Chapter 368

Looking at vasilevsky who is speaking, I would like to say that the chief of the general staff of the Red Army is not marshal Shaposhnikov? When did you change to this 50 year old young general?

"... comrades, when the news that the second shock group army was besieged by the German army reached the base camp, comrade Stalin worried about the fate of more than 100000 officers and soldiers of the group army." Vasilevsky continued: "he specially called me to his office, pointed to the map and said to me: you, as the representative of the base camp, immediately set out to the front army of Volkhov, command the troops together with general meletzkov, and cover the second shock group army jumping out of the enemy's encirclement."

When he mentioned Stalin's name, he seemed a little excited. He stopped for a short time and then went on. At this time, his voice became calm and clear: "because of the fierce fighting near Kharkov in the south at that time, the base camp could not provide the necessary help to the front army of Volkhov, whether it was the reserves or weapons and food. This requires us to rely on our existing strength to cover the second shock group army and to stand out from the encirclement. "

"What was the situation at the front then?" Meletzkov stood up and went on: "the situation seems to be quite bad. After the supply base of the 2nd shock group army was cut off and surrounded, there was a great shortage of food and ammunition. Its guard regiment retreated slowly eastward under the pressure of the enemy. The avant-garde tried to get through the corridor, but failed. The forces of the 52nd and 59th army were scattered on the broad front, barely withstanding the enemy's attempt to widen the gap between them and the 2nd shock army. Without the reserves provided by the base camp, we have to find another way. After coordination, vasilevsky and I deployed three infantry brigades and some other units from other areas, including a tank battalion. We organized these small forces into two groups, ordered them to open a corridor one and a half kilometers to two kilometers wide, and covered the two wings of the corridor, so as to ensure the withdrawal of the besieged 2nd shock group army.

At dawn on June 10, I signaled an attack. After a short period of artillery preparation, tanks and infantry launched an impact on the enemy's position. Although everything was carefully considered in advance, our attack didn't work.

From the analysis of the situation on the battlefield, it is obvious that it is unrealistic for us to smash the enemy with our present strength. That night, comrade vasilevsky and I repeatedly calculated the total strength of the front army, and tried every means to transfer some troops from other areas to the breakthrough sites, so as to strengthen the assault force there.

We are deploying our troops, and the enemy is not idle. They have also increased their forces. According to the Scout's report, the German army transferred three infantry divisions and a police division of the SS from the north, that is, from the west of the Leningrad highway, as well as some troops and units that used to defend other areas. They were combined into three brigades, namely, kalenberg, bass and main road. From Novgorod's side, two groups of "jump" and "yashkai" and other troops were transferred. From the west, another "Duke" group composed of two infantry divisions and one security division pressed on to the 2nd shock group army. The fighting did not stop for a minute and was unprecedented. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. "

After listening to meletskov's briefing on the war situation, I understood why the troops of the second shock group army could not be assembled before breaking through the encirclement, because the fighting continued in many areas and many troops could not withdraw from the fighting.

"The front army covered the troops breaking through the encirclement. While they were attacking from east to west, the second shock group army also organized the troops to attack from west to East. On June 19, the tank soldiers of the 29th tank brigade of our army and the infantry following them broke through the enemy's defense and joined the troops of the 2nd assault group army attacking from the West. Along the narrow gauge railway, a corridor with a width of three to four hundred meters was opened from east to west. Using this corridor, a large number of wounded officers and men of the 2nd shock group army withdrew to miasnebol. " At this point, meletskov showed a smile on his face. After a moment's pause, he continued: "it is the 327th division under the command of Colonel anchufiev that breaks through the German encirclement and opens the way to the life of the group army. It was the bravery and tenacity of the troops under his command that broke the German siege. Colonel anchufiev, stand up and show you As he said this, his eyes looked to a corner on his left.

Colonel anchufiev stood up under the attention of everyone. He didn't say anything. He just saluted the commanders with a red face and sat down again.

Seeing meletskov's praise and affirmation of anchufiev, I feel particularly depressed. You know, I am the one who led the troops to break through the German three lines of defense! But now it's all thanks to anchufiev. Alas! I can't help it. Who let me be his subordinate at that time? In the eyes of my superiors, my achievements are the achievements of his division commander.

