Krylov asked me tentatively: "Comrade Oshanina, you don't want to take the risk of transferring the troops from the Mamayev Gang and beating the Germans in the back, do you?" ”

Hearing Krylov say this, many of the commanders who had been standing next to him gathered around to hear what kind of earth-shattering plan I would say.

Seeing so many people coming around, Chuikov surprisingly did not push them away, but asked me again with great interest: "Tell me, Comrade Oshanina, I would like to hear whether your so-called bold plan coincides with the judgment of the chief of staff?" ”

Removing the troops from Mamayev and participating in the battle for the factory area is such a stupid thing that only a madman would dare to do. So after hearing Chuikov's question, I shook my head and, after rejecting his judgment, said my intentions: "Comrade commander, the importance of the Mamayev post, even if I don't say it, you understand it very well. My plan was to take advantage of the darkness of the night to launch a counterattack against the attacking Germans. ”

When they heard of my plan, the commanders who had come around to listen with great hope were disappointed, and they wanted to hear some exciting plan from me, but in the end I came up with a cliché counter-shock plan, so they shook their heads and walked away from us.

Chuikov looked up at the people who were leaving, and said to me with an unhappy expression: "Comrade Oshanina, this is what you told me about the bold night raid plan?" You must know that the troops we are now deploying in the factory area are very difficult to defend. Not to mention to carry out a counterattack. ”

I didn't answer Chuikov right away, but turned my head to look at Bere and Weinlub in the crowd, and greeted the two of them pretentiously: "Colonel Bere, Lieutenant Colonel Weinlub." Would you like to come over for a moment? ”

The two of them didn't expect me to call them suddenly, and after one glance at each other, they both turned their eyes to Chuikov, waiting for his instructions. Chuikov glanced at me, nodded at the two of them, and motioned for them to obey my orders. Seeing that Chuikov had agreed, the two had no choice but to come over. Standing by our side with a helpless face.

I looked at Colonel Bere, who was a head taller than me, and asked with a smile, "Comrade Colonel." I wonder how many tanks are left in your tank brigade? ”

Although Bere did not understand the reason for my question, he replied without hesitation: "Of the 37 vehicles, 5 of them had their tracks blown off or had a problem with their motive, so they had to stay where they were to be used as fixed firing points." ”

"In other words, there are still 32 tanks that can be driven?!" Hearing that the number of tanks left in the tank brigade was much more than I expected. I was much more confident in carrying out the counterattack plan, but to be on the safe side, I continued to ask some key questions: "Do these tanks have enough ammunition and fuel?" ”

"Needless to say, if it weren't for the incessant shelling and bombardment of the enemy during the day, I would have thrown them into battle." Colonel Bere, enraged by my repeated questioning, said impatiently: "General Oshanina, I don't understand what these questions you are asking have to do with the counterattack plan you are about to propose? ”

Without making any excuses to Berey, I turned to Chuikov and said: "Comrade commander. Now that I know everything I want to know, I'll tell you about my battle plan. With that, I pulled the map on the table in front of me and Chuikov. So that he can see better.

Pointing to the map, I confidently said to Chuikov: "Comrade commander, look, Colonel Bere's 84th Tank Brigade is stationed in Skulipturny Park. My plan was for our tank units, along Volkhovstroyvskaya Street, to rush to the flank of the German tank divisions and hit them hard. To know this time. Due to the darkness, only a handful of German tanks took part in the battle. The absolute majority of tanks were neatly parked in the rear of the attacking troops. After Colonel Bere's tank unit attacked, it went straight to the area where the enemy was camping and destroyed all the tanks parked there. At the same time, I will have Shederikov's regiment attack in time to attack from the rear of the German army with the victorious tank troops, so that there is a great certainty that the German troops attacking the 'barricade' factories will be completely annihilated or severely damaged. ”

Colonel Bere, who had a disdainful expression on his face, suddenly became grim after listening to my plan, and he stared intently at the map without saying a word. I could tell from his expression that he agreed with my plan.

