Burning Moscow

The old Maozi is dull and procrastinated. If you don’t set a deadline for Volkhov’s battle preparations, you will have to wait for them to slowly replenish their troops and weapons before launching the Battle of Signavino Bulge. , I guess at least it will be a few months or even six months later.

Although in the front headquarters on the first day, whether it was Major General Starikov, commander of the 8th Army, or General Djegdaryev, commander of the artillery of the Front Army, they were all trying to bring the troops into the short-term. Assembled in place and complained endlessly. When it was learned that Stalin had issued a death order, it was stipulated that the Battle of Signavino Bulge must be launched on July 17. If someone's delay affects the launch of the battle on time, then no matter how high or low the rank is, they will all be sent. After being handed over to the military court, it immediately showed unprecedented high efficiency. In just one day, more than a dozen infantry divisions, tank brigades, and artillery regiments participating in the battle all entered their designated positions at 11 o'clock in the evening on the 16th.

I always thought that General Gargan’s 4th Guards would serve as the first echelon of the offensive in the campaign. After the preparations for artillery fire were over, they would first attack the German positions. But after consulting the plan of this campaign, I unexpectedly found that I had made a mistake: It turned out that it was not the 4th Guards Corps who was in charge of the first echelon of the attack, but General Starikov personally commanded the 6th Guards. military. As the third echelon, General Gagan’s troops have the ability to expand their battles, enhance their assaults, complete the entire breakthrough and achieve the task of joining forces with the Leningrad Front.

At the same time, I also found from the plan reported by the Artillery Command that it turned out that Jegdyalev was also an incompetent commander. He actually made a mistake about the number of artillery units under his jurisdiction and the types of artillery. The number of artillery regiments owned by the front artillery unit was not 24. It was 12 artillery regiments and 9 mortar regiments. 4 independent mortar battalions. 3 m-13 Katyusha artillery battalions and 7 m-30 Katyusha artillery battalions. Although the artillery commander is incompetent, the staff under his staff are unambiguous. From the plan, the artillery positions are arranged in an orderly manner, and the artillery density per kilometer has reached the 180 artillery pieces I suggested. .

While I was looking at the battle plan, I suddenly heard someone calling me. Looking up, Meletskov was standing in front of him. It turned out that he was calling me. I quickly got up and saluted him: "Hello, Comrade Commander, I was looking at the campaign plan just now. I didn't notice your arrival. Please forgive me!"

Meretskov raised his hand and pressed it down, and said politely: "Lida, don't be so dismissive, sit down and talk."

Although I verbally agreed. But he stood still and didn't move. I understand in my heart, although the leader told me to sit down. But he didn't sit down before, and as a subordinate, I couldn't sit first.

I waited for Meretskov to sit down before I took my seat again. I knew that he suddenly came to say hello, there must be something to say to me, so I straightened my waist, looked at him with my eyes, and waited for his inquiry.

My guess was right. He first looked at the information in front of me, nodded, and raised his head to ask me: "Lida, I think you are looking at this campaign plan here, and you have watched it for two hours. I want to know, do you have any different views on this plan?"

I picked up the plan and turned it over, pulled out one of the pages, and pushed it in front of Meletkov, and said politely: "Comrade Commander, after the launch of the campaign, the Leningrad Front’s participation in the Leningrad Front is a bit different. the opinion of."

Meletskov picked up the page, scanned it with his eyes, put it on the table again, and asked curiously: "What's the different view? Let's listen to it."

"Comrade Commander, please look here!" I stood up, leaned forward slightly, picked up the pencil on the table, lit a few lines and said: "After the battle started, the Neva cluster of the Leningrad Front, Heavy artillery and aviation will cooperate with the offensive launched by the Volkhov Front."

Meletskov fixed his eyes on the documents on the table, nodded, and said: "I also mentioned this point yesterday. Comrade Stalin was worried that crossing the Neva River would be a difficult task, so Leningrad was cancelled. The plan for the front army to cross the river was only to allow them to use long-range heavy artillery, the Baltic Fleet’s naval guns, and aviation to support our offensive. We knew that our front army’s offensive troops were approaching the Neva River before crossing the river to respond.” At this point, he carried. He started, raised his eyebrows, and said in a little surprise: "Could it be that your different opinions refer to this matter."

