As soon as I stopped, Kirillov, who was following behind, bumped into me, and if he hadn't pulled me in time, I would have fallen headlong in the muddy water.

Seeing my distraught look, he asked with concern, "Comrade Oshanina, what's wrong with you?" ”

I looked into the distance and sighed, and said worriedly: "Commissar, I am worried about the troops who are going to carry out the night raid, the road has become muddy due to the rain, which will not only affect their marching speed, but also increase their movement when they move. Although the enemy's vision will be affected after dark, anyone who is not deaf can hear the movement of the squad as it moves. ”

Kirillov pondered for a moment with his head sideways after listening, and then said: "Division commander, I think your worries are unnecessary, not to mention that there are five commanders from the second lieutenant training team in the squad, just Comrade Oberstan, who holds the command position, is a commander with rich combat experience. What you are worried about, I think he will be able to find a proper solution. At this point, he looked up at his watch and reminded me, "Aren't you going to the observation post at the top of the mountain?" It's not too early, so let's go up first. ”

When I came to the top of the mountain, I found that the observation post here, like the one on the mountainside, had been destroyed by enemy fire. Looking at the collapsed and unusable observation post, I regretted in my heart that I should not have dragged Kirillov to the top of the hill on the spur of the moment, but now I can't open my mouth when I go back.

When I was in a dilemma, Pugachev, who had arrived after hearing the news, came over in time to relieve me. He beckoned several fighters to put on raincoats on the walls of the trenches, and so on. Kirillov and I were able to lie down on our raincoats and observe the enemy in the distance.

Kirilov and I were seen lying on our raincoats and holding up our binoculars. Pugachev asked in the back: "Division commander, commissar." Is there anything else I need to do for you? ”

Without looking back, I waved at him and said impatiently, "Major Pugachev, there's nothing to do with you here, you can go back first." If there is any need, I will send a warrior to call you. ”

I leaned on my raincoat and stared intently at the open field in the distance, shrouded in night. This time, I was lying on the ground for more than an hour, and I didn't feel anything at first. As time went on, and I couldn't see anything clearly through the binoculars, my mood became more and more irritable. Finally, I couldn't hold it anymore, slammed the telescope on my raincoat, and said to Kirillov: "Comrade commissar, do you see anything?" ”

Kirillov put down his binoculars, looked up at me, shook his head slowly, and said, "I haven't seen anything either, and I don't know where Oberstan's night raiders have gone?" ”

I put my hands behind my back. Walked back and forth in the trenches a few times in a huff, and made up his mind decisively. Grabbed the binoculars that were placed on the raincoat, hung them around his neck, and said loudly to Kirillov: "Okay, Comrade Political Commissar, there is nothing to see here, let's go back to the headquarters." ”

As soon as I walked into the headquarters, Kirillov rushed ahead of me and asked Akhromeyev: "Chief of Staff, is there any news from the night raiding team?" ”

"No," Akhromeyev's head shook like a rattle, "and there was no news at all." The walkie-talkie carried by Comrade Oberstein not only did not contact us, but even the first regiment did not contact us. ”

"Chief of Staff, tell me why this is happening?" I sat down in my seat, looked up at Akhromeyev and asked, "You think they can't have had an accident, right?" Could it be that the wooden bed they were riding on was washed away by the river because the current was too fast? ”

Akhromeyev shook his head at first, and then expressed his opinion: "Division commander, I don't think it's very likely that what you said is that even if the boat they are on is washed downstream by the river, they can find a new landing site and continue the night raid mission. The reason why Comrade Oberstein did not contact us may be that his troops are currently in a state of incubation, so in order to avoid exposing the target, they have kept silent on the radio for the time being. ”

After listening to Akhromeyev's analysis, my heart was much more steady, and then I changed the subject: "By the way, there is one thing that I almost forgot. Tomorrow after dawn, send a squad of fighters to the Pavlov building to send some ammunition to the past. ”

As soon as I said this, I knew that I had slipped out, that the word Pavlov building had not officially appeared until almost the eve of the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, and that it was less than 24 hours before Sergeant Pavlov and his comrades seized it, and it was unknown whether they would be able to hold it, let alone order it in his name.

"Pavlov building? Commander, what place are you talking about? Akhromeyev listened to my order with a confused expression on his face, but before I could explain, there was a look of sudden realization on his face: "I remember, it turns out that you are talking about the building that you visited with Comrade Commander during the day, and I remember that the commander of the garrison in the building was called this name. ”

Seeing that Akhromeyev didn't care about what I said, I was secretly relieved, and then continued to instruct him: "If you can find some candy or sugar, don't forget to send it to Alenka." ”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." Akhromeyev replied with a smile: "Rest assured, I will definitely arrange this matter." ”

"Pavlov Building, Alenka? I said, division commander, chief of staff, what kind of dumb riddle are you two playing, why can't I understand it at all? Hearing that I had arranged for Akhromeyev's work, Kirillov, who was next to him, was confused, and he asked curiously: "I wonder if any of you can explain it to me?" ”

