Chapter 661

The sudden bad news startled me in a cold sweat. I rushed to the microphone and yelled, "Hello, Hello, major Pugachev, can you hear me? Hello, Hello, can you hear me? "

Before receiving the report from his subordinates, Pugachev was talking with akhromeyev. Suddenly, I was the one who heard the talk. I was in a panic and said, "report, teacher, teacher..."

"Major Pugachev, let me ask you." Without waiting for him to speak, I yelled at him: "what do the commanders in the position do? Do they even watch a group of their subordinates flee?"

"Sir, it's all my fault. I'll try to deal with it."

I was about to ask him how he was going to deal with this matter when I suddenly felt that his hand was loose. Then kirilov, who was angry, grabbed the microphone. He said coldly to the microphone, "major Pugachev, I'm kirilov, the political commissar of the division. I now order you to immediately shoot the platoon leader of the deserter's platoon and the company commander's instructor on the spot. "

Kirilov surprised me when he passed my direct order. The punishment of sitting down was too unexpected. Without waiting to speak, I heard Pugachev explain to kirilov on the phone: "company commander and platoon leader are all from the second lieutenant training team; The instructor came with you from the Political Department of the group army. Not long after they took office, they didn't have much control over the army. This accident has little to do with them. "

"I don't care whether these company platoon leaders and instructors are from the second lieutenant training team or the Political Department of the group army. Since such a vicious incident happened, they are responsible for it," kirilov told Pugachev without any hesitation, while akhromeyev on the other side blushed when he heard that the company platoon leaders to be shot were all his former subordinates, The corners of his mouth twitched. Only kirilov ordered: "major, you can't be soft hearted at this time. Do it now

When kirilov hung up, akhromeyev and I were still in a state of shock. First, I didn't expect that there would be defection of soldiers; Second, I didn't expect kirilov to pass me and issue such a severe order to the following.

Kirilov sighed when he saw that akhromeyev and I were both discontented and said to us, "division chief and chief of staff, I know that you both feel that I have gone too far. A few soldiers defected. Even if it was caused by the lax restraint of the company platoon leader, they would be dismissed at most. How could they be shot so seriously? "

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

He went on to say: "Sir, I'm thinking about it for you. If you think about it, all the surface positions in the northern highlands were occupied by the German army, and the defenders in the southern highlands actually defected. If we don't take military discipline seriously and punish several responsible persons with heavy penalties, then other commanders will not attach importance to the control of the troops. In the next battle, similar defections are expected to be inevitable. You know, at present, because of the loss of the highland, your superiors are very dissatisfied with you. If this defection incident is poked up again, you are likely to be dismissed immediately. "

Before he finished speaking, I waved my hand and interrupted what he said later, saying gratefully, "needless to say, comrade political commissar, you are right. First of all, military discipline must be strict in large regiments' operations. We must not tolerate such sudden and vicious incidents. " At this point, I suddenly turned the topic to the counter offensive after dark. "If the enemy forces stay in the valley all the time, it will be a trouble for us to fight back at night. As long as we exchange fire with them, we will alarm the enemy on the top of the hillside. In this way, 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. "

"Sir, I think so." In just a few minutes, akhromeyev's expression also recovered, faithfully performed his duties as chief of staff, and introduced his vision to us: "for the counterattack in the evening, we still carry out the original battle plan. As for the German troops in the ravine, it is not difficult to get rid of them. Before the first battalion launched the attack, it first bombarded the German troops stationed in the valley with thunderguns to attract the attention of the German troops at the top of the mountain. At this time, the second battalion quietly went around from the east side of the highland and set up thunderguns at the oil storage tank to bombard the German troops on the top of the hillside. When the German army in the surface position is dazed by the second battalion's thunder, it will surely get twice the result with half the effort if it annihilates the first battalion of the German army in the valley and then launches a counterattack to the high ground. "

After hearing this, kirilov stared at the map for a while, then nodded and said with approval, "the chief of staff's idea is good. I don't think it's a problem to take back the position with this kind of play." Then he looked up at me and said, "what's your opinion, sir?"

"The chief of staff's plan is good. Let's do it." I felt that akhromeyev's battle plan was well thought out, so I nodded my approval without thinking.

After listening to the two of us, akhromeyev quickly picked up the phone on the table and asked me for advice: "Comrade division commander, do you want me to convey the combat order to major Pugachev now?"

"Yes. After delivering the order, give me Morozov of the artillery barracks. I have something to tell him. "

When akhromeyev gave an order to Pugachev over the phone, kirilov could not help asking me curiously: "Comrade oshanina, the manpower of the artillery battalion is limited, and each of our infantry regiments has officers and men who can use thunderguns. Don't ask them to help?"

