As soon as Zhukov left, I couldn't wait to summon several regimental commanders to the command headquarters. When they listened to Zhukov's latest order, which I announced, they were dumbfounded.

After a short silence, the regimental political commissar of the 2nd Regiment, Vellol, asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, if we want to carry out a counterattack against the German troops in the front, will the group army or the front army give us additional troops and technical equipment?" ”

When I heard Vylore's question, I immediately remembered that Zhukov had held my hand tightly when he left, and said with emotion: "Lida, please remember that you can only use your existing forces in this counterattack, and I will not send you a follow-up force." Thinking of this, I shook my head and said to her regretfully: "Commissar Vellol, we can only rely on our own strength for this counterattack, and our superiors will not help us in any way. ”

After hearing this, Velore had a disappointed expression on her face, and she said worriedly: "Without reserves, with our poorly equipped and poorly trained division, it is doomed to fail to launch an attack on Hoult's 4th Tank Army." Why didn't you make this clear to Comrade Zhukov? ”

"Even if you say it, it will not help, Comrade Instructor, you must know that the situation near Stalingrad is very serious at present, the troops in all defensive areas are strictly insufficient, and in the face of the enemy's attack, the fighting is very hard. In order to reverse this unfavorable situation, it is necessary for troops like ours, which are not currently on heavy combat missions, to constantly launch active attacks against the enemy, to contain the German forces to the greatest extent and to reduce the frontal defensive pressure of friendly forces. ”

"But, Comrade Division." What else did Vellor want to say. was interrupted by Pugachev. He impatiently retorted to his regimental political commissar: "Political Commissar Velol, if you can say it, Comrade Division Commander has already said it, and you still need to remind you?" Please keep quiet and listen to what Comrade Division Commander has to say. ”

When we returned from the rescue mission yesterday, the 6,000 recruits that the group army had replenished to us arrived, because considering that the second regiment had lost too many troops, it not only lacked the backbone of the battle. There was also a shortage of commanders in the regiment, and in order to strengthen the leadership of the regiment, I specially appointed the political instructor Vellor as the acting political commissar of the second regiment.

Hearing my appointment, Velore was still a little reluctant, she pouted and said: "Lida, I don't want to be the acting political commissar of the Second Regiment, I just want to stay in the division headquarters as your deputy and assist you in commanding the battle." ”

To her displeasure, I simply said: "Instructor Vellol, the independent division wants elite and strong troops loyal to Comrade Stalin. To reform these prisoners from the Gulag concentration camps, there is a great need for political workers like you, who are rich in political theories. ”

She listened to me. Without saying a word, he went to report to the second regiment. Originally, I thought that she and Pugachev could get along in harmony, but I didn't expect that from their expressions at the meeting today, I found that there were a lot of contradictions between the two. However, now that the commander is understaffed, I can only turn a blind eye and wait for the second lieutenant training team to come, and then separate the two.

I turned to Sederikov: "Commander, how are the fortifications of your regiment doing?" "From the moment the troops entered this area, I repeatedly stressed the importance of fortifications to several regimental commanders under my command, and when I asked about it, I wanted to know whether they were carrying out my orders to the letter.

Shedelikov hurriedly stood up and replied: "Report to the division commander, the fortifications have been completed, and our regiment has built a total of three lines of defense. The first line of defense, with barbed wire and minefields, could withstand the first wave of German advances; The second line of defense was a trench dug by the fighters about five meters wide and two meters deep, which could block German tanks and armored vehicles; In the third line of defense, I deployed light and heavy machine guns and mortars, and the fire could cover the second line of defense. When the German infantry broke through our first line of defense, I would order mortar fire to intercept them, and when the enemy had suffered heavy losses, I would order five companies in the first line to attack and encircle the enemy, who had already suffered heavy losses from our troops. ”

"Well done, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov." After listening to Sederikov's report, I couldn't help but praise: "In terms of troop deployment and firepower allocation, your deployment is perfect. However, the only deficiency was that the firepower structure was obviously weak, and if the Germans attacked with small forces, it would not be a big problem. If the Germans had attacked with a large force, reinforced by tanks and artillery, and supported by aircraft, our positions would have been difficult to hold. ”

After saying this, I turned my head and asked Kosgaard: "Third Regiment Commander, how is the position of your regiment repaired?" ”

Kosgaard also hurriedly stood up and replied: "Report to the division commander, the position of our regiment is similar to that of a regiment, but in addition to building anti-artillery holes in each trench, we have also built a lot of hidden holes in the rear of the position, so that the excess troops in the regiment can be hidden. ”

