When we arrived at Dokuchaev, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon, and as soon as the army headquarters had been arranged, an urgent telegram was received from the headquarters of the army group.

The telegram, signed by Khalitonov himself, reads: "In order to clear the way of the main forces of the Front, your troops should launch an offensive on the evening of February 9 against the enemy forces entrenched west of Dokuchaev at Kinnotsga, Norway, and restore the smooth flow of road No. 20, and the battle must end before ten o'clock in the morning of the 10th." ”

When I saw this telegram, I looked up and asked Vitkov: "Chief of Staff, do you have detailed information on the German army there?" ”

Vitkov nodded, handed me a telegram he had just received, and said with a stern expression: "The Norwegian town of Kinnotska is seven kilometers southwest of our city. and Volnovakha at a distance of fifteen kilometers. The enemy built a large number of civil bunkers and firing points here, firmly controlled the entire road, and completely cut off the connection between our front army and the southern front. ”

I took the telegram and didn't read it immediately, but casually asked, "What kind of troops is the enemy?" ”

"According to the reconnaissance of our troops," Vitkov had already memorized the contents of the telegram, and when he heard my question, he immediately replied unequivocally: "The Germans placed a battalion headquarters in the town, where two infantry companies were stationed, and at the same time there was an artillery observation post. In the event of an attack on the defenders, they can call in long-range artillery for support. Therefore, several operations launched by the 6th Army to open up lines of communication ended in failure. ”

I took the telegram and quickly found the location of the Norwegian town of Kinnotska on the map. It has to be said that the Germans chose this position very well, not threatening the flank of our army in a strict manner. At the same time, it also restricts the movement of our troops. It's like a fish bone stuck in our throats. It's really annoying.

"Comrade Commander, how are you going to fight?" When Vitkov asked this, he unconsciously raised his hand and looked at his arm, perhaps he was worried that we would not have enough time to attack. "You know, friendly forces have launched several attacks on this town, but they have failed under enemy fire. So if we were going to attack, we had to find a way to knock out the enemy's artillery observation posts. So that the enemy, when attacked by us, will not be able to provide the firing elements for the shelling. ”

"You are very well thought out, Comrade Chief of Staff." After seriously considering Vitkov's suggestion, I said: "In this case, immediately send out the sniper detachment of Second Lieutenant Vasily and let them find a way to take out the enemy's artillery observation post." As for the next battle," I couldn't help but raise my hand to look at my watch when I said this, and found that the hour hand was already pointing to four o'clock, "Let's gather a few division commanders for a meeting first." Plan it well. ”

When Vitkov accepted my order to call the commanders of the divisions. Kirillov approached me and whispered: "Comrade Oshanina, the time given to us by our superiors is too short, and if we meet the battle in such a hurry, I am afraid that our attack will be ......."

Without waiting for Kirillov to finish speaking, I hurriedly raised my hand to stop him from continuing, glanced at the busy communications staff, and whispered to Kirillov: "Comrade commissar, I understand. Our troops have just arrived here, and they are still very unfamiliar with the surrounding environment, and if they rush into battle, they will suffer a great loss. But the order from above is clear, we must settle the battle by ten o'clock tomorrow morning anyway. ”

"Are you sure?" Kirillov asked worriedly.

I tried to squeeze a smile on my face and said calmly: "Comrade Political Commissar, don't forget that our independent division, although it has not been established for a long time, it has indeed been a unit with outstanding combat achievements and rich combat experience. When we were covering the withdrawal of the main forces of the 64th Army to Stalingrad, we also carried out a night attack on Guò, which severely damaged the German 29th Motorized Rifle Brigade and captured their division commander. I believe that in tonight's battle, the commanders and fighters of the Pantaireev Division will definitely make new contributions. ”

Because the 171st Infantry Division and the 84th Tank Brigade, which were stationed in the Volnovakha area, were too far away from us, the military commanders of the two armies were not allowed to attend this military meeting. Only Bantai Leev, Gurtiev and Artillery Chief Kaverin in Dokuchaev participated.

Maybe it was because of yesterday's victory, from the moment Bandereev entered the door, I found that he was in a particularly excited state, and he and Major General Gurtiev next to him laughed loudly, after all, nearly 300 enemies were annihilated in the first battle, and none of them were killed, as the military commander of the division, he did have proud capital.

Seeing that everyone was seated, and Pantai Leev was still excitedly pulling Kaverin next to him to talk again, Kirillov couldn't help frowning, he slapped the table twice, and said to Bantai Leev dissatisfied: "Comrade General, we are about to have a meeting, please keep quiet." "Pantyev, who had been trained by Kirillov, smiled embarrassedly at us and obediently closed his mouth.

