Burning Moscow

"Who are you? Comrade Commander." Cui Kefu asked with an indifferent expression.

I habitually looked at the other's collar and found that it was actually a battalion-level political commissar. It seemed that he was either the political commissar of the division or the director of the political department. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but cast my gaze on Lyudnikov standing aside.

When Lyudnikov saw Trikov ask about him, he just wanted to come forward to give an introduction. The commander had already straightened his body and saluted Cuikov. He replied loudly: "Reporting to the deputy commander, I am the battalion-level political commissar. Tove, now serves as the political commissar of the 138th Division."

Cui Kefu circled him with his back hand, and suddenly asked: "Since you are the political commissar in the division, you don't stay in the command center and fight with Colonel Lyudnikov, where did you go?"

Titov replied loudly: "Report to Comrade Deputy Commander, I was ordered to lead the troops to carry out counter-assaults against the enemy."

"Since you are leading the troops to carry out the counter assault, why did you leave the troops and run back alone?" Cui Kefu obviously used a questioning tone.

Titov’s body was still straight, and he replied neither humble nor arrogant: "Comrade Commander, on the battlefield, the tanks of the enemy and ours have been lost, and our infantry, like the enemy’s infantry, are exhausted and unable to initiate. Attack. The reason I came back to the division headquarters was because I thought that there were still two company reserves in the division. If they were put into battle, this stalemate situation on the battlefield could be reversed in one fell swoop."

Cui Koff's tight face eased, and he asked kindly: "Political Commissar Titov, it's actually like arranging the reserve team. You just need to make a phone call. You don't need to run back to the headquarters yourself."

"Comrade Commander. Allow me to explain to you." Titov called Trikov the deputy commander, and Lyudnikov still habitually called him the commander. After seeing Trikov nodding his permission, Lyudnikov went on to report: "Our division currently has no other communication equipment except for a radio station and a few telephones. In many cases, it is necessary to convey orders to lower levels. Can let the signal soldier carry the order to inform the troops." At this point, he lowered the volume and said in a low voice, "Comrade Commander. Can you add some communication equipment to our division?"

Cui Kefu smiled bitterly and shook his head, and said, "I not only want to replenish communications equipment for your division, but I also want to replenish weapons and ammunition for you, and even send you a reserve team. However, I can't do it. The current logistics of the group army. A considerable part of the supply is still on the military train bound for Stalingrad in Tula, and it is still unknown whether it can be transported smoothly."

After Cui Kefu finished speaking, there was a brief calm in the headquarters.

Seeing that several people were speechless, I hurriedly stepped forward and said to Cui Kefu, "Comrade Commander. Let's go and take a look outside. Maybe our troops have driven the enemy back."

"Yes. Yes, yes, Comrade Commander, let's go out and have a look together." Lyudnikov saw me relieved him, gave me a grateful look, and agreed.

"Let's go. Let's stop by and see, which troop came just from the military train."

When we walked out of the division headquarters, came to a nearby hillside and observed the battlefield with a telescope, we found that the battle was over. The enemy's tank troops have been wiped out, and dozens of tanks turned into scrap iron are blowing black smoke in the grassland. As for the infantry, few escaped, most of them were either killed or captured by our army. At this moment, our commanders and fighters are cleaning the battlefield, some are collecting weapons and ammunition from the enemy, and some are treating the wounded of our army.

I looked at the battlefield for a while, and then turned the telescope to the position of the artillery position. There was smoke and gunpowder. There were only four or five intact cannons on the position, and there were not many people moving around. This shows how heavy the casualties of the artillery regiment were in the air strike just now.

At this moment, Titov suddenly pointed to the distance and shouted: "Comrade Deputy Commander, look at it, someone is coming, maybe it is the commander of that unit."

I looked in the direction of his finger and saw a group of soldiers walking towards us. The first few people were wearing big-brimmed hats, and they knew they were commanders at a glance, followed by a group of soldiers wearing steel helmets. Without saying anything, Cui Kefu put the binoculars away and walked down the hillside in his hand, and greeted the soldiers.

As the group of soldiers approached, I could see that the one walking in the front was a major general. To his left is a colonel, and to his right is a political worker. Behind them are all guards.

They stopped in front of Cui Kefu, and the three commanders all raised their hands to salute Cui Kefu. After Cui Kefu gave a gift, he asked politely: "I am Cui Kefu, deputy commander of the 64th Army, Comrade General, which part of you are you?"

The major general straightened his body, his hands drooping naturally, his fingers pressed against the seams of his trousers, he stepped forward and replied: "General Cuikov, we are from the 98th Infantry Division. I am the commander Major General Glazkov." Then he moved to the side. Leaning sideways, pointing to the two commanders behind him and introducing him, "This is Colonel Sergey, Chief of Staff, and Political Commissar Tartin."

After Cui Kefu shook hands with the three of them in turn, he introduced a few of us. He first introduced Lyudnikov: "This is Colonel Lyudnikov, the commander of the 138th Infantry Division, and next to him is his political commissar, Comrade Titov." But when he introduced me, he paused. After a while, it seemed that he was considering what identity to give me. After a while, he said slowly: "This Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina is temporarily serving as the Chief of Staff of the Group Army."

