After reading the signature, Kirillov was visibly stunned for a moment, and then said to himself: "Hell, didn't Comrade Oshanina say that he was transferred to the commander of the 44th Army?" How is it that in the blink of an eye, he has again become the commander of the Black Sea army cluster in the Transcaucasia? ”

I smiled faintly and said, "Comrade Political Commissar, you don't care what position General Petrov holds now. I just want to know, what did he say in the telegram he sent us? ”

After a few quick glances, Kirillov continued to report: "General Petrov told us something about Captain Karpov on telegram. ”

When I saw that Kirillov wanted to stand still and finish reading the telegram, I wanted to persuade him to sit back in his place and then continue to read the telegram, but I didn't expect Akhromeyev to think the same as me, and he preemptively greeted us: "Division commander, political commissar, this telegram doesn't look short, let's sit down and read it again." ”

When I sat down, I saw that Savchenko was still standing next to me like a telephone pole, and hurriedly beckoned him to sit down as well, and listened to what was on General Petrov's telegram. Only to hear Kirillov say: "General Petrov said in the telegram that he knew Captain Karpov during the defense of Odessa.

The Germans were trying to storm the city from the east of the city under the cover of their artillery fire and wipe out all the troops under their siege. One of our naval guns parked in the harbor of Odessa was supporting the army in the city with artillery fire, and the shore defense artillery battery in the southern district also began to fire at the enemy attacking from the east.

The 21st Shore Defense Artillery Company, to which Captain Karpov was stationed, was in danger of losing its position, because the enemy was very close to them at the moment. The artillery commanders and fighters had to make a quick decision: to blow up the artillery positions. Or keep shooting?

At that time, General Petrov was in constant contact with this artillery battery. When the enemy approached their positions. The general was talking to Captain Karpov. Suddenly, crackling and commotion came from the microphone. The general secretly guessed that the Germans might have stormed the headquarters of the artillery battery. So he desperately called Captain Karpov, but there was no response. After a while, the captain suddenly replied to him, and said something that he would never forget: 'I'm sorry, Comrade General, I just left here to fight ......the bayonets with the Germans.'

After the general gave him the order to blow up the battery. He replied decisively: 'Comrade General, please let us blow up after the last shell, and we will never delay the destruction of the artillery, and we will not allow these cannons to fall into the hands of the enemy.' ’

Later, the gunners repelled the enemy attack with grenades and held their positions. At this time, they pleaded with General Petrov, hoping to stay and continue fighting the Germans after replenishing enough ammunition.

However, these sailors still obeyed the orders of their superiors and blew up the fort they were holding. But they said nothing and didn't get on the speedboat sent by the general to pick them up. Rather, there was a strong demand to remain in the ranks of the infantry, to remain on land and continue to fight the enemy.

The company commanders of the artillery company, Captain Kuznetsov and Karpov. Because of their prominence in this battle, the division applied for them to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Unfortunately, their regiment was completely annihilated by the Germans in the battle two days later. The company commander died heroically while leading his troops to break through, while Captain Karpov was missing. ”

When Kirillov finished reading it, he put the telegram on his desk, looked up and said to me: "Comrade Oshanina, after reading this telegram from General Petrov, I feel that your plan of rebellion is still feasible, and this risk is worth taking. ”

"The commissar is right," Akhromeyev chimed in in time: "Judging from the contents of the telegram, this Captain Karpov was also a brave and excellent commander, and it may be that after being captured, seeing the gradual defeat of our army and the increasing number of prisoners of war in the camps, his mind was shaken, and he doubted the prospect of our final victory, so he willingly served the Germans." If we can send someone to talk to him and try to communicate, it may have an unexpected effect. In order to enhance the effect, he also deliberately lowered his voice, and whispered mysteriously: "Don't forget that in their camp, there is also an artillery position that everyone is worried about. ”

On the matter of rebellion, the leaders of our three divisions reached a consensus, and the next thing to consider was who to send to the Eastern Battalion to test Karpov's true attitude. Although I couldn't wait to meet the former deputy artillery company commander who General Petrov never forgot for years, I kept it in my heart and didn't say it, because I knew that even if I did, I would be strongly opposed by both of Kirillov and the others. Besides, I didn't know this Karpov all my life, and I couldn't swagger into his camp, sit across from him, and tell him straight to the point: "I'm here to plot against you." In that case, they were either shot and killed by Karpov's men, or he ordered them to be tied up and sent directly to the Germans for reward.

When I first suggested who should be sent to test Karpov's attitude, Kirillov and Akhromeyev both looked at Savchenko at the same time. Seeing that we were all looking at him, Savchenko hurriedly got up and asked us to fight: "Division commander, political commissar, chief of staff, if you think I am suitable, give me this task." After all, I had just returned from behind enemy lines, and I knew the situation in the Eastern Battalion relatively well, and even if I went to work, I knew how to start. ”

Kirillov was very satisfied with Savchenko's attitude, he nodded with a smile and said: "Okay, Comrade Savchenko, since you have taken the initiative to carry out this task, then I will now entrust you with this glorious and arduous task on behalf of the division leadership." You've just returned from a mission behind enemy lines, so you must be tired, so go back and rest first. After dark, take today's squad and set off to infiltrate the German rear again. ”

"Yes, I promise to get the job done." Savchenko straightened his chest and replied loudly.

