As soon as I threw the headphones and microphone on the table, Kirillov and Akhromeyev walked into the communication room. Seeing my move, Kirillov nervously asked: "Comrade division commander, what happened to the first regiment of positions?" ”

Although I was unhappy, in front of Kirillov, the commissar, I could not get angry casually, so I could only say angrily: "The Germans sent a small force to attack the positions of a regiment, which was discovered by our sentries and fired warning shots. When the regimental commissar Oberstan, who was checking the sentry, found out about the enemy, he immediately commanded his guard squad to meet the enemy, and at the same time Shedelikov promptly sent a company of troops to join the battle. Flanked from both sides, the German troops put up a slight resistance and quickly retreated. Now the commissar of Oberstein had led his troops and followed the defeated German army in pursuit. ”

"Nonsense, it's nonsense." After listening to my briefing, Kirillov also said dissatisfiedly: "This Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov is simply fooling around, and Oberstan is not a military cadre, how can he be allowed to carry out such a dangerous operation as chasing the enemy army in the dark?" He has been here for a short time, he is not familiar with the terrain, and he is not familiar with the commanders and fighters in the regiment, what if he encounters an enemy ambush during the pursuit? ”

I was worried that Oberstein would have an accident because I was afraid that I would not be able to explain it to General Meretskov, after all, if someone else had just come to my division to report during the day, and an accident happened at night, it would be a bit too much to say. And Kirillov was afraid that something would happen to Oberstan, because he considered that the other party was a political cadre, and maybe it was okay to do political and ideological work for the soldiers, and commanding the war was not his strong point.

I inadvertently looked towards the door, only to see that there were already a bunch of people standing outside. Lights from the communication room. Let me see clearly that among the people standing outside there is the commander of the guard battalion, Basmanov. When I got to the door, I yelled at him: "Captain Basmanov, take the guards with you and follow me to the position of the regiment." With that, I lifted my leg and walked outside.

As soon as I reached the door, I suddenly remembered that I was not alone in the independent division, and I could no longer do what I wanted as before, so I stopped, turned to Kirillov and said: "Comrade commissar. I'll go to the position of a regiment, and I'll leave it to you here. Then he greeted Akhromeyev, who was standing next to him and was a little at a loss, "Comrade Chief of Staff, what are you still doing there?" You also come with me to the position of a regiment. ”

After all, Basmanov had been with me for a long time, and knew my character very well, and he had already judged my next move when he heard the sound of gunfire and explosions coming from a position just now, so he assembled the company of guards before I gave him the order.

I walked out of the communications room. Seeing that the soldiers of the guard company were already lined up next to the trenches, he nodded with satisfaction. Then he shouted at Basmanov: "Go!" ”

Following my order, Basmanov hurriedly issued an order to his subordinates: "Listen to my command: stand upright, turn right, and walk in unison!" ”

We had just walked not far away, and Grams, Beckman, and Gretka, who had not been seen for a day, came over to us with flashlights, and seven or eight paces away, Grähms couldn't wait to shout a few words, and Gretka quickly translated his words into Russian: "Comrade division commander, is something wrong?" ”

Although the light was not very good at this time, Akhromeyev beside me was keenly aware that the person who came was wearing a German uniform, and shouted: "Division commander, be careful, there are Germans." He then stood in front of me, and at the same time drew his gun and pointed it at the three of them.

"Captain Akhromeyev, don't get me wrong, it's all your own people!" I was afraid that he would be impulsive, so I grabbed his elbow and pushed it upwards while shouting, "Hurry up and put the gun down!" Be careful not to go off. ”

Akhromeyev's right hand, holding his pistol in the air, turned his head and said to me: "Commander, look, they are wearing German uniforms and speak authentic German, aren't they still Germans?" ”

I let go of his hand and said unhappily: "Comrade Captain, put the gun down first, and I will explain this matter to you later." Then I walked a few steps to greet Grams, and said to them in a loud voice: "You have come just in time, and I will introduce you to the new chief of staff of the division, Captain Akhromeyev." ”

