After dark, Chuikov called me and informed me that the major counteroffensive under Stalingrad had officially begun, and that the date of our counteroffensive was still November 20.

After listening to Chuikov's announcement, although I already know everything about today's battle in the historical materials of later generations, I still have to pretend to ask Chuikov how the situation is, otherwise my calmness will arouse his suspicions.

Chuikov was probably on the phone, waiting for me to ask him this question. Hearing that I really asked, he immediately excitedly briefed me on today's friendly counteroffensive: "...... At 7:20, various artillery and mortars concentrated on the main breakthrough section about 28 kilometers long entered combat readiness. At 7:30 a.m., the order to open fire was heard. 3500 cannons and mortars threw tons of steel and explosives at enemy positions. After an hour of sabotage firing, another 20 minutes of suppressive firing were carried out.

Oshanina, you know what? This was the first time in the Great Patriotic War that our army carried out such a powerful artillery assault. This artillery assault of ours inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and made them panic.

At 8:50, the tank infantry and tanks of the 5th and 21st armies of the South-Western Front, as well as the assault groups of the 65th Group ↗ Army of the Don Front, simultaneously switched to the offensive.

The rapid clusters of the 5th Tank Army (1st and 26th Tank Armies) and the 21st Tank Army of the 4th Army, at noon, smoothly broke through the tactical defenses of the Germans and advanced to the campaign area. Our troops broke through the enemy's resistance, and the offensive was developing smoothly. The battle has been fought in depth of the enemy's defenses. ”

When I put what Chuikov said. After relaying it to several other commanders. Everyone was excited. Kirillov, who has always been calm, unexpectedly said: "Comrade Oshanina, today is an important day worth remembering, why don't we celebrate with some wine?" ”

I looked at Kirillov suspiciously, and asked in surprise: "Comrade commissar, knowing that we have to command the battle tomorrow, aren't you worried that drinking alcohol will delay your business?" ”

Kirillov replied with a smile: "It's okay, Comrade Oshanina, let's drink a little." It won't delay business. So saying, he walked to the wall, lifted the map hanging on the wall, and pulled out a flattened stainless steel flask from behind. I couldn't laugh or cry when I saw him do this, I really don't know when he hid the flask behind the map.

Kirillov walked back to us with the flask and, after unscrewing the lid, raised the flask high and said loudly: "For the great counteroffensive!" After saying that, he raised his head and took a sip. After drinking. He smacked his lips a few times and handed me the flask. At the same time, he said, "Comrade Oshanina, you can also take a bite." ”

Although I didn't want to drink, it was difficult to be gracious, especially in this case, if I refused, it would make Kirillov unable to get off the stage, so I took the flask and did the same as Kirillov, raised it high, and at the same time said loudly: "For our victory!" Then he leaned closer to his mouth, took a small sip, and handed the flask to Pantai Laiev next to him.

After everyone in the command had a round of drinks, including Major Basmanov and Lieutenant Razumayeva, Kirillov put the flask away, and then several of us commanders sat down around the table and got down to business.

Pandereev was the first to ask: "Comrade division commander, since the Germans were beaten so badly by the comrades of the Don Front and the Southwestern Front today, then I think it is unlikely that they will attack the Mamayev post tomorrow, should we adjust the time for launching a counteroffensive?" ”

I shook my head slowly, and said in an unquestioning tone: "No, the time of the counterattack cannot be changed, it is better to shell the enemy first at twelve o'clock tomorrow at noon, and then launch a counterattack." ”

"Why?" Bandereev asked, somewhat unconvinced.

