As soon as I returned to the command post, Akhromeyev came up to me and reported: "Comrade division commander, the order has been communicated to the troops, and the troops of the 1st, 3rd, and 4th regiments are being assembled. In order to avoid confusion, the regiments were to be withdrawn from the city one after another, in the order of retreat of the one, four and third regiments. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are doing a great job!" I was very satisfied to see that Akhromeyev had already arranged all the steps for the retreat of the troops in my absence from the command position. Seeing Kirillov and Pantyeyev sitting at the table talking in a low voice, he hurriedly walked over to greet them.

As soon as I sat down, I informed them about the arrival of a good artillery commander and an artillery battery from Rokossovsky's hands. After hearing this, Bantai Laiev immediately smiled and said: "Comrade division commander, this is really amazing. In the ensuing street fighting, we had a lot of places where we needed artillery, but Major Morozov's artillery battalion was almost disabled, and it was very good to provide enough artillery support for our attacking troops. Now that there is such an artillery unit, I think they will be of great use in the next battles. ”

Hearing that I was going to have another artillery battery, Kirillov considered the problem much more comprehensively, unlike the elation of Kirillov and Akhromeyev, and he cautiously asked me: "Comrade Oshanina, according to what you just said, this artillery commander named Kulishenko was poached by you from Commander Batov?" Seeing that I nodded in the affirmative, he continued, "Although Commander Rokossovsky has gone out to deal with you, will you completely offend General Bartov by doing so?" ”

Bandereev and Akhromeyev, who were originally excited about the addition of new troops. After hearing Kirillov say this. The expression on his face was stern. Both of them looked at me to hear how I explained it.

I don't know in my heart that I've done something that offends people, but when I think that Kurishenko's arrival can reduce a lot of casualties in the street battles, I feel that it is worth it. So after thinking about it for a moment, I said to Kirillov word by word: "Comrade commissar, I know how to do this. will offend General Batov. However, I was also forced to do so, knowing that our division was about to enter the city and engage the Germans in street fighting, and if there was not enough artillery support, we would pay a heavy price in the battle of the fortification. For the sake of victory, for the sake of the commanders and fighters of the independent division, even if I knew that I was going to offend people, I could only do it head-on. ”

Kirillov listened to my heartfelt words, stood up, stretched out his hands to hold mine, and shook them vigorously. After a long while, he struggled to spit out a few words: "Comrade Oshanina." I've wronged you! ”

According to the prior arrangement, I, Kirillov, and a regiment and a company of guards opened for Gorodishhe first. After our departure, Pandereev and Akhromeyev followed with four and three regiments, respectively.

Kirillov and I left the ruined city in a jeep and came outside the city. I saw a long line of trucks towing cannons on the side of the road leading to Gorodishe.

I saw Captain Kurishchenko and several commanders standing next to a jeep from afar. When he saw the jeep we were riding in, he immediately trotted over with the commander. I asked the driver to stop the car, then pushed the door open, and got out of the jeep with Kirillov, one left and one right.

Kurishenko and they came to a stop in front of us, and then neatly raised their hands to salute me and Kirillov. Then he loudly reported to me: "Comrade division commander, the 2nd Artillery Battalion of the Independent Division is ready for battle. ”

After Kurishenko's report, I pointed to Kirillov next to him and introduced him: "Comrade Captain, let me introduce to you, this is Comrade Kirillov, the political commissar of the independent division, from the Central Committee. ”

Hearing my introduction to Kirillov, Kulishenko and his subordinates hurriedly and neatly saluted and politely shouted: "Good commissar!" ”

Then Kurishenko introduced us to his subordinates, the commander with the rank of lieutenant was his deputy company commander, and the commander with the rank of second lieutenant was the commander of each company under him.

"Are you ready, Comrade Captain?" Although Kurishenko once reported to me when I got out of the car that the troops were ready to go at any time, I habitually asked.

To my question of doing too much, Kurishenko patiently replied: "Yes, comrade division commander, everything is ready." I and the platoon commanders of each platoon checked it, and all the personnel were ready for battle. ”

"Now that you're ready, let's go." After I said this, I asked Kulesov rhetorically: "Comrade Captain, who should lead the way?" Are you or me? ”

"Let my deputy company commander lead the way, he knows the terrain." Kurishenko replied briefly.

"Comrade Captain," Kirillov said amicably to the new captain, "let your deputy company commander lead the way in front, and you will be in the same car as us." ”

Kurishenko was very calm about a commander who was much higher than himself inviting him to go with him, he first explained many precautions to his subordinates, and after sending them away, he turned around and walked to the jeep, opened the door, and invited us to get into the car.

Kirillov and I sat in the back, while Captain Kurishenko sat in the front passenger seat. As I watched the trucks parked on the side of the road start up one after another and drive towards the lurk, I curiously counted the number of trucks. I didn't expect this number, and I found out that something was wrong, in my impression, Kurishenko's artillery battery had only nine cannons, but I found twelve trucks towing artillery.

When our jeep started, I curiously asked Kurishenko in front: "Comrade Captain, I remember that your artillery battery had only nine guns, but now how did it become twelve, what is going on?" ”

When Kurishchenko heard my question, he quickly turned his head to look at me and replied: "Comrade division commander, it is so, when I was assembling troops, I met my former division commander, Colonel Khorkov, who said that he was on the orders of the commander of the army group, General Batov. In order to strengthen the combat effectiveness of our division. Three more guns were added to me. ”

Kirillov listened. He smiled and said to me: "Comrade Oshanina, I was worried just now that you would offend General Batov by bringing Captain Kurishenko to our division, but now it seems that I am overly worried. After saying these words, he turned his head and asked Kurishenko in the front row: "Comrade Captain, how old are you this year?" ”

"Comrade commissar," Kurishenko politely replied, "I was born in 1922 and am just 20 years old this year......"

