When Godunov's familiar voice came through the headphones, I didn't say anything and asked bluntly: "Major Godunov, how is the situation now?" ”

Hearing that it was me, Godunov immediately replied respectfully: "Comrade General, everything is arranged." Although we were outnumbered by the enemy, I divided our forces into two echelons: the first was composed of two assault engineer battalions, which formed defensive positions five kilometers south of Poloi; The second echelon consisted of a tank battalion and an assault engineer battalion, which was mainly used for ambushes and counter-shocks. ”

"Have you figured out the numbers of the German troops?" Since Godunov's telegram did not mention the number of the German troops, I specifically mentioned this issue.

"Figured it out, Comrade General." Godunov replied clearly: "It is part of the 11th Panzer Division of the German army, the commander of which is Hermann. Major General Balk. ”

"yes, I see." Since it was a wireless call, and no code was used, I was worried that the call would be intercepted by the enemy, so I hurriedly said: "I will send Major Akhromeyev to you to check the specific deployment." After speaking, without waiting for Godunov to answer, the communication was interrupted.

Putting down the phone, I called Kirillov, Vitkov, Akhromeyev, and Pugachev to the map, briefly explained the deployment of Godunov's report, and then said: "Judging from the current situation, the strength of the German army in the Tokmak area is far beyond our imagination, and in addition to a part of the 11th Panzer Division, it is estimated that there are quite a few infantry. Once the Germans rushed towards Poloy in a coordinated manner, the 171st Division would be able to hold off their onslaught. Still a problem......"

"Comrade Commander. Please wait a moment. "I'm not done yet. It was interrupted by Vitkov, who, ignoring the unhappiness on my face, said to himself: "What is the number of the German army you just mentioned?" The German 11th Panzer Division? Seeing that I nodded in confirmation, he asked cautiously, "Then their division commander, is it Major General Balke?" ”

"Yes, the commander of the armored division is called Balk." In answering Vitkov's question, I also diligently recalled it. It seems that he only said the number of the German unit, and did not say the name of the commander at all, how did Vitkov know. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but ask tentatively: "Why, Comrade Chief of Staff, have you heard of this German commander?" ”

Vitkov nodded vigorously with a grim face, gritted his teeth and said: "Comrade commander, this is this Balk, who used 50 tanks to kill hundreds of tanks of one of our tank corps in the battle on the banks of the Zil River at the end of last year. ”

Fifty tanks to kill hundreds of tanks?! I was taken aback by such a disparity in results. The heart said: Isn't this the result of Rommel's battle, can't it be that Vitkov made a mistake by Zhang Guan Li Dai?

I wasn't alone. Even Kirillov, Akhromeyev, Pugachev were taken aback. After a while, Kirillov opened his mouth and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, can you tell us what is going on?" ”

Vitkov nodded again and began to tell me about the achievements of the German 11th Panzer Division: "On December 7 last year, in order to destroy the German 336th Division, which had occupied positions between Nizhny Zil and Surovikino on the banks of the Zil River, our 1st Tank Corps forced its way across the Zil River on their left flank and advanced to the residential area of the 79th State Farm in the far rear of their defensive positions on the riverbank. At that time, the German 11th Panzer Division had just left Rostov-on-Don, and upon learning of the offensive of our troops, they were ordered to move to the state farms in order to restore the original position of both sides.

On December 8, the German 15th Panzer Regiment attacked our motorized infantry column that was opening the way from the north, and because our army was in the process of marching, there was no slightest defense against the enemy's sneak attack, and as a result, in a very short time, the entire column was annihilated by the Germans. The armored regiment, with the direct support of armored infantry and artillery, then advanced to the rear of our tank units defending the state farms.

Although our troops who were encircled by the Germans were brave and tenacious, because the troops were within the range of enemy artillery fire, it became impossible to break through. By evening, the tank units stationed in the farms were completely crushed, and 51 tanks were destroyed......"

When Vitkov told Kirillov about the achievements of the German 11th Panzer Division, I couldn't help but fall into deep thought: a tank corps with up to a few hundred tanks and a considerable number of infantry could not stop Balk's 11th Paner, and we now have only one infantry regiment on the south side of Poloi, with a tank battalion of only 18 tanks, and it is impossible to stop their attack.

