On the way to the 1075th regimental defense area, I sat in the back of the jeep and remained silent, probably due to my emotions, Grissa who was driving and Chistyakov who was sitting in the front seat, no one spoke and remained quiet.

Along the way, I was thinking about a problem: the Germans were able to break through the defense line of the elite Soviet troops with only one tank battalion and two or three infantry companies, and formed a joint encirclement of a force several times their own strength, which showed the strength of their combat effectiveness. The elite units of the Soviet army are still fighting so badly, so what will happen to the rest of the troops in this situation, will they be defeated or completely annihilated?

While thinking wildly, the car suddenly stopped. I looked out the window at the forest and asked, "Where are you there?" ”

"Not yet," it was Chistyakov who answered me, and he asked, "ahead is a fork in the road." To the left, it is to the defense area of the second battalion of our regiment; To the right, it is to go to the defense area of the third battalion of the 1075th regiment. Comrade division commander, which way are we going? ”

Instead of answering his question directly, I asked rhetorically: "Who is the commander of the second battalion of your regiment?" ”

"The commander of the second battalion died in the battle during the day yesterday, and I temporarily assigned the commander of the seventh company to act as the battalion commander."

When I heard that the second battalion was temporarily represented by a company commander, I immediately lost interest in going and ordered the driver: "Grissa, go to the right, let's go to the third battalion of the 1075th regiment." ”

The car drove forward for a few minutes, and was stopped by the soldiers on guard, and after verifying our identity, one of the soldiers stepped on his feet, and his body hung outside the car to lead us to the battalion headquarters. The headquarters was located in the trenches, and the car drove forward not far away.

The commander of the third battalion of the 1075th regiment was Major Schedurin, who also held the post of deputy regimental commander. Seeing our arrival, he hurriedly greeted us and saluted.

After I entered the room and sat down, I looked up and said to Xie Dulin, who was standing respectfully in front of me, "Comrade Major, tell us about your situation here!" ”

"Yes!" He agreed, and then stood where he was and began to report: "The enemy opposite our battalion, about two companies of troops, launched an attack on our position yesterday, and after being repulsed, they were stationed in the forest opposite the defensive line. So far today, they have not made any moves, and I guess they are waiting for reinforcements and heavy weapons. ”

"How far is the enemy's base from us?" I then asked.

"About six hundred meters."

"What measures have you taken?"

"Measures?" Xie Dulin repeated my words and asked with a bewildered expression: "Comrade division commander, I didn't understand what you meant. ”

"What I mean is, since the enemy is stationed opposite your battalion, have you used the night to send people to reconnoiter or organize a small detachment to attack at night?"

"No," said Sedulin, shaking his head like a rattle, "you know that the troops of the Dao were withdrawn after a series of battles, and the formation of the troops was crippled, and the soldiers were very tired. It's a bit difficult to think about sending troops to attack......"

"Enough!" Hearing his somewhat incoherent explanation, I couldn't help but get angry again: "When you are tired, the enemy is tired? If you don't take advantage of the night to sneak attack, when is the right time? Do you want to go back to attack after the enemy has slept all night and recuperated and is ready to attack after dawn under the cover of planes, artillery and tanks? ”

When I yelled at Xie Dulin, I also felt that this anger was a bit excessive, but in the past two days, I don't know what happened to Lu Dao, I feel upset, I can't control my emotions, and I want to get angry at every turn.

Just as Shedurin was scolded by me, and Chistyakov stood next to him in a dilemma, not knowing how to persuade me, a soldier hurriedly ran in from outside and shouted a report: "Report to the battalion commander, the German tanks are coming!" ”

"What? Tank? All three of us were taken aback, and the red-faced Schedurin, who was scolded by me, couldn't wait to ask, "Where?" ”

"Coming from the left side of our position."

"How far is it from our trenches?" This time it was Chistyakov who preemptively asked.

The soldier looked at a Chistyakov's collar badge, then straightened up and replied: "Report to Comrade Colonel, after the enemy tanks came out of the forest, they first drove along the front of our troops, and then drove towards the forest where the enemy was stationed. ”

"Let's go, let's see." I said and stood up and wanted to walk out.

"Please wait a minute," Chistyakov stopped in front of me and said in a pleading tone: "Comrade division commander, it is dangerous here, you better go back to the division headquarters!" ”

"yes!" Shedurin echoed: "In the process of the transfer of our battalion, almost all the anti-tank weapons were discarded. If the German tanks attacked, I could only organize the soldiers to blow them up with cluster grenades. For the sake of your safety, you should transfer with Comrade Colonel first! ”

"No, go check it out." After saying that, I pushed Chistyakov aside and walked out of the headquarters first. Actually, I didn't blindly take risks as a hero, but I thought that Katukov's tank brigade was nearby and ready to fight. As long as the Germans did not have absolute superiority, the tank brigades could repel them.

