The commendation meeting was brief, Colonel Rukhlie from the Front Headquarters awarded us the medal, Military Commissar Gurov gave a few more brief remarks, and the representatives of the troops who had come to observe the ceremony dismissed and returned to their respective units.

When the commander of the army group, Kolpakchi, passed by me, he deliberately stopped and said to me: "Major Oshanina, no, it's a lieutenant colonel. You come with me, and we'll go to the forward observation post, where I'll direct today's counterattack. Without waiting for me to answer, he turned to Semykov, who was standing aside, and said, "And you, Comrade Captain, come with me." ”

After Shemikov and I loudly agreed, we hurriedly followed behind the commander of the army group and walked towards the convoy parked in the distance.

Korpakchi and Gurov walked to a jeep and stopped, chatted briefly, and shook hands goodbye. Kol Pakchi pulled open the back door of the jeep and sat in, while Gurov stood motionless next to the car, apparently in charge of the headquarters of the army group.

I looked around to see where Chuikov was. However, after looking in the crowd for a long time, I didn't see that familiar figure, and it is estimated that he had left here last night. Just when I was disappointed, Captain Semykov greeted me: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, let's get in the car." ”

I said yes, lifted my legs and walked to the car that Kol Parkch was sitting in. I didn't take two steps, but Semikov grabbed me and asked strangely: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, where are you going?" ”

I didn't know why he would suddenly stop me, so I pointed to Kolpacki's car and said, "Comrade Captain, didn't you let me get into the car?" I'm getting ready to get in the car. ”

Unexpectedly, Semikov pointed to a jeep not far away. Say, "yes, I just told you to get in the car." The car is here, what else do you go ahead. That's the commander's car. ”

Hearing him say this, I immediately felt a hot face, mainly because for so long, I have been sitting in the same car with the leader for too much time, so that now I have developed a habit, as soon as I hear that I got in the car, I will habitually go to the leader's car.

Our fleet consists of six jeeps and two trucks. Those who rode in jeeps, except for the commander himself, the rest were staff officers of all ranks. And on the truck were the guards of the command.

In order to ensure that the commanders commanding the battle can keep abreast of the situation on the battlefield in a timely manner, the forward command headquarters built by the engineering troops is not only concealed but also has a broad field of vision. Standing in the headquarters, you can have a panoramic view of the great plain below the hill.

The staff officers were well trained. It took less than ten minutes to get in. Communication with the troops has been kept open, so that Kolpacchi can see all kinds of information in a timely manner, and he can also continuously send orders to the troops.

At ten o'clock, three artillery regiments, assigned to the 33rd Guards Infantry Division, began shelling the German positions. The German positions on the bare Great Plains were soon enveloped in smoke and fire.

Kolpacchi held up his binoculars and looked motionlessly at the German positions that were being ravaged by our artillery fire. After a while, he removed the telescope from his eyes. Raising his hand and looking at his watch, he turned his head and ordered Semykov, who was standing behind him: "Comrade Captain." Call the commander of the 13th tank corps, it's time for his tank units to attack. Semikov resoundingly agreed, turned and went to call the friendly forces.

Kolpacic raised his binoculars again, admired the performance of our artillerymen, and kept whispering in his mouth: "Great, the artillery brothers are amazing!" Shift the artillery fire a little more to the right flank, where there is still a point of fire from the Germans, destroy it! Awesome, really took out that firepower point! ”

While Kol Parkucci was talking to himself, I was standing next to him with a telescope and observing the enemy. Contrary to his elation, the more I looked at it, the more my heart sank, and after striking at the first line of defense of the German army, our artillery did not extend its firepower, but slowly gnawed one trench after another, one trench after another. Their way of playing seemed to be able to clear the Germans from the position little by little, but in fact, it made it clear to the Germans that the rear of the position was safe and that it was most appropriate to hide from the shelling there. When the front trenches were shelled, they ran to the rear positions, except for a few observation posts, and returned after the shelling was over.

Suddenly, I heard Kolpacchi exclaim excitedly: "Great, our tank units are dispatched, and the German positions that have been hit by artillery fire will definitely not be able to stop our torrent of steel." After shouting, he gave an order to the 33rd Guards Division through Semykov: "Comrade Captain, hurry up and call the commander of the 33rd Guards Division, Colonel Fanasyev, and order him to immediately send the 83rd Regiment to follow behind the tank units to seize the positions of the German troops." ”

I moved the camera to the east, and I saw more than 100 of our tanks lined up in battle formation, rushing towards the German positions with great momentum. Because the dust raised was so great that it was difficult to see if there were infantry following behind. However, judging from the situation on the battlefield, I estimate that if nothing else, these tanks alone will be able to crush the Germans in the position, and when the Guards infantry following them rushes up, all the Germans will be wiped out.

