When I heard that the army group command had sent us an anti-tank artillery battery, I was overjoyed, and I was afraid that due to the lack of such heavy weapons as anti-tank weapons, our troops would not be able to resist when the German armored forces attacked in a big way. When I met General Golikov, the deputy commander of the Front Army, who came to inspect at the headquarters of the group army, I reported this incident to him, but I didn't expect that he was really talking, and it didn't take long for him to really send me two anti-tank artillery batteries.

I excitedly asked Morozov: "Comrade Captain, what caliber of anti-tank guns are they?" ”

Morozov didn't look back at all, and replied to me without hesitation: "Report to the division commander, they are all the latest 76.2mm division anti-tank guns that were just installed in the unit at the beginning of this year, and there are 12 guns in one company and 24 guns in two companies. Speaking of this, he stopped, waved his hand in the direction of the group of artillery commanders and fighters, and shouted loudly: "Two company commanders, come here, comrade division commander wants to meet you." ”

At the sound of his shout, two commanders ran out of the crowd, walked quickly in front of us, stood up and saluted, and then said to me: "Comrade division commander, Lieutenant Kasulin and Lieutenant Mairekhov report to you that the 5th and 6th companies of the Guards Anti-Tank Battalion are here to garrison and wait for your orders. ”

"Uh-huh." I looked at the two energetic lieutenants in front of me, nodded with satisfaction, and then said to them: "Lieutenant Kasurin, Lieutenant Mairekhov, from today onwards, your two companies and Captain Morozov's mortar company will be officially organized into an artillery battalion of an independent division. Captain Morozov served as battalion commander and concurrently served as commander of the 1st Company, Lieutenant Kasulin served as commander of the 2nd Company, and Lieutenant Mairekhov served as the commander of the 3rd Company. ”

None of the three of them objected to my appointment. I looked at the cannon that was being pulled up the hillside. Asked with interest: "Two comrades of the company commander." These are all new artillery for the newly equipped troops, right? ”。

"Yes, Comrade Division Commander, these are the '1942 Type 76.2mm Divisional Anti-Tank Guns' that began to be installed in the troops after March this year, and they are the most advanced anti-tank guns at present." Lieutenant Kasulin took over my topic and said: "Professor Wolff, chief engineer of the artillery branch of the German Krupp Military Industry Group, once commented on this kind of cannon in public: 'This kind of artillery newly installed in the Soviet Union is the best in the armies of all countries at present, not only stronger than the British and French guns, but also inferior to the artillery produced in Germany. It is no exaggeration to say. This cannon will leave an important page in the history of world artillery'. ”

Hearing him say this, I couldn't help but want to ask: "Where did you hear these words from Professor Wolff, the chief engineer of Krupp?" "But after thinking about it, Lieutenant Kasurin and they have just joined the formation of the independent division today, and it is obviously inappropriate for me to sneer at him mercilessly in public, and it is also inconsistent with my status as a division commander, so I also continued to remain silent, while trying to squeeze out a smile on my face, pretending to listen with relish.

See me smiling. Lieutenant Mairekhov also had the audacity to add: "It is said that Comrade Stalin, after seeing the demonstration of this new artillery, said with emotion: 'This artillery is a masterpiece of a generation!'" ’”

Buy Lenkhov's words. Seems to have made me understand something. I secretly speculated in my heart that perhaps the ordnance department, in order to increase the confidence of the artillery commanders and fighters in the new artillery, deliberately released the so-called Krupp First Engineer speech and Stalin's comments on the artillery.

Kasurin politely asked: "Comrade division commander, may I ask, what are the tasks of the second and third companies on the position?" ”

"The task is clear, Comrade Lieutenant." To his question, I confidently said: "At the present stage of the defense, the task of your two companies is to carry out anti-tank missions and destroy the enemy's infantry. After our troops have switched to the offensive, your combat mission is to destroy the enemy's living forces, destroy the enemy's infantry fire points and suppress the enemy's artillery, destroy the enemy's tanks and armored vehicles, destroy the enemy's barbed wire barriers, and destroy the enemy's shelters and permanent firepower points. And accompany the infantry charge, provide them with fire support. ”

After saying that, I waved at them and ordered in an unquestioning tone: "Okay, commanders of the three artillery battalions, you quickly lead the soldiers to deploy the artillery in place." The three artillery commanders agreed, returned to the ranks of the artillery fighters, and directed the soldiers to continue to pull the cannon up the hillside.

