Seeing that the other party waved the signal flag and told us to stop moving forward, in order to prevent misunderstanding, all the trucks stopped without my order.

I, with the help of several fighters, overturned the truck from the side of the compartment. At this time, the open-top car that had been parked behind had been driven by Boris and stopped steadily next to the truck, and as soon as I got into the car, he carried me to the front position at a gallop.

The position where the convoy stopped was not far from the position of the first regiment, about two or three hundred meters. Although this section of the road is full of large craters and small craters, and the speed of the car cannot be run, it is much faster than walking. After only a few minutes, my car was only about 50 meters away from the commanders and fighters standing outside the trench, but at this moment, the car stopped.

I looked at Boris with a frown and asked puzzledly, "Comrade Boris, why did you stop the car?" ”

Boris smiled bitterly and pointed forward with his hand and said: "Comrade division commander, you see, the ground in front of you is full of German corpses, as well as the wreckage of bombed tanks and armored vehicles. ”

When I looked forward, there were far more German corpses in this area than there were just those places, and with the craters and the wreckage of tank armored vehicles, the car really couldn't drive through. Since the car couldn't pass, I didn't blame Boris, it wasn't his fault anyway, I pushed the car door and got out of the car, carefully stepping past the corpses lying on the ground, and walking towards the position.

I had barely gone far when several commanders and fighters standing outside the trench were already trotting towards me. I looked closely, and it was none other than those who were running ahead. It was my guard battalion commander Basmanov. Back to their own turf. It made me feel relaxed. I took off the German helmet from my head and waved it at him.

Basmanov ran up to me and said with a look of surprise: "Comrade division commander, you can come back, I have been waiting for you here for several days." ”

The four warriors who followed him looked like they were from the guard battalion, and when they saw me, they did not salute me, but consciously stood on guard at the four corners beside me. Skillfully protected me.

I saw the appearance of the fighters of the guard battalion, nodded with satisfaction, and said to Basmanov with satisfaction: "Captain Basmanov, it seems that you have trained the fighters of the guard battalion well. Judging from what they had just done, they all knew how not to salute the commander on the battlefield, so as not to expose the target. At the same time, their position seems to the layman to be just a casual station, but in fact it is very particular, so that no matter where the enemy comes from. They all caught it in time. ”

When Basmanov heard my compliment, he smiled innocently. Then he said: "Comrade division commander, it's not too early, let's go back to the division headquarters first, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov is still waiting for you there." ”

I followed Basmanov into the trench and walked along the criss-crossed communication trenches in the direction of the division headquarters, and the commanders and fighters along the way, seeing us, quickly stood up straight, leaned back against the trench wall and saluted us.

As I walked, I asked Basmanov, who was leading the way in front: "Comrade Captain, which company of this regiment is this?" ”

Hearing my question, Basmanov couldn't help but slow down and said in surprise: "Comrade division commander, don't you know yet? The first regiment had changed guards with the fourth regiment the day before yesterday, and now all the commanders and fighters of the fourth regiment are on the position. ”

Basmanov's words surprised me, because during this time, in order to prevent the target from being exposed, I had been silent on the radio, except after sending two or three telegrams to Sederikov, and I really didn't know much about the situation in the division. I nervously asked, "Why do you want to withdraw the regiment, are they so severely attrition in the recent battles?" ”

Basmanov shook his head and asked rhetorically with a blank expression on his face: "No, when the regiment withdrew from its position, it was almost fully formed. Comrade division commander, who did you hear that a regiment was crippled? ”

"I guess." I unconsciously shrugged my shoulders and explained to him: "Recently, in order to prevent our radio station from being detected by the Germans, when we contacted Shederikov and them, they no longer made a call in plain language but sent a telegram, so some situations could not be understood in time. ”

After hearing this, Basmanov sighed, and then told me: "Shedelikov said that there was no fighting in other directions of our division except here, and it was a waste to put such a regiment with rich combat experience as the fourth regiment in the back, so he let the first regiment and the fourth regiment change guards. ”

