A phone next to me rang, and because it was close, I grabbed the microphone and said politely, "Hello! Here is the headquarters of the 62nd Army. ”

The other party was silent for a moment, and then a familiar voice came: "Are you Major Oshanina?" ”

I couldn't help but be stunned for a moment when I heard the other man call me Major, thinking that this person must be someone I knew, because he only heard my voice and said my name accurately. I replied, somewhat unexpectedly: "Yes, Comrade Commander, I am Oshanina." Who are you? ”

"I'm Vasilevsky, I have an urgent need to find General Kolpakchi, is he in command?"

It turned out that it was the Chief of the General Staff, Colonel-General Vasilevsky, who I had met with at Meretskov's command long before the start of the Battle of Sinavino, no wonder he could say my name accurately. I hurriedly straightened up and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Chief of the General Staff. The commander of the army group is in the command at the moment, please wait a moment, I will let him answer the phone. ”

After speaking, I covered the microphone and called Kolpakchi, who was talking to Semykov: "Comrade commander, your phone. ”

Korpakchi stopped talking to Semykov, walked up to me, took the microphone, and habitually asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, who called?" ”

I hurriedly lowered my voice and replied, "The call is from the Chief of the General Staff." ”

"Chief of the General Staff?!" Kolpakč's eyebrows were raised, and he looked a little surprised, and asked uncertainly, "A call from Vasilevsky." ”

"Yes. Comrade Commander. It was the Chief of the General Staff, Colonel-General Vasilevsky, who called. ”

Perhaps it was a surprise that I was so familiar with the name and rank of the Chief of the General Staff. Kol Parkucci before putting the microphone to his ear. He gave me a curious look, and then he smiled into the microphone and said, "Hello! Dear Alexander. Mikhailovich! "Commanders of Vasilevsky's age were almost once close comrades-in-arms with General Kolpakchi, so they used to use their patronymic and real names when addressing them." I just learned in the morning that you were coming to work on the Stalingrad Front, and I didn't expect you to arrive so soon. ”

"The situation is dire, General Kolpakchi." Unexpectedly, Vasilevsky did not speak politely to him, so he said straight to the point: "The Supreme Commander himself asked me to tell you that the enemy has made Stalingrad the target of the attack. In addition to seizing the region's abundant food, fuel and other industrial resources, Hitler's gangs also had their ulterior ulterior political aims. After capturing the city named after the Supreme Commander, they tried to use their propaganda tools to hype up the image of our country's defeat, to propagate Nazi myths such as 'the Soviet Union is vulnerable and will soon be occupied' and 'the German army is invincible', so as to embolden the soldiers of Germany and the client states, who have long served them as cannon fodder for war, and now gradually develop war-weariness, so that this evil war can continue. ……”

Finally, after Vasilevsky had finished speaking, Kolpacchi interjected: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff. The troops assigned to us at the base camp were slow to enter the designated positions, and we did not have enough strength to counterattack the enemy. ”

"I know that. Comrade Kol Pakchi. Vasilevsky said politely: "No one talked about the Germans suddenly choosing Stalingrad as a new target for the offensive, the Supreme High Command has already incorporated almost all the units of the base camp reserve front into the Stalingrad Front, and it will take time to deploy these new army groups to the designated areas." As you know, the transportation of troops, especially heavy equipment, can only be done by rail, and many troops have just finished boarding, and it will take them a few days to reach the designated assembly area. ”

Korpakich understood very well that Vasilevsky was definitely not making this call to catch up with him, and there must be some important task entrusted to him, so he did not beat around the bush and asked bluntly: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, you are calling at this time, do you have any tasks to be assigned to my 62nd Army?" ”

"Yes, time is precious for us at the moment. If this time is delayed or missed, it is possible for the menacing enemy to break through our lines, cross the Don and establish a position on the right bank of the river that can be entrenched. At that time, it will probably not be so easy for us to drive the enemy away from our positions. ”

"Comrade Chief of the General Staff, I would like to ask, I wonder what kind of troops the Ludao Front Army Command can replenish to my group army?"

"At the moment, with the exception of the 1st and 4th tank armies, which are not yet ready, the base camp no longer has any reserves available in this area. After my deliberations with General Gordorf, I decided that the only thing that could be done now was to use the two tank armies that were being formed. However, I have just contacted the commanders of the two armies and learned that it will take at least two days and nights for the 4th Tank Army to reach the location of you and Chuikov. But the current situation at the front does not allow us to wait so long, and I have decided to let the 1st Tank Army rush to the line of defense on the Koska River overnight, and in the early morning tomorrow morning, your army will carry out a counter-assault in cooperation with the tank troops. But ......" At this point, Vasilevsky paused, as if he was a little hesitant about something.

"But what? Comrade Chief of the General Staff, what are you worried about? ”

"I'm worried about whether the bridge over the Koska River will be able to withstand the weight of heavy tanks and allow the tank army to pass safely. I suggest that you immediately have the sappers and the troops of the Boat Bridge Battalion build a pontoon bridge over the river so that the tank units can pass. ”

Hearing Vasilevsky say this, Kolpakchi laughed, and he said: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, please rest assured, I have already ordered the Boat Bridge Battalion to build three pontoon bridges over the river, and ordered them to have at least one heavy technical equipment capable of passing through tanks, and now that the pontoon bridges have been erected, there is no problem for the 1st Tank Army to safely cross the Koska River." ”

Vasilevsky was stunned for a moment, and then laughed with satisfaction: "General Kolpakchi, it seems that you are still quite prescient, you actually erected a pontoon bridge over the river in advance, it seems that it will not be easy to win tomorrow's counterattack." In that case, I wish you good luck in advance. Remember, when the commander of the 1st Tank Army arrives with you, give me a call. ”

If Kolpakchi hadn't told Vasilevsky about the pontoon bridge, I would have almost forgotten that I had heard him give orders to the boat battalion, but I don't think he had the foresight to build a passable bridge over the river for a tank unit that was still being formed. I suspect that the reason why he wanted to build the pontoon bridge may be to allow the troops of the group army to move in an unfavorable situation.

When Gurov saw that Kolpakchi had finished making a phone call, his face was full of joy, and he hurriedly asked: "Comrade commander, what did Comrade Chief of the General Staff say on the phone?" ”

Kolpacic smiled and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, good news. Comrade Vasilevsky told me that the newly formed 1st Tank Army would soon be sent to reinforce us, and that he intended to carry out a counter-assault on the Germans tomorrow in the defensive zone of our army. ”

After hearing this, Gurov slapped the table excitedly and said loudly: "Great, with the support of this tank army, we will definitely be able to beat those invincible Germans to flee in disarray." Speaking of this, he turned his head to look at Semykov, who was standing next to him, and ordered: "Comrade Captain, what are you still doing here, immediately call several division commanders and ask them to immediately rush to the headquarters for a meeting." ”

Semykov took two steps, stopped again, and asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, I don't know which division commanders to notify?" ”

Korpakchi thought for a moment and said: "Colonel Fanasyev of the 33rd Guards Division, Major General Volkhin of the 147th Division, Major General Novikov of the 181st Division, Colonel Koida of the 184th Division, Lieutenant Colonel Tarantsev of the 192nd Division. Call these five commanders first and ask them to immediately put down their work and come to the headquarters for a meeting immediately. (To be continued......)

PS: Bow and thank the book friends: Peibin, gao6, a555a, Bright Knight 2011, cheap cat for the precious monthly pass.