Thanks to the defection of captain gramus and the treason of Captain Beckman by us, with their cooperation, we were able to continue to lurk in the abganerovo station, so that the German side did not even notice. Even the commander of the 103rd regiment thought that the station was under the control of his subordinates.
During this period of time, I did not let the Germans stop. Every night, I would send small platoon troops to harass the German traffic lines and bury mines on the roads and railways, which made the German transport team suffer so much that in the whole five days, less than half of the German supplies were successfully transported to the front line.
On the morning of September 4, Shula knocked on my door again before I got up. As soon as she saw me appear, she handed me a telegram and said excitedly, "it's the telegram sent to you by general Zhukov
I took the telegram and looked down. It said, "Rita, you and your troops have been holding out for five days at the aberganerovo station and have successfully completed the arduous task assigned to you by your superiors. Now I order you to act immediately, jump out of the heavy German encirclement decisively and resolutely, and rush back to the original defense to join the main force of the division. After handing over the position to Colonel lyudnikov's close guard 70th division, you immediately lead the whole division to quickly turn north, pass through Stalingrad City, and rush to mamayev post to take over the defense of the 35th close guard division. "
I went to the table, sat down, put the telegraph paper on the table, and finally felt relieved. We were hiding behind the German army. In order to prevent exposure, we had to engage in small-scale activities. Although this kind of guerrilla tactics can bring a lot of trouble to the German army, it can't make the German army with a strong offensive momentum hurt. If we want to defeat them completely, we have to rely on hard positional warfare.
I raised my hand and looked at the watch. The pointer had already pointed to half past six. I calculated in my heart that it would take at least an hour for the troops to gather, merge and transfer, and deal with some aftermath. We could not leave the station until after eight at the latest. Thinking of this, I raised my head and ordered Shula, "Shula, you go and invite commander Oleg and commissar veroll over." As soon as she was about to leave, I stopped her and added, "and lieutenant Mikhail."
"Do you want me to tell them something?" Shula asked cautiously.
I nodded and said, "you can tell them that they have received the order to withdraw. Let them rush to the headquarters immediately. I have tasks to assign to them."
Oleg and verol came quickly, presumably knowing that I had received an order to retreat. They trotted into the headquarters all the way. Mikhail yev's action is not slow, almost when the two just sat down, he also walked into the headquarters. Seeing that all the people who should come came, Oleg couldn't wait to ask, "Comrade division, I heard from the telegraph operator Shula that you have just received the evacuation order from the superior?"
"Yes, comrade commander." As I said, I picked up the telegraph paper on the table and leaned forward slightly to pass it to him. Oleg took the telegram and looked at it. He was very happy and said excitedly, "great, sir. This is great. I just can't live in the disguise of German. When the German transport convoy passes by on the road outside us, I can only watch it, but can't do anything. I'm so frustrated. Now, when we go back and join the main forces of the division, we can fight openly with the Germans. "
"Come on, comrade commander." Verol said in a sarcastic tone: "you're content. You know, during this period, our small troops won a lot. The German transport team lost at least half of its supplies."
"Well, don't say any more." I was afraid that the two would never stop talking. I interrupted them and began to explain the task. "The task is clear. Let's immediately break away from the contact with the German army, return to the division's defense area, transfer defense to the friendly forces, and quickly turn north to take over the defense of the 35th division of the guards at mamayev post. Commander Oleg and commissar verol, first of all, tell me how long will it take for your whole regiment to be established? "
Oleg raised his hand, looked at his watch, frowned, thought about it, and replied, "Sir, it will take at least three hours. You also know that some materials have not been transferred, so we need to arrange people to bury them on the spot, so as not to make them cheaper. "
"At eight thirty," I interrupted Oleg, adding half an hour to the time I had just calculated. Then I told Oleg, "Comrade commander, the main force of the fifth regiment must leave the station at eight thirty. The whole regiment was divided into three parts. The leading forces were under my own command. Captain gramus, Captain Beckman and lieutenant gretka, together with me, led two companies to drive in front of us. The intermediate force, composed of three companies, four companies and five companies, is under the command of commander Oleg. During the March, the troops form four columns, with those German soldiers who are unwilling to surrender in the middle, while our soldiers and those who have surrendered on both sides, escorting them to our division's defense area. The rear army, composed of six companies and seven companies, is under the command of political commissar verol and second lieutenant mihayev. "
"Comrade division," mihayev said cautiously, "what should we do with the more than 200 mines and eight tons of explosives left in the depot of the station?"
"There are so many things that we can't take away. Let's give them to the Germans." I replied without thinking.
