My plan to return to the headquarters had to be postponed because of this unexpected incident.

While waiting for the fighters to bring in the survivors, I had a discussion with Tawart Kiradze about the defense of Position 1.

Position No. 1 is composed of seven pieces of high ground not far apart, because the heights are only one or two kilometers apart, so when they are attacked by the Germans in any direction, they can provide mortar fire support to each other, which is why the No. 2 and No. 3 positions were lost, but the No. 1 position was still standing.

The entire front of the defense, defended by Lukin's 309th Regiment, was equipped with a company of the 101st Tank Brigade, and a cannon battalion. Because of the presence of artillery battalions and tank batteries, the German attacking troops suffered a lot, losing at least thirty tanks and a battalion or so of infantry in front of their positions.

The division headquarters of Tawart Kiradze was located behind the Lukin regiment, and the divisional units were responsible for the defense. The high ground on the left and right sides was guarded by the 308th and 310th regiments respectively, and was also equipped with cannon regiments, so as long as their positions were not lost, the division headquarters was as stable as Mount Tai.

After discussion, I decided to have Colonel Bere deploy another tank battalion in position No. 1, so that the division's defenses would be strengthened, and even in the event of a German armored assault, the new tanks of the tank battalion would be able to defeat them.

As we were talking, there was a sound of footsteps at the door, and a short, hunched old lady entered the house, supported by a warrior. She stood in the doorway and paused for a moment, and after surveying everyone in the room, she broke free from the warrior who was supporting her, walked briskly in front of me, and grabbed my hand. He cried and said, "General, the people in our village are dying so miserably, you must keep it for them." After that, he hugged my arm and cried bitterly.

I looked at the poor old man in front of me, patted her gently on the back, and comforted her, saying, "Old man. Rest assured, we will definitely go to the Germans to repay this blood debt. Then I sat her down with my arms and told the warrior who had brought her to pour tea.

After the old lady took a sip of hot tea, her mood was much more stable, and before we could ask her, she preemptively said: "I am a villager from the village of Torodov, I have three sons and a daughter, and now they are all in the Red Army, and they are all fighting against the Germans. Last week. I received a death notice saying that my eldest son had died in the battle to defend his homeland. ”

When we heard the old lady say that she had sent all her children to the army, we couldn't help but be in awe of her. Tawalt Kiradze asked with concern: "Old man, why didn't you move to the city before the Germans called?" I think that as a military dependent, you will definitely be able to get preferential treatment. ”

The old lady waved her hand and said, "I'm old, I don't want to toss around anymore." I'm sure it won't be long before you guys. was able to defeat the German devils, so they stayed in the village. ”

"The Germans slaughtered the village. What's going on? Tavart Kiradze asked curiously.

"That's a long story." After taking another sip of water from her teacup, the old lady said slowly: "Two days ago, a group of Germans stormed into the village and searched from house to house, saying that they wanted to see if there were any guerrillas hiding in the village. After searching for a long time, they could not find their so-called guerrillas, so they robbed them of their food and poultry. Originally, everyone thought that the Germans had snatched up their things and left. And that's it. Who knew that at noon today, they rushed into the village again and drove all the people to the drying field. Without saying a word, he opened fire with a machine gun and killed everyone. At this, the old lady couldn't help but feel sad.

Tawart Kiradze casually asked, "How did you escape?" ”

"When the Germans stormed the village. I'm growing cabbage in the forest. ”； The old lady lifted the corner of her shawl and wiped her tears and said, "When I heard the gunshots in the village, I rushed back to the village in a panic. Seeing that the people in the village had been driven to the drying ground by the Germans, I hid behind a pyre at the edge of the village to see what was going on. It didn't take long for the Germans to shoot at the unarmed villagers with machine guns, and in a few moments, more than 100 people in our village fell in a pool of blood. ”

When I heard this, I stood up, put my hands on the old lady's shoulders, and comforted her again: "Don't be sad, old man, sooner or later we will have to pay this blood debt to the Germans." ”

