Before dawn on February 23, the main forces of the 308th Division in the east of the city and the troops of the 171st Division in the south of the city began to withdraw from their positions in an orderly manner. Even the three regiments in the Kuban were ordered to abandon their positions, alternately covering the retreat towards Zaporosh.

Seeing that the sky outside was gradually brightening, Kirillov couldn't help but say with a sad face: "Comrade Oshanina, the sky is about to dawn. If the retreating troops were discovered by German scouts, would they be attacked by enemy aircraft? ”

I knew in my heart that Kirillov was telling the truth, that the Germans had air supremacy firmly in their hands, and that if their retreating troops were discovered, they would most likely send hordes of planes to bombard the marching troops. However, I am also helpless about the fact that our army does not have air supremacy. Not to mention that I am a military commander, even the commanders of the two fronts, Vatutin and Golikov, who command hundreds of thousands of troops, are estimated to be unable to allow our air force to seize air supremacy from the hands of the German army, otherwise the Kharkov campaign would not have been fought so hard.

As we were talking, the operator sitting by the wall suddenly stood up and shouted at us: "Comrade commander, Comrade Commander of the Front Army wants to talk to you." ”

The commander of the Front wants to talk to me? When I heard the newspaper operator say this, my heart couldn't help but tighten, and I secretly screamed that it was not good, and I said that maybe Vatujing had come to Xingshi to ask for guilt.

I didn't expect that the more I was afraid of something, the more I would come, I was worried that Vatujing came to Xingshi to ask for guilt because of disobedience, but I didn't expect him to really attack me for this matter. I only heard his deep and gentle voice coming from the earphones: "Major General Oshanina, I ask you to make one thing clear, I am the one who commands the front troops. And no one else. So the order given by the commander of the 6th Army, General Khalidonov. You have to do it. Before it gets dark today. The two divisions he is going to draw must be in the designated positions, or you will be court-martialed. At the end of the day, he habitually asked, "Do you have any opinion on the orders I have given?" ”

After hearing these words, my mind was not only angry but also angry, one was to hate Khalitonov, the commander of the army group, I had already told him about the situation near Zaporosh, and I was trying to make him understand. If I had moved my troops according to his orders, I would have been annihilated, but he actually sued me in front of Vatutin. The second is to hate Vatutin's too dull behavior, listening to his tone, Zhukov must have greeted him, but regardless of the actual situation, in order to maintain his authority as the commander of the front army, in order to support Khalidonov, he actually gave me such a ridiculous order.

Although the nature of his disobedience is relatively bad, it is understandable. I cannot afford to see a fully formed and combat-ready unit cut off by erroneous orders. But in the face of a senior leader like Vatutin. I could only suppress the anger in my heart, and after taking a deep breath, I tried my best to explain to him in a calm tone, so that he could understand what was the reason for my disobedience: "Comrade commander of the front army, I also understand that the orders of the superior commanders are not allowed to be discussed, but can only be carried out unconditionally. But do you know the current situation of our army in Zaporosh? ”

Hearing my rhetorical question, Vatutin said a little slowly: "Comrade Khalidonov has reported to me about the situation near Zaporosh, and he said that there is a part of the 'Imperial Division' near the city, and there is also a 'skeleton division' near the airport that is not very strong in combat, and after several days of fighting, no progress has been made. I think that since the German army is not very strong, you can leave one division to defend the city and send the other two divisions to reinforce General Kharidonov. ”

His words almost made my tears come down, and I secretly scolded you in my heart for being the commander of the front army? The Germans are almost besieging Zaporosh, and you still think that you only need to put only one division in the city to deal with it? Before I could speak, I heard him continue: "At present, our troops in Ukraine are several times the number of German troops, and even if they can achieve a certain advantage in local areas, they will not escape the final destruction. Comrade Oshanina, do not be intimidated by the bravado of these fascist bandits in front of you, even if you have only one division of troops in the city, you will be able to hold back their attack, and when our two major fronts meet in Zaporosh, the end of the German army will come. ”