"Colonel anchufiev, I have a question. Can you answer me?" It was fejiuningsky sitting at the table who asked the question. After that, he laughed at meletskov and politely asked, "Comrade commander of the front army, may I ask the Colonel a question?" After acquiescence, he turned his eyes to anchufiev again: "now, comrade Colonel, please answer my question: why, after breaking through the third line of defense and joining the rescue forces of the front army, you no longer expand the breach, nor send troops to guard the highlands on both sides of the passage, but lead the division's main forces to shift? Don't you realize the importance of the highlands to encircle the corridor on which the 2nd shock group army broke through? Please answer me

In the face of fejiuningsky's severe question, anchufiev stood up again. He took off his hat, wiped the sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief, and stammered, "because I'm afraid that there may be German in front of me, so I dare not divide my strength."

"I'm afraid of encountering the Germans again," fejiuningsky said in a sarcastic tone. "You know, you had joined forces with the army of the front army at that time. On the way to the East, our 52nd and 59th army groups, as well as the reinforcements transferred from other regions by the commander of the front army and the chief of the general staff, had a very small chance of encountering the Germans again. And just because you didn't pay enough attention to the highlands on both sides of the passage, the Germans recaptured the Highlands a few days later and cut off the retreat passage of the second shock group army. "

In the face of fejiuningsky's question, anchufiev did not refute, but just wiped sweat.

"That's enough, comrade fijiuningsky." At this time, general privalov stood up and explained for anchufiev: "it was my decision not to expand the breakthrough point and not to stick to the high ground on both sides. He was just acting according to the order. I would like to remind you that you are now the commander of the 54th group army, and no longer the commander of the Leningrad front army. You have no right to direct our second shock group army. "

"What a man to follow orders." After listening to this, fejiuningsky nodded with a sneer and said, "general privalov, it is precisely because of your inaction that the channel opened by the commanders and fighters at the expense of blood and sacrifice was closed again by the German army after withdrawing only a part of the troops."

Privalov slapped the table and yelled at fejiuningsky: "what's the use of expanding the breach and keeping the troops on the high ground? We should know that the enemy is much stronger than us. They will also occupy the high ground and block the way we have opened. "

"General privalov, if you don't know what happened later, then I'm not afraid of trouble. I'll tell you what's in the war report.

After learning that the breach was sealed by the German army, commander meletskov ordered the 59th group army to carry out another opposite assault from the East and the 2nd group army to carry out another opposite assault along the narrow gauge railway in order to make the troops of the 2nd shock group army stay on the other side of the front break through. The commander gave an order to the 2nd shock group army to launch an attack at 23 o'clock on June 23 to carry it through at all costs.

At 2330 hours on 23 June, the forces of the 2nd shock group army began operations. The tanks of the 29th brigade of the tank set out again, carrying infantry to meet them. The artillery of the 52nd and 59th army shelled the German positions with full firepower. In order to prevent our army from breaking through the encirclement, the enemy's artillery first made a fierce counterattack, and at the same time sent out night bombers to carry out indiscriminate bombing of the combat area.

In the early morning of the next day, our army opened a small corridor along the narrow gauge railway, and the troops broke out one after another. But the Germans soon took control of the Highlands, and the troops breaking through were blocked again. In the evening, the troops of the front army who attacked from the East opened the corridor again and cleared the enemy on the railway. Along this cross firing corridor, a group of commanders and fighters of the 2nd shock group army were withdrawn one after another on the night of the 24th and the morning of the 25th. At 9:30 on June 25, the German pirates closed the corridor again, this time completely. "

I have experienced some of what fejiuningsky said, which is very clear; Some things happened after I pulled out of the Highlands, and I naturally had no way to know. After finishing these war reports, fejiuninski glared at privalov and said sternly, "Comrade General, after listening to these, don't you realize the necessity of sticking to the high ground? You know, if you sent troops to hold fast to the high ground and expanded the breach, you could only hold this passage for one day or even half a day. Then there will be more commanders and fighters of the second shock group army successfully protruding from the siege of the German army. "

He stood in a daze at fejiuningsky's rebuke. He opened his mouth again and again, as if to say something, but did not say a word. Then he looked at meletskov and vasilevsky with a kind of bewilderment, as if hoping that they could say a few words for themselves, but they kept silent.