When I came to a fork in the road, I saw a shelter on the left side that blocked the curtain of cloth, and there were many people coming in and out. After walking a lot of places, it was the most crowded here, so he asked Basmanov curiously: "Captain, what is this place?" ”

Basmanov just glanced at it, and immediately replied: "Report to the division commander, this is the medical clinic of the 4th Regiment, and in yesterday's and today's battles, the 4th Regiment had quite a few wounded. ”

You must know that before I went to the station, there was no decent medical team in the division, and now there is a medical center in the regiment, so I was immediately interested, so I couldn't help but say curiously: "The medical center, it should be newly established, I want to go in and have a look." ”

When Basmanov heard me say this, a smile appeared on his face, and he said to me respectfully: "Well, comrade division commander. You go to the infirmary, and I'll call Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, the commander of the fourth regiment. ”

"Go, go," I waved at him impatiently, and walked in with a curtain of curtains.

The walls of the shelter were lined with stretchers, and on each stretcher lay a wounded man. When they saw me come in, everyone's eyes were on me, and even a male hygienist who was crouching on a stretcher to help a soldier with a wounded leg stop what he was doing and looked at me curiously.

I was about to walk over when suddenly a crisp whistle sounded next to me, and then there was a whistling in the room. A fat wounded man lying on a stretcher not far from me sneered: "Hell, who brought the captive female hygienist to the infirmary too?" ”

As soon as the fat wounded man finished speaking, another thin wounded man beside him also said lightly: "Hey, girl. Can you hear Russian. For the captured Germans. We will all shoot the men; As for the women, as long as they serve us red, we will treat them preferentially. His words immediately caused laughter from the entire wounded.

I looked down at my dress, I was wearing a German steel helmet in my hand, wearing a German uniform, and I had the badge of a hygienist on my left arm, no wonder they thought I was a German hygienist.

Seeing that I didn't speak. The fat wounded shouted again: "Well, I say, girl, why are you still standing there, why don't you come and serve us?" Hey, why haven't you reflected it yet, are you not able to understand Russian, or are you stupid? ”

As soon as he finished speaking, the wounded in the medical station who looked at me as a surprise burst into laughter.

"Comrade warrior, how can you speak in such a tone?" See the fat wounded with a hippie smiley face. I couldn't help but lecture him with a straight face, "Don't you know how to respect others?" ”

"Yo ho. We have all captured us and are still so arrogant! "The fat wounded man was obviously enraged by my words, and he tried to stand up with his hands on the wall, but as soon as he moved, he probably touched the wound, and he grinned and lay down again. He tilted his head to the side and shouted behind me, "Hey, Comrade Captain, did you bring this captive?" It's so arrogant! ”

I heard him shout Captain, and even if I didn't look back, I knew that behind me was my guard battalion commander, Captain Basmanov. The captain took two steps forward, and said with a blushing face: "Nonsense, it's nonsense!" This is our division commander, don't you all know each other? ”

Basmanov's words silenced the room, and then I heard someone whispering: "Oh my God, it's really Commander Oshanina, I saw her once when she came to inspect the regiment before. ”

"Yes, hearing you say this, I also remembered that the last time the commander of the group army came to the division to present the flag, I had seen her from afar."

"Comrade division commander, I'm sorry!" The fat wounded man lay on the stretcher, blushing, and saluted me embarrassedly.

