Chapter 684

After dark, I recruited all the decorated commanders to the headquarters. After asking kirilov to honor them, I asked them to sit down at the table and discuss the next battle plan.

I stood up with my hand on the edge of the table and looked at the commanders who hung the medals. They all turned red with excitement. Maybe they never dreamed that they would live to get the red flag medal, which represents the highest honor. It's inevitable for them to get emotional. I coughed and said, "comrades, today is the first commander's meeting held by the division headquarters after the independent division arrived at mamayev post. Next, we will discuss how to use the favorable terrain, existing forces and weapons to resist the enemy's crazy attack in the coming days."

After that, everyone focused on me and waited for me to go on. After scanning every commander on the scene, my eyes finally stayed on Gaidar, the head of the fourth Regiment: "commander Gaidar, your regiment is currently at the forefront of the whole division. Would you like to tell us what difficulties you have now?"

Gaidar, who was named by me, quickly stood up, looked at the commanders present, shook his head and replied loudly, "report, sir, we have no difficulty."

"Colonel gedar, you're lying!" Kirilov, who was sitting next to me, stood up and said to Gaidar with a smile, "what's going on in the northern highlands? Don't our division leaders know? I know that although you have not been in the position for a long time, under the enemy's shelling and indiscriminate bombardment, the troops must have been reduced a lot, right? In addition to fewer and fewer troops, the commanders and fighters may not have much ammunition in their hands, right

Hearing kirilov say this, Gaidar laughed a little awkwardly. At this time, Xia Ping, the political commissar of the 42nd tank brigade and now the political commissar of the fourth regiment, stood up and answered us solemnly: "division commander and political commissar, although our troops are greatly reduced, there is no problem in holding the position. As for the shortage of ammunition, we often organize soldiers to collect dead bodies of the enemy, which can barely maintain normal consumption. "

I raised my right hand and pressed it down, motioned to all the people who stood up to sit down, and then continued: "in addition to collecting the ammunition before you go to the position, I'll send someone to send you some of the second regiment's ammunition later."

After hearing this, Gaidar, who had just sat down, found that major Pugachev, the acting head of the second regiment, was not present, so he asked me curiously, "Comrade division, where has major Pugachev, the second head of the regiment gone? I don't think the enemy has ever attacked your highland. I'm going to discuss with Pugachev and ask him to replenish my strength. "

Gaidar was careless, but I was intentional. When he said that, he could not help worrying about Pugachev and his two or three hundred commanders and fighters. I didn't entangle with Gaidar on this issue, but directly changed the topic: "commander Gaidar, your fourth regiment has fought several battles with the enemy. What's the mood of the soldiers?"

Listening to my question, Gaidar jumped up again and replied loudly: "report to our division, our four regiments, from top to bottom, whether they are the chief political commissar or the ordinary soldiers below, are full of fighting enthusiasm. The soldiers all said that the German sixth group army was also in vain and looked fierce. However, they used two divisions to launch so many attacks on our positions, but they failed once and lost so many troops in vain. I think that if the enemy and us change their positions and let them defend our attack, it is estimated that ten mamayev posts will be attacked. "

Gaidar's words aroused the laughter of the commanders on the scene. Kirilov stood up again, lit Gaidar with his fingers, and said, "you Gaidar, you dare to say anything. According to me, if this place was not under the command of Mr. oshanina, but under another commander, maybe this position would have been occupied by the enemy. " At this point, the expression on his face suddenly became serious. "It's not easy for us to comment on the situation in other defensive areas, but in 107.5 highland, two kilometers west of our highland, I think everyone is familiar with it? In order to keep there, how many troops did the group army fill in? But now, although thousands of officers and soldiers have been sacrificed, the highland is still in the hands of the enemy. "

"Sir, political commissar, I want to know if you are anxious to bring all our regimental commanders here today. Besides honoring them, are there any other arrangements?" All of a sudden, chejerikov, who had been silent, asked.

"Well, comrade chejerikov." I supported the table and leaned forward slightly. "In order to ensure that our division can better defend the existing defense zone, I plan to readjust the deployment of troops."

As soon as I spoke, there was an uproar, and the commanders of several regiments began to whisper. I just looked at them coldly and didn't say anything to stop them.

Kirilov couldn't watch any more. He stood up, patted the table with his hands, and said aloud, "be quiet, please be quiet!" After all the people didn't speak, he said angrily, "look at yourself. You're either a commander or a major. You're all the military officers of the regiments. What's the noisy look like now?"

