After talking on the phone, Meretskov went to the large map on the wall without saying a word, and looked up at the situation map of friend and foe on it. After looking at it for a while, he took out the cigarette case from his pocket with trembling hands, lit a cigarette and put it to his mouth, and continued to look at the map. This unusual behavior of his was seen by me, who was standing not far away, and I guessed that he might be pondering what Zhukov had just said.

I also stared at the map on the wall, at the red and blue arrows on the map, and felt sincere admiration for the German commander Quchler, who was fighting against our army. The German commander-in-chief, who had only been promoted to marshal by Hitler, was far superior to Meretskov in command. Although the Germans were caught off guard by the sudden attack of our troops, under his command, the German troops quickly stabilized their positions and stubbornly resisted the fierce attack of our troops.

The reason why our army was able to make rapid progress in the early stage of the campaign was because of the suddenness of the campaign, which caught the Germans off guard. second, there are heavy artillery of the Leningrad Front and naval guns of the Baltic Fleet to increase artillery support for the troops attacking the fortified positions; There are also fighters of the aviation forces over the battlefield, providing the necessary air cover for the troops.

In just two or three days, Marshal Qucheler discovered the Achilles heel of our army from the way of attacking. He decisively sent bombers to attack the heavy artillery of the Leningrad Front and the Baltic Fleet, forcing the fighter formations that were covering the ground offensive forces to fly to the area under air attack to protect the artillery positions and fleet of the Leningrad Front, and were forced to cede air supremacy on the battlefield.

I have to say that Qu Hiller's tactics are from the bottom of the kettle. Hit exactly seven inches above the Volkhov Front. Having lost air supremacy and artillery cover, our troops. The offense began to make no progress. In addition, German reinforcements were arriving in a steady stream of combat areas. The situation on the battlefield is developing in an unfavorable direction for our army. The offensive forces of the Volkhov Front were blocked in the vicinity of the Sinavino Heights, and the troops of the Leningrad Front from the other direction were still trapped in the narrow landing grounds on the Neva River, and the meeting of the two fronts became an impossible task.

After Krykov and Starikov gave the order, they came behind Meretskov one after another, and saw that the commander of the front army was looking at the map and pondering, and did not speak, but stood there quietly and waited patiently.

Meretskov threw the cigarette butt on the ground. He crushed it with his toes, turned around, looked at the two generals standing in front of him, and asked slowly: "General Krykov, what are your plans for holding the high ground?" ”

Krykov looked at the map on the wall and said: "The northern slope of the Sinavino Heights is sparsely forested, easy to attack and difficult to defend. The defensive front of our army is so wide, but at present there are only the remnants of several troops such as the 19th Guards Infantry Division and the 140th Infantry Brigade on the high ground, and it is a little powerless to hold the position. I have ordered the 22nd, 23rd, and 137th Infantry Brigades to speed up their march and rush to the high ground as soon as possible to take up the defense. At the same time, I also ordered the brigade commanders. As soon as the troops entered the position, they had to rush to repair and strengthen the fortifications on the high ground. ”

Meretskov did not say anything. Starikov picked up the conversation, and he smiled a little unnaturally and said: "General Krykov, you don't know, we gave orders to the commanders of these units a few hours ago. It's not that the fighters are not active in carrying out the orders given by their superiors, but because the damned forests and swamps have greatly slowed down the march of the troops, so until now, they have not been able to enter the position. ”

Hearing Starikov say this, I began to murmur in my heart, he said this, it is not a hint that Meretskov's decision to remove Gagan is wrong.

Meretskov obviously heard Starikov's voice-over, frowned slightly, and said: "At present, as long as the surviving commanders and fighters on the high ground can block the first wave of the German offensive, then reinforcements will be able to arrive." ”

A staff officer approached us without us even noticing, and he suddenly shouted a report, startling us collectively. Starikov asked the staff officer with some dissatisfaction: "Do you have something?" ”

The staff officer hurriedly saluted him and replied nervously: "I have just received a call from the front line from Chief of Staff Golovchner, who said that the high ground is under heavy attack by the German infantry, and due to lack of manpower, a section has been broken through, and the soldiers are engaged in a white-knuckle battle with the enemy who has broken through the position. Seeing that the situation was not good, Comrade Chief of Staff immediately took all the personnel of the command post to the high ground and threw himself into battle. ”

"Nonsense! It's nonsense! Meretskov angrily said to the staff officer: "You immediately call the forward command post and say that it is my order to let the chief of staff Golovchnier withdraw from the high ground." Be sure to tell him that he was the chief of staff of the army group, and that his position was to direct the battle from a makeshift command post on the south side of the heights, and not to fight bayonets with the Germans with his soldiers like a company commander. ”

The staff officer agreed, and was about to run back to make a call, but Meretskov stopped him again, and ordered in a stern tone: "You contact the commanders of the 22nd, 23rd, and 137th Infantry Brigades again, and tell them to speed up the march and be sure to enter the Sinavino Heights within half an hour, otherwise, I will immediately send people from the special service department to enforce battlefield discipline for all commanders above the regimental level." "Seeing that the high ground that was crucial to the outcome of the battle was in danger, and those reinforcements had not yet been able to enter the position, even Meretskov, who had an excellent temper, was anxious to give such a death order.

