I thought that when Chuikov saw my appearance, even if he didn't show enthusiasm, at least he should have a happy expression on his face, but when he saw me, he just raised his hand and said expressionlessly: "Comrade Oshanina is here, sit down!" ”

I didn't expect Chuikov's attitude towards me to be so cold, I couldn't help but be stunned, and after a moment of hesitation, I sat down next to Gurov again.

Chuikov stood beside General Krylov for a moment, and seeing that he had been busy communicating with the troops on the phone, he sighed, went to the stone bench next to the table and sat down, faced us, and said to Gurov in a deep tone: "Comrade Military Commissar, I have unfortunate news for you: half an hour ago, the commander of the 35th Guards Division, General Gorazkov, died heroically in battle. ”

"What, General Gorazkov died." When I heard this, I jumped up from my stool in shock.

And Gurov, who seemed to have become accustomed to such news, looked up at me strangely, and then asked Chuikov slowly: "Comrade commander, what is going on?" ”

Chuikov paused for a moment, then leaned slightly towards Gurov and began to speak again: "The German 14th Tank Army, with the assistance of the 51st Infantry Corps, launched a fierce attack on the positions of the 18th Guards Infantry Regiment north of Mamayev Heights. Due to the fact that the regiment's defensive area was open and undefendable, coupled with the lack of sufficient anti-tank weapons, the defense line was quickly broken through by the Germans. At this time, General Gorazkov arrived with a reinforced 1O1 regiment and, after stubborn fighting, drove the enemy out of our positions.

But the Germans were not willing to be defeated. Half an hour later, the attack resumed. They first carried out a heavy artillery attack on the positions of the 1OO regiment. Inflicted heavy casualties on our troops, who did not have a strong defensive position. When the German tanks again covered the forces of approaching a regiment and pounced on our positions. After a short period of resistance, our troops were forced to withdraw from their positions in the face of a powerful German offensive. After the breakoff of the machine gun company of the division instructor, Gorazkov covered the retreat of the troops to the Mamayev Height, unfortunately he was shot and died, and it was the company commander of the machine gun company, Lieutenant Ibaruri, who took the risk of snatching back the body of the division commander with several soldiers. ”

After listening to what Chuikov said, Gurov sighed and asked slowly: "The machine gun company rescued General Gorazkov back to his position. Have you been examined by a military doctor? Is there any hope of life? ”

Chuikov shook his head sternly and replied: "The weather was cold this morning, and when General Gorazkov came out with his troops, he wore a long army coat. Just now at the position of the 1O2 Regiment at Mamayev Heights, I saw not only the body of General Gorazkov, but also his military overcoat. Did you know? There were 16o bullet holes in that military coat. ”

"My God," Gurov said involuntarily, "after so many bullets, didn't the body of General Gorazkov be destroyed?" ”

Chuikov nodded and said bitterly, "Yes." The whole person was almost smashed by bullets, and the fighters of the entire machine gun company were not afraid of life and death. Only then did they snatch back the body of their division commander. ”

"Comrade Commander, how many troops are left in the troops of the 35th Guards Division at the moment?" Chief of Staff Krylov, who had temporarily stopped answering the phone, stood up and asked discreetly beside him.

Chuikov turned his head to look at him and replied with a wry smile: "At present, the total strength of the three regiments of the 1OO, 1O1, and 1O2 of the Guards is only 1,500 people, of which there are only more than 600 infantry. ”

Hearing the number reported by Chuikov, there was silence in the command headquarters, Krylov couldn't help but shut his mouth in surprise, and after a long time, he asked in surprise: "What, there are only 1,500 people, you must know that the 35th Guards Division is full of tens of thousands of people, and it has only been a few days, and the troops are almost exhausted?" ”

Instead of answering his question, Chuikov turned to look at me and asked solemnly: "Comrade Oshanina, how many people are coming from your troops?" ”

I had already sat down again, and when I saw that Chuikov had asked me, I quickly stood up and replied: "Report to Comrade Commander, since the main force of the division is still in the process of changing guards with the 7th Guards Division, I only brought the 1st Regiment and the 2nd Regiment first, and the two regiments have 4,000 men. ”

"Where are the troops of these two regiments?" Chuikov asked.

I hurriedly replied: "The 1st Regiment is under the hillside where the headquarters of the army group is located, and the 2nd Regiment is marching here on foot. ”

"The Germans are still shelling the positions of the 1O2 Guards Regiment on the Mamayev Heights, and when the shelling stops, your troops will seize the time to change the guard with the commander of the 35th Guards Division."