After explaining Akhromeyev to Grahms, I introduced the three Grahams to Akhromeyev: "This is the former German captain Grahms, who is now the commander of the 2nd Guards Company; Second Lieutenant Gretteka, who was Grahms's deputy, was also in the first company. This was Captain Beckman, the company commander of the 3rd Guards Company. ”

Hearing that it was the new chief of staff, the three Gramss walked over quickly, raised their hands and saluted him, and said politely: "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff. ”

Akhromeyev was confused by the scene in front of him, and after he inserted the pistol back into the holster, he also raised his hand to return the salute, and said with a wry smile: "Hello, it's nice to meet you." ”

Seeing that both sides had greeted each other, I said to Grams: "It is so, just now a group of enemies has touched a group's position, but fortunately our fighters were vigilant and found and repelled them in time. There is currently a force in pursuit of this group of enemies, and I will take a company of guards to the front to take a look. ”

After listening to this, Grams hummed, and then asked: "Comrade division commander, do you need my second company to go with you?" ”

I waved my hand and said, "No need, the battle ahead is almost over, and it is enough to have a company with me." You better go back and rest, and come to my headquarters after dawn tomorrow, I have something to tell you. ”

The three of them did not insist when they heard me say this, after all, the Germans were the most obedient troops, and after raising their hands to salute me and Akhromeyev, they turned around and walked back the way they came.

On the way to the position of the first regiment, Akhromeyev asked me in bewilderment: "Comrade division commander, I don't understand, why there are Germans in our division, and what are their origins?" ”

I thought of the many soldiers behind me, and some of the things that were not suitable for such an occasion, so I could only say in general terms: "It is some German officers and soldiers who have surrendered to us, and I have now arranged them in the guard barracks." ”

"Is it reliable?" Akhromeyev asked cautiously. It seems that everyone is wary of Grams.

I said slowly, "Don't worry. Comrade Captain. The defenders of the 107.5 heights to the left of the Mamayev Gang the other day. They retreated without the permission of their superiors, and as a result, the positions were occupied by the Germans. At that time, the 3rd and 4th regiments were passing nearby, and when they heard the news that the Germans had occupied the positions of our troops, they took the initiative to attack this height. Due to the unfavorable terrain on the southern slope, several attacks launched by the 3rd and 4th regiments ended in failure, and even the commander of the 3rd regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Kosgaard, was wounded. Later, I sent the commander of the fifth regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, with Captain Grahms's troops, posing as German reinforcements. After swaggering up to the top of the slope from the north side of the heights, he opened decisive fire and eliminated all the enemies who occupied the position. ”

"They opened fire on their own people?" Akhromeyev asked, a little uncertain.

"Yes, they opened fire, and they killed all the Germans in the position."

When I said this, Akhromeyev felt more and more incomprehensible: "No, comrade division commander. I believe that the Germans surrendered to us; But when it comes to the Germans who joined our side and shot at their former comrades, I don't think it's possible. After all, their education made it impossible for them to aim their guns at their comrades. Even former comrades-in-arms are impossible. ”

Hearing Akhromeyev say this, I just shrugged my shoulders and did not continue the discussion with him on this issue. In fact, whether the surrendered German troops had ever shot at their former comrades-in-arms is known only to the parties concerned. Anyway, from a series made by the Germans themselves in later generations, I know that among the five people sent by the Soviet army to carry out special tasks in the German-occupied areas, except for one Soviet and one Pole, the remaining three are former German officers and soldiers, and they treat those compatriots mercilessly when they carry out their tasks.