"Hello comrades, I'm the division commander, Colonel Oshanina, and I've just come back from behind enemy lines and passed by here, so I'm going to see you by the way." Although I am dissatisfied with the fat wounded, but in this case, it is not a good time to have a seizure, and I have to say a few words to the wounded, "I see that although everyone is injured, the love is still quite high." If you are in a good mood, you will recover from your injuries as quickly as possible, so that you can return to the front line as soon as possible. ”

"Comrade division commander, it's time for us to go." When Basmanov waited for me to finish, he hurriedly walked up to me and said to me in a voice that everyone in the room could hear: "Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar is still waiting for us." ”

I glanced at Basmanov gratefully, thanking him for giving me a step in time, otherwise I really didn't know how to end it. I pretended to nod my head and said with a look of sudden realization: "Yes, if you don't say it, I almost forgot about it." Then he waved his hand at the wounded and said loudly: "Comrades of the wounded, everyone have a good rest, and I wish you all a speedy recovery." ”

When I came out of the medical station and continued along the traffic trench, Basmanov whispered to me: "Comrade division commander, how can you run to the medical station casually, the wounded there are generally not in a good temper, and if I had just entered a little later, I guess they would have embarrassed you." ”

I waved my hand and said disapprenantly: "Captain Basmanov, you are too careful. As the commander of the first division, it is normal for me to go to the medical station to see the wounded soldiers. ”

After walking a short distance, I saw Gaidar waiting in front of me. When I entered the medical station, Basmanov felt uneasy, so he asked another soldier to inform Gaidar, and he followed me into the medical station and relieved me in time.

Seeing my arrival, Gaidar, who was waiting in front, trotted all the way over, came to me, raised his hand and saluted after standing upright, and said excitedly: "Hello, comrade division commander, I can look forward to your return." ”

After returning the salute, I stretched out my hand to him, and when I clasped my hands tightly, I also said with emotion: "Yes, I have finally returned to our own territory, and I miss you very much during this time." ”

After releasing his hand, Gaidar asked me: "Comrade division commander, shall we go to the division headquarters now?" ”

I waved my hand and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, please wait a minute. This time I came back with Lieutenant Colonel Oleg's 5th Regiment, which came faster because I was in a car, while Lieutenant Colonel and their large troops were on foot and were still on the march at the moment. For ease of movement. We were all wearing German uniforms. You sent someone to answer them. Lest there be a misunderstanding with our troops. ”

Gaidar nodded, indicating that he understood what I meant, and he turned to wave to a captain standing not far away. When the captain ran up to him, he whispered a few words to the other man. The captain nodded after hearing his words, turned and ran away. Only then did Gaidar come up to me again and said in a relaxed tone: "Comrade division commander, I have already explained, and my men will take Lieutenant Colonel Oleg's fifth regiment back to the position safely." ”

When our group returned to the division headquarters. The other regimental commanders were already waiting here, and when they saw me returning, they all came to greet me with joy. Even the commander of the communications company, Razumayeva, happily said to me: "Comrade division commander, welcome home." ”

After I sat down in my old seat, I hurriedly beckoned the four regiment leaders to take a seat. After everyone sat down, I turned to Sederikov and asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, have you received an order from your superiors to send us to the Mamayev post to take over the defense?" ”

Sederikov nodded affirmatively, stood up and said: "Yes, Comrade Division Commander, I received an order from the new commander of the 62nd Army, General Chuikov. Let's set off to Mamayev Gang as soon as the positions were handed over to Colonel Lyudnikov's Guards Division. to take over the defense of the 35th Guards Division. ”

When I heard the name of the 35th Guards Division, the corners of my mouth could not help but grin upwards, because I had been appointed commander of the 35th Guards Division by the former commander of the Stalingrad Front, but before I could take up my post, this appointment was canceled due to personnel changes in the top ranks of the Front. I was very curious about what kind of commander I was taking over, so I asked curiously: "Comrade Sederikov, do you know who the commander of the 35th Guards Division is?" ”

"I heard that it was Major General Gorazkov, who turned out to be the commander of the 98th Infantry Division, and it is said that his troops achieved great results in the battles in the Don Valley. So much so that after the 98th Division was transferred to the rear for recuperation, he was transferred to the commander of the 35th Guards Division. ”

When I heard the name of this old acquaintance, the smile on my face widened. After the battle by the river, I haven't seen this heroic division commander for a long time, but I didn't expect to have the opportunity to reunite with him today, and I led the troops to take over the defense.

