Chuikov and I got into the jeep, but Sidorin didn't follow him, but stopped in front of the car with open arms. Chuikov smiled bitterly and said to himself: "What does this kid want to do today?" With that, he pushed the door open and got out of the car. When I saw Chuikov get out of the car, I couldn't continue to sit in the car and still move, so I had to push the door open and get out of the car from the other side.

I followed Chuikov and approached Sidorin, who bent down slightly and asked softly, "Hey, I said Private Sidorin, what do you want to do when you arrive, what are you blocking my way?" ”

Sidorin pouted and said, "Comrade commander, didn't you hear the gunfire on the battlefield and not stopped?" Now in the past, it's too dangerous. You must know that you are riding in a jeep, not an armored car. ”

Chuikov raised his arm and slapped Sidorin's steel helmet hard, and then he reprimanded him angrily: "Be your herald and don't meddle in your business." With that, he turned around and walked towards the jeep.

I saw Sidorin standing there in a daze, so I quickly pulled him by the hand and whispered, "Sidorin, don't make the commander angry." Obediently, let's get in the car together and go to the battlefield to have a look. ”

Originally, Sidorin helped the steel helmet that was slapped crookedly, pursed his mouth, and showed an expression of wanting to cry, but when he heard me say this, he quickly bit his lip, nodded vigorously, and obediently followed me into the jeep and sat in the co-pilot's seat.

When Chuikov saw that we all got into the car, he hurriedly instructed the driver: "Look along the road, let's go to the battlefield to have a look." ”

The driver hurriedly agreed: "Understood, Comrade Commander." "Step on the gas. Our car looked ahead.

Soon. We entered the battlefield where the gunfire had not stopped. The sides of the dirt road were soaked in blood, and there were large swaths of corpses everywhere, both enemy and our soldiers, as well as the wounded who had fallen to the ground and were still struggling and whining. Fortunately, I saw groups of three or five hygienists treating the wounded in the pile of corpses, and it is estimated that the wounded of our army will be treated soon, and whether the wounded of the German army can be saved. It only depends on their luck.

Seeing that a large group of fighters had gathered in front, Chuikov hurriedly ordered the driver: "Comrade driver, park people in a crowded place." The driver said yes, and the jeep pulled to a stop near the crowd. As soon as the car stopped, Sidorin did not wait for Chuikov's instructions, took the lead in pulling the door and got out of the car, and ran over to find a few soldiers standing on the side of the road with their backs to us and asking: "Which part are you from?" Where are your commanders? ”

The warriors he asked looked down at him, saw that it was a child, thought he was making trouble, and ignored him. Continue chatting on your own.

Seeing that the herald Sidorin was being snubbed, Chuikov's face turned angry. He was about to get angry. I hurriedly took his arm and persuaded him in a low voice: "Comrade commander, leave this matter to me to deal with. Chuikov looked at me, then at the warriors outside, and nodded slowly.

After getting permission, I hurriedly pushed the car door and got out of the car, and walked towards the fighters with a submachine gun, and asked loudly: "Hey, I said comrade soldiers, which part of you are from?" And where is the commander? ”

Hearing a woman asking them, several warriors turned in unison. Originally, they all had nonchalant expressions on their faces, but when they saw my rank, they all straightened up in a hurry and raised their hands to salute me: "Hello, Comrade Commander! Do you have any instructions? ”

I raised my hand and saluted, and then asked, "Comrades soldiers, please take a moment!" Which unit are you from, and where are the commanders? ”

One of the fighters looked left and right, then took a step forward with the courage to report: "Comrade Colonel Report, we are from the 1st Battalion of the 229th Regiment of the 804th Infantry Division, and the battalion commander is Captain Feiding. ”

Hearing what the fighter said, I nodded and said, "Well, I once met your battalion commander, where is he now?" ”

The soldier pointed forward along the road and said, "Go along this road, about two kilometers or so, there is a temporary headquarters, and the battalion commander is there to meet the division commander." ”

"Thank you, comrade warrior." After saying that, I said to Sidorin, who was still standing next to me, "Herald Sidorin, what are you still doing here, don't get in the car quickly, we will rush forward again." ”

When I was about to get into the car, I heard someone behind me asking the soldier who had just answered my question: "Hey, I said, who is this female commander?" ”

"My God, don't you even know her? You know, she commanded our battle today. ”

"She's Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina?! I really didn't expect her to be so young. ”

I just smiled at this discussion and closed the car door casually. Chuikov, who was sitting next to him, must have also heard the discussion of the two soldiers, he smiled at me and said: "Oshanina, after today's battle, your fame has increased greatly, and I am afraid that there will be few people in the entire group army who do not know you in the future." ”

Hearing his compliment, the corners of my mouth involuntarily turned upward, and I couldn't help but want to laugh. But you always have to maintain your personal image in front of your superiors, and you can't get too carried away. So I forced myself to keep a straight face, smiled indifferently, and said: "Fortunately, with the help of you and General Shumilov today, General Khryukin was mobilized and asked to dispatch the Air Force. Had it not been for the enemy's planes of our air force to drive away from the battlefield, our troops would still be in a bitter battle at this moment, and perhaps many of the encircled German troops would have broken through to the bottom of the battle. ”

