Boroda put the documents on the table, glanced down, looked up at the commanders in the room, and said with a serious expression: "Comrades, as of today, the arduous battle of Liuban is over. During the six-month battle, the commanders and fighters of the Volkhov Front showed rare heroism and tenacity. Due to the superiority of the Germans in terms of strength and weaponry, as well as their air supremacy on the battlefield, our campaign to help the Leningrad Front break the German siege of the city was not achieved. Seeing that everyone became depressed after hearing this, he added: "However, the stubborn fighting of our army, in order to block our advance, the Germans had to transfer a considerable number of reserves from the direction of Leningrad, which greatly reduced the pressure on the defenders in the city and disrupted the German plan to quickly seize Leningrad." ”

The purpose of this campaign was not achieved for a number of reasons. The Volkhov Front is a stretch of battle between Lake Ladoga and Lake Ilmen. It runs from Novgorod in the east down the Volkhov River and forms an arc near Kirich, towards Schlüsselburg. The area separating the Volkhov Front from the Leningrad Front, a sixteen-kilometre strip occupied and held by the Germans, was superficially sufficient to concentrate sufficient forces for a powerful assault to bring the two fronts together and break the siege of Leningrad imposed by the enemy.

But when our offensive campaign was launched, we found that we had encountered a rare terrain that was not convenient for attacking, and the road ahead was full of boundless forests, swampy mud, watery peatlands, and ruined roads. Our struggle against nature is no less than the struggle against the enemy. The army fights and lives in order not to dig trenches. Rather, they went to build earth and wood walls, not to dig stragglers. Instead, they went to level the site and spread garden trees and bundles of firewood for several kilometers. and built wooden platforms for artillery and mortars.

The 2nd Assault Army, which was the main force of the campaign, gradually lost the ability to continue the offensive in this difficult natural environment, and was unable to wipe out the enemy's heavy army group surrounded by our army for a long time. Under these conditions, the Front Command had to place the 52nd and 59th armies on both sides of the narrow supply line in order to ensure the logistical supply of the 2nd Shock Army.

In mid-June, the supply lines were cut off by the Germans, in order to prevent the 2nd Shock Army from being wiped out in the encirclement. The command of the Front gave them an order to break through. Thanks to the stubborn fighting of the commanders and fighters of the 2nd Shock Army and the active cooperation of the 52nd and 59th armies, the troops successfully broke through the encirclement of the German army.

However, the casualties of the 2nd Assault Army were very heavy, with more than 30,000 casualties, and many units were crippled or even wiped out. What is even more serious is that the commanders of the group army headquarters were separated from the main force when they broke through the encirclement, and their whereabouts are still unknown. ”

Vlasov was captured, this is an ironclad fact. But the rest of the commanders of the headquarters. The whereabouts are unknown, so they won't all be captured, in that case, the 2nd Shock Army will be a big shame. I raised my eyebrows. Just as he was about to interject and ask a few questions, he heard Boroda continue: "According to the plan of Commander Meretskov, the 2nd Shock Army will highlight the encirclement." Together with the 52nd Army and the 59th Army, they retreated to the banks of the Volkhov River for rest. Replenishment of personnel and armament. ……”

"I fully agree with the deployment of the commander of the Front Army, the troops of our army who have just finished the battle of Lyuban. At the moment, they are all very tired, and they need to be replenished and recuperated before launching a new campaign. "It was Lieutenant Colonel Sholov, who had been very active, who interjected, but now his attitude towards us has improved, at least on the surface, and he will no longer contradict us.

"It's a pity, Comrade Sholov." Boroda said lightly: "Maybe in a short period of time, the troops can't stop and recuperate, and our army will soon launch a new campaign." ”

As soon as these words came out, the audience was in an uproar. I also frowned slightly, thinking to myself that our army's troops are now at the end of their crossbows, and without rest and replenishment, they will immediately enter a new battle, isn't that the old birthday star hanging-is a long life?

