The call came from the commander of the 13th Guards Division, General Rodimtsev, and when I heard Akhromeyev say his name, I was stunned for a moment before I remembered that according to the order of the army group command, all the troops north of Stalingrad, including the separate division, were placed under the command of this general.

I hurriedly took the phone from Akhromeyev's hand and put it in my ear to my new superior and respectfully said: "Hello, Comrade General. ”

"Hello, Comrade Oshanina." After a brief polite remark, Rodimtsev asked straight to the point: "I called you because I received a report from the observation post that a huge explosion came from the direction of the Mamayev Heights, and at the same time I saw the light of a fire rushing into the sky. What the hell is going on, is it that the enemy is taking advantage of the night to launch an attack on your position? ”

"Not so, Comrade General." I hurriedly explained to him: "It is not the enemy who is attacking, but I am organizing the troops to counterattack, preparing to recapture all the positions lost during the day." ”

"What's the matter with the fire and the loud explosions, is the enemy using heavy artillery against you?"

Hearing Rodimtsev's question, I couldn't help but hesitate for a moment, after all, no one else knew about the flying thunder artillery, except for the commanders and fighters of the division and several heads of the army group headquarters. If you sue Sù Rodimtsev, I don't know if it counts as a leak. After much hesitation, I decided to hide the real situation, and replied vaguely: "Report to the general, it was our soldiers who were using explosives packs to carry out close blasting of the enemy's fortifications. At present, the 1st, 3rd and 2nd regiments of the independent divisions are carrying out counterattacks against the German units occupying our positions. ”

Maybe it's because the interval speed of the flying thunder cannon is relatively long. So this lie of mine actually perfunctory Rodimtsev. After he asked a few more questions. I suddenly remembered Krylov's phone call before dark. It was said that the enemy had captured the 107.5 heights and again stormed the Soviet Street, so he could not help but ask curiously: "Comrade General, I would like to ask, how is the situation with the 42nd Guards Regiment?" ”

Hearing my question, Rodimtsev sighed heavily, and then said in a tone of regret: "Alas, Soviet Avenue and the dormitory area have been completely occupied by the Germans. The remnants of the 42nd Regiment had all retreated into the city. Originally, the division headquarters planned to carry out a counteroffensive at one o'clock in the morning, but I called you in the hope that you would send troops, together with our counterattacking troops, to give the enemy a flank attack in front and rear, not only to drive the enemy out of the Soviet Street, but also to find a way to restore the Fù107.5 heights. I didn't expect you to put all three regiments into battle, it seems that tonight's counterattack, I can only pull the 39th Regiment out of the battle lot and assist the 42nd Regiment in regaining its position. ”

When listening to Rodimtsev say this. I was secretly relieved to think that if I hadn't arranged for the troops to counterattack in advance. Then the third regiment had to be drawn out to cooperate with the 42nd regiment. Leaving the 3rd Regiment under the command of the 42nd Regiment is not at all at suffice. You must know that when the three regiments held the 107.5 heights alone, although the casualties were not small, they were able to hold the position. If you change to other troops, not to mention the rapid consumption, you can't hold your position at all. Therefore, I am not willing to let others command the three regiments under my command.

As soon as I put down the phone, I don't know when I ran to the fat walkie-talkie, Akhromeyev, suddenly reported to me with a flushed face: "Report to the division commander, the political commissar, and Lieutenant Colonel Sedelikov of the 1st regiment report that they have regained all the surface positions on the northern heights. ”

"Smack!" After listening to Akhromeyev's good news, Kirillov slapped the table with excitement, his face was full of joy, and his eyes were full of joy when he looked at me, and he said excitedly: "Comrade division commander, it's really good that the lost positions have been recaptured, so that we can have an explanation for the headquarters of the army group." ”

I looked up at my watch with a blank face, and saw that it had only been eight minutes since the Flying Thunder Cannon had stopped firing and the infantry had attacked. Eight minutes to annihilate the enemy's army, this speed is too fast, you know, just now Akhromeyev and I have analyzed that it will take an hour at the fastest to end the battle.

