The sudden bad news shocked me into a cold sweat, and I hurriedly shouted into the microphone: "Hey, hey, Major Pugachev, can you hear me?" Hey, hey, can you hear me? ”

Before receiving the report from his subordinates, Pugachev was talking to Akhromeyev on the phone, but when he suddenly heard that the person who spoke was me, he couldn't help but panic and said incoherently: "Report, report, division, division commander......"

"Major Pugachev, I'll ask you." Before he could speak, I yelled at him, "What do the commanders on the battlefield do, actually watching a group of their own subordinates defect from the battle?" ”

"Commander, it's all my fault, I'll find a way to deal with it."

I was about to ask him what he was going to do with this matter, when I suddenly felt a loosening of my hand, and then the microphone was snatched up by an angry Kirillov, who said coldly to the microphone: "Major Pugachev, I am Kirillov, the political commissar of the division. I now order you to immediately shoot the platoon commander of the deserter's platoon and the company commander's instructor of the company. ”

Kirillov took me aback by crossing my direct order, and this punishment of sitting down was too unexpected. Without waiting to speak, I heard Pugachev explain to Kirillov on the phone: "The company commander and platoon commander are from the second lieutenant training team; And the instructor is to follow you from the political department of the group army. Not long after they took office, they did not have much control over the troops, and this accident had little to do with them. ”

"I don't care whether these company platoon commanders and instructors are from the second lieutenant training team or from the political department of the group army. Since such a vicious incident has happened. They are to blame. Kirillov gave Pugachev an order without saying a word, and Akhromeyev on the other side heard that the platoon commander who was about to be shot was his former subordinate, his cheeks flushed, and the corners of his mouth twitched. I only heard Kirillov order again: "Major, you can't be merciful at this time. Execute it now! ”

When Kirillov hung up, Akhromeyev and I were still in a state of shock. I did not expect the defection of the fighters; The second is that I didn't expect Kirillov to cross me and give such a harsh order to the below.

Kirillov sighed when he saw that both me and Akhromeyev had disgruntled expressions. He said to us: "Division commander, chief of staff, I know that both of you feel in your hearts that I have gone too far. A few soldiers defected, even if it was led by the company platoon commander's lax restraints, at most they would be dismissed, where would they be able to shoot so strictly. ”

I listened to him and nodded instinctively, affirming his analysis.

He continued: "Comrade division commander, I am thinking about you. You think about it, the surface positions on the northern heights were all occupied by the Germans. Among the defenders of the southern heights, there was another case of defection. If there is no strict military discipline. If several responsible persons are punished and killed, then other commanders will still not pay attention to the control of the troops, and in the next battle, similar defections are estimated to be inevitable. You know, at present, because of the loss of the high ground, your superiors are already very dissatisfied with you, and if this defection incident is stabbed again, then it is very likely that you will be removed from your post and investigated. ……”

Before he could finish speaking, I waved my hand, interrupted his later words, and said gratefully: "Needless to say, Comrade Political Commissar, you are right. In the operation of large corps, military discipline must first be strict, and we absolutely must not tolerate and accommodate such sudden and vicious incidents. At this point, I suddenly turned to the counteroffensive after dark, "If the enemy's troops remain in the ravine, it will be a problem for us to counterattack at night." As long as we exchange fire with them, we will alarm the enemy on the top of the hill, so that the sneak attack of the second regiment and the first battalion will turn into a strong attack, and the casualties will certainly not be small. ”

"Comrade division commander, I think so." In just a few minutes, Akhromeyev's expression also recovered, and he faithfully fulfilled his duties as chief of staff, introducing us to his vision: "In the evening counterattack, we will still carry out the original battle plan. As for the German troops in the ravine, it was not difficult to solve them. Before attacking, the first battalion used flying thunder cannons to bombard the German troops stationed in the ravine, attracting the attention of the German troops on the top of the mountain. At this time, the 2nd Battalion quietly bypassed the eastern side of the high ground and set up thunder cannons away from the oil storage tanks to bombard the German troops on the hilltops. When the German troops in the surface position were dizzy by the flying thunder guns of the second battalion, the elimination of the first battalion of the German army in the ravine, and then launching a counterattack to the high ground, will definitely have the effect of getting twice the result with half the effort. ”

After listening to this, Kirillov stared at the map for a while, then nodded and said approvingly: "The chief of staff's plan is good, and with this method of play, I think it will not be a problem to regain the position." After speaking, he looked up at me, "Comrade Division Commander, what do you think?" ”

"The chief of staff has a good plan, so let's do it." I felt that Akhromeyev's battle plan was very well thought out, so I nodded in agreement without thinking.

