In fact, which battalion will carry out this night attack mission, I just don't say, and Shederikov also knows in his heart. Before Nikolai and Kostrov appeared, I specially ordered Sederikov to draw men from their battalion to form a reconnaissance detachment and continue to carry out reconnaissance along the route taken by Sergeant Adir. Moreover, the two armored vehicles that entered the empty village were also discovered by the commanders and fighters of the first battalion, and if this task was handed over to other battalions to carry out, it would inevitably affect the morale of the first battalion.

Sederikov, apparently also understood what was in my heart, and he turned to Nikolai and Kostrov, calling their ranks with a stern expression, and said: "Captain Nikolai, Captain Kostrov, after my careful consideration, it has been decided to entrust this glorious and difficult task to your battalion to complete. Do you have faith? ”

"Yes!" Nikolai and Kstrov replied loudly.

Sedelikov nodded with satisfaction at first, and then ordered: "You have all heard the two precautions that the division commander said just now, and I will not repeat them here." I would like to add two more points: first, at least one platoon of soldiers should be left at the entrance of each village to ensure that none of them slip through the net; Second, we must catch two live mouths, because we need to know the movements of nearby enemies from their mouths. Got it? ”

"Understood!" Nikolai and Kostrov replied again loudly.

Shedelikov waved his hand at the two of them, motioning for them to leave, and at the same time said: "Now that the task is clear, then you can go back and prepare." ”

Watching Sederikov give orders in front of me, I couldn't help but nod my head secretly, it seems that war is really training people. A small company commander after a few months as a regiment commander. It is also becoming more and more mature. Even the problems I didn't consider, he thought of them and explained them to his subordinates. As long as there are a few more battalion commanders like him, someone will be able to share the burden for me in the next battle.

After Nikolai and Kostrov had left, I called Kosgaard to him and instructed him: "Lieutenant Colonel Koska, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov's regiment is responsible for destroying the Germans in the village, and you must not be idle. It's still early. You immediately return to the regiment and send two more reconnaissance teams to reconnoiter the cities discovered during the day, and you must find out the strength and disposition of the Germans. ”

"Understood," Kosgaard replied with a resolute expression, "I'll go back and deploy." Please rest assured, division commander, I promise to complete this reconnaissance mission, otherwise you will be removed from my post. ”

When both Sedjerikov and Kosgaard had left, Bandelyev asked a little uneasily: "Comrade division commander, do you think tonight's night attack will be successful?" ”

In response to Bandereev's concerns, I confidently said: "Don't worry. My deputy division commander, comrade. Didn't you see Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov giving orders to his subordinates in front of us just now? Speaking from his heart, he also has the demeanor of a regimental commander. Even the issues that I have overlooked can be taken into account. It was our actions that were discovered by the enemy, and the night attack changed from a sneak attack to a strong attack, and a battalion of five or six hundred men against more than 20 of them trampled them to death. ”

"Comrade division commander, you can't be careless!" "Despite our large numbers, if we cannot capture the enemy's armored vehicles in time, they can use the on-board radio to call for help," he kindly reminded me. In this way, even if we barely eliminate this group of enemies, we can't stay in this place any longer. ”

Bandereev's words reminded me that the Soviet army's combat effectiveness was poor, and I had known it for a long time, especially in the night battle in an unfamiliar environment, and maybe it would be fought to the end, not to mention the heavy casualties of our army, and let the remnants of the enemy break through in armored vehicles. I walked back and forth in command with my hands behind my back as I thought about a remedy.

Perhaps for fear of disturbing my thinking, as I walked around the room in circles, Pandereev stood by and waited patiently for me to make a final decision.

I was thinking that it would not be so easy for the enemy to rush out if he asked Nikolai to put a platoon of troops at the entrance of each village. The worst possible now is that our troops do not seize the armored vehicles in time, so that these enemies send out a distress signal, and then a large number of enemies will rush in, and if there are tanks and armored vehicles to cover the infantry attacking us, it will easily overwhelm our troops. It seems that the crux of the matter is to seize the enemy's armored vehicles first and control the radio stations on the vehicles so that the enemy cannot communicate with the outside world.