After hearing Chuikov's order, I agreed, and then asked: "Comrade commander, General Gorazkov died, so who is the commander of the 35th Guards Division now?" ”

"I have already asked the deputy division commander, Colonel Dubyansky, to take over the position of division commander, and when you change guards, you can just go to him directly."

General Krylov stood beside him, and when Chuikov had finished giving his orders, he beckoned to me and said, "Colonel Oshanina, come to me, and I will give you a brief introduction to the current form." ”

Although I was already standing on the Mamayev post, I was still blind to the current situation, and when I had just heard Chuikov's order, I was still thinking about who to ask, but I didn't expect Krylov to think about this issue first.

When I came to Krylov's side, he pointed to the map and said: "Colonel Oshanina, come and see." The location we are in now is the Mamayev Heights. Mamayev takes his name from the Mongol army of Batu Khan, where his troops camped as they marched westward into Europe. Standing on the high ground, you can overlook the entire city of Stalingrad and the Volga River, and whoever controls it can control a large area, including the Volga transportation line, which is the lifeblood of Stalingrad. Therefore, the order given to you by the army group command is to hold this place at any cost. ”

Krylov's words made me seem to understand it, and after a moment of silence, I asked curiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask where the position of the 1O2 Guards Regiment is located at the Mamayev Heights?" ”

After listening to my question, Krylov pointed to the map again and said: "This is the position of the 1O2 Guards Regiment. They were on the main positions at the Mamayev Heights. On the eastern side of the position was the Volga. To the south is the city. And the location of the headquarters of the army group, in the southwest of the main position. Two kilometers to the west of us is the 1o7.5 heights, defended by the units of the tank corps. I would like to put only one regiment of troops on the main position, and the rest of the troops will be deployed in this hill and in the city behind it, so as to prevent the Germans from bypassing the flank of the high ground and attacking our city directly in the event that the German army continues to attack the high ground repeatedly. ”

After saying that, he straightened up and said to Chuikov: "My words are finished, Vasily. Ivanovich. Is there anything else you can add? ”

Chuikov did not speak, but looked at Military Commissar Gurov with an inquiring eye, and seeing that he nodded in agreement, he said: "I have nothing to add, Colonel Oshanina, you can go back to your own troops." ”

After listening to Chuikov, I stood still and didn't move. I was calculating in my heart that if the headquarters of the army group remained on this hillside, my division headquarters would have to be located on the Mamayev post, in that case. Under the double blow of German shells and bombs, it may not take more than two days. My division headquarters and I would have been wiped out by the German firepower.

Seeing that I was standing still and not moving, Gurov asked slowly: "Comrade Oshanina, do you have anything else to say?" ”

I nodded at Comrade Military Commissar and said affirmatively: "Yes, Comrade Military Commissar." I think that for the sake of security, the army group headquarters should not stay here anymore, but should be moved to the city quickly, where you can better command the entire army group to fight. ”

"What are you talking about, Colonel Oshanina." When Chuikov heard me say this, he was a little unhappy, and he said in a stern tone: "I want to ask you to find out one thing, whether it is the division that commands the group army, or the division is commanding the group army. Where the headquarters of the group army is located, you can only have the final say in it. ”

Just as I was about to defend myself, Krylov promptly relieved me of the siege and said to Chuikov: "Comrade commander, there is something that I have not yet had time to inform you about. The command of the Front called and said that they had moved to the eastern bank of the Volga, and for the sake of safety, Commander Yeremenko ordered us to immediately withdraw the command of the army group into the city. ”

Without looking back, Chuikov asked: "Retreating into the city, it is light, but where do we have to place the headquarters so that we can command the troops as conveniently as now?" ”

"Our new headquarters will be located in the original front army headquarters."

When Chuikov heard Krylov say this, he no longer insisted, but politely asked Gurov's opinion: "Your opinion, Comrade Military Commissar? ”

Gurov still said unhurriedly: "I have no opinion, and I resolutely obey the orders of my superiors. ”

Gurov's series of expressions today make me feel that he is particularly abnormal, when I worked with him before, he was not such a slow character, why did he become like this after not seeing him for a month? This question in my mind, until three months after the end of the battle, when the military commissar Gurov died suddenly, I knew that he had suffered from a serious heart attack at this moment, all because of this damn war, which affected his health and greatly shortened his life.

The change of guard was carried out an hour later, and due to the long distance, the second regiment led by Pugachev had not yet reached the Mamayev post, so I only had to lead the first regiment to take over the defense.