Standing in a trench reinforced with logs, I watched through my binoculars the two German tanks with the cross mark as they drove unhurriedly towards the forest opposite, as if intending to join up with the troops there and turn around to attack us. When the tank was still more than 100 meters away from the forest, several armored vehicles drove out of the forest, followed by a lot of infantry, and it seemed that they were ready to join forces and launch an attack together. Seeing this, I put down my binoculars and gave an order to Shedurin next to me: "Pass my order, order all the fighters, immediately prepare for battle!" ”

"Comrade division commander," Shedurin replied, "the fighters are ready for battle. ”

I looked left and right, and the fighters had already entered the position, their weapons set up on the edge of the trench, and even a few fighters were crouching on the ground to bundle cluster grenades.

At this moment, a loud bang came from a distance, which startled me, and the Germans began to attack? Hurriedly picked up the telescope and carefully probed out of the hole to observe. What I saw scared me again. I saw the tank firing at the armored car, and the whistling shells easily tore through the thin armor of the armored car, causing the ammunition inside the car to detonate, blowing up the soldiers around the car to the point of howling wolves, and after a violent explosion, the armored car began to burn.

"Hell, what's going on?" Chistyakov, who was also observing with a telescope next to him, muttered to himself.

I was also confused, and naturally could not explain to him what the German internecine was all about.

The roar of tank motors was heard again in the forest on the left side of the position, and I quickly turned my binoculars to the place where the sound was made. I saw a detachment of tanks shuttling through the forest, and there were quite a few of them, at least twenty or thirty of them. My heart beat faster, without anti-tank weapons, we will have a hard time coping with both vehicles, so many at once, can we hold our positions? I knew that this was the case, and I should have brought Yevremenko's anti-tank regiment over just now.

Chistyakov, who was next to him, suddenly shouted excitedly: "Look, comrade division commander!" It's our own tanks, quick look, all T-34 tanks. ”

Hearing him shout like this, I fixed my eyes and saw that it was indeed a Soviet-style tank. After a little silence, I understood what was going on with the German tanks on the opposite side. I put down my binoculars again and shouted loudly: "Major Sedulin, immediately organize the troops to attack!" ”

"Attack?!" Shedurin asked stupidly: "But we don't have anti-tank weapons, and if we attack in such a situation, it will be tantamount to suicide!" ”

"yes!" Chistyakov also helped: "Comrade division commander, the major has a point, please think about it again." ”

"What is there to consider," I almost got angry again, but patiently explained, "Comrade Colonel, don't you understand? The tanks that were firing at the Germans on the opposite side had just been captured by General Katukov and them. If I'm not mistaken, General Katukov approached the enemy with two captured tanks, and when the exchange of fire began, the rest of the tanks that had been lying in ambush quickly attacked the enemy's position. At this time, we need the cooperation of our infantry to have a chance to annihilate the enemy. Do you understand what I mean? "My last sentence was almost yelled.

"Got it!" They both replied at the same time, and then Major Schedurin climbed out of the trench with his hands and feet, drew his pistol and raised it above his head, and shouted in a loud voice: "Brothers, follow me, forward!" ”

Although the soldiers couldn't figure out what was happening, they saw that their battalion commanders had already climbed out of the trench first, and then one after another the commander climbed out of the trench, and without hesitation, they climbed out of the trench and formed a scattered formation in the front row of the trench.

I also wanted to climb up, but I was grabbed by Chistyakov, who looked nervous and said: "Ouch, my comrade division commander, it's too dangerous outside, so don't go out and take this risk." ”

I looked at the skirmish line outside, and it was already slowly advancing under the leadership of Shedurin, so I didn't insist on climbing out anymore, but honestly stood in the trench to observe the battle.

In the attacking queue, except for Xie Dulin, the others did not know that our army had already occupied an absolute advantage, only that there was a battle in the position of the Lu Dao army, and as for what was happening, they could not see it clearly and could not know it, and the reason why they would charge forward was completely a habit of obedience. Because of this, while Shedurin was making great strides, the commanders and soldiers who followed behind were constantly grinding and grinding, so that the distance between the two became larger and wider.

Chistyakov, who was standing below, looked anxious and shouted loudly: "Rush, rush!" Rush forward and crush the enemy!" His shouts were heard only by a few fighters in the back row, who accelerated forward a few paces and slowed down again when they saw that the people in front of them were moving slowly.

The tanks of the Katukov brigade rushed out of the forest, spread out battle formations one by one in front of the infantry attacking formation, and then rushed forward with increased horsepower.

Seeing that their tanks had entered the battle, no matter how dull the person was, he knew what was going on, and the straggler line, which was still slowly advancing, was like a chicken blood, and everyone shouted "Ula!" Duan leveled the weapon in his hand and accelerated and ran quickly.

Seeing the infantry, under the cover of tanks, pressing towards the enemy's position, there was no longer any suspense about victory, and the stone in my heart finally fell to the ground. When he put down the binoculars, he felt that his face was freezing and aching, so he beckoned Chistyakov to return to the command post and wait for the good news from the front.

On the way to the command post, I was still thinking: just now Katukov captured only one tank of the Germans, but just now it was two tanks that took the lead in attacking the Germans, and where did he find the other one? When you see him later, be sure to ask him about it.