"Comrade Deputy Division Commander, the reason why I do not agree to change the time of the attack is simple." I know that Bandereev is a reasonable man, and if I explain the reasons to him, he will be able to understand me, "because tomorrow the Germans will attack our Mamayev Heights." ”

As soon as my words came out, there was an immediate exclamation. On behalf of the others, Political Commissar Shcherbina asked me: "Comrade Deputy Commander, if, according to Commander Chuikov, the German troops were dazed by our artillery assault, it is estimated that they are now in disarray, and they themselves are too busy to take care of themselves, and they simply cannot allocate enough troops to deal with our Mamayev Gang, right?" At this point, he paused for a moment, then lowered his voice and said cautiously, "Are you a little too nervous?" ”

What will happen tomorrow is an unknown with a lot of uncertainties for them, but for me it is history that has already happened. Although the counteroffensive launched by the two Soviet fronts today was huge, because the German 6th Army did not feel a direct threat, Paulus thought that this counteroffensive of our army would end in failure, just like those previous counteroffensives, so at 18 o'clock in the evening, he also sent a notice to the German troops in the city to prepare for the next day's attack.

And the commander of the German Army Group B, von Murray. Baron Weix, however, found that the situation was not good, and at 22 o'clock he sent a new order to Paulus: "In view of the situation that has arisen in front of the 3rd Romanian Army, we are compelled to take resolute measures in order to quickly free up forces to cover the flanks of the 6th Army and to ensure the security of Lihya (south of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky) and along the railway in the Chir River section (on which the army group is replied). To do this, I command:

1. Immediately cease the offensive operation in Stalingrad, with the exception of the actions of the reconnaissance detachments. The intelligence of these detachments was indispensable for organizing the defense.

2. The 6th Army immediately drew 2 motorized corps and 1 infantry division from its subordinate organization, and as far as possible, 1 auxiliary motorized corps to the headquarters of the 14th Tank Army; In addition, draw out as many anti-tank weapons as possible and assemble these groups in echelons on the left flank of your division. In order to carry out a surprise attack to the northwest or west. ”

However, Paulus received this order. It wasn't taken seriously at all. He didn't even communicate it to his subordinates, and he was still thinking about how to achieve greater results in the battle against Stalingrad the next day, not knowing that their end was quietly approaching.

I am very familiar with this history, so I can decisively make the decision not to change the time of the counterattack, but it is a little difficult for me to convince my subordinates. After all, many things are in progress or have not yet happened, not to mention my small division commander. Even if the commander of the army group Chuikov, and even the commander of the front army, Yeremenko, did not necessarily know something, how could I know before they all?

After hesitating again and again, I finally had to introduce the regulations as a shield, I put my face on the board and said with a stern expression: "Political Commissar Serbina, you have not been in the army for a day or two, don't you know that the orders of your superiors are not allowed to be discussed, but can only be implemented?" ”

Hear me say that. Everyone obediently kept their mouths shut, and no one mentioned anything about changing the time of the counterattack.

The night passed.

The thick fog outside has not yet lifted. The German offensive on the Mamayev Hill and the 107.5 heights began.

Seeing that the battle situation was as I judged, the entire command fell silent, and several commanders stood beside me, following my example, looking up at the map hanging on the wall.

I heard Shcherbina whispering to someone: "Comrade Deputy Commander's judgment is really accurate, the Germans have really attacked." Fortunately, we are now relying on fortifications to resist the German attack, and if we leave our positions to fight the enemy in the open field, our troops will pay a terrible price. ”

Then I heard Bandereev say: "Now the fog outside is too great for our air force to be able to dispatch at all, and even if the tank battalion is sent to cover the infantry charge, the results will be very limited." ”

Ignoring Bandeliev and Shcherbina, I turned around and shouted to Akhromeyev: "Comrade Chief of Staff. ”

Akhromeyev hurriedly came to my side and asked in a low voice: "Comrade division commander, what instructions do you have?" ”

I briefly instructed: "You call Lieutenant Colonel Oleg and ask them how the situation is there?" ”

When Akhromeyev went to call, Kirillov approached me and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Oshanina, why did you only ask the chief of staff about the situation of the 2nd regiment, and by the way, about the situation of the 4th regiment, don't you worry about Lieutenant Colonel Gaidar at all?" ”

