When I saw the telegram, I handed it to Kirillov casually, and at the same time said worriedly: "Comrade commissar, look at it, this is a telegram that has just been sent by the headquarters of the army group. ”

Kirillov took the telegram with a blank face, but when he read the contents of the telegram, the expression on his face also became stern. When he handed me back the telegram, he looked around for a moment, then lowered his voice and said to me: "Tell me, Oshanina, what does Comrade Commander think that he actually wants to carry out a counterattack at this time?" Don't they know that the enemy's strength is far superior to ours? You must know that a few days ago, the counterattacks carried out by the three army groups under the personal command of General Zhukov all ended in failure. Speaking of this, he couldn't help but snort heavily, "Although our group army has more than a dozen divisions, these troops have all been reduced to strict zhòng, and it is barely enough to hold the position, if you want to attack, the existing troops and equipment are far from enough." ”

I looked up at the clear sky, saw that there were neither enemy planes nor our fighters in the sky, and thought that the enemy's artillery was shelling only a group of positions, and that we were relatively safe here, so I took Kirillov to the observation post on the southern slope.

I stood at the observation port of the observation post, holding up my binoculars and looking at the high ground in front of me that was being shelled, but I was thinking about the telegram that Chuikov had just sent. In the telegram, he said: In order to reverse the unfavorable situation at hand, the army group intends to carry out another large-scale counterattack against the enemy outside the city. The task of the independent division is to carry out a timely counterattack on the enemy from the existing positions, attract the enemy's attention, and disrupt the enemy's established disposition. The German 44th and 76th divisions were pinned down in their existing positions, and the initiative on the battlefield was firmly in the hands of our army.

Seeing that I had been holding the telescope and not speaking, Kirillov, distraught by the telegram, walked around in circles in the observation post with his hands behind his back, while at the same time whispering to himself.

Hearing the movement behind me, I couldn't help but feel amused, so I put down my binoculars, turned my head and asked Kirillov: "My comrade commissar, are you bothering yourself by walking around here non-stop?" ”

Kirillov stopped and asked me with a sad face: "Comrade Oshanina." How do you think Commander Chuikov will carry out this counterattack? ”

I saw that there was only two of us in the house. There is no one else. The commander of the guard battalion, Basmanov, also stood in the trench a few paces from the door, and if he had not shouted to him, he could not hear what we were talking about, and went to the small wooden table in the house. Point to the map spread out on it. Explain to him: "Comrade Political Commissar. According to my estimates, the reason why the army group command launched this counterattack was to protect the pier from enemy artillery fire and aircraft bombardment. For this. Before the main forces of the army group can carry out a large-scale counterattack, it is first necessary to transfer the troops on the left and right flanks of the counterattack to a solid defense, supplemented by a small-scale counterattack, in order to attract the enemy's attention and contain the enemy's forces in the existing position. In this way, the main forces of the army group could carry out a surprise attack on the Razgulyaevka junction in the central sector, as well as occupy a section of the railway that runs south-west from the station to the turn towards Gonglak. This made it possible to straighten the central front and take Gorogishh and Aleksandrovka on the basis of the railway embankment as an anti-tank barrier. ”

After listening to my analysis of the offensive line of the army group, Kirillov stared at the map for a long time and said thoughtfully: "Well, Comrade Oshanina, you have a point. If the command of the army group really draws up the battle plan according to your analysis and achieves the desired results, then the enemy's artillery will not be able to pose a threat to our docks, except for enemy aircraft in the sky. When he said this, he raised his head and asked in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Oshanina, do you think it is possible for the commander to make a plan according to your ideas?" ”

I didn't speak, I just smiled slightly, and said in my heart that it was not possible, but certain, because this was originally a counterattack plan made by Chuikov himself. Had it not been for the German attack before the counterattack began, there might have been any hope that this plan would have been successful.

As we were talking, the telephone on the table rang, and Kirillov grabbed the microphone and said loudly: "Hey, I'm Commissar Kirillov." Where are you? After listening to what the other party had said, Kirillov covered the microphone with his hand and whispered to me: "It was Captain Akhromeyev who called and said that he had received another telegram from the headquarters, and Commander Chuikov asked you to provide him with advice on the implementation of the counterattack." ”

I thought about it for a while, anyway, the battle plan that I just analyzed for Kirillov was all original by Chuikov, so I will report this plan to him. Thinking of this, I said to Kirillov with a smile on my face: "Comrade Political Commissar, since the command of the army group has asked for our opinion, let's report the plan we just talked about!" ”

Kirillov hesitated for a moment when I said so simply, and then cautiously asked, "Is this appropriate?" ”

"Nothing out of place!" I waved my hand and said confidently, "If something goes wrong, I'll take the responsibility alone." ”

Unexpectedly, after listening to my words, Kirillov showed a displeased expression on his face, he stiffened his neck, and said unconvinced: "Comrade division commander, what are you talking about?" I am the political commissar of the independent division, and if something really goes wrong, I will take this responsibility with you. After saying this, he angrily released his palm covering the microphone, repeated the plan I had said to Akhromeyev, and asked the other party to send a telegram to the army headquarters immediately.