Thinking of this, I stopped. Seeing that I stopped, Bandeleyev immediately asked in surprise: "Comrade division commander, have you thought of any good way?" ”

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander, I intend to send a small detachment to sneak into the village first, quietly approach the armored vehicle and hide nearby. When the Nikolai battalion began to move, the detachment made a decisive attack, seizing armored vehicles in one fell swoop, cutting off the enemy from the outside world, lighting the attacking troops with the lights on the vehicles, and destroying the recalcitrant enemy with machine guns. ”

"Yes, that's a good idea." After praising him, Bandereev asked rhetorically: "Which unit do you intend to send to carry out this difficult task?" ”

"Let Captain Basmanov take a squad." Without hesitation, I replied: "The combat effectiveness of the divisional guard battalion is the strongest in the whole division, and I think it is appropriate for them to carry out such a task." Moreover, during the day, Captain Basmanov had entered the village with me, and he was well acquainted with the terrain. ”

"Someone, someone!" Bandereev walked to the door and shouted loudly outside.

With his shout, the second lieutenant on duty just now appeared at the door and asked politely: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, do you have any instructions?" ”

"Comrade Ensign, go and call Captain Basmanov." Bandereev commanded simply.

The second lieutenant agreed, turned and disappeared from the doorway.

After a short effort, Basmanov trotted all the way into the command headquarters and asked confusedly: "Division commander, deputy division commander, do you have anything to do with me?" ”

"Comrade Captain, come here." After Bandereev called Basmanov to his side. After explaining the tasks I had assigned to him, he asked, "Captain." Are you confident that you can do this task well? ”

Basmanov nodded vigorously. He replied: "Please rest assured, I promise to complete the task." ”

I approached him and said in a kind tone: "Comrade Captain, the men on the mission should be selected from the soldiers who have been to the village during the day today, after all, they are more familiar with the terrain than other soldiers. By the way, I think Mikhailov and Zhukhovetsky are two good fighters, and they look quite elf. Let them join in. ”

After Basmanov left, I walked to the wall of the headquarters, sat down on a bench, and said to Pantai Leev lightly: "Okay, comrade deputy division commander, we have all assigned the tasks that should be assigned; We also explain the precautions that should be explained. Next, let's take a break and maybe wait for us to wake up. Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov: They will bring good news. ”

However, at this moment, Bantai Leyev looked a little upset, and he waved his hand. "Comrade division commander, you can rest, and I will study the map again to see how our thousands of men can successfully get out of danger before the enemy's encirclement is formed, if a large German force rushes over." ”

When Bandereev said this, he obviously did not realize that he had committed a lot of taboos in his words, and as a divisional commander, how could he arbitrarily assume that our troops would be surrounded by the enemy? That's what I heard, and if someone in the Ministry of Internal Affairs heard it, they might have labeled him a defeatist rhetoric. Seeing that he didn't plan to rest, I didn't force it, and after putting my legs on the bench, I leaned my back against the wall behind me and began to close my eyes.

I don't know how long it took, but I vaguely felt someone gently shaking my shoulder, and at the same time a voice shouted urgently: "Hey, division commander, division commander comrade!" Wake up, wake up! ”

I heard the voice of Bantai Leev, and I was so frightened that I jumped down from the bench and asked loudly: "What's the matter, what's wrong?" ”

Bandereev took a step back, and only then did he report to me unhurriedly: "Comrade division commander, Lieutenant Colonel Shederikov is here, and he wants to report to you about the fighting in the village. ”

Hearing Bandereev say this, my eyes quickly looked behind him, and sure enough, I saw Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, the commander of the regiment, standing there with his waist straight. I walked quickly to his side and asked nervously: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, how is the situation, have all the German devils in the village been eliminated?" ”

