Several units that had been deployed west of Suvorovo withdrew that night, making way for the Germans to retreat westward. Of course, we will not let these fascist robbers leave easily, and this seemingly calm avenue is full of mines of all kinds. Even if they were to escape their new stronghold, they would pay a huge price.

When arranging the task of tomorrow's general offensive, I first spoke: "In tomorrow's general offensive battle, I suggest that the cavalry units under the group army not participate in the battle, and that the attacking units should still be mainly infantry, tank troops, and ski brigades. ”

Mr. Lin didn't speak after listening, but nodded thoughtfully. But Vlasov asked strangely: "I said Lida, I want to hear the reasons why you don't let the cavalry go into battle?" ”

I coughed as usual, and said softly, "Cavalry is suitable for pursuit and partial breakthroughs, and if cavalry is sent to attack a fortified position like the one now, I can't think of what kind of results they can achieve except to increase unnecessary casualties." As I said this, I couldn't help but think of the cavalry unit that had fallen in front of the German position last time, and my nose was sore, and tears almost fell again. I blinked vigorously before I continued, "I don't mean to use cavalry units, but to concentrate all the cavalry. When the Germans were defeated and fled, they pursued them in the rear, so that they could inflict heavy losses on the enemy. ”

After listening to my explanation, Vlasov did not express his position directly, but looked at Mr. Lin and asked, "Deputy Commander Lin, what do you think?" ”

"I agree with Comrade Chief of Staff." In response to my proposal, Mr. Lin expressed his support and added: "In addition to the cavalry, we will leave another tank brigade and ski brigade as the reserve of the army group, and when the German army is defeated, this unit will carry out the pursuit mission." ”

"Since you say so, let's get the task down like this!" After Vlasov finished speaking, he shouted to a staff officer behind him: "Record my order: None of the cavalry regiments and divisions of the army group will participate in tomorrow's attack......"

At nine o'clock in the morning of the next day, the shelling before the general assault on Suvorovo began.

Vlasov, Mr. Lin, and Shi Zhe stood on the bell tower of the church, using binoculars to observe the German defensive positions that were being shelled by our troops. The so-called bell tower is actually more like a pavilion supported by only four pillars, and there is a bronze bell with a diameter of more than a foot on the roof, and the long bell string has been dragged to the ground. From here, you can clearly see that the German positions in the distance have been shrouded in smoke from the explosion.

About ten minutes later, with a dull sound similar to thunder coming from the southeast, a black cloud overwhelmed the sky. I moved the telescope to the location where the sound was coming from, because I was not mentally prepared, and I couldn't help but gasp when I could see what was making the sound.

It turned out that the black cloud was made up of hundreds of aircraft. Although I have fought for several months, encountered countless bombings by enemy planes, and even shot down a few by myself, the oppressive momentum brought by so many planes flying in a dense formation made me feel unprecedented horror. I called out to Vlasov and Mr. Lin behind me in a bit of a panic: "Two commanders, look, there are a lot of planes in the sky." My voice trembled slightly because of nervousness.

Vlasov simply turned his head and looked through the binoculars, then turned his attention back to the positions of the German troops, and said lightly: "Leda, don't be nervous, that's our plane." They had come to bomb German positions. ”

Our planes! It's been so long that we finally saw our own plane in the sky, but it still came to support us. The guards and soldiers on duty outside the church also saw the plane in the sky, and immediately cheered. In any case, the appearance of their own fighters, bombers, and attack planes in the sky is undoubtedly a great encouragement to the troops.

The Air Force arrived in good time, and as soon as the artillery had finished firing the small stock of shells, the bombs of the aircraft fell on the streets of Suvorovo and exploded. Since the bombers carried heavy bombs, in the fireballs and gunsmoke raised by the explosions, guns or artillery parts and human stumps could be seen mixed with them from time to time. The German tanks that were parked on the street and were originally preparing to counterattack when our troops were attacking were caught on fire, rolling, and exploding by bombs, and from time to time black figures emerged from the wreckage of the burning tanks, running around in flames, and finally fell to the ground in convulsions.

After the Air Force completed the bombing and left, the general offensive of our troops began. Nearly 10,000 commanders and fighters, closely following the rear of the tank troops, launched a fierce attack on the city shrouded in gunsmoke.

The escape route deliberately set aside by our troops for the Germans has already been detected by them. So except for a small number of troops who remained to resist, the rest began to flee westward under the cover of tanks.

Seeing this scene, Mr. Lin and Vlasov, who had been observing the enemy's situation, put down their binoculars and glanced at each other, with knowing smiles on their faces. Vlasov turned to me and said, "Leda, it's almost time." It's time for the reserves to strike, you go and give orders. ”

"Yes!" I excitedly agreed, saluted the two of them, and ran down the narrow spiral staircase.

As soon as I entered the headquarters, I went straight to the walkie-talkie and asked the communications corps to connect to the channel of the reserves. As soon as I heard someone talking on the other side, I immediately gave them an order: "Brothers, the time has come for you to establish immortal deeds. Let's go and teach the fleeing Germans a hard lesson, so that they will never forget the defeat they suffered today. ”

After giving the order, I was about to go back to the bell tower, but I was stopped by a staff officer, who pointed to a little old man in a black coat and a cotton hat and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, this is a journalist from Moscow, he has been ordered to come to the front to cover the news. ”

I politely nodded at the senior reporter, extended my hand to him in a friendly manner, and said: "Hello, I am Major General Oshanina, Chief of Staff of the 20th Army, and it is a pleasure to meet you!" ”

He took my hand, shook it vigorously, and responded to me: "Hello, Comrade Oshanina. Let me introduce myself, I am Ilya Grigorievich Elen, a special correspondent for Pravda, Izvestia, Red Star. ”