After Meretskov said this, he looked left and right, and seeing that the chief of staff, General Stelimakher, was not there, he immediately called the chief of operations, Semenov, and gave him an order: "Colonel Semyonov, record my orders. The 22nd, 23rd, 32nd, and 33rd Infantry Brigades of the 4th Guards Infantry Corps were immediately transferred to the eastern side of the Sinavino Heights to cooperate with General Starikov's 3rd Guards Division to attack the Neva River. The 53rd and 137th Infantry Brigades, and the 122nd Tank Brigade, went to the right side of the heights, reinforced the 8th Guards Division and the 265th Infantry Division of the 265th Army, cutting off the enemy from the Sinavino Heights and the Neva defensive area. ”

Speaking of this, he turned his head to look at the artillery commander Degtyalev, who was sitting at the table, and asked: "Old man, how many artillery regiments do you have under your command with sufficient ammunition?" ”

Degtyalev didn't say anything this time, looked down at the notebook in front of him, looked up and replied: "There is also a heavy cannon regiment, and four separate mortar battalions. ”

After listening to the data reported by Degtyalev, Meretskov then instructed Semenov: "Let General Gagan immediately send the 140th Infantry Brigade to cover the positions of these artillery units on the southern side of the Sinavino Heights and provide artillery support for our troops attacking the heights." ”

After recording the order, Semenov turned around and went to the communication room to give the order. Seeing the back of his departure, I frowned slightly, and said in my heart that Meretskov's command ability was not half a star worse than Zhukov's, and he commanded such a large battle, but he did not arrange enough communication equipment in the command headquarters, so that he could give orders to the troops. Or receive battle reports from the battlefield. Special personnel must be sent back and forth between the headquarters and the communications room. And the two places are not close to each other. It is important to know that fighter planes often disappear in a flash, and it is easy to delay fighter planes if they do this.

Shortly after Semenov left, the high-frequency telephone in the room rang again. This is a special line to the Kremlin, and the person calling at this moment, everyone does not have to guess, it must be the Supreme Commander himself.

Meretskov picked up the phone. After greeting Stalin respectfully, he said with a smile: "Comrade Stalin, I have good news for you, the 24th Guards Infantry Division and the 265th Infantry Division on the right side of the Sinavino Heights, after stubborn fighting, have advanced three kilometers to the depth of the German defense, and at present the unit is only five kilometers from the Neva River. ”

At this point, he abruptly stopped reporting and pressed the microphone tightly to his ear. It seemed to be listening carefully to Stalin's inquiry. After a long while, he muttered: "Comrade Stalin." At the moment the heights are still in the hands of the Germans. Last night, the 180th Infantry Division, which was originally stationed in Crimea, quietly entered the high ground at night. Since our scouts did not detect the enemy's reinforcement and strengthened the fortifications, all five attacks this morning ended in failure. With that, he removed the microphone from his ear, turned around, and beckoned to me, who was standing by the wall, to let me pass.

I walked up to him quickly, and just as I was about to speak, he raised his hand and made a silent gesture before handing me the microphone. Knowing that I was about to speak to Stalin, I couldn't help but get a little nervous, so much so that my words were incoherent: "Hello! This...... Stalin with ...... Homosexuals! ”

Stalin on the other side of the microphone suddenly laughed and said teasingly: "Leda, what's wrong with you? Why did you stutter when you spoke? It's not like you. ”

I didn't know how to answer, so I had to giggle at the microphone.

Stalin coughed, didn't say anything more polite to me, and asked straight to the point: "Lida, tell me, if you are the commander of the front, how should you fight the next battle?" ”

For a big man who can decide life and death with a single sentence, he can not take the suggestions made by his subordinates, but since he has asked everything, if you dare not say it, the consequences will be very serious. I immediately opened my mouth to say what I thought, but suddenly I thought of the proposal that had been rejected last time, and I was afraid that the proposal I made to him this time would also meet the same fate, and I couldn't help but hesitate a little.

Stalin couldn't hear my answer for a long time, so he couldn't help but urge me, and his tone became extremely harsh: "Lida, why don't you speak?" Don't you know how to answer me? ”

Hearing that Stalin had a precursor to anger, I quickly replied: "No, Comrade Stalin. I have an immature idea of how to tell you about it. ”

"Let's hear about it."