While we were talking, the anti-tank battery of the artillery battalion had already set up artillery positions and began shelling the enemy's tanks. Thirteen guns opened fire unexpectedly, taking the German tanks by surprise, and immediately seven or eight of them were hit by bullets and caught fire.

The first round of firing of the artillery company achieved fruitful results, and while I was sincerely happy, I could not help but secretly worry. The second artillery company was almost completely wiped out under the double blow of German tank guns and heavy howitzers because of the exposure of the target. But my fears didn't materialize. After a few tanks were shot, the remaining tanks did not turn their guns to shoot at our artillery positions, but began to increase their horsepower and retreat one after another, firing a shot from time to time as they retreated.

Seeing the enemy's tanks fleeing under the fire of our army, I was also stunned, and I couldn't help but say to myself: "Hell, what's wrong with this German tank?" After being hit by our shells, they didn't stop firing back, and the wolf bèi escaped, is there some conspiracy? ”

I could be heard muttering in a whisper. Kirillov laughed beside him. said jokingly: "Comrade division commander, because you know everything, I didn't expect that there would still be times when I couldn't figure out the situation." ”

I felt a burning sensation in my face and hurriedly excused myself: "The last time the Germans shelled a regiment of positions. We transferred the second artillery company up. Just fired two shots. The enemy tanks turned their guns and destroyed our artillery positions with intensive artillery fire. It's so puzzling that they behave today. ”

"Nothing strange." Kirillov pointed to the smoke of the battlefield in the distance and said to me: "Have you forgotten it?" Last time, at the location of the German tanks, there were German artillery units, and it was precisely because of their existence that the artillery positions of our division were destroyed in such a short time. And today, only enemy tanks appeared in front of the positions of our troops, and the artillery carried out long-range shelling of the positions of a regiment at a greater distance, according to the firing elements provided by the artillery observers. These tanks have been there for quite a while, and they should be running out of shells. If they had stayed where they had been and had fired at our artillery, it would have been easier to run away when the shells were finished. ”

When the German tanks disappeared from our view, the German artillery bombardment of the heights also completely stopped.

I walked over to the table, picked up the microphone and dialed Akhromeyev's phone. When I heard his voice coming from the earphones, I said to him in a stern tone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, now the enemy's bombing and artillery bombardment have ended. You immediately contact the commanders of the three regiments and ask them to take the time to count the casualties of each unit. When I was observing just now, I found that several shelters on a regiment had been destroyed by artillery fire, and the soldiers who stayed inside were estimated to be more than lucky. In addition, if the commander of a company is killed or wounded, a suitable person should be assigned in time to take over the command of the unit. ”

When I had finished giving the order, Akhromeyev reported to me: "Comrade division commander, in the bombing and shelling just now, the telephone lines between us and the 1st and 3rd regiments were blown up, and we could only communicate with the GUÒ walkie-talkie and walkie-talkie. Now Razumeyeva has sent all the communications corps to overhaul the lines to ensure smooth communication between the division headquarters and the regiments. ”

When I listened, I simply said "I got it" and hung up.

I walked to the observation port, raised my binoculars and looked at the artillery positions, and was surprised to see Morozov directing the artillerymen to transfer the artillery from the positions. Hearing the voice of Kirillov walking up to me, I also deliberately said to him: "Comrade commissar, do you see? Our artillery is transferring artillery, ready to pull back the fortifications to conceal themselves. ”

Kirillov also held the binoculars and looked at them for a while, and said with emotion: "Yes, we only have this one anti-tank artillery battery left, these cannons and gunners are the treasures of our division, we must protect these cannons like our own eyes, otherwise in the next battle, we will be helpless in the face of the swarming German tanks." ”

As I listened to Kirillov, I was like an old accountant calculating the origins of the separate division: there was a tank battalion with ten tanks, an artillery battery with thirteen anti-tank guns, a mortar company and a heavy howitzer detachment with five cannons. In the current situation, these heavy weapons are still hidden by me most of the time, and I think that good steel will be used on the blade, and then put these heavy weapons into the battlefield when the battle is at its hardest.

I was thinking about it when the sudden ringing of the phone interrupted my train of thought, and I picked up the microphone and heard Akhromeyev's voice coming from inside. I thought he was going to report the casualties of the regiments, so I asked straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have the casualties of the regiments been counted?" ”

Akhromeyev on the other end of the telephone line paused for a moment before replying to me: "Comrade division commander, I am calling you, not to report the casualties of the regiments, but to receive another telegram from the headquarters of the army group......