The crisis we are facing today is not only noticed by me, but also by political workers like Kirillov. As soon as Vitkov finished speaking, he immediately asked me nervously: "Comrade Oshanina, it is very bad for us, once the enemy's 11th Panzer Division launches an attack, it will not be able to stop it at all with Godunov's regiment and Perstian's tank battalion, and we must send troops to strengthen them." ”

"Strengthen, what kind of reinforcement method?" Regarding Kirillov's suggestion, I said angrily: "At present, there is only Andryushchenko's 171st Division in Poloy, and with their equipment and combat effectiveness, even if they are all sent up, they may not be able to block the enemy's attack. If the enemy takes advantage of the situation and captures Poloi, then our entire army is in danger of being routed. ”

At this moment, Akhromeyev suddenly said: "Comrade commander, in fact, things are not as pessimistic as you imagined, with our current strength, it is entirely possible to block or even defeat the German 11th Panzer Division." ”

Akhromeyev's words gave me a glimmer of victory, and I immediately asked impatiently: "Major, tell me about your plan." ”

"As far as I know, the current 171st Infantry Division is formed by the merger of the original 115th, 124th, and 149th infantry brigades, and in their original formations, they all have a tank battalion and two anti-tank artillery companies, although the original brigades have been reorganized into regiments. However, the formation of tank battalions and anti-tank companies still exists. "Akhromeyev has only been in office for a few days. But the situation of the various units in the army. I know more than I know, "I set up a tank battalion and anti-tank artillery company of the 115th and 124th regiments of the 171st Division and immediately went to the defense area of the Godunov regiment. ”

"Comrade Major, after sending the tank battalion and anti-tank artillery company to the defense area of the Godunov regiment," Hearing Akhromeyev say this, Vitkov's confidence was restored, and he asked with great interest: "How do you plan to deploy it?" ”

"Spread out the two battalions of the first echelon side by side, each company. Each battalion reinforced a tank company, and the tanks occupied flank positions in the defensive area; At the same time, each battalion was assigned an anti-tank artillery battery. The remaining tank units and anti-tank artillery batteries formed a second echelon with another assault engineer battalion for ambush and counter-shock. Major Akhromeyev, the head of both the staff and intelligence services, had drawn up the most detailed battle plan in the shortest possible time according to the resources at his disposal: "The Perstian tank battalion, which had been transferred, took a small amount of infantry and made a detour to the German flank. ”

After listening to Akhromeyev's plan, I looked at the map for a while. Thinking that it sounded good, he looked up and asked Vitkov: "Comrade Chief of Staff." What do you think? ”

Vitkov nodded, and said with an expressionless face: "This plan of the major, I think it can be tried." ”

Seeing that Vitkov did not raise any objections, I did not ask Kirillov or the chief of operations Pugachev, after all, the time was now tight and every second had to be counted, so I decisively announced: "I declare that this battle will be under the full command of Major Akhromeyev." Then I looked at Akhromeyev and said, "Major, you should rush to the headquarters of the 171st Division, and let Colonel Andryushchenko transfer the troops you need to you, without stopping for a moment, and immediately go to the defense area of the Godunov regiment." ”

Seeing that I had handed over the command of the battle to Akhromeyev, Vitkov nodded approvingly and took the initiative to say: "I'll call Colonel Andreushchenko first and ask him to assemble the troops to be mobilized first." In this way, by the time the major arrived at the headquarters of the 171st Division, the troops were almost assembled and ready to leave at any time. ”

When Akhromeyev left, we began to wait anxiously and long. In the middle of the journey, Gurtiev and Bantaiyev sent telegrams one after another, reporting to me the current position of the troops and the corresponding disposition. But since I had always been concerned about the battle that was about to take place on the south side of the city, I took a casual look at the telegram from the two men and threw it on the table.

There has been no news from Akhromeyev's side for a long time, and not only I am anxious, but even Kirillov and Vitkov are in a hurry. Kirillov sat at the table, his eyes staring at the roof in a daze, as if something wonderful had caught his attention. Vitkov, on the other hand, kept circling the room with his hands behind his back, sighing twice from time to time.

