Chapter 663

The German army launched a three-day assault on Stalingrad. Although they occupied many parts of the city and greatly reduced the defensive depth of the garrison, their attack was finally blocked by the tenacious defense of our commanders and fighters. Their attempts to push forward the existing area by tens of meters have all turned into nothing.

During the next ten days of fighting, mamayevgang was also under unprecedented pressure. Although the German attack was beaten back by us without exception every time, their attack strength did not weaken at all. At first, I couldn't understand this phenomenon until I interrogated a group of newly captured prisoners. I didn't know that the 44th division of German army, which suffered heavy losses in front of our division, had been transferred to the rear to take over the 113th infantry division of major general Heinrich von Arnim, who had a relatively complete system, because the division chief Anton deboy had made a request to Paulus, No wonder the enemy's offensive has always been so fierce.

The first and the third regiments of the army, which had been holding fast to the northern Highlands, were forced to retreat into the residential areas behind the Highlands because of the serious reduction of troops, and the fourth regiment of Colonel Gaidar took over their defense. So far, the number of independent divisions with more than 10000 staff has been reduced to 3000. Kirilov and I have changed from division commander and political commissar of division to political commissar of regiment.

On the evening of September 25, akhromeyev, who came back from the frontier inspection, said to me with a sad face: "Comrade division commander, it seems that October is coming, but most of the soldiers are still wearing single clothes. If it snows suddenly to cool down, many soldiers may be frostbitten. I suggest you go to the superior logistics department to see when you can send winter clothes to our division. "

Akhromeyev's words have been on my mind recently. Originally, the troops in the division were insufficient. If there were a large number of non combat casualties caused by frostbite, then this battle would be impossible.

I'm going to call trakov or Krylov and tell them about the lack of winter clothes in the army. I don't want my army to be as cold as the Germans in Moscow last year. At this time, the telephone rang first.

I picked up the phone, and before I could speak, rodimzev's voice came from the receiver: "I'm general rodimzev, commander of the 13th division of the guards. Find me Colonel oshanina."

To tell you the truth, I'm really afraid of this rodymzev. Every time I call, I ask my troops to assist him in the counter offensive, but I don't know how he commanded it. Up to now, his troops have not only lost 107.5 Highlands, but also the Soviet street behind Highlands, including the family dormitory area of the State Consumer Cooperation Association and the flour mill, to the Germans, Finally, the remnants of the 42nd regiment were forced to retreat to the neighboring Lenin street to continue their defense.

Although he lacks the ability to command the army, I still have to maintain respect for him as my immediate superior. So I politely said, "Hello, general, I'm o'shanina. Do you have any instructions?"

"Comrade Colonel, it is so." Rodimzev had obviously adapted to his superior role, so without being polite to me, he gave orders directly“ The 42nd regiment of my guards is going to attack the Soviet street from Lenin street tonight, striving to drive out the enemy who occupied it. "

When I heard this, I began to murmur. I knew that it was no good for you to call. Nine times out of ten, I wanted to send troops to help you. So he couldn't help but put in a word: "Comrade General, do you have anything to do with the counterattack to be carried out tonight?"

"I hope you can send at least two or three companies to attack the enemy from the east of the Soviet street, and cooperate with my 42nd regiment to take the Soviet street back from the enemy." When I heard that he would have two or three companies at the beginning of his speech, I kept complaining to myself. According to his way of playing, even if I doubled my troops, I would not be enough for him to spend. I'm trying to figure out how to deal with him and get him to agree that I should send two platoons or a company symbolically to cooperate with him. He said coldly: "there is a military material warehouse near the flour mill, in which there are 8000 military coats. According to the Scout's report, although the enemy found this batch of military materials, these military coats were still well placed in the warehouse. They were neither transported away nor burned. I think the enemy intended to use them when it was cold. When we recapture the military overcoats, we can carry them away if we can. If we can't, we will burn them all. We must not let the Germans use these military overcoats for the winter. "

When I was at a loss for the army's winter clothes, I heard that in the counterattack plan implemented by rodymzev, there was a branch line task of recapturing a military material warehouse full of military coats. I immediately became very interested in tonight's action and quickly expressed my determination to rodymzev: "please rest assured, comrade general, I will send the most elite troops, To cooperate with your counterattack tonight. By the way, the head of the 42nd regiment of the guards died in the fighting two days ago. I don't know who will command this unit. "

"Speaking of the new commander, you should know him. As both the 39th and 42nd regiments have been seriously downsized, I have merged the two regiments and let the former 39th regiment head, Colonel Ye Lin, be the newly formed 42nd regiment head. "

When I heard that he was the commander I knew, I felt more at ease. I immediately said to rojimtev, "I understand, Comrade General. I will send the most effective troops to cooperate with the counterattack of the 42nd regiment."