After the staff officers had left, General Krykov pointed to the north of the heights with an explanatory stick and said to Meretskov: "Comrade General, I think that after repelling the German attack, it is necessary for us to build another defensive line on the northern slope. In this way, when the troops of the first line of defense are attacked by German infantry, the second line of defense can also provide them with the necessary fire support. ”

Meretskov looked at the map for a long time, frowned slightly, and said, "I think it's okay." After the new line of defense is repaired, minefields will be laid in front of the positions. However, if such work is carried out within the range of the enemy, the casualties of our troops will certainly not be small. ”

"There is no way, Comrade General. We don't have a choice. Krykov said with a gloomy face: "Anyway." Laying mines in front of the positions. can increase the chance of our troops holding their positions. ”

After Krykov finished speaking. Several people fell silent, all racking their brains to consider what to do to reduce the sacrifice of the troops in building new defensive lines and laying mines.

Seeing that the three of them were all sad, I felt that it was necessary for me to express the plan in my heart for them to refer to, so I said: "Comrade commander, I have an idea that can allow the troops to build new fortifications as soon as possible. Reduce unnecessary casualties. ”

Hearing me say this, the eyes of the three of them suddenly lit up, and the anxious Krykov urged again and again: "Major Oshanina, since you have a good idea, let's quickly talk about it." ”

"Comrade General," I said, walking to the map, picking up my baton again, and pointing to the north side of the heights, "before our army seized the heights, we were supported by artillery fire from the Leningrad Front and the Baltic Fleet. ”

"We all know this, but what does this have to do with the advice you have to say?" Starikov interrupted me.

"General Starikov. Don't speak, listen to Major Oshanina. Meretskov stopped his interjection in a stern tone. He nodded at me again and said, "Go on." ”

"Since they were located on the northern side of the heights, when providing artillery support to our troops attacking the heights, the shells almost all fell on the northern slopes. As a result, there are dense craters here. ”

"What? Comrade Major, please wait a minute. This time it was Krykov who had prepared my words, and he turned to ask Meretskov: "Is it correct that when our troops attacked the heights, it was the artillery cover provided by the Leningrad Front and the Baltic Fleet?" Comrade General. ”

Meretskov didn't know why Krekov would suddenly ask such a question, and although he was confused, he nodded vigorously, indicating that it was indeed true.

Krykov took the baton from my hand, pointed to the map, and confidently said to Meretskov: "Comrade General, I think I understand what Major Oshanina meant. She wanted to say that, as a result of the shelling of our troops, there were dense craters on the northern slope, and that the troops in charge of building the fortifications could use these craters to connect them together, so that a new trench could soon be formed. Am I right? Comrade Major. His last sentence was specifically asked to me.

I hurriedly nodded in agreement: "Yes, Comrade General." That's how I think about it. ”

Meretskov looked at the map carefully, squinted his eyes slightly, and said: "Since this is the case, Comrade Krykov. Give the order to send troops to the northern slope to repair the fortifications as soon as the German attack is repulsed. ”

At this time, the staff officer who had disturbed us just now came running again, he came to Meretskov, raised his hand and saluted, and reported: "Comrade General, the front of our army has just called, and the German attack has been repulsed by us. The commanders and fighters of the 137th Infantry Brigade are taking over the defense from the 19th Guards Division and the 140th Infantry Brigade. ”

Hearing that the troops had entered the high ground, Starikov became agitated, and he exclaimed: "Great, reinforcements have finally arrived on the high ground, so that our defenses will be greatly strengthened." ”

"What is the situation with the chief of staff of Golovchiner?" Meretskov did not ask about the situation of the battle, but was concerned about the commander who had just run to the front in person.

The staff officer bowed his head and replied: "Comrade Chief of Staff was wounded in battle. ”

"What?" When Starikov heard that his chief of staff was wounded, he rushed up and grabbed the staff officer by the collar and asked loudly: "Is the chief of staff wounded?" Where is he now, and what are his injuries? Perhaps he exerted too much force, and the collar made the staff officer's face flush, and he could not say a word.

