Colonel Golovchner left the command and sat down around the conference table with only Meretskov, Starikov, and Gagan. Because of the upcoming battle on the heights, Starikov looked a little excited. However, because he had not received a report that his troops had arrived at the designated position, he was worried about losing his position, so he was extremely nervous, and kept wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Meretskov looked at Starikov and asked in a flat tone: "Comrade Starikov, apart from the plan to attack the heights, are you sure about the attack in other areas?" When do you think the troops on both sides of our heights will be ready to attack? ”

Hearing Meretskov's question, Starikov stood up suddenly, straightened up and replied loudly: "Report to Comrade Commander, although several divisions of our army group have suffered great losses in these three days of fighting, the morale of the commanders and fighters is very high, and as long as they are strengthened by General Gagan's troops, they can immediately launch an attack on the enemy in front of them. ”

Meretskov wrenched his fingers and calculated: "In another hour or two, the Neva cluster of the Leningrad Front will launch a river-crossing operation, if the attack on both flanks of the heights can be launched earlier." In the process of crossing the river, they encountered less strong resistance from the German army, and after landing, they were able to quickly advance into the depth of the enemy's defense and realize the meeting with our front army. ”

When he said this, his tone did not fluctuate in the slightest, as if he was just talking to a friend about a very ordinary matter, but I still listened to it very tightly, and he was hinting to Starikov that he must attack immediately and disperse the German defenses. To ensure the success of the river-crossing operation of the Leningrad Front.

Gagan heard this. I can't sit still anymore. He hurriedly stood up and said loudly to Meretskov: "Comrade commander, please rest assured, I will go and call the army command and ask them to urge the troops to speed up the march and strive to reach the designated position as soon as possible." ”

Meretskov nodded and said: "Go ahead, let Comrade Rogensky tell the troops." The quicker they march, the sooner they enter the position, the sooner we can attack the enemy in front of us. ”

When Gagan went to call, Meretskov and Starikov began to talk in a low voice, because they were a little far apart, and I couldn't hear what they were saying. However, since the two of them lowered their voices and were talking, it may be that there are some things that I don't want outsiders to know, so I honestly stood there and didn't move.

General Gagan soon returned from a phone call, and he stood in front of Meretskov and reported: "Comrade Commander, I just spoke to Comrade Rogensky. He said that the entire 140th Brigade had reached the southern side of the high ground and joined up with the remnants of the 19th Guards Division. After a short rest, you can launch an attack on the high ground. ”

Meretskov snorted and said with some unhappiness: "The march speed of this 140th brigade is really fast enough, see for yourself, they walked on the road for several hours?" If it had not been for their sluggishness, our artillery positions would not have been destroyed by the Germans, and the Front Command would not have sent men from the Special Service Section to enforce battlefield discipline on the brigade commander. ”

When Gagan heard Meretskov say this, he was immediately speechless, and stood in place and wiped his sweat vigorously. Seeing his move, I couldn't help but despise him in my heart, because you are still a dignified general, and the superior leader said a few words to you, and he was scared into a cold sweat.

Perhaps seeing that the atmosphere in the room was too embarrassing, Starikov hurriedly came out to play a round: "Comrade commander, please come here, let's study the next move of our group army." With that, he got up and went to the wall, and pulled back the curtain, revealing the map inside. I saw that Meretskov and Gagan were both standing in front of the map, so I also took a few steps forward and approached the map.

Starikov took a stick and pointed to the map and said: "Look, the Sinianavino Heights is the only commanding point in this area, and you can observe a radius of several kilometers with a telescope, and if we do not take this place, but go around it directly from both sides, the attacking troops will be killed and wounded by German artillery from the heights, causing heavy casualties." The two lines of defense that the Germans are currently building on the southern slope of the hill are the first targets to be captured by our attacking troops. Since the artillery of our Front was destroyed by the Germans, and the artillery fire of the Leningrad Front and the Baltic Fleet could only reach the northern slope of the heights and could not do anything about the fortifications on the southern slopes, the German fortifications on the heights survived the seemingly heavy artillery bombardment of our troops, but when the infantry charged, the Germans hid behind the intact fortifications and fired desperately. ”

Meretskov said disapprehantly: "When our KV tanks rush up, these strong fortifications will be destroyed one by one, and then the infantry will rush up and seize the positions of the Germans." When the high ground is completely occupied, we can use captured artillery to attack the defensive depth on the north side of the high ground from above. ”

Starikov took the baton in both hands and said to Meretskov: "Comrade commander, the most desirable result is to seize the heights and then condescendingly bombard the enemy with artillery fire. However, it is necessary to fully consider how we should respond in the event of a failure in the attack on the high ground. ”

"What do you think? Let's hear it. ”

"At present, the infantry attacking the high ground is only a remnant regiment of the 19th Guards Division, and the 140th Infantry Brigade that has just arrived, and the strength is somewhat weak, and they need to be replenished to increase the intensity of the attack."