Not long after Savchenko left, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov and Commissar Oberstein walked side by side into the command headquarters. The two of them saluted us and sat down at the table.

After the two of them sat down, I asked with concern, "How many people are there in your group now?" "Before moving a regiment to its current position. I knew there weren't many people left. Even if the third company of guards and other units were replenished. The total strength of the army did not exceed 300 people, so after the new formation of the new regiment was replenished this time, I planned to give priority to replenishing one regiment.

Hearing my question, Shedelikov stood up abruptly and replied in a loud voice: "Report to the division commander, our regiment has 2,700 troops, sufficient weapons and ammunition, and is ready to fight at any time. ”

His words scared me so much that I almost sat on the floor. In just a few days, there were more than 2,000 more people in the first regiment, which was actually more than the total strength of the whole division that we had just counted, and I don't know where they were recruited from so many people.

I fixed my mind, and when I saw that Kirillov and Akhromeyev were also dumbfounded, I asked on their behalf: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I would like to ask you, where did you recruit so many people?" ”

"Some of them are people from retreating agencies and factories. Some were scattered troops, others were refugees who had fled from areas occupied by the enemy. ”

After listening to Sederikov's answer. My brows couldn't help but furrow, with such a complex composition, can the combat effectiveness of the troops be strong? So I asked in a skeptical tone: "Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, although there are quite a few people in your regiment, do they all have combat experience?" We must know that fighting a war is not just about relying on a large number of people, what we need are commanders and fighters who know how to fight, so that our troops can have strong combat effectiveness. ”

After looking at each other, Sedjerikov and Oberstein smiled and said to me: "Comrade division commander, your worries are completely unnecessary. Didn't I just say that many of the recruits are from the broken up troops. We all know that these commanders and fighters who leave their positions and retreat without permission will have an impact on the morale of those troops who continue to hold their positions. Moreover, all these retreating commanders and fighters, if they are dealt with in strict accordance with Order No. 227, should be held accountable for their retreat and punished accordingly. However, after consulting with the political commissar, I believe that the value of these commanders and fighters who have survived the catastrophe is worth using. Those who have survived brutal battles should be considered combat backbones, they are well-trained and have a wealth of battlefield experience. Although they retreated from their positions, it was not their fault. They just failed to stop the enemy who was charging at them. After all, compared to the enemy, we do not have air supremacy, and even such technical equipment as tanks and artillery are pitiful, and this cannot be blamed on them at all. But if you put them among the inexperienced recruits of government officials, factory workers, and city dwellers, they will become strong pillars. ”

After listening to Sederikov's slightly confusing explanation, Kirillov nodded, looked at Oberstein and said with deep feeling: "Comrade Oberstan, you are really not simple, you can actually come up with such a good method. You must know that these commanders and fighters who have left their positions will not face a long interrogation, but will participate in the reorganized troops. If you do this, the commanders and fighters will be grateful, thank you for your trust and care for them, so that they can become a great force, even if they are sent to the soup, they will not hesitate. ”

After saying this, Kirillov turned his head to look at me and said with a smile: "Comrade division commander, it seems that we chose Comrade Oberstein, and we really didn't choose the wrong one, and that job really belongs to him." ”

Oberstein heard Kirillov talking to me about him, quickly stood up, and asked with sincere fear: "Division commander, political commissar, I don't know if you have any important tasks to give me?" ”

"Commissar Oberstein, let me sue you about this matter." Before I could speak to Kirillov, Akhromeyev had already spoken first. Thinking that the two of them came from the Volkhov Front together, and the chief of staff personally gave him the task, it was more appropriate than the two of us. So I didn't stand up, but sat down and listened quietly to Akhromeyev giving him the task.

When Sedelikov heard that a new regiment was going to be added to the independent division in the near future, he couldn't help but pat his thigh, shouting that he had suffered a loss, and said that if he had said it later, maybe the division would have been able to divide a few hundred recruits into a regiment.

When Kirillov heard this, he teased him and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, this can only be blamed for your lack of stability, if you speak a few minutes late, maybe the division commander will replenish a third of the newly formed regiment to your regiment." But now you don't need it, anyway, you have more than 2,000 or nearly 3,000 people, so you don't need to replenish them at all, or assign these soldiers to other regiments, and they have been very strict in reducing their numbers in the recent battles. ”

Refusing to give up the fat to his lips, Shedelikov made a request to Kirillov with a hippie smile: "Is it okay to give me a hundred veterans to enrich the fighting backbone of the regiment?" ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, there is not a single combat backbone in the new regiment." I stood up and said to Sederikov sternly: "These are all new recruits from the cities and villages, and they don't even know how to use weapons, so we have to send out the political commissar of Oberstan to be in charge of the training of these recruits. (To be continued......)