By two o'clock in the afternoon, news finally came from Akhromeyev's side. Pugachev, who had been staying in the next telecommunications room, hurriedly ran in with a telegram in his hand, and excitedly shouted: "Commander, comrade commander, it's a telegram from Major Akhromeyev. ”

I didn't wait for him to run in front of me, and I couldn't wait to ask: "Major Pugachev, how is the situation on the battlefield?" ”

Pugachev walked up to me, handed me the telegram, and said excitedly: "Report to the army commander, after the German army has launched a fierce artillery attack on our defensive position, with the strength of about one regiment and under the guidance of more than 20 tanks, it has moved in a column to our defensive position of the first echelon. When they entered the area of the ambush, our second echelon suddenly opened heavy fire on its column. The German troops, who were caught off guard by us, were immediately disorganized and out of coordination. Our troops seized this favorable opportunity to give full play to their superiority in firepower and inflict a large number of casualties on the enemy. The enemy's 61st Motorized Rifle Battalion hastily retreated after being destroyed by our troops with 6 tanks, 15 armored vehicles and more than 100 soldiers. ”

Since Pugachev had already said everything about the telegram, there was no need to read it again, so I casually handed it to Vitkov, who was waiting anxiously beside me, and continued to ask: "What about Major Perstian's tank battalion?" And what kind of results did they achieve? ”

Pugachev shook his head and replied: "According to the report of Major Akhromeyev, after reaching the defensive area, he sent Major Perstian's tank battalion to make a detour in the direction of Rivni in the southwest, preparing to go around the rear of the German 11th Panzer Division and teach them a hard lesson." ”

"What, a detour in the direction of Rivni?" Hearing Pugachev say this, Vitkov shoved the telegram into Kirillov's hand, leaned down at the table, and looked up where Rivni was. After a few moments, I heard him slam the table, and then he cried out in a loud voice: "Hell, how did this Major Akhromeyev do it, how could he make a detour of the tank battalion towards the Rivni area?" It is located right in the middle of the two cities of Tokmak and Vosrivka, and if the enemy armored forces in Vosrivka are sent out again, they will be in danger of being exposed to the enemy. Saying this, he raised his head and looked at me and said, "Comrade Commander, I immediately send a telegram to Major Akhromeyev, asking him to urgently recall Major Perstian's tank battalion and avoid their annihilation. ”

I looked at the almost negligible Rivni on the map, and my mind raced to consider whether I should heed Vitkov's advice and withdraw Perstian's tank battalion and continue to hold off the German 11th Panzer Division in the area where it was now.

While I was in a dilemma, Kirillov's voice sounded next to me: "Oshanina, Major Akhromeyev has been working with us for several months, and according to my observations, he is not only a qualified staff officer in the command, but also an excellent commander on the battlefield. ”

Kirillov's words made me feel enlightened, and I said in my heart that this Akhromeyev was the person I trusted the most when I was the chief of staff of my division, and when I was not in the command, I always entrusted him with the responsibility of the work of the division. And the command of this battle was personally handed over to him by me, so why should I bother with these unnecessary worries?

Thinking of this, I stood up straight and said to Vitkov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I know Major Akhromeyev very well, and since he wants to send Major Perstian's tank battalion to make a detour in the direction of Rivni, he must have thought it through. As superior commanders, we should have confidence in our subordinates and not interfere too much in the decisions they make. ”

Hearing me say this, Vitkov could only say helplessly: "Well, since Comrade Commander has said so, we can only continue to wait and see what kind of good news Major Pelstian can bring us." Then he ordered Pugachev: "Comrade Major, go back to the communications room first, and report to us at any time if you have any latest information." ”

Although I am full of confidence, I am not at all sure that a battalion of Perstian will have to deal with so many German troops, after all, this is a risky assault, and no one can predict what the final result will be.

This time, however, we did not have to wait long, and after about ten minutes, Pugachev again came to the headquarters with a telegram. As soon as he entered the door, he loudly announced: "Commander, commissar, good news!" Major Perstian's tank battalion completely annihilated the German 15th Panzer Regiment. ”

"What, one of our tank battalions completely annihilated one of the enemy's armored regiments?" When Vitkov heard the news, his first reaction was impossible, and he asked in a skeptical tone: "It can't be a mistake, right?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff," Pugachev said, his eyes turned to me, and when he saw that I nodded, he handed the telegram to Vitkov, and at the same time said: "The telegram was sent by Akhromeyev himself, and it is clearly written that the tank battalion of Major Perstian destroyed the 15th tank of the German Panzer Regiment and did not lose a single one. (To be continued......)