After listening to such an optimistic analysis, I was deeply afraid that he would be agitated for a moment and give an even more ridiculous order, so I hurriedly said: "Comrade commander of the front, the situation in Zaporosh is much more serious than you know. ”

"More serious?!" After repeating my words, Vatutin asked in a relatively calm tone, "What the hell is going on?" It's all confusing me, Comrade Oshanina, it's better for you to give me some information. ”

Hearing that he wanted to know the real situation in Zaporosh, I did not hesitate to report to him the situation of our army: "Comrade commander of the front, this is the situation. The German units attacking Zaporosh, in addition to the 'Skeleton Division' and the 'Imperial Division' as you know, also had the German 11th Panzer Division and the 336th Infantry Division in the Kuban area, and there was also a division of German units on the west bank of the Dnieper River, which participated in the attack on us. ”

"Ah, what? The Germans actually threw so many troops into Zaporosh? Vatutin was taken aback by the information I had provided him, and after a short silence, he asked in bewilderment: "But why is the information given to me by General Khalitonov very different from what you said?" ”

Although I have a grudge against Khalidonov at the moment, I still have to save face for him in front of our common superiors, so I said vaguely: "Comrade commander of the front, the vicinity of Zaporosh is all plain terrain, and perhaps the scouts sent by Commander Khalidonov could not approach the German defense area, so they could not grasp the movements of the German army in time. ”

"yes, I see." Vatutin said understandingly, "Since the situation is serious, then I will withdraw the order I just gave and not mobilize your troops. ”

Vatutin's words made my heart feel lighter. I thanked him repeatedly: "Thank you." Thank you. Comrade Commander of the Front, this decision of yours is tantamount to saving our 79th Infantry Corps from the danger of total annihilation. ”

"Don't be so polite, Comrade Oshanina." Vatutin's tone said with a little apology: "I didn't understand the specific situation, so I casually gave you the wrong order, for this, I want you to apologize!" By the way, how are you going to deal with the German offensive next? ”

I would have liked to tell Vatutin's plan to attack on his own initiative. Just as I was about to speak, I suddenly remembered that I was talking to him in plain language, and it was easy for the Germans to eavesdrop on him, so as soon as the words came out, he said something else: "Comrade commander, I intend to withdraw the troops scattered outside the city to Zaporosh one after another. Rely on the fortifications in the city to resist the German attack and wait for the rescue of friendly forces. ”

"That's a good idea." Vatutin's address to me inadvertently changed from "you" to "you", and then asked with concern: "Are there enough fortifications in the city?" ”

"Yes. Comrade Commander. The city's defenses are very well-developed, and some of them were in place when we entered the city. The other part of the fortifications was built temporarily after we moved in. "Although I concealed from him an important battle plan, I told him the truth about the defense of the city, because the Germans were no worse than we were in the city, and if they wanted to deceive the enemy, they would have to tell a lot of truth along with the lies, so as to influence their judgment.

After listening to my report, Vatutin said with satisfaction: "Since we have a complete defense system, and we have reduced all our troops to the city, we have the strength to block the German attack. Rest assured, as long as you hold out for about three days, the Voronezh Front and our Front will be able to join forces under the city, and then the German army besieging Zaporos will fall into our encirclement, and what awaits them will be the same fate as the Paulus Corps. ”

Hearing him say this, I couldn't help but smile bitterly, I couldn't imagine that after winning the Battle of Stalingrad, the senior commanders of the Soviet army would be so complacent about the enemy, but there are some things that you just need to know in your heart, and you must not say it, otherwise you will offend many people. So, I followed his words and said haha: "Yes, yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, you are completely right, as long as our army stubbornly pins down the main forces of the German army around the city, the day when the two major front armies will meet will be their end." ”

After the call with Vatutin, I went back to the table and sat down, only to realize that my vest was soaked with sweat. At this moment, recalling the scene of the phone call just now, I can't help but feel afraid, if Vatujing was a stubborn commander, it is estimated that he would have directly issued the order to dismiss me from my position, but fortunately, there was no danger to pass the test safely.

