Although the bombing was still going on, Klimov saw that the headquarters had been blown up, and hurriedly rushed in from outside with the guards and fighters. As soon as he entered the house, he shouted loudly everywhere: "Comrade commander, where are you?" ”

Hearing that it was Klimov's voice, Chuikov, who was huddled in the cramped space with me, hurriedly shouted outside: "Captain Klimov, I'm here." ”

As soon as he shouted twice, Klimov's excited shouts came from outside: "Comrades, the commander is here." Two more people came over and moved the slab away. "Soon, someone shouted a trumpet and began to lift the slab above our heads. With everyone's shouting, the floor slab was slowly lifted, revealing a gap that could bend over and get through.

Klimov poked his head in, panted and said: "Comrade commander, the floor is too heavy for us to lift without tools." Do you think you can get out of this crack? ”

Chuikov bent down, gestured with his hand, turned his head and said to me, "Oshanina, no problem, we can get through such a big gap." ”

I was a little farther away from the gap, and when I heard Chuikov say that I could go out, I was secretly relieved, and hurriedly urged Chuikov: "Comrade commander, you go out first." The floor slab is too heavy, and the delay is long, and I am afraid that the captains will not be able to hold it. ”

Chuikov agreed, and crawled out of the crack with his hands and feet, and then I heard him shouting outside: "All right, Oshanina, you can climb out quickly." ”

As soon as I climbed out, Klimov and several fighters could no longer support it, and as soon as I let go, the floor slab fell back to its original place, kicking up a cloud of dust, and Klimov and his men were immediately choked and coughed violently. Seeing that there is no way to stay in this broken headquarters. Chuikov shouted: "All the people go outside." After shouting, he covered his mouth and nose with his hands and rushed out of the headquarters quickly. I don't dare to slack off. He also ran out after him.

After Chuikov ran out into the street, regardless of the fact that our planes were still hovering over the town, he stood in the middle of the road like a fool, staring intently at the station that was blazing. I looked up at the plane in the sky, grabbed his arm and pulled it to the side, and at the same time persuaded him: "Comrade commander, this is dangerous, let's find a place to hide." ”

Unexpectedly, Chuikov's legs seemed to have roots. I pulled it twice in a row, but I didn't pull it. There was a series of coughing sounds behind me, and I turned my head to see that it was Klimov and a few of them rushing out. When I saw them, I was like seeing a savior, and I hurriedly shouted at them: "Hey, Comrade Captain, you guys come over here and take the commander to a safe place." ”

Hearing my shout, Klimov and the others hurried over, and Chuikov dragged him into a whole building next to him. Chuikov was carried behind the door of the unit by them. I saw the words "This is where the bomb shelter goes" written on the wall, so I walked into the building as well. I didn't go into the bomb shelter, though. Instead, he stood in the doorway, watching the warplanes flying in the air.

The bombing ended after half an hour. After dropping all the bombs and using all the bullets on board, our planes circled several times over the station and the town before reluctantly flying off into the distance to report their brilliant results to their superiors.

After seeing the plane leave, I went to the bomb shelter and reported to Chuikov that all the planes of our army had flown away.

After leaving the bomb shelter, Chuikov, despite our dissuasion, made sure to go to the station to check the situation after the bombing. Seeing that we couldn't persuade him, we had to agree with him and follow him to the station.

Walking into the bombed station, a wave of heat rushed in. Not only were the buildings on both sides of the station burning, but even the military train cars that had been overturned by bombs were also burning. The wounded, who had no one to help them, fell to the ground and rolled on the ground, and their screams, moans, and cries were incessant. The corpses of the soldiers who died tragically in the air raids pillow each other, which is unbearable. It is a very sad sight that so many commanders and fighters from as far away as Siberia have just arrived at the front line, and before they have even seen the enemy, they are killed or injured by their own planes.

Seeing this scene like purgatory on earth, Chuikov gritted his teeth and said: "Comrade Captain, you go and find the commander of the military transport at the station." I would like to ask him why he did not carry out my orders and quickly evacuate the troops from the station, so many soldiers died in vain. Klimov silently saluted and left with two fighters.

After a while, Klimov walked back and reported to Chuikov: "Comrade commander, I have found the commander of the military movement. ”

"Bring him here." Chuikov said angrily.

When Klimov heard Chuikov say this, he replied with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, he can't come, I'd better go and see for yourself." ”

Chuikov snorted and said dissatisfiedly: "He is injured, and I will also hold him responsible." ”

Led by Klimov, we walked along the crater-riddled road and soon came to the outside of the military transport office. Like the other buildings, the military offices were surrounded by flames. Chuikov looked left and right, but except for the occasional soldier who walked by, he did not see the commander of the military movement he knew. So he asked Klimov: "Comrade Captain, where did the commander of the military movement you said go?" ”

Klimov pointed to the ground and said: "Comrade commander, here he is." "I looked down and saw that the commander of the military movement had just seen him lying on the ground covered in blood, motionless. I crouched down and examined his wound carefully, and found that his carotid artery had been severed by a piece of shrapnel, and it seemed that the man had long since died.