At the moment, seeing that privalov is still denying a series of serious mistakes he made in the process of breaking through the encirclement, I feel that I should stand up and say something, or at least support fejiuningsky. So an irresistible impulse prompted me to stand up and say in a loud voice to meletskov, who was sitting in danger: "Comrade commander of the front army, may I have a few words?"

Hearing someone talking suddenly, the silence in the room was broken, and everyone's attention was attracted by me. Privalov, who was in a dilemma, seemed to grasp the straw. He said sternly to me, "major, this is an important military conference. The participants are all the military commanders of various army groups and divisions. Where can a small battalion commander talk?"

The words of privalov immediately caused a huge response in the room. Except for the commanders who knew me, the others were whispering to each other. I vaguely heard them commenting on my reckless behavior.

At this moment, meletskov knocked on the table with his hand, and the room became quiet immediately. He said coldly to privalov, "general privalov, please keep calm. Major oshanina is not the battalion commander now. She is the acting division commander of my newly appointed 378th division. She is fully qualified to attend today's meeting."

Privalov was speechless and sat down. Those who were making sarcastic remarks closed their mouths when they saw meletskov glare at them.

With a smile on his face, meletzkov waved to me and said to me in an encouraging tone, "major oshanina, say what you want. We will listen to you patiently. "

I looked at the flustered privalov and the stern faced afanasiyev, and then said carefully: "dear comrades of the commander of the front army, the chief of the general staff and the commanders, Hello! First of all, let me introduce myself to you. My name is o'shanina, with the rank of major. I'm acting division commander of the 378th division of the 59th army. Before the breakout of the 2nd shock group army, I was still in the position of battalion commander in the 327th division of anchufiev. "

At this point, I found that many people couldn't help looking at anchufiev, and the colonel, who became the focus of the crowd again, turned red and looked a little embarrassed. I continued: "on June 18, our division, under the command of Colonel anchufiev, launched an attack on the German first line of defense along the narrow gauge railway. Without the cover of artillery and tanks, our division's offensive team suffered heavy losses.

At that time, I proposed to the division commander a plan of attacking at night or around the German rear. At that time, the comrades of the sotnikov guerrillas who cooperated with us to break through the encirclement came. So the division commander simply agreed to my proposal, and asked the guerrilla comrades to act as guides for us. He went around to the back of the Germans through the swamp to attack them

Although I was indignant at the fact that Colonel anchufiev later succumbed to the obscene power of privalov, did not send more troops to defend the Highlands with me, and took away the soldiers of the Eugene regiment, he still gave the greatest support to my plan of sneaking attack on the German rear. I can't deny this. If he doesn't agree with me, I can only take my own troops, facing the intensive German fire to die. So when it comes to the war of breakthrough, I try my best to tell people the cause and effect of things from an objective point of view.

"I led a company, through the forest and swamp, around to the rear of the German defensive position, launched an attack overnight. After the beginning of our attack, Colonel anchufiev also led the main force of the division to rush to the position and annihilate the enemy's garrison.

After breaking through the first line of defense, the Colonel gave me the command of the remnants of the disabled yevgeni regiment, and asked me to immediately lead the troops to attack the German second line of defense. At the same time, he gave me five mortars captured in the position. " Speaking of this, I smile and nod to Colonel anchufiev, who is sitting in the distance.

"With these mortars, the attack on the second line of defense was much smoother. I first ordered the artillery to destroy the German machine gun position, then the artillery extended and the infantry attacked. It took only half an hour to break through the second German line of defense. After handing over the position to the coming Colonel, I led my troops to the third German line of defense.

When our troops attacked the German third line of defense, they were very lucky to meet reinforcements sent by the front army. After a short period of fighting, with the support of the tank brigade and the second lieutenant training team, we successfully captured the third line of defense. The German troops we repulsed fled north to the fortifications hundreds of meters away. "

"Well done, major oshanina! That's very kind of you Fejiuningsky, who had been listening, could not help but exclaim, "I saw in the intercepted German intelligence that our vanguard troops broke through three lines of defense in more than two hours, and successfully joined the rescue forces of the front army. At that time, I thought it was quite strange. You know, I have dealt with the division commander and several commanders of the 327th division. I really can't think of anyone who has such command ability to break through the enemy's three lines of defense in such a short period of time and open a breakthrough for the main force of the group army. I didn't expect that you were in charge of this army. Now my doubts have been solved. General Zhukov once told me that you are a commander who is good at making miracles

"Comrade fejaninski," interrupted meletzkov, "please catch up with major oshanina later. We're waiting for her to talk about the rest." Seeing that fejiuningsky nodded his head in agreement, he said to me, "Comrade oshanina, go on, I think everyone here wants to know what happened later."

