"Major General Bandeleyev, please tell all the commanders and fighters of the Guards Division who participated in the battle." In order for Bandeleyev to understand exactly the importance of my order, I did not call him again, but called him his rank for the first time, "After the offensive begins, the attack on the city of Hama should be carried out quickly!" The position where the main force of your division crossed the river was no more than seven kilometers away from the defensive positions outside the city of Hama, and I asked the commanders at all levels to give me time to seize the time to attack with all my might, not to worry about the consumption of ammunition, and not to worry about the casualties of the troops, but to launch a fierce attack on the enemy's positions. Before dawn, I will see the city of Hama occupied by our troops. ”

After I put down the phone, Kirillov said to me in surprise: "Comrade commander, every time you give an order in the past, you will think about how to fulfill the orders of your superiors and reduce the casualties of the troops. This is the first time I've heard such an unusual order as today's one from you. ”

Not only Kirillov was confused by my orders, but even Vitkov looked at me in surprise. Seeing the expressions of the two of them, I could only explain to them: "Political commissar and chief of staff, the German army's 'Imperial Division' and 'Skeleton Division' are pressing from the east and south of the city, and with the existing strength, equipment and combat effectiveness of the 171st Division, these two elite German divisions cannot be stopped at all. So what we can do at the moment is to seize a foothold or two on the other side and move all our forces to the west bank of the Dnieper. ”

In response to this statement of mine, Vitkov immediately expressed his support: "Comrade commander is right, after we have crossed the river with all our troops, we can also blow up the pontoon bridge over the river, so that the armored forces of the German army cannot be in the shortest possible time. Use the pontoon bridge to rush to the west bank. ”

"The chief of staff is right." See Vitkov understood my operational intentions. I went on to explain to Kirillov: "The recent rise in temperatures has allowed the ice to thin down on the river, and in two more days, as the ice melts, their infantry will not be able to reach the other side of the river unless they swim across." On such a cold day, even if we don't shoot, let them swim over. It is estimated that when they go ashore, they will also lose their combat effectiveness due to the freezing cold and biting water. That is, as long as we make it impossible for the Germans to repair the pontoon bridges, then in the short term we can stabilize the front along the Dnieper. As long as we keep the German troops in this position for a while, then the higher-level leaders will be able to use this precious time to deploy troops, adjust the deployment of troops, and turn around the unfavorable situation on the battlefield in one fell swoop. ”

Although Bandeleyev assured me that the main force crossing the river would be able to reach the city of Hama within an hour, and together with the three regiments under the command of Major Akhromeyev, they would attack the German forces in the city. But because it was dark and the road was slippery, their speed to Hama City was affected. It's been an hour and a half. The main forces were still three kilometers from the city of Hama. And at this time, the battle report sent back by Major Akhromeyev. I know that the battle between the three regiments and the Germans has reached a stalemate.

I asked the operator to call Akhromeyev directly, and I wanted to get the latest information from him. After getting in touch, I didn't care if I was being wiretapped by the Germans, so I spoke directly in plain: "Hey, Comrade Major, it's me." How's your situation there? ”

"Report to the army commander," perhaps because the call was not good, Akhromeyev shouted at the top of his voice: "The southeast of the city of Hama in the battalion of Captain Dubrovsky was the first to storm the city. But his troops were held back by heavy German fire and were unable to move forward, and were now holding out a few blocks southeast of the city. ”

"Major, where is the main force of the third regiment?" Hearing that some troops had stormed into the city, but could not continue because of the strength of the German army, I anxiously asked Akhromeyev: "Have you sent troops to reinforce them?" ”

"No, Comrade Commander." Akhromeyev said with some embarrassment: "Due to the enemy's strong firepower and more troops than us, we and the first battalion have been separated by the Germans. But from the sound of gunfire from the front, I could hear that my troops were still fighting stubbornly. ”

"Major Akhromeyev, the offensive cannot be stopped." I said to him sternly: "The main forces of the Guards Division are rushing to you, hold out for another half an hour, and reinforcements will arrive." ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Akhromeyev assured me that "as long as there is still one person in the third regiment, our offensive on the German positions will not stop." ”

Hearing Akhromeyev speak so tragically, I said with some impatience: "Okay, Comrade Major, don't say this in front of me. There's a lot of battle to come, and you can't just die. Remember that as soon as reinforcements arrive, you will cooperate with them and work together to clear the city of the remaining enemies. The first thing to do now was to send someone to get in touch with the first battalion and ask them how the situation was there. Do you understand? ”

"Understood," Akhromeyev replied very dryly, "I will immediately send a correspondent to contact the 1st battalion." ”

After Akhromeyev's call, I asked the new Kazakh operator to get in touch with the Gurdiev division and ask them how the situation was there.

After yelling at the microphone for a while, the Kazakh operator put the headset and microphone on the table, then walked to the table and raised his hand to report to us: "Comrade Commander, I have just contacted the 308th Division, they are currently approaching the town of Krylovy along the H08 road, and the attack on the town will begin in about ten minutes." ”

"Comrade Operator," Witkov asked with concern when he saw the operator turn to return to his position, and asked with concern, "Did they reconnoiter the situation in the town?" ”

The operator nodded and replied affirmatively: "According to the report, they have mastered the distribution of German forces in the town, and the division commander Gurdiev is assigning combat tasks to commanders at all levels. ”

"Very well, comrade operator, you are doing a good job." After listening to this, Vitkov gently patted him on the shoulder, and then said to him: "There is nothing for you here, you can go back to work first." ”

After waiting for the operator to leave, Vitkov looked at the map on the table, then looked up at me and said: "Comrade commander, at present our two main divisions have all crossed the Dnieper. Advancing in depth to the German army. But this way. We're empty here. There were only more than 4,000 men of the 171st Division in the city. To hold off the attack of the German 'Reich Division' and 'Skeleton Division', I don't think it's an accomplishable task. ”

