Twenty minutes after the shelling had begun, I said to Akhromeyev, who was sitting opposite: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the shelling is almost complete, call Captain Morozov and tell the artillery battalion to stop firing, save some shells for the howitzer detachment, and save it for later when the Germans are taught a lesson." ”

Without saying a word, Akhromeyev picked up the phone on the table and called Morozov and relayed my order: "Captain Morozov? I am the chief of staff of Akhromeyev, the division commander ordered the howitzer detachment to immediately stop firing. ”

After hearing Akhromeyev's phone call, I instructed Razumeyeva: "Comrade lieutenant, immediately contact Captain Godunov, the acting commander of the 3rd Regiment, and when the shelling stops, immediately organize troops to launch an attack on the heights, and in the shortest possible time, take back the position." ”

After a series of orders were given in an orderly manner, I sat down at the table and ordered the map in front of me, patiently waiting for the outcome of the counterattack. Kirillov was clearly not as calm as I was, and after sitting for a while, he jumped up from his seat uncontrollably, anxious like an ant on a hot pan, and kept circling around the command headquarters with his hands behind his back.

Akhromeyev, on the other hand, was much calmer, after all, he had spent some time with me before, and he had a certain understanding of my character, and knew that if I was not sure, I would never act as if I had nothing to do, so he also sat opposite me without saying a word, patiently waiting for the battle situation of the three regiments.

Five or six minutes later, there was a movement on the walkie-talkie in front of Razumeyeva, and after listening for a moment, she turned her head and called me: "Report to the division commander." It's Captain Godunov, he's going to report back to you. ”

Hearing that the three regiments had results to report, they didn't wait for me to stand up. Kirillov, who was closest to the walkie-talkie, had already rushed over, snatched the headset and microphone from Razumeyeva's hand, and couldn't wait to ask: "I'm Commissar Kirillov, Captain Godunov, how is the situation on your side, has the heights been taken?" ”

Since Kirillov had done all my work first, I didn't need to be in such a hurry. I slowly came behind Kirillov and listened to his conversation with Godunov: "...... What, what do you say? I can't hear clearly. You repeat what you just said. ”

When I heard this, I suddenly had a bad feeling in my heart, could it be that the attack was frustrated? My conjecture was quickly confirmed from Kirillov's mouth: "...... What, what do you say? Failed in the offensive? No way. Can't stop. We must continue the offensive, and we must retake the position in the shortest possible time. ……”

Before Kirillov could finish speaking, I put my hand on his shoulder, gently pulled his body over, and took the headset and microphone from his hand.

When I heard Godunov's slightly flustered voice coming from the earphones, I asked into the microphone with a blushing face: "Captain Godunov, when will your troops be reorganized and launch another attack on the heights?" ”

Godunov hesitated for a moment. Then he replied in an uncertain tone: "Report to the division commander, it may be half an hour later at the earliest, and the attack will be launched again." ”

I snorted heavily. He said coldly, "I don't have time to wait for you for another half an hour now." After saying this, I suddenly thought of Khrushov's troops, who should have reached the southern slope of the high ground at this time, and hurriedly asked, "Has the second regiment and the first battalion arrived?" ”

"Khrushov's troops have arrived, the captain is on my side, do you want to talk to him?"

"Give the headphones and microphone to Khrushov." I gave orders to Godunov with a blank face.

After a while, Khrushov's voice came from the earphones: "Comrade division commander, I am Khrushov, I am Khrushov, I listen to your orders, I don't know what instructions you have?" ”

"How many Flying Thunder Cannons did you bring?" I asked straight to the point.

"Report to the division commander, when I set off, Captain Morozov gave me twenty launchers, plus a hundred explosive packs."

"Twenty launchers, and a hundred explosive packs?" Hearing such a large number also startled me, even if a launcher is equipped with only two people, it is forty people, and the artillery battalion will send so many people to participate in the battle at once, if there are casualties, the gains will outweigh the losses, I hurriedly asked again: "Then how many people did Morozov send to you?" ”

"Five fighters were sent."

"What, just sent five fighters?" Hearing Khrushov say this, I began to scold Morozov in my heart for being really unreliable, twenty launchers, and only five fighters were sent. "With so many launchers, what are you going to do?"

"Comrade division commander, I have too many five people. The difficulty of the operation of this flying thunder cannon is similar to that of fireworks during the New Year, and almost all the soldiers in our battalion can use it. ”

After I listened to him, my hanging heart finally put it into my stomach, I am also a fan of the authorities, this flying thunder cannon was originally poor, operated by artillery and ordinary infantry, and the effect is almost the same. After I breathed a sigh of relief, I instructed Khrushov: "Comrade Captain, I now order you to lead the troops to attack the heights as soon as all the explosive packages have been shot." ”

"Yes, understood." After answering me, Khrushov asked tentatively; "Division commander, what about Captain Godunov's troops?"

