major Terenkov, the commander of the third battalion, motioned for him to stand up and report to me, and then sat down himself. After Telenkov stood up, he reported to me in a serious manner: "Although the German defense in the east of the city is not very strong, the commanders and fighters in the battalion are from different units, and the cooperation between them needs to be strengthened. Therefore, in the process of attacking, the casualties of the troops were also large, and the casualties of the whole battalion were nearly the strength of a company. ”

Hearing that the casualties of the third battalion had reached one company, my heart couldn't help but sink, this is a reinforced company, and in such a small battle, more than 200 people were killed and wounded. I raised my hand and pressed down, motioned for Major Terenkov to sit down, and then turned my head and asked Serebryane, who was still sitting: "Comrade Captain, how are the casualties of your second battalion?" ”

Captain Serebryanny hurriedly stood up and respectfully reported: "Report to the division commander, in tonight's battle, our battalion suffered 21 casualties, of which 7 were killed, and 152 were killed and captured. ”

After listening to his report, I thought I had misheard, and quickly asked him to repeat what he had just said. Now, without waiting for me to speak. Bandelyev was the first to speak: "Captain Sherebryanny. If you're not lying. Such a result is really amazing. You must know that although the casualties of the first and third battalions are not small, the combined results they have achieved are not as many as your battalion, which is simply incredible. ”

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," I saw that Bandereev was skeptical of the results reported by Serebryanny, and hurriedly came out to relieve the latter, saying: "Comrade Captain has been there since the establishment of the independent division, and the reason why he was able to achieve such great results was only insignificant casualties. Maybe it has something to do with the unique tactical characteristics of the independent division. ”

"Unique tactical features?" Bandereev was a little surprised to hear me say this, and he asked curiously: "I don't know what the difference is with the tactics of other troops." ”

I wanted to wait for the battle to be over and sum up the lessons of this battle, but since Bandereev provoked the conversation, I followed his meaning: "Although I did not take part in the battle of the 2nd Battalion, I can guess that when they entered the city and advanced through the streets, they were not in large groups. Instead, it is broken into pieces, in groups of several people. Alternately covering against the edge of the wall to advance forward. At the same time, there are also combat teams in squads, which enter the building to clear the remnants of the enemy. Having said this, I turned my head to look at Serebryanny and deliberately asked: "Am I right, Comrade Captain?" ”

When Serebryanny heard me ask this, his face flushed with excitement, and he nodded vigorously and replied: "Comrade division commander, what you said is completely correct, it is exactly like this. ”

Sederikov also stood up and expressed his opinion: "The reason why the 1st and 3rd battalions suffered heavy casualties in the battle may be related to the fact that they used to use the old tactics they used to use before. In the following battles, I will do my best to popularize the unique tactics of the independent division throughout the regiment, and strive to achieve the greatest results with the least casualties. ”

After Shederikov finished expressing his attitude, Bandereev looked at Koskay and said sternly: "Lieutenant Colonel Koska, tell everyone about the situation of your regiment as well." ”

Kosgaard did not expect that Pantai Leev would call his name, so he stood up with a red face and muttered: "In today's battle, I made the mistake of underestimating the enemy's rash advance. Thinking that our forces were several times greater than the enemy, hundreds of us rushed up to the few enemies in the barricades, and even if we stepped on them, we trampled them to death. Results ......"

"The result?" Bandereev may have seen that the casualties of the third regiment were large and were irritated, so he relentlessly fought with Kosga: "As a result, you ordered the troops, without fire cover, to rush forward in the enemy's dense rain of bullets?" If it weren't for Captain Basmanov's timely arrival with tanks to support you, I estimate that your three regiments and two battalions would have been exhausted, and they would not have been able to rush into the city. ”

"Alright, alright. Comrade Deputy Division Commander. "I was afraid that if I continued to talk about it, Pantai Laiev would make Kosgaard even more unable to step down, so I came out in time to make peace with him," I believe that Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard has realized his shortcomings in his ability to command troops after the skirmish just now, and in the coming days, he will definitely improve his ability by studying and practicing Guò. ”

As soon as I learned about the casualties and the deployment of the troops, Basmanov walked in from outside, came to my side, leaned down and reported to me: "Comrade division commander, the remains of our soldiers and the bodies of the Germans have been collected, and the wounded on both sides have been treated, what should we do next?" ”

Instead of immediately expressing my opinion, I asked rhetorically, "How many prisoners were taken in this battle?" ”

Basmanov was stunned by my question, and for a long time he said uncertainly: "Probably more than a hundred prisoners were taken, most of them officers." ”

Knowing the approximate number of prisoners, I did not hesitate to give the order to Basmanov: "Comrade Captain, you immediately take these prisoners out of the city and leave the city from the south of the city......"

"Comrade division commander," before I could finish speaking, Pandereev suddenly interjected and asked, "You don't want the captain to take these prisoners out of the city and shoot them, do you?" He also kindly reminded me, "After all, there are more than a hundred captives, and if you kill them all, I guess someone will make things difficult for you in the future." ”

I didn't mean to shoot the prisoner at all, and I saw that Bandereev actually misunderstood me. So I smiled and introduced to him: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, where do you want to go, I said that I took them outside the city, not to shoot them. Speaking of this, I saw that all the commanders had suspicious expressions on their faces, and hurriedly continued: "We have sacrificed so many commanders and fighters, and we have killed more than 100 and 200 German soldiers, so many corpses must be buried, right?!" I asked Captain Basmanov to take these German prisoners out of the city, so that they could dig a pit so that they could bury the bodies. After a long march and warriors, our warriors were exhausted, and there was no need to trouble them with this kind of physical work. ”

"I see." After listening to what I said, all the commanders suddenly realized. (To be continued......)