Shortly before noon, Nekrasov called again. He excitedly reported to me on the phone: "Comrade Commander, the Germans attacking position No. 4 have all withdrawn to their starting positions after their fifth attack was repulsed by us, and it seems that they will not continue their offensive today. ”

"Comrade Colonel, well fought. But you must not be proud, and order the commanders and fighters to seize the time to strengthen the fortifications and be ready to continue the battle. After I explained a few words to Nekrasov, I suddenly remembered something important and hurriedly asked: "By the way, did you capture a prisoner in the battle?" ”

"Caught, Comrade Commander." Nekrasov excitedly replied: "When the enemy was defeated for the last time, I ordered the troops to make a sortie and captured a dozen prisoners, including a lieutenant. ”

"Great, that's great." When I heard that a prisoner had been caught, especially an officer, I was overjoyed, and after a few words of praise I ordered: "Immediately send this German lieutenant to the headquarters of the army group, and I will personally interrogate him." By the way, you can come along. ”

As soon as I put down the phone, I immediately instructed Bezkov: "Chief of Staff, call all the division commanders and inform them to come over for a meeting at ten o'clock in the evening." ”

Kirillov waited for me to finish giving me an order, and then interjected and asked: "Lida, how is the situation at position four?" ”

"According to Colonel Nekrasov's report, the enemy who attacked position No. 4 has been completely eliminated by us." I saw that Kirillov and Danilov had a look of joy on their faces when they heard the news, and quickly added: "A dozen prisoners were captured." Among them was also a lieutenant. I have ordered him to bring the officer over. Let's see if we can get something out of the enemy's mouth. ”

I've just finished my sentence. The phone on the desk rang. I picked up the microphone, and before I could speak, I heard a voice coming from inside: "Hey, Oshanina?" I'm Vatutin! ”

Hearing that it was Vatutin's voice, I hurriedly stood upright, and at the same time said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I don't know what instructions you have?" ”

"How's the situation at Position Four?" Vatutin doesn't go around in circles either. Then he asked straight to the point.

"Report to Comrade Commander." Since I had just received good news from Nekrasov, I reported to Vatutin with a hint of joy in my tone: "The German troops attacking Position No. 4 have been completely repulsed by our troops, so that we can take a few prisoners. I asked Nekrasov to send the prisoners to the army group headquarters for interrogation, and if there was any useful information. ”

"The commanders and fighters of Position 4 are doing well." Vatujin also seemed very happy to hear the good news. Before hanging up the phone, he specifically told me: "If you learn any useful information from the captives, report it to me immediately." ”

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Nekrasov personally escorted the captured German lieutenant to our headquarters. Long before the arrival of the captives. Danilov volunteered to interrogate the captives. on this. I had no objections, and I called Ensign Gretka over to be the interpreter.

The German lieutenant walked into the headquarters and saw so many middle and senior officers sitting inside, he was stunned for a moment, then straightened up and stood in the middle of the room, sweeping over several of us with vigilant eyes.

Nekrasov told us: "Comrade commander, this is Lieutenant Gengzel of the 197th German Division, who was captured by our troops in today's battle. ”

Danilov stood up without moving, walked up to Genzel, looked him up and down, and asked expressionlessly: "How did you get the Iron Cross?" Gretka next to him hurriedly translated his words to the other party.

When I heard Danilov's question, I noticed that the German lieutenant had an Iron Cross on his torn and dirty uniform. He listened intently, trying to figure out how he had earned the medal.

"In Stalingrad." Lieutenant Genzel replied unabashedly: "At that time I led my platoon, at the central railway station, to repel several of your counterattacks. ”

"Stalingrad?!" After repeating the name of the place, Danilov sneered and said: "Mr. lieutenant, you are so lucky, for you, the war is over. ”

Unexpectedly, after listening to Danilov's words, Gengzel actually sneered and said a lot. When Gretka translated, I realized what he was saying, "Although I became your prisoner, your fate is no better." Because tomorrow you will be beaten by us again, like Stalingrad. It won't be long before we reach Moscow again. We have already received orders from the Führer. ”

"What order?" After listening to Gretka's translation, Danilov and I asked in unison.

Danilov asked this question out of curiosity and wanted to find out what the Germans were trying to do next. And my heart was chuckling, and my heart said Is it really like in history, the German army will launch the Battle of Kursk in the early hours of tomorrow morning?

Geng Zeer snorted coldly and said disapprovingly: "According to the order, we are going to launch a powerful attack in the early hours of tomorrow morning, which is also the final decisive attack. ”

"When does it start?" Hearing this, although Danilov tried to maintain his composure, there was inevitably a trace of trilling in his voice.