After listening to my plan, Chuikov did not directly express his support or opposition, but said worriedly: "If I am not mistaken, there are only two battalions left in the regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Shederikov, and can their attack really inflict heavy losses on the enemy?" You know, I don't have any extra troops to give you now, if General Ludev's 37th Guards Division is currently only a few hundred people left, of which the 114th Regiment has only 84 people left, and the 117th Regiment does not count the battalion brought by Lieutenant Colonel Ilya, there are only 3o people left, and all the 45-mm anti-tank guns, mortars, and anti-tank guns of the regimental artillery have been damaged in the battle. ”

Hearing Chuikov say this, I was relieved, and I comforted him and said: "Comrade commander, please rest assured, although there are only two battalions left in the regiment, they are all strengthened battalions, one battalion has 800 people, plus the troops directly under the regiment, there are almost more than 2,000 people. ”

"Comrade Commander," said Colonel Bere, who had been looking at the map, without waiting for the startled Chuikov to speak, "I think General Oshanina's plan is feasible. Pointing to the map, he added, "The streets along our shelter to the 'barricade' factory are very wide, which is very conducive to the deployment of tank troops, so we can quickly rush into the enemy's newly built camp and destroy all the tanks parked there before they can recover from their senses." ”

Chief of Staff Krylov also stared at the map for a long time, and then said in a regretful tone: "It's a pity that there are fewer tanks, if you can have even ten more tanks and attack from the junction of the tractor factory and the 'barricade' factory, then after eliminating the enemy besieging the 'barricade' factory, you can turn around and retake those positions occupied by the Germans." ”

Chuikov after listening to Krylov's words. Suddenly, he said confidently: "As long as there are enough infantry to cooperate, a dozen tanks can still be found." Then he instructed Weinrub: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I order you to rush to Tramwainaya Street immediately. Take command of the 5O6th Tank Battalion, and then you personally lead the remaining ten tanks of the battalion to rush out of the junction of the tractor factory and the 'barricade' factory, and flank Colonel Bere's tank brigade left and right, trying to annihilate the German troops besieging the 'barricade' factory. ”

"Is it the battalion that originally belonged to the 235th Tank Brigade?" Wei Yinlubu asked tentatively, and when he saw that Chuikov and Krylov both nodded to indicate that his guess was correct, he continued: "Please rest assured, commander, chief of staff." I promise to complete this counterattack. ”

Chuikov looked at his watch, and then instructed Colonel Beray and Lieutenant Colonel Weinrub: "It's not too early. The two of you rushed to the troops. When the attack began, it was set at 1:3o in the morning. ”

Bere and Weinrub saluted Chuikov, Krylov, Gurov, and me in return, then turned and walked out of the headquarters side by side.

Gurov, who is regarded as a transparent person by us, seems to be less confident at this time. He said with a solemn expression: "Comrade Commander, don't you think this plan is too risky? You must know that the three forces cooperate in the operation, and if there is a mistake somewhere, the whole plan will be wasted. ”

Gurov's words made Chuikov's face look hesitant. However, this hesitation was only fleeting, and then he chose to stand on my side, and resolutely supported me by saying: "Comrade Military Commissar, even if this plan is not successful, the situation will not be worse than it is now. But if it succeeds. Then it is possible to turn the tide of the local war. Speaking of which, he instructed Krylov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, hurry up and contact Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov." Get his troops ready to attack. ”

Looking at the back of Krylov's departure, Gurov nodded and said with difficulty: "Well, comrade commander, since you are going to take this risk, I will not object." If something goes wrong with the pool. If the superiors want to hold them accountable, I will bear the responsibility with you. ”

"Thank you. Thank you for your support! Chuikov was very moved by Gurov's statement, and he grabbed Gurov's hand and shook it vigorously, while constantly saying some words of feeling in his mouth.

"Division Commander Oshanina," I heard a familiar voice calling me behind me, and I quickly turned my head to see the familiar faces of Lyudnikov and his commissar Titov, both of whom looked at me with smiles, and the colonel waved at me, as if to let me go to him.