Glazkov and Lyudnikov shook hands before they came to me and said friendlyly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I didn't expect you to be so young and you held such an important position in the headquarters of the group army."

I didn't know how to reply to him, so I smiled slightly at him.

After everyone knew each other, we returned to the headquarters of Lyudnikov's division. Cui Kefu asked curiously: "General Gorazkov, why did your division suddenly appear in the 74th concession place? Is there any combat mission?"

Gorazkov nodded and replied: "Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander. Our division received an order from a superior. The whole division took the military train. rushed to the Don River. Assisting the 112th Infantry Division of the 62nd Army, Attack the German troops that are building fortifications on the left bank of the Don, destroy them all or drive them across the Don...."

"Wait a minute, Comrade General." Cui Kefu interrupted him, and said dissatisfied: "What did you just say, the 112th Division of the 62nd Army? You know this division, but it belongs to the battle sequence of our 64th Army."

Gorazkov took off his hat and raised his hand to touch the back of his bare head. Some embarrassment said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, this is what the order I received said. My division originally belonged to the 64th Army, but when the troops boarded the vehicle, they received an order saying that we had already been assigned. The 62nd Army."

After Cui Kefu heard this, his face changed drastically, and he walked around the house silently with his hands behind his back. After walking for a while, he stopped, turned his head and asked Lyudnikov: "Comrade Colonel, can your division's radio station contact the group army command?"

"Yes. Comrade Commander." Lyudnikov immediately gave an affirmative answer.

After Cuikov contacted Shumilov, he hurriedly asked: "Comrade Commander. I want to ask, why is the 112th Division placed under the 62nd Army?"

Shumilov quickly comforted him and said, "Comrade Cui Koff, don’t worry, listen to me and tell you slowly. After you left, we received a call from the front army headquarters, saying that for the convenience of command, the headquarters decided that the original will belong to The 112th and 229th Infantry Divisions of our Army Group and some other units are assigned to the 62nd Army. At the same time, some newly formed units are assigned to our 64th Army."

"I just met with Major General Gorazkov, the commander of the 98th Division, and learned from his mouth that they were going to the Don River and coordinated operations with the 112th Division. The two divisions attacked from side to side. The enemies occupying the left bank of the Don River are to be wiped out. Is this the case?"

"Yes, Comrade Cuikov." Shumilov replied very patiently: "This is a death order from the front army command, and it must be completed today. However, since it is the combat mission of the 62nd Army, you don't have to worry about it. , After all, you are still the deputy commander of the 64th Army, not the commander of the 62nd Army."

"No, General Shumilov." Cuikov said firmly. "How can two unfamiliar units conduct coordinated operations in an unfamiliar area? I must go to the Don River and coordinate and command them to fight. To ensure that the orders assigned by the front army headquarters can be fulfilled."

Shumilov was silent for a moment, and then agreed to Trikov’s proposal. He also specifically instructed: "Comrade Cuikov, you'd better contact Colonel Sologub of the 112th Division immediately to discuss the timing of the attack on both sides. Ensure favorable cooperation and combat with each other."

"Understood, General Shumilov, please rest assured, I will contact Sologub now."

"In this case, I wish you good luck! General Cui Kefu, take care!"

The communication with Shumilov was interrupted, and Trikov gave the call code of the 112th division to the correspondent so that he could contact the division’s division.

Soon Sologubu's deep voice came from the microphone: "Hey, I'm the commander, Colonel Sologub, where are you?"

Cui Kefu said loudly, "Hello, comrade Colonel, this is Cui Kefu."

"Comrade General, do you have any instructions?" Solokub asked politely.

"Comrade Colonel, where are your troops?"

"On the right bank of the Don, Comrade General."

"What?" After hearing this, Cui Kefu was shocked and asked quickly: "If you want to execute the order to attack the Germans on the left bank, don't you want to cross the Don River?"

"Exactly, Comrade General."

"Are there enough ships?" Cui Kefu asked with concern.

"We didn't collect many ships. Because they were all small boats, they could only transport infantry. The remaining heavy artillery and trucks could only be thrown on the right bank."

"When are you going to attack?"

"About an hour later. During the offensive, my artillery chief, Colonel Godlevsky, will provide us with the necessary artillery support for the offensive."

"Listen, Colonel Solokub." Cuikov said impatiently. "I will take the 98th Division that cooperates with you to the Don River as soon as possible, and fight against the German troops on the left bank of the Don River with you. I beg you. The preparation time for artillery fire is longer. Try to use artillery fire to destroy the enemy's resistance. Reduce the casualties of troops crossing the river. Understand?"

"Understood. Comrade Commander, I will resolutely carry out your orders."

As soon as the communication with Solokub was over, Trikov urged Gorazkov: "Comrade General, please urge your troops to board the train as soon as possible, and take the army train along the railway line to the Don River as soon as possible, and Solokub The colonel’s troops fought from side to side and wiped out all the German troops on the left bank."

