Although I gave Colonel Kaliyev a death order in a strong tone, and dismissed him if he failed to complete the task, I did not know at all whether he would be able to complete the task of liberating Kling on time. Tanks can destroy barricades and firepower points set up in the streets, but it is a bit overwhelming to destroy the enemy in the building, and the only way to solve the battle is to rely on infantry.

Watching me walk around the tent with my hands behind my back, Chistyakov, who was familiar with me, said softly: "Comrade division commander, do you see if you need me to take the 1073rd Regiment up, you must know that we have fought defensive battles in Volokolamsk for more than a month, and we are more experienced in this kind of street fighting. ”

Hearing his sudden request, I couldn't help but stop and was about to frown, but after putting myself in Chistyakov's shoes, I understood what was in the heart of the impatient commander.

"You should be calm, my deputy division commander." I said to him gently. "Don't you understand that the battle for the Great Counteroffensive has just begun?! There are still many battles to be fought in the future, and good steel must be used on the blade. ”

Without waiting for him to reply, I stepped out of my tent and prepared to continue observing the battle ahead. Chistyakov and several staff officers also hurriedly followed out of the tent.

The German soldiers who were taken prisoner one after another were escorted into the forest by the soldiers, and the waves of German prisoners who walked in the front were all ragged and more or less wounded, judging from their dull eyes and faces full of fear, these should have been captured in the trenches, they were all stupid by the devastating artillery fire of our army, and the only thing that made them feel fortunate was that they were captured alive by our army.

"Comrade division commander," Chistyakov asked me cautiously, "do you need to arrange for the interrogation of these prisoners?" ”

"No, you don't!" As soon as these words came out, all the people around me looked dazed, and I quickly explained to them: "The reason why I said no, is because these prisoners were taken from the trenches. You see, all of them are dull-eyed and slow in their movements, and it is estimated that during the shelling, not only their ears may have been deaf, but some of them were even delirious with fright. Do you think that from the mouths of these people, we can ask what we want to know? ”

After listening to my explanation, everyone suddenly realized that no one ever mentioned the interrogation of the captives again.

The sappers had repaired the road to the city, the bodies of the fallen soldiers had been carefully moved to the side of the road, and the bombed-out tanks in the middle of the road had been towed away by the workers of the repair station in armored trailers, and the tanks of the tank brigade were driving into the city one after the other in a formation.

Seeing that on the battlefield, there were actually scrapped tanks that would be dragged away by a roadblock, so he couldn't help but ask the staff officers around him curiously. Under their explanations, I learned that there are a lot of things I need to know, and for the first time, I learned that in addition to being equipped with sappers in the infantry formation, there are actually a large number of logistics and maintenance personnel in the tank formation.

Fighting in the city was fought from the afternoon to midnight. I finally received a call from Commissar Yegorov that our troops, having eliminated the defenders in the east of the city, managed to break through into the city under the cover of tanks, and were now in the center of the city and the 7th Guards Division had triumphantly joined the division. The troops of the two divisions were grouped together and were advancing north of the city to destroy the recalcitrant German forces.

When I heard that the battle was progressing better than I had imagined, I felt much more at ease. Then I saw in my tent that Colonel Gryaznov, who was in charge of guarding the Chismena area during the day, had actually led a large force to take part in the battle against Klin. Seeing my astonishment, he told me that since there were new reserves stationed in the Chismena area, he had brought with him all the troops that had been left behind, in addition to a regiment of infantry and a tank brigade, as well as a ski brigade.

I was overjoyed by these new additions to the force, after all, the more troops I commanded, the easier it would be to fight. Then, I announced to Chistyakov, Gryaznov, Leutov, and others the plan for the daytime on the 7th: as soon as the Germans were driven out of the city of Klin, the tank brigade, the ski brigade, and the cavalry regiment immediately followed in pursuit. Since the fleeing enemy forces had neither any heavy weapons nor any means of transportation, they could not escape our pursuing troops on the open plains, so it was necessary to annihilate them all.

The gunfire in Kling City rang out all night, and it was not until ten o'clock the next morning, when the deadline I had given to Colonel Kaliyev of the tank brigade that the gunfire in the city ceased completely.

Almost at the moment when the cheers of the fighters came from the city, I received a call from Colonel Kaliyev. He excitedly reported to me: "Comrade Chief of Staff, after a night of fierce fighting, our brigade and infantry have wiped out most of the enemy in the city, and the few remaining enemies are fleeing along the road to the northwest. ”

"Well done, Colonel! Your warriors are all good, too! Please convey my gratitude to them. After complimenting him, I added, "But now you can't rest for the time being, and you have more important tasks to do." ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, please give the order! I promise to complete the task. ”

"Good! You immediately lead your tank brigade in pursuit of the fleeing enemy to the northwest. I will soon send ski brigades and cavalry regiments to accompany you in your operations. ”

After talking to Kaliyev, I turned back to Major Leutov and the lieutenant colonel of the ski brigade behind me and said: "Comrade commanders, your task is to lead the troops and Colonel Kaliyev's tank brigade to fight together in pursuit of the fleeing Germans. After a short rest, our large forces will immediately follow, and when we are united, we will head west to the German-controlled Botovo. Is the mission clear? ”

"Clear, Comrade Chief of Staff." The two commanders answered me almost simultaneously.

After arranging the pursuing troops, I contacted Commander Vlasov. As soon as the phone called, I immediately and eagerly reported: "Report to Comrade Commander, our army has liberated the city of Klin. ”

"Great," Vlasov was also extremely excited when he heard the news, and hurriedly asked me about my next move: "The city has been recovered, what are your next steps?" ”

"I have now ordered a tank brigade, a ski brigade and a cavalry regiment to pursue the fleeing enemy. After resting, the main forces would move west at two o'clock in the afternoon to attack German-controlled Botovo. ”

"Very good, you have thought it through, just follow your plan."

When I finished calling, Colonel Gryaznov smiled and suggested to me: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Kling has been recovered, let's go to the city and have a look?" ”

"Good!" I very much agreed with his proposal, so I waved my hand and said, "Let's go." ”

Our convoy stopped at the edge of the city, where smoke was still billowing from all directions. As soon as I got out of the car, Gryaznov and Chistyakov got out of the car behind me, ran up to me, and said with great interest: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you see, we have reached the edge of the city, but we cannot go directly into the city like this, and we should hold a small ceremony to celebrate today's victory." ”

I thought about it, and I knew that this was not grandstanding, but a Russian tradition, and I gladly agreed.

The troops participating in the entrance ceremony were quickly assembled. To the music of "Holy War" played through the loudspeakers of propaganda vehicles, the entrance ceremony began. At the forefront were twenty guards under the leadership of Captain Yushchenko, who carried submachine guns on their chests and walked in a rhythmic rhythm through the streets in the middle of the ruins. I walked behind them with my hands behind my back, and Ryaznov and Chistyakov were half a body behind, following closely behind me, followed by a group of commanders.

Amidst the rousing singing, our small team walked along the streets towards the city with neat steps. Although no one shouted Ulla, in the midst of the blood-boiling singing, I couldn't help but shout at everyone: Klin, we have taken it back!