In response to his concerns, I said lightly: "Comrade Captain, you don't have to worry about this, I will soon replenish you with anti-tank weapons." ”

Hearing what I said with such confidence, Prokop's eyes widened as if they were copper bells and he asked, "Really?" Comrade Colonel, I wonder where this batch of anti-tank weapons is? ”

At this moment, there was a neat sound of trumpets behind us, and I turned to see that it was Basmanov commanding the male soldiers, and a group of about a dozen people dragging anti-aircraft guns were coming towards us. I bowed my mouth at the anti-aircraft guns and said to Prokop: "Comrade Captain, isn't it, let's use anti-aircraft guns to hit the German tanks." ”

Prokop looked at me, then at the anti-aircraft gun that had been dragged over, and said in a suspicious tone: "Can anti-aircraft guns hit tanks?" ”

I sneered, and said in my heart that I was going to use anti-aircraft guns not only to hit the German tanks, but also to use anti-aircraft machine guns to fight the infantry, which had only appeared during the Battle of Stalingrad, but was plagiarized by me and used in advance in the defense of the Pulkovo Heights on the outskirts of Leningrad last year. It was precisely because of this ingenious style of play that Zhukov paid attention to me, and gradually became one of his subordinates.

"Nothing can't be done, Comrade Captain." I said lightly: "It doesn't matter if it's an anti-aircraft gun or an anti-tank gun, as long as it can destroy the enemy's tank." At this point, I paused for a moment and then continued, "Captain, how many people are in your battalion?" ”

"There are 175 people in the battalion, Comrade Colonel."

Hearing this answer, I couldn't help but frown slightly. How can a battalion only have this little people. Come to think of it. I asked with puzzlement: "Comrade Captain, why are there only so many people left in your battalion?" ”

"The German air raids on the docks in the past half month have caused a large number of casualties. Almost all the fighters in my battalion were lost in air raids. As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Li Jiya beside me, and added, "Not only did my battalion lose Yan Zòng, but also the losses of Political Commissar Li Jiya's regiment, and even the regiment commander died in yesterday's air raid." ”

Seeing me turn my head to look at myself. Li Jiya, who was still sulking, hurriedly replied: "Yes, my anti-aircraft artillery regiment also suffered heavy casualties in the air raid, and there are only more than 200 people left in the regiment at present. ”

While he was talking to Captain Prokop, Basmanov, who was directing the soldiers to drag the anti-aircraft guns, trotted over with Vera, and from a long distance, he asked loudly: "Comrade division commander, where should we pull the artillery?" ”

"Captain Prokop," I said, pointing to Basmanov, after calling the captain to the front, "you take the captains and them to the barricades of your battalion." ”

Prokop nodded, then shouted at Basmanov, "Captain." Bring your people with me. ”

Look at the one who followed behind the guard company. It was a group of female soldiers dragging boxes full of shells, and I couldn't help but ask Li Jiya curiously: "Comrade Political Commissar of the regiment, why are there all female soldiers in your regiment?" ”

Li Jiya rolled her eyes at me, and said angrily: "Our 1077 anti-aircraft artillery regiment was originally a women's anti-aircraft artillery regiment, so what's so strange about being female soldiers." ”

"Where do the female soldiers come from?" I didn't care about her attitude and continued to ask seriously.

Hearing that I was asking this question, Li Jiya immediately began to gush: "Some are transferred from other units, some are residents mobilized by the district soviets, and many are students who are studying. ...... "When I heard the word student, I couldn't help but glance back at Vera and her other two companions, who had also served as anti-aircraft artillerymen, and later, before the position was lost, the commander of her regiment ordered them to flee for their lives, but most of the girls who escaped from the position were killed by the overseers in the rear.

I smiled at Li Jiya and said in a friendly manner: "Comrade Political Commissar of the regiment, in fact, I also used to be an air defense soldier. ”

When Li Jiya heard me say this, her two eyebrows couldn't help but raise up, and asked curiously: "Yes, Comrade Colonel, you used to be an air defense soldier, I don't know which anti-aircraft artillery regiment you belonged to?" ”

"I was the first to give the 171 anti-aircraft machine gun platoon near Smolensk, as an anti-aircraft machine gun shooter. At the beginning of this year, I was transferred to the Leningrad Front, where I was assigned to the ice transport line as the commander of an anti-aircraft artillery battalion. ”

"Have you shot down enemy planes in those places? Comrade division commander. Originally, I was chatting with Li Jiya, but I didn't want to arouse the interest of Vera and the three of them, and the curious Vera asked regardless of her identity.