Sederikov nodded with a smile and said in an affirmative tone: "Yes, comrade division commander, all the Germans in the village, except for two who were captured, were exterminated by us. ”

Although I heard that the German soldiers in the village had been wiped out, I was still unsure, so I asked, "In the course of your operation, the enemy did not use the car radio to communicate with the outside world, right?" ”

"No, Comrade Division Commander." Sederikov replied unequivocally: "According to the report, as soon as the troops of the first battalion entered the village, they were spotted by enemy sentinels, who immediately fired warning shots. Hearing the gunshots, the fighters of the divisional guard battalion, who had been hiding near the armored vehicles, rushed out, cleanly killed the two German soldiers who remained in the armored vehicles, and lit up our attacking troops with their headlights. ”

"Is the battle fierce?" I then asked.

My question silenced Sederikov for a moment before he vaguely replied: "It's not intense." The sentry at the entrance of the village was shot and killed by our soldiers, and then a battalion rushed into the village from all four directions at once. The German soldiers did not expect that in this deserted village, they would be attacked suddenly and we were taken by surprise. Many soldiers were swept down by the machine guns on the armored vehicles as they ran out carrying weapons and getting dressed. After seven or eight soldiers were defeated, the rest of the men scattered and fled into nearby houses for safety. ”

I heard that the battle was not fierce, my heart was a little more steady, according to this style of fighting, the casualties of our army were definitely not great, but I still asked: "How about the casualties of the troops?" ”

"We killed 17 German soldiers and captured 2, one of them a lieutenant and the other a corporal." It was only after reporting on the results of the battle that Sederikov said about the casualties of our troops: "11 people were killed, 29 were wounded. ”

Hearing such casualties, I couldn't help but frown. Shedelikov, who is good at observing words and feelings, hurriedly added: "That's right. Comrade division commander. After the enemy is scattered. They fled to nearby houses to hide. Almost all of our casualties came when these fascists were expelled from civilian homes. ”

"Damn the Germans." After scolding indignantly, Bandereev asked: "When will Nikolai and Basmanov and the prisoners they escorted here?" ”

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," Sederikov said respectfully, "I rushed to the division headquarters as soon as I received a report from the fighters sent back by Nikolai. Judging from the time, it was probably a few minutes before the captives should have been brought over. ”

His voice had just fallen. At the door, Basmanov's voice shouted a report: "Report to Comrade Division Commander, Captain Basmanov, Commander of the Guards Battalion, and Captain Nikolai, Commander of the 1st Regiment and 1st Battalion, escort the captured German prisoners to arrive, please instruct!" ”

"Bring them in!" Pandereev commanded loudly at Basmanov, who was standing at the door.

Basmanov agreed, turned to one side, shook his head outside, and said loudly: "Take the prisoners in." With that, he was the first to walk in, followed by Captain Nikolai. Then there were two dejected German prisoners and two fighters who were holding them.

Bandelyev beckoned me to answer and sat down at the table and ordered Shederikov: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. Please help us make a record. ”

So, I sat side by side with Bandereev facing the prisoners, while Sedjerikov sat on our left-hand side, acting as a temporary note-taker. The necessary German interpreter for the interrogation was Captain Nikolai, who had worked under the Germans for so long and his German skills were no less.

After staring at the two German prisoners in front of him for a while, Bandereev said to Nikolai: "Comrade Captain, please translate my words to them, and I would like to ask these two captured officers and soldiers a few questions. First, ask them to tell us their names and ranks. ”

Nikolai translated Bandereev's words almost simultaneously.