Vasilevsky echoed: "yes, comrade major, please go on."

So I went on to say, "after seizing the Highlands, the Colonel gave me the order to fortify the highlands on both sides. After receiving the order, I divided the troops into two parts, which were originally under my command to defend the northern highlands; The remnants of the Eugene regiment, on the other hand, held fast to the southern highlands. After entering the position, I immediately ordered the soldiers to repair the fortifications to prevent a possible German counterattack.

As soon as the fortifications were half finished, the German counterattack began. After heavy shelling of our position, they sent out two tanks to cover the infantry and attack the northern highland. With the cooperation of the 29th tank brigade and the second lieutenant training team, we completely annihilated the attacking enemy through tenacious fighting.

At the end of the battle, I counted the casualties. Of course, the commanders and fighters in the positions suffered heavy casualties. At that time, he was retreating to the field hospital outside the encirclement through the corridor, and he also made a great sacrifice in the German artillery attack. "

"Now that you have been ordered to hold fast to the high ground and fight the Germans tenaciously. So, I want to ask, "how did the Highlands get lost?" Meletskov broke in suddenly.

As for his question, I quickly explained: "report commander, next, I will tell you how this highland, which is related to the life and death of the second shock group army, was lost."

"Go ahead." He simply said one word and didn't go on talking.

"Shortly after the battle, Colonel anchufiev came with the main force of the division. At that time, I reported to him that we had captured and held the high ground, and asked him to send more troops to launch an attack on the German position in the north, so as to drive the enemy far away from our breach.

But unfortunately, although my proposal was rejected. General privalov, who was with him at that time, ordered me to immediately withdraw all my troops from the highlands and to cover the transfer of the field hospital to myasnabor with him.

At that time, I objected to Comrade General, saying that although we had opened the way to break through the siege, the German defense line was still several hundred meters away, and it was possible to re block the gap we had opened at any time. Therefore, not only can we not reduce the number of troops on the high ground, but we also need to strengthen them.

Although Colonel anchufiev was also speaking for me at that time, Comrade General mercilessly rejected our proposal and blocked everyone's face and said: "since major oshanina feels it is necessary to stick to it, let her troops stay on the high ground. As for the reserves, we don't have enough people to cover the evacuation of the wounded, so we don't have to send any more troops to her. "

As soon as the words were heard, there was another uproar in the room. Some people even accused him loudly: "it's too much. It's because of the general's wrong decision that we don't know how many of our commanders and fighters died in vain."

Seeing that everyone's reaction is so strong, I think general privalov, as the party concerned, will not give up. Sure enough, he jumped up, patting the table, pointed at me, and said angrily, "major oshanina, you know, in the army, orders from superiors are not allowed to be discussed. At that time, you disobeyed the military order and refused to lead the troops to retreat with me. You just allowed you to stay and hold your position, but didn't shoot you on the spot. It's kind of out of the law to you. It's good for you to complain about me here. "

In the face of general pulivalov's retort, I had no idea what kind of expression I should have except a bitter smile. I tried to keep myself calm and asked coldly, "Comrade General, do wrong orders have to be carried out? You know, it was because of this order that more than 100000 officers and men of the second shock group army were almost buried in the German encirclement. "

"Comrade o'shanina, is all that you have said true? If it is true, I will punish the responsible person immediately. " General meletskov's words revealed a resolute and resolute color, and his body also exudes a fierce murderous atmosphere!

I nodded hard and answered, "yes, comrade commander of the front army. On this point, Lieutenant akhromeyev of the second lieutenant training team can prove it for me. " Then I added: "as far as I know, general privalov still felt insecure when he arrived in the miasnebol area, so he reported to his superiors that the troops were fighting with the heavy German troops and asked for immediate support. Because of his report, the superior immediately sent reinforcements to him from all aspects. Not only was one of my temporary reinforcements removed a few minutes before the battle began, but also the tank unit and the second lieutenant training team of the 29th tank brigade, who fought side by side with me, as well as the remnants of the yevgeni regiment originally assigned to me, were ordered to leave one after another. "

"Don't you have two companies? Why not stick to it? " Privalov, who is higher than me in rank, still sneers at me.

