As night fell, I figured that the Germans would not send night bombers to bomb the heights, so I walked out of the headquarters, intending to take a look at the positions in front. As soon as the curtain opened, the two warriors standing outside immediately saluted me.

The area of Mamayev Hill is not small, and if I go out alone, it will not be easy for my subordinates to find me on such a large hill if there is something to do at the moment. So I ordered one of the sentries: "Comrade soldiers, go and call your battalion commander, Captain Basmanov. The warrior said yes and ran away.

Basmanov's hideout, which should not be far from my headquarters, was in a short time before the captain was led by the soldiers. I walked up to me, raised my hand and saluted, and asked cautiously, "Comrade Division Commander, do you have any instructions?" ”

"I want to walk around, you take two fighters with me."

"Yes, Comrade Division Commander, I will arrange it immediately, please wait!" After saying this, Basmanov saluted and turned to leave.

Looking at the back of the captain leaving, I silently wondered in my heart what kind of soldiers he would find to inspect with me, whether they would be tall and burly or thin but extremely clever warriors.

The answer was soon revealed, Basmanov brought back four fighters, three women and one man, and I knew all the women, namely Vera, the leader of my guard squad, and the fighters in the squad, Vonia and Nagya. When I saw Vera, I couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then asked the guard squad leader curiously: "Comrade Vera, didn't Captain Jegonovich transfer you to his artillery battalion?" Why didn't you stay with him in the 64th Army? ”

The little girl replied embarrassedly: "Comrade division commander, I am your guard." Where you go. I'll follow wherever I go. ”

"Comrade Lieutenant is not bad. If you give up, you may be snatched away by other girls. Seeing the little girl's squirming appearance, I couldn't help but joke with her.

Vera raised her head to look at me and replied with a stern expression: "Commander, you have saved the lives of me and my sisters, and since our superiors have asked us to serve as your guards, then we will take this responsibility seriously." As for the rest, we'll wait until the war is over. ”

Vera finished speaking. Vonia and Nakia beside her also chimed in, saying, "Yes, Comrade Commander, you are our savior, and it was you who rescued us from the guns of the Overseers. From now on, we will use our own blood and lives to ensure your safety. ”

I saw the stern expressions on the faces of the three girls, and knew that what they were saying was their own truth. However, this is not the time to say these words, so I quickly changed the topic and said, "It's not too early, let me go to the front position for a walk." ”

Hearing me say that I was leaving, Basmanov handed over a military overcoat on his arm and said with concern: "Comrade division commander. It's cold at night, so please put on your military coat. ”

September in Russia. The temperature difference between morning and evening can reach more than 20 degrees, and the weather when wearing single clothes during the day may be able to freeze you cold at night, so I took the coat in his hand without hesitation, and when I was about to wear it, I habitually asked: "Do you all have military coats?" ”

Basmanov nodded vigorously and replied, "We are all wearing military coats, I don't believe you can see it." I looked in the direction of his finger, and not only was he wearing a military coat, but even Vera was wearing a military coat.

I nodded in satisfaction, then waved my hand and said, "Let's go." ”

We first walked southeast along the ridge and soon came to the side of the hill near the pier. Standing on the hillside, I was greeted by the swarthy waters of the Volga River, which exuded the coolness of autumn, and several ferries that had crossed the river at night were slowly approaching the pier.

With the arrival of the ship, countless people suddenly poured out of the originally deserted dock. First of all, the wounded were carried out of the bunches, craters, bunkers. Civilians with baggage and suitcases also came out of their hiding places. Before the boat could fully reach the shore, some anxious people jumped from the shore into the water and rushed to the ferry with waist-deep water.

The civilians who came to the boat first, the sailors who stood on the bow of the boat, threatened with bayonets not to allow them to approach, and those who were not afraid of death and were about to climb the boat first, the sailors simply smashed them into the water with the butts of their rifles.

Looking at this chaotic scene, Vera first asked: "Comrade division commander, if the Mamayev post is lost, will this dock not be saved?" ”

"Needless to say, Comrade Vera." Basmanov immediately took over and said: "Don't look at it, the position we are standing on is no more than 100 meters away from the pier in a straight line, as long as the Germans occupy the hill and set up a few machine guns here to strafe at the pier, then the entire pier will be shrouded in the range of machine gun fire." ”

"We also have a lot of troops on the docks that they can fight back on. I believe that our valiant soldiers will be able to wipe out all the Germans who occupy the high ground. Vera retorted unconvinced when she heard Basmanov say this.