After listening to my overtures, Chuikov laughed softly, and then said to me: "Oshanina, although you have won this battle, you must not be proud. An excellent commander should not only think about the victory or defeat of one or two battles, but should also take into account the entire campaign, have a view of the overall situation, and know how to think about some issues from the high plane of a campaign. According to my judgment, the scale of the battle between us and the enemy near Stalingrad this time is absolutely not small, and it will not end in a month or two. In the future, you will have to experience more and more brutal battles. ”

After listening to Chuikov's words, I couldn't help but be in awe of him and secretly admired his foresight. You must know that the road is not only in the group army. Even the Front Army and the Supreme High Command. Everyone also stubbornly believed that the Germans were targeting the oil of the Caucasus, not Stalingrad. All recent military operations of the enemy in the river crossing and in the Volga valley are only intended to cover up a plot by the enemy to seize the oil fields of the Caucasus.

Under the guidance of the commanders and fighters along the way, we soon came to the joint command headquarters. The reason why it is said to be a joint command is that the commanders of the various divisions who participated in the battle today are concentrated in this command headquarters of 40 square meters. This was the headquarters of the German army, and the roof was half torn off by our shells, although the house was full of broken wood and masonry. But still able to accommodate so many of us.

Before we entered, we heard a commotion inside, as if something was being discussed violently. As soon as we entered the door, the sharp-eyed General Biryukov spotted us, and immediately came with a group of division commanders and commissars to salute us, and reported: "Comrade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, welcome you to the front to inspect the front. ”

Chuikov shook his hand and asked: "General Bilyukov, how is the situation now?" ”

Biryukov stopped the body. He replied: "Report to Comrade Commander, our army has taken full control of the battlefield. The enemy has been completely annihilated by us, and the warriors are cleaning up the battlefield and consolidating their positions. In a few moments, except for our division and Colonel Sazhen's division, the rest of the troops will leave for their original station, please rest assured! ”

Chuikov nodded, and then asked, "Before I entered the door, I heard that it was quite lively inside, what were you discussing?" ”

Bilyukov turned his head to look at the crowd, waved at one of them, and said: "Commissar Titov, tell Comrade Commander what is going on." ”

Titov, the divisional commissar of the 138th Division, whom I and Chuikov and I knew, squeezed out of the crowd with a small wooden box in his arms. Walking up to us, he put the box under his left armpit, raised his hand to salute Chuikov, and said: "Report to Comrade Commander, allow me to show you something." ”

After seeing Chuikov nodding in agreement, Titov opened the lid of the wooden box and handed it to Chuikov. Chuikov looked inside, then took out a hard, half-burned card and examined it carefully. I was curious to lean in and see what was in Chuikov's hand.

Chuikov looked at it again and again for a while, and asked Titov with some puzzlement: "I said Commissar Titov, what the hell is this?" ”

"Regimental certificate, Comrade Commander." After Titov finished speaking, he held the box with one hand, took a piece of hard paper from Chuikov's hand with the other, and said loudly: "This regimental card numbered 13145761 belongs to Nikolai, a 19-year-old Komsomol member from Saratov. Corporal Borodushin, who went to charge with this regimental card, unfortunately stepped on the enemy's mine and died heroically. ”

Titov put the broken regimental card into a wooden box, took out another regimental card that had been burned on all sides, and told us loudly: "The owner of this regimental card is a Ukrainian soldier and tankman Peter. Sergeant Vrashchenko. The young soldier joined the Lenin Communist Youth League of the Soviet Union only a few days before his death, and his regimental card was issued to him on the battlefield. While attacking the enemy's position, Vlashchenko's tank was unfortunately hit and caught fire, but he continued to fight until the last moment of his life. When we found his remains, we found dozens of bodies of fascists lying around his chariot. ”

Titov took out the third regimental card, the paper was stained with blood, and there was a blackened bullet hole in the middle, only to hear him say again: "This one belongs to the young soldier Kitem from Kazakhstan. Amanzolov, who went to battle with his regimental badge in his arms, was charged to the enemy's positions, unfortunately was hit by the enemy's criminal bullets and died honorably. ”

"There are also these two sheets, which belong to Private Vasily. Butov and Corporal Alexander. Olenichev's regimental evidence has been pierced by bullets. These two Komsomol members were the first to rush into the enemy's position when our division attacked the most rearline of the fascist invaders, and at the end of the battle, they were unfortunately hit by enemy bullets and died honorably. ”

…………

Chuikov silently watched as Titov was telling everyone one story after another, and nodded thoughtfully. When Titov's words came to an end, he took over the topic and said: "Comrade Titov is quite right, the proportion of young people in the group army is large, and the number of regimental members is also large, and our political workers should vigorously publicize these heroic deeds in the army and tell every soldier that the regimental certificate is a glorious banner. League members and young people should be guided by it. Be brave and go to battle. ”

Then. The herald Sidorin walked in from outside, came to Chuikov's side, and whispered to him: "Comrade General, the commander wants to talk to you. ”

Chuikov nodded and said, "I know the way, I'll go over right away." When Sidorin turned to leave, he said to everyone: "I'm sorry, I'm going to contact General Shumilov." Keep busy. With that, he turned and left.