Hearing my statement, the old lady wiped away the tears that had fallen from her wrinkled face from time to time with the corner of her shawl, and then looked up and asked me: "Comrade commander, how long will I have to wait to see the moment of retribution for these German robbers?" ”

"It's coming, it's coming." Although I knew in my heart that if I withstood the first week, the Germans would turn from offensive to defensive, but at this moment I could not say anything about it to anyone, and could only vaguely reply: "I believe that by the end of this month, we will be able to drive the Germans away from here." ”

"Old man," Seeing the old lady looking at me with suspicion, Tavartkiradze hurriedly smiled and said to her, "She is our commander, you can believe what she says." ”

When she heard that I was a general, the old lady suddenly made an astonishing move, she hugged my waist, fell to her knees, and cried and said, "General, on behalf of the villagers in our village, thank you!" ”

The old lady's actions startled me, and I helped her up and said, "Don't worry, old man, I will definitely say what I say." Then he beckoned to the soldier who had escorted her here, "Take the old man down to rest." ”

After the old lady left, Tavart Kiradze said in a skeptical tone: "Comrade commander, have you decided that what this old lady said is true? You know, although the Germans and we are inextricably fighting, I have rarely heard of the massacre of civilians. ”

"Comrade General, this is because you are too lonely and unheard." In response to Tawart Kiradze's questioning, I said unceremoniously: "I have seen more than once the civilians massacred by the Germans, especially the Germans who are defeated by us today, are not ordinary Germans, they are notorious SS soldiers, they have no humanity." ”

As I said this, I suddenly remembered something important. Hurriedly changed the topic: "By the way, Comrade General, there is something I almost forgot to ask you." Didn't the 10th Tank Brigade of the 100th Tank Army suffer heavy casualties last night because of a sneak attack by the Germans? ”

"Yes, there is such a thing." Tawalt Kiradze continued: "At the moment the remaining tanks of the tank brigade have converged with their main forces. Due to ineffective combat, the 10th Tank Army has now been moved to the western side of the Belgorod-Kursk road. ”

When I heard that the 10th Tank Army had moved to the west side of the road, I knew that I could hardly count on them until the great counteroffensive began. Thinking of the imminent tank battle in Prokhorovka, I couldn't wait to immediately rush back to the headquarters and make the corresponding deployments.

When Tawart Kiradze escorted me to the door, he enthusiastically said: "Comrade commander, it is a little too dangerous for you to go back like this. Or will I send a tank to escort you? ”

Hearing him say this, my eyebrows couldn't help but rise, and my mind immediately came up with my own crouching on a tank. It didn't matter when I was in a low rank, but now wearing this lieutenant general's uniform, I can easily become a target for German snipers, and I don't want to die in vain. Thinking of this, I waved my hand again and again and refused and said, "No need." Comrade General, sitting on a tank car the target is too big. Easy to be a target for snipers, or safe in a jeep. ”

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Tawart Kiradze actually laughed, and he patiently explained to me: "Comrade commander, since you let the tank escort you back, how can you sit on the tank body." If you want to sit, sit in the tank. Not to mention the snipers of the Germans, even in the face of small forces of the enemy, our tanks could easily cope with it. ”

Although I pretended not to care on the surface, I was actually quite afraid of death, if I encountered a small German army on the way back. There's a real chance I'll die young. Therefore, I thought about Tawalt Kiradze's proposal for a while, and readily agreed.

We got to the bottom of the hill and saw my jeep parked next to a new tank. Seeing our arrival, immediately a short tank soldier ran over and reported to him loudly: "Comrade General, Tank Corps Sergeant Roschukin reports to you that I have been ordered to come to accept the mission, please instruct!" ”

After I saw the person clearly, I couldn't help but smile happily, it turned out that this tankman was none other than the Russian version of Mulan that I had seen some time ago, and if I was escorted by her, I felt much more at ease.