I nodded vigorously and replied, "At the meeting, I shot down two German planes. Later, on the ice transport line, the battalion under my command shot down about 10 enemy planes. ”

"Comrade Colonel, your results are good." Li Jiya said in surprise: "In other words, you and your subordinates have almost killed a flying squadron of the German army. ”

"I think so, Commissar Li Jiya." After speaking, I took Li Jiya's hand and continued to walk forward. Seeing that the expression on her face was softened compared to just now, he said to her with a pleasant face: "Comrade Political Commissar of the regiment, you may still be angry about what I just said, but I have to say to you that we all hope that our troops can defeat the enemy who is attacking, but the actual situation now is that the enemy is far stronger than us, so in the next battle, we will inevitably have to fight some defeats." As a middle-level commander, if you don't have this kind of psychological endurance, how can you command the troops to fight? There is nothing remarkable about losing the battle, even if the enemy barely wins the victory, their strength is also weakened by us little by little in the battle. Even if the enemy captures the position, it is not a big deal, and we, as commanders, must remain calm, not be frightened by the enemy's attack, and immediately organize troops to counterattack and retake the position from the enemy's hands. In the end, the victory will be ours, and I have always believed in that. ”

After listening to my words, Li Jiya was silent for a long time before she said with difficulty: "Comrade Colonel, what you said makes sense, I blamed you just now. ”

Talking. We came to the defense zone of the internal affairs division. I saw it at the end of the avenue leading to the pier. On both sides of the road were fortifications of five or six sandbags and logs, and at this moment anti-aircraft guns were placed behind the barricades, with long barrels pointing straight ahead from the chest wall made of sandbags.

Lieutenants Prokop and Basmanov came running together and reported to me that the anti-aircraft guns were in position, and then Captain Prokop politely said to me: "Comrade Colonel, it is too dangerous here, you better hide in the building." "Finished. He turned around and walked towards a building not far away.

The building, which had been bombed by enemy planes, was still standing, and a few of us followed Captain Prokop carefully up the hole-ridden staircase, and through the rubble-strewn corridor to a window on the second floor. Captain Prokop stopped, pointed outside, and said: "Comrade Colonel, here you can observe enemy troops in the distance. ”

I nodded, raised my leg and was about to walk towards the window, but was stopped by Li Jiya. She kindly reminded me: "Comrade Colonel, don't stand at the window. That would be spotted by the Germans in the distance, and if they opened fire, you would be in danger. I smiled politely at her concern, then walked to the window, leaned against the wall, and raised my binoculars to look cautiously into the distance.

The road is flanked by buildings, and almost all of them have been destroyed by German air raids on several occasions, and the rubble formed by the collapse of the outer walls has become narrow. Seeing this situation, I nodded secretly, thinking that in such road conditions, there was no way for the German tanks to advance quickly, and there was still a great hope of success for anti-aircraft artillery to hit such a slow-moving target.

I zoomed back the camera, and on each side of the road directly to the left, there was a gray-white cement bunker, and outside the bunker, there were three German tanks, two of which were still burning, and black smoke filled the entire street.

At this moment, suddenly two tank shells whizzed over, exploding in front of and behind the abandoned tank, kicking up two streams of dirt, and it seemed that the Germans were about to attack.

Before I could retract my head, a few more shells flew over, and in addition to continuing to hit the tank around the tank, one shell hit the pillbox on the right side of the road. Seeing the flames of the bombs on the bunker and the slag of cement flying everywhere, my heart went to my throat, and I thought that this bunker would not be destroyed by the German tank guns like this, right? When the smoke cleared, I saw that only the top of the bunker had been destroyed by a bomb, but the whole thing was still unharmed, and my hanging heart was also relaxed.

I don't know what kind of harassment was waged against the Germans by Oleg's side, but the Germans attacked soon after I reached the building. Looking at the tanks slowly moving towards us, and the German soldiers who were already jumping around in the pile of masonry and rubble, I turned around and said to Li Jiya with a stern expression: "Comrade Political Commissar of the regiment, please go back to the unit immediately and let the girls use anti-aircraft guns to knock out these tanks." In order to strengthen her confidence, I also made a point of emphasizing: "The German tanks are very slow, and it is much easier than hitting enemy planes in the sky." ”

Li Jiya probably understood what I meant, smiled and assured me: "Please rest assured, Comrade Colonel, that even if my anti-aircraft artillery regiment is exhausted, these German tanks will never be allowed to enter our docks." After saying that, he raised his hand and saluted and turned to leave.

Seeing Li Jiya leaving, Captain Prokop hurriedly asked me for instructions: "Comrade Colonel, what is the mission of our battalion?" ”

"The task is clear, Comrade Captain." I said in an official tone, "Your battalion's task is to kill all the infantry who are following the tanks, and let them go to hell like the two burning tanks below." After saying that, I shook my head at Basmanov again and ordered: "Comrade Captain, you go with him." There were fewer soldiers in the captain's battalion, and the soldiers of the guard company were also placed in positions. ”

Hearing me say so easily, Captain Prokop had confidence in his heart that he would win, and he swore to me: "Don't worry, Comrade Colonel, my soldiers and I will send these German devils to hell." ”

When the first tank was still more than a hundred meters from our pillbox, the anti-aircraft guns opened fire. Maybe it's because the girls are so nervous, and at such a close distance, they actually miss. The shells landed in the rubble next to them, and the blast of the explosion lifted the masonry high and then crackled into the German tanks. However, this damage was negligible for German tanks. It continued to move forward slowly. At the same time, a shot was fired.