Thinking of this, I coldly instructed Akhromeyev: "Chief of Staff, contact Lieutenant Colonel Shederikov again and confirm with him whether the German army has been completely annihilated by our army?" ”

Instead of listening to my orders and contacting the regiment, Akhromeyev explained to me: "Comrade division commander, that's right. Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov reported that when the flying thunder guns stopped firing, the commanders and fighters of the 1st and 3rd regiments rushed out of the passage and found that all the German soldiers on the positions were dead. ”

"All dead?" Kirillov asked in disbelief: "Isn't there a single one alive?" ”

Akhromeyev nodded and said affirmatively: "No, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov said, the commanders and fighters have carefully examined it, and all the German troops on the position are dead." Perhaps our thunder guns were too powerful, and most of the dead German soldiers had no scars on their bodies, as if they had been shocked to death by the shock wave of the explosion. ”

Although Akhromeyev said what he said, I did not dare to take it lightly, for I was afraid that if the information was wrong, I would hastily report it to the army group headquarters, and if something went wrong, I would not be able to get out of it.

I walked up to Razumeyeva and asked her: "Can you get in touch with Major Morozov in the artillery battalion?" ”

Razumeeva nodded, and then said: "Yes, Comrade Division Commander. Major Morozov should be carrying a walkie-talkie, so I'll contact him, so please wait a moment. ”

Originally, I wanted to stay by Razumeyeva's side, and when she got through to Morozov, I could talk to her immediately and find out what was going on on the battlefield. Unexpectedly, before I could get in touch with the artillery battalion, the phone on the table rang again. Kirillov, who was closest to the phone, picked up the phone casually and said into the microphone: "I'm Kirillov." ”

When I saw another phone call coming in, I couldn't sit still any longer, and hurried over to Kirillov, stood beside him, and listened to his conversation with the person on the phone.

Pugachev's voice came from Luyin's earpiece: "Comrade commissar, the commander of the 1st battalion who participated in the counterattack, Captain Khrushov, reports. They had joined forces with the troops of the first and third regiments, and had succeeded in recovering the surface positions on the high ground to the north. ”

"Great. That's great! "Kirillov listened to the war report and it was confirmed. Suddenly excited. He excitedly rushed into the microphone and said, "Comrade Major, I congratulate you. Thanks to the stubborn fighting of your troops, they completely annihilated the enemy forces on the high ground, recaptured their positions, and put Mamayev Hill back in the hands of our troops. I know that you and the commanders and fighters of the second regiment under your command are ......"

When I saw Kirillov smiling and babbling to Pugachev, I really couldn't help but want to interrupt him, and specially reminded him: "Comrade commissar, in the afternoon you just ordered to shoot three commanders of the 2nd regiment. Now it's boasting again. "I was just going to take the phone from his hand and ask Pugachev what the hell was going on in tonight's battle and why it ended so quickly.

As soon as I raised my hand, before I could speak, Razumeyeva in the distance began to call me: "Division commander, I have connected with Major Morozov of the artillery battalion." The Major is waiting for you online. ”

When Morozov's voice came from the headphones, I got straight to the point and asked: "Comrade Major, is the battle over?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Morozov replied cleanly, and then explained to me further: "But the mortar company did not take part in the battle. When the infantry charged towards the heights, they did not meet any resistance from the enemy at all. So they rushed to the top of the hill in one go. and the three regiments that rushed out of the tunnel. ”

"Why is this happening?" I've seen the power of the Thunder Cannon, but every time the troops rush up the hill after they are used up, there are still quite a few surviving German soldiers who crawl out of the collapsed fortifications or out of the void to fight our fighters to the death. It's incredible how today's counterattack, the infantry managed to regain their positions without encountering any resistance.