After hanging up the phone, kirilov whispered: "Damn, how can this general rojimzev fight back again. Did he suffer a lot in the last two times? According to his way of playing, even if there are 100000 people in a division, it won't be long before it's finished. "

As for kirilov's evaluation of rodimzev, I just laughed and didn't express my own opinion, but I really agree with the commissar's opinion. Although rodimzev became a general with his military achievements, he was still too inflexible in the way the troops under his command played. I heard major Pugachev, who had gone to cooperate with him, return to say that during the counterattack on Highland 107.5, the close guard division did not know how to attack the German position tightly, but let the commanders and fighters rush up without hesitation in the face of the enemy's barrage of bullets. Although they recaptured the position several times, they were unable to resist the German counterattack because of the heavy casualties, He was beaten down again. His troops always attack is attack, defense is defense, they don't know how to change attack and defense at all. No matter how brave the commanders and fighters are, their flesh and blood can't stop the bullets of the enemy. It's in such battles that the troops of the guard division are quickly consumed.

I picked up the phone and made a call to Pugachev, ordering him: "Comrade major, tonight we will cooperate with the close guard division to counter attack the Soviet street. After you take out the first battalion of horushov, replenish the soldiers and weapons, make all the preparations for the battle."

Pugachev had obviously adapted to my fighting order for a long time. He didn't express any objection. He just said, "yes, I understand."

When I put down the phone again, akhromeyev asked curiously, "Sir, since general rojimsev asked you to send troops to help them fight back, why do you want to send the most effective troops?"

Others may not understand what akhromeyev said, but kirilov and I both know that he is not willing to let me hand over the elite troops to rodimzev to consume them in vain.

After glancing at razumeyeva and Najia sitting next to the telephone, I said in a low voice to them, "political commissar and chief of staff, when I first heard general rojmtsev's order, I had intended to refuse him, but suddenly I heard him say that there is a military material warehouse near the flour mill, in which there are 8000 military coats."

"Eight thousand army coats?" Akhromeyev's eyes almost fell to the ground in surprise.

I nodded and then said to them, "it was because I heard that there was a warehouse full of military coats that I changed my mind and asked Pugachev to send out the most effective battalion of the second regiment. In tonight's battle, even if we can't completely recover the Soviet street, as long as we can take back this warehouse and move some of the army coats out, we can solve the problem of the lack of winter clothes in the division. "

"Is the 42nd regiment of Jinwei under the command of Colonel Yelin tonight's battle?" Kirilov couldn't help but ask after listening to my big pie. Seeing that I nodded in affirmation, he rushed to recommend himself to me: "since it's Colonel Yelin opposite, even if we send Pugachev to lead the troops to attack, we must accept the other party's command. Just like this, I will lead the second regiment and first battalion in the evening. "

"No way!" As soon as kirilov's voice fell, akhromeyev and I objected with one voice. I don't know why akhromeyev objected. But I object because I want to take the team to carry out this task myself.

Kirilov glanced at me and said with a sneer, "Comrade oshanina, I understand why you object to me leading the team in person. Maybe it's because you want to lead the team in person?"

Seeing that kirilov had seen through his attempt, I laughed with embarrassment. Then I began to think about what kirilov said. If we let Pugachev or horushov lead the team, then our troops would be under the command of Colonel Yelin. But if kirilov and I don't go, who will?

"Teachers and political commissars, one of you is the head of a division, the other is the political commissar of a division. Such a dangerous thing is not what a commander of your level should do. I'll take the lead in the evening? "

I think it's appropriate to hear akhromeyev volunteering. Although his rank is low, his rank is there. I believe that even if Colonel Yelin saw him, he would be embarrassed to let him bring his troops under his command. Thinking of this, he turned to kirilov to ask what he thought. Seeing that he nodded and said that he had no objection, I pushed the boat along the river and said, "well, since the chief of staff is willing to accept this combat task, you can direct the fight tonight."

The counterattack of the guard division started at 10 p.m. on time, and the first battalion of the second regiment led by ahlomev launched an attack from the German flank at the same time.

Since the establishment of the independent division, each soldier has undergone special training in urban street fighting and mastered the use of various weapons. Therefore, it is particularly handy to fight the enemy floor by floor.