"That's right, comrade political commissar," I explained to kirilov as soon as I saw that kirilov missed his point. "There are people in all regiments who can use thunderguns. I know that very well. The reason why I want to talk to major Morozov is that although the thunder guns are powerful, their accuracy is too poor. I am worried that after those rounds of bombardment, there will be German firepower spots on the highland that will survive and cause heavy casualties to our counterattack troops. So I plan to dispatch the mortar company to follow up in time. Once those resurrected firepower spots are found, Just clean them up. "

After listening to my explanation, kirilov suddenly realized, and even said: "Oh, so it is. Although we cover the positions on the top of the hillside with our thunder guns, many of them will survive. In that case, even with the cooperation of the tunnel troops of shijerikov, our counterattack troops will have to pay heavy casualties. If the mortar company follows the infantry attack, it can destroy those surviving firepower points in time. Yes, yes, you think it over. "

As soon as kirilov praised me, akhromeyev called me over there: "division commander, we are connected with the artillery battalion. Commander major Morozov is online, waiting for your order."

I passed by, took the phone and said, "Hello, major Morozov, I have a combat mission for you."

"Sir, I'm at your command, please."

"After dark, we will fight back against the northern highlands. Before the attack, the counterattack troops would bombard the German troops in the ravine and on the top of the hillside with thunderguns. When the bombardment is over and the infantry attack, you should send mortar companies in time to follow the troops to attack the highlands. "

"I understand!" Morozov's answer was unusually straightforward.

As soon as I put down the phone, I didn't wait to remove my hand from the receiver when the phone rang again. I thought that Morozov had something else to ask, so I picked up the phone and asked casually, "major, do you have any questions you don't understand?"

"What major? I'm general Krylov Unexpectedly, the voice of chief of staff krailov came out of the receiver. He asked discontentedly, "what's the matter with your phone there? I can't get in for a long time?"

I quickly straightened up and reported to him, "chief of staff, please forgive me. Before you called, I was giving the counter attack order to the troops."

"Have the heights been taken back?" Krailov didn't talk to me, either, and asked directly.

"Not yet."

"What, not yet?" Krailov got angry again on the phone: "how long has it been since I gave you the order to fight back, and you haven't taken the position back from the German hands? If you miss the plane, don't blame me for being rude to you. "

When I heard krailov's anger, I gave a wry smile and said mildly, "Comrade chief of staff, the situation is not what you think. After occupying the surface position of the northern highland, the enemy blocked the position of the second regiment on the hillside with machine guns. In addition, the enemy still has strong artillery support. If we launch a counterattack at this time, we are in danger of losing the whole army. "

"Colonel oshanina, I remind you that even if all the people 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 that he was angry, I don't think we will organize troops to launch a suicide counterattack against the northern highlands at this time. If this is true, suicide may be achieved, but the counterattack has no effect at all, so I tried to convince him: "I also know that the mamayev post can not fall into the hands of the enemy, so I made a detailed counterattack plan. We are prepared to wait until after dark, when the enemy's tanks and artillery are of little use, to carry out counterattack and strive to snatch the position from the enemy's hands at one stroke. "

After listening to my explanation, krailov's tone softened: "well, since you plan to fight back after dark, I'll give you a few more hours. But I'm going to tell you that if you can't get your positions back before dawn, you'll have to go to the military court. "

"Thank you. Thank you, chief of staff." Although Krylov threatened me with a military court, I thank him for giving me a few more hours. I heard the rumble of guns coming from outside, and I couldn't help caring about the fighting in other areas: "by the way, chief of staff, what's the situation of the friendly forces? For example, the 42nd regiment of the guards. "

Krailov snorted and said, "the situation is very bad. The 107.5 highland held by the 42nd regiment of the guards has been occupied by the German army. The two counterattacks organized by the regiment were also repulsed by the German army, and now they have retreated to the city. At present, the enemy and us are fighting fiercely on the Soviet street, fighting house by house. " At this point, he stopped for a moment, then slowed down and said to me, "Colonel oshanina, in your words, you are a gate blocking the German army from rushing into the city. If we can't stop them and let them rush into the city, Stalingrad will be in danger. "

Kirilov and akhromeyev also heard my conversation with krailov. Before I put down the phone, they checked on the map which direction the enemy might attack after breaking through the position of the 42nd guard regiment.