In order not to dwell on this topic any longer, I turned to Akhromeyev and asked: "Comrade Captain, what is the origin of the Obestan instructor who came with you?" ”

Akhromeyev didn't expect my thinking to jump so fast, and he took several steps forward before he picked up my train of thought and hurriedly said: "Report to the division commander, Comrade Oberstein was personally arranged by Comrade General before we set off. I asked him afterwards that he had served as a company instructor in a company of the 19th Guards Infantry Division, had been wounded in the Battle of Sinavino and had been admitted to the military hospital, and had joined us in Stalingrad shortly after his discharge. ”

"19th Guards Infantry Division." I said the familiar nickname with a smile on my face, "I remember that in the Battle of Sinavino, this unit captured the station that was heavily guarded by the Germans. Comrade Oberstein came from a heroic army, and it seems that he is not a simple person. Speaking of this, my heart suddenly became much more steady, and I felt that I was a little unfounded, a political worker who had been wounded in the battle, must have his extraordinary ability, so he was selected by Meretskov and arranged to join the second lieutenant training team as an instructor.

By the time we reached a position, the gunfire had completely subsided. I stood in the position on the mountainside, watching the troops who had just finished cleaning the battlefield, holding torches and walking up the hillside. With the help of the torches, I could see the two people walking in the front, talking and laughing, one was Sederikov and the other was Oberstein.

Seeing that the two of them had walked to a place not far from me, but had not yet noticed my arrival, I greeted them loudly: "Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, Commissar Oberstan, welcome to your triumphant return!" ”

Hearing my voice, the two of them found me standing in the trench with Akhromeyev and Basmanov, hurriedly ran a few steps, came to me, raised his hand to salute me, and Sederikov asked in surprise: "Hello, comrade division commander, how did you come to the front?" ”

I didn't answer his question, but said to myself, "You two come to the trench first, stand in such a high position, talk to you and tilt your neck, are you tired?" ”

Hearing my command, the two of them did not dare to slack off, and quickly jumped into the trench, and stood straight in front of me, waiting for my lecture. I looked the two men up and down in the light of the torches, and saw that their faces, although blackened with smoke, were beaming with joy, proving that the battle had just been won. So I asked curiously: "Comrade Sedjerikov, what about the Germans who came to attack the position?" ”

"We've all killed them." As soon as Shedelikov finished saying this, he realized that he was not quite right. Hurriedly added: "To be precise." It was Commissar Oberstein who led the troops to kill them all. ”

"What about the casualties of our troops?" Anyway, the German army that came to sneak attack has been wiped out. Before asking about the results of our army, I first asked about the casualties of our army.

"Report to the division commander," Oberstein stepped forward and reported to me, "our troops lost 7 men and 15 wounded. 47 Germans were killed, 2 pistols, 7 submachine guns and 38 rifles were captured. ”

I heard that the ratio of casualties between friend and foe was so huge. And a lot of them were captured, and I was overjoyed, and I couldn't help but ask curiously: "It's incredible that we have paid such a small number of casualties after destroying so many enemies." Tell me, how did you do it? ”

Oberstein touched Sederikov with his arm and gave him a look, meaning to let him report the incident. Seeing that his commissar had such an attitude, Shedelikov did not shirk it, and reported to me the ins and outs of the battle: "The Germans, who had come to attack us, had just settled their positions halfway up the mountain. was discovered by the sentry on duty, and he decisively shot a warning. It just so happened that at that time, Comrade Political Commissar took a squad of guard fighters to check the sentry nearby. At the same time as the gunfire was heard, the Germans approaching our position were also spotted, and the guard squad was ordered to open fire.

I was studying the map at the regimental headquarters, and when I heard the sound of gunfire and grenade explosions, I guessed that the Germans might have come to attack, so I promptly contacted the company at the front by telephone, and ordered the commander of the company to send a platoon to block the enemy in front of the attack, and the remaining two platoons quietly sneaked out of their positions and went around the back of the Germans from west to east to beat them fiercely.

The Germans did not expect that as soon as their sneak attack was discovered by us, they would be flanked from front and back, and after a while, they hurriedly retreated. When the comrade political commissar saw that the enemy was about to flee, he led the troops on the position to follow and chase him down.