"Quiet, please be quiet." Boroda knocked on the table twice unhappily, calmed the whispers among the commanders, and continued: "Immediately launch a new campaign, this is the order of the Supreme Command." On May 12, in order to prevent the Germans from launching a new offensive against Moscow from the southwest, our Southwestern Front, under the command of Marshal Timoshenko, took the initiative to launch an offensive against the German army. Some progress was made in the first three days, the troops advanced more than 30 kilometers, but our offensive was soon effectively contained by the Germans. On the contrary, it created a good opportunity for the German army to encircle and annihilate the Soviet army.

On the 10th day of our offensive, the German Field Marshal von Brown. Boke, with the strength of 11 divisions, suddenly launched a large-scale counterattack on the flank of our army, causing the 6th, 9th, and 57th armies of our Southwestern Front to be deeply encircled and almost completely annihilated. By 28 June, the Germans had achieved a huge military advantage in the south. On June 30, the German Sixth Army broke through the defensive line of the Soviet 21st and 28th armies in the Voronezh direction. The situation of the Soviet troops in the entire southern direction deteriorated further. ”

Hearing the news of the defeat of our army, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became depressing. No one spoke, they all stared intently at Boroda, who was speaking, and patiently listened to him explain the current situation of friend and foe: "...... What is even more serious is that on July 4th, that is, yesterday, our important military fortress in the south, the fortress of Sevaspotor, was destroyed by the German von Potor. Field Marshal Manstein's 11th Army captured. The officers and men who held the fortress suffered extremely heavy losses, and only a few broke out of the encirclement. ”

At this point, he paused, scanned the whole field with his gaze, and made a summary: "It is precisely because of the present unfavorable situation that the base camp has decided to carry out a new campaign, in addition to breaking through the blockade, expecting our Volkhov Front to carry out active operations in the north-western direction, in order to contain more enemies, so that they cannot move their forces to the south and ensure a possible decisive battle in the south. ”

After Boroda introduced the situation, he said: "Who has any questions?" After saying that, he sat down directly.

"Comrade Chief of Staff." A lieutenant colonel sitting to my left in a black tank corps uniform stood up. He tentatively asked Boroda, "May I speak?" ”

Boroda nodded at him and said kindly, "Please speak." Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. ”

"I want to know, where and when will we attack?"

I turned my head towards Boroda, waiting for his answer. Boroda picked up the document on his desk and read: "The site of this campaign was chosen for the so-called Schlüsselburg-Signavino salient, which was formed in September 1941 when the German army marched to the southern shore of Lake Ladoga. The advantage of choosing this direction is that it is the closest route from the southeast to the Neva and Leningrad. ”

The lieutenant colonel did not sit down, but put his hand on the table and said to Boroda: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to remind you. I have been to the place you have just mentioned, and the terrain of the salient is not suitable for offensive operations. The area of peat mining there is large. Stretching from the shores of Lake Ladoga to the village of Signavino, south of which is dense forests and large swamps, it is difficult for the infantry, let alone our tank units, to severely limit the maneuver of the army, which is very advantageous to the defending side. The only dry place on the Ridge in this direction is the Sinavino Highlands, which rises ten to fifteen meters above the surrounding plains. Naturally, it became the main enemy position on the offensive line of our troops, and any movement within a radius of several kilometers would be detected by the enemy on the heights. ”

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. What should I call you? "Without waiting for Boroda to reply, I spoke first, for I felt that the lieutenant colonel was a very capable man, if I could bring him over. Maybe I can become a reliable team member for me in the future.

The lieutenant colonel was stunned for a moment, then straightened up and replied: "Report to Comrade Division Commander, I am Lieutenant Colonel Donskoy, the commander of the tank regiment. ”

I smiled at him in a friendly way. He said, "Commander Donskoy, please take a seat." Chief of Staff Boroda will answer your questions. ”

Wait for Donskoy to sit down. Boroda continued: "Lieutenant Colonel Donskoy is very observant, and the situation is indeed as he says. German troops after the occupation of the area. In order to make the Schlüsselburg-Signavino salient an impregnable fortress. They took advantage of a variety of terrains, along rivers and lakes, deep ravines and swamps, highlands and forests, to construct defensive positions, and set up many resistance hubs and support points. In the center of the resistance hub were artillery and mortar batteries. The density of anti-tank artillery averaged seven or eight guns per square kilometer of frontage. The personnel were in a fortified shelter, with barbed wire fences and mines laid at the front of the positions. In this way, the terrain that was already inconvenient for attack became easier to defend and more difficult to attack. ……”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't understand a little." This time, the person who couldn't help but interject became me, and I asked strangely: "Since the Supreme Command has learned about the specific situation at the front, and knows that this place is not conducive to the deployment and attack of the troops, why should Lu choose this area as a breakthrough?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, what's going on?" Hearing my first question, the commanders in the room also echoed it.

