I wanted to rush to the outskirts of Gorodishe to command the battle, so after the 107.5 heights were handed over to the 37th Guards Division, I left the 3rd Guards Company of Captain Akhromeyev and Beckman to wait for Colonel Vachuk's 284th Infantry Division to take over the defense of Mamayev Heights.

It was more than a dozen kilometers from here to Gorodishe, and it was impossible to rely on foot for such a long distance, so when Basmanov heard that I had arranged the house, he had already sent someone to contact the convoy of trucks transporting us.

We arrived at the location of the truck with two guard companies and an engineer company. Kirillov and I got into the cabs of the second and third trucks, respectively. Before I got on the bus, Basmanov asked me which route to take to get to the city of Gorodishe. I understood that he was asking which of the troops on the left and right flanks we should take, and after a little thought, I replied: "Just follow the route of the left flank troops, this road is close, and we can hurry to meet the deputy division commander and them sooner." "After listening to my instructions, Basmanov immediately turned into the cab of the first truck and led the way in front of the entire convoy.

The vehicle passed through the open field between the two high ground and entered the open field in front of the position. As a result of several hours of shelling and bombardment, the roads were full of large and small craters, and around the craters lay mutilated corpses, which, judging from the fragments of uniforms remaining, were basically all Germans, and no of our commanders and fighters were found.

A few kilometers away from the city of Gorodishe, I unexpectedly found an artillery position on the side of the road, and when I saw that the artillery on the position looked idle, I felt strange in my heart, so I hurriedly asked the driver to stop.

As soon as my car stopped. The convoy that followed behind also stopped one after another. The lead car in which Basmanov was riding, after driving a few hundred meters, also stopped. Kirillov, having got out of the car, rushed from behind and asked me curiously: "Comrade Oshanina." How did you stop here? ”

I pointed to the artillery position on the side of the road and replied, "I saw that the artillery position was set up here, but the artillerymen seemed to have nothing to do, so I came down and asked what was going on." ”

As I spoke, Captain Yushchenko had set up a cordon around us with a dozen soldiers. I turned my head to look at the truck in which Basmanov was riding, which was reversing backwards. He shook his head at Kirillov and said, "Let's go, Comrade Commissar, let's go and see what happened." ”

Seeing a group of people walking towards the artillery position, the commander on the position immediately got the news, and soon several commanders left the position and ran towards us. Wait until they get closer. I found out that it was not Major Morozov who took the lead, but his deputy battalion commander, Captain Valginets.

After Captain Valginets saluted us, I asked with a straight face: "Comrade Captain, I would like to ask, what are you doing here, are you here to camp?" ”

Hearing my reproach, an embarrassed expression appeared on the face of Captain Valginets, and he replied in a stammering manner: "Report to Comrade Division Commander." We were also ordered to rest here. ”

"Ordered to rest?!" When I heard Valginets say this, I was furious, and I yelled at him: "The city of Gorodishhe in front is still in the hands of the Germans. You don't provide the necessary artillery support for the infantry attacking the city, but you stay here and do nothing, and you are embarrassed to say that you are ordered to rest! I wonder, which bastard gave such an order? ”

Seeing that I was furious, Kirillov hurriedly pulled my sleeve next to me and whispered: "Comrade Oshanina." Don't get angry and figure out what's going on. Then he turned to Captain Valginets and asked, "Comrade Captain." Where is your battalion commander, Major Morozov? ”

Captain Varginets, who was feeling in a dilemma, sighed with relief when he heard Kirillov ask him. He hurriedly reported: "Comrade Political Commissar, the battalion commander has received a notice from the deputy division commander and rushed to the temporary headquarters in the south of the city for a meeting. ”

As soon as Captain Valginets reported this, I immediately understood in my heart what was going on, needless to say, the order to stop the artillery battalion for rest must have been given by Bandereev. I knew I had blamed Captain Valginets for being wrong, but in front of so many of my subordinates, I couldn't pull my face to apologize to him, so I snorted heavily, turned around and walked towards the truck.

The convoy traveled another two kilometres and came to the vicinity of a trench that had apparently been dug up a short time ago. I guess the temporary command of Bantai Leev should be nearby, so again let the driver stop. I got out of the car and looked around, then made my way to the spot where the tanks, armored cars and trucks were parked. From what I know of an old soldier like Bandereev, his temporary headquarters must be located in this area.

As I expected, the temporary headquarters of Pandereev was set up in a small circle surrounded by several armored vehicles, and a group of commanders were squatting on the ground, looking down at a map spread out on the ground, and Pandereev was explaining something to them.

