After making this difficult decision with a solemn expression, as if all his strength had been drained of his strength, his shoulders collapsed and he leaned forward, his eyes staring blankly at the map in front of him. Seeing his depressed expression, I had the heart to step forward to persuade a few words, but just as I was about to lift my feet, I couldn't help but shrink back when I thought of the scene where he grabbed the collar and almost beat him just now.

He sat there for a long time, then took out his cigarette case from his pocket and put it on his mouth, perhaps overly emotional, his hands trembling and striking a few matches, but he could not light the cigarette. At this time, I could no longer stand idly by, so I quickly mustered up the courage to walk over, took the matchbox in his hand, took a match from the box, struck it, and came to him. When he saw that it was me who struck the match, he couldn't help but be stunned, but he still brought the cigarette over and asked me to light it for him.

After the cigarette was lit, he took only two puffs, then threw the unfinished cigarette butt on the ground and stepped on it with his foot, looked up at me and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, tell me, is this retreat order I have given correctly?" ”

I nodded vigorously and said sincerely: "Comrade Commander, I think that you have made the right decision. ”

"Why? Let's hear it. ”

"The positions currently occupied by our army are located on the bare great plains, and there is no danger at all to defend. You know, to hold such a wide position on the defensive front, we have to send a large number of troops into it. And for the Germans, the numerical superiority that we have, in the face of the air supremacy and powerful armament that they have, is not worth mentioning. If they want to reoccupy these positions, they don't even have to send ground forces to attack. All it was necessary to send in the air force or place artillery positions on the surrounding hills. Indiscriminate bombardment of our positions. It will be possible to achieve the goal of destroying the positions occupied by our army. ”

When he heard me say this, he nodded thoughtfully, and said, "You have a very reasonable point, and letting the troops continue to stay in their positions in the open field is undoubtedly sending them to their deaths. But as you can see, this position was captured by us with great sacrifices, and we gave it up in vain. I'm a little unwilling. ”

Without waiting for me to answer his topic again, Semykov came over and reported: "Comrade Commander, I have just received a call from Lieutenant Colonel Tarantsev that the 102nd Naval Infantry Brigade under his command has entered the preset position on the banks of the Koska River, and they are holding in the rout of the 184th and 192nd Divisions while fighting the German vanguard that has broken through into the area. ”

"Comrade Captain, did you ask him about the specifics of Colonel Kharchenko's death?"

Hearing Kolpakchi ask Semykov this, I can't help but wonder how a lieutenant colonel commander from the Navy could know that the commander of the 192nd Division was killed. But I know that now is not the time to ask questions. He quietly listened to the next of the two of them.

Semykov replied: "I asked, Lieutenant Colonel Tarantsev reported. When he heard that a German motorized unit had pounced on Verkhniy Buzinovka, where the division headquarters was located, he immediately led his troops to reinforce him. When they arrived, the German motorized troops had already destroyed the divisional headquarters of our 184th Division and the 192nd Division, and the whereabouts of the personnel of the two division headquarters were unknown. ”

"Lieutenant Colonel Tarantsev took the right measures." Korpakich nodded approvingly, and then instructed Semykov: "You go and call Lieutenant Colonel Tarantsev and ask him to immediately take over the post of division commander of the 192nd Division." At present, he has three things to do: first, to organize an active defense and resolutely prevent the German motorized troops from continuing to advance towards the Koska River; 2. Gather as many of the scattered troops of the 192nd Division as possible; 3. Immediately send someone to find Colonel Kharchenko and bring back his body. That's all my order, go and pass it on! ”

As he spoke about recovering Colonel Kharchenko's body, I stumbled upon a teardrop sliding down his cheek. Perhaps he noticed that I was watching him, so he quickly raised his hand to wipe the tears from his face, and turned back to me and said, "Comrade Oshanina, I have decided that after the 85th Regiment withdraws from its position in the evening, let them go to this hill to set up defenses. In this way, they could be taken by surprise when the Germans swaggered past the hill unsuspectingly. ”

After saying that, he personally called Colonel Fanasyev, the commander of the 33rd Guards Division, to arrange for the 85th Regiment to move to the hill where the temporary headquarters was located, and prepared to teach the arrogant Germans a hard lesson tomorrow.