Even akhromeyev, who reported the progress of the battle to us on his walkie talkie, exclaimed excitedly: "Sir, our team, with a sudden and rapid attack, is now taking back the buildings and lots they occupied from the hands of the enemy. The soldiers were very brave. They launched a fierce attack on the enemy and successfully penetrated into the enemy's rear. "

"Very good, chief of staff." When I heard a series of good reports from him, I became happy. However, he was worried that he would underestimate the enemy because of the smooth progress of the troops. He specially stressed to him: "remember, we should play steadily, even if we slow down the attack speed. After occupying a building, we should clean up all the enemies inside and leave enough troops to guard it. "

"I understand!" Akhromeyev replied loudly.

I put down my headphones and transmitter, and I'm going to call rodim Zeff and report to him on the progress of my department. At this moment, kirilov asked with some doubts: "Comrade oshanina, since the fighting is going well, why do you want to slow down the attack speed of the troops?"

With a little smile, I explained to my political commissar, "if the troops are allowed to move forward regardless, even if they occupy a lot of buildings, but they are to be cut off by the enemy, they may be completely annihilated." At this point, I approached kirilov's ear and said to him in a low voice, "I don't trust the troops of the guard division. If they are frustrated in their attack and forced to retreat, the flanks of the first battalion will be completely exposed to the Germans. In that case, what I just said may become a reality."

I called rodimzev, and when I heard his voice, I politely asked, "Hello, Comrade General."

"Colonel o'shanina, you call me at this time. What can I do for you?" Rodymzev's voice, which came from the receiver, seemed a little unfriendly. It was estimated that he had just gone overboard.

"Well, Comrade General." Although I heard that he was in a bad mood, I still had to report to him truthfully about the progress of our side: "Comrade akhromeyev, the chief of staff in charge of the army, reported that our department has been progressing smoothly since the beginning of the battle. At present, it has successfully occupied more than a dozen buildings, eliminated the German troops in the buildings, and is advancing towards the middle of the Soviet street. I don't know where Captain Yelin's troops have hit? "

After listening to my report, rodimzev first stopped for a moment, then sighed and replied, "Colonel oshanina, the situation of the 42nd regiment is very bad. According to Colonel Yelin, the regiment attacked the Soviet street in three directions. The first and second battalions were repulsed by the German forces. Sanying now occupies two buildings around the "January 9" square between Lenin street and Soviet street. The army of Captain NaOH EF, the commander of the seventh company, has approached the flour mill after the tenacious offensive. "

After listening to rodimzev talking about the flour mill, I immediately thought that there was a military material warehouse nearby. I could not care about other places, but this warehouse must be ordered to be seized by akhromeyev's troops, because there were a large number of army coats urgently needed by the troops. In order not to make akhromeyev's action appear abrupt, I first gave rodimzev a preventive injection: "Comrade General, I will immediately order the troops to move forward, please inform the following troops to identify, do not fight with your own people."

Kirilov heard my conversation with rodimzev. He did not wait for the end of our conversation, so he went straight to the telephone and contacted akhromeyev. I heard from a distance that he was telling the other party: "Comrade chief of staff, you should immediately send a company to quickly seize the military material warehouse. You must hold the materials inside."

When I put down the phone, kirilov also ended the call with akhromeyev. Listening to the faint sound of gunfire outside, I can't help worrying. At present, there is only one battalion left in the 42nd regiment to keep in touch with the enemy. The 1st Battalion of the 2nd Regiment under the command of akhromeyev seems to be a little weak. If they don't send more reinforcements, even if they seize the warehouse, they can't transport the contents back.

Thinking of this, I said to kirilov, "Comrade political commissar, I believe you have also heard my call with general rojmtsev just now. At present, apart from the second regiment and the first battalion under the command of akhromeyev, only one battalion of the 42nd regiment of the guards is fighting with the German army on the Soviet street. You and I know in our hearts that in the recent battles, the number of guards of the Division has been reduced very seriously. I think the maximum strength of their battalion is about 200, so our strength is too weak. I'm afraid that even if we take the warehouse, the contents will not be able to be transported back. "

"Comrade o'shanina, what do you think?" Kirilov asked.

I carefully said what I thought: "I'm going to send another battalion to reinforce them."

"From which unit should this battalion be drawn? At present, the fourth regiment on the northern highland can not be transferred; After the second regiment has transferred a battalion, its present strength is also somewhat weak. "

"Call commander shejerikov and ask him and major Godunov to form a mixed battalion. Led by Godunov, they immediately arrive at the Soviet street and reinforce akhromeyev."

As soon as my proposal was put out, kirilov nodded his head and said, "Comrade oshanina, I agree with your proposal." Then he suggested to me, "and we have more than 20 trucks hidden in the residential area. Let the mixed camp drive by. After we have captured the enemy's warehouse, we can also use trucks to transport back the military uniforms in the warehouse. "