I heard mistakes in Kurishenko's grammar. I couldn't help but laugh out loud, and Kurishenko, who was reporting to the commissar, immediately stopped and just looked at me in surprise. Seeing that Kirillov also cast a puzzled look at me, I hurriedly corrected Kurishenko: "Comrade Captain, you should mean that you were born in 1922, not from 1922. ”

My words immediately drew Kirillov's laughter, and even the driver laughed softly twice. Although Kurishenko's face was flushed with laughter from our laughter, he continued to say: "...... I joined the army in the month of my birthday in September 1940, in June of the 41st year, after a period of training as an artillery officer. I was assigned to serve in the 173rd Artillery Regiment of the 979th Infantry Division, which was part of the Kiev Special Military District, with the rank of lieutenant. ......" he briefly reported his experience to Kirillov.

Wait for Kurishenko to finish presenting his resume. Kirillov then asked: "Comrade Captain, we asked you from the Don Front, do you have any ideas?" ”

Hearing Kirillov's question, Kurishenko was silent for a moment, as if thinking about how he should answer the question. He spoke in a slow tone, as if he was constantly considering the right words: "Comrade Political Commissar, I think so...... Anyway, it's all about defending the Motherland, then it's the same in the Don Front, or in the Stalingrad Front in the fight against the fascist invaders. Are you right? ”

In response to Kurishenko's answer, Kirillov nodded with satisfaction and said approvingly: "Comrade Captain, you are right to think so. I've always been worried about what Comrade Division Commander will think about you coming over from the 173rd Division. Speaking of this, he changed the topic in time, "If you have any requests for us, you can put them forward, as long as we can do it, we will try our best to achieve your wishes." ”

Kurishenko frowned and thought for a while, and then began to say: "Comrade division commander, this is the case. My company has only 120 men, and now our superiors have added three more artillery pieces to us, so that our manpower is a little tight. I wonder if the division headquarters can give us some artillery? Kirillov did not speak, but turned his head to look at me, waiting for me to make a decision.

Hearing that Kurishenko made such a simple request, I immediately replied cheerfully: "No problem, I will do my best to replenish the necessary manpower for you." In order to reassure him, I also gave him a further explanation, "Last month, we managed to rescue a group of captured commanders and fighters, and from these people, we selected nearly 200 artillery men to supplement the divisional artillery battalion. Since there were not many types of artillery in the division, most of the time these artillery pieces were used as infantry. When I get back to Stalingrad, I will ask Major Morozov to transfer the extra gunners of the battalion to your battalion. ”

"Thank you, Commander!" Although Kurishchenko tried his best to keep himself calm, his face still showed a look of joy that could not be concealed.

As we talked, the speed of the car suddenly slowed down. I raised my hand and patted the driver on the shoulder and asked him strangely, "Comrade driver, why is the speed slowing down?" ”

The driver turned his head and glanced quickly at me behind him, and replied: "There is a three-wheeled motorcycle coming towards us in front of us, and it seems to be Captain Yushchenko, the company commander of the special guard company. ”

I tilted my head through the windshield in front of me and saw a motorcycle coming on, all three of them wearing that particular body armor. I guessed that Yushchenko might have something to report to me, so I hurriedly ordered the driver: "Comrade driver, pull over to the side of the road and stop." ”

As soon as our car stopped on the side of the road, the motorcycle pulled up to our side and stopped. Then Captain Yushchenko, who was sitting in the sidecar, jumped out of the car, walked briskly to my window, raised his hand in salute, and reported: "Comrade division commander, we have carefully reconnoitred all the way from here to Mamayev Gang, and we have found no trace of the enemy. ”

The last attack on the road was a lesson for me, so today before we set out, Kirillov sent out Captain Yushchenko's special guard company and asked them to temporarily play as scouts to reconnoiter whether the road to Mamayev Hill was safe, and I didn't want to be attacked by the Germans again during the march.

"Thank you, Comrade Captain." After politely thanking Yushchenko, I instructed him: "You should now rush to the city of Gorodishe and tell Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, the commander of the 2nd Regiment, that he should remain in the city and serve as a guard until the friendly troops come to change the guard." ”

As the jeep we were in continued to move forward, Kirillov asked Kurishenko again: "Comrade Captain, what do you think about the fact that your artillery battalion will be used in street battles inside the city of Stalingrad?" ”

Hearing Kirillov ask what he is good at, Kurishenko did not hesitate to talk about his opinion: "...... Since for a long time, my artillery company has been fighting defensive battles, and now it has suddenly changed to offensive battles, and it is a tough battle in the city, then the commanders and fighters still need to have a process of adaptation. ”

"Comrade Captain, how many days will it take to get used to the adaptation process you are talking about?" Kirillov asked with a stern expression.

Kurishenko thought for a moment and replied: "It will take at least three days." ”

"No, Comrade Captain, resolutely not." I heard the conversation between the two and couldn't help but interject: "I'll give you a night at most, and you'll have to fight tomorrow during the day at the latest." Moreover, the street fighting is very different from your previous style of play, because there are many buildings in the city, the view of the artillery will be affected, so you will not be able to establish a fixed artillery position. In order to better support the infantry attack, I ask you to spread out your artillery, advance behind the infantry in groups of two or three guns, and destroy the enemy's fortifications or firing points cleanly as soon as you find them. ”

Kurishenko was dumbfounded by my words, and when I finished speaking, he muttered a defense: "Comrade division commander, this style of play you are talking about does not conform to the relevant regulations of artillery......

"To hell with the ordinance," I said impatiently, "in order to achieve victory, of course, you should fight as much as you want; We cannot stick to rigid regulations. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." Kurishenko replied helplessly. (To be continued......)