Chapter 1147

When I called vatukin, he poured a basin of cold water on me. He said angrily on the phone, "Comrade oshanina, do you know that our air force uses field airports, which are all dirt runways. Recently, with frequent take-off and landing, almost all runways have problems. Every time our pilots take off, they risk their lives. How can we go out at such a time? If something goes wrong, who can shoulder the responsibility? "

Although I heard what he said, I was still unwilling to ask, "but the enemy's armored forces are rushing towards oboyan. With the strength of the mechanized Third Army and the tenth tank army, it is very difficult to completely block these enemies."

"Comrade oshanina," watujing suddenly raised his voice and said, "if I remember correctly, you are only the commander of the sixth group army of the guards, the mechanized third army is the first tank group army of the guards under katukov, and the tenth tank army is only going to reinforce you, not to be assigned to your command. Instead of worrying about other people's defense, it's better to think about how to make your defense more stable, so that the Germans can't move forward. "

Vatukin's criticism made me blush. When I think about it, what he said is also reasonable. Although katukov and I are good friends, our behavior is a little over authority.

After this scolding, I didn't intend to ask about the first tank group army of the guards. Unexpectedly, katukov called. He said hastily on the phone, "Rita, I'm in a terrible situation here. Can you help me a little bit?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade General." I almost agreed to katukov's request on impulse. But on second thought, apart from sending out the air force to bomb the German armored forces, what I can do for him is really very little, so I can only say with regret, "I'm surprised at the situation here, and I can't help you for the time being."

"My tank troops are in the rest of the area, and they are entangled by German troops. They can't get to oboyan in a short time." Katukov ignored me and said to himself, "several positions of the mechanized Third Army have been broken through one after another by the German army. If they continue to develop in this way, they will be able to rush to the city of oboyan before dark."

"But, comrade general, I'm really..." I can't think of a direction from which I can draw a strong enough force to support katukov in the direction of oboyan. I can only say with a cruel heart, "I really can't take the strength that can compete with the German armored forces to support you."

"Yes, Rita. You have the power. " Katukov was deeply afraid that I would interrupt the communication with him. He said in a hurry: "you can transfer general Kravchenko's tank troops. Even if only one tank brigade is deployed, the new tanks they are equipped with will be enough to cope with the assault of German armored forces. Rita, I beg you to send troops to support us. As long as I can support it until noon tomorrow, my tank army can get rid of the German entanglement and rush to the oboyan area to drive away the German armored forces. "

Katukov's request softened my heart again. I thought for a moment, then said decisively, "well, general katukov, I'll call general Kravchenko and ask him to send a tank brigade to oboyan to reinforce you."

"Great, that's great." On hearing that I had agreed to his request, katukov happily repeated his thanks to me over the phone: "thank you, thank you, dear Rita."

"Comrade General, where are you now?" In my impression, I only know that katukov has been commanding his troops during the war in Kursk, but I never know where his headquarters is. Now I just take this opportunity to ask, "is the place safe?"

"I'm in a church in the south of oboyan," katukov said calmly. "From here, we can see the defensive positions of the mechanized Third Army outside the city."

"Well, I see." I put down the phone before he finished. Then he said to several group commanders around the table, "comrades, the situation in the oboyan area is very difficult now. The German armored forces have rushed forward regardless of everything. They have broken through several lines of defense of friendly forces and are approaching oboyan."

After listening to me, the faces of several people present became serious. After a while, bzikov asked, "Comrade commander, what can we do for them now? You know, unless the front army sends out air force to assist in the battle, it is very difficult to repel the assault of German armored forces. "

"I have promised general katukov to send a tank brigade to support them." For example, the mobilization of troops is within the scope of bezikov's authority, so I ordered him: "Comrade chief of staff, you will call general Kravchenko later and ask him to send the tank brigade nearest to oboyan to reinforce the friendly forces and strike hard at the German flanks."

After arranging everything, I announced to several people again: "comrades commander, I am not at ease with the current war situation, so I plan to go to oboyan to have a look in person. During my absence, the deputy commander will command the troops instead of me. "

"What, are you going to the front again?" Kirilov heard me say this, slapped the table and said in a loud voice, "no, absolutely not. We just passed a plan not long ago. No commander of the group army present is allowed to go to the front to avoid accidents. So on behalf of you, I declare that we do not agree with you to go to oboyan. "

As soon as kirilov's words were finished, Danilov, bezikov and even akhromeyev echoed: "yes, comrade commander, it's too dangerous outside. You'd better stay in the headquarters to command the troops."

"No matter what you say, I have to go to oboyan myself." In order to block everyone's lips, I also played the commanding officer's special prestige: "you should not forget that I am the commander of the group army. All the affairs in the group army has the final say of me, and no one has the right to oppose it."