"Comrade Oshanina," Kirillov asked, pushing a freshly poured cup of tea in front of me, "what did the commander of the front say on the phone?" ”

I picked up the teapot and tested the temperature of the water with my tongue, and I felt that it was not hot, so I drank it in one gulp. Putting the teapot on the table, he said angrily: "What else can there be, it can't be that we carry out the erroneous order given by Commander Khalitonov and send two divisions of troops to attack the flank of the German army and relieve the pressure on the main force of the army group." ……”

"Comrade commander, such an order cannot be carried out." Without waiting for me to finish, Vitkov couldn't wait to interrupt me, and hurriedly said: "If two divisions are really sent to reinforce them, it is estimated that they will be strangled by the three-dimensional fire of German aircraft and tank artillery before they leave the Zaporosh area, resulting in the annihilation of the entire army." ”

After waiting for Vitkov to finish complaining, I nodded and said: "Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, I also agree with you. Not to mention that we need a large number of troops to participate in the river crossing operation now, and even if we don't have such a plan, I don't intend to hand over my troops casually and let them be wasted in a meaningless place. By the way, do the divisions have an update on the situation? ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Hearing my question, Vitkov hurriedly reported: "Just now, the commander of the 171st Division, Colonel Andryushchenko, called me and asked me for instructions, saying what to do with the captured 'skeleton division' commander Ike? ”

"Skeleton Division" division commander Theodore. General Ike, if Vitkov doesn't mention it, I almost forgot about this person. As soon as he said this, I immediately remembered that the German general was dying, and casually asked, "How is he doing now?" ”

Vitkov frowned and replied: "The situation is very serious, the wound is widely infected, the high fever has not gone away, and I have been talking nonsense, I guess I won't live long." ”

"Comrade Oshanina, what shall we do with him?" Kirillov waited for Vitkov to finish speaking, and then asked for my opinion: "Should we blow him up along with the plane according to the original plan, or should I leave him to fend for himself?" ”

I thought for a moment about this issue, and the plan of blowing up the planes together was a necessary measure to be taken in consideration of the German rush into the airfield. But now that we have voluntarily abandoned the airport, there is no need to bomb the planes again. Throwing him in the snow and leaving him to fend for himself was a little unbearable for me. After thinking about it for a long time, I finally said to Vitkov: "Chief of Staff, call Colonel Andreushchenko and ask him to send a few men to carry Ike to the city on a stretcher. ”

"Comrade Commander, is it so necessary?" Hearing my command, Vitkov had an embarrassed expression on his face, and he said reluctantly: "If you can't bear to blow him up with the plane, I think it's better to throw him at the airport, anyway, his injuries are so serious, and he won't live long, just let him fend for himself, why bother to get him into the city?" ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you will carry out the order." I suddenly didn't want Ike to die like this at the moment, so I still ignored Vitkov's objections and stubbornly instructed him: "After entering the city, find a room to set him up and send someone to guard it, as for whether he can survive after this battle, it depends on his personal luck." ”

As soon as I finished speaking, the rumbling sound of cannon could be heard outside the window. I listened sideways for a moment, saw that the sound of artillery was coming from the river, and saw that the Germans on the west bank of the Dnieper were preparing for artillery fire again, and as soon as the artillery fire stopped, their ground offensive would begin again.

I picked up the phone on the desk and dialed the division headquarters of the 22nd Guards Division. When I heard the voice of Bandereev coming out of the earpiece, I asked the other party bluntly: "Comrade division commander, listen to the voice, the Germans are shelling the defense areas of the 1st and 4th regiments again. Are you sure you can hold off the enemy's attack? ”

"Please rest assured, Commander." "In order to deal with the German tanks, a regiment planted a lot of anti-tank mines near the pontoon bridge. If the German tanks don't come, it's just that, as long as they come, we discipline them and they don't come back. (To be continued......)