Perhaps seeing the smile on my face, Sederikov asked curiously: "Comrade division commander, do you know General Gorazkov?" ”

"Yes, Lieutenant Sederikov, of course I know this division commander. When General Chuikov was inspecting the Don River valley, he personally commanded the battle to seize the Don River crossing, and the 98th Division was a combat unit at that time, and it was at that time that I met with this division commander. ”

As he was talking, Basmanov, who was on guard outside the door, walked into the headquarters, came to my side, leaned down, and whispered in my ear: "Report to the division commander, the people sent by the 70th Guards Division are here, and they are outside the door at the moment. ”

I tilted my head slightly to him and asked in a low voice, "What level of commander is here?" "My implication is that if someone comes below me, I'll send someone else out to meet them.

Basmanov apparently understood the meaning of my words, and hurriedly reported: "The one who came is a regimental political commissar, and I guess it should be the political commissar of the Guards Division." ”

When I heard that it was the political commissar who came from the other side, I immediately thought of my old acquaintance, political commissar Titov, and quickly stood up and said to the commanders present: "Comrades, the people sent by the 70th Guards Division to take over the defense have arrived, and they are outside the door at this moment, so let's go out with me to greet them." ”

"Comrade division commander, shall we all go out to greet you?" Gaidar probably felt that he was making a bit of a fuss when he heard me say that they were all going out to greet him, so he complained: "Is this necessary?" ”

I looked at him and smiled and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, of course it is necessary. And it's possible that someone you know. ”

"Who is the person I know?" Gaidar asked rhetorically, blankly.

I deliberately didn't say anything, just smiled and said, "As for who it is, you can follow me out and see." With that, I took the lead and walked outside.

Walking out of the command headquarters, standing at the door, sure enough, the commissar of the Guards Division Titov, I smiled and walked over to salute him, and said politely: "Hello, Commissar Titov, I didn't expect us to meet again." ”

Titov was also surprised by my appearance, he raised his hand and returned the salute, and said excitedly: "My God, is it you?" Comrade Oshanina, when I came. I heard that you are still behind enemy lines. I thought you wouldn't be able to make it back today. ”

Although I have always disliked political workers. But every time I saw Titov, I felt very cordial, so after listening to his words, I jokingly said: "Originally, I wanted to hold out behind enemy lines for another ten days and eight days, but when I heard that Titov's commissar was coming, I immediately left a qiē and rushed back to meet you without stopping." ”

Titov heard my flattery, laughed and pointed his finger at me and said, "You, you." It's only been a long time since I've seen you, and you've become so good at talking. ”

Then I introduced to him my subordinates, the four regimental commanders who are currently in the command, in addition to the commander of the third regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Szerikov, the other commander of the 1st regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Pugachev, the acting commander of the 2nd regiment, and the commander of the 4th regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar, who he had met in the division headquarters of the Guards Division. Because everyone was an acquaintance, after a brief greeting, the atmosphere became warm, and everyone entered the headquarters with laughter and laughter.

After everyone was seated, I asked Titov curiously: "Comrade commissar." How many troops did you bring with you to take over the defense? ”

Titov held out a finger and replied: "Just a regiment." Because I heard from Commander Shumilov that the fighting here is not fierce, I only brought one regiment to take over the defense. And it is also a regiment that has been crippled. The other two infantry regiments and an artillery regiment, two rocket artillery battalions, and tank battalions remained in the original area to hold their positions. ”

After listening to this, I nodded, and then said to Titov: "Comrade Political Commissar, you can negotiate with my 3rd Regiment Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Koska, and 4th Regiment Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar. And I will quickly lead the 1st and 2nd regiments to Mamayev Gang to take over the 35th Guards Division, which is holding there. ”

Hearing me say this, Commissar Titov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said understandingly: "Colonel Oshanina, then you should go quickly." As far as I know, tomorrow the Front will be in the north of the city and will have a counterattack. Let the independent division replace the 35th Guards Division, perhaps for this counterattack. ”

"What kind of counterattack is it?" I asked curiously.