I stood up, looked at the chaos around me, sighed, walked up to Chuikov, and persuaded him: "Comrade commander, it's too dangerous here, maybe the enemy planes will be attracted later, let's get out of here first." ”

Our group had just left the station and got into a car parked outside. Before Klimov got into the car, he also ran over to Chuikov for instructions: "Comrade commander, where are we going next?" ”

Chuikov pondered for a moment and replied: "Our convoy is moving forward along the railway, and we will continue to search for stations and headquarters along the way, and we must find the headquarters of the 208th Division." I don't believe it. Plus the division headquarters with several hundred people in the direct subordinate troops. Just say no, it's gone. ”

After receiving a clear order from Chuikov. Klimov drove east along the railway with his entire convoy, looking for the headquarters of the 208th Division, which had lost contact.

Until the evening, we still did not find the division headquarters of the 208th Division, and I turned around and asked Chuikov, who was sitting in the back row: "Comrade commander, it's dark." Do we find a place to settle down, otherwise we are likely to break into the enemy's defenses. ”

Chuikov took out a map and spread it on his lap and looked at it with a flashlight for a while. Then he pointed to a position and said to the driver: "After driving about two kilometers ahead, we will get to the Biryukovsky station, and we will spend the night there tonight." ”

The driver nodded and honked his horn twice. As soon as the horn sounded, the taillights of the car in front flashed twice. The driver turned his head and reported to Chuikov: "Comrade commander, your order, Captain Klimov, they already know about it, and when they arrive at the Huilin station, they will stop." "Seeing this interesting way of connecting made my worries melt away. That way, I don't have to worry about it after we park. Klimov: Their car was still far ahead.

In the vicinity of the Biryukovsky concession station, our convoy was stopped. After getting out of the car and negotiating with the fighters who were blocking the road, Klimov turned around and trotted all the way to us, and when he came to the car, he did not even have time to salute, and excitedly reported: "Comrade commander, good news, I have found the division headquarters of the 208th Division." ”

I was secretly relieved to hear Klimov say this, it was really a nowhere to get through the iron shoes, and we finally didn't have to wander around like headless flies. When Chuikov heard that he had finally found the headquarters of the 208th Division, he hurriedly pushed the car door and got out of the car, and asked excitedly: "Comrade Captain, where is the headquarters of the 208th Division?" ”

"Comrade Commander, it's in the Huirang station."

"Take me to see it." Chuikov didn't talk about any demeanor at the moment, and even Klimov didn't pay attention, so he walked quickly to the Huirang station.

There were more than a dozen soldiers standing in front of the head car, and when they saw a general hurrying towards them, they all hurriedly stood up and saluted. A sergeant greeted him, and after saluting, he politely said, "Hello, Comrade General." Are you going to see your teacher? ”

"Yes, Comrade Sergeant. Where is he? I'm going to see him right away. ”

The sergeant did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly led us to the division headquarters in the Huirang station.

At this moment, the division commander, who had already received the news, was standing at the door with a group of people from the command headquarters to greet us.

When Chuikov walked in front of them, he didn't have any politeness, so he said straight to the point: "I am the commander of the 64th Army, which of you is the commander of the 208th Division?" ”

The colonel, who was standing at the front, hurriedly took two steps forward, saluted Chuikov, and reported: "Comrade commander, the commander of the 208th Infantry Division, Colonel Voskoboynikov, reports to you and is at your orders. Seeing that Chuikov nodded slightly, he continued: "Please allow me to introduce you to the members of the division command. This is the political commissar of the division, the chief of staff of the division, and the director of the division's political department. ……”

Before he could finish his introduction, Chuikov had already impatiently made his way through the crowd and walked straight into the headquarters. The division commander saw that Chuikov had already entered the headquarters, and hurriedly led a group of people to follow in.

When everyone outside the house walked into the headquarters, Chuikov looked at Voskoboynikov with dissatisfaction and said in a cold tone: "Comrade Colonel, I would like to ask why your division headquarters broke away from the unit and ran to a place hundreds of kilometers away from the troops?" And this afternoon, when the troops of your division got off the train at the Chirekov railway station, they were accidentally bombed by our planes, suffered heavy casualties, and sacrificed about one regiment of troops. ”

When Voskoboynikov heard the bad news, his face suddenly turned pale, and he asked in a trembling voice: "Comrade commander, is this all true?" ”

Seeing Chuikov nod affirmatively, his whole body trembled. I can see that he was greatly stimulated by this bad news, after all, so many of his troops died under the bombing of his own planes for no reason, and it is strange that he, as the military commander of the unit, does not feel extremely painful in his heart.