"Ah?" My words not only surprised Mikhail, but also Oleg and verol. Seeing the three men's open mouth, I suddenly remembered that I had not explained the matter clearly. No wonder they had such exaggerated expressions. I hastened to explain, "I may not have said it clearly. I mean, these mines and explosives can't be taken away, so I just lay them in the station, just to see which German army is more unlucky, Come into the station and enjoy the special treatment of taking a local plane. "
My words all said this, three people seem to still didn't understand. Seeing their blank expression, I felt speechless. I could only explain it in more detail: "don't you understand what I mean? I mean, let mihayev organize people to bury mines and explosives in the station. When the new German comes in, as long as one person steps on the mine, the whole station will be blown into ruins in an instant. Do you understand what I said? "
Although I said something in general this time, the three of them clearly understood. After listening to my plan, mikhaev became excited and said excitedly: "don't worry, sir. I will bury all the mines and explosives in the station. Even if the Germans occupy here again, they will get nothing but ruins. I dare not say anything else, but I can guarantee that as long as after the earth shaking explosion, the Germans will not be able to use the railway lines for at least three to five days. "
I turned and looked at Oleg and veroll. As soon as I wanted to say something, veroll took the lead. She hesitated and asked, "Comrade division, I want to ask why, since there are more than 40 people in captain Beckman's men who refuse to surrender, we should not execute them on the spot, but take them back to our defense area at risk?"
After Beckman was captured a few days ago, he tried to persuade his men to lay down their arms, but after repeated persuasion, more than 40 German soldiers refused to join us. For these diehards, whether Oleg or verol, or even captain gramus, I tried several times to persuade me to execute them on the spot, but I refused them all.
Now that veroll mentioned this matter again, I felt it necessary to take this opportunity to explain it to them clearly, so I said, "Lieutenant Commander Oleg, political commissar veroll, and lieutenant mihayev, you may wonder why, since these stubborn German soldiers refused to surrender, I just locked them up all the time, Now we're going to risk taking them to our defense area? "
Seeing that the three men nodded desperately and wanted to know the answer, I went on to say, "as you all know, although Beckman and his more than 70 officers and men all surrendered to us and expressed their willingness to join our team. However, they are not at ease and are always on guard against us. Once they see us execute our former colleagues who refused to surrender, their hearts will float. I can responsibly tell you that as long as these new Germans waver and encounter unfavorable situation in our army's battlefield, they will not hesitate to turn their guns around and hit us. "
After my words, the three were silent for a long time. Then verol asked tentatively, "Comrade teacher, is that why you want to risk taking these prisoners back?"
"Yes, commissar veroll." I said solemnly, "although only captain gramus, Captain Beckman, Lieutenant gretka and their more than 100 soldiers have joined us. But over time, as more and more German troops are captured, their strength will become stronger and stronger, and they will become a force that can not be underestimated. "
"In that case, comrade teacher." Oleg after listening to my explanation, a sudden look on his face, quickly declared: "please rest assured that I will bring these German prisoners back to our defense area smoothly."
"Now that the task is clear, go ahead." With that, I waved at them and asked them to go back to their respective troops.
At half past eight, my vanguard set out.
There are ten trucks, a car and two tricycles in our motorcade. Captain Beckman and I were in the cab of the first truck, and captain gramus was in the cab of the last truck. His subordinate, Lieutenant gretka, was riding in a car driven by Boris, following the two motorcycles in the open road and driving in the front of the whole motorcade.
As the car was driving on the road, I asked Beckman curiously, "Mr. captain, you speak excellent Russian! I don't know where you learned it before? " Among the German people I have dealt with, there are quite a few people who can speak Russian, such as von Tolman in the distance, Beckman in front of me, and lieutenant gretka in front of me. Therefore, I am particularly curious about where they learned Russian from. It is impossible that all of them have come to Russia to read books?
Looking out of the window, Beckman's head swung with the shaking of the car body. After listening to my question, he turned his head, with a smile on his face and said to me in a friendly way: "Sir, after my troops joined up with the Russian army in Brest, as a member of the military delegation, I have been in your army for almost a year, It was at that time that I learned Russian
After listening to what he said, I said in my heart, that's right. If I were to stay there for several years as a commander of the occupying forces after the capture of Berlin, I don't know if I could speak fluent German.
Just as he was daydreaming, Beckman suddenly asked, "Sir, I'd like to ask you a question in private, OK?"
I nodded at him and said politely, "Mr. captain, please ask me if you have any questions. As long as I can answer, I will give you a satisfactory answer. "
"Do you think the Russian army can really block the double attack of general Paulus's Sixth Army and general Holt's tank Fourth Army, and defend Stalingrad?"
Seeing what I said a few days ago, I didn't really convince Beckman that his surrender was just a temporary measure. In order to dispel his unrealistic fantasy, I firmly replied, "yes, Captain Beckman. Once again, I seriously answer you that although the troops of general Paulus and general Holt are taking the initiative in the battlefield, their offensive momentum is gradually weakening, and our reserve forces are gradually assembling towards the Volga River Basin. Can't you see the victory or defeat of the war in this situation
Beckman was obviously not convinced by my short words or two. He continued unconvinced: "the combat effectiveness of general Holt's tank fourth group army, I don't mean to say, you must know, they once made a brilliant record of one division defeating and annihilating five or six Russian divisions."
