Burning Moscow

The German planes swooped down from the air in turns, like a goshawk fighting a rabbit, strangling the positions of our division's anti-aircraft machine gun company. Our army only has nine anti-aircraft machine guns, but there are eight planes in the sky. This is simply a one-sided massacre. I watched the bombs explode in the middle of the anti-aircraft machine gun positions, blasting the machine guns to pieces; the bullets ejected from the airborne machine guns blasted our anti-aircraft machine gunners to blood.

Seeing the arrogant enemy plane in the air, and then looking at the sullen-faced political commissar Kirilov beside me, I grabbed the phone and wanted to call the regiment command post of Sederikov. As soon as I heard his voice, I shouted, "Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, have you seen the situation outside?"

"Yes, comrade commander." Sergeikov said in a steady voice: "I saw enemy planes bombing our anti-aircraft machine gun positions. Under the enemy's bombing and strafing, I think the air defense forces can't stand it. You have to help them, otherwise they will be wiped out in a few minutes."

"Tell me about your thoughts, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." I asked hurriedly, thinking in my heart that if he suggested that dozens or hundreds of soldiers lie on the hillside and shoot the plane, I would resolutely deny it. he. Under the density of the German bombing, as long as two bombs were dropped, a company of soldiers would be completely reimbursed.

Unexpectedly, Sergeikov had the same idea as mine. He was afraid that I would object, so he said quickly: "Comrade commander, I plan to draw two light machine guns from each company of the whole regiment, and each battalion will draw two light machine guns. A heavy machine gun, under the command of a commander, organizes troops to shoot into the air to reduce the pressure on the anti-aircraft machine gun company."

"Very well, comrade lieutenant colonel. Let's start now!" I gave Sergeikov an order into the microphone.

Putting down the phone, I walked back to the observation port and looked out to the opposite hillside. I saw the entire position of the anti-aircraft machine gun company. Already shrouded in gunpowder smoke, my heart can't help but sink. I asked Kirilov anxiously: "Comrade Political Commissar. How is the situation?"

Kirilov's brow furrowed into a lump, and he didn't speak.

At this moment, there was another crisp sound of machine gun shooting in the gunpowder. At the same time, an enemy plane that had just dived down suddenly lost control, and the fuselage rolled over and fell into the distance. Kirilov waved his arm and gnashed his teeth and cursed: "Damn German, let you taste our greatness."

Although an enemy plane was shot down by us. However, the enemy planes behind continued to dive down regardless, and continued to throw bombs at our air defense positions. At the same time, it was accompanied by frantic strafes, a posture that would not give up without razing our positions to the ground.

The mantis hunted the cicada and the oriole was behind, and when the enemy plane dived into the anti-aircraft machine gun position, the machine gun position temporarily organized by Sederikov opened fire without losing the opportunity. They fought so fiercely behind the enemy plane. The two enemy planes that had just lowered the high ground were hit directly. A dark red flame burst out from the fuselage, and then dragged a long smoke belt. Planted down to the Volga River, and then two white umbrella flowers bloomed in the sky. It seemed that the pilot jumped in time.

I grabbed the phone again. Shaking through the headquarters of the Second Regiment, he bluntly instructed Pugachev: "Second Regiment Commander, have you seen the two parachuting paratroopers?"

"I saw it, comrade commander." Pugachev has been by my side for a long time, and he knows how to figure out what I think. Before I can say the rest, he has already said first: "I will send someone to catch the pilot immediately. , They must not be allowed to escape back."

Although I knew he couldn't see my expression, I nodded in satisfaction. Then he said to him: "Remember, if the German pilots resist stubbornly, you must kill them decisively. You can't be gentle with these fascists."

"Understood. Comrade commander, I will deploy immediately."

Suddenly, three consecutive planes were shot down by our army, and the remaining enemy planes panicked. They raised their noses one after another and pulled up to the sky, even if they continued to bomb our positions. The surviving anti-aircraft machine guns on the air defense positions took the opportunity to fire and shot down an enemy plane that had fallen behind.

After the remaining four enemy planes climbed to a high place, for fear of being hit by our army’s air defense fire, they not only opened the distance, but also stopped diving. After circling around our high ground two more times, they stopped. Paying attention to the air defense positions and high ground shrouded in smoke, U-turned and flew north.

After the enemy plane left, Kirilov turned his head sullenly and said to me blankly: "Comrade commander, let's go to the anti-aircraft machine gun company."

I did not speak, but nodded silently.