At the moment, meletzkov's face was as black as the bottom of a black pot. He was completely enraged by privalov's attitude! He stood up abruptly, turned his face to his left, pointed to anchufiev sitting there with his hand, and said in a loud voice, "you, Colonel anchufiev, stand up and answer me, is major oshanina telling the truth?"

Anchufiev stood up, buried his head in a low voice, and answered in a weak voice, "Comrade report commander, what major oshanina said is true. I was later ordered to transfer all the troops assigned to her. "

"Comrades commander," a man suddenly stood up beside me. I turned my head and saw that it was Colonel zhizolifu. He said aloud to meletskov, "I can also confirm that major oshanina is telling the truth. At that time, I gave a infantry regiment and artillery battalion to her command. I was going to launch an attack on the German position hundreds of meters away, and drive them away from our breakthrough. Unexpectedly, just a few minutes before the battle started, I received an order from the headquarters of the group army, asking me to lead my troops to the miasnebol area to reinforce general privalov who was fighting with the German army. As a result, when I arrived, I found that there was no German heavy military group at all, just a few scattered soldiers. It only took one battalion at most to wipe them out. "

"I issued the order that Colonel zhizolifu said." General afanasiyev, who had been silent there, suddenly said, "at that time, our group army headquarters was still working normally. After receiving general privalov's telegram for help, and after the discussion and decision of the commander and deputy commander, I gave the order to the group army to immediately reinforce the myasnabor area."

The words of Col. zhicaoliv and general afanasiyev made me extremely angry. I thought that the troops had been transferred one after another because of the tight situation in miasnebor area. Unexpectedly, it was pulivalov who lied about the military situation. My breath became short, and my hand could not help but feel for the holster again.

But as soon as I felt the holster, I calmed down again. The top commander here is not privalov, but general meletzkov. He will make the right decision when he knows the truth. I took a deep breath and answered the question of privalov in a normal tone: "general privalov, didn't you ask me why I didn't stick to it? I can tell you responsibly that although there are only 126 troops left in my army, we still stay on the high ground and continue to fight. It wasn't until almost all of the officers and men died that I was rescued from the position by a surviving soldier. "

"What if you lead your troops to the high ground?" The unwilling privalov said with obvious dissatisfaction: "what qualifications do you have to criticize me? You know that I'm a general, and you're just a small major. Even if you can be a little clever, you'll not be beaten by the Germans and run away in a panic."

In the face of privalov's censure, I was thinking about how to respond when someone came out to speak for me. Only a low voice said slowly, "general privalov, I want to tell you something. When she was a lieutenant, she criticized many generals for their mistakes in the early days of the war in front of Comrade Stalin. Comrade Stalin appreciated her frankness and her command ability. Do you despise even the commanders whom Comrade Stalin valued? " Although he used a tone of understatement, he also shocked privalov into silence.

"Comrade oshanina, do you have anything else to add?" General meletzkov asked, "especially about general privalov, so that the headquarters of the front army can give him reasonable punishment."

After listening to meletskov's question, I immediately understood what he meant by giving up the highlands on both sides of the breach and falsely reporting military information. These materials are not enough to punish privalov. I need to provide him with more important information.

At this moment, I suddenly thought of the thousands of soldiers who died in the battlefield. My strong sympathy made me decide to get justice for them. I organized the words in my mind, and then I began to say, "comrades, you may not know that two days before the 327th Division launched the breakout, there were branch teams that also carried out the breakout."

When he heard me say this, meletskov was surprised and asked, "there is another army. Why haven't I heard of it? Where are they now?"

"Comrade commander, they all died." Thinking of the soldiers who died in various positions in front of the German positions, thinking of the soldiers who were burned to coke in the truck, I said with anger: "thousands of officers and men, they were very brave, but they all died under the intensive German fire."

For this news, the people present were thrilled. But meletskov couldn't wait to know the details. He asked repeatedly, "what's the matter? Major oshanina, make it clear. "

I wiped a handful of tears on my face and replied, "although I didn't see the specific battle with my own eyes, from the analysis of the remains of our soldiers and the distribution of bombed trucks, tanks and artillery on the battlefield, such losses can be avoided."

"Comrade o'shanina, tell me your analysis." This time it's vasilevsky urging me.