"So what?" I said with disapproval, "didn't hotter's troops still hit the head and blood in front of my independent division? You know, the day after the 29th motorized infantry division was badly damaged by our division, Hote sent out three divisions to attack our division's defense area from three directions. What was the result? Apart from being defeated at the expense of our troops, we did not occupy a single trench, let alone encircle or systematically destroy even one regiment of our troops. "
After hearing this, Beckman was silent. After a long time, he said with difficulty, "Sir, maybe you are right. However, the victory or defeat of this battle can only be explained by time. "
Just as he was talking, the sound of guns came from the front. Hearing the sudden gunfire, my heart could not help shivering. Did the German army begin to launch a full-scale attack on our division's defense area? In this way, our plan to return to the defense area will not come to an end? Thinking of this, I immediately ordered the driver: "stop!"
As soon as the driver stepped on the brake, our truck stopped on the road. Second lieutenant gretka's car in front of him also stopped. He yelled something at the soldiers on the motorcycle. The motorcyclist nodded and sped forward with a bang of gas.
Seeing that lieutenant gretka had sent for reconnaissance, Beckman and I got out of the cab and stood beside the truck, quietly waiting for the motorcyclist's reconnaissance report. Seeing that the motorcade stopped suddenly, Captain gramus, who was on the last truck, was also worried. He trotted all the way and asked anxiously, "what's the matter? Why did you stop?"
After translating for me, Captain Beckman began to introduce himself to Grimes in German. Listening to the gunfire in front of me, I became more and more nervous. If the front really became a battlefield, then we would not be able to return to the defense area in a short time.
The two motorcycles that went to reconnoitre came back soon. After stopping in front of lieutenant gretka and saying a few words, a soldier got off the motorcycles and followed the lieutenant to me.
The second lieutenant reported to me, "report, comrade division commander, there are about two companies of infantry in front of us attacking the positions of the Russian army?"
I could not help but correct that lieutenant gretka should not call our army Russian army. Instead, he asked anxiously, "what weapons do the German army have?"
The soldier who went to reconnoiter quickly replied: "the German army used to have five or six tanks and two armored vehicles, but now they have been bombed by our soldiers. The attacking troops are all infantry. They have just been repulsed by our army, and now they are assembling one kilometer away from here, ready to launch another attack. "
When I heard that the other side didn't have heavy weapons, I felt much more secure. So I quickly called several commanders, gramus, Beckman and gretka, who had just surrounded me, to them and gave them the latest combat order: "comrades commanders, according to the report of the scout, there are about two companies of German infantry in front now, We are attacking the positions of our regiment. Our task is to surprise them from behind and take them by surprise. "
As soon as I finished speaking, the company commander could not wait to say, "I'll let the soldiers get out of the car and gather, and then attack from behind the Germans."
I stopped him and said, "company commander, don't get out of the car. The Germans have no heavy weapons. Now they line up the trucks and attack from behind the enemy. When charging, the soldiers only need to stand in the truck compartment and shoot with machine guns, submachine guns and rifles. "
"Is that all right?" Asked the company commander uncertainly.
"Yes, of course. Don't talk about it any more. Let's go back to our respective troops. " When I finished this sentence, I specially told lieutenant gretka, "Lieutenant, go to the truck compartment, and leave the car here."
When everyone dispersed and Beckman and I were the only ones left by the truck, I asked him with concern, "Mr. captain, would you like to go back to the bridge or to the car like me?"
Beckman replied almost without thinking, "Sir, I'll go wherever you go. I'm in line with you." Ten cars in a row stepped on the gas and rushed to the battlefield. From a distance, we can see that a large group of black German soldiers are marching towards our positions with weapons. When I saw that I was fifty meters away from the enemy, I yelled, "open fire!" The machine gun next to me on the top of the bridge opened fire first, and then the soldiers in my car opened fire again and again, shooting at the Germans behind their backs. The sound of gunfire is an order. Seeing that we have sent a signal here, the other nine cars have opened fire one after another. There was almost no need to aim at such a close distance. Under such intensive fire, the unprepared German soldiers were caught off guard. No matter machine gun, submachine gun, rifle, as long as a fire, almost can hit the target. The German soldiers were knocked down by us piece by piece. Whether they were striding forward or lying in the crater with machine guns ready to shoot, they were screened by our dense bullets. When our caravan rushed through the German attack line, the original black attack team had disappeared and turned into bodies lying on the ground. Maybe we saw us shooting from the rear of the German army. The soldiers of the regiment holding the position didn't shoot, but a few officers and men climbed out of the trench and stood outside, waving the signal flag.