After calling Fanaseyev, he called Gurov again and gave a new combat order: "Comrade Military Commissar, the present situation is very unfavorable to us, the 33rd Guards Division has suffered heavy casualties and is no longer able to hold on to its existing positions, I have ordered them to withdraw after dark, to build a new defensive position on the hill where the headquarters is located, and to hold back the German troops passing under the hill. In addition, the 184th and 192nd divisions were routed, the commander of the 192nd division, Colonel Kharchenko, was killed, and I have already ordered the commander of the 102nd Naval Infantry Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Tarantsev, to take over the post of division commander and engage in battle with the vanguard of the German army at the preset positions on the Koska River. Now I order: the 1103rd, 1105th, and 1158th Regiments of Cannons to open fire at once, and to hold back the German troops attacking the positions of our army group on the Koska River, and we must not let these fascist bandits storm our positions. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Gurov replied very dryly: "I immediately gave an order to the three cannon regiments to provide the necessary artillery support for our troops guarding the positions on the Koska River. In addition, I propose to transfer the 508th and 552nd regiments of anti-tank destroyers to positions on the Koska River to strengthen the anti-tank forces there. ”

"You have a good idea, Comrade Military Commissar. Then do what you say! ”

He hung up the phone and looked down at the map on the table. After Shemikov came back after making the call, he instructed: "Captain Semykov, you go and call Colonel Jahua of the 131st Division and Colonel Sologub of the 112th Division, and ask them to draw out a regiment of troops each to reinforce the defensive positions on the Koska River." ”

"Comrade Commander, is it necessary to send reinforcements over for reinforcements? It should be known that the Koska River defensive line was not only defended by the 147th Division of Major General Volkhin and the 181st Division of Major General Novikov, which served as reserves, but also strengthened today by the remnants of the 102nd Naval Infantry Brigade and the 192nd Division, and the existing forces are fully capable of holding the position. ”

I gave Semikov a blank look, and said in my heart that you, a captain, dare to point fingers in front of the commander of the army group, and be careful to be scolded later. However, Korpakchi seemed to be very tolerant of Semykov, and he only explained: "Comrade Captain, you are quite right. But we are now preparing for the worst, the two motorized divisions of the German army, after defeating the 184th and 192nd infantry divisions, have already approached the Koska River line. He said, pointing to the map with his hand. On the border with our army is the right flank of the 64th Army, where there is the 229th Infantry Division deployed by Chuikov, but as far as I know, the defensive front of this division is almost 15 kilometers, but there are only 5 battalions on the position, and the other 4 battalions are still marching on the road. In the defensive depth of this division, although the 21st tank brigade was deployed, the number of tanks in the brigade was very small, only 5 KB heavy tanks, 9 T-34 tanks and 20 T-60 tanks, which could not compete with the German tank units at all. ”

"I understand, comrade commander, I'm going to call."

From Kolpacic's orders, I was surprised to find out that he was also a commander with rich combat experience and excellent command ability, and he could not only memorize all kinds of difficult place names, but also knew all the units to which the group army belonged well, and when giving orders, he did not have to look at maps and look through notebooks at all, like other commanders. I always wanted to change jobs and go to Chuikov, so I never noticed that there was a capable commander around me. Although the counterattack battle under his personal command today did not achieve the desired results, this was not his responsibility, but the result of the uncoordinated combat movements of the newly formed 13th Tank Army and its inability to coordinate well with the infantry attack.

As the sky gradually darkened, Korpakich raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then said to Semykov: "Comrade Captain, the 85th Regiment will come over later, and you will be responsible for liaising with their regimental commander and choosing a suitable location to build new fortifications. ”

After Sermikov agreed, he asked with concern: "Comrade commander, are you planning to return to the headquarters of the army group?" ”

Kolpacchi shook his head and said: "The headquarters will not go back for the time being, I am not worried about the Koska River defense line." I estimate that tomorrow at dawn the Germans will concentrate their superior forces and launch a fierce attack on our positions, and I will go there and personally command them. ”

Semykov asked: "Do you need me to accompany you?" ”

Kolpacic shook his head again and said, "This time let Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina accompany me." You will remain in the 85th Regiment as a liaison officer, and you will keep me informed of any updates. After that, he shook his head from me and said, "Let's go, Comrade Oshanina, come with me to the Koska line of defense." ”

I walked out of the command headquarters behind Korpakic, and I heard Semykov say loudly inside: "Everyone hurry up and pack your things, and then go to the Koska line of defense with Comrade Commander." (To be continued......)

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