"Huh?! Two generals of the German army? Chuikov's words confused me, and I asked in confusion: "Comrade commander, what is going on?" It's all confusing me. ”

Kirillov and Akhromeyev next to me heard the conversation between me and Chuikov, and their faces were also at a loss, not knowing what was going on, and they both turned their heads curiously, trying to hear what earth-shattering news Chuikov would say on the phone next.

Chuikov continued: "A few minutes ago, the commander of the Front, General Yeremenko, called me and said that the Intelligence Service of the Front had intercepted a telegram from the enemy, which mentioned the commander of the German 389th Division, Erich. Major General Ratman, at the headquarters of the 113th Division, and the commander of the division, Von Brown. During the talks, Major General Arnim was suddenly attacked by a sudden artillery fire. Major General Ratman was seriously wounded and dying in the shelling and is now being resuscitated in a field hospital; The commander of the 113th Division included Adjutant Thur Brown. Seven staff officers, including Major Besger, were killed on the spot, and the division commander Arnim was also slightly wounded. Based on the information reported by the German side, we can confirm that the shelling was carried out by our troops. ”

"Haha!" When Kirillov heard the news, he excitedly slapped the table and applauded, "Great! What a job! Unexpectedly, a few shells from Oberstan almost completely destroyed one of the enemy's division headquarters. ”

When Chuikov heard what Kirillov said, he smiled and said to me: "Oshanina, since the German 113th Division is deployed in front of your independent division's defense area, as soon as I receive a call from the commander, I first guess that it may be a mission that you have sent someone to carry out. I didn't expect to be right. Let's talk about it. How many people did you send on this night raid? ”

I heard Chuikov ask about the night raid of our division. I hurriedly and honestly reported to him: "Report to Comrade Commander, the situation is like this: since the current strength of our division is becoming increasingly tight, in order to ease the enemy's offensive pressure, disrupt their offensive steps, and hold the initiative on the battlefield in our hands, I have sent a small night attack team since yesterday. Harassment of the enemy.

Last night's operation, because it did not find the right breakthrough, did not achieve much success, only eliminated a patrol detachment of the enemy, and captured a German sergeant alive. However, the interrogation of the captives gave us a preliminary understanding of the layout of the enemy camp, so that tonight's operation could be carried out in a planned manner.

One of the main tasks of the night raiders tonight was to destroy an artillery position on the west side of the village occupied by the enemy. Before the troops set out, I specifically told them to occupy the enemy's artillery positions. Immediately turn the muzzle and open fire on several villages where the enemy is stationed, and when the shells are almost depleted. Blow up the cannon again. Unexpectedly, Oberstein and their luck were not bad, and they actually killed the German division headquarters on the ground. ”

"Well done, Comrade Oshanina!" After hearing this, Chuikov praised me, and then said: "By the way, I tell you one thing, based on the confusion in the enemy's command system caused by your independent division during tonight's operation, and the great results achieved, the front command will award the independent division a number of medals. Awarding medals to commanders and fighters who have shown outstanding performance on the battlefield is also a means of raising the morale of the troops. But this batch of medals does not have your share for the time being, after all, you have received a lot of medals now, and they are almost all Red Banner Medals, more than mine, so I can only wronged you. Perhaps afraid that I would be too careful, he also deliberately explained: "According to the analysis of the current battle situation, there will be many vicious battles to be fought in the future, and there are still many opportunities for you to be promoted to the rank of meritorious service." Do a good job, I believe that it will not be long before your superiors will reinstate your rank of major general. ”

Hearing what Chuikov said, I hurriedly expressed my attitude: "Comrade commander, please rest assured, I don't care whether or not to confer medals and when I will reinstate my military rank. It's just that many of the commanders under my command have made countless contributions since the establishment of the independent division, and without their support, how could the independent division achieve victory after victory? So, comrade commander, I beg you to do a favor and give these commanders the medals they deserve! Otherwise, it's unreasonable. ”

After listening to my words, Chuikov smiled bitterly: "Since your words have reached this point, if I don't agree to you, will you scold in your heart?" ”

"No, Comrade Commander, don't get me wrong, even if I have any opinions about you, I won't ......."

"Alright, alright, don't say it." Without waiting for me to speak, Chuikov unceremoniously interrupted me, "What are you thinking in your heart, maybe I don't know?" Okay, stop talking nonsense, just report to me the names of the commanders of your division who can receive medals. ”

Hearing Chuikov say this, I was simply overjoyed, and hurriedly reported the names that I had thought of a long time ago: "The commanders who have made great contributions are: Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, commander of the 1st regiment, Obestan of the regiment, commander of the 2nd regiment, Major Pugachev, commander of the 1st battalion of the 2nd regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Koska, commander of the 3rd regiment, Major Godunov, acting commander of the 3rd regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, commander of the 4th regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, commander of the 5th regiment, political commissar of the regiment Vylol, commander of the artillery battalion Major Morozov, and commander of the tank battalion Major Perstian. ”

"Is that all there is to them?" Chuikov asked rhetorically: "Isn't there anything you need to add?" ”

I was afraid that Chuikov would forcibly delete a few of the lists I had signed up forcibly, so I hurriedly replied, "No, no, there are so many people." ”

When Chuikov heard this, he snorted and said to me in a tone of lesson: "Oshanina, let me tell you what is good." Is there really no one else who deserves the medal other than these old subordinates of yours? ”

Chuikov's words stunned me, it turned out that he didn't think that the number of people I reported was large, but that the number of people I reported was not enough, so I asked cautiously: "Comrade commander, I don't know who else is missing from the list?" ”

"Why are there no names of the division's political commissar Kirillov, the division's chief of staff Akhromeyev, and the fourth regiment's political commissar Xia Ping in the list you just reported?"