I quickly sorted out my thoughts, and then said clearly: "Comrade Stalin, at present the offensive forces of our army are only five kilometers from the Neva River, and I think that at this time it is time for the Neva cluster of the Leningrad Front to immediately cross the river and attack from behind the German army to plan the offensive actions of the 8th Army. Our army's two-pronged attack will inevitably disperse Germany's defensive strength, so that the Volkhov Front will be able to quickly break through the German defensive zone and achieve its campaign goal of joining forces with the Leningrad Front. ”

Stalin was silent for a while, and then said slowly: "Comrade Leda, the Neva cluster lacks sufficient tools to cross the river, and now is not the right time to cross the river. They were supposed to wait until the troops of the Volkhov Front reached the Neva River, and then cross the river to meet them. Of course, they did not sit idly by in this campaign, and the heavy artillery of the Leningrad Front and the naval guns of the Baltic Fleet did not always provide the necessary artillery support for the offensive of the 8th Army. At the same time, the fighter groups of the Leningrad Front, constantly patrolling over the battlefield, ensuring that the Luftwaffe did not pose a threat to the ground forces of our army. ”

"But, Comrade Stalin. If the Neva cluster does not cross the river immediately, after the Germans have confirmed that their rear will not be threatened, they may leave only a small number of troops to monitor the Neva cluster on the other side of the river, and confidently and boldly transfer the rest of the troops to the breakthrough section to stop our army's attack on the Neva. ”

After listening to my brief analysis, Stalin said noncommittally: "Well, I understand. Then he instructed me: "Lida, give the phone to Meretskov." ”

I took the microphone off my ears in disappointment. Handed over to Meretskov. Grim to the map. With a blank face, he watched as the two combat staff officers marked the situation of the enemy and the enemy on the map according to the battle report.

At this time, Meretskov's bold words reached my ears: "...... Comrade Stalin, rest assured. By lunch, our troops should be able to take the Sinavino Heights. Hearing this, I could only smile bitterly. If we had launched an attack last night, the Germans, who were inferior in numbers, would not have been able to stop our attack, and perhaps the high ground would have been trampled under our feet at this moment. And now. Reinforcements of the 19th Guards Division were still on the way, and it was unknown whether they would be able to reach the designated position before lunch, let alone take the high ground.

The generals in the Front Command were optimistic about the next battle, and they generally believed that the overall situation was decided, and it was only a matter of time before the troops of the second and third echelons and General Starikov's 8th Army converged, and the Germans in the defensive zone were eliminated and the Leningrad Front was reunited. But at the moment when everyone was unanimously optimistic about Lang, the ominous premonition in my heart became stronger and stronger.

Twelve o'clock in the afternoon. While everyone was preparing for dinner, an urgent phone call came from General Krykov. Let Meretskov and the rest of the generals lose their appetite.

As soon as General Krykov heard that it was Meretskov who answered the phone, he said anxiously: "Comrade commander, something big has happened. ”

Meretskov was stunned when he heard this, and asked rhetorically: "What's wrong?" ”

"Colonel Anchufeev's 327th Division, which had just arrived two kilometers from the Sinavino Heights, came under heavy artillery fire, the troops suffered heavy casualties, the chain of command was already in disarray, the division commander could not find the regiment commander, the regiment commander could not find the battalion commander, the battalion company commander could not find his own fighters. All in all, the troops were in disarray. ”

"What the hell is going on? To be clear, where is the artillery fire coming from? Meretskov tried to keep his composure, patiently questioning Krekov.