The new commander of the 35th Guards Division, Colonel Dubyansky, was a tall, unsmiling commander, which may have something to do with the fact that he had served as a political worker for many years. When he saw our troops enter the position, he only gave a brief account of the situation on the position, and then withdrew from the position with the remnants of his defeated general.

After Colonel Dubyansky and his troops had withdrawn, Sederikov, who had observed the surrounding terrain, said to me: "Comrade division commander, I think that the defensive front of this position is too narrow, and if all the troops are placed here, we will suffer unnecessary losses if they are shelled and bombarded by the Germans. ”

"What do you think?" I have always been good at listening to the opinions of my subordinates, and when I heard something in Sedjerikov's words, I asked bluntly.

"I think that while reinforcing the frontal fortifications and digging more anti-aircraft and anti-artillery holes, it is also necessary to dig hidden holes on the back of the high ground. Two companies were placed in the positions on the mountainside and on the top of the hillside, and the rest of the troops were hidden in the caves as reserves. When the forces on the position are tight, the reserves will be transferred to support. ”

I listened to Sedjerikov's mention. Nodding without hesitation. Approvingly, he said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sedjerikov." You're right, now that you have an idea, act now. The Germans don't give us much time to fortify, so whether you're reinforcing fortifications or digging holes, you'll have to race against time. ”

Shederikov saluted and left, and then I was the commander of the communications company, Second Lieutenant Lazumayeva, who came up to me and reported to me: "Comrade division commander, the communications company has arrived. Where are they placed? ”

I looked around, the front of the defensive position, and it was obvious that the communication company could not be placed, so I waved my hand and said, "I see a ravine between the two hillsides, so let's settle the communication company there for the time being." ”

"Also, the 35th Guards Division also left a women's communications squad, and they are still in the ravine at the moment." When Razumeyeva saw that I was turning to leave, she quickly stopped me again, adding: "I think the Guards Division has suffered heavy casualties anyway. After withdrawing, we will definitely have to go to the rear to rest and recuperate, and our communications troops are not enough. Why don't you leave this communication class behind? ”

"Okay, just leave them alone, these female soldiers should be familiar with them, and they will be of great help to us." Hearing her advice, I agreed almost without thinking, not to mention a communication class, it is a communication company, if I can stay, I will not hesitate to stay.

Although my words were already clear, Razumeyeva still said with some concern: "If you want to keep them, I guess you will need to negotiate with their superiors." ”

"Comrade Second Lieutenant, then you come with me, let's go see those female signal soldiers first, and then talk to their superiors."

Instead of walking down the slopes of the hill full of shrubs and low plants into the ravine, Razumayeva and I saw a group of female soldiers, who clearly did not belong to our division, moving things out of the green tents of the two armies. Seeing this scene, Razumeyeva couldn't help but be a little anxious, and urged me: "Comrade division commander, look, they are moving equipment out, probably preparing to withdraw. Let's go faster, if they remove all the equipment, and we reinstall and debug it, it will take a lot of time. ”

I nodded, my feet quickened, and at the same time waved my arms at the group of young girls from afar, shouting, "Comrades warriors, wait a minute. Comrades fighters, please wait a minute. "Razumeyeva heard my shouting and shouted along.

Our shouts were heard by the girls in the communications class, who stopped what they were doing and stood next to the communication equipment that had been brought out of the tent, staring blankly at us as they ran towards them.

I ran up to them and gasped and asked, "Girls, who is in charge here?" ”

A female corporal came up to me, saluted me and reported: "Report Comrade Colonel, I am Corporal Stukalova, the head of the communications squad, may I ask you for any instructions?" ”

With my hands on my waist, I continued to gasp and said: "Corporal Stukalova, I now officially announce to you: from now on, your communications squad will be officially assigned to the commander of the communications company of my independent division. As I spoke, I raised a hand and pointed at Razumeyeva next to me and said, "This is your new company commander, Second Lieutenant Razumeyeva." ”

I thought that if I said this, Stukalova would immediately agree, but she looked at us both and shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, Comrade Colonel. We cannot accept this order from you until we have received a written order from the commander of the 35th Guards Division. ”

"Huh?! Don't take my orders! "When I heard the corporal say this, I almost rushed over and grabbed her by the collar and beat her hard. But I quickly suppressed my impulse, and Corporal Stukalova's reply was not wrong, she would not accept the orders of a new commander lightly without receiving orders from her superiors.