Akhromeyev glanced at me, saw that I nodded, and said: "That's right, Comrade Political Commissar. In last night's battle, an infantry platoon of the 42nd Guards Regiment, after a stubborn battle, seized a building near the '9th of January' square and built fortifications inside. I followed the division commander, the commander, and General Rodimtsev to inspect the building, and found that in addition to our commanders and fighters, there were more than a dozen residents who had not had time to evacuate. Alenka is one of them. She was still a child. Only four or five years old. ”

After listening to this, Kirillov nodded again and again and said, "I understand." Then he turned to me and said, "Comrade Oshanina, I think that Alenka and her family are currently lacking enough food and daily necessities, and you can rest assured that I will personally arrange this tomorrow morning and have more food be brought into the building." ”

As we were talking, Razumeyeva suddenly strode over. He placed a newly received telegram in front of me and turned to leave.

As soon as I picked up the telegram, Kirillov approached me, and at the same time asked curiously: "Comrade Oshanina, whose telegram is it?" ”

I read the contents of the telegram at a glance and handed it to him, and at the same time said: "It is a telegram from Lieutenant Colonel Shederikov, saying that Commissar Oberstein had just made contact with him a few minutes ago. Comrade Oberstein reported that due to the tight defense of the enemy troops. They could not get too close to the enemy's camp. However, while they were lurking nearby, an enemy patrol stumbled into their ambush circle. In order not to be detected, they used a dagger to eliminate the patrol and captured a German sergeant, and the squad is now returning along the river, so I can communicate with the four regiments on the high ground in advance to avoid misunderstandings with the defenders on the way back. ”

Although Akhromeyev had not yet had time to read the telegram, as soon as he heard what I had said, he immediately picked up the telephone, called Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar on the high ground, informed him of the return of the night raid detachment, and ordered him to send troops to meet him.

When Kirillov put down the telegram, he nodded and said: "This Comrade Oberstein is not simple, he was able to kill an enemy patrol and capture a German sergeant without making a sound. ”

Hearing Kirillov say this, Akhromeyev's eyes lit up: "Later, we only need to interrogate this prisoner, and we will be able to learn about the situation in the enemy camp from his mouth." ”

What Akhromeyev said was exactly what I was thinking, and I hurriedly urged him: "Chief of Staff, you should quickly call Mihayev and ask him to come to the division headquarters to translate for us, otherwise, we will not be able to understand what the Germans are saying." ”

Mihayev received the call and quickly rushed to the command headquarters to play the role of interpreter during the interrogation of the prisoners.

We waited for almost two more hours before Oberstein and his night raiding detachment returned to Mamayev Heights.

When a muddy Oberstein walked into the headquarters, two soldiers who were also covered in mud followed by an elderly German sergeant with his hands tied behind his back.

When Oberstein had finished saluting us, Kirillov beckoned him to sit down. When he sat down, he did not interrogate the captives directly, but asked Oberstein with concern how their sleepout was going tonight.

Oberstein quickly stood up and reported to us the whole process of tonight's operation: "...... The small detachment I led waited for the wooden boat to get on and floated down the river. But when the hazy shadow of the village mentioned in the intelligence appeared in my field of vision, I ordered the warriors to dock their ships and choose a suitable place to land.

Due to the heavy rain before dark, the road outside became muddy, causing inconvenience to our movement. Under the cover of night, we cautiously approached the village occupied by the Germans. However, when there were still five or six hundred meters from the village, it was impossible to move on. Outside the village, there are not only barbed wire, fortifications, but also many patrols.

After quickly scouting the surrounding terrain, I decisively dispersed my troops on the spot, and arranged them in small pocket formations in groups of ten. To tell the truth, I have no bottom in my heart when lurking so close to the enemy, not because I am afraid that any soldier will retreat, but because I am afraid that everyone will see the enemy wandering around us, and I can't help but itch for a while, and shoot a few shots at the enemy.

We lay on our stomachs in the muddy water and waited patiently. The only sound of the Volga River could be heard, except for the lights of the villages in the distance and the roar of motors as German vehicles passed by.

We lay on our laurels for an hour and did not see the enemy patrol pass by. One of the fighters lying next to me was a little impatient, climbed two steps towards me, and asked softly: 'Comrade commissar, how long have we been here?' ’

I looked up at my watch and replied, 'It's been more than an hour.' ’

'I'm afraid the enemy patrol won't show up, right?' ’

My heart was shaken when I heard the warrior say this, if it would take another minute or less. No enemy patrols were seen. I might have ordered the troops to retreat. Try to get around from other directions and try to find holes in the enemy camp.