"Where do I find reserves to replenish and strengthen these troops on the south side of the heights?"

To Meretskov's question, Starikov glanced at Gagan and replied: "In addition to redistributing the forces of the 4th Guards Army, I ask you to also give me command of the 2nd Shock Army. It is important to know that although they are called a group army, they actually have only one division and one brigade. ”

"How are you going to adjust your deployment?"

Starikov raised his baton again, pointed to the map and said: "Comrade commander, please see, I have transferred the 2nd Division of the 327th Shock Army to the offensive position on the south side of the heights and handed it over to the command of the Chief of Staff of the Army, Colonel Golovchner. The infantry brigade of Colonel Zhicholiv, as well as the 4th Infantry Division of the 259th Guards Army, and the 22nd, 23rd, and 32nd Infantry Brigades, reinforced the 3rd Guards Infantry Division to the left of the heights. The 24th Guards Division, on the left side of the heights, was reinforced by the 33rd, 53rd, and 137th Brigades of the 4th Guards Army, and rapidly advanced into the defensive depth. The 265th Infantry Division, which had previously operated in conjunction with the 265th Guards Infantry Division, was on standby on the south side of the high ground as a reserve for the group army. ”

Hearing Starikov's explanation, I couldn't help frowning slightly, saying in my heart that there was a conflict between his plan and the orders issued by the Front, and now that the battle was in chaos, it was impossible to move troops as usual. His adjustment may make the troops exhausted. But Meretskov didn't speak, and I, a small operational staff officer, had no say in it. As for my worries, I can only think about these questions in my heart, and no one will necessarily listen to them.

At this moment, several phones in the house rang at the same time. After answering the phone, several staff officers who had been busy shouted separately: "Comrade commander of the front, your phone!" ”

"Comrade commander of the army group, your call!"

Meretskov and Starikov each walked to their own telephone and took the microphone from the staff officer's hand. After a few brief words, both of them had a look of joy on their faces.

It didn't take much effort, and the two walked back after making a phone call. Although they were trying their best to restrain their emotions, from the analysis of the slightly upturned corners of their mouths, I knew that all the good news came from the phone.

As expected, Meretskov said with a smile: "Comrades, I have good news for you, just now I received a call from the commander of the Leningrad Front, General Govorov, who said that after a short artillery preparation, the commanders and fighters of the Neva cluster had already crossed the river and launched an attack on the German defensive positions on the south bank of the Neva River. ”

"Ulla!" Hearing the good news, General Gagan couldn't help but cheer.

Starikov stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, jokingly: "I said, Comrade General, why are you so breathless, you are so excited when you hear only one good news, if you hear more good news, are you going to drink vodka here to celebrate?" ”

General Gagan smiled a little embarrassedly and asked rhetorically: "Comrade commander of the group army, do you also have good news for me?" ”

Starikov nodded and said with certainty: "Yes, Comrade Gagan." The call just now came from my chief of staff, Golovchner, who said that our KV tanks had launched an offensive to the heights. Although on their way forward, they were subjected to heavy artillery fire from the heights. These tanks, as Major Oshanina said, were indestructible. At this, he smiled kindly at me and continued: "When the smoke cleared, Comrade Chief of Staff saw that our tanks were continuing to advance towards the German positions. ”

I was relieved to hear that the KV tank was really not afraid of German artillery fire, I did not expect that a post from later generations would come in handy in such a situation. I asked tentatively: "Comrade General, did our infantry attack?" ”

"Of course, when the Chief of Staff saw that the German artillery fire posed no threat to our tanks, he had already ordered the infantry of the 19th Guards Division to attack and assist the tank units in seizing the German positions. The 149th Infantry Brigade is still resting, but will soon be ready for battle. (To be continued......)