I nodded and said affirmatively: "Comrade Commander, I personally feel that if the Leningrad Front is clustered with the 55th Army and the Battle of Neva, after the offensive of our front is launched, the attack will be launched at the same time. It is much larger. But if they do not cross the river to cooperate with the battle, it means that our front army has to independently break through the entire German defense zone. It is by no means an easy task to break through an area with a depth of 16 kilometers. You see, can you call Comrade Stalin to ask for instructions and ask the Leningrad Front to modify the combat plan and send troops to cross the river to cooperate with the offensive of our Front?"

After listening to what I said, Meletzkov waved his hand and denied my proposal almost without thinking: "No, this campaign deployment was formulated by the Supreme Command. Comrade Stalin's orders are not allowed to be discussed and can only be implemented unconditionally." After speaking, he got up and left.

Looking at his back, I couldn't help but remember that I overheard the conversation between two staff officers when I was eating in the restaurant last night. They said that Meretskov served as the chief of the general staff and was later arrested and examined by the Ministry of the Interior for various reasons. Almost all the people arrested with him were executed or exiled, and he was the only one who returned to the army unharmed. Perhaps it was this unspeakable experience that filled his heart with fear of Stalin, so when executing any order of Stalin, no matter how unreasonable it seemed, he would execute it unconditionally. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but sighed softly, saying that this upcoming battle seems to be horrible.

The time of the offensive campaign was finally set at two o'clock in the morning on the 17th. First, artillery units of the front army carried out fierce shelling on the enemy's defensive positions. After the shelling was over, the infantry launched a charge again.

The attack time was communicated by me to the commanders of each echelon one by one by telephone. After General Starikov listened to the time of the attack I announced. Suddenly asked: "Major Oshanina. I want to ask. Do I need to send engineers in advance to sneak into the enemy's minefields to clear mines?".

Engineer demining? ! Didn’t it say at yesterday’s meeting that tank troops should be used to clear mines? Why did you suddenly mention the dispatch of engineers to clear mines?

Meretskov, who gave orders in the command post, saw me holding the microphone in a daze. He hurried over and asked with concern: "Lida, what's the matter? Who are you talking to?"

I covered the microphone and reported in a low voice: "Comrade Commander, General Starikov of the Eighth Army. He asked if he would send engineers to sneak into the enemy’s position to clear mines and clear a way for the offensive troops. ."

"Isn't it easy to use tanks for mine clearance? This Starikov is really a fool. Give me the phone." After speaking, he answered the phone and raised his voice and said, "Is it Starikov? I'm Mere. Tskov. I said, what’s the matter with you, don’t you know that with the current density of artillery, after the fierce shelling of the enemy, almost all the mines in the minefield can be reimbursed? Even if there are some left, ours After the tanks are driven over, they can all be removed. Okay, you don’t need to say. Just follow what was said at the meeting that day, when the shelling lasted one and a half hours, that is, at 3:30 in the morning, let the two of your army The tank brigade attacked quickly. As soon as the artillery stopped, it immediately rushed to the station occupied by the Germans, to quickly take it down, and annihilate all the defenders. At the same time, let the troops occupying the station quickly repair the fortifications. Become our starting position for attacking the Signavino Heights."

Putting down the phone, Meletskov saw that the commanders involved in the command of the campaign were walking into the headquarters one after another. They didn't even bother to talk to me, and walked toward them. Then a large group of generals gathered around the wooden table and began to study the map.

When the hour hand was about to point to two o’clock, Colonel Semenov, the Chief of Operations Division, picked up a telephone by the wall, and after dialing, he held the microphone and said to the artillery commander Djegdaryov: "Comrade General, the artillery unit’s telephone It's already connected."

Djegetyalev, who was sitting originally, glanced at Meretskov, and when he saw the latter smiling and nodding at him, he helped the table to stand up, walked quickly to Semenov’s side, and took it. microphone. He put the microphone to his ear and said calmly, "I am General Djegdaryev, commander of the artillery of the front army." At this point, he stopped and looked up at the watch on his wrist. When time just pointed to two o'clock, he suddenly raised his voice and shouted loudly: "All artillery, fire!"

About ten seconds later, the rumble of cannons came from outside.

Hearing the rumble of cannons outside, Meletskov became calm. He greeted the generals in the house: "The shelling will continue for two hours. Let's sit down and rest first. Wait for Starikov. After the general’s infantry strikes, we will study the next step of deployment."

Waiting is very boring. The atmosphere in the command post is extremely dull. A large group of generals are sitting around the table, some are immersed in the map, some are leaning back on the back of the chair, looking at the big log on the roof in a daze. Did not speak.