Seeing their brows wrinkled together, I comforted them with a smile and said, "political commissar and chief of staff, you don't have to worry. Even if the German army occupied the dormitory area behind 107.5 highland, it was not easy for them to encircle us from behind. Don't you forget that we have a relatively complete fourth and fifth regiment behind us, and a well-equipped tank battalion. If the Germans don't come, they will have to break through. If they have to break through, they will certainly have a head broken in front of the four regiments and five regiments. "

My words immediately let two people's eyebrows open, as one of the highest commanders in the division, they also understand that I am not telling lies. Even if the German troops detour back to the rear of the mamayev post, as long as the fourth regiment, under the cover of the tank battalion, gives them a hard blow from their flanks, they can defeat or even annihilate the enemy.

It was so easy to get through the dark that Pugachev called me again and again to ask when to fight back, so as to wash away the shame brought by the defection of the second regiment. But every time I answer the phone, I just say, "wait!" He hung up.

Not only the commanders below were flustered, but kirilov and akhromeyev couldn't help it because they couldn't urge me to give orders when they saw that I didn't express my opinions. So the chief of staff turned around the headquarters with his hands behind his back, and the political commissar sat at the table, smoking one by one, which made a good headquarters smoke like a fire.

As time went by, I raised my hand and looked at my watch. I saw that the clock had already pointed to ten o'clock. It was estimated that at this time, except for a few sentries, the rest of the enemy were sleeping in the trenches. I suddenly stood up and said to akhromeyev, who stopped to look at me: "Comrade chief of staff, time is almost up. He ordered major Pugachev to immediately let the 1st and 2nd battalions enter the designated position, set up the thunder guns, and then launch a surprise attack on the enemy half an hour later. "

Akhromeyev, who had been waiting impatiently for a long time, agreed excitedly and rushed to the phone to call Pugachev. While he was on the phone, I turned around and joked with kirilov: "come on, my good political commissar, please stop smoking. Don't you find that there is a thick fog in the room. If you smoke a little longer, I don't think I can see your people even at such a long distance. "

When kirilov heard my teasing, he laughed and quickly put out his cigarette end in the ashtray on the table. He said to himself, "I'm worried because you don't order to fight back."

Maybe it was the order given by kirilov in the afternoon. The second regiment moved very quickly. Half an hour later, there were earth shaking explosions outside the cave. Needless to say, it must be our thunder guns.

I quickly called molozov in the artillery battalion and said to him, "Comrade major, time is almost up. Is your mortar company ready?" When I heard his affirmative reply, I went on to say, "as soon as our thunder guns stop firing, we will immediately attack, follow the infantry, and use the artillery fire to clean up those fire points that have not been completely destroyed. Do you understand?"

"I understand." In a loud voice, Morozov expressed his determination to me: "I promise to complete the task."

When I was talking to Morozov, akhromeyev was also talking to a group leader, shijerikov. He said to the transmitter, "Comrade commander, do you hear the explosion? It was the officers and men of the second regiment blowing up the Germans with their thunder guns. When the bombardment is over, the second regiment will launch counterattack against the surface positions from the two directions of South Slope and east slope at the same time. You should make your subordinates ready to attack, try to cooperate with the second regiment inside and outside, and take back the positions. "

After returning the earphone and microphone to razumeyeva, akhromeyev breathed a sigh of relief, turned and walked towards us, and said: "teacher, political commissar, I have given the order to fight back to a regiment. What we can do next is to wait. I hope major Pugachev and they can bring us good news. "

The earth shaking explosion outside rings every two or three minutes. After the fifth time, there is no more explosion. Akhromeyev, who has been listening to the movement outside, said nervously: "the thunder guns have stopped shooting. Next, it's our infantry's turn."

Perhaps because of nervousness, kirilov unconsciously held another cigarette in his mouth and asked, "you say, if the second regiment carries out counterattack, how long will it take to regain the position?"

I reached out to smoke his cigarette and said impolitely, "Comrade political commissar, please stop smoking. Do you want to smoke everyone into pneumonia?"

Akhromeyev looked at us with a smile and said, "although we have used our thunder guns to inflict heavy damage on the enemy, I estimate that even if it goes well, it will take an hour at the fastest to get the position back from the enemy."

Kirilov, after listening to akhromeyev's conjecture, turned to me and asked noncommittally, "Comrade oshanina, what do you think?"

I thought about it. Although we caught the enemy unprepared, it might take an hour for us to get the position back. So I said to akhromeyev Nunu, "I agree with the chief of staff, about an hour."

We were talking when the telephone on the desk rang“ Who will call at this time? " Ahlomeyev said, reached for the microphone and stuck it to his ear: "Hello, I'm ahlomeyev, chief of staff of the independent division. Where are you?"