Hearing him mention Godunov's name, I immediately became angry again, and after snorting in my nose, I instructed him: "Let Godunov hurry up and put his troops in order, and after you have captured the positions occupied by the Germans, go up to take over the defense of the heights." ”

After putting down the headphones and microphones, I turned to Kirillov and Akhromeyev, who was a little further away, and said, "Let's go, commissar and chief of staff, let's all go to the top of the hill and see how our troops have regained the heights." When both of them walked up to me, Captain Popkov, the pilot, who had been acting as a spectator, also asked eagerly: "Comrade Colonel, may I go with you?" ”

"Comrade Captain, since you are interested, then come along!" Knowing that the Flying Thunder Cannon had been laid under the southern slope of the heights, I had no doubts about retaking Heights 107.5. So I wish there were more people with me to share this upcoming victory.

Seeing that we were going to the top of the hill to watch the battle, Captain Basmanov, who was in charge of the guards, hurriedly ran outside and called a dozen soldiers from the guard company to come over. Follow us up the hill.

When our group reached the top of the mountain, it was just in time for the Flying Thunder Cannon to fire. I saw through my telescope a series of fires flashing under the hillside, and a large number of faintly visible black dots flew from the foot of the hill to the top of the hillside. A moment later, a large cloud of smoke rose from the top of the hillside, followed by an earth-shattering loud noise. In the light of the fire, I could clearly see the stump and severed arm of the human being flying into the sky. You can see how amazing the power of this explosive bag is.

After a brief pause, another round of flying thunder cannons was fired at the foot of the hillside. The flash of the explosion of the explosive pack illuminated the hill. It shines into the eyes of each of us. At this time, Akhromeyev came up to me and reminded me in a low voice: "Comrade division commander, these two rounds of firing from the flying thunder artillery. It seems to be working well. You see. Did we tell the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Regiment to stop firing and launch a direct attack on the heights? ”

I put down my binoculars and looked at him, then slowly shook my head, and directly denied his suggestion: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the Germans are very cunning, they have just carried out twenty minutes of artillery preparation, but they have not been consumed in the artillery fire, but the three regiments have launched an attack. They immediately came out of their hiding place and repelled our attack with great firepower. ”

"But. Comrade division commander. Akhromeyev looked at the smoke of gunfire in the distance and said worriedly: "If the Germans hide again, even if we throw all the remaining explosives bags on them, we can't help them?" ”

I said disapprerovingly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't worry about it. With so many explosive packets thrown at them, even if they couldn't be killed, the shock wave of the explosion would have killed them all. Calm down and see how our troops reclaim the heights. ”

Although Khrushov's men were all infantrymen, their skills in operating the Flying Thunder Cannon were no worse than those of Morozov's gunners, and there were dozens of explosive packs left, all of which were fired in just two minutes. Before the smoke on the hillside cleared, the troops at the foot of the hill, who had already gathered momentum, launched a charge towards the top of the hill.

On the top of the smoky hillside, not only was there no sign of human activity, but not a single shot could be heard in return. Until our warriors rushed to the mountainside, there was no movement. Although there was silence on the position, I still sweated for our commanders and fighters, and I was afraid that the surviving German soldiers on the hillside would have any conspiracy.

At this moment, Kirillov walked up to me and said in amazement: "Strange, why is there no movement at all on the position, could it be that the Germans were really killed by our explosives packages?" ”

Although I thought in my heart that Kirillov had a point, I was still worried about what would happen to the troops when they reached the top of the hill, so I hesitated for a long time before saying: "You and I have seen how powerful these explosive packs are." But if you are not afraid of 10,000, you are afraid of what happens, maybe during the bombing just now, there were German soldiers hiding on the northern slope, and they wanted to wait until our troops approached the top of the hill before coming out of their hiding places and firing at us. ”

But when the fighters who rushed to the front were still more than ten meters from the top of the hillside, the surviving German soldiers opened fire. With the exception of one machine gun and two submachine guns, only a few rifles were firing. The sudden rain of bullets hit the fighters who rushed to the front, and they rolled down the hillside, and the fighters behind hurriedly lay down on the spot, hiding in the crater and firing at the enemy at the top of the slope.

Although the terrain of the German army was very favorable, their numbers were too small, and the technical and tactical level of my commanders and fighters was not bad, and they knew how to use the terrain to alternately cover the leap forward, so the shape quickly developed in a direction favorable to our army. When the machine gun was blown away by a grenade, our fighters quickly jumped out of the hidden crater and rushed to the top of the hill.

Seeing this, I put down my binoculars, exhaled, and said to the people around me who were still watching the battle, "Let's go, there's nothing to see here." In a few minutes at most, Captain Khrushov's troops could completely occupy the heights. Let's go back to the headquarters and wait for Comrade Khrushov to report our victory. ”

As soon as we entered the headquarters, Razumeyeva, who heard the movement, got up from her seat and reported the good news to me with a smile on her face: "Report to the division commander, I just received a call from Captain Khrushov saying that they have successfully regained the 107.5 heights. ”

Hear the good news. Everyone's faces showed expressions of joy, and without waiting for me to speak, Akhromeyev, the chief of staff, preemptively ordered Razumeyeva: "Comrade lieutenant. You immediately sent a report to the army group headquarters saying that our troops had successfully recaptured the 107.5 heights. ”