Looking at the soldiers who were in full swing, I suddenly had a bold idea in my heart. If the Germans were to attack Mamayev Hill, after the artillery preparations and bombardment were over, it was not to mention the armored forces that they were proud of to cover the infantry attack. To deal with the armored forces of the German army, in addition to anti-tank guns, anti-tank guns, anti-tank mines, grenades, Molotov cocktails, cluster grenades, it was possible to dig anti-tank trenches. Of course, I am going to dig definitely not ordinary anti-tank trenches, but the famous "Golan trenches".

I have long been familiar with the information about the Golan trenches: one to two kilometers from the forward positions, anti-tank trenches with openings 6 meters wide, 4 meters wide at the bottom and 9 meters deep are dug. This trench may seem simple, but it is a hidden mystery, and when the army builds an anti-tank trench, it usually piles the excavated soil on both sides of the trench. However, the earth excavated from the Golan trench was placed on its own side, forming a 2.5-meter-high earthen embankment. The construction of anti-tank trenches in this way will make the attacking side feel very depressed. Because even if they tried to fill in the trench, they would find that the soil was all on the side of the defenders, and they had no soil to use. Even if they erect a passage with steel rails on an anti-tank trench, when they have erected it, they will find that the erected passage is high at one end and low at the other. Moreover, the high end is erected on the soft soil, which makes the tank armored vehicles staggering when driving on the bridge, and many tank armored vehicles fall into deep trenches and cannot get out. Even the tanks and armored vehicles that were lucky enough to pass Guò slowly climbed the high earthen embankment, and the underside of the vehicles, with weak armor protection, was exposed. And when the tank vehicle drove down the earthen embankment, the top of the same weak armor protection was exposed under the guns of the defenders. As a result, the defenders on the defending side have two excellent shooting opportunities, and as long as they hit, they can easily destroy the opponent's tanks and armored vehicles. This is done when the earthen embankment is passed. Enemy tanks and armored vehicles became almost live targets for the defenders. And because the earthen embankment is higher than the attacking side. During the battle, Yan zhòng also affected the sight of the tank members of the attacking troops. It is impossible to detect and aim at targets, and it is difficult to use fire to support the attacking troops in front. When the defenders' armored forces launch a counterattack, it is easy to push the accumulated soil into the anti-tank trench and fill it up to ensure the attack of their own tanks and armored vehicles.

Originally, I wanted to save this anti-tank trench for the Kursk tank Armageddon, but now I see the open plain in front of the Mamayev Gang with an unobstructed view, and I want to hold back the German armored forces. This Golan trench is the best option.

Thinking of this, I greeted Basmanov, turned around and walked towards the division headquarters. The commander of the division's engineer company, Second Lieutenant Mihayev, was there, and I could tell him about this method of digging anti-tank trenches, and ask him to organize immediate man-to-man work to complete it in two days.

But as soon as I walked near the division headquarters and looked at the sapper soldiers who came out of my headquarters with sacks of dirt with cloth bags, I stopped and looked at them sweating profusely. I can't help but reconsider whether it was a bit too hasty to dig the Golan trench in front of the Mamayev Gang at this time.

After serious consideration. I decided to cancel the plan to dig the Golan trenches. Because of this two-kilometer-long anti-tank trench, the amount of earth to be excavated is as much as 90,000 square meters, and without the cooperation of excavation machinery, not to mention Mihayev's engineer company, even if I send all the first and second regiments on the high ground, more than 3,000 people will have to dig at least 30 square meters of earth, and it will not be possible to complete it without ten days and half a month. The Germans, who were neither blind nor deaf, would never allow our troops to swagger under their noses to dig an anti-tank trench that would block the advance of their armored troops, and would certainly wipe out our daring troops by means of aircraft bombing and artillery bombardment.

