In response to the request for help from Lieutenant Colonel Oleg and Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, I only fulfilled the request of the former, sending him a battalion of the three regiments of Captain Dubrovsky, the most combat-ready regiment. The request of the Fourth Regiment was directly ignored by me, and it was very unwise to rush out our remaining artillery when the Germans had air superiority. Good steel is used on the blade, and I plan to wait until the big counterattack begins, so that Morozov's artillery battalion can show its might.

As night fell, the Germans, having lost their air cover, stopped their assault on Mamayev Hill and the 107.5 heights. The fighting in the city continued, and the divisions fighting in Stalingrad, taking advantage of their familiarity with the terrain, launched a counterattack against the German army that had not gained a firm foothold in the darkness of the night.

Before dawn on the 12th, I received a report from the headquarters of the army group sent by General Krylov, from which I learned that our troops had advanced about 100 meters in some areas and occupied the western section of Novoselskaya Street, the western part of the orchard; In the "Red October" factory recaptured the open-hearth workshop, the model workshop, the profile workshop, the sorting workshop and the finished product warehouse. At the end of the battle report, there is also a note that Chuikov has clearly filled in: Although last night's battle did not expand our defensive positions and did not destroy too many enemies, it was a rare victory, because we proved to ourselves and to the enemy that we can not only defend, but also attack, and regain what we have lost.

When Kirillov and the others saw this battle report, their faces were red with excitement. Bandereev even optimistically said: "Comrade division commander, although the enemy has aircraft artillery. There are also several times more troops than us. But they were still defeated by us. If it's a little colder. The ice on the Volga River is thicker, and the troops and supplies we urgently need will continue to enter the city through the Guò ice transport line, and by that time we will not only be able to stop the German attack, but also drive them out of Stalingrad. ”

While everyone was rejoicing, the Germans launched another fierce offensive in several areas after dawn. Despite the stubborn resistance of the troops in the city. But in the evening, the Germans occupied the southern part of the "Barricade" factory and advanced from here to the Volga.

I read in the battle report that at 11:30 p.m., the Hitlerites threw themselves into reserve, and their infantry and tanks broke the battle formation on the right flank of the 241st Infantry Regiment of the Gorishny Division, advanced 300 to 400 meters, and advanced forward to the Volga River on a frontage 500 to 600 meters wide. For the third time, the army group was divided, and the Lyudnikov division, which had just been replenished by us, cut off contact with the main forces of the army.

However, the German offensive in the direction of Mamayev Gang did not have any effect, not only did they make no progress at Mamayev Height, but they also attacked the 107.5 heights. It's also a feather back. At the foot of the hill were left several damaged tanks and two or three hundred corpses of German soldiers.

Shortly after the defeat of the Germans. Akhromeyev received a report from the observation post on the top of the hill that soon after the enemy retreated, several small detachments of the 2nd Regiment came out of the fortifications one after another to collect guns and ammunition from the slain German officers and men on the hillside.

Hearing such a report, Kirillov said with emotion: "This Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, it seems that his brain is quite useful, if the weapons on these German corpses are collected, so that even if the ice transport line cannot be opened for the time being, their ammunition reserves can be maintained for a period of time." ”

Since the judgment made by the army group headquarters on the enemy's strength, weapons and equipment was finally confirmed, the battle on the 12th achieved good results, and our troops repelled the frantic attack of the German troops in all defensive areas.

During the two days of fighting, the Germans suffered heavy casualties, and thousands of soldiers fell on our positions. In addition to the fact that we sent to the army group headquarters a whole bag of documents captured from the killed enemy soldiers and officers, the rest of the divisions also sent various trophies, including documents.

When Major Basmanov, who had gone to deliver the German papers, returned, he brought back an order from Chuikov. The order reads: "The enemy is trying to break through to my front in the south-east of the 'Red October' plant and advance to the Volga. In order to strengthen the left flank of the 39th Guards Infantry Division and clear all the enemy in the factory, Oshanina, commander of the Red Banner Independent Division, is hereby ordered to immediately transfer a battalion to strengthen the battle formation of the center and left flank of the 39th Guards Division. ”

Seeing this unexpected command gave me a real headache. As the German offensive became more and more fierce, the attrition of independent divisions that could not be replenished was particularly severe, and many battalions were only a little more than a hundred men, which was only equivalent to a reinforced company some time ago. At a time when such a force is stretched thin, if we have to transfer another battalion to reinforce the 39th Guards Division, our forces will become even thinner.

After pondering for a long time, Pantai Laiev cautiously suggested to me: "Comrade division commander, see if you can call the commander and tell him about our situation here, and ask him to take back this order." ”

I can only smile bitterly at Bantai Reev's suggestion, since Chuikov gave such an order, it proves that he has made up his mind, it is obviously unrealistic for us to disobey the military order and not send troops, but where can I find troops now to strengthen the 39th Guards Division?

Just when I was at a loss, it was Kirillov who came out to defuse the embarrassing scene. He said with a solemn expression: "Comrade Oshanina, although the current enemy is very rampant, have you not noticed that this may be the last attack of the German army? I am convinced that it is no longer possible for the enemy at present to organize superior forces and receive new technical equipment, especially the replenishment of tanks, ammunition and fuel, as it did in October. And without these, especially without technical equipment, the enemy will not be able to help us. Since the command of the group army ordered the transfer of troops, then we should resolutely carry out this order. ”

"Comrade Commissar," Akhromeyev asked curiously, "then which regiment should we send to reinforce the 39th Guards Division?" ”

"I think it is possible to draw men from Comrade Sederikov's regiment, you know, although their regiment has been greatly reduced in battle, but recently they have also recruited a lot of new recruits from the scattered troops, the recovered wounded soldiers, and the desperate refugees."

"Since this is the case," I heard Kirillov take the initiative to mention the regiment, and I understood that he was thinking about it, and I said smoothly, "Then the chief of staff will call Sederikov of the first regiment and ask him to immediately transfer men to reinforce the 39th Guards Division." ”

After receiving Akhromeyev's call, Sederikov did not reply immediately, but euphemistically said that he wanted to speak to me personally. I hurriedly took the phone from Akhromeyev's hand and asked into the microphone: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I'm Oshanina, do you have something to say to me?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Division Commander." Shederikov explained to me why he did not immediately reply to Akhromeyev, "The reason why I did not reply to the Chief of Staff is because the troops we have recently replenished have not had time to train at all, and even if they are sent to the battlefield, they will not be of much use. ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you can't think so." Although I knew that sending untrained recruits to the battlefield at this time would send them to death, but in the current situation, I could only bite the bullet, "The situation of the 39th Guards Division is very bad at the moment, they have very few troops, and they are surrounded by German troops from the north, west and south at the same time, if we do not support them, they will be driven into the icy Volga by the Germans." Do you understand? ”

After listening to my words, Sedjerikov finally made up his mind and said: "Comrade division commander, I completely understand, I will transfer troops and let them rush to the defense area of the 39th Guards Division as much as possible. (To be continued......)