Vitkov stood up and said to the participants with a stern expression: "Comrade commanders, in order to open up Highway H20 and restore the connection between our Southwestern Front and the Southern Front. The commander of the army group asked us to launch an attack on the German troops entrenched in the Norwegian town of Kinnotska tonight and to settle the battle by ten o'clock tomorrow morning. ”

After listening to Vitkov's announcement of the order, Bantai Laiev stood up, he frowned slightly, looked at Vitkov with a stern gaze, and said in a deep tone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the arrival of our troops in Dokuchaev is still very short, and the commanders have not yet had time to familiarize themselves with the surrounding environment. I would like to ask how our commanders can direct their troops to attack the enemy's entrenched town in an unfamiliar environment. ”

"General Bandereev, please sit down." Before answering his question, Vitkov politely invited him to sit down, and then said: "Since there is a German artillery observation post in the town, we have sent a sniper detachment of Second Lieutenant Vasily, whose mission is not only to snipe the German artillery observers, but also to light two fires outside the town to guide our artillery to the firing targets. ”

In response to Vitkov's answer, Bandereev nodded with satisfaction and did not speak again. Kirillov looked at Gurtiev and said: "Comrade Gurtiev. What is your opinion. It can also be said. ”

Gurtiev thought about it. He replied: "Comrade commissar, I would like to know the sequence of the offensive of the troops. What is the task of our division this time, as the main attack or as a reserve? ”

Kirillov did not answer his question, but turned his head to look at me, waiting for me to give Gurdiev an accurate answer. I stood up, coughed and said to Gurdiev: "Comrade General, due to the fact that your division has been replenished with more recruits. If you are allowed to serve as the main attack in such a night battle, the effect may not be too good, so according to the arrangement, your division will continue to serve as a reserve, and the main attack will be in charge of the troops of Major General Bandereev. Seeing Gurdiev's lonely expression, I comforted him and said, "The reason why I chose them to take on the main attack mission is because they have always maintained a sufficient fighting backbone in their division, and as long as there are new recruits to fill in, it will not be long." The entire unit is capable of forming combat effectiveness, and they have a lot of experience in night raids. It's perfect for dealing with the enemies in the town. ”

When Vitkov waited for me to finish, he asked me for instructions: "Comrade commander, do you have any arrangements for the 171st Infantry Division and the 84th Tank Brigade stationed in the Volnovakha area?" ”

"Chief of Staff, record orders." After seeing that Vitkov had prepared a pen and paper, I continued: "The 171st Division drew a regiment, commanded by the division's chief of staff, Colonel Borvinov, and cooperated with Colonel Bere's tank brigade to move at night in the direction of the Norwegian town of Kinnotskga. After the artillery preparation of our troops was over, they immediately launched an assault on the town. Seeing that he had finished recording the order, I waved my hand at him and ordered, "Send the order by telegram immediately." ”

The artillery bombardment before the attack was scheduled for 7 p.m., and when the shelling began, the assembled 22nd Guards Division would quickly approach the Norwegian town of Kinnotska by truck, and get off at a distance of about two kilometers from the town. As soon as the shelling was over, they immediately charged into the city.

Kirillov and I stood in the fourth-floor window of a building on the edge of the city, looking out in the direction of the Norwegian town of Kinnotska in the distance. Outside, lead-gray clouds obscured the moon, and the sky looked unusually low. The snow in the fields outside the city was only faintly reflected. I looked through my binoculars for a long time, but I could only see the black outline of the town, and I couldn't see anything else.

After a long wait, I suddenly saw two flickering fires burning outside the town. Almost at the same time, Kirillov, too, saw the bonfire that Ensign Vasily had lit, pointed to the distance and excitedly said to me: "Look, Comrade Oshanina, the light of the fire in the distance must be a fire that guides the artillerymen. ”

I nodded, turned and walked to the middle of the room, picked up the phone on the table, and after shaking it twice, I heard the voice of Lieutenant Colonel Kavilin, and I decisively ordered him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, let's begin!" ”

"Yes!" When I heard Kaverin's promise, I shouted at the others: "Start shelling!" ”

As soon as I put down the phone, it was like a thunderbolt outside, and then a dense burst of artillery rang out like thunder. The cannons of the 266th Artillery Regiment, the heavy howitzers of the artillery battalion of the Bantai Leev Division, from different distances and different positions, simultaneously fired heavily at the Norwegian Kinnotsga.

The battle is on, and the unbearable wait is over.

I am satisfied that our actions were not detected by the Germans before the start. Before the start, I cared about whether I could make a good start, and after the start, I was concerned about how to win. In order to properly deal with all the possible accidents in the battle, I tried to re-read my plan in my head, and I was relieved to find that there were no mistakes.