"I don't know what to do. Fortunately, the infantry brigade of Colonel Choliv set off half an hour later than Anchufeev's troops, otherwise my 2nd Shock Army would have been completely annihilated. ”

Meretskov put down the phone, his face became extremely ugly, he answered in front of the table, and said in a heavy tone: "As soon as the troops of the 2nd Shock Army entered the battlefield, they were hit by powerful artillery fire from the Germans, and the command of the troops was out of order and suffered heavy casualties, and now it seems that they will not be able to complete the task of attacking the high ground. Therefore, I have ordered General Krykov to gather as many troops as he can, and temporarily retreat to his original position for rest. ”

At this moment, an officer hurriedly ran in from outside, saluted everyone, and handed over a telegram to the commander of the artillery, Degtyalev. Degtyalev only looked at it twice, and was immediately shocked, and hurriedly walked up to Meretskov with a telegram, and said angrily: "Comrade commander, look, this is a telegram from the surviving commander of the artillery unit I sent to the heights. As soon as they set up their artillery positions, they were attacked by the superior forces of the German army, and due to the lack of infantry cover, after the battle, the artillery positions were occupied by the Germans. ”

After reading this telegram, Meretskov was so angry that he slapped the table and stood up, and ordered Stepakh: "Chief of Staff, you immediately call General Gagan of the 4th Guards Army and ask me where the 140th Infantry Brigade I asked him to send cover is?" ”

After the chief of staff got up to make a call, Meretskov said to the generals sitting at the table with some hesitation: "I suspect that the artillery fire of the 2nd Shock Army came from this position occupied by the Germans. ”

Meretskov's words took everyone present by surprise. Military Commissar Zaporozhyets looked up at him and said: "I agree with the analysis of Comrade Commander, the Germans should have used our artillery to bombard the marching infantry after seizing the artillery positions of our army without infantry cover. ”

Although both the commander and the military commissar came to conclusions, there were objections. A general, sitting next to Zaporozhyets, asked in a skeptical tone: "It's unlikely." Since the Germans sent troops to attack our artillery positions, then after their attack was successful, they should blow up all the artillery and move quickly, how could they stay in the position and turn the muzzle to hit our infantry. Could it be that in the troops they attacked, there were still artillery? ”

"This is a possibility, Comrade General." Speaking of this, Meretskov turned his head and asked Stepakh, who was calling: "Comrade Chief of Staff. Did you contact General Gagan? ”

Stelimakh's face was extremely unnatural and he replied: "The person on duty at the army command told me. Said that General Gagan went to the troops. Unable to reach for the time being. ”

"Have you asked where the troops of the 4th Guards Army are?"

Knowing which unit Meretskov was in, Stepamakh hurriedly replied: "The 140th Infantry Brigade got lost in the forests and swamps because it had no guide, and could not reach the designated position in a short time. ”

After listening to Stelimak's answer, Meretskov looked down at Zaporozhyets and asked in a consultative tone: "Comrade Military Commissar, the combat military discipline of the large corps is strict. The 140th Infantry Brigade was slow to move, which led to the capture of artillery positions by the Germans. The Anchufeev division of the second echelon suffered heavy casualties. I propose to severely punish the brigade commander, what is your opinion? ”

Zaporozhyets nodded and said decisively: "Comrade commander, I agree with you. I suggest that someone from the Special Service Division be sent to the 140th Infantry Brigade immediately to enforce battlefield discipline against the brigade commander and let the deputy brigade commander temporarily act as the brigade commander. Comrade Chief of Staff, you have no opinion, right? His last words were addressed to Stelimakh.

Stelimach immediately replied: "I have no opinion, so I will do what I propose as Comrade Military Commissar suggests." ”

Meretskov heard Zaporozhets say this. Visibly stunned for a moment, he nodded in agreement. His expression changed. According to my analysis, the severe punishment proposed by Meretskov was only to remove him from his post and send him to a military court, but I didn't expect Zaporozhyets to directly propose to shoot the brigade commander on the spot, which was obviously beyond his expectations, but as soon as he proposed a severe punishment, he interceded for this brigade commander, which would inevitably affect his prestige in the headquarters, and he could only make a mistake.

Meretskov instructed Semenov: "Comrade Chief of Operations, let the chief of the special service section, Lieutenant Turchinov, carry out this task, and for the sake of safety, let him bring a few more people over." When he said this, he probably thought that I had escaped death from this man's hands not long ago, and he was afraid that I would have some thoughts, so he smiled at me deliberately.

More than an hour later, Turchinov called and said that they had found the 140th Infantry Brigade and, on the orders of the Front Command, had shot the brigade commander on the spot and asked the deputy brigade commander to temporarily assume the duties of brigade commander.