After listening to the translation, the German lieutenant stepped forward, put his hands on the seams of his trousers, and said loudly: "Lieutenant Braun, the commander of the motorized infantry platoon of the 297th Infantry Division. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, the young corporal also took a step forward and continued, "Corporal Hans, Lieutenant Braun's herald." ”

After listening to the ranks and names they had reported, Bandereev did not speak, but silently stared at the two German officers and soldiers. I could not help but see a look of fear on the face of the Germans under the angry gaze of Bandereev. Seeing this, I was a little unbearable, so I took over from Bandeleyev and asked, "Lieutenant Braun, I want to ask you a question. Where was your division originally stationed? ”

Hearing my question, Lieutenant Braun, glancing at my rank, immediately replied without hesitation: "Report to Madam General, our division was originally stationed on the Don River, and was supposed to be transferred to Stalingrad, but halfway through we received information that your Don Front was about to attack, so we stopped our advance and came to our present station. ”

"Why did you come to this village?" I asked curiously.

"Because we noticed a small group of Soviet troops around the city during the day, our battalion commander ordered our platoon to search nearby." Braun, probably intimidated by my rank, replied honestly, "Because it was getting late, I took my patrol to this village to rest." I just didn't expect ......"

Braun didn't continue in the middle of speaking, and Bandereev sneered at this time and said, "I didn't think of anything? Didn't you expect us to send troops to attack you in the middle of the night? ”

"Yes, Mr. Colonel." Braun lowered his head deeply as he finished answering the question.

"How many troops are there in the city?" I then asked myself the question, "What defenses are there or not?" ”

After listening to the translation, Braun replied with a rattle, "No, we only entered that town yesterday, and we haven't had time to build fortifications yet." As for the troops, there were two battalions that had been lost in the early battles and were responsible for defending the city's baggage. ”

When I hear this term, my eyes light up. Xiao Jiujiu suddenly fought in his heart, if we can seize this batch of supplies from the German army, then we can extend the time of our activities behind enemy lines. Thinking of this, I turned my head to look at Pantai Laiev next to me, and I was also happy to see him.

Seeing that my eyes were looking at him, he nodded and continued to ask Braun: "Mr. Lieutenant, I would like to know, how many troops are still in the two battalions you said of losing Yan Zòng?" ”

When Braun heard this question, he hesitated for a moment, and then asked tentatively, "Mr. Colonel, if I answer the question truthfully, I won't be shot, right?" ”

"No!" I was deeply afraid that the jealous and hateful Bandereev would say something inappropriate, so I hurriedly replied first: "We will give you the treatment that a captured officer deserves." ”

After Braun received my promise, he nodded, and then replied: "We now have only 20~40 people left in each company, and the two battalions together are only more than 300 people. Heavy armament was five tanks and a dozen armored vehicles. ”

Having received the information we needed, Bandereev waved his hand at Basmanov and ordered: "Comrade Captain, take the prisoners down first, find a place to lock them up, don't embarrass them, maybe we have something to ask them." ”

"Yes!" Basmanov agreed, beckoning two warriors to escort the captives out. Nikolai also saluted us and walked out.

After there were only a few of us left in the room, Pantai Laiev suddenly became excited, and he said excitedly: "Comrade division commander, did you hear that? The baggage, the baggage of the German army, if we had captured this baggage, we would have been able to operate behind enemy lines for a longer period of time. ”

"yes, I heard you." I also excitedly said, "The enemy is only about 300 people. Although there are a few tanks and armored vehicles, they are not much of a threat to us, and we can send small detachments to hide around their heavy weapons before the attack, and seize them as soon as the battle starts. This will not only weaken the enemy's resistance, but also reduce the casualties of our troops. ”

"When will we act?" Sederikov asked impatiently.

"You're too impatient, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." I teased him and said, "Although the German prisoners have provided such information, we still have to verify it, and at least when the reconnaissance detachment sent by Kosgaard returns, we will not be too late to study how to attack." ”

When Shedelikov heard me say this, he had no choice but to say helplessly: "Okay, then we'll wait for Lieutenant Colonel Koska's reconnaissance detachment to come back." (To be continued......)