"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander. I'm going to deploy now." Gorazkov replied loudly and turned and left the division headquarters with his two deputies.

After Gorazkov and the others left, I asked Trikov softly: "Comrade Commander, what shall we do?"

"Go back to the car. We drove to the Don River in the car, then found a high ground, set up the command post there, and commanded the coordinated operations of the two divisions."

Due to Cui Kefu's repeated urging, the driver drove the car very quickly. In less than forty minutes, we followed the railway to a place only three or four kilometers away from the Don River. it's here. The railway to the Don River Railway Bridge has been blasted off, at least a few hundred meters in length. It has become a twisted twist. It seems that after the troops of the 98th Division arrived here, they had to get out of the car and walk.

We climbed a small hill nearby, and there were large and small craters on the top of the slope. Cui Kefu jumped into a crater more than half a person deep, looked around, and said: "The view here is wide, and the temporary headquarters is here. ."

Seeing who was in the crater Cui Kefu's command post, I couldn't help but look up into the air, fearing that an enemy plane would appear in the sky at this time. Cui Kefu looked at me absent-mindedly, and said a little displeased: "Oshanina, what are you looking at, don't you hurry up and let the communicator move the walkie-talkie here." I quickly calmed my mind and agreed aloud. Run downhill to find the communicator who is still in the car.

After our headquarters was deployed, the forced crossing operation of the 112th Division began.

First, the artillery of the 112th Division fired at the German positions on the left bank. I don't know why, each gun fired only a few rounds, and then stopped shooting, and then the infantry in the division began to force the operation.

I saw through the binoculars that the equipment used by the infantry to cross the river was really shabby. Except for two or three ferries full of commanders and soldiers, the remaining soldiers used wooden platoons and a few door panels tied together to forcibly cross the river. Seeing this scene, my heart was cold, and my heart said Colonel Sologubu, didn't you let your men be sent to death? Several machine guns were mounted on the ferry, and they were barely able to suppress the enemy's firepower to a certain extent. However, the wooden platoons and door panels that all depended on the soldiers to draw with their hands were living targets with no self-defense ability. As long as the German guns fire at the same time, and before crossing the river, your troops will almost die.

As soon as I thought of this, the artillery on the German position on the left bank opened fire. The howling shells exploded in the dense queues, and water jets rose into the sky. From time to time, wooden rafts and door panels, together with the commanders on them, exploded to pieces. Some rafts were also shattered, and the officers and men above fell into the rolling Don River, and were swept downstream by the turbulent river.

Cuikov’s angry voice suddenly sounded in his ears: “Colonel Solokub, what are you doing, why don’t you shoot? Are you planning to keep the cubs in your heavy artillery? Do not use artillery to suppress the enemy’s artillery, they can be like shooting targets. Destroy all our river-crossing troops! I order you to fire at once! All the cannonballs will be blown out!"

Unexpectedly, the same anxious voice from Sorogubu came from the other side: "Comrade Commander, it's not that I don't let the artillery fire, our artillery shells are all finished. You can rest assured, even if there is no artillery cover, I promise to complete the task. I immediately boarded the ship and led the soldiers to make an assault on the left bank." After speaking, the call was terminated.

Cui Kefu held the microphone without any sound, his eyes looked forward, and he looked at the Don River, which was bursting with gunfire in the distance. Inadvertently, a crystal teardrop slid down his cheek to his jaw.

At this moment, UU reading www.uukanshu.com heard the sirens of the train from underneath the mountain. I turned my head and saw that a military train full of troops from the 98th Division was approaching in our direction. I hurriedly called Cui Kefu: "Comrade Commander, you see, the troops of the 98th Division are here. As long as they attack from the enemy's rear, they will be able to cover the 112th Division and successfully land on the left bank and wipe out the enemy."

Five minutes later, Gorazkov and his political commissar ran up the hill out of breath, standing above the crater and saluting Cui Koff: "Comrade General, the 98th Division arrived smoothly. The deputy commander is currently gathering troops. After ten minutes, you can launch an attack on the enemy."

"Great," Cuikov said, rushing out of the crater in two steps, pointing to the distance and saying to Gorazkov: "Comrade General, have you seen it? The 112th Division is currently being forced to flee because of their shells. After all the fighting was over, the artillery could not provide the necessary artillery cover for the infantry crossing the river, and could not suppress the artillery fire of the enemy troops on the left bank, so that the troops crossing the river suffered heavy casualties."

Gorazkov took the phone in Trikov’s hand and looked at it, and then categorically said: "Please rest assured, comrades in the army. I will personally lead the troops to make an assault. I must occupy the enemy’s riverside position as soon as possible and cover the smooth landing of the 112th Division. After finishing speaking, he turned to his political commissar and said, "Comrade political comrade, you immediately deploy the artillery of the division under the hillside and shell the enemy's positions to reduce the pressure on the troops crossing the river." (To be continued.)