When the two of us walked down the hillside, neither of us spoke. We all witnessed the German air attack just now, and the air defense positions became the key targets of enemy planes. Under the indiscriminate bombing of enemy planes, I believe their casualties are not small.

When we reached the air defense position, we saw craters everywhere, and even the grass on the hillside was burning. The commanders and fighters sent by Sergeikov to help were trying to extinguish the burning fire. Of the nine anti-aircraft machine guns of the anti-aircraft machine gun company, only two are left at the moment. Not only the soldiers in the company have been killed or wounded, but even the company commander of the anti-aircraft machine gun company, Captain Talhan, was seriously injured and lying on the soldiers. Spread on the tarp on the ground.

Seeing the heavy casualties of the air defense position, Kirilov said with emotion: "Comrade commander, the battle just now was really cruel. Look, how big our casualties are? I think we should find a way to put anti-aircraft guns. It's okay to add it as soon as possible."

I just nodded noncommittal and did not speak. But I was saying in my heart, this is just the beginning, and when the German artillery and aircraft are on the battlefield, you will know what kind of battle is cruel.

Seeing that I didn't answer, Kirilov turned around and wanted to say something to me. He opened his mouth and stared behind me before he could speak, with a surprised expression on his face.

Seeing his expression, I turned my head and looked back curiously. From this look, I immediately understood why he had this expression, because at this moment, the guard battalion commander saw that the enemy plane's air raid on the high ground was over, he brought the second company and third company of the guard to the air defense position, ready to rescue the wounded and deal with the aftermath. .

There is nothing wrong with Basmanov doing this, but the problem is that half of the two guard companies who came here were wearing German uniforms. In particular, the commanders behind Basmanoff, Captain Grams, Captain Beckman, and Lieutenant Gretka, were all real German commanders.

Kirilov pointed at the troops coming here, and asked angrily: "Comrade commander. Where did the Germans come from? Why are they walking with our soldiers?"

I turned my head. He smiled and said to Kirilov: "Comrade political comrades, don't be nervous, they are all your own. Your time is too short, I have not had time to tell you that this is a German army surrendering to our army. I am adding After the personnel, they were incorporated into my guard battalion."

"What? Comrade commander, you actually compiled the Germans into our army's battle sequence? Did you report this to the group army headquarters?" Kirilov still frowned and asked angrily.

Kirilov's words. It makes me feel a little bit unreasonable. It is indeed my own initiative to incorporate surrendered German soldiers into my army, and I have not reported to my superiors. Thinking of Kirilov's identity, I couldn't help being shocked in a cold sweat. This can be big or small. If people with ulterior motives know about it and make a fuss about it, I guess I will be in big trouble.

"Why don't you say it?" Kirilov used a respectful name for me, but he didn't show respect to me. It is a manifestation of alienation.

Regarding Kirilov’s question, I had no choice but to hesitate to say: "Comrade Political Commissar, this matter is a bit complicated. I will explain it to you later when I am free."

"No, Comrade Oshanina." Kirilov said harshly, "I want to hear your explanation right now."

I cried secretly in my heart, isn't I a bad luck reminder, well, I asked Cui Kefu for a political commissar. If I don't speak, chances are he won't send Kirilov to my division as a political commissar. It's fine now, the political commissar is here, just running in. Just grab my handle and take me for surgery.

I took a deep breath. I stabilized my emotions, anyway, I adapted the thing about the German soldiers. The superiors will know sooner or later, or else they will simply explain to Kirilov first, and then consider how to report to Cuikov. So I slowly said: "Comrade political comrades, these German officers and soldiers were captured by me and the 5th regiment when we were standing at the station. After our education, they are willing to leave Hitler's fascist camp and stand on our side and stand shoulder to shoulder with us. Fight."

"Fight side by side?!" Kirilov snorted after listening, and said disdainfully: "Will the Germans be credited? You know, it is because they brazenly tore up the Soviet-German non-aggression treaty and undeclared war. , We will be caught off guard by them. You keep them by your side, are you afraid that they will also give you a turnaround?"

Kirilov’s words startled me in a cold sweat, and I have to say that this possibility always exists. But now that I have incorporated the German army, even if there are unexpected changes in the future, I must bite the bullet and say good things to them at this moment, otherwise it will make Grams and the others chill and want to recruit the German army in the future. It's an easy thing. So I gritted my teeth and said decisively: "Comrades, Captain Grams, they fought side by side with us after they surrendered to our army. I believe them."

When I was talking with Kirilov, Basmanov and the others also approached us. Grams and the German commanders stood not far away from me. Our conversations were shared by all of them. Hear clearly.