Basmanov snorted and said disdainfully: "Squad Leader Vera, I remind you to pay attention, you look at how steep this slope is in front of us, the slope is at least more than 50, right?" If our fighters wanted to climb up, they had to keep their heads down and watch their feet climb slowly, so that the Germans on the hillside could knock down all our fighters one by one like a target. ”

"You talk nonsense!" Vera was obviously not satisfied with Basmanov's statement and wanted to refute it, but I stopped it. I looked at the two of them and said, "Okay, stop arguing." Captain Basmanov was right when he said that if the Germans occupied the hill, they would only need to establish a few machine-gun positions here, and the dense machine-gun fire would not only hold off our counterattack, but even if there were reinforcements coming by boat, they would be killed in batches in the river when they disembarked. ”

I looked at the chaotic dock below, sighed, and said to a few people, "Let's go." We went to Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov. See how well their regiment's fortifications are being built. ”

We turned around and headed north. After walking for a long time, I came to the oil storage warehouse that was blown up by German planes some time ago, and saw that seven or eight cylindrical metal tanks had been blown apart, and the tanks had been burned black by the fire, and the pipes leading to the oil storage tanks had all been blown into scrap copper and rotten iron.

Smelling the choking smell of the warehouse, I frowned and covered my nose. Quickened his pace and walked over. Although the place here is relatively spacious, it is clearly not suitable for the construction of fortifications, and Sederikov probably thinks the same as me, so this place does not have any fortifications of our army.

As I walked, I suddenly remembered that the female soldiers behind me were all Stalingraders, so I stopped, turned around and asked Vera: "Vera, are you all Stalingraders?" ”

Vera nodded vigorously, and although she didn't understand why I was asking, she said with certainty, "Yes." Comrade division commander, I, Vonia and Nadia are all from Stalingrad. ”

"I want to ask you. If the Volga overflows, will it flood Stalingrad? ”

Hearing my question, Vera had a surprised expression on her face, and after she and her two companions looked at each other, she shook her head and said affirmatively: "Comrade Division, I don't think this will happen. Because as far as I know, the whole city is located much higher than the river embankment. Even if the levee bursts, there may be a few streets that will be flooded, but the vast majority of the water will only flow to the grasslands far away. ”

I then asked, "If there is a section of the river in front of the Mamayev Gang that bursts, where will the river flow?" ”

Vera thought for a moment and replied: "When I was a student, I asked my geography teacher the same question, and he replied to me: 'Because of the storage of the Mamayev Hills, the river will be blocked from flowing to the city, and the flow will be turned to the steppe to the north and west. ’”

After listening to Vera's answer, I felt inexplicably relieved. I didn't ask any more questions, but shook my head to a few people and said, "Let's go, let's go to the position while the moon is shining well tonight." ”

Along the craters and the bushes that survived, we walked towards the main position. About a hundred meters from the top of the hillside of the main position, I heard the long-awaited shout of the sentry: "Stop! Who? Password! ”

Hearing the voice of the sentry, I raised my hand to stop everyone, and replied loudly in the direction from which the voice came: "I am the division commander, Colonel Oshanina, and I have come to find your regimental commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov. ”

My answer silenced the other party for a moment, and then a man got up from the bushes, trotted up to me with a gun, raised his hand in salute, and said in a somewhat panicked voice: "Hello! Comrade division commander. I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you who came......"

I raised my hand to stop him from continuing, and said to myself: "Comrade Sentinel, you have done the right thing, that is, you should be vigilant to prevent the Germans from touching the back of the high ground. Are you alone on duty, or is there someone else? ”

The sentry looked back, then replied to me, "Comrade division commander, there is another secret sentry. If you are going to the commander, allow me to show you the way, and as you go ahead, there are quite a few outposts and a few minefields. If no one leads the way, you may be in danger. ”

"Comrade Sentinel, please show us the way." The words of the sentry gave me some confidence in Shedelikov's ability to do things, in the rear of the position, they were so heavily guarded, so the front of the position, I don't know how tightly defended.

Led by the sentries, we passed through minefields and areas with hidden posts without danger and came to the command post of Sedjerikov.

The command post was set up in a makeshift cave on the southern slope, and when he saw our arrival, Shedelikov was particularly surprised, and he asked in surprise: "Comrade division commander, why did you come to my position at this time?" ”

I walked over to the table and sat down, and said, "I'm going to see how your fortifications are doing?" ”

"Report to the divisional commander, most of the fortifications have been completed." As he spoke, Shederikov pushed a sketch on the table in front of me and reported to me: "This is the map of the defense of our regiment on the position. ”

I moved the oil lamp on the table a little in front of me and carefully examined the sketches that Sederikov had made. Judging from the picture, he dug eight caves on the southern slope, and one or two companies could be placed in each hole. And on the mountainside and on the top of the hill, he did my bidding. Two companies of troops were placed in each. At the foot of the mountain. I also saw a row of black dots that he marked. I didn't know what these black dots represented, so I hurriedly beckoned to him, asked him to come to my side, and asked him: "Comrade Sederikov, I would like to ask, what does this row of black dots you draw represent?" ”

Shedelikov only glanced at it, and hurriedly replied: "Report to the division commander." The black dots represent individual bunkers, and I placed a platoon at the foot of the hill, whose main task was to blow up the German tanks that were approaching the high ground. ”