"That's right, Comrade Divisional Commander. Although after occupying the high ground, the Germans seized the time to repair some fortifications facing the southern slope, in an attempt to suppress the fire while our troops were charging. However, they didn't expect our flying thunder cannon to be so powerful, those fortifications that were exposed to the range of the flying thunder cannon, after suffering five waves of firing in succession, the enemy's fortifications were blown up into the sky, and the enemy inside was all reimbursed, so it is not surprising that their defense line collapsed. ”

"I see. Now that our positions have been regained, you must bring back the mortars as much as you can, and you have only a little heavy firepower in the division, and you must not lose anything. ”

After the end of the phone call with Pugachev, I instructed Akhromeyev: "Chief of Staff, immediately call the headquarters of the army group and report to them that our division has completely annihilated the German troops occupying the heights to the north and has successfully regained its positions. ”

Akhromeyev, who was the first to learn that the position had been recaptured, did not immediately carry out my order after hearing my order at this moment, but stood in a daze. He said hesitantly: "Comrade division commander, I think this matter is a bit too mysterious, not to mention that our troops have recovered the high ground in eight minutes, and there are still no losses. Do you think the superior commanders will believe such a result? ”

Akhromeyev's reminder made both Kirillov and I hesitate. After a while, Kirillov cautiously said to me: "Comrade Oshanina, why don't we wait a little longer, and then report to the command after receiving a more accurate battle report?" ”

It is simply unbelievable that a counterattack organized by us succeeded in regaining the lost position in just eight minutes without any casualties in the face of repeated defeats of various troops. To be honest, I am still skeptical about the results reported by Sederikov, Pugachev, and Morozov, and if such results are reported to the headquarters of the group army without saying anything, others will not regard this kind of battle report as a fantasy?!

I thought about it, turned around and rushed to Razumeyeva next to the intercom and said: "Comrade Lieutenant, immediately contact Lieutenant Colonel Shedelikov and Major Godunov and ask them to report the results of the battle and the losses of the troops. ”

After giving the order to Razumeyeva, I turned my face again, looked at Kirillov and Akhromeyev and said: "The chief of staff is right, we must be cautious about reporting the results of the battle to the army group command. Wait for Shedelikov and them to report the detailed results of the battle, and after we have verified it, we will report it to the headquarters. ”

Hearing me say this, neither of them expressed an objection, but nodded silently.

But fortunately, Shedelikov didn't make the three of us wait long, and he sent us a telegram with the results of the battle. Akhromeyev took the telegraph and reported to us loudly: "In tonight's battle. Our 1st Regiment, 2nd Regiment, and 3rd Regiment wiped out two German companies. 429 enemies were killed. 2 heavy machine guns, 75 submachine guns, 11 pistols and more than 200 rifles were seized. The entire battle lasted eight minutes, and there were no casualties among our participating troops. ”

Kirillov listened and said: "Comrade division commander, since the results of the battle have been counted, then immediately report to the army group headquarters, it is estimated that the chief of staff Krylov has been waiting for a long time." ”

"I'm okay with that. Chief of staff. You should report the results of tonight's battle to the headquarters immediately. ”

After receiving the order, Akhromeyev came to Razumeyeva with a telegram, handed it to her, and at the same time ordered: "Comrade lieutenant, immediately send this battle report to the command of the army group." ”

I saw that Razumeyeva had finished the telegram with her hands and feet, and that she could have had a good night's sleep tonight, and was about to let Kirillov and Akhromeyev also hurry up and rest, but the phone on the desk rang at an inopportune time.

I've developed a sense of dread about this phone ringing during this time, and every time I hear the ringtone, my heart beats faster. Guess if there will be some bad news coming again. Kirillov and Akhromeyev also stared intently at the ringing phone, but neither reached out to answer it.