"Please be quiet!" Boroda's tone of voice at this moment was quite a bit of the majesty of the superior, and the room suddenly became quiet, "The Supreme Command has chosen this direction for a twofold purpose: first, if things go well, we can reach the Neva River in two or three days, and create the possibility of joining forces with the troops of the Leningrad Front, because the Volkhov Front does not have the strength to carry out a longer campaign. Secondly, we can launch an attack in a direction that the enemy does not expect, so as to ensure the suddenness of this assault operation and gain an advantage in this way. Of course, the peat bogs to the north of Sinavino and the dense forests to the south of it will give me great difficulties, especially the use of heavy artillery and powerful technical weapons. But where else can you find better terrain than here? As for the swamps and forests, it is important to know that this is a prominent symbol of the north of our country, and all the strips from Lake Ladoga to Novgorod are full of this terrain. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, what is our task now?" When Boroda's speech came to an end for the time being, someone asked another question, this time it was Captain Sholov who spoke.

"Our task now is to assemble the scattered forces and be ready to move at any time. And take advantage of this short time to recuperate. As for weapons and ammunition, don't worry about it, the Supreme Command will supply us in the near future. Speaking of this, he leaned his head over and said in a low voice: "Comrade division commander, after the task is arranged, can the meeting be dismissed?" ”

I nodded, stood up on the table, and said, "The task has been assigned, and the meeting is dismissed." Seeing that everyone stood up in unison, turned around and wanted to go out after saluting, I hurriedly added: "The others can go back, and the regiment commanders stay." ”

It didn't take long for the room to be left with seven people sitting on either side of the table. After beckoning them to sit down, I said, "Comrades commanders, although I am the acting commander of the 378th Division, I still don't know you. I would like to take this opportunity to get to know you, and please introduce yourself. I first pointed to Sholov, who was sitting on the right, "Let's start with Commander Sholov." ”

So Sholov stood up, straightened up and reported: "Commander of the 1134th Regiment Sholov, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. ”

As soon as he finished his report, the stocky political worker sitting to his right stood up and reported loudly: "I am Gagarin, the political commissar of the 1134th regiment. ”

The third one who stood up was a tall and well-proportioned middle-aged man: "Report to Comrade Division Commander, I am Lieutenant Colonel Peter, the commander of the 1133rd Regiment. ”

To the right of Lieutenant Colonel Peter sat a political worker, and I guess it was his commissar. Sure enough, the commander, wearing round-rimmed glasses, stood up and reported: "I am Avakov, the political commissar of the 1133rd regiment. ”

The commander on the right is done, and it's the turn of the left. The first to stand up was the commander of the tank regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Donskoy, who briefly introduced his name and rank and sat down.

I see that other regiments all have a regiment commander and a political commissar to hold meetings, but he is the only one. So he asked curiously: "Commander Donskoy, where is your commissar, why didn't you see his people?" ”

Donskoy's expression suddenly darkened, and he sighed and said: "In the battle last week, the tank in which my commissar was riding was hit by heavy enemy artillery and died a heroic death. At present, the higher authorities have not sent a new political commissar to the regiment for the time being, so I am here today alone. ”

Hearing that his commissar had died, I smiled bitterly and didn't say anything more, just made a gesture and motioned for the rest of the commanders to introduce themselves. Two commanders of the 1132nd Regiment also stood up one after another and identified themselves to me, one was the regiment commander, Major Yatsenyuk, and the other was the political commissar Zorotuxin. (To be continued......)

PS: Thanks to kjs12, Ouyang Huan, beibei163, and Yan Cao for their tips on the day this book was put on the shelves, as well as the monthly votes cast by t00030003.