Chapter 885

As soon as wittkov and I got back to the army headquarters, my old partner, the new military political commissar, Colonel kirilov, came into the room. He came to me, raised his hand, saluted and said excitedly, "Hello, comrade oshanina! I'm very happy to be your partner again. "

From his facial expression and voice, I'm sure he is very emotional. His excitement also infected me. After I raised my hand in a hurry to return the salute, I took his hand and shook it hard. I said, "Hello, comrade political commissar, I'm glad that we are together again so soon, and it's at this time when the troops are about to leave for a new battlefield."

While we were talking, wittkov came to us, reached out to kirilov, and said in a friendly way, "Hello, Colonel kirilov, welcome. I didn't expect that we would have the chance to work in the same headquarters again. " Wittkov said this because kirilov used to be the director of the Political Department of the group army and was an old acquaintance with him.

After the greetings, kirilov, who has already played the role of military and political commissar, suggested to me: "Comrade o'shanina, our troops will start the day after tomorrow. Do you think we should call up the commanders at the division and regiment levels to hold a meeting to let them get ready to start first?"

"Comrade political commissar, your proposal is good. I'll do as you say." In fact, even if kirilov doesn't say anything, I plan to gather the commanders of divisions, brigades and regiments to hold a meeting to explain to them the enemy and ourselves situation in the new battlefield, so that they can have a clear idea.

As the troops were scattered, it took nearly an hour after receiving the call from Vitkov before all the division commanders, brigade commanders and commanders arrived.

After everyone arrived, as usual, vetkov spoke first. He first introduced kirilov, the new military and political commissar, to all the commanders. Then he explained to you why Bantai leiev told you the truth. Actually, I didn't know why the superior changed such a long and obnoxious name for my independent division. I heard vetkov explaining to the commanders, I also listened very carefully. After listening to this, I suddenly realized that this is the case. Fortunately, I only got two medals. If I got a few more medals, I might not be able to write down the serial number on a page.

After introducing the origin of the new name of bantaileiev division, wittkov went on to say the more important content: "with the collapse of the German army besieged in Stalingrad, our friendly forces took advantage of the victory and launched a great counterattack. At present, the "Don River group army group" of Manstein, who came to rescue Paulus some time ago, is losing ground under the strong attack of our southwest front army and Voronezh front army. In order to eliminate Manstein's forces as soon as possible and cut off the contact between the Caucasian German forces and the Ukrainian German forces, the base camp transferred our troops from the battle sequence of the 62nd group army and strengthened the southwest front army of general vatukin. "

The commanders of divisions and brigades in the room had heard what wittkov said at the headquarters of the group army a few hours ago, and those commanders had heard it for the first time. It is said that our army has won many victories on the battlefield. They all seem to be in high spirits. They are eager to lead their troops to the front line immediately.

After witkov finished introducing the situation, I stood up and said to the commanders sitting in front of me, "comrades, after receiving the additional soldiers and technical equipment from the front army, our army will officially move to Donetsk the day after tomorrow, February 7." Speaking of this, I stopped for a moment, glanced over the commanders present one by one, and saw that they were all sitting in a tight seat, staring at me. Then I asked briefly, "is there a problem?"

After I asked, the commanders remained silent. I knew in my heart that at such an important moment, the people who attended the meeting seemed to have nothing to say.

Just as I was about to announce the end of the meeting, a loud voice came out of the crowd: "Comrade commander, do you allow me to ask a question?"

Following the direction of the voice, I saw that it was Colonel berey, the commander of the tank brigade, who stood up. I was slightly stunned. Then I took my head and said kindly, "please go ahead, comrade colonel."

"Comrade commander, since our troops are going to leave on February 7, I would like to ask you," Colonel berey asked coldly in a business like tone, "I don't know when we should send forward fighters?"

"The front stop?" I was confused by the word that suddenly came out of Colonel berey's mouth. After repeating it, I asked in a misty way, "what's the front station operator? I don't understand you

"Comrade commander, please wait a moment." Witkov saw that the situation was not right, and quickly stood up to help me out: "it's up to me and Comrade berey to talk about this." Then he turned to berey and asked, "Comrade Colonel, are you going to send someone to explore our march route and set up supply points in suitable areas?"

Colonel berey's attention was immediately drawn by Vitkov, who nodded his head and said with certainty: "absolutely right, chief of staff. From here to Donetsk, the March is as long as 500 kilometers. In addition, it's also very cold in winter. If we don't set up supply points on the march route for supply and repair, at least two-thirds of the tanks will lie down due to faults when we get to Donetsk... "

I sat at the table and listened to the conversation between them. I was surprised to find that the establishment of the tank brigade was far from as simple as I thought. Besides the tank troops, there were a series of subsidiary units, such as armored battalion, armored maintenance company, motorized infantry battalion, motorized communication company, armored reconnaissance platoon, and Quartermaster company responsible for fuel and ammunition supply. If it's a short March, it's not a big problem whether there are supply points or not. But this time, we have to March 500 kilometers in one day to Donetsk. If we don't take corresponding measures, when the tank brigade arrives at the destination, it's estimated that most of the tanks will lose their combat effectiveness in a short time due to failure, as berey said.

