Kirillov's proposal, I agreed without thinking. Because we used the tactics of sneak attack to capture Kafbas, and the battle just ended so quickly, it is estimated that until now, the Germans did not know that Kafbas had fallen into our hands. As for the German 336th Infantry Division following behind Vitkov, they may have thought that our commanders and fighters chose a desert with a difficult and inaccessible road in order to flee for their lives. It is strictly impossible to imagine that the units of our army are not defeated, but systematically withdrawn to Kafbas. Under such circumstances, it is entirely possible for us to ambush the Germans to the north of the city.

When I assigned the combat mission, Pugachev said with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, our forces are limited. If you want to set up an ambush in the north of the city, then the city's defenses will be insufficient. Once the Germans touch from the south, we will be in a very dangerous situation. ”

"Major Pugachev, don't worry." When I heard Pugachev take the initiative to raise this question, I hurriedly comforted him and said: "Put a guard company in the south of the city, keep two companies in the city, and the rest of the troops will go to the north of the city to set up an ambush." Even if the enemy's forces are strong, as long as they can hold out for a few hours, the troops led by Chief of Staff Vitkov will be able to arrive. ”

"Okay then, I'll arrange it." After Pugachev finished speaking, he turned and left the command.

Looking at Pugachev's back, Romanov said to me: "Comrade commander, I think there are too few commanders in the command, comrades like Major Pugachev. Sometimes you have to be responsible for several aspects at the same time. ”

"Not bad. Comrade Deputy Commander. You're right. Kirillov also agreed with his statement, but he could only lament the current situation: "We have always lacked commanders with rich combat experience, so Major Pugachev had to temporarily assume the role of generalist." ”

"Political commissar, deputy commander." I waited for Kirillov to finish speaking before he spoke: "Not only does our army lack experienced commanders, but all units urgently need such commanders and combat backbones, but we cannot pin our hopes on our superiors. "Speaking of which. I turned my gaze to Kirillov, "Comrade commissar should know that Major Pugachev was an ordinary low-level commander before, and he also gradually grew up in the long battles. Therefore, in order to solve the problem of insufficient commanders at all levels, we can only rely on training. ”

As he spoke, gunfire rang out again. Romanov listened attentively, and then said with certainty: "Comrade commander, the sound of gunfire is coming from the south, it must be that the troops of Chief of Staff Vitkov and the German pursuers are exchanging fire." ”

"Our troops won't suffer, right?" Hearing Romanov say this, Kirillov couldn't help but ask worriedly: "You must know that our commanders and fighters have gone through repeated battles and long journeys. Exhausted, can you hold off the enemy's onslaught? ”

"Comrade Commissar. Rest assured. Regarding Kirillov's concerns, Romanov said confidently: "Colonel Vitkov is also a commander with rich combat experience, and at his level, he estimates that he will not let the troops blindly retreat, and may carry out a counterattack from time to time to delay the advance of the German army, so as to ensure that our army has enough time to set up an ambush on the way forward." The sound of gunfire we hear now may be that they are encircling and destroying the German troops that have broken into the encirclement. ”

At this time, the telegraph operator in the headquarters came over after receiving a telegram. He stood in front of us, holding the telegram in his hand, and looked at the few of us with a nervous expression, not knowing who to give the telegram to. At last I was the first to speak, and since I had never wanted to read any telegrams, I said to him: "Comrade telegrapher, give the telegram to the deputy commander." ”

Romanov took the telegram from the operator's hand, and after looking at it a few times, he said to us happily: "Commander, commissar, the telegram was sent by the chief of staff of Vitkov. He said that the enemy had entered the ambush circle he had set up and that the battle was raging. He was confident that he would completely annihilate the enemy within an hour and end the battle. ”

"Great, that's great." After hearing this, Kirillov said with emotion: "After the chief of staff, they have completely annihilated this enemy, they will be able to enter the city and join us, so that we will no longer be worried about the lack of troops." ”

Although the German pursuers entered the ambush circle of our army and were caught off guard by us. But their combat effectiveness was strong, and in the face of the siege of our army from all sides, his enemy relied on the terrain in which he was located, and carried out a stubborn defense. The battle was fierce and lasted for a long time, and it was not until midnight that the troops under the command of Vitkov barely managed to completely wipe out the entire battalion of German troops that surrounded them.

But when Vitkov and Andreushchenko returned to our headquarters, I exchanged only a few words with them and then ordered Andreushchenko to arrange the defense of the city. Since the 171st Division was crippled, there were less than 2,000 men left, so I left the defense of the city to them. And in the southern direction of the city, where the enemy might appear, I put Gaidar's four regiments on the ground.

Fearing that the troops in ambush north of the city were lightly armed, and that even if the German convoy had a few armored vehicles, they would have difficulty coping with it, so he called Pugachev and instructed him: "Major Perstian's tank battalion now has six tanks left, and you can send three to Captain Travkin, except for two to keep on guard in the city." The remaining one will be sent to the Gaidar regiment to be used as a fixed battery. ”

Travkin, with three companies of troops, lurked all night on the slopes of the hills north of the city, and did not see the enemy's convoy of supplies. At dawn, Travkin called me and asked me what to do.

I thought for a moment and replied, "Captain, although no trace of the enemy has been found now, the ambush circle cannot be canceled for the time being. In this way, you have the commanders and fighters take turns to rest and hurry up to eat. The enemy's various supplies on the front line are consumed so quickly, sooner or later a convoy will be sent to the warehouse to pick up the supplies. ”

The north of the city is safe, but the south of the city is in trouble. Gaidar called and reported to me: "Comrade Commander, the situation is not good, there is a German unit coming along the road to the defense area of our regiment. ”

"What, German troops?" When I heard Gaidar's report, I was taken aback and hurriedly asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, where did you get the information?" ”

"It was my scout who reported it to me via walkie-talkie."

"How many troops does the enemy have?" When I heard that it was reported by the scouts, I asked, "What kind of equipment are there?" ”

"According to the scouts, the enemy's convoy consisted of twenty trucks." Gaidar hurriedly said: "Since they are all covered trucks, the scouts can't see how many troops are inside, but the three trucks at the front of the convoy are all towing artillery, and they are all large-caliber guns. ”

"I know, Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar." From Gaidar's description, the Germans had at least one heavy artillery battery, so I ordered him: "Immediately prepare the commanders and fighters for battle, and put the tanks equipped for your regiment on the hillside, so that it can condescendingly strike at the German convoys and provide you with the necessary artillery support." ”

Putting down the phone, I immediately said to Vitkov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar has just reported that in the defense area of their regiment, a convoy of twenty trucks has been found, three of which later towed heavy artillery. You immediately ordered the tanks that remained in the city to march towards the positions of the four regiments. ”

After giving the order, I looked back at Kirillov and Romanov, for I was going to see the front for myself, and I had to find someone to accompany me, otherwise my movement would be restricted. My eyes swept over the two of them for a long time, and finally I decided to let Romanoff accompany me. So I said to Romanov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I plan to go to the front to have a look, can you go with me?" ”

"No problem, Comrade Commander." Romanov readily agreed: "I'll go with you." (To be continued......)

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