As soon as the fleeing enemy fled to the foot of the mountain, he was stopped by the platoon I had deployed at the bottom of the mountain, and he was taken by surprise. At this time, the troops led by the commissar also rushed down from the mountainside position and surrounded all the enemies. By the time I arrived with the guard company, the battle was nearing its end. Because the commissars fought so fiercely, the remaining Germans were all killed before they even had time to raise their hands in surrender. ”

"Well done, Comrade Oberstein." After listening to Sederikov's report, I gave Oberstein a thumbs up, and at the same time sincerely praised him: "Well done, really good!" ”

Oberstein smiled shyly and said to me: "Comrade division commander, I am very grateful to you for assigning me to the regiment as the political commissar of the regiment. As far as I know, the 1st Regiment is the most combat-ready unit in the entire independent division, and the regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, is also a commander with outstanding achievements, and I am very excited that I can be assigned to such a heroic regiment as a political commissar. When I came, I secretly made up my mind to learn from this heroic regimental commander in battle. ”

"Comrade Commissar, look at what you said." Obestan's compliment made Shederichol embarrassed as well, and he said to me: "Comrade division commander, you don't know yet, as soon as the political commissar Oberstein arrived in the regiment, he took the initiative to propose to me how to do political and ideological work. He said that in addition to fighting, it is necessary to do battle agitation work to the commanders and fighters. In peacetime, especially in the evening, when the fighters are more willing to open their hearts, the commissar can seize the opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with them and go into the depths of their souls. At this point, he turned his head to look behind him, and then ordered, "Come on, bring that little suitcase from the commissar." ”

As his order was given, a warrior quickly walked among us with a small suitcase. Sedelikov opened the lid of the suitcase, pointed to it and said to me: "Comrade division commander, please see, in addition to propaganda pamphlets and books, there are also checkers, dominoes and other fish supplies in the box. The political commissar said that the purpose of his heart-to-heart talk and entertainment with the fighters was to make the soldiers no longer driven by fear in battle, but to let them understand that they should overcome pain with their political consciousness. ”

Although I don't seem to understand what Sederikov said, I also know in my heart that sending Oberstan to a regiment as a political commissar is the most correct thing I have done, and at least with the participation of these political workers, the combat effectiveness of the troops will be improved in different ways.

Thinking of this, I took two steps forward, raised my hands and gently patted Oberstein's upper arm, while saying in a friendly voice: "Well done, Comrade Oberstein." I believe that with you and a few other political workers joining the First Regiment, the overall combat effectiveness of the unit will be raised to a new level. ”

Hearing my praise, Oberstein straightened his chest and replied with a flat expression: "Willing to serve the Soviet Fatherland!" ”

Thinking that there were only a handful of political workers in the group, and if they really had to have one-on-one private conversations with the fighters, they would probably have little time to rest, I then asked with concern: "Comrade Oberstan, do you have enough men under your command?" ”

Oberstein shook his head and said slowly: "Report to the division commander, if you want to carry out one-on-one heart-to-heart talks with the soldiers, at least make sure that each company has three political workers. But now, as you know, there are only four political workers in the whole regiment, including me, and this is far from enough. ”

His words made it difficult for me, I was not interested in political workers before, and I was afraid that someone would shoehorn a few into me, so when I could shirk it, I did not hesitate to shirk it. Unexpectedly, when I was looking for more political workers to replenish the troops, I found that I could not transfer enough manpower from other places.

After walking back and forth in the trenches with my hands behind my back, I finally came up with a compromise and said to Shederikov and Oberstein: "I can replenish the soldiers and weapons, but I really can't replenish the political workers." So the only way now is for you to select the right personnel from the regiment and conduct relevant training, so that they can become qualified political workers in a short period of time. ”

Hearing me say this, Oberstein's face showed a happy expression, and he hurriedly agreed loudly: "Understood, comrade division commander, I will start handling this matter tomorrow." ”

Seeing that Sedelikov didn't speak, I thought he didn't want to, after all, he came out of the punishment camp, and he had a natural resistance to political workers like me, so he hurriedly ordered him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I order you to accompany the political commissar to each company to select personnel tomorrow, do you understand?" ”

Unexpectedly, Shedelikov also readily agreed: "Yes, comrade division commander, I promise to complete the task." (To be continued......)