After they finished speaking, I stood up again and said, "don't delay this matter, Colonel. After the meeting, you will immediately arrange for your staff to carry out this task. After the supply point is set up, ask the commander in charge to send back a map showing the driving route, stopping point and camping place. Remember, fuel, hot food and boiled water must be prepared at the new supply point

After Colonel berey sat down, wittkov announced the marching order of the troops to the commanders on the scene: "this time, the whole army will still be divided into three echelons. The first echelon consists of the 171st infantry division of Colonel andreushenko and the 84th tank brigade of Colonel berey; The second echelon is composed of the 22nd division of the close guard of major general bantaileiev and the army's direct troops; The third echelon is composed of the 308th infantry division of major general gurdyev and the 266th artillery regiment of lieutenant colonel kaverin. The departure time of the first echelon is 8 a.m. on February 7, the second echelon is 10 a.m. and the third echelon is 12 a.m.... "

Two days later, after a short rest and limited supplement, our Department officially moved to Donetsk.

Kirilov and I were riding in a jeep, sandwiched in a long convoy of covered trucks, slowly heading towards Donetsk in the face of a snowstorm.

I was looking at the snowflakes flying outside the window. Sitting in the co pilot's seat, vetkov turned to me and said anxiously, "Comrade commander, with such heavy snow, our marching speed does not exceed 30 km. We can't reach our destination before dark."

I heard him say so, sighed, helplessly said: "no way, the snow outside is too big. Fortunately, commander trakov sent us so many trucks. Otherwise, our commanders and fighters would have to walk to their destination in the snowstorm. In that case, we will arrive at Donetsk later. "

After driving in the heavy snow for more than an hour, on both sides of the road, you can see the bodies of German officers and soldiers, charred tanks, deformed cannons, and the wreckage of the crashed plane, showing a black outline from the thick snow.

Seeing this situation, kirilov could not help saying with emotion: "o'shanina, look outside. If only the enemy's blood were all flowing here and the enemy's technical equipment were all destroyed, how wonderful it would be! Unfortunately, tens of thousands of our commanders and fighters have also fallen on our own land. They have sacrificed their precious lives in order to recapture this land from the enemy. Under the cover of the snow, there are also the wrecks of our planes, the destroyed tanks and the cannons that we have turned into scrap iron. "

After he finished, I immediately said, "yes, comrade political commissar. In order to defend our great motherland, our army and people have paid a huge price. But as long as we can drive the aggressors away from our country, it will be worthwhile to pay even a heavy price. "

"Comrade commander," wittkov, who was sitting in the front row, suddenly called out, "there's a three wheeled motorcycle coming up behind. Maybe there's some order from the superior." Then he patted the driver on the shoulder and motioned him to park on the side of the road and wait for the motorcycle to catch up.

Our car had just stopped on the side of the road, and the motorcycle slowed down and stopped by our car. A commander in a cornice hat jumped from the sidecar. He quickly came to our window, raised his hand to salute, took out an electric newspaper from his briefcase and handed it in through the window.

I think kirilov took the telegram and asked casually, "Comrade political commissar, what new instructions does the superior have?"

"Comrade oshanina, the telegram was sent by general vatukin, commander of the southwest front army." kirilov ', The troops started on the spot to build a defense line and eliminate the nearby German forces. "

"Chief of staff, bring me the map." Donetsk is a big city. I didn't know its location until I was on the map of rokosovsky two days ago. I haven't heard of the two cities that vatukin ordered us to enter.

When the map was spread out among the three of us, vetkov quickly found the two places on the map, pointed to me and said, "Comrade commander, these two cities are in the southwest of Donetsk. Dokuchaev is about 100 kilometers away from Donetsk, while vornowaha is even further away, and has to go south for 70 or 80 kilometers. "

After seeing the location of the two cities clearly, I had plans in my mind. He said to wittkov, "chief of staff, record my orders. The first echelon was ordered to turn south to the city of warnowaha after reaching the gukovo area; The destination of the second and third echelons was adjusted to dokuchaev. "

After witkov finished writing the order, he tore the page off the notebook, then pushed the door open and jumped out. From the front of the car around to the parking position, the hand of the paper to the telegraph commander, and told each other a few words. After folding the paper, the commander carefully put it into his briefcase, raised his hand and saluted wittkov. Then he turned into the sidecar of the motorcycle and drove in the direction of the coming. After the jeep was restarted, kirilov frowned and said to me solemnly, "Comrade oshanina, it's terrible. The first echelon will be stationed in the city of volnovaha, which is more than 150 kilometers away from Donetsk. According to the current marching speed, they will arrive at least tomorrow morning. If the German army launches a counterattack against the city at this time, the consequences will be unimaginable. " As for kirilov's worries, I laughed, patted him on the shoulder and said with ease, "don't worry, my political commissar. The wind and snow outside are so heavy that the German who lacks enough winter equipment will not fight in such bad weather. "