"Not bad, not bad!" After I praised Kosga, I was about to ask Pugachev, the acting commander of the 2nd Regiment, when I saw Vylor sitting beside him, I suddenly remembered that the mixed regiment of the Vinnitsa Infantry School where she was located had been under siege by the enemy for three days and had broken through when they ran out of ammunition and food, and it seemed that there must be something worth learning from their fortifications, so I humbly asked Vellol: "Commissar Vylol, I have a question for you!" ”

When Velore heard me talking to her like this, she quickly stood up and said a little helplessly: "Commander, if you have anything, please ask, I must know everything." ”

I nodded and asked curiously, "Commissar Vylore, I remember when we first met, you said that the mixed regiment formed by your Vinnitsa infantry school held out in the enemy's encirclement for three days, and finally had to abandon the position to break through because of the exhaustion of ammunition and food. Am I right? ”

"Exactly, Comrade Division Commander." Vellore didn't know why I asked, but nodded.

"I want to know what kind of fortifications your regiment built at that time, and why it was able to resist for three days under the powerful offensive of the German army?"

Velore listened to my question, pulled out a notepad and pencil from her briefcase, and flipped to a blank page. Explain to us while drawing with a pencil: "At the top of the hill where our regiment was at that time. It is a flat round table. As usual. Our garrison should be built on the ridge of the hillside platform, so that we can have a clear view of the dynamics of the attacking German army, and at the same time, it is convenient to use our firepower from a high position to kill and wound the German army. However, after deliberation with our regimental commander and political commissar, the circular fortifications were displayed in the center of the flat round platform at the top of the slope. As a result, the attacking Germans could not see us at all under the hillside, either under artillery fire or light and heavy machine gun fire. None of them can pose a threat to us. And the attacking German troops had just rushed up the steep slope, and as soon as they appeared, they were already defeated by the dense fire of our troops before they could see where our troops were. So the Germans attacked for three days, and the slopes were littered with German corpses, but they were never able to capture our positions. ”

"Then did you have a lot of casualties in the group?" Gaidar, who had never spoken, couldn't help but ask.

Velore nodded and replied, "Although the Germans' long-range artillery and infantry fire did not do much damage to our defenders, they have aircraft and mortars. Bombardment of aircraft, and a large number of mortars and the like. On the first day, it caused the loss of nearly 40% of the personnel of our regiment. ”

Hearing Vylol's words, Pugachev let out a sigh of surprise. He didn't care about arguing with Vylore, and then asked, "If the troops are reduced by 40% on the first day, then by the third day, won't your troops be all gone?" ”

Velore waved his hand and said: "After the first day of fighting, the regimental commander called a meeting of the commanders of the various companies to discuss countermeasures to deal with the enemy's attack. A battalion commander pointed out at the meeting that our casualties during the day were mainly caused by German aircraft bombing and mortar bombardment, and since this is the case, then we should dig more bomb shelters in our positions to reduce casualties during German air raids. ”

"Does it work?" Even Shederikov, who has always been steady, couldn't help but interject when he heard this.

"Of course it works." Without hesitation, Velore replied: "It is because of the many anti-artillery holes dug in the position that the total number of casualties of our regiment in the next two days did not exceed three hundred. ”

"Less than 300 casualties in two days, what a miracle!" Gaidar said to me with emotion: "Comrade division commander, we should also learn from the mixed regiment and build our fortifications into the kind of ring fortifications that are easy to defend and difficult to attack. ”

I didn't object to his suggestion, I just nodded and said lightly: "Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, there are quite a few construction engineers in your regiment, you can gather them all together and brainstorm to study how to build the fortifications strongly. You know, our division will soon be moved to Mamayev Height, which, judging from the current offensive posture of the German army, will become the focus of contention between the enemy and us, so it will be of great help to our defense with well-established fortifications. ”

After hearing my words, Gaidar asked Velore again: "Comrade Acting Political Commissar, how far is your ring fortification from the edge of the hillside?" ”

Vellore immediately understood what he meant: "At a distance of about seventy meters, the Germans could not throw grenades that far, and curved weapons such as mortars could only be fired blindly, and the threat to the position was not too great." ”

Hearing the conversation between Gaidar and Velol, I suddenly thought that when Li Yunlong attacked the Yamazaki brigade, didn't the Japanese army also hide in similar fortifications? However, fortunately, due to the cultural differences between the East and the West, the Germans would not have the same thinking as Comrade Li, and sent troops to advance in the way of civil engineering, and then used grenades to blow up the ring fortifications.

