After listening to Vitkov's words, I couldn't help but fall silent, the defenders of Kyiv, although weak, were far more numerous than I had imagined. It is very difficult for our army to seize such a large city as Kyiv from the hands of the Germans without being superior in strength and equipment. And even if we take it narrowly, we will have to pay a huge price. In the event of a frantic German counterattack, we simply do not have enough troops to hold the city.

Seeing that I was silent, Vitkov probably guessed what was on my mind, and after sighing, he said: "Comrade Army Commander, although the German army has only more than 5,000 people, there are more than 70 tanks, even if they only defend and do not attack, with only this little force in our hands, there is no way to deal with them. ”

"Yes," said Romanov, as soon as Vitkov's words fell, "at present there are only a few artillery pieces left in the artillery regiment of our army, and it is okay to fight and defend, but if you want to attack, the strength is a little too weak." Moreover, the total strength of our army is now only more than 13,000 people, of which 4,000 are newly replenished recruits, and with such a force to attack the fortified ......" His words stopped at this point, and then he shook his head and sighed.

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Vitkov went on to add: "Our troops were replenished only after the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, and the level of training and equipment was not good. During this period of continuous fighting, the troops were greatly reduced, and the addition of new recruits further diluted the combat effectiveness of our army. Our current situation is not only that the material support is very poor, but also that the commanders and fighters of the troops have not been well trained to conquer such a large city as Kyiv. It's almost impossible. ”

The problems pointed out by Vitkov and Romanov. It is precisely the key to the success or failure of the battle for Kyiv. Just when I was having a headache with these questions. Razumeyeva came to me again and, while handing me a telegram, whispered: "Comrade Commander, it's Marshal Zhukov's new telegram. ”、

When I took the telegram and looked at it, my brow furrowed, and I saw that it read: "...... Logistics units and bases are too far away from the assembly areas, which greatly increases the difficulty of providing support to combat units. Plus the areas where the troops were massed, which had just been liberated from the enemy. There are no conditions for the settlement of large groups of troops, combat equipment and materiel. The construction of bases, roads, organization of logistics, etc., can only be carried out simultaneously with preparations for the offensive.

At the moment there is only one spur of the Kastornoye-Kursk railway, a very short section of the Livny-Malmezh railway along the battle line, and trains on this spur line can only reach the Shigra station. Successive snowstorms buried the roads, and there was a thick layer of snow everywhere. On the section of Zolo Tukhino-Budanovka, cars transporting supplies can only travel on the railway embankment.

Under these conditions, the 3rd Tank Army, commanded by General Rybalko, and several infantry divisions will not be able to launch an attack on the enemy-occupied city tomorrow, March 2, as originally planned. The new offensive will be postponed until noon on March 3. Moreover, the ammunition and fuel available to the tank army can only last for one day......"

After reading the telegram sent by Zhukov. I am increasingly discouraged by the prospect of the battle for Kyiv. I threw the telegram on the table, turned my head and asked Pugachev, who was standing next to me, "Major, how many troops do the Germans have on the other side of the Kanivo." ”

"Report to Comrade Commander, according to the report of Major Perstian of the tank brigade, there are two companies of the German army on the opposite bank." Hearing my question, Pugachev hurriedly walked towards me, straightened up and replied: "They have built fortifications on the other side of the iron bridge, and they are also equipped with anti-aircraft artillery, and several attempts by us to seize the bridge have failed. ”

When I heard that the German army on the other side of Kanifu had only two companies of troops, I felt much more at ease, and hurriedly ordered Bandereev: "Comrade General, please immediately send a regiment to Kanifu overnight to reinforce the weak tank brigade." ”

"Yes!" Pantai Laiev, who stood up to accept the order, said yes and sat down again.