In fact, I also wanted to add the names of the three people mentioned by Chuikov to the initial list, but I was afraid that Chuikov would say that I reported too many people. forcibly squeezed out the honor that other commanders deserved. So I had to choose to ignore it. At this moment, I heard Chuikov take the initiative to mention their orders. I hurriedly said: "Comrade commander, you have thought it all over and found the names of several commanders that I missed at once, so please add their names as well." ”

After talking about the medal, Chuikov changed the subject and asked me: "Comrade Oshanina, let me ask." If you were to launch a counterattack against the enemy from the Mamayev Heights, what do you think are the chances of success? ”

Although our night raiders bombarded the German command and threw the enemy's chain of command into disarray, it would be impossible to think that the enemy would become vulnerable and become a lamb to be slaughtered at our will. So I replied to Chuikov with a resolute attitude: "Comrade commander, if you want to launch a counterattack against the enemy in front of you with the existing forces and weapons, I can tell you that the counterattack force has no chance of success. ”

My words silenced Chuikov. He was obviously pondering why I said that. After a while, he added: "Suppose it is not an independent division that carries out the counterattack. Instead, all the troops north of Stalingrad, including the 193rd Infantry Division under the command of Major General Smehotvorov, which arrived last night, are concentrated and handed over to you for your command, and carry out a large-scale counterattack against the German troops in front of you, and at the worst launch several large-scale night attacks on the enemy's garrison, completely disrupting their offensive deployment on the city. ”

I waited for Chuikov to finish speaking before I opened my mouth to express my opinion: "Commander, your construction is very good, judging from the current situation, our army can only have these two ways of fighting except for nesting in the fortifications to resist the enemy's attack. But with all due respect, neither style of play is advisable. We lack the artillery necessary for a counteroffensive and we do not have air supremacy, so in the event of a large-scale counteroffensive, our troops will be routed by enemy artillery fire and bombardment on the way to the offensive. Speaking of night raids, there is still a chance that it will succeed before tonight. However, the German army has suffered such a big loss tonight, and it will definitely increase its vigilance, and under the condition that the enemy is highly vigilant and closely defended, if we go to carry out any night attack, the gains will outweigh the losses, and even the night attack troops may be completely annihilated. ”

"Then what do you say?" After hearing this, Chuikov said unhappily: "The troops in other areas are launching battalion-scale counterattacks almost every day, and although the casualties are a little large, they have also achieved certain results. When friendly forces are all actively moving, it is impossible for your independent division to squat at Mamayev Hill all the time and not move at all, right? ”

While I was thinking about how to answer Chuikov's question, Kirillov, who was standing next to me, held out his hand to me and motioned for him to give him the microphone and he would answer Chuikov's question. I nodded, didn't say anything polite to him, and just handed the microphone over. He picked up the microphone and greeted politely: "Hello, dear Vasily. Ivanovich. ”

Chuikov suddenly heard Kirillov's voice coming from the earpiece, and he was obviously a little flustered, but he quickly stabilized his feelings and said politely: "Hello, Comrade Kirillov! ”

Kirillov did not continue to be polite with him, but said straight to the point: "Comrade commander, I heard the conversation you just had with Division Commander Oshanina. Last night, the political commissar of the independent division, I want to say a few fair words for her, with the current strength of the independent division, it may be just right to hold the Mamayev post, which has already been transferred out to support friendly forces, and it is a little inadequate. ”

Although Chuikov was the commander, he seemed to have a lot of respect for Kirillov, and only after the other party finished speaking, did he explain: "Comrade Kirillov, as the commander of the army group, I understand the current situation of the independent division very well. Although the attrition situation in the division is very strict, compared to other divisions, your structure is quite complete, and if you don't make a single move in the case of frequent counterattacks by friendly forces, maybe the commanders of other units will have opinions. ”

Hearing Chuikov say this, I stood next to me with a wry smile, and said in my heart that in order to satisfy the commanders of other units, I had to ignore the actual situation and let my commanders and fighters go to death? I only heard Kirillov say again: "Comrade commander, I have not finished what I just said, although our current strength is overstretched, the division commander still discussed with us and is ready to transfer troops from the division to help the defense of friendly forces. A company sent to the 70th Guards Division should have entered Colonel Lyudnikov's defense zone at this moment. ”

Kirillov said something that surprised Chuikov: "What. You've already sent troops. Went to reinforce Lyudnikov them? ”

"Yes. Comrade Commander. Kirillov replied in the affirmative: "The decision to send troops to reinforce the division was made by Division Commander Oshanina himself. However, after this company arrived at Colonel Lyudnikov's defense area, it did not participate in hard-fought positional battles, but used its familiarity with the city to engage in street battles or sniper battles with the enemy in the division's defense area. ”

"In addition to the defense area of the 70th Guards Division, where else did you send troops?"