"Comrade General," he murmured to Chuikov after a long time, "I don't know what this is all about, and I can't explain to my subordinates the reasons for these senseless sacrifices. ”

Chuikov sighed and said: "I estimate that the reason for this is that the troops who have just arrived did not receive air cover in the area of unloading. The command of the Front Army failed to ensure the smooth implementation of this operation, let alone inform the air force. And our planes, which were ordered to attack, mistook the commanders and fighters at the station for Germans. That's why there was a bombing by mistake this time. ”

We stayed here for a few hours. Wait for Voskoboynikov to calm down. Chuikov then summoned the divisional commissar, the chief of staff, and the chief of the divisional political department and gave an order to the four of them, ordering them to immediately make contact with the troops scattered along the line from the Nebekovo station to the Zhutovo station and to Abuganerovo, to lead them across the Aksai River that night, to occupy defensive positions on the line from the town of Antonov to the village of Zhutov, and to send reinforced patrols in front of the line of the troops' line and on the left flank.

In the end, Chuikov also told them: "You should step up reconnaissance and find out the whereabouts and intentions of the main German forces in this area." On the basis of the information already available, I estimate that the Germans do not want to entangle with our troops along the railway line in the Kotelnikovo region. They will carry out a deep detour through the towns of Prodovitoye and Jinguta, from which it is possible for enemy tanks to come. Koternikovo district rushed in this direction"

After arranging the affairs of the 208th Division, we drove back to the location of the provisional headquarters overnight. Thankfully, with the bright moon at the head, we can run on the grassland without turning on the headlights of the car without worrying about being discovered by the enemy.

Near an intersection 10 kilometers south of Gnielalovsky, the lead car in front stopped, and our car followed closely. Seeing Klimov get out of the car and run towards us, I quickly opened the car door and jumped in. Ask him: "Comrade Captain, what happened." Why park? ”

The captain came to me and replied in a low voice, "I saw a cavalry in the steppe ahead. ”

I glanced back at Chuikov, who was leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes, and asked in the same low voice, "How many are there?" ”

"I saw seven or eight cavalrymen, and I don't know if there were any hidden outposts. Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you see, what should we do? ”

I pointed back and said, "Comrade Captain, you take a squad of fighters in a truck and come forward to take a look." Judging by the recent battles, the Germans had no cavalry, and you may see our scattered troops. Be careful, don't get misunderstood. ”

"Yes!" The captain said yes and ran backwards. Coming to a truck, he jumped on the driver's pedal, hung his body on the door, and directed the car forward.

When the truck passed us, it still woke up Chuikov, he pushed the door and walked out, came to my side, looked at the truck in the distance and asked, "Oshanina, what's wrong?" ”

"A couple of cavalrymen were found in the steppe ahead, and I asked Captain Klimov to take a squad of fighters to meet them to see which part it was." Seeing Chuikov standing outside, my heart suddenly became unsteady, although I thought in my heart that it was my own people who appeared on the other side, but in case of a misunderstanding, the fire broke out, and Chuikov was injured by a stray bullet, the course of the Battle of Stalingrad would change, so I persuaded Chuikov: "Comrade commander, it's too dangerous outside, you better go back to the car." ”

Unexpectedly, Chuikov was also a disobedient master, he just waved his hand casually and said: "I think your analysis is correct, what appeared in front should be our cavalry." I'll be waiting for Klimov here to see which cavalry force is on the opposite side. ”

"Stop! Who? Klimov's shouts were heard in the distance.

The other party replied that there were no incidents.

Soon several cavalrymen, guided by Klimov, came to us.

One of the cavalry sergeants dismounted and reported to Chuikov: they were reconnaissance squads of the 255th Separate Cavalry Regiment withdrawn from the town of Verkhniy Kurmoyarskaya. From the early hours of the morning, the enemy began to force the Don River there in a big way.

After hearing this, Chuikov was taken aback, and then said to the sergeant: "To your regimental commander, I, the commander of the 64th Army, General Chuikov, ordered him to conduct reconnaissance in front of Potem-Genskaya and Verkhniy Yablochny, to monitor the enemy's movements, and the enemy may advance here from the Kotelnikovo area. If there is any change in the hostile situation, let him keep in touch with me through the headquarters of the 29th Division in the village of Gnielalovsky. ”

After a few cavalrymen left, we arrived overnight in the village of Gnielalovsky.

When we walked into the division headquarters, we found them packing their bags and looking ready to go. Chuikov walked up to the division commander Kolobtin and asked in a loud voice: "Comrade Colonel, what happened, why didn't you report it to me, and the troops were about to leave?" ”

Kolobtin looked at Chuikov and said with a wry smile: "Comrade commander, I'm sorry, our division received an order from the front headquarters to move east from the defensive position to the area of the Abu Ganerovo station. ”

"What's going on? Why was you ordered to transfer? Chuikov asked, puzzled.

"General Chuikov," Kolobhutin patiently explained, "the head of the front had learned that the Gothic 4th Tank Army was moving from Kotelnikovo and rushing to Stalingrad from the south, and therefore decided to turn the front of the 64th Army to the south to meet the 4th Tank Army. In this way, my division should cover the actions of the 64th Army from the south. ”

Hearing that it was an order issued directly by the Front Command, Chuikov could not change it, and he could only remain silent about the opening of the 29th Division. However, he still extended his hand to Kolobtin, very graciously, and said in a friendly manner: "Colonel Kolobtin, good luck to you and your troops!" (To be continued......)