"Comrade Deputy Commander," I then gave Romanov another order: "Except for one battalion of the 308th Division to hold the crossing, the rest of the troops, together with the 171st Division, will change into German uniforms and march north along the road overnight to capture the city of Obukokhiv, south of Kiev, as the starting point for our next offensive." Remember, after taking the city, be careful not to block the news so that the enemy does not notice that we are under his nose. ”

After listening to my order, Romanov did not immediately reply to me, but turned to Andreushchenko, who stood up with him, and said: "Comrade Colonel, are the commander's orders clear?" ”

"Clear, Comrade Commander." Andreushchenko replied loudly.

Romanov then said: "The battalion defending the crossing is under the command of Captain Yevtifeev, who has made meritorious contributions in the defensive battle today. It just so happened that the commander of the battalion withdrew from the battle because he was wounded during the day's battle, and an experienced commander like the lieutenant was needed to take his place. ”

Seeing Romanov giving orders to Andreushchenko, I remembered that he was no longer the deputy commander of the army, nor the commander of the 308th Division, but the newly promoted commander of the 79th Army. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but smile bitterly, didn't interrupt him, and continued to listen patiently to his assignment.

After the two of them sat down, Kirillov asked me curiously: "Lida, I would like to ask you, what are you doing with the transfer of troops to Kanivo, do you really intend to seize the bridge over the river?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commissar." I replied in the affirmative: "The attack of friendly forces, for various reasons, will be delayed, so if our lone army rashly attacks Kyiv, we will expose our campaign intentions to the Germans." But until the friendly forces start attacking, we can't stay still, we have to make some movement to distract the Germans. ”

"Leda, who are you going to let command this attack?" Kirillov asked with concern.

"Comrade Political Commissar, who else could there be?! Naturally, it's me. When I said this to Kirillov with a smile, I saw that his face was gloomy, and I quickly added: "Of course." Except for me. You'll have to go along, too. ”

I'll say so. A smile appeared on Kirillov's originally tense face, and he said proudly: "Leda, that's right, I'm your political commissar, your partner, no matter where you go, just take me with you." ”

"Commander, commissar," Vitkov saw that Kirillov and I had agreed in a moment. Hurriedly persuaded him: "Kanifu is too dangerous, let me command." ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you have more important work to do." I raised my hand to stop Vitkov's words, pointed at Romanov and said to him: "Your job is to assist Commander Romanov in getting acquainted with and commanding the troops. Do you understand? ”

"Understood." Hearing me say this, Vitkov had no choice but to say yes in great frustration and sit down again.

After the rest of the tasks were completed, Kirillov and I left the headquarters and went to Kanifu with the third regiment of Akhromeyev, which had been drawn from Bandereev.

After arriving at the command post in Canivo. I met with the temporary supreme commander of the tank brigade, Major Persten. Seeing my arrival, Pelsjian looked a little flustered. After he raised his hand to report to us, he was nervous and kept his hand on his forehead and did not put it down.

I raised my hand and pulled his hand down from my forehead, and then asked in a flat tone, "Major Persie, I heard that you lost the battle to seize the bridge today, can you tell me what happened?" ”

Kirillov also helped beside him and said: "Yes, Comrade Major, you and Comrade Commander are also old acquaintances, even if you say anything directly, even if you say it wrong, we will not blame you." ”

"Comrade Commander?" When Persjian heard this, a strange expression appeared on his face, and he even tilted his head slightly and looked behind me to see if there was still a commander he did not know behind us.

Seeing his move, Akhromeyev, who came in with us, smiled and said to him: "Comrade Major, what are you looking at, aren't we all in front of you?" ”

"I just heard Comrade Commissar speak of the commander," Pelsjian muttered, "I want to see if he is following you into the command post." ”

As soon as his words fell, several of us chuckled. After laughing, Akhromeyev pointed his finger at me and said: "Where else are there any commanders besides us?" Let me tell you the truth, the superiors just formed the Dnieper Battle Cluster on the basis of our army today, and our army commander is the commander of this cluster. ”