Titov shook his head and replied: "I don't know, at my level, there are many things that I am not qualified to understand. But when you meet General Chuikov, you can ask him about it. As far as I know, the current headquarters of the 62nd Army is located on the Mamayev post. ”

After learning that Chuikov's headquarters was still located at the Mamayev Post, I could no longer sit still, and after explaining the matter of the transfer of defense to Kosjia and Gaidar, I immediately urged Sederikov and Pugachev to gather troops and prepare to immediately leave for the new defensive zone -- the Mamayev Post.

The troops set out in half an hour, and all the more than 2,000 commanders and fighters of the 1st Regiment marched quickly to the Mamayev Gang by truck, while the 2nd Regiment followed by marching on foot. And Shederikov and I sat in a jeep in the middle of the convoy and went with the convoy.

After the convoy departed, I didn't bother to talk to Shederikov, but looked out of the window from time to time, fearing that I would be attacked by German planes. However, our luck was apparently good, as the Germans could not be seen in the gray sky, and our convoy of hundreds of trucks was able to advance in the direction of Stalingrad.

As we advanced along the Volga towards the city, the sound of artillery was heard more and more clearly, and it was clear that the Germans were shelling the city. After driving some distance further, I saw the German shells from time to time fall in the Volga and explode, setting off columns of water that rushed into the sky, and they tried to destroy the boats on the river with their artillery fire. But after observing for a while, I found that this kind of shooting was aimless and without the slightest danger, and the shells that fell into the water and exploded were at least two or three hundred meters away from the moving ships.

Upon entering the city, I saw lifeless air on the streets of the city. There was not a single green branch on the trees on either side of the road, and they were all scorched by the fire. All that remains of the wooden house is a pile of ashes and a lonely chimney. Even many stone buildings were blown up, doors and windows were gone, and floor slabs collapsed. Occasionally, you can see the intact houses, and the people who live here are busy moving their baggage, samovars, and utensils out of the houses and carrying them to the docks, ready to evacuate to the other side of the river when the ferry comes.

Since the driver did not know the road and did not know how to get to Mamayev Height, our convoy had to stop on the side of the road. After Shederikov and I got out of the car from both sides of the car, I looked up at the air and said worriedly: "Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, we must get out of here as much as possible, otherwise when the German planes come, our huge convoy will be the best target for the German planes to attack." ”

Instead of speaking, Sederikov rushed to the middle of the road, looked to both sides, walked towards the crowd who were moving things, and at the same time said loudly: "Hey, comrades, I would like to ask for advice, how to go to Mamayev Gang?" ”

I don't know if the person who moved the things didn't hear him, or didn't want to deal with it, and there was no one who looked back at him. Sedelikov was in a hurry, walked quickly to the side of an old man, put his hand on his left shoulder, pulled his side hard, raised his voice and asked: "Old man, we are rushing to the Mamayev Gang, do you know how to go?" ”

The old man looked at him blankly, raised his hand and pointed ahead and said, "It turns out that you only need to drive along this road all the way until you reach the second intersection and turn left." But now, the buildings were blown down by German planes, and the roads were different. If you want to go, you can only turn right at the junction ahead and take a detour to the central railway station, where there is a road that leads directly to Mamayev Hills. After the old man had finished speaking, he turned around again, went into the building and went on to collect his belongings.

Shedelikov walked back to me and said with some helplessness: "Comrade division commander, what should we do next?" ”

I pulled the car door open, turned my head and said to him, "Didn't the old man say it very clearly?" Take a detour to the Central Station first, then find your way to Mamayev Hills. Get in the car! Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. With that, I got into the car first, slammed the door shut, and instructed the driver, "When Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov gets in the car, drive the car." Turn right at the junction ahead and we go to the central train station first. (To be continued......)

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