When I walked quickly to the two of them, Lyudnikov said with emotion: "Comrade Oshanina, I have heard all your plan of counterattack just now. In mind, this is a bold plan that, if successful, could turn the tide of battle in the factory area. But have you considered what it would be like if there was some accident, for example, if Colonel Bere's troops did not destroy the German tank force in time, and when they turned around to attack the German troops besieging the factories, the German tanks that had received information rushed up from behind? ”

Although Lyudnikov analyzed quite normally, I answered him with confidence: "Comrade Colonel, don't worry. The enemy, due to the fact that the attack during the day was too smooth, and because they occupied the initiative on the battlefield at the moment, would never have dreamed that there would be a force of our mechanized troops rushing out from their flanks. ”

Seeing my stubbornness, Lyudnikov glanced at Titov, the political commissar next to him, and then said with a wry smile: "Comrade Oshanina, since you are so confident, then I wish you good luck!" ”

The counterattack officially began at 1:3o a.m. In order to facilitate the command, Chuikov ordered the two walkie-talkies to be moved back into the headquarters. Colonel Bere and Lieutenant Colonel Weinlub kept us informed of the latest war situation via the Guò car radio.

Since Colonel Bere's 84th Tank Brigade was the main force of the offensive, it was the object of my attention. From the headset held by Chuikov, Colonel Bere's reports were constantly transmitted: "The tank brigade has attacked", "There are no enemy units on the way forward", "The tanks that are opening the way in front have destroyed a German machine-gun position", "Our tank platoon is passing through Guò Volkhovstroyevskaya Street, and the buildings on both sides are showing sporadic enemy fire, and I order the troops to ignore it and speed up the march from the street to Guò." ”……

When I heard every report from Bere, my heart would involuntarily clench, fearing that something would happen, or that I would simply wait until I arrived at the place where the enemy's large army was camping, and there were no German tanks parked, and when our tanks turned around and attacked the German troops who were besieging the "barricade" factories, a large force of enemy armored forces emerged from the rear from a more hidden place.

Just when I was nervous, suddenly I heard Colonel Bere's voice become shrill with excitement: "God, comrade commander, guess what I saw? Tanks, armored vehicles, neatly lined tanks and armored vehicles, there were hundreds, and the enemy was not prepared at all, except for a few trained soldiers nearby. Then I clearly heard him give orders to his subordinates: "Listen to my command, all tanks form a battle formation, choose their own targets, and fire freely." I repeat, the target is of your choice, free fire! ”

Hearing him shout this, I breathed a sigh of relief, since our tank troops had rushed under the nose of the enemy, even if they came to their senses, it would be too late, and then our tank crews could destroy the enemy's neatly parked tanks and armored vehicles one by one like shooting targets.

Then I walked to another walkie-talkie, and this one was Krylov in contact with Weinrub. As soon as I approached, I heard Wei Yinlubu report: "Comrade Chief of Staff, our tanks have rushed out of the junction of the two factories and are heading in the direction of the main entrance of the 'barricade' factory. ”

"Did you encounter an enemy on the way?" Krylov asked with concern.

"The scattered units that encountered the enemy have been completely wiped out by us with on-board machine guns."

"Okay. Colonel Bere's troops had stormed the enemy camp and were destroying the German tanks parked there little by little. Hurry up, and rush over to meet them as soon as you can. Remember, keep in touch with them at all times, and don't get into a fight with your own people. ”

"Understood!" Wei Yinlubu replied loudly.

"Chief of Staff," Chuikov, who had put down his headphones and microphones, instructed Krylov: "Send a telegram to Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, telling him to prepare for battle, and when Colonel Berey and Weinrubb's troops have joined forces, they will immediately attack the 'barricade' factory under the cover of tanks." (To be continued)

Tips: The new domain name "biquge.info" has been launched by Biquge, and the original domain name is about to be discontinued. Please tell each other, thank you!