Since he didn't ask me to go with me, I naturally didn't have the cheekiness to go with me and listen to what he and Shumilov had to say over the radio, but stayed and chatted with everyone.

As soon as Chuikov left, before a few division commanders I was familiar with came over, Bilyukov had already preemptively said to me: "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, your battle plan is really wonderful, we have not fought such a battle to annihilate the enemy for a long time. At this point, he turned his head to look left and right, and then continued. Although the casualties are a little larger, but in order to defend our great motherland. Even if it costs a lot, it's worth it. You say, don't you? ”

"Yes! General Biryukov was right. ”

"To protect the family and defend the country, even if we make great sacrifices, we have no complaints."

Byliukov's words immediately resonated with everyone, and the people around him echoed him.

I raised my hand and pressed it to the bottom of the earth, and said loudly, "Please be quiet and listen to me." Seeing that I had something to say, the room suddenly fell silent, and I raised my voice again and said, "Comrade commanders, although we have won the battle today, we must not be complacent. The real battle may be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, and the real test is coming. The enemy will never be willing to suffer such a defeat, and they will soon retaliate, and we must resolutely withstand the enemy's artillery bombardment, air strikes, and ground forces' counterattacks. ”

"Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, you can rest assured of this." The voice of Colonel Lyudnikov came from the crowd, and he took a few steps forward and squeezed out of the crowd with a kind smile on his face, "Our division is now experienced in a hundred battles, they have mastered all kinds of means to defeat the enemy, and they will definitely be able to withstand the enemy's crazy counterattack." ”

As soon as Lyudnikov said this, the scene suddenly became lively again, and several division commanders were not to be left behind, and they defended him one after another: "Colonel Lyudnikov, you can't just talk about your division, our division is not bad, in today's battle, our 229th Division was the first to break through the enemy's defensive line, and the soldiers also killed the German colonel commander, and none of the other regimental officers escaped the net." ”

"Our 29th Division also fought very well today! The German reinforcements that had set out from the Reynoch area to reinforce the Romanian troops were wiped out by our division and the 154th Marine Brigade. After the enemy's ambush, we rushed to the Reynoch area to join you, blocked the way for the Germans to escape, and made a great contribution to the total annihilation of the enemy. ”

"Our 157th Division ......"

"Our 137th Tank Brigade ......"

Not to be outdone, the commanders expressed their opinions one after another, desperately striving for more honor for their troops. It was so noisy that Chuikov walked in, and everyone didn't notice it. It wasn't until he shouted a few words that everyone gradually fell silent.

Seeing that the commander was back in the house, everyone suddenly fell silent, stood there and straightened up, looking at Chuikov intently, waiting for him to say what he wanted to say.

Chuikov said with a smile: "Comrades, today we have completely annihilated two regiments of the German army and the Romanian army, and the results have been reported to the headquarters of the front army and the supreme command. For the brilliant results achieved in this battle, the higher authorities gave a circular to commend our group army. ……”

Before he could finish speaking, a round of applause interrupted his later words.

After a long time, the applause stopped.

Chuikov said loudly again: "There is one more good news for everyone. The 138th Infantry Division, which was between Colonel Lyudnikov, showed bravery and tenacity in the battles and achieved great results, and the Supreme Command decided to award the division the honorable title of the 70th Guards Division. ”

After Chuikov's words were finished, the room suddenly fell silent, and the dozens of commanders present, except for me and Chuikov, all had stunned expressions. I thought to myself that I was just saying that, but I didn't expect that the Supreme Command would actually award the title of a Guards Division, but in this case, my prestige in the Lyudnikov Division would be even higher.

After a long while, Lyudnikov tentatively asked Chuikov: "Comrade commander, what you said is true?!" ”

"Really!"

"No kidding?!"

"Nope! I'm not going to joke about that. ”

Despite Chuikov's affirmative answer, Lyudnikov put his finger in his mouth and bit it hard, then screamed, raised his hands and cheered excitedly: "Ula! ”

"Ulla! Ulla!! Ulla!!! The surrounding commanders were also infected by his emotions and cheered.

After the cheers were over, everyone stepped forward one by one to shake hands with Lyudnikov and congratulate him. When I shook hands with him to congratulate him, he whispered to me: "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, thank you." Your kindness to our 138th Division will always be remembered by me and the commanders and fighters of the division. I just smiled and nodded at his overtures, and let go of his hand.

When I returned to Chuikov, his expression became serious, his head tilted slightly towards me, and he whispered: "Oshanina, I have bad news for you. It is a pity that your application to be promoted to deputy chief of staff of the army group was rejected by the front command. Shumilov asked Chief of Staff Nikishev the reason for the refusal, and received a reply that it was instructions given by General Zhukov himself. (To be continued......)

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