After sending a telegram to the headquarters of the army group, Razumeyeva looked up and asked me for instructions: "Comrade division commander, do you think you need to say a few words to Captain Khrushov?" ”

I waved my hand and said, "No, I just don't contact him." He also knows what I'm going to say. You immediately contact him, order him to immediately hand over the position to the 3rd Regiment, and then lead the troops back the way they came. ”

When I got back to the table. Akhromeyev pushed the map on the table in front of me, and said with some embarrassment: "Comrade division commander, look at it, the northern slope of this 17.5 highland is gentle. Easy to attack and difficult to defend; The opposite is true on the southern slope side. The terrain is steep, easy to defend and difficult to attack. I think that the reason why we were able to win these two battles to regain the heights is actually due to a certain element of luck. If it was not the small German forces that occupied the position, but the large army, we would not necessarily be able to retake the position, even if we paid a heavy price. ”

I couldn't agree more with what he said. After nodding, I looked up and asked him, "Comrade Chief of Staff." What kind of good ideas do you have? ”

Seeing that everyone's eyes were on him, Akhromeyev was not at all afraid to say: "I think it is better to work more on fortifications like a group." As long as we dig more anti-artillery holes in the trenches on the northern slope and build a few hidden holes on the southern slope, we will have much greater hope of holding the high ground. ”

When he finished speaking, I did not immediately express my position, but turned my head and asked Kirillov: "Comrade commissar, I would like to hear your opinion?" ”

Kirillov was staring at the map, and when he heard my question, he quickly waved his hand and said, "I don't have any opinions, just do what the chief of staff says." With strong fortifications, it is better to block enemy attacks. ”

While she was talking, Razumeyeva walked up to me again, handed me a telegram, and at the same time said: "Comrade division commander, this is a telegram from the commander of the army group to you. ”

I picked it up and looked at it, and saw that the content on it was simple and clear: "Tomorrow evening, the command of the division will be handed over to Kirillov and the chief of staff of the division, and you will return with the personnel sent by the headquarters to participate in the command of the counterattack." ”

Kirillov saw that I had received another telegram, and feared that I would be criticized by Chuikov again, so both he and Akhromeyev looked at me with concern on their faces, and at the same time asked with concern; "Comrade Oshanina, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." As I spoke, I handed the telegram to him, "The commander asked me to hand over the command of the division to the two of you tomorrow evening, and asked me to return to the city with the messenger from the headquarters to take part in the command of the counterattack." At this, I turned to Popkov, who was standing aside, and said, "Comrade Captain, I have wronged you to stay with us for one more day, and I will send you to the city tomorrow evening." ”

After reading the telegram, Kirillov asked with some concern: "Comrade Oshanina, why did you say that the commander asked you to surrender your command, did you want to transfer you to another unit?" ”

Kirillov's analysis made my heart chuckle, he still had a point, and this possibility could not be ruled out at all. I finally saw the hope of making a career at the Mamayev post, and if Chuikov had transferred me like this, I would have lost all my work. If that's the case, when I see Chuikov tomorrow night, I must have a good talk with him, and try to get him to let me go back to the independent division to continue to preside over the overall situation.

After daybreak, the German offensive began again.

However, the Germans, who had suffered losses, did not dare to launch another ground offensive, so they could only suppress our fire by means of non-stop artillery bombardment and non-stop air raids on our division's defense areas.

It was only in the evening that the enemy stopped shelling and bombarding the Mamayev Hill and the 107.5 heights. I also transferred the command of the division to Kirillov and Akhromeyev.

As soon as the handover was over, an officer wearing a large-brimmed hat walked into the headquarters under the guidance of Basmanov. When the officer came in, he walked straight up to Kirillov, raised his hand to salute him, and said politely: "Hello, Comrade Kirillov, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon. ”

When Kirillov warmly shook hands with him, he asked: "Hello, Lieutenant Colonel Weinrub, it is a pleasure to meet you. You were ordered to pick up Colonel Oshanina, right? ”

"Yes."

After receiving an affirmative reply, Kirillov walked up to me, raised his hand and introduced to Lieutenant Colonel Weinrub: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, let me introduce to you, this is Colonel Oshanina, the commander of the independent division. "Then he introduced me to the lieutenant colonel," Comrade Oshanina, this lieutenant colonel is the deputy commander of the armored forces of the group army, Lieutenant Colonel Weiinlub, who has been ordered to pick you up. ”

After waiting for Kirillov's introduction, Weiinlub walked up to me, raised his hand to salute me, and said politely: "Hello, Colonel Oshanina. I am Lieutenant Colonel Wei Yinlubu, and because I am familiar with the roads in the city, Comrade Commander assigned me to pick you up and take you to the headquarters. ”

After returning the salute, he asked in the same polite tone: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, shall we leave now?" ”

Wei Yinlubu raised his hand and looked at his watch, shook his head and said, "Not yet, Comrade Oshanina." At this time, there were still quite a few enemy planes circling in the air, and when I came, they were bombed. For your safety, let's wait until it gets dark before leaving! (To be continued......)

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