While I was lamenting the forced abandonment of the Golan trenches, Mihayev came to me at some point and reported to me: "Comrade division commander! Second Lieutenant Mihayev reports to you that our company is digging up a new divisional headquarters. ”

Maybe it was when I was just thinking about things, my eyes were in a daze with the sapper fighters coming in and out, so someone thought that I might be watching their work, so they felt the need to report it to me, so they called Mihayev out.

"Take a break, Comrade Mihayev." I casually asked, "How long does it take for Command to be fixed?" ”

Mihayev shrugged his shoulders and said with some helplessness: "Comrade division commander, we encountered rocks during the excavation, and you also know that there were not enough explosives, and the speed of the excavation was inevitably affected. ”

"Then you go and find some explosives to blow up all the rocks that stand in your way." When I said this, I raised my hand and looked at my watch, and just two hours had passed, and Mihayev had promised to finish it early, so he said in a gentle tone: "Anyway, it will be done before the evening." ”

"Are we allowed to continue, Comrade Division?" Mihayev asked cautiously.

"Of course, that's easy to say." I hurriedly replied, "Go on!" ”

When Mihayev turned around and returned to the division headquarters, I said to Basmanov, who was beside me: "Let's go, Comrade Captain, anyway, there is nothing to do now, let's go to the settlement." ”

We walked down the hill, and when we were halfway there, we unexpectedly met Kirillov, who had returned from the settlement, and was accompanied by a dozen or so political workers in addition to the guard squad he led. I hurriedly waved at him, and at the same time shouted loudly: "Kirillov, Commissar Kirillov!" ”

Kirillov was burying his head in the climb when he heard someone shouting, and when he looked up and saw that it was me, he immediately smiled and waved at me, and at the same time quickened his pace.

He walked up to me and stopped, and asked curiously: "Comrade Oshanina, why are you here?" ”

I smiled and replied: "Comrade Political Commissar, Second Lieutenant Mihayev is still repairing the headquarters for us, so I wanted to go to the settlement to have a look, but I didn't expect to meet you here." At this point, I leaned over and looked behind him, and then asked, "These comrades are the political workers assigned to our division, right?" ”

"Yes," Kirillov replied, looking sideways and looking behind him, nodding his head, "they are all political workers I transferred from the political department of the group army. It was supposed to be good for twenty people, but unfortunately, when I went. Eight political workers were already being asked to leave by the commissar of the 70th Guards Division, Titov. ”

"Colonel Lyudnikov's 70th Guards Division?!" After getting an affirmative answer. I asked suspiciously: "Aren't they part of the 64th Army?" Why did you come to the political department of our group army to ask for people? ”

With a surprised look on his face, Kirillov asked rhetorically: "Don't you know?" The 70th Guards Division was transferred from the 64th Army to the command of our Army Group yesterday and is currently stationed near the Central Railway Station. ”

"If the 70th Guards Division is transferred, which unit will defend the vacated area?"

"The defense area of the Lyudnikov division is currently being taken over by the 157th Infantry Division of Colonel Kuropatenko. Although their forces were a little smaller, the Germans in that area did not know what kind of blow they had received for such a long time. None of them launched an attack on the positions of our troops. ”

"Why is this happening?"

Kirillov did not answer my question, but shouted at the group of political workers: "Hey, Comrade Starirov, please come here." With his shout, a political worker ran over, raised his hand and saluted, and stood silently in front of us without saying a word.