Hearing this unexpected news, Pelsjian was stunned for a moment, then raised his hand to salute me, and at the same time said to me sincerely with a smile: "Comrade commander, please accept my congratulations to you. ”

As the four of us were seated, I asked the question again. Persjian replied: "Comrade commander, that's right. "When he recounted, he did not realize that he was calling me, and he was still the original commander instead of the current commander, but I did not correct him, but quietly listened to his account of today's battle: "...... When, after the battle, the enemy was driven out of the city, Major Prikhodko personally drove a tank and led hundreds of fighters to the bridge with the enemy in his tail. I was on the top floor of a building and I was watching this with a telescope and was optimistic that we had completely occupied the bridge that led to the other side of the river, when an accident happened.

We rushed to the troops on the opposite bank, and as soon as we left the bridge, we were ambushed by the Germans, who had long been lying in ambush behind the fortifications. Our commanders and fighters immediately fell into the German fire network consisting of machine guns, mortars, and anti-aircraft guns, and the commanders and fighters who rushed to the front fell under the enemy's guns.

In order to cover the retreat of the infantry, Major Prikhodko personally drove the tank towards the enemy's position, and he wanted to crush the enemy's machine-gun positions with tracks and destroy the enemy's mortars with tank guns, so that more commanders and fighters could escape from the enemy's ambush circle. But unfortunately, when his tank was still more than 30 meters away from the enemy's trench, it was hit by a battle defense gun and caught fire. He escaped from the burning tank and was shot and died on the way back to our positions. ”

When Persjian said this, he probably saw the serious expressions on the faces of Kirillov and me, and hurriedly explained: "There were more than 120 commanders and fighters who rushed across the bridge, most of them were fighters of the Shamlikh guerrillas, and due to their lack of experience in regular warfare, they suffered heavy casualties, and in the end only a dozen people retreated to our positions. ”

As soon as he said this, suddenly someone outside the door excitedly shouted: "Comrade Major, good news, good news." Then a commander in a political worker's uniform burst into the house.

The man who came in was obviously not aware that there would be so many people in the room, and after a short moment of confusion he walked up to us, raised his hand and saluted me and reported: "Hello, Comrade Commander. The instructor of the 1st Battalion of the 22nd Tank Brigade Vajim reports to you, I am waiting for your orders, please instruct! ”

I recognized the person who was a political worker who I personally brought to the tank battalion, and quickly stood up, stretched out his hand to him with a smile, and said politely: "It turned out to be you, Comrade Vajim. ”

After shaking hands, I asked curiously, "Comrade instructor, you just said that there is good news. I wonder what is the good news that makes you happy like this. ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Hearing me ask this question, Wajim's emotions became excited: "During the day today, we launched an attack on the other side of the river, but the troops who rushed across the bridge were ambushed by the enemy, and as a result, they suffered heavy casualties. ”

When I heard this, I nodded again and again and said regretfully: "Yes, Comrade Instructor, Major Pelstian has just told us about this. It's a pity that the deputy commander of the tank battalion, Major Prikhodko, died in vain. ……”

"No, Comrade Commander, Major Prikhodko did not die." Before I could finish my sentence, I was interrupted by an emotional Wajim: "He's just injured, he's just come back, and he's outside now." ”

"What, Comrade Instructor, what did you say?" Hearing this, Pelsjian rushed over and grabbed Vajim's shoulder, shook it vigorously, and asked loudly: "I saw him fall under the guns of the enemy, how can you say that he did not die?" You must be mistaken. ”

"That's right, Comrade Major." Although Vajim was about to be shaken apart by Pelsjian, he still said in an affirmative tone: "Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander did not die, he is still alive." When he was wounded, he lay down in a crater to hide from the enemy's dense fire, and when it got dark, he secretly crawled back. And not only did he come back alone, but three other wounded people crawled back together. They're out there now. ”

"Then what are you still doing standing here, take me to see it." Persjian was so excited that he forgot that we were still there, and pushed Wajim to walk outside. (To be continued......)