Seeing that the issue of fortifications was almost discussed, I finally made a concluding remarks: "The matter of fortifications, for the time being, will be here. The fortifications of Sedjerikov and Kosgaard are standard in the curriculum of the Frunze Military Academy, and if they can be combined with the ring fortifications mentioned by Commissar Vylore, then our chances of victory will be higher. Next, we will continue to discuss the task assigned to our division by our superiors to carry out a counterattack against the enemy in front of us. ”

After I had finished speaking, there was silence in the room again. Seeing that no one spoke, I casually named the commander and asked him to answer my question: "Comrade Pugachev, tell me what you think." ”

"Comrade division commander, the Germans in front of us have suffered several great losses from our division, and when they know that we have built fortifications in this area, they will certainly build fortifications to prevent a possible counter-assault from us. We can only wait for them to leave their fortified fortifications and attack our positions. We need to rush out of the fortifications quickly. Take a short assault. Destroy the enemy's living forces. ”

"Comrade Pugachev's opinion is good, I support it." After listening to Pugachev's words, Kosjia first expressed his support, "The tactics of fortress against fortress and attack against attack have always been the magic weapon for our army to achieve victory. ”

"I also support the opinion of Comrade Pugachev." After Kosgaard's statement, even Vylol, who had a conflict with Pugachev, expressed his support.

Hearing the term short assault, I couldn't help but snort coldly. I knew in my heart that this tactic was a mistaken, purely defensive tactic. A few years ago, the fifth anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaign failed, and if I had heeded their advice and adopted this tactic, the day of the total annihilation of the independent division would not be far off.

Seeing that Gaidar also stood up and wanted to make a statement, I hurriedly raised my hand to stop him, and said resolutely in an unquestionable tone: "Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, don't say it. This tactic, as Pugachev mentioned, is very unsuitable for our division. In the case that the training of troops and weapons and equipment are inferior to the Germans, this tactic is used to fight with the enemy. It's worth the loss. ”

"Comrade division commander," Shedelikov ignored and stood beside him. Gaidar, whose expression froze on his face, took the initiative to say: "Judging from the series of victories achieved from the establishment of the Independent Division to the present, all the battles with small casualties and large captures have been adopted by us in the tactics of ambush and sneak attack. I have an idea, and I don't know whether to say it or not. ”

"Say whatever you want." Seeing that Shedelikov stood by my side without hesitation and supported me, I couldn't help but smile with satisfaction on my face and encouraged him to say, "Go on, tell the commanders present what you think." ”

With my encouragement, Sedjerikov said confidently: "Commanders and comrades, I don't know if you have noticed it just now, but when the division commander explained the task, he specifically mentioned the original words of General Zhukov: 'I will only give you the task of counterattacking, and as for how to fight, it is all up to you, and no one will interfere in your decision-making. ’”

After listening to Sederikov's words, several commanders present nodded their heads one after another and said in a rambling voice: "I heard it, but what's the use of this?" Anyway, if we don't provide us with technical equipment, we won't have friendly troops to fight with us. ”

Sedjerikov smiled slightly, and then said: "Except for the political commissar of Vylol, who is not an old man who has fought several battles with the division commander, don't you even understand the division commander's way of using troops?" Except for covering the retreat of the army group and fighting tough battles with the Germans face to face for the two days when we served as the rearguard, the rest of the time we used ambushes and sneak attacks, and this tactic proved to be effective for our division. Originally, half of the soldiers in the army did not have weapons, but after several battles, almost all the soldiers had weapons of different standards in their hands. What does all this mean? ”

"Hey, I'm talking about Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov," Kosgaard urged a little impatiently when he heard this, "Don't go around and around, can you just get to the point." ”

"Don't worry, Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard," Velore unexpectedly helped Shedelikov speak, "I think I understand what Lieutenant Colonel Shegelikov meant. He wanted to say that this counterattack against the German army was completely different from the previous style of play. Since we had no artillery, tanks, or air support, we had to resort to unconventional tactics such as night raids or ambushes if we were to win. Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, am I right? ”

Seeing that the female commander had fully understood his intentions, Sederikov replied with a smile: "Exactly right, Commissar Vylol. ”

"Comrade division commander, I still have one more question." Without waiting for me to speak, Gaidar opened his mouth again.

"Say, Comrade Gaidar."