After raising his hand and returning the salute, Tawart Kiradze said to him with a smile: "Comrade Sergeant, I have entrusted you with a difficult task. As he spoke, he pointed to me, "You will escort Comrade Commander back to the headquarters, and I ask you to ensure her life." Is there a problem? ”

After one look at me, Roschukin replied loudly: "No problem. Please rest assured, Comrade General, I will safely return Comrade Commander to the headquarters of the group army. ”

I could see from the conversation between the two that Tawart Kiradze had said that he would send tanks to escort me, not on the spur of the moment, but on a pre-existing arrangement. I smiled and nodded at him to thank him for this arrangement. Then he said to Roschukin: "Comrade Sergeant, let's go." ”

I climbed onto the tank and slid inside the tank through the open roof. As soon as I entered, the sour smell of the car almost suffocated me. But now that I was in, I couldn't be cheeky enough to climb out again, so I had to endure the stench in the car and sit in the corner.

After Roschukin got into the tank, he sat in the driver's seat next to me. Before she started the tank, I asked her, "I'm sitting in the tank, isn't there a tanker who has no place?" ”

"Comrade Commander, you don't have to worry." Roschukin replied: "My lookout was wounded in today's battle, so he came out with just a vacant position. ”

After the tank was activated, I shouted at her in the midst of the deafening noise: "Comrade Sergeant, how did you get during this period of battle, how many German tanks have been destroyed?" ”

"Yesterday a tank and two armored vehicles were destroyed." Roschukin also replied loudly: "In today's battle, although a German Tiger tank was hit, it unfortunately failed to penetrate its frontal armor, and finally let it escape." ”

Although Roschukin's record is not brilliant, I already think it is very good, you must know that in real history, the ratio of tank losses between the Soviet and German armies in the Battle of Kursk is generally three to one, or even four to one. Now, due to the emergence of a new type of tank, the Soviet army has a considerable advantage in the tank duel.

Since it was not yet dark, I could see the situation outside from the lookout hole. Everywhere there are bare hillsides under artillery fire, the roads are littered with craters, and the wreckage of blackened tanks can be seen everywhere on the roadside, which shows how fierce the fighting is today.

Roschukin, who was driving a tank, suddenly turned around and told me: "Comrade commander, it's so dangerous for you to make a jeep every time you come out. What if you encounter the Germans on the road? ”

In response to her concerns, I replied with a smile: "I am always operating in my own defense zone, where could I have met the Germans so coincidentally." ”

As soon as the words fell, suddenly someone in front of him shouted loudly: "In the direction of three o'clock, there are German armored vehicles!" ”

I hurriedly looked towards the position the man had said, and saw a German armored car parked on the side of the road, with quite a few soldiers on board. Seeing the Germans appear, I instinctively put my hands on my waist, ready to draw my pistol and shoot at any moment.

At this moment, Roschukin began to give orders to her men: "Load the shells, aim at the car and shoot!" ”

The loader filled the chamber with a shell in his arms, and then shouted, "Reloaded!" ”

Roschukin shouted loudly: "Shoot!" ”

With her order, the car exploded like a huge firecracker, which made my ears ring.

Then I heard Roschukin cheering: "Great, right on target!" ”

I saw smoke and flames rising from the armored car, and the officers and men on the vehicle who were lucky enough not to die jumped out of the car and fled for their lives. At this moment, I heard Roschukin shouting an order: "Hit with submachine guns and knock out all the German infantry!" ”

Without saying a word, her subordinates picked up their submachine guns and mounted them on the shooting holes, and fired at the Germans running around. Two unlucky soldiers ran not far before they were hit by bullets, and after a few turns in the same place, they fell to the ground crookedly, while the other more clever soldiers hid in the nearby crater and escaped by chance.

After a thrilling end to the battle, the tank continued to move forward. I don't know how long it took, but just when I was about to lose my patience, Roschukin finally turned to me and said, "Comrade commander, here we are!" (To be continued.) )