I nodded approvingly at Vitkov's analysis, and then said: "Chief of Staff, you are quite right. The city of Mezaporos was extremely empty, and when it was dawn, even if the Germans launched only one attack, perhaps the city would be occupied by them. So we have to speed up the attack. Take the nearest city of Hama, and use it as a center to build a new defensive position against the German attack. ”

"Comrade Oshanina, are you really not going to fight a tough battle with the Germans in Zaporoshli?" When Kirillov saw that I had given the order to abandon the city, he couldn't help but ask anxiously: "You know, just fight the troops of the 171st Division and drag the Germans in the city for a day or two, there should be no problem." ”

"Comrade Political Commissar, although we will not fight with the Germans in the city today, we will continue to stay on the west bank of the Dnieper in the near future. Hold back the German forces so that they can't draw more troops. Go and attack our 6th Army. ”

After another half hour or so, the old operator stood up and reported to me: "Comrade Army Commander, General Bandeleyev, commander of the 22nd Guards Division, wants to speak to you. ”

When I heard that Bandeleyev was looking for me again, I couldn't help but mutter, he must have something to ask me for when he came to me at this time. So when I heard his voice, I didn't talk nonsense with him, but asked bluntly: "Major General Bandeleyev, is there anything else?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Bandeleyev began to pour out his bitterness to me: "The 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 3rd regiments of our division have all arrived at their designated positions. The commanders and fighters of the 2nd and 3rd regiments attacked the enemy together. However, due to the ferocity of the fire of the German units defending on fortifications, several of our attacks ended in failure. I ask you to provide our attacking forces with the necessary artillery support, even a few mortars. ”

I have participated in many battles, and even if the attacking troops were not covered by artillery fire, they would have to pay a heavy price if they braved the enemy's bullets and bullets with their flesh and blood, and this is something I do not want to see. Thinking of this, I said to Bandeleyev: "Comrade division commander, don't worry, I will solve the problem of artillery support for you." ”

Putting down the phone, I thought to myself that although we still have five battalions of artillery in name, the number of artillery that can be used is very limited. Even if you provide artillery support, the effect will not be too good. After much deliberation, I had the operator connect with Persten's tank battalion.

When I heard the sound of Persjian and the roar of the tank motors, I shouted at the microphone: "Hey, Comrade Major, where have your troops arrived?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander," Persjian had to shout at the top of his voice because of the noise, "our battalion has all successfully passed the pontoon bridge and is heading for the city of Hama." At present, it is only two or three kilometers from the city of Hama, and it will only take us a few minutes to reach the battlefield and provide artillery cover for our troops in the event of an attack. ”

"Great, that's great." When I heard Persjian say this, I was overjoyed, as long as the tank battalion arrived at the city of Hama on time, then the next attack would be much easier. So, I yelled into the microphone, "Major, order your troops to speed up their march and move quickly towards the city of Hama. When you reach your destination, you rush straight into the city, smash the German army and the chain of command, and throw the enemy into chaos on the battlefield, so that we have a chance. ”

The tank battalion is about to rush to the city of Hama, and if it does not communicate with friendly forces and do not get the active cooperation of the infantry, then the tanks that rush into the city will be destroyed one by one by the enemy's anti-tank fighters like targets. So the next thing I looked for was Bandeleyev, and I said loudly to him: "Comrade division commander, Major Perstian's tank battalion will soon reach outside Hama. You immediately ordered the 2nd and 3rd regiments, which were carrying out the attack, to pause and make way for the tank battalion. At the same time, have the infantry units follow behind the tanks and launch an attack towards the city. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Bandeleyev replied in a loud voice: "I immediately called the commanders of the 2nd and 3rd regiments and asked them to temporarily stop the offensive and make way for the tanks. ”

Seeing that I have explained all the questions that should be explained below. Vitkov asked me tentatively: "Comrade army commander, I would like to ask, when will our army command be transferred?" Seeing that I looked at him suspiciously, he hurriedly added: "Once it is dawn, the Germans may shell and bomb them, and if we do not move until then, we will inevitably pay some unnecessary casualties." Therefore, I propose to divide the headquarters in two, and you and the commissar take some of the personnel and communication equipment in the headquarters to the other side of the Dnieper; And I, with the rest of the men, will remain in this command and be responsible for the command mission before you take command. ”

I did not immediately express my position on Vitkov's proposal, but turned my head and asked Kirillov: "Comrade commissar, what do you think about this matter?" ”

Kirillov, whose brows were furrowed, stared at Vitkov for a long time before he said: "Comrade Oshanina, I agree with the Chief of Staff. You are the commander of the First Army, and you should take a part of the personnel and communications equipment of the headquarters to the other side of the river as soon as possible. I stayed with the Chief of Staff to take command of the 171st Division's fight against the German offensive. ”

"Comrade commissar, what did you say? You're going to stay in the command and not go with me to the other side of the river to set up a new command post? When I heard that Kirillov was going to stay, I couldn't help but get anxious, so I kindly reminded him: "Once we wait until dawn, the city will definitely be the focus of the German planes' bombing, and it is too dangerous for you to stay here, so why don't you come with me to the other side of the river?" ”

Kirillov waved his hand and said resolutely: "Comrade Oshanina, I have decided to stay in the city with the chief of staff to stabilize the morale of the army, try to hold off the German offensive for a longer time, and buy you more precious time on the other side of the river. Seeing that I still wanted to open his mouth to persuade, he waved his hand again and nodded at Pugachev next to him, "With the major to help you, I believe that the new command will be put into use soon." It's not too early, so you'd better take someone out as soon as possible, otherwise it won't be too late when the day dawns. (To be continued......)