"In addition to the company just now, we have also drawn a battalion of troops from the 2nd Regiment. Under the command of Captain Khrushov, commander of the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Regiment, he went to support those friendly defense areas where the fighting was tight. ”

"Very well, since you have made a careful arrangement, I am relieved." At this point, Chuikov paused for a moment, then continued: "There are still a few hours until dawn, so hurry up and rest." ”

The three of us slept for less than three hours when we were woken up by Basmanov, who came running in a rage. I slept soundly, and I was woken up from my sleep, and I couldn't help but feel a little angry. I stared at the anxious guard battalion commander in front of me and asked angrily, "Captain Basmanov." You hurried into the headquarters, is there something going on? ”

"Divisional commander, the situation is not good. The observation post of the guard battalion at the top of the hill reported to me that the enemy, who had occupied heights 107.5, had rushed down the hillside and into the Soviet Avenue from the east, and was currently engaged in a fierce battle with the 42nd Guards Regiment holding there. ”

"What, the enemy is attacking again?" When I heard the news, I immediately woke up completely from my half-sleep, I quickly picked up the phone, dialed the 2nd Regiment, and asked Pugachev, who answered the phone, in a hurry: "Commander of the 2nd Regiment, I ask you, your observation has not reported to you the situation of the German troops occupying the 107.5 heights. ”

Pugachev hurriedly replied: "Report to the division commander, I have just received a report from the observation post that the enemy has rushed down from the hillside and is attacking the 42nd Guards Regiment from the east side of the Soviet Avenue. Since I haven't had time to verify this news, I haven't reported it to you. ”

I hung up his phone in a huff and dialed the four regiments on the high ground to the north. The person who answered the phone was Xia Ping, the political commissar of the regiment, and after hearing my voice, he asked politely: "Comrade division commander, do you have any instructions?" ”

The situation was urgent, and I didn't bother to ask where Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar was, so I nervously asked again and again: "What is the situation on the high ground, has it been shelled by the enemy?" Also, did the observation posts on the hillside detect the enemy's ground forces? ”

"Comrade division commander, as far as I know, so far our heights have not been shelled or bombarded by the enemy, and the observation posts on the top of the hill have not found the enemy's attacking troops, perhaps our night raid last night completely disrupted their offensive arrangements."

"Got it!" After I finished speaking, I hung up the phone directly, looked up and ordered Basmanov, who was standing upright: "Comrade Captain, immediately go and gather the guard battalion, we are going to help Colonel Yelin's 42nd Guards Regiment." ”

When Basmanov went out to gather troops, Akhromeyev persuaded me: "Division commander, it's too dangerous, let's lead the troops to reinforcements!" ”

I waved my hand at him and said involuntarily: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't fight with me, I am the commander of the first division, and I have the final say here." Then, without waiting for him to refute, he decisively ordered him, "Call Major Morozov and ask him to take the mortar company with me." ”

Basmanov soon came in and reported to me that the guard battalion had been assembled. Before I raised my legs and walked out, I specially told Akhromeyev and Kirillov: "Comrade political commissar and chief of staff, I will lead the troops up, and you two will be in charge here." ”

Kirillov had been with me for a long time, and knowing my temper, he didn't persuade me, just nodded, and at the same time said with concern: "Stay safe!" Then he raised his voice and ordered Basmanov: "Captain, the safety of the division commander is entrusted to you, and you must promise me that she must return here unscathed." ”

Basmanov hurriedly came to stand up and replied loudly: "Please rest assured that as long as there is still one person in the guard battalion, I will guarantee that the division commander will return to the command headquarters safely." ”

It is said that it is a guard battalion, but in fact there is only one company of guards, and the remaining two companies are transferred to the fifth regiment. As I descended the hill along the traffic trench, I glanced back at the male commanders behind me, and couldn't help but ask Basmanov curiously: "Captain, where are the two of them going, why didn't you see them?" ”

After giving me a strange look, Basmanov muttered, "Didn't you send them to the health team?" ”

Due to the hectic nature of the war, I couldn't remember if Vera and the others had really been sent to the health team by me, but I let out a sigh and quickened my pace down the hill.

Coming down the hillside, Major Morozov and his mortar battery had been assembled. Seeing my arrival, Morozov hurriedly stepped forward to salute me and reported: "Comrade division commander, the mortar battery of the artillery battalion has been ordered to assemble, please instruct!" ”

I didn't even return the salute, but waved my hand at him and said loudly: "Major, take your people, and we will now go to reinforce the Soviet Street." (To be continued......)