I walked to the window and raised my binoculars to look at the town in the distance, and a very spectacular picture immediately unfolded in front of us, the fire in the town, which reflected the nearby sky orange-red. One building after another collapsed in the light of the fire.

Seeing this scene, Kirillov said excitedly: "This Lieutenant Colonel Kaverin's artillery preparations are very good!" I thought that as soon as the shelling was over, the troops would be able to rush into the town and clear out the remnants of the enemy. ”

It stands to reason that I should be very happy to see the town occupied by the Germans being blown into a sea of fire by our artillery fire, but at this moment I have an ominous premonition in my heart, so I said noncommittally: "Comrade Political Commissar, we can't be too optimistic, you must know that we are fighting in an unfamiliar area after all, and it is difficult to say whether we can completely annihilate the German troops in the town." ”

"Yes," Kirillov said approvingly, "the Germans are not resigned to their own defeat, and our troops may encounter stubborn resistance from the enemy after storming the town." ”

I stared at the burning town in the distance and said thoughtfully: "Comrade Political Commissar, under our heavy shelling, in addition to the heavy casualties of the German army, the destruction of the town must have been particularly severe. If Colonel Bere's tank brigade arrived at this moment, it would not be able to spread out in the town, so it would be better for them to change their mission and make a detour to the sides of the town to cut off the retreat of the German army. ”

"Comrade Oshanina, you are very thoughtful, I have no opinion." Kirillov has always been very supportive of my work, and he has been in favor of my mention most of the time, and this is no exception. "I immediately called the chief of staff and asked him to inform Colonel Bere that the tank brigade would make a detour to both sides of the town, and that the retreat of the Germans must be cut off, it must be cut off." With that, he walked over to the telephone and went to make a call.

After half an hour of shelling, it finally stopped. The infantry offensive, which decided the outcome of the battle, finally began. Since the town was still burning, I could see the black-pressed crowds pouring into the town like a tide from all directions.

Relieved to see the growing crowd entering the town, I returned to the table in the middle of the room and sat down while gently beating my leg, which had become sore from standing for a long time. Suddenly, a walkie-talkie operator who was sitting in the corner of the wall walked up to me and said in a nervous voice: "Comrade commander, the vanguard of the 2nd Regiment, which was the first to rush into the town, was blocked in the attack!" "When he saw me looking up at him, he swallowed nervously before he finished the rest of the sentence." Major Yamin, deputy commander of the 2nd regiment, was killed, and the commander of the 1st battalion, Captain Khrushov, was taking his command. ”

Hearing that the attack of the 2nd Regiment had been blocked and that the deputy commander of the 2nd Regiment had died, Kirilov and I were so shocked that we jumped up from our seats. To tell the truth, since Major Yamin came from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, although he was commendable in both courage and command in the battle to defend Mamayev Hill and the 107.5 heights, he was never reused by me, and he was not even given a rank of rank. At this moment, when I heard the operator say that he had died, my heart felt like something had been stabbed in the heart. I took a deep breath and said to the operator: "Call Captain Khrushov to speak to me!" ”

When the operator contacted Khrushov, he handed me the microphone and headphones. I put the headphones on my head, held the microphone in one hand and said, "Comrade Captain, you are doing the right thing!" The troops must not be confused because of the sacrifice of a commander. For the enemy's point of fire, first, destroy it with mortars! The second is to leave a small number of troops to contain it, and the large army will temporarily bypass it to clear the enemy in other areas, so that not a single fascist bandit can escape from our hands. ”

After returning the headset and microphone to the telegrapher, I picked up the place on the table, dialed the army headquarters, and decisively ordered Vitkov: "Chief of staff, please contact Colonel Bere immediately, and their tank unit, after completing the encirclement of the town, should use tank guns to support the infantry rushing into the town and provide them with the necessary artillery support." Speaking of this, I covered the microphone and asked Kirillov, who was standing opposite: "Comrade commissar, is there anything else to correct and add?" ”

Kirillov shook his head and said, "No. ”

Seeing that Kirillov had no objections, I decisively ordered Vitkov: "All right, Comrade Chief of Staff, just give my order to Colonel Bere." At the same time order the troops of three more regiments to speed up the attack! ”

The battle was going on intensely, and the German artillery seemed to understand that our troops were attacking the Norwegian town of Kinnotskga, and a few shells fell sparsely in the middle of our attacking team and exploded, causing us some casualties. More shells landed on the empty wasteland and exploded, sending up pillars of snow mixed with dirt. (To be continued......)

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