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," Kirillov saw that my face was not good-looking, and he was afraid that I would get angry if I spoke first, so he preemptively greeted Pantai Leev: "It turns out that your headquarters is located here, how is the situation now?" ”

Hearing Kirillov's voice, Pantai Leev turned his head to look over, and was stunned for a few seconds before he stood up and greeted us, and at the same time said: "Division commander, political commissar, you are here!" After shaking hands with us one by one, he continued: "The situation is not good, we launched two attacks on the city, both of which were repulsed by the well-defended Germans. In the battle, we lost two tanks, seven armored vehicles, and more than 700 casualties, and now our troops have retreated to their respective starting points of attack. ”

The group of commanders who had been squatting also got up from the ground when we arrived. I glanced at this group of commanders and found that the regimental commanders, political commissars, artillery battalion commanders, and tank battalion commanders were all there, so I pointed at Morozov in the crowd with my hand and said unceremoniously: "Major Morozov, you come out for me!" ”

Morozov squeezed out of the crowd and stood in front of me with an innocent face, waiting for my instructions. I stared at him fiercely and asked dissatisfiedly, "Comrade Major." I need an explanation from you. Why doesn't your artillery battalion fire at the city, covering the offensive of our troops, but stays where it is and does nothing. ”

My question made Morozov embarrassed, and his mouth opened a few times, but he didn't make any sound. I had to look to the side for help. From the direction of his gaze, I judged that it must have been Bandeleyev who gave the order, and not his little artillery battalion commander. First a cough sounded in my ears, and then I heard the embarrassed voice of Bandereev: "Comrade division commander, please do not blame Major Morozov for not allowing the artillery battalion to participate in the battle. It was the decision I made. ”

"Why?" I turned to look at Bandereev and asked coldly.

Pantai Leev shrugged his shoulders and replied helplessly: "Comrade division commander, at present, the artillery battalion is not only howitzers but rocket artillery, which is all heavy firepower. Once they are allowed to fire. I was afraid that the city of Gorodishe would be reduced to ruins, so I thought twice and decided not to let the artillery participate in the battle, but to use tanks to cover the infantry to attack the city. ”

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," I couldn't laugh or cry when I heard his theory that the artillery would not let the artillery fire, and I said to him with the anger in my heart: "The city is in ruins, and we can rebuild it; But for this reason. Just let our fighters go to death without knowing it, is it appropriate to do so? ”

After speaking. Instead of paying attention to Pantai Leyev, I turned to the queue of commanders in front of me and asked in a loud voice: "Immediately report to me the current location of your regiments." ”

"Report to the division commander, our regiment is currently in the south of the city, serving as the reserve of the whole division." As soon as I finished speaking, Sederikov was the first to reply.

Then the commander of the second regiment, Oleg, reported: "The second regiment is currently in the north direction of the city. ”

"The third regiment is in the east direction of the city."

"The fourth regiment is in the direction of the south of the city."

After figuring out the distribution of each regiment. Without consulting anyone, I decisively issued my order: "Now I announce the order for battle. Major Morozov immediately returned to the artillery battalion, ten minutes later. Artillery fire was fired at the German defensive positions in the city. ”

"Yes!" Morozov agreed loudly with a smile on his face.

"The shelling lasted fifteen minutes, and after the shelling was over, Major Perstian's tank battalion charged into the city, and Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar's fourth regiment followed the tanks and advanced into the city. The 3rd Regiment launched a diversionary attack in the direction of the east of the city, so that the Germans could not draw reinforcements from the east of the city. ”

As soon as my words fell, Oleg, who had not received the task, became anxious, and he asked repeatedly: "Comrade division commander, what is the task of our second regiment and the second regiment?" ”

I glanced at him and said lightly: "Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, because your second regiment has lost too many troops in the early battle, your regiment will not participate in the next attack, you just need to hold your existing position." After I said these words, without waiting for Oleg to say anything more, I decisively announced: "Now that the tasks of the various units have been clarified, let's go back immediately and seize the time to make arrangements." ”

When I saw the commanders scattering and leaving, I deliberately stopped Morozov again. Morozov, who was left by me, looked at me blankly and asked strangely: "Comrade division commander, I don't know what other instructions you have?" ”

"Comrade Major, immediately after the end of your artillery mission, move the artillery positions forward."

"Position forward?!" Morozov first looked left and right, and then asked: "I don't know where our new position should be located?" ”

I pointed in the direction of the city and involuntarily instructed, "Keep pushing forward, at least within 500 meters of the city." ”

Although my order was a little inexplicable, Morozov, who was good at obedience, did not dare to say much, but still honestly agreed: "Yes, I resolutely obey your order!" (To be continued)

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