Krykov stepped forward and rescued the staff officer from his hands and said in a low voice: "Comrade Starikov, don't be in a hurry, let the staff comrade tell you slowly." ”

The staff officer, who broke free from Starikov's hands, bent down and coughed violently, and it took him a while to regain his strength, and he said: "The forward command post reports that Comrade Chief of Staff was stabbed in the abdomen with a bayonet during a white-knuckle battle with the Germans. After the first aid of the military doctor, there is no major problem. At the moment, Comrade Chief of Staff is being taken to the hospital in the rear. ”

Hearing that the chief of staff of Golovchnier was wounded and sent away, Starikov was a little out of breath, and after walking back and forth in the house a few times. Sharply shouted to Meretskov: "Comrade General. There are many troops on the heights. Without unified command, it is easy for the troops to fight on their own. Now the chief of staff is wounded, and it is necessary to immediately send someone to take over this command position. ”

As soon as I heard that I was going to send someone to command the numerous troops on the high ground, my eyes lit up, and my heart said that if my opportunity had come, Meretskov would send me to this position. Thinking of this, he quickly straightened up. He coughed vigorously, trying to get Meretskov's attention.

The sound of my cough not only caught Meretskov's attention, but also the eyes of Krykov and Starikov. After the three of them looked at each other a few times, they seemed to have reached a consensus in a short time. Meretskov saw that the other two nodded slightly, and then said to me: "Lida, I remember that you once had the experience of commanding the Guards Division and the Army Group, going to the high ground to integrate several non-subordinate troops, and commanding them to hold this piece of high ground that is vital to us. I believe in your abilities. It can be done. ……”

As soon as Meretskov said this, the phone on the desk rang out at an inopportune time. interrupted the rest of his words. If it was another phone ringing, he might have continued, but the one that rang was the one that could communicate with the Supreme High Command and the Front Command. He had no choice but to swallow back the latter words, walked over and picked up the microphone, and said politely: "Hello, I'm Meretskov." Where are you? ”

The voice that came out of the microphone was heard not only by Meretskov, but also by me: "Report to Comrade Commander, I am Chief of Staff Stepimakh. She had just received a notification from the High Command that Major Oshanina had been transferred to the newly formed Stalingrad Front, and her superiors had asked her to rush over and report quickly. You see, let her go back to the village of Little Vischera right away. The car that came to pick her up arrived an hour later. ”

"Understood, I'll arrange it." After Meretskov finished the call, he buried his head in contemplation without saying a word, and the hand holding the microphone did not let go for a long time.

I knew that I was about to be transferred to the Stalingrad Front, and that my position as a forward commander on the Signavino Heights would be lost, and I could not help but feel a little regretful.

After a long time, Meretskov raised his head and said: "There is a change in the plan, because Major Oshanina is about to be transferred, and the position of forward commander on the Sinianvino Heights can only be assigned to someone else. Having said this, he turned to Starikov and said: "Comrade General, it is up to you to take this position." Do you have any comments? ”

Starikov hurriedly stood up and replied categorically: "Please rest assured, Comrade General, I promise to complete the task well." As long as I am on the high ground, I will not let the Germans reoccupy the high ground. People are in the position, and they swear to live and die with the position. ”

After listening to Starikov's expression, Meretskov turned to me again: "Lida, I will arrange for someone to take you back to the village of Little Visera, and the Stalingrad Front will come to pick up your car, which will arrive in about an hour." After saying that, he shouted outside: "Lieutenant Turchinov!" ”

With his shout, Turchinov ran into the command headquarters and came to him to salute him: "Comrade General, Lieutenant Turchinov, Chief of the Special Service Section, was ordered to come and wait for your orders!" ”

Meretskov pointed to me and said: "I just received an order from my superiors for Major Oshanina to immediately rush back to the village of Little Visela, where the headquarters of the Front is located. I'll leave the task of escorting her back to you. ”

To be honest, I still panicked when I saw Turchinov appear in front of me, but since he was the one who escorted me back to the headquarters, I couldn't be too cold about him. So I stepped forward and took the initiative to say, "Lieutenant Turchinov, it's not early, let's leave early." ”

Turchinov nodded, saluted Meretskov again, and then turned and walked out. I walked up to Meretskov, and after giving him a solemn military salute, I reluctantly said: "Comrade commander, I'm leaving, please take care!" ”

Meretskov returned the salute, nodded, and said, "Be careful on the road." ”

After saluting Krykov and Starikov one by one, I turned around and walked out of the command headquarters after Turchinov. (To be continued......)

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