"What telegram?" When Akhromeyev heard the telegram, my heart beat faster unconsciously. I guessed that it was Chuikov's response to the battle plan I proposed.

Unexpectedly, Akhromeyev said: "The command informed us that the 1079th and 748th anti-aircraft artillery regiments under the jurisdiction of the group army and the 1077th anti-aircraft artillery regiment of the political commissar of the Liziya regiment were merged into one anti-aircraft artillery group, under the command of Colonel Yershov, and was responsible for the air defense of the Mamayev post and the dock area. ……”

Without waiting for Akhromeyev to finish speaking, I excitedly said to Kirillov: "Comrade commissar, the command of the army group has sent two more anti-aircraft artillery regiments to take charge of the air defense of our heights and docks, so that enemy aircraft will not dare to bombard our heights as unscrupulously as today." ”

Kirillov was also extremely happy when he heard the news. But then he asked with concern: "That's right." Who is in command of this anti-aircraft artillery group? ”

Listened to Kirillov's reminder. I hurriedly asked Akhromeyev: "Chief of Staff, did the command say who commands this anti-aircraft artillery group?" ”

Akhromeyev apparently heard my conversation with Kirillov and sighed. In a regretful tone, he said: "It was said on the telegram. Our division and Colonel Yershov are not subordinate to each other. This unit was under the direct command of the army group command. ”

After listening to the remarks on the telegram, I couldn't help but sigh regretfully, I still wanted to be in the shape of a critical situation. Transferring the anti-aircraft artillery unit to the high ground for use as an anti-tank artillery battery would frustrate my attempt.

In times of war, the efficiency of the army is high. At two o'clock in the afternoon, Colonel Yershov called the observation post. It was Kirillov who answered the phone, and the other party obviously knew about the situation of the independent division for a long time, so he guessed the identity of the person who answered the phone without difficulty, and at the same time said politely: "Hello, Commissar Kirillov, my anti-aircraft artillery units have all entered the designated positions. According to the orders of the command, the anti-aircraft artillery units will provide anti-aircraft artillery support for your separate divisions, so that the enemy's aircraft do not dare to show off their might over the Mamayev Hills, the docks and the Volga. ”

"Hello, Colonel Yershov." Kirillov said to him in the same polite tone, "Thank you to your troops for providing us with anti-aircraft artillery support." As the commander of the friendly neighboring forces, I assure you that as long as the position is still in our hands, not a single German devil will be allowed to rush to your anti-aircraft artillery position. ”

However, today is not destined to be an ordinary day. In the morning there was heavy artillery and bombardment of our heights, until noon our air forces arrived, drove away the enemy planes that were bombing over Mamayev Hills, gave us the opportunity to use artillery, inflicted heavy damage and drove away the German tanks, and restored calm to the heights.

However, at about 5 p.m., the enemy planes reappeared over Mamayev Heights. Perhaps having learned the lesson of the morning, this time they dispatched not only two dozen bombers, but also the same number of fighters to escort the escort. Seeing this scene, my heart couldn't help but sink suddenly, the enemy is in such a big battle, even if our air force comes to support again, in the case of the enemy is outnumbered, no matter how stubborn the battle is, there is absolutely no certainty of victory.

When Kirillov saw the dense enemy planes in the sky, he couldn't help but scream: "My God, this German guy is crazy, and he actually sent so many planes to bomb Mamayev Gang, do they really want to bomb our heights into a flat land?" ”

When the enemy's planes flew over the heights and began to circle at high altitudes, preparing to dive to drop bombs, the anti-aircraft artillery group of Colonel Yershov, which had been arranged nearby, opened fire.

Behind us, anti-aircraft guns began to rumble, spewing angry flames into the sky. Black shells burst out on the perimeter of the enemy aircraft. The enemy planes did not expect that so many antiaircraft guns would suddenly appear in the rear of the high ground, and they were caught off guard, and two enemy planes that had just entered the state of dive were the first to become unfortunate victims of the artillery fire, and they were immediately hit by a volley and exploded.

Seeing the first round of achievements of our anti-aircraft artillery, not only Kirillov, but even the guards standing outside the door cheered excitedly.

However, I watched absentmindedly at the black fireworks that bloomed in the sky from time to time, but I was worried about whether the anti-aircraft artillery group would be able to repel this huge German aircraft group.

After the enemy planes were raised to a high altitude, after regrouping, one group rushed to the area where the anti-aircraft artillery group was located, while the rest circled around our high ground, looking for opportunities to dive and drop bombs.

In the face of enemy planes hovering in the air and listening to the bursts of explosions coming from the rear, we, lacking anti-aircraft weapons, could only watch dumbly and could not provide effective help to the antiaircraft artillery units. I was even hoping that the German infantry would attack as soon as possible, and as soon as they approached our positions, the enemy planes in the air would stop dropping bombs and strafing, so that we would have a chance to hold out until dark. (To be continued......)