After that, he turned his eyes on me, as if to let me go on. I waved my hand, indicating that he would be the speaker next, and then I sat down in my seat. After I sat down, kirilov officially announced to you: "comrades, first of all, I want to announce one thing to you, the order of the supreme command at all levels. From today on, the former Stalingrad front army will be renamed the Don river front army, and the commander will be lieutenant general rokosovsky; The former southeast front army was renamed Stalingrad front army, and its commander was general yelimenko; The first group army of Jinwei was expanded into the southwest front army, and its commander was lieutenant general vadudin.

The 62nd army, the 64th, 57th and 51st army of our independent division are subordinate to Stalingrad's front army and are responsible for the defense of Stalingrad. The number of independent divisions has been greatly reduced, so we have to regroup and transfer the main force of the fifth regiment, which is relatively complete, from the existing base to take over the defense area of the second regiment. "

"Comrade commissar," commander Oleg stood up and asked kirilov, "may I ask, where are the troops of the second regiment?"

Kirilov sighed and said bitterly, "except that the second regiment has a full company in the southern highland and the Soviet street, the rest of the troops no longer exist."

They were startled by kirilov's words again, but this time, instead of whispering, they kept silent and turned their eyes on kirilov.

"After the recent fighting, the 42nd regiment of the friendly neighborhood guards has almost finished. With their current strength, they can't hold the Soviet street at all, so the division commander transferred a company from the 2nd regiment to support them." Kirilov continued feebly: "as the group army headquarters was attacked by the enemy during the day, the division commander worried that they were in danger, so he asked major Pugachev to keep a company on the high ground, and then took the rest of the troops to the city for reinforcement. After annihilating the enemy who besieged the headquarters, the higher authorities said that they wanted to recapture the primary schools occupied by the enemy and restore the artillery observation positions, so they asked major Pugachev to take his troops to carry out the offensive task. They were assisted by two tanks belonging to major perskin's tank battalion. Because the two commanders were directing their respective troops to fight tenaciously with the Germans, they didn't come to our meeting. "

After listening to kirilov's words, the expression on everyone's face became dignified. For them, we all know what it means to take part in such a tough battle in the city. Maybe they are praying silently for the comfort of their two colleagues fighting in the city.

Kirilov then announced a new adjustment plan: "after the main force of the fifth regiment entered the southern highland, the original number was cancelled and mixed with the troops left by the second regiment, and the number was changed to the second regiment. Oleg and verol still held the posts of commander and political commissar. The third and fourth regiments will maintain their existing defensive areas, and the first regiment will be transferred to the original position of the fifth regiment to accept the rest of their troops. " After all this, kirilov asked aloud, "do you hear me clearly?"

All the commanders stood up in unison and answered in a neat and loud voice, "I understand!"

Seeing that there was no objection from everyone, I also stood up from my seat and said slowly, "since everyone has made clear their tasks, now they will go in their own teams."

After all the commanders left one after another, kirilov looked at their back and said to me anxiously, "Comrade oshanina, although we have cancelled the formation of a regiment after this downsizing, the troops are still not enough. If the superior does not give us any more supplements, I am afraid we will not last long on the mamayev post."

I sighed and said to kirilov helplessly, "Comrade political commissar, don't mention us. Even the headquarters of the group army doesn't have any reserves. We can only rely on our own strength and try to stick to the mamayev post for a longer period of time. Maybe another month, things will turn for the better. "

When I said this, akhromeyev, standing next to me, suddenly brightened his eyes and asked me, "Comrade division, have you heard any inside information? Is the Supreme Command planning to launch a large-scale counterattack here?" When akhromeyev asked this question, even kirilov's interest was raised. He was staring at me, waiting for me to answer akhromeyev's question.

With a wry smile, I said to myself, "political commissar and chief of staff, don't forget that I'm just a small division commander. The secrets of these battles are not known to people of my level." After that, seeing the disappointed expression on their faces, I quickly comforted them and said, "but you can rest assured that the days of fighting back will not be too long. Stalingrad is a hot city in summer, with the highest temperature of 40 degrees above zero; It's very cold in winter, and the lowest temperature is 30 degrees below zero. I have always thought that Hitler was blind and had to fight our brave red army in this city. You know, whether in summer or winter, he won't win very much. What's more, the Soviet Red Army he met was not an ordinary person: the bad weather conditions created the character of stalingrads, who were strong and tough, violent and cruel. In addition, Stalingrad established an important military manufacturing industrial zone along the Volga River. In wartime, it played a huge and irreplaceable role in supporting the Soviet Army's combat equipment and weapons. "

What I said later finally gave them a little bit of confidence, and they returned to their normal looks. They went back to the table, surrounded by the map they had seen countless times, and began to discuss.