"Comrade Starirov, Division Commander Oshanina wants to know why the Germans in front of our 157th Infantry Division have not launched an offensive in the near future?" After Kirillov finished instructing his men. He leaned closer to me and whispered: "Comrade Starirov was transferred from the 64th Army, and he told me all this news." ”

Starirov stood straight and reported to me: "Comrade division commander. It was like this, according to the reports of the observation post, an inexplicable explosion occurred in the rear of the German troops. Since the enemy forces blocked the area after the explosion, our scouts could not get close to conducting reconnaissance, so it was impossible to determine where the explosion took place and what kind of losses were inflicted on the Germans. ”

Starirov did not go into enough detail, but I already understood what was going on, nine times out of ten when we evacuated the Abuganerovo station, the mines planted and several tons of explosives exploded. Hearing this, I didn't ask any more, smiled at Kirillov, and said lightly: "Comrade commissar, should you explain these subordinates of yours to me?" ”

When Kirillov heard me say this, he hurriedly shouted at the political workers behind him: "All assemble! ”

More than a dozen political workers quickly lined up in a row at the sound of the password. Kirillov guided me to the far right of the line and began to introduce me: "Comrade Starirov, you have already met, I will not introduce you. These are Kruglov, Kogan, Shomin, Zuyev, Kokunov, Elgin, Rogulev, and Gurgin, all of whom were inspectors and counselors of the political department of the group army. The three political workers were Nikolaev, Stupov, and Savchenko, and were in charge of the work of the Komsomol of the group army. ”

After getting to know everyone, we were back at the front of the line. Kirillov gestured to me and motioned for me to speak to the political workers. I nodded, took a step forward, swept my eyes over each political cadre, and said to everyone with a smile: "Hello comrades, welcome to work in the independent division. With your arrival, the combat effectiveness of the independent division will reach a new level. Next, you will be assigned to various regiments, go directly down to the grassroots level, and do a good job in the party's political work, so as to ensure that our independent divisions can successfully fulfill their current combat tasks. Saying this, I leaned sideways and made a gesture to Kirillov and said politely: "Comrade commissar, you will arrange their work." ”

Kirillov did not shirk either, and directly commanded: "Starirov, Kruglov, Kogan." ”

The three political workers who were named by him hurriedly stepped out of the ranks, their bodies straightened up, waiting for his order.

"The three of you go to a group and report to Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov."

"Yes!" The three of them said yes neatly, and then retreated into the queue.

"Shomin, Zuyev, Savchenko!"

Three more political workers whose names were called stood up.

"The three of you go to the 2nd Regiment and report to the acting regiment commander, Captain Pugachev, later."

When the three political workers retreated into the queue, he called out the names of the four people in one breath: "Kokunov, Elgin, Nikolaev, Stupov." ”

After the four men were discharged, he ordered: "The four of you are assigned to the third and fourth regiments, and since the commander of the third regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Cosgaard, has been wounded, these two regiments are currently under the command of the commander of the fourth regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, and you will report to him later." ”

"Rogulev, Gurkin, the two of you are assigned to the Fifth Regiment, and I will report to Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, the commander of the Fifth Regiment, later. By the way, the regimental political commissar of the Fifth Regiment, you must also know her, she is the Vilore political instructor of the Vinnitsa Infantry School, and if you encounter any difficulties in the army, you can ask her for help. ”

When I heard that Kirillov was assigning the work of his subordinates, I couldn't help but secretly feel that this political commissar is really not simple, how long has it been, and I already know the commanders of all the regiments of the independent division.

As soon as we had finished assigning our work, and before Kirillov could give the order to disband, we suddenly heard the sound of automobile motors from far and near from the south, and we collectively looked in the direction from which the sound came, and saw a convoy of twelve trucks, covered with commanders wearing steel helmets, coming rapidly in our direction.

Kirillov squinted his eyes for a moment, wanting to speak to me, and then wanting to talk to himself: "Strange, how do I think that all those fighters in the carriage are commanders?" ”

Hearing him say this, I hurriedly raised my binoculars to look at the speeding convoy, and when I saw a few familiar faces in the carriage, I couldn't help but smile knowingly. I put down my binoculars and said excitedly to Kirillov: "Comrade Political Commissar, they are the second lieutenant training team, they are really elite soldiers, with their joining, our independent division will form a strong combat effectiveness in a short period of time!" (To be continued......)

PS: Thank you for the vote of the dead piggy children's shoes; Thanks to the book friend Atomic Nucleus for the counterattack of children's shoes.