Placing a platoon so far from the position made me feel very unsure, for I asked worriedly, "Are these bunkers sturdy?" Can it withstand German artillery fire and aircraft bombardment? ”

Sederikov shook his head slowly, and seeing the dissatisfaction on my face, he quickly explained: "These bunkers are scattered, and it is not easy for the Germans attacking from the front to find them. The Germans prepared artillery fire before each attack, and aircraft bombing. The targets chosen are all positions on our mountainside and summits, even if these bunkers are found. And not for the sake of a couple of inconspicuous bunkers, to waste their shells and bombs. ”

Hearing Sederikov's explanation, I didn't say anything more, but told him: "Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, after dawn tomorrow, General Zhukov will organize three army groups to attack the German troops north of the city." In this case, the Mamayev Heights that we hold may not become a target for the Germans, so you must urge your subordinates to take advantage of this rare opportunity to seize the time to continue repairing all kinds of fortifications. ”

"Understood, comrade division commander, I will pass on your order, so that the soldiers can take advantage of the gap in the battle to repair all the fortifications on the position."

"Very well, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov." I was very pleased with Sedjerikov's statement, and I praised him and said: "If you have well-fortified positions, then the Germans will have to pay a terrible price if they want to take your positions." ”

At dawn on September 5, Zhukov threw three new armies into a counterattack against the Germans north of the city.

As a result of the sudden counterattack of our troops, which took the Germans by surprise and at the same time disrupted their disposition, until noon neither a German aircraft nor German artillery was seen on the heights, let alone the ground attacking troops.

Seeing that the wind and waves in front of the position were calm, Pugachev, who was staying in my headquarters, said excitedly: "Comrade division commander, it seems that the counterattack of our army has worked, and the Germans are being beaten by us and fleeing. Otherwise, how could they not even send a plane. I had just gone outside to take a look, and there were more than two dozen ferries parked on the wharf, transporting the wounded and the city's residents across the river in boats. ”

Although the fighting situation of the counterattack troops was not visible here, and the higher authorities did not report the progress of the battle to the division-level troops, listening to the sound of guns and artillery in the distance and the smoke of gunpowder wafting in the air, I knew in my heart that this counterattack was really the same as in history, because of the hasty preparations and the lack of cooperation from the air force, the expected goal was not achieved at all.

At about two o'clock in the afternoon, German planes appeared again over the heights. As yesterday, after passing over the high ground, the two planes swooped down on the pier and indiscriminately bombarded the crowds and boats that had gathered there.

When Pugachev and I watched the horrific scene with binoculars outside the headquarters, Pugachev gritted his teeth and scolded: "Damn the Germans, you know that the people who bombed us have the ability to fight us with real swords, and I have to beat you all over the ground to find your teeth." "After I used the phrase a few times, these commanders under my command copied it in the same way.

I put down my binoculars and said coldly to Pugachev, who was excited, "Comrade Captain, inform your subordinates and let them do a good job of air defense, so that the troops will not be blown up by the Germans again like yesterday, and the corpses will be scattered all over the field and rivers of blood will flow." As I said this, I took a special look at the location of the female communication team in the ravine.

When Pugachev heard me say this, he did not dare to slack off, said yes, and trotted away.

As soon as he left, I heard someone calling out to me behind me, and when I turned my head, it turned out to be Razumeyeva who opened the curtain, leaned out half of her body, and was calling me. Seeing that I noticed her, she hurriedly reported: "Comrade division commander, it is the phone number of the commander of the 4th regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, who said that there is important information to report to you. ”

As soon as I put on my headphones, I couldn't wait to ask Gaidar: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what happened?" ”

"Comrade division commander, my scouts reported to me that there was a German armored unit, bypassing the 107.5 heights from the west, and was rushing towards Stalingrad. Judging from the direction in which they are advancing, they are trying to cut off the rear path of the counterattacking forces. ”

"Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, are you sure your scouts can't be mistaken? It can't be that our tank units are mistaken for Germans, right? "You must know that Zhukov's three armies are counterattacking the Germans, how can the enemy send an armored unit directly into the rear of our army? So my first reaction was, the Scout must have made a mistake.

Unexpectedly, Gaidar said with certainty: "That's right, Comrade Division Commander." My scout repeatedly confirmed that it was indeed a German tank, and the white cross on the turret was quite clear. ”

Hearing Gaidar say this, my heart began to panic, and I hurriedly asked: "How many tanks does the German army have?" ”

"There are at least forty tanks, as well as quite a few armored vehicles and motorcycles."

"Keep watching, and keep me informed of any further developments."

After the end of the call with Gaidar, I was hesitating to report the situation to Chuikov, but I didn't expect Oleg's phone call to follow. As soon as he heard my voice, he excitedly shouted, "Comrade division commander, it's not good. Our communication with the city was cut off by German armored forces. (To be continued......)