"Comrade political commissar, don't worry." I comforted him lightly: "The high ground to the north held by the Fourth Regiment has a relatively complete defensive system, and it will be very difficult for the Germans to capture it. The situation on the 107.5 heights held by the 2nd Regiment was different. Due to the lack of strong fortifications, the troops on the positions have been fighting with the enemy, and so far, thousands of commanders and fighters have died on this high ground. On the verge of victory, we must not cede to the Germans this land that has infiltrated the blood of the martyrs. ”

After listening to what I said, Kirillov, after a moment of silence, took the initiative to propose to me: "Comrade Oshanina, since this is the case, otherwise the troops of the 3rd Regiment should be sent over earlier, and once the position of the 2nd Regiment is in danger, they will be able to rise to the top in time." ”

I thought that the dense fog outside had not yet cleared, and that the troops would definitely not be attacked by German air strikes during the movement, so I simply agreed to Kirillov's suggestion, and then turned around and instructed Lazumayeva, who was sitting by the wall: "Comrade lieutenant, immediately contact Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard of the 3rd Regiment and let his troops move to the rear of the 107.5 heights in advance." ”

As soon as I gave the order to mobilize troops, Akhromeyev called out to me with a microphone at the table: "Comrade division commander, it's Commander Chuikov who is calling. ”

When I heard that it was Chuikov calling, I hurriedly rushed to the table, took the phone in his hand, and said politely into the microphone: "Hello, Comrade Commander, what instructions do you have?" ”

Chuikov's voice came from the earpiece, and he said with a smile: "Comrade Oshanina, are the Germans attacking your position now?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander. The Germans were simultaneously attacking the northern heights of the 4th Regiment and the 107.5 heights held by the 2nd Regiment. After reporting the situation, in order to reassure Chuikov, I specially explained to him: "But we are confident to hold our positions and wait for the moment of counterattack!" ”

Hearing me mention the counteroffensive, Chuikov couldn't help but sigh, and said in a tone full of regret: "Originally, our attack was at seven o'clock in the morning, but unfortunately because of this damn fog, the artillery observers could not see anything, so the time for artillery preparation had to be postponed. ”

I raised my hand and looked at my watch, and when I saw that the pointer was already pointing to eight o'clock, I casually asked: "Comrade commander, do you know how long our artillery preparations are going to be postponed?" ”

Chuikov probably looked at his watch before replying: "I estimate that the artillery preparations for the attack should have begun at about half past eight, when the fog outside had almost dissipated." ”

After finishing the call with Chuikov, I looked up and asked Akhromeyev: "Chief of Staff, you have spoken to Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, how is their situation there?" ”

Akhromeyev shook his head and replied with a worried face: "Comrade division commander, the situation is very bad. After the end of the German artillery bombardment of the 107.5 heights, thousands of infantrymen, under the cover of a dozen tanks and dozens of armored vehicles, were launching a fierce attack on the heights. Although the 2nd Regiment fought stubbornly, a unit of the enemy had already stormed our mountainside position and was engaged in a hand-to-hand battle with our commanders and fighters, and Lieutenant Colonel Oleg had already sent the commander of the 1st battalion, Captain Khrushov, with the reserves, to reinforce him. ”

"Comrade division commander," Bandereev immediately reminded me after listening to Akhromeyev's report: "We must immediately send reinforcements over, and we must not let the enemy occupy the 107.5 heights, otherwise we will be very passive." ”

I waited for Bantai Leyev to finish speaking, and did not express his position, but turned his head and asked Razumeyeva in the distance: "Comrade lieutenant, are the troops of the 3rd Regiment leaving now?" ”

"Report to the division commander," Razumeyeva replied, standing up, "Lieutenant Colonel Koska, the commander of the third regiment, immediately after receiving the order, ordered Major Godunov to lead the third battalion and rush to the 107.5 heights by car, and it is estimated that they will be able to reach the designated position in a few minutes. ”

Hearing that reinforcements from the three regiments had been sent, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as the 3rd Battalion can reach the 107.5 heights in time, the Germans will not want to take their positions from us," said Pandereev. (To be continued......)

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