"Since the German tank 4th Army has suffered great losses from our divisions, they will definitely strengthen their defenses. What I want to ask is, how to hide from the aerial reconnaissance of the German army and the scouts on the ground, quietly move our troops near their camps, and launch an attack by surprise? ”

As soon as Gaidar's words came out, everyone including me was immediately questioned. Yes, the Germans are not stupid, they have suffered so many losses from our division, if they don't know how to eat a trench and grow wise, then these German commanders can unload their armor and return to the field and go home to retire.

While everyone was silent, the voice of Basmanov shouting a report came from the door, and I hurriedly shouted outside: "Come in." Captain Basmanov. ”

Basmanov strode into the command headquarters. To my surprise, he didn't come in alone. He was followed by two women with headscarves.

I walked over to him, and without waiting for him to salute, I looked at the two women and asked, "Comrade Captain, what is going on, where are the common people?" ”

Basmanov glanced back at the two women behind him and replied: "Report to the division commander, just now a group of civilians were about to pass through the defense area of our division and were stopped by us. After an examination. Knowing that they were refugees who had escaped from the city of Stalingrad, they were trying to go south in search of a suitable ferry to the east bank of the Volga. ”

After listening to Basmanov's words, I thought I had heard it wrong, and hurriedly asked: "Comrade Captain, what did you say?" These are refugees who fled from the city of Stalingrad, and not to Stalingrad? ”

"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Basmanov gave me an affirmative answer.

I walked up to a slightly older woman and asked softly, "Comrade women." I want to ask you, why did you escape from Stalingrad? ”

Hear me ask. Instead of answering my question, the woman covered her face and sobbed quietly. Seeing that she could not ask for any useful information, I went to another young woman and asked kindly, "Girl, can you sue me, what is your name?" ”

"My name is Zorova, and I am a resident of the city of Stalingrad." The young woman, who was noticeably bolder than her companion, answered my question in a low voice.

"Then why did you flee from the city?"

"It's terrible that the Germans are bombing Stalingrad every day these days, and thousands of bombs are falling from the sky. It was as if a storm suddenly came, and the whole city was paralyzed at once. We hid in the bomb shelter, heard the sound of bombs exploding outside, saw that the sky was full of smoke, a haze, even in the middle of the day, it looked like night. ”

Hearing her say this, I couldn't help frowning and asked, "Didn't the municipal party committee organize your evacuation?" ”

Zorova gritted her teeth, shook her head, and said: "Some district Soviet functionaries quietly told me that the higher authorities had given an order that if the evacuation was to be started, or to lay mines in the factories, it would make the residents think that the army was going to hand over Stalingrad to the Germans, causing unnecessary panic, so the higher authorities ordered that the evacuation should never be carried out." ”

"And how did you get out now?" I asked with concern.

"German planes bombed the city for several days, and not a single intact building could be found in the city, and the streets were littered with bombed corpses. It was only then that the leadership of the city party committee ordered the evacuation of all the residents of the city to the east bank of the Volga River. However, because there were so many people to evacuate and there were not enough boats, thousands of people were killed by German bombs while waiting for the ferry at the pier. We had no choice but to leave the city and head south to find a new port to cross to the east coast as soon as possible. ”

"Further south, the Germans will be in the defense zone, and you will be killed by them." Verol, who walked to us at some point, said worriedly.

"Comrade commander, you don't have to worry." The woman who had just sobbed wiped away a handful of tears and said intermittently, "I am a local, and I know that there is a hidden crossing by the river where we can cross the river safely." ”

Hearing her say this, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind, since she was a local, maybe she knew some trails that ordinary people didn't know, and maybe she could sneak into the area where the German troops were stationed. Thinking of this, I curiously asked the women: "Comrade women, is there any unknown trail from here to Orlovka, in addition to the official highway?" ”

Instead of answering me, the woman wiped the corner of her turban on her nose and asked Zorova: "Zolova, do you know that there is such a path?" ”

Zorova nodded again and again, and said: "Yes, I am a staff member of the Survey Bureau, and when I used to build roads, I used to follow the engineers here to survey the terrain. ”

I was overjoyed to hear her say this, and it took no effort to find a place to find a place to get through the iron shoes, and we were just worrying about how to approach the German camp, and here came a common man who was familiar with the terrain.

After hearing this, Sergerichol became even more exaggerated, and actually shouted in unison, "Ula!" The two ordinary people were scared and a little dazed. (To be continued......)

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