"Three o'clock in the morning on July 5." Genzel gave the final answer lightly.

My reaction to hearing this information contrasted sharply with the shock expressed by Danilov and Kirillov, and with a wave of my hand, I ordered the fighters standing behind the captives to take the captives away from the command. Then he instructed Bezkov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately connect me to the headquarters of the Front, and I will report this important information to Commander Vatutin." ”

"Ah, report it immediately?" When Bezikov heard my order, he did not immediately carry it out, but stood still and kindly reminded me: "Lida, see if you can verify the authenticity of this news again." If we report this unconfirmed information, it turns out that it is nothing more than a trap for the Germans. That's a problem. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff. Look no further. I said to Bezikov in a stern tone: "Immediately get to the command of the Front." I would like to report personally to Commander Vatutin. If something happens, I'll take all the responsibility. If we don't report it in time, we will delay the fighters and cause our defense line to be broken by the Germans, then we will all be court-martialed. ”

It was probably the first time that Bezikov had seen me speak to him in such a stern tone since he had known me, so he had to reluctantly agree and pick up the phone. Let the operator be responsible for answering the phone of the Front Command.

After the phone was connected, it was not Vatutin, but the military commissar Khrushchev, who answered the phone. Hearing that it was me, the other party smiled and asked in an amiable tone, "Lida, do you have anything to look for Comrade Vatutin?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar." Since Khrushchev is the future No. 1 chief, I have maintained enough respect when dealing with him, so that even if I can't get his reuse in the future, I will not be deliberately suppressed. Hear his question at the moment. I hurriedly and truthfully reported: "We have just interrogated a captured German officer, according to his confession. The Germans were going to launch a full-scale offensive against us. ”

"All-out offense." Khrushchev, having repeated my words, solemnly asked: "When and where?" ”

"Three o'clock in the morning on July 5." After reporting the exact time, I added, with my knowledge of history, that "the enemy will take a pincer offensive from the north and south, and at the same time attack the defense areas of our Central Front and the Voronezh Front from both the north and the south." ”

"Leda, is all the information you said true?" After listening to my report, Khrushchev's voice became nervous, and he asked solemnly: "Can you guarantee that what you said is true?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar." I replied in a firm tone: "The information I have reported to you is absolutely true, please believe me." ”

"Leda, please wait a minute." After Khrushchev finished saying this, I faintly heard his voice shouting from the earphones: "...... You immediately go and invite Comrade Commander over, and say that there are 100,000 urgent military situations waiting for him to deal with, and go and ......."

Then, Khrushchev's voice became clear: "Lida, I have already sent someone to call Commander Vatutin, and he will come over soon. When he comes, you can report the information you just got to him again, and I'm sure he will make corresponding arrangements. ”

It didn't take long for Vatutin to arrive. He may have come from somewhere nearby, and he was still a little out of breath when he spoke, and he asked nervously: "Oshanina, I heard from the military commissar that you have 100,000 urgent information, what happened?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." In order to attract Vatutin's attention, I repeated what I had just said, and finally added: "Since we know that the enemy is gathering, should we do something to delay the enemy's attack?" ”

I originally thought that when I said this, Vatutin would say a few clichés like asking me to strengthen my guard to prevent the German attack, but I didn't expect him to be silent for a moment, but he said slowly: "Comrade Oshanina, this matter is very important, I can't make any decisions, and I must report it to the higher authorities immediately." ”

"Comrade Commander," seeing that he was still hesitant at this moment, I couldn't help but be a little anxious, completely ignoring the difference between upper and lower ranks, but directly urged him: "Now there are only about ten hours left before the German attack, you can make a decision early." ”

"You don't have to worry about this." Perhaps my words were a little overdone, Vatutin said impatiently: "You have to find out whether you are the commander of the front army or I am the commander of the front army, and it is not your turn to point fingers here. Also, the information you report, although important, cannot be trusted without final verification. Perhaps the German prisoners you are interrogating believe that you and your men are lying. ”

In the face of Vatutin's responsibility, I could only cry and laugh, saying that I was still too naïve, thinking that if I reported such important information, my superiors would immediately take targeted countermeasures, but I didn't expect others to believe my information at all.

"Whose phone is it? Comrade Vatutin. Just when I was desperate, I suddenly heard another familiar voice sound in the microphone. Hearing this voice, I couldn't help but secretly rejoice, and said that maybe things would turn around.