I was hesitating whether to call trekov and Petrov to ask about their fate when basmanov, who was on duty with soldiers outside, came in, followed by a short but stout commander in a cornice hat and a military coat.

I caught a glimpse of the two Venus on the collar of the visitor and rushed to meet them. Before basmanov finished, I raised my hand to the former major general and said politely, "Comrade General, commander of the independent division, Colonel oshanina, salute you. Welcome to the division headquarters of the independent division."

Seeing that I had been the first to salute, busmanov quickly turned aside. The major general raised his hand and saluted me. Just as he was about to speak, kirilov's voice rang out behind me: "aha, who's here! Dear comrade Stephan savileevich, it's a pleasure to meet you in my headquarters. "“ Hello, comrade director of the political department. " The major general obviously knew kirilov, and he put out his hand. When they shook hands, kirilov corrected him and said, "Dear Stephan savileevic, I am now the political commissar of the independent division, and I will not continue to be the director of the Political Department of the group army." After he released his hand, the general he introduced to me said, "Comrade oshanina, you don't know the commander, do you?" I quickly put a smile on my face, then shook my head and said, "sorry, comrade political commissar, I don't know this general. Do you know him Kirilov nodded and then introduced: "this is major general Stepan savileevic Guriev, the commander of the 37th division of the close guard." Then he turned around and asked the general, "guriyev, your troops have crossed the river?" Major general guriyev shook his head and said, "only half of them have come, and the rest are still gathering on the other side. My political commissar is assembling the troops crossing the river at the wharf, and he will come here in a moment“ What's the situation with the army? " Kirilov asked again“ Not so good, comrade kirilov. " General guriyev said bitterly: "at present, the regiments of the division have only added half of the personnel, and each company has only 40-50 personnel. During the period from September 18 to 20, our division participated in many battles in the northern part of Stalingrad in the sequence of the first group army of Jinwei, and suffered heavy casualties in the offensive against kuzmitch village. But the basic combat effectiveness of the army has not been destroyed. The main component of the division is airborne troops, and most of them are Communist Party members and members of the Communist Youth League. "“ Comrade guriyev, before you crossed the river, did your superiors tell you where you planned to deploy your 37th division? " Regarding kirilov's question, guriyev thought for a moment and replied, "according to the order of the group army command, our division assembled on the south side of mamayev post after completing the task of crossing the river. Then, before daybreak, they attacked the enemy occupied highland 107.5. Take the position and hold it firmly“ Comrade General. " When guriyev finished speaking, I asked politely, "is there anything we can do for you when your troops attack highland 107.5?" Guriyev looked at me, shook his head slowly and said, "thank you for your kindness, comrade colonel. According to the information obtained in advance, the German army has only one company on Highland 107.5, and two battalions are sent to attack the highland. There should be no problem in occupying the highland. "“ Dear Stephan savileevich, "kirilov said with a smile," you may not know that Colonel oshanina has organized troops to recover 107.5 highlands many times and caused great losses to the enemy. If you want to recover the Highlands, you can't do without our help. " Kirilov's words aroused guriyev's curiosity. He asked, "I don't know what kind of help your teacher can offer us?" Kirilov did not immediately answer his question, but patiently explained: "in the 107.5 highland, two kilometers west of mamayev hill, the terrain is gentle in the north and steep in the south. When you attack from the south slope, because the steep terrain will affect your attack speed, the High German army will cause you heavy casualties Guriyev frowned unconsciously when he heard this. He nodded and said, "yes, comrade kirilov, you are right. Our division does not have any heavy weapons at present. If we want to attack the Highlands, we will not be able to provide more firepower support for the infantry except for ten heavy machine guns. " At this point, he looked at kirilov again and asked anxiously, "tell me, can your Division provide artillery support for us?" Kirilov turned to look at me, then turned to look at Guriev, said with a smile: "don't worry, old man, we can provide you with strong enough firepower cover. Maybe when you attack the hillside, there will be no living enemies on it."