"All right, chief of the general staff." I politely responded to him before continuing to say: "according to my analysis, the troops carrying out the breakout operations should be well-equipped and well-trained troops of our army. We can draw corresponding conclusions from their equipment.

If I were to command such a force, I would first order the artillery to bombard the German positions. After the artillery is ready, let the tank troops take the lead in launching an attack to tear a hole in the German defense line, and then let the infantry trucks rush past to expand the gap under the cover of tanks and eliminate the enemy hiding in the trenches.

Unfortunately, the commander in charge of the battle took the opposite offensive steps. He first asked the infantry to attack the German position with bayonet loaded rifles in a neat line. When the soldiers fell in front of the enemy's position, he ordered trucks full of infantry to attack the German position. The artillery units that should have provided artillery cover for the attack did not set up artillery positions to bombard the enemy. Instead, they were ordered to hang all their artillery on trucks, ride all their artillery, and attack the German positions without any cover. As a result, they became the live targets of German artillery, tanks and machine guns.

After these troops were exhausted, he ordered the remaining tank troops to attack again. We should know that tanks without infantry cover can't give full play to their assault speed in areas full of our soldiers' remains and burned trucks. When they struggled through the gap of burning trucks, they became the targets of German tanks, anti tank guns and anti tank men. " At this point, I turned to privalov and asked sarcastically, "am I right? General privalov. As far as I know, this failed breakout from south to North was under your command My words made general privalov completely angry. He stood up with his hands on the table and cried hysterically, "it's impossible, absolutely impossible. Your troops must have been nearby. They must have been nearby. Otherwise, how could you be so clear about what happened on the battlefield at that time? "“ analysis! That's my analysis, general privalov I answered coldly. Privalov's spirit seemed to break down. He sat down dejectedly, muttering: "it's impossible! It's impossible Vasilevsky stood up, looked scornfully at privalov, looked around and said, "comrades commander, I suggest that general privalov be arrested immediately and removed from all his duties. At the same time, someone should be sent to escort him back to Moscow for disposal by the military court." "I agree with the chief of general staff," meletzkov, standing with his hands on the table, nodded Then he raised his head and asked the commanders at all levels in the room, "what's your opinion?"“ I agree with the commander of the front army and the chief of the general staff that they should remove general privalov from all his posts and submit him to the military court in Moscow. " First of all, fajiuningsky expressed his support. After his statement, he said bitterly: "I knew General privalov before I stood. I was deeply impressed by his strength and bravery during the civil war. However, judging from this breakthrough, general privalov was not only unable to undertake the tasks assigned to him by his superiors, but also became panicked. It's not appropriate for him to stay in the army. He has to pay for a series of mistakes he has made. " Then general afanasiyev said angrily: "the wrong command of privalov not only ruined the elite assault force of the second assault group army, but also indirectly led to the closure of the breach which related to the life and death of the whole group army by the German army because of his panic and false report of military information, which made tens of thousands of commanders and fighters pay their lives. I agree with the opinion of the commander of the front army and the chief of the general staff that he should be removed from all his posts and handed over to the military court. " As for the disposition of privalov, first it was the proposal of general vasilevsky, the chief of general staff, then the statement of commander meletzkov, and the agreement of such heavyweights as fejiuningsky and afanasiyev. Other commanders at all levels also expressed their support for the decision of the commander of the front army and the chief of general staff. Seeing this scene, I know in my heart that the next thing waiting for privalov is the death sentence in the military court. Seeing that everyone had reached a consensus on the disposal of privalov, meletzkov turned to the side and called out: "Comrade stilimach." With his shouts, a major general sitting by the wall stood up, stepped up to meletskov, raised his hand to salute, and regularly reported: "Comrade commander, major general stilimah, chief of staff of the front army, reports to you and is waiting for your orders!" Meletzkov pointed to the stunned privalov and said, "Comrade chief of staff, you should have general privalov taken away, find a place to lock him up, and send someone to Moscow tomorrow."“ Yes Stilimacher agreed, went to the door, called in two of the guards standing outside, and whispered a few orders to them. Then the two soldiers came to privalov's side, and without saying a word, they walked out with him alone. Seeing that privalov had been taken away, meletzkov beckoned all those who stood up to sit down. Then he told general stilimach again, "Comrade chief of staff, hang up the map, and then we should deploy the new campaign to the commanders of the various units."