"It was a call from the commander of the 6th Guards Army, Lieutenant General Oshanina." Vatutin reported to the other side: "She reported to me. She learned from the mouths of German prisoners. The enemy will be on July 5. That is, at three o'clock tomorrow morning, an attack on our Central Front and the Voronezh Front will be launched from both the north and the south at the same time. ”

After listening to Vatutin's report, the other party did not express any opinion, but only said to Vatutin: "Comrade Vatutin, give me the phone, and I will talk to Lida personally." ”

Soon, my familiar voice came from the microphone: "Hello, Leda." I'm Vasilevsky! ”

"Hello, Comrade Chief of the General Staff." Hearing Vasilevsky speak to me personally, the stone in my heart fell to the ground,

Vasilevsky asked in a friendly tone: "I heard Comrade Vatutin say that you learned from the captives the date of the German attack, is there such a thing?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Chief of the General Staff. According to the confessions of the German prisoners, they will launch a full-scale attack on our defense line from both the north and the south at three o'clock tomorrow morning. ”

After listening to my statement, Vasilevsky asked carefully and carefully: "Leda." Is this information of yours true or false, and will the German prisoners be lying? ”

"Comrade Chief of the General Staff." In order for him to believe what I said, I had to analyze it to him: "I think this information is true. First of all, I talked with Marshal Zhukov two days ago, and according to the analysis of all kinds of intelligence we have, the German offensive should be between the 2nd and 8th of this month; Secondly, today's Manstein troops carried out pre-war fire reconnaissance of position No. 4 on the first line of defense of our army; Also, according to the reports of our scouts, some of the enemy's divisional or corps headquarters are moving to the front line. All of this shows that they are ready to attack. ”

"At three o'clock in the morning, if the words of the prisoners are reliable," Vasilevsky said slowly, after listening to my analysis, "then in another thirteen hours the enemy offensive will begin." ”

"Yes, Comrade Chief of the General Staff," I believed, after listening to my brief analysis, and already convinced that the enemy would attack tomorrow, he struck while the iron was hot: "If the Germans are really going to attack at three o'clock tomorrow morning, then what measures should we take?" ”

After being silent for a while, Vasilevsky said decisively: "Of course, to concentrate all the artillery fire of the Front and bombard the assembly sites of the German troops. If I am not mistaken, the artillery strength of your army group is also very strong, and you can leave this matter to your artillery commander. ”

"Understood, Comrade Chief of the General Staff." Hearing him say this, my mood became more and more cheerful, and I replied very cheerfully: "I will order the artillerymen to enter the firing position and be ready to fire at any time." ”

Putting down the phone, I looked up at the ceiling and said in my heart that what is happening now seems to be different from what happened in history, and in the movie it was Rokossovsky who learned about the time of the German offensive from the mouths of the prisoners and reported to Zhukov. This time, however, I received information from the captives that they were about to attack, and reported it to Vasilevsky, believing that he would soon inform Zhukov of this. In the movie, when Zhukov learns the exact news, there are only two hours left before the outbreak of the war, and at this moment there are up to thirteen hours to prepare.

Seeing me staring at the ceiling in a daze, Povsky hurriedly called out to me next to me: "Comrade commander, I don't know what the tasks of our artillery are?" ”

Povsky's voice woke me up from my musings, and I quickly called him in front of me, pointed to the two locations of Tomarovka and Borisovka on the map, and said to Povsky: "Comrade Colonel, order all our artillery to aim at these two places and be ready to open fire. ”

Hearing my order, a look of surprise appeared on Povsky's face: "So, comrade commander, our offensive is about to begin?" ”

"Not our offense, Comrade Colonel." Seeing that Povsky was too excited, I hurriedly poured a basin of cold water on him, "At present, we do not have the ability to attack the German army for the time being. Firing artillery at the place where they are assembled can only delay their attack. You know, once the war machine is activated, no one can stop it. ”

Hearing me say this, Povsky nodded his head several times, and then said with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, since our artillery is too scattered, perhaps the number of artillery that can participate in the shelling is limited. ”

"Why?" Povsky's words made me feel very strange, I said in my heart that it is not a bad thing that the artillery is too scattered, at least it will not be wiped out by the German air force or artillery, and besides, if you want to hit any target, as long as you provide a parameter to each artillery regiment and let them fire in one direction, you can also ensure the dense coverage area of the artillery.

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Seeing that I frowned, Povsky hurriedly explained to me: "Our artillery regiment and rocket artillery battalion are in three lines of defense. The artillery regiments of the third line of defense cannot participate in the shelling because they are too far away from the shelling targets you provide and the range is not enough. ”

Hearing that this was the case, I relaxed again and said to him with a smile: "Since this is the case, Comrade Colonel, then you should arrange for the artillery deployed in the third line of defense to move forward as soon as possible, and establish an artillery position in a suitable place." When the time came, all the artillery fire was concentrated and the German assembly areas were shelled. (To be continued.) )