Our speeding tanks soon approached the German positions, and our artillery stopped firing. At this time, the firing points on the German positions were revived, and not only mortars, machine guns, rifles, and submachine guns were firing, but also anti-tank guns were firing at our tanks.

Several tanks that rushed to the front were soon hit by bullets and caught fire and were forced to stop. The tankmen in black uniforms got out of the burning tank, bent over and briskly running in the direction they came. Except for a few lucky ones, most of the tank crews did not get far before they were hit by the German criminal bullets and fell on the battlefield.

If the tanks continue to rush forward, they should soon be able to rush to the German positions. But at this time, a surprising scene happened, and our tanks stopped attacking. Some tanks drive directly backwards and reverse, and some tanks make a turn in the same place and drive in the direction of the coming and going.

Kol Pakchi was dumbfounded, and asked someone to bring a walkie-talkie, and he grabbed the microphone and asked the commander of the tank army loudly: "Comrade general, what's wrong with your tank army?" Why do you stop the attack? ”

The other party replied loudly: "Comrade commander, the position in front, without the support of the infantry, we will not be able to pass." ”

"Stop the retreat, Comrade General. Order your troops to stop, immediately stop and stop where they are to suppress the fire of the Germans with tank guns, and my infantry will arrive right away. Kol Parkage roared angrily.

"General Kolpakchi," the commander of the opposing side said to himself, without the slightest attention to the commander of the army group, "I repeat, without the support of the infantry, my troops will not be able to pass through the front positions. If your infantry does not rush together, we will stop the attack. ”

"Bastard! You bastard! Yours would ruin this counterattack. I will report to the commander of the front what you have done and bring you to a court-martial. Kol Parkucci finished yelling, shook the microphone down, and walked quickly to the observation port to check the situation on the battlefield.

The tanks on the battlefield stopped retreating, stopped about a kilometer from the German positions, and fired at the opposing anti-tank guns. As soon as one of our tanks was hit and smoked, the anti-tank gun that fired shells was hit by one or several tank shells at the same time, and it was blown apart.

Ten minutes later, the infantry of the 83rd Guards Regiment finally arrived, and the tank units resumed a new offensive. However, instead of opening the way for the infantry in front, they followed behind the infantry and pushed forward slowly, occasionally providing artillery support to the attacking troops with artillery fire.

The mortars placed by the Germans in the trenches, in the face of the dense offensive formation of our troops, began to show their might, and every time a mortar shell fell in the ranks of our troops and exploded, several or even a dozen commanders fell in response.

Although a few days ago, I participated in the more bloody and cruel Battle of Signavino, but I almost always stayed in the headquarters, only to know the progress of the battle through the battle report, even if the casualties of the troops were large, for me, it was just a boring number, but now I saw one after another fresh lives disappear in front of my eyes. Seeing all this, my heart is like a knife, but there is nothing I can do, this is war.

I peeked at Kol Pakchi next to me, and saw that his face was pale, and he gritted his teeth as he looked at the battle going on, and I knew in my heart that if the conditions permitted, it was estimated that he would personally draw and shoot the general of the tank army, and it was his indecision and retreat from the battle that caused the infantry of my army to pay such heavy casualties.

I was thinking about it, when Kolpacchi put down his binoculars and gave another order to Semykov: "Comrade Captain, call Colonel Kharchenko of the 192nd Infantry Division and order his troops to immediately attack from their existing positions, flanking the right flank of the Germans and ensuring the smooth attack of the 33rd Guards Division." Also, let Colonel Fanasyev put all the 84th and 85th regiments into battle. ”

Although the attacking 83rd Guards Regiment suffered heavy casualties, the commanders and fighters had already rushed into the first line of trenches and engaged the Germans guarding it in close combat. Our tanks slowly drove to the edge of the trenches, clearing those exposed firing points with artillery fire and covering the infantry to occupy positions.

Seeing that the infantry was seizing positions, Korpakchi breathed a sigh of relief, put down his binoculars, lit a cigarette, turned around and asked Semykov: "Comrade Captain, have all the orders been issued?" ”

Semykov promised: "Yes, Comrade Commander. Colonel Kharchenko and Colonel Fanasyev said that their troops have long been ready to go, just waiting for your order to attack. No, as soon as the call was made, their troops began to attack. (To be continued......)

PS: Thank you to the book friends: I don't say it, peterzyj, and Yiran voted for your valuable votes, as well as the tips from the old godfather and sfghj of the book friends