At that moment, I suddenly heard movement in the distance. At first I thought I had misheard, but as my voice became clearer and clearer, the unbreathless soldier excitedly said to me: 'Commissar, it's the enemy's patrol! ’

I immediately raised my head and looked in the direction from which the sound had come and saw a dozen figures walking in our direction. Then he whispered to the warriors: 'You are right, it is the enemy patrol that is coming towards us. ’

When they get closer, we'll do it." The warrior said as he reached for the grenade pinned to his waist.

I hurriedly waved my hand and stopped him: 'No, comrade warrior. This place is too close to the enemy, and if we cannot resolve the battle in the shortest possible time, we are in danger of being completely annihilated if the enemy's tanks and armored vehicles rush up. Pass my orders, and when the enemy patrol enters our ambush circle, all of them will be solved with daggers. Remember. Be sure to keep it alive. ’

And just like that, when this eleven-man patrol of the enemy entered our ambush circle. The fighters swooped down from several directions, and with lightning speed, they killed most of the enemy with daggers and captured the captain of the patrol. Since we moved quickly and did not shoot, the enemy in the camp did not find out that their patrol had been killed by us until we moved. ”

"Well done!" Kirillov complimented Oberstein, then walked up to the captive and asked with an indifferent expression: "Your position, rank, and unit?" Mihayev, who was with them, hurriedly and faithfully translated his words into German and spoke them to the captives.

After listening to this, the captives said a few words, and Mihayev quickly translated them into Russian for us: "Osch, German sergeant, squad leader of the 113th Infantry Division. ”

"Is your division headquarters in the village?" Kirillov then asked.

Sergeant Oshi shook his head vigorously and replied, "I don't know where the division headquarters is, the regimental headquarters of the 339th Infantry Regiment where the village is stationed. ”

After translating this passage, Mihayev suddenly yelled at Sergeant Osch, and after he finished yelling, he specially translated it to us: "Division commander, political commissar, I am talking about him, because I have seen the division commander's adjutant in that village during the day. ”

After hearing this, Sergeant Osch suddenly realized: "Mr. Lieutenant, it turns out that you came to our camp today?!" This is no wonder, but you arrived in time for the division commander's adjutant to come to the division to deliver the order, and when he heard that you had come to discuss the collection of the body, he asked the regimental commander, Mr. Commander, to leave and personally met you in the regimental headquarters. ”

Hearing that there was only one regimental headquarters in the village, Kirillov's face turned pale, and he gritted his teeth and said to Ash: "Show me the situation of your regiment's defense in the village, and point it out to me on the map." ”

"I'm sorry, Mr. Commander." The German sergeant politely said to him: "I can't read the map, and I can't mark the defense of my regiment on the map for you." At this point, he paused for a moment, and seeing that Kirillov was already on the verge of going berserk, he said unhurriedly: "But I can dictate, and then ask you to mark it on the map yourself." ”

I first saw that Kirillov had already clenched his fist, and at the moment when he was about to swing it out, he let go of his fist when he heard the second half of Sergeant Osch's words, and at the same time he let out a long sigh, turned his head to Akhromeyev and said, "Chief of Staff, you are responsible for marking the position of the prisoner. ”

The captive didn't know what to think, and for the next half hour crackled a lot. Watching Akhromeyev mark so many things on the map, my heart was full of doubts, and I thought to myself, did this German sergeant tell the truth? Don't make it up to fool us.

After the captives explained their problems, Kirillov waved his hand at Oberstan and ordered: "Comrade Oberstan, it's not too early, you and your fighters should go back and rest early, and by the way, take the prisoners and hand them over to Captain Basmanov, the commander of the guard battalion outside." ”

When the two warriors dragged the captive to leave, the captive suddenly shouted a few words loudly. Kirillov couldn't help but be stunned after hearing this, turned his head and asked Mihayev: "Comrade lieutenant, what did he say?" ”

Without waiting for Mihayev to speak, I snorted and preemptively said: "What else can he say?" It is impossible to say that he is not a Nazi, but a Social Democrat or something. ”

As soon as my words fell, Mihayev corrected me with a look of embarrassment and said: "Comrade division commander, what the captives said is not what you say. He just said that he was an anti-fascist, which is why he selflessly provided us with so much useful information. ”

"Alright, whoever he is," Kirillov interrupted him impatiently, "I just know that he is now our prisoner." Comrade Oberstan, what are you still standing here, take the prisoners down, and you and your comrades-in-arms will go back and rest early. ”

After Oberstein and his warriors had left with their captives, we gathered around the table, our eyes glued to the map on the table, and we began to discuss.

Akhromeyev said excitedly: "Division commander, political commissar, you see, if the prisoners are not lying, the enemy's regiment has been greatly reduced, so two battalions were placed in the direction facing our position, and only one company was placed by the river. To the west of the village, there was also an artillery battalion position of the enemy, and due to the limited number of troops, only two platoons of infantry were sent to guard the artillery position. ”

"Tell me, Chief of Staff, what do you think?" Kirillov asked.

"It's still the old way," Akhromeyev said confidently, "send troops for a night raid, try to seize this artillery position of the enemy and destroy it." (To be continued......)