Tanks were seen firing. My heart thumped again, with the tactical level of the German army, firing at such a close distance would definitely be rewarding. I was secretly praying in my heart that this shell had better miss and not hit our position. Even if you hit the position, don't hit the gun emplacement where the girls are staying. Although I am used to seeing life and death, every time I see a young female soldier who has died. My heart is like a knife, otherwise I wouldn't have vomited blood yesterday because I saw the female signal soldiers sacrificed in the air raid.

The German tank shells did not pose much threat to our pillboxes, and they only blew up a few pieces of wall skins in the middle of the mission, and the soldiers in the bunkers kept firing, knocking down the German soldiers jumping on the rubble from time to time. Although the tank will not be able to destroy our pillboxes as long as they do not hit the firing hole directly. But our fighters lack anti-tank weapons, and they can't help those tanks that show off their might.

Look at the tank that looks like a snail crawling. I got a little more insight into the future of urban street fighting, where tanks, mobile artillery, and motorized infantry would be useless in narrow streets, and would instead be targets for soldiers hidden in the buildings on either side.

At this moment, Basmanov, who had just left, came running up and reported to me with a happy face: "Comrade division commander, the commander of the 35th Guards Division has arrived. ”

Before I could ask what was going on, a commander I had met had already appeared in front of me, and after raising his hand and saluting, he reported: "Comrade Colonel, the anti-tank company of the 35th Regiment of the 101st Guards Infantry Division has been ordered to come to your aid, and Instructor Gerasimov reports to you and awaits further orders." ”

I stepped forward and shook the instructor's hand and said excitedly: "Great, instructor Gerasimov, you are here, we will be more confident in dealing with German tanks." I saw that the number of soldiers who came with me seemed to be small, so I continued to ask: "Comrade instructor, how many of you came?" ”

"There are 11 people and 10 anti-tank guns, including the whole company."

It's only ten people and ten guns, which is inevitably too little, and I can't help but be a little disappointed. However, when I heard the rumbling cannons outside and the non-stop gunshots like popping beans, I didn't care about it. Less is less, it's better than nothing, it's better than not having an anti-tank gun.

In order to relieve some pressure on the female anti-aircraft gunners and the fighters of the battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, I hurriedly instructed Gerasimov: "Comrade instructor, let the fighters set up a blocking position here, which has a condescending view and can use the German tanks as targets." ”

Gerasimov looked outside and readily agreed: "Okay, Comrade Colonel, I will set up my position in this building, you can rest assured, we will never let these German tanks rush to the docks." Then he turned and shouted at the soldiers behind him: "All into position!" ”

Seeing that the anti-tank men had set up positions on the second floor, Basmanov whispered to me: "Comrade division commander, it's not safe here, let's get out of here." ”

What Basmanov said was exactly what I thought in my heart, and if this place was exposed later, it would provoke the retaliation of tank fire, and it was estimated that this building would collapse after a few shots, so I should move as much as possible. Thinking of this, I nodded, called Vera and the others, and left with Basmanov.

As soon as we walked downstairs, Basmanov suddenly shouted: "Commander, be careful! Then he opened his arms in front of the rest of us. Almost at the same time, a wall five or six meters behind him collapsed with a loud bang, and the collapsed masonry kicked up a cloud of dust.

Oh my God, the German tanks spotted us so quickly and blew down the walls of the corridor with one shot. I raised my hand and waved it in an attempt to sweep away the dust that obscured my vision, and at the same time said gratefully to Basmanov: "Thank you, Comrade Captain, if it weren't for you, Vera and I would probably be buried in the rubble." ”

Basmanov smiled innocently and replied: "Comrade division commander, I am the commander of your guard battalion, and my responsibility is to protect your safety even if I sacrifice my own life. ”

His words warmed my heart, and I walked over and patted him on the shoulder, and said sincerely: "Comrade Captain, you saved my life, and I will always remember that." ”

We walked out of the building, braving German artillery fire and bullets whizzing overhead, stooping down the barricades, led by Basmanov, to the command post of Captain Prokop.

The captain's command post was on the ground floor of a building, and the glass on the window had already been shattered by the explosion of air, and when we stepped on the broken glass on the ground, the captain was holding a microphone and shouting: "...... If the Germans had rushed into the docks, you and I would have been doomed. I order you, hit with machine guns, don't skimp on bullets, aim at the German infantry who are hiding behind tanks and rubble piles, and hit me hard! Beat!! Beat!!! ”

After giving the order, he put down the microphone, turned his head and saw me and Basmanov standing behind, and couldn't help but be shocked, and said nervously: "Comrade Colonel, why did you come here?" You'd better go back to the docks, it's too dangerous for the Germans to attack in a moment. (To be continued......)