I trembled and reached out and grabbed the microphone. Sticking it to his ear, he asked nervously and loudly, "Hey, who is it?" ”

"Colonel Oshanina, don't shout so loudly, I can hear you clearly." Coming from the earpiece was Krylov's voice.

Hearing that it was Krylov's voice, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, I had just reported the results to him, and I guess he couldn't hold back the joy in his heart, and specially called to congratulate me. I asked in a slow tone, "It turned out to be Comrade Chief of Staff, hello." I sent you a telegram, did you receive it? ”

Who knew that Krylov snorted and said angrily: "Of course I received it, if I didn't receive it, I wouldn't call you?" ”

"......" I was speechless when he said that. I lost my position, I was scolded, and I was even threatened to be shot. Now that the position has been recaptured, listening to his tone, he still looks in a bad mood.

"Let me ask you: 'The whole battle lasted eight minutes, and there were no casualties among my troops.' Is this the exact sentence in the telegram you sent? ”

Krylov's question made the second monk even more confused, and he could only answer honestly: "Yes, that's right, it's definitely the original words on the telegram." Comrade Chief of Staff, do you have any instructions? ”

"You wiped out two German companies of more than 400 people, and you didn't suffer a single casualty, and the battle was resolved in eight minutes. Do you think that the enemy is all fools, and when they see our warriors rushing forward, they stand there stupidly, and let us shoot them as targets, and not even a single one of them will fight back? Colonel Oshanina, I remind you, don't make such false information to perfunctory your superiors in order to evade your responsibilities, are you really not afraid of being court-martialed? ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, please listen to my explanation." My fears just now were fulfilled, and the results reported to the group army headquarters were indeed regarded by the chief of staff as false information of the Arabian Nights. I smiled bitterly at Kirillov, and then explained to Krylov: "In tonight's counterattack, I sent the first and second battalions of the second regiment to hide on the southern and eastern slopes of the high ground respectively, and at the same time ordered the first regiment that retreated to the tunnel to also prepare for an attack, and when the second regiment attacked the high ground, it also attacked from the tunnel in time to cooperate with the counteroffensive troops to recapture the position. In order to reduce the casualties of the troops, I specially ordered the 2nd Regiment to use flying thunder artillery to fire five waves in a row on the high ground before launching a charge. Unexpectedly, after our troops began to charge, they did not encounter any resistance at all, and only after the 2nd Regiment and the 1st Regiment and 3rd Regiment joined forces did they find that all the German officers and men who occupied our positions had been wiped out by our flying thunder artillery. That's how the whole battle went. ”

Although I explained to Krylov, he asked in a skeptical tone: "Is everything you say true?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff. I can assure you that there is absolutely no moisture at all in this victory. I saw Kirillov, who was standing next to me, gesturing at me vigorously, as if telling me to hand over the phone to him, so I said to Krylov: "Comrade Kirillov, the political commissar of the division, is by my side, do you need to check with him?" "With that, I'm going to take the microphone off my ears and hand it to Kirillov,

Unexpectedly, Krylov heard that I heard Kirillov, and quickly said in a loud voice: "Okay, okay, Colonel Oshanina." There is no need to call Comrade Krylov to testify, I believe that the war reports you have reported are true, this is always okay, right? I will immediately show your battle report to the commander and the comrades of the military commissar, so that they will also be happy. ”

After putting down the phone, I breathed a sigh of relief, and then said to Kirillov: "Comrade Political Commissar, it is really difficult to convince Comrade Chief of Staff of the Army Group that the results we have reported are true!" ”

Akhromeyev interjected at this time: "Division commander, political commissar, what to do with the troops of the 2nd Regiment?" Stay on the northern heights or withdraw to their original positions. ”

Hearing him ask, I hurriedly said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you immediately give the Second Regiment down and let them withdraw to their original defense area first." At the same time, the first and third regiments were contacted, and they were asked to hurry up and repair the fortifications in order to cope with a new round of German offensive after dawn. (To be continued......)

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