After listening to the statements of the two of us, Akhromeyev hurriedly picked up the phone on the table and asked me for advice: "Comrade division commander, do you need me to convey the battle order to Major Pugachev now?" ”

"Yes. After the order was delivered, I was given another pick up from Morozov in the artillery battalion, and I had something to explain to him. ”

When Akhromeyev gave Pugachev an order by phone, Kirillov couldn't help but ask me curiously: "Comrade Oshanina, the artillery battalion has a limited number of men, and each of our infantry regiments has commanders and fighters who can use flying thunder guns, so there is no need to call them to help, right?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commissar," I quickly explained to Kirillov when he saw that he was misthinking: "There are people in each regiment who can use flying thunder cannons, and I know this very well. The reason why I had to talk to Major Morozov was because although the flying thunder cannon was powerful, but the accuracy was too poor, and I was worried that after those rounds of bombardment, there would still be German firepower points on the high ground that would survive and cause heavy casualties to our counterattacking troops, so I planned to send the mortar company to follow up in time, and once I found those resurrected fire points, I would kill them all cleanly. ”

After listening to my explanation, it dawned on Kirillov. Lian said, "Oh. I see. Although we covered the positions on the top of the hill with flying thunder artillery. But there will certainly be quite a few points of fire that have survived. In that case, even with the cooperation of Sederikov's tunnel troops, our counterattack troops would inevitably pay heavy casualties. Having a mortar battery follow the infantry attack will destroy the surviving points of fire in time. Yes, yes, you thought it through. ”

As soon as Kirillov finished complimenting me, Akhromeyev called me over there: "Division commander, the artillery battalion is connected." The battalion commander, Major Morozov, is on the line, waiting for your order. ”

I walked over and took the phone, and said into the microphone: "Hey, Major Morozov, I have a combat mission to hand over to you." ”

"Comrade division commander, I am waiting for your orders, please give orders."

"After dark, we will launch a counterattack on the high ground to the north. Before the attack, the counterattacking forces were to bombard the German troops on the ravines and the slopes of the hills, with flying thunder cannons. Wait for the bombardment to end. When the infantry attackes, you need to send out a mortar battery in time. Follow the troops to attack the high ground. ”

"Understood!" Morozov replied unusually crisply.

As soon as I put down the phone, before I could take my hand off the microphone, the phone rang again. I thought it was Morozov who had something else to ask, so I picked up the phone and casually asked, "Major, do you still have any questions that you haven't figured out?" ”

"What major? I'm General Krylov. Unexpectedly, the voice of Chief of Staff Krylov came out of the earpiece, and he asked dissatisfiedly: "What's the matter with your phone there, I can't get in for half a day?" ”

I hurriedly straightened up and reported to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I beg your pardon, before you called, I was giving the troops an order to counterattack. ”

"Has the Highlands been recaptured?" Krylov didn't talk nonsense with me either, and asked straight to the point.

"Not yet."

"What, not yet?" Krylov frenzied again on the phone: "How long has it been since I gave you the order to counterattack, and you still haven't taken back the position from the Germans?" If you miss the fighter, don't blame me for being rude to you. ”

Hearing Krylov's anger, I smiled bitterly and said euphemistically: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation is not what you think. After occupying the surface positions on the northern heights, the enemy blocked the position of the 2nd Regiment on the mountainside with machine guns, and the enemy had strong artillery support, so if we launched a counterattack at this time, there was a danger of total annihilation. ”

"Colonel Oshanina, I remind you that even if all the men of the independent division are dead, the Mamayev post must not fall into the hands of the Germans. Do you understand? ”

"I understand very well, Comrade Chief of Staff." Although I heard him angry, I also didn't think that at such a time, I would organize troops to launch a suicidal counterattack on the high ground to the north. If he did, he might have done it, but the counterattack had no effect at all, so I tried hard to convince him: "I also know that Mamayev Hill cannot fall into the hands of the enemy, so I have made a thorough counterattack plan." Wait until after dark when the enemy's tanks and artillery are of little use, and then launch a counterattack to try to take the position from the enemy in one fell swoop. ”

After listening to my explanation, Krylov's tone suddenly softened: "Well, since you plan to launch a counterattack after dark, I'll give you a few more hours." But I'm going to say that if you can't get back to your position before dawn, you'll have to wait to be court-martialed. ”

"Thank you, thank you, Chief of Staff." Although Krylov threatened me with a court-martial, I thanked him for giving me an extra few hours. I heard the rumbling of artillery outside, and I couldn't help but be concerned about the battle in other sections: "By the way, Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask how the friendly forces are doing?" For example, the 42nd Guards Regiment. ”

Krylov snorted and said angrily: "The situation is very bad, the 42nd Guards Regiment held the 107.5 heights, which has been captured by the Germans. The two counterattacks organized by the regiment were also repulsed by the Germans, and now they have retreated into the city. At the moment, the enemy and the enemy are fighting fiercely on the streets of Soviets, fighting house by house. At this point, he paused for a moment, then slowed down and said, "Colonel Oshanina, in your words, you are a gate blocking the Germans from storming the city. If they could not be stopped and let them swagger into the city, then Stalingrad would be in danger. ”

My conversation with Krylov. Kirillov and Akhromeyev also heard. Didn't wait for me to put down the phone. The two were on the map to see after the enemy broke through the positions of the 42nd Guards Regiment. It will be possible in which direction to launch the impact.