Razumeyeva spoke the other party very resolutely, couldn't help but get anxious, leaned close to my ear, and whispered: "Comrade division commander, what should we do now?" ”

Hearing this question from Razumeyeva, I was a little embarrassed, for if I had gone to Colonel Dubyansky alone, he would not have agreed to put the communications squad under my command; What if Razumeeva had been called along, and there was no communication squad here, and they had withdrawn on their own? Now that everyone is gone, even if I have Dubyansky's written orders in my hands, it is useless.

When you are in a difficult situation. Suddenly, I saw several female soldiers coming down the hillside in the direction of the army group headquarters. I could see at a glance that it was from the divisional communications company. I hurriedly touched Razumeyeva with my arm and said to her: "Second lieutenant, hurry up and look, those female soldiers who are here are all female soldiers from your communications company." ”

Razumeyeva turned her head to look, and then shouted at the female soldiers on the hillside: "Private Taya, Private Lyuba, Private Lena, Private Kravtia, Private Shura, come to me." ”

Several of the female soldiers whose names she called out rushed down the hillside and stood in front of us, their eyes moving back and forth between me and Razumeeva. Apparently conflicted, I don't know who to report to. I raised my chin at Razumeeva and said, "Report to your company commander." ”

After listening to my words, several female soldiers hurriedly saluted Razumeyeva and asked: "Comrade company commander, we are waiting for your orders, what instructions do you have?" ”

Without looking back at me, Razumeyeva directly instructed her girls: "Girls, I have given you a difficult task. We intend to set up our communications station here in the ravine, and these are the fighters of the communications squad of the 35th Guards Division. You're now working with them on the commissioning of the equipment. No one was allowed to leave the tent until I and the division commander returned. Do you understand? ”

After she finished speaking. Several female soldiers from the communications company replied loudly: "Understood! ”

Razumeyeva glared at them, then said: "Now that you understand, what are you still standing here?" Why don't you help them move these communication equipment back to the tent and start the installation and commissioning of the equipment. ”

When I saw that the female signal corpsmen under Razumeyeva were moving the equipment that had just been brought out back into the tent, I walked up to Corporal Stukalova and said to her with a pleasant face: "Comrade Corporal, I will go to Colonel Dubyansky to get a written order, please go back to the tent with you and your girls first, and help my men to debug the equipment." You must know that the main force of our division will soon enter the Mamayev post, and it is necessary to ensure smooth communication first. ”

When Corporal Stukalova heard me say this, she nodded helplessly, and then said to her men: "Girls, go back to the tents and reinstall the dismantled equipment." ”

Lazumeeva and I quickly walked to the position of the headquarters of the army group, and on the way, Lazumeeva said with some concern: "Comrade division commander, do you think that Colonel Dubyansky will agree to give us command of this communications squad?" ”

In fact, I also felt that I was not confident enough in this matter, but in front of my subordinates, I still slapped my face and said fatly: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, don't worry, if Colonel Dubiansky does not agree, I will go to Comrade Commander." As long as Comrade Commander comes forward, this communications squad will definitely be assigned to our command. ”

When I walked to the headquarters of the group army, I didn't see the sentries just now, but some familiar faces. Lazumeeva looked left and right and said curiously: "Could it be that the troops of the 2nd Regiment are coming up?" ”

When I heard that the Second Regiment was stationed here, my heart couldn't help but chuckle, and my heart couldn't help but say that if the headquarters of the group army was transferred, I would have to chase it to the city to find Chuikov. With that in mind, I walked to the entrance of the shelter where I had been, lifted the curtain and walked in.

There were a few people sitting in the room, and when Razumayeva and I entered the door, they all stood up and saluted us. By the dim light of the candles, I could see that Pugachev, the acting commander of the 2nd Regiment, and several of his company commanders were sitting inside. I sat down on an earthen bench next to the table and asked in a steady tone: "Comrade Pugachev, have all your troops arrived?" ”

Pugachev stood straight in front of me and replied loudly: "Yes, Comrade Division Commander, the 2nd Regiment has all arrived, waiting for your instructions!" ”

"Follow me, Comrade Pugachev." I walked to the door of the headquarters, lifted the curtain, pointed to the distance and said to him, "Do you see the hillside over there?" Seeing Pugachev nodding vigorously, I continued: "The defense area of the 1st Regiment is on that hillside, and you immediately spread the 2nd Regiment on this hillside, and build fortifications and hiding holes on the top of the slope." In addition to placing one or two companies of troops on the position, the remaining main forces of the second regiment were hidden in the hiding caves to stand by. (To be continued......)

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