Time is waiting, passing by every minute. When a telephone set against the wall rang suddenly, everyone's attention was drawn. I was the nearest to the phone, so I hurried over to pick up the microphone and said politely: "This is the headquarters of the front army, please tell me something!

"Is it Major Oshanina?" General Starikov's voice came through the microphone.

"Yes, I am Oshanina." After I revealed my identity to the general, I asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander of the Group Army, do you have any information to report to Comrade General?"

"Yes, Comrade Major. Please hand over the microphone to Comrade General. I have good news to tell him." Starikov's voice was filled with uncontrollable joy.

I covered the microphone and looked up at Meretskov. I was surprised to find that everyone was staring at me. I was a little embarrassed to be seen, so I had to cough and let my emotions stabilize a little before reporting: "Comrade General, it is a call from General Starikov. He said he wants to report good news to you in person."

When I heard the good news, the generals who had been waiting impatiently rushed over and surrounded me. The small Meretskov struggling to push a few generals blocking his front, walked to my side, took the microphone, and then said nervously into the microphone: "Starikov? I am General Meretskov."

When Meretskov and Starikov were on the phone, everyone stared at him intently, wanting to know the good news that Starikov said for the first time?

I was standing next to Meletskov, and I heard the conversation between him and Starikov very clearly. As soon as he heard that it was Meretskov who answered the call, Starikov on the microphone side immediately said excitedly: "Report to Comrade Commander, I will report a good news to you. Five minutes ago, my guard The 19th Infantry Division, under the cover of the tank brigade, seized the station from the Germans. The troops are currently purging the remnant enemy.

"What? I didn't hear clearly, please say it again." After listening to Starikov's report, Meretskov couldn't believe it, so he asked again.

"Comrade General, the 19th Guards Infantry Division of our group army has seized the station and is clearing away the remnant enemy."

"Awesome! General Starikov." This is really good news, so much so that Meretskov was also excited, and he said loudly into the microphone: "I congratulate you, Stariko General husband. Congratulations!"

I was not the only one with pointed ears. Seeing Meletskov put down the phone, Chief of Staff Stelimach took a step forward and asked in disbelief, "Comrade Commander, are all real? Have General Rikov’s troops already captured the station occupied by the Germans?".

Meletskov turned to look at him, nodded vigorously, and said softly: "Yes, the 19th Infantry Division of the Guards has captured the station, and the troops are clearing away the remnants."

"Ula!" I don't know who took the lead in yelling. This slogan made people excited, so everyone in the room shouted in unison: "Ula! Ula!!! Ula!!!"

After everyone shouted a few slogans, I looked down at my watch. It was only two minutes before four o’clock. According to the plan, this time should still be shelling time. How come General Starikov’s 6th Guards Corps will meet? How about launching an offense in advance? However, seeing everyone in the mood, I am not too cold to pour cold water, so I have to hide this speculation in my heart. When there is a chance to meet General Starikov, I will ask him about this matter again.

However, someone soon discovered the problem I was thinking of. The artillery commander Admiral Djegdaryev walked up to Meletkov, lit his wrist watch and said, "Comrade General, how do you respond? The matter? According to the plan, the artillery will prepare for the gunfire for up to two hours, but you can see that it has only been two hours, and Starikov and his troops have already occupied the station area."

Hearing what Jegedyalev said~www.wuxiaspot.com~ everyone discovered this problem one after another, so they started talking about it. Seeing the chaos in the room, Meretskov slammed the table and said loudly: "Comrades, please keep quiet." After everyone was quiet, he went on to say: "I'll give it to Si. Tarikov went to the phone and asked what was going on?" After speaking, he walked to the phone again, picked up the handset and started dialing.

After receiving a call from Meletskov, Starikov was also taken aback. It took him a long time to replied: "Comrade Commander, my troops attacked across the board only after the shelling ended. Because the tanks and infantry moved ahead of schedule. Before reaching the German position, as soon as the shelling stopped, the troops launched an offensive. The Germans, who were disoriented by our artillery fire, had not recovered, and the position was already occupied by us."

Meletskov put down the phone, turned around and told Djegdyyalev about the matter. The admiral also felt that something was wrong, so he quickly called his artillery headquarters to ask his subordinates what was going on. The result was quickly reported back. It turned out that the campaign was launched too hastily, and many artillery regiments had insufficient ammunition reserves, so that the shelling lasted just over an hour and a half, and the shelling had to be stopped because the shells were all lit up. (To be continued...)

ps: Bow to thank book friends Bright Knight 2011, Marshal Linlin, and Xiaoliang Chopper for their precious monthly tickets.