Seeing that the brows of the two were furrowed together, I smiled and comforted them and said: "Political commissar and chief of staff, you don't have to worry, even if the Germans occupy the dormitory area behind the 107.5 heights, it will not be easy for them to copy us from behind. Have you forgotten that we still have the fourth and fifth regiments behind us that are relatively complete, and there is also a well-equipped tank battalion. If the Germans don't come, it's enough. If you have to break through, you will definitely run into a head in front of the four and five regiments. ”

My words immediately made the brows of the two of them furnish, and as one of the top commanders of the division, the two of them also understood that what I said was not nonsense. Even if the German troops made a detour back to the back of the Mamayev post, the four regiments, under the cover of the tank battalion, would be able to crush or even completely annihilate this enemy with a fierce blow from their flank.

It was easy to survive until dark, and not only did Pugachev call me again and again to ask when it would be time to counterattack, so as to wash away the shame caused by the defection of the fighters of the 2nd Regiment. But every time I answer the phone. It's all a short phrase: "Wait!" He hung up.

Not only were the commanders below panicked, but even Kirillov and Akhromeyev couldn't hold back. Because seeing that I didn't express my opinion, the two of them couldn't urge me to give orders. So the chief of staff walked around the headquarters with his hands behind his back, and the political commissar sat at the table and smoked one stuffy cigarette after another, and the good headquarters was smoked like a fire.

As the minutes ticked by, I looked up at my watch, and saw that the hour hand was already pointing to ten o'clock, and I estimated that the enemy at this time, except for a few sentry posts, had all the rest sleeping in the trenches. I stood up abruptly and commanded Akhromeyev, who had stopped and looked at me: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the time is almost up. Major Pugachev was ordered to immediately put the 1st and 2nd Battalions into the designated positions, set up the flying thunder guns, and after half an hour, launch a surprise attack on the enemy. ”

Akhromeyev, who had been waiting impatiently for a long time, excitedly agreed, rushed to the telephone and called Pugachev. While he was on the phone, I turned my head and quipped Kirillov next to me: "All right, my good commissar, don't you smoke, don't you notice that the room is like a thick fog." If you smoke a little longer, I guess I won't be able to see your person even from this distance. ”

When Kirillov heard my ridicule, he smiled, quickly snuffed out the cigarette butt in his hand in the ashtray on the table, and said to himself: "I'm anxious because you don't give the order to fight back." ”

Perhaps it was the order given by Kirillov in the afternoon that the Second Regiment moved very quickly, and half an hour later there was an earth-shattering explosion outside the cave, and needless to say, it must have been our flying thunder artillery that was in its wake.

I hurriedly called Morozov in the artillery battalion and said to him: "Comrade Major, the time is almost up, is your mortar battery ready?" When I heard his affirmative reply, I continued: "As soon as our thunder guns stop firing, we will immediately attack, follow the infantry, and use artillery fire to clear those fire points that have not been completely destroyed, understand?" ”

"Understood." Morozov, in a loud voice, expressed his determination to me: "I promise to complete the task. ”

While I was talking to Morozov, Akhromeyev was also talking to the head of the regiment, Sederikov, and he said to the microphone: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, did you hear the explosion?" It was the commanders and fighters of the 2nd Regiment who were bombing the Germans with flying thunder guns. When the bombardment is over, the 2nd Regiment will launch a counterattack on the surface positions from both the south and east slopes, and you will have your men prepare to attack and try to join forces with the 2nd Regiment and retake the position. ”

After Akhromeyev returned the headset and microphone to Razumayeva, he breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and walked towards us, and at the same time said: "Division commander, political commissar, I have already given the order to counterattack to the first regiment. All we can do is wait, hoping that Major Pugachev will bring us good news. ”

The earth-shattering explosion outside rang out every two or three minutes, and after the fifth one, there was no more explosion. Akhromeyev, who had been listening attentively to the movement outside, said nervously: "The Flying Thunder Cannon has stopped firing, and it is time for our infantry to appear." ”

Perhaps because of nervousness, Kirillov unconsciously put another cigarette in his mouth and asked: "You say, if the second regiment carries out a counterattack, how long will it take to recapture the position." ”

I reached out and smoked his cigarette and said unceremoniously: "Comrade Political Commissar, please stop smoking, do you want to smoke everyone into pneumonia?" ”

Akhromeyev looked at us and smiled, and said: "Although we have used flying thunder cannons to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy, I estimate that even if we follow the rules, it will take an hour at the earliest to recapture the position from the enemy's hands." ”

After listening to Akhromeyev's speculation, Kirillov turned his head to look at me again and asked noncommittally: "Comrade Oshanina, what do you think?" ”

I thought about it, although we were caught by surprise by the enemy, but if we really wanted to take the position back, it might take an hour, so I rushed at Akhromeyev Nunu and said: "I agree with the chief of staff, about an hour." ”

As we spoke, the phone on the desk rang.

"At this time, who will call?" Akhromeyev said, reached out and grabbed the microphone and put it to his ear: "Hey, I'm Akhromeyev, chief of staff of the independent division, where are you?" (To be continued......)