Those who should have been shot were shot, and the troops that should have been deployed were all in place, but the five-kilometer-deep defensive zone was still like a trench in front of the attacking troops of the Volkhov Front.

Since the remaining artillery units of the Front were wiped out by the Germans, the ensuing ground offensive had to rely on the heavy artillery of the Leningrad Front and the naval guns of the Baltic Fleet to provide the necessary artillery support for the troops. Due to the distance was too far apart, artillery fire could not effectively destroy the German defensive positions. Although the troops on the left and right sides of the heights repeatedly and stubbornly charged, they still could not advance an inch, and the Germans repelled every attack of our army.

At this moment, Colonel Semyonov, who had just answered the phone, reported to Meretskov that General Starikov had just called, reporting that our fighters, who were supposed to be guarding the skies over the attacking troops, were disappearing from his field of vision one after another, and asked the Front Command and the Leningrad Front to contact them to see what was going on.

After listening to the report, Meretskov hurriedly instructed Stepakh: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you go and contact the Leningrad Front to see why their air force suddenly withdrew from the battlefield?" ”

According to my experience, once the Leningrad Front's fighters withdrew, it would be tantamount to relinquishing air supremacy on the battlefield, and when the German air force regained air supremacy, our attacking troops would become the key targets of the enemy planes, so that they would be crushed by the German air force before they could approach their positions.

After making the phone call, Stepach came back and reported to Meretskov: "Comrade commander, I have been in contact with the Leningrad Front, because now the German air force is carrying out heavy air strikes on their heavy artillery positions and the Baltic Fleet, so we have to transfer our fighters back to defend these important targets. ”

After hearing this, Meretskov said disapprovingly: "Even without the support of Leningrad Air Force fighters, we can break through the German defenses." Comrade Chief of Staff, order the troops, to speed up the offensive and approach the Neva as soon as possible, so that the Neva cluster of the Leningrad Front will cross the river to meet us. ”

Hearing this, I could not help but take a step forward and pluck up the courage to say to Meretskov: "Comrade commander, I would like to remind you that the situation is now very unfavorable for our army. ”

After listening to this, Meretskov frowned and asked, "For what?" ”

"With the withdrawal of the Leningrad Front Air Force fighters, it is tantamount to ceding air supremacy on the battlefield to the Germans. As soon as their fighters bombard our troops indiscriminately, our attacking forces will soon be blown across. ”

After listening to this, Meretskov thought about it, and perhaps felt that I had a point, so he asked: "Then what do you think should be done?" ”

"Now we have two options, one is to immediately withdraw the troops from the battle and avoid greater losses. ……”

"Withdraw from the fight?" Meretskov shook his head unequivocally and said: "Seeing that there are still a few kilometers to join the division of the Leningrad Front, at this time to withdraw from the battle, not to mention that Comrade Stalin will not be able to pass the pass, even the commanders and fighters of several army groups who are fighting fiercely will not agree." What's the other option? ”

"Let the Neva cluster of the Leningrad Front immediately cross the river and fight and attack from behind the German troops. The opposing attacks of the two fronts would disrupt the German defenses, and in this way, it would be possible to achieve the goal of the battle in which the two armies would converge. ”

After I had finished speaking, Stepach continued: "Comrade Commander, I think Major Oshanina has a point, judging from the situation of the battle today, the Germans are constantly drawing troops from the Neva River to strengthen the defensive strip in front of our front. ”

After listening to Stelimakkh, Meretskov did not immediately express his position, but asked Zaporozhyets: "Comrade Military Commissar, what is your opinion?" ”

Zaporozhets also sensed that the current situation was not good, thought for a while, and then replied: "I also think that the Leningrad Front should be allowed to launch a river-crossing operation immediately, otherwise the attacking troops of our front, which have no air supremacy and lack artillery support, will not be able to break through this damn five-kilometer defensive zone of the German army." ”

Seeing that everyone was unanimous, Meretskov also made up his last decision, and he resolutely said: "Well, since everyone's opinion is unified, I will call Comrade Stalin and ask him to ask the troops of the Leningrad Front to immediately launch a river-crossing operation to coordinate the offensive actions of our army." (To be continued......)