As soon as I said this, all the people closed their mouths. Seeing everyone's reaction, I felt a little guilty again. I slowed down and said, "don't worry. I'm going to oboyan because I'm afraid general Kravchenko won't easily transfer to his tank brigade to reinforce oboyan. I think he will not hesitate to carry out the reinforcement order given by the chief of staff when he hears that I went to oboyan myself. "

When I saw kirilov open his mouth and seemed to have something else to say, I nodded to him and comforted him with a smile: "Comrade military commissar, I know you are thinking about my safety. But please rest assured that the place I went to is still under the control of our army. I believe that with the strength of the mechanized Third Army, we can still keep the German far away from oboyan. "

Seeing what I said, kirilov had no choice but to insist. But when I left the headquarters, he still seized my hand and repeatedly told me: "remember, Rita, you are the commander of the group army. Your safety is not only your own business, but also the fate of our whole group army. If there is any danger, I ask you to try to avoid it. We all hope you will come back safely. "

When I came to oboyan, under the guidance of the soldiers, I came to the church where katukov headquarters is located. A commander who knew me ran to me immediately after he saw me get out of the car and said, "Hello, general oshanina, welcome to our mechanized Third Army. May I help you

Because of the lack of time, I didn't beat around the bush with him and asked, "where's your commander?"

The commander turned and pointed to the church behind him and said, "Comrade General, the commander is in the bell tower above."

I entered the church, followed the narrow revolving stairs to the bell tower, and saw katukov, who was watching the enemy here. Beside him, there were several staff officers.

But when they heard that someone had gone up to the clock tower, they all turned their heads. But when they found out it was me, they raised their hands to salute me. And katukov rushed over, grabbed my arm and said nervously, "hell, it's Rita. Don't you know that it's dangerous here, but you have to come here at this time. If something happens, how can I explain to your colleagues? "

"All right, Comrade General." I waved to him and said, "it's not the first time I've been on the battlefield. This danger is nothing to me. Besides, aren't you here? "

"Is that comparable?" Katukov said with a straight face: "this is my defense area. It's normal for me to be a commander here. And you are the commander of the sixth group army. Your position is not here, but in your headquarters. " With that, he turned to a nearby staff officer and said, "Lieutenant, I'll give you a task to escort general o'shanina back to her headquarters immediately."

After a loud promise, the staff officer took a step forward, made a gesture and politely said to me, "Comrade General, please, I will escort you back to your headquarters safely."

"No," I waved to the second lieutenant and said firmly, "I'll stay here with your commander and see how our troops beat the German armored forces."

I saw that katukov still wanted to persuade me. He rushed in front of him and said, "I have given general Kravchenko an order to send a tank brigade to support you. If I'm not here, I'm afraid he'll be perfunctory when he carries out his orders. "

After hearing what I said, katukov knew that I would definitely not leave, so he waved to the staff officer who came out, sighed and said to me, "in that case, you can stay. But, Rita, I have to go ahead. Please obey my orders and don't run around. Otherwise, I will send someone to force you back to your headquarters. "

Seeing katukov nagging like an old lady, I waved my hand and said impatiently, "well, well, comrade general, I know all about it. From now on, no matter where you go, I will follow you. I will never leave your ten steps. Is that right? "

For my helpless attitude, katukov could not laugh or cry. Finally, he nodded in silence.

Katukov and I stood side by side on the clock tower, looking at the distant position with a telescope. I saw that the highland there was being shelled by the German army. Even the tanks, which were the size of beetles in the distance and were moving forward, stopped for a short time from time to time and fired two guns at our position, giving people the illusion that the whole position was not shelled.

When katukov saw this, he put down his telescope, grabbed the phone beside him, and said in a loud voice, "get me general krivoschein. This is katukov." After a while, the voice of mechanized army commander krivoschein came from the microphone“ I'm katukov, "katukov repeated." I see that our position is being shelled by the enemy. I want to know if your artillery has the strength to suppress the gunfire of the bandits? " I leaned my ear curiously to hear general klivaschein's report: "Comrade commander, although we are a mechanized army, we can use very few guns. It is very difficult to suppress the enemy's artillery and intercept tanks at the same time. "“ What's the matter, Comrade General. Do you think you can destroy German artillery and tanks at the same time with your guns Katukov sternly ordered: "you gather the artillery fire and bombard the German artillery positions. As long as we get rid of their heavy artillery, we can get rid of these tanks without artillery and infantry cover With that, he put down the phone. I thought silently in my heart that as long as the German artillery is destroyed by us, not only the troops suppressed by the artillery on the position can come out of the hidden tunnels and attack the German army with all kinds of anti tank weapons in the trenches. At the same time, our artillery can also turn the muzzle to block the German tanks. When the reinforced tank brigade arrives, our troops will be able to turn from the present defense to the attack“ What are you thinking, Rita? " While I was thinking, I heard katukov's voice and turned to look at him. He added: "because of the lack of air force support, we can only use limited artillery to deal with the German artillery tank cooperative operation mode."“ Comrade general, the Supreme Commander himself once said: "artillery is the God of war.". I believe that your existing artillery forces will be able to smash the German plot to seize oboyan. "