After Kirilov listened, he grunted heavily, and then walked away.

Seeing Kirilov's departure, Basmanov walked to my side and asked quietly: "Comrade Commander, what's the matter, why is the new political commissar angry?"

I tried to squeeze a smile on my face, and pretended to be nonchalant, and said to Basmanov: "It's okay. I had a little dispute with the political commissar, and it's all right now. You take the soldiers from the guard company to help. Soldiers of the anti-aircraft machine gun company, after bandaging the wounded, send the seriously wounded to the rear as soon as possible."

Basmanov promised to order his men to carry out the order. I stopped him again, and specifically told him: "Remember, the soldiers sending the severely wounded into the city must be our own soldiers, so as not to make peace. The defender had a misunderstanding." My worries were justified. If the defender saw a group of German soldiers carrying the wounded into the city, they would probably have shot silently far away.

After I finished the order, I nodded to Grams and the others, and planned to go to the headquarters. Unexpectedly, Grams walked up to me and stopped. He raised his hand to pay me a solemn military salute, and then said in bad Russian: "Thank you!" After he finished speaking, he waved his head to the soldier behind him. Follow Basmanov to the air defense position.

When I returned to the division headquarters, I opened the curtain. Seeing Kirilov sitting at the table sulking, he snorted heavily when he saw me coming in, and then turned his head to the side with an expression that I would ignore you.

I smiled slightly, went to sit down opposite him, looked at him, and said in a calm tone: "Comrade Political Commissar. I know you are still angry, but you have to listen to me to explain."

Kirilov said without looking back: "If you have something to say. Anyway, I don't think it's right for you to take in Germans casually. The best destination for these German prisoners is the prisoner-of-war camp in Siberia. They should be allowed to go there. Fend for itself."

"Comrade Political Commissar," I tried to keep my voice calm, "Do you think our troops in Stalingrad are right?"

After hearing my question, Kirilov lowered his head and thought about it, then turned to me and said: "In the early battles, our troops lost a lot. To be honest, the current force may be enough to defend the city, but it will take If you want to fight back, it's not enough."

Seeing that he does not shy away from the fact that our army has been weakened, I feel a lot more at ease, at least he can see the situation clearly. So I said to him earnestly: "Comrade political comrades. On the current battlefield, there is a big gap between the strength of the enemy and the enemy. It is obviously unrealistic to achieve evenness in a short period of time, so we have to find ways to weaken the enemy. "

"Weaken the enemy? How to weaken?" My words aroused Kirilov's curiosity.

"Unite all the forces that can be united." These words in the celestial dynasty are ordinary words, but here, I feel particularly difficult to say, "We not only use military means. At the same time, we also need to use political means. Divide and disintegrate the enemy and draw more people to our side. Even if it cannot be pulled, we must find a way to keep them neutral. In this way, the enemy will be weakened invisibly. And our strength will be strengthened. ."

After hearing what I said, Kirilov frowned again, and then fell into deep thought.

I was afraid of interrupting his thinking, so I didn't speak, but looked at him silently, waiting for him to understand.

After a long time, Kirilov raised his head and said in a suspicious tone: "Comrade Oshanina, I can just ask you about the recruitment of German soldiers. But when do you plan to report this to your superiors? If the Ministry of Internal Affairs finds out, not only you are in trouble, but also commanders and military commissars of the group army will also make things difficult. If you say it lightly, this is a good idea; if you say it seriously, it is collaborating with the enemy. The crime is buckled on your head, what kind of ending will you be like, I don’t say anything, can you think of it?”

Kirilov’s words shocked me. I didn’t expect such serious consequences. When I saw Grams and the others were included at that time, I did not think about it. I should at least give Cuikov some breath. But it's not too late. I can evade that it was because the troops were changing defenses too much. I temporarily forgot to report this to my superiors.

However, under the current circumstances, I still slapped my face to fill the fat man, pretending to be calm, and said to Kirilov: "I understand, Comrade Political Commissar, thank you for your reminder. I will report to Commander Cui Kefu now." After that, I turned my head and told Razumeyeva: "Comrade Lieutenant, immediately contact the group army headquarters and say that I have important things to report to the commander."

Razumeyeva agreed and began to call the group army headquarters. In a short while, she handed over the headset and microphone, and said at the same time: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Military Commissioner of the Group Army is online, and he wants to talk to you."

Hearing that it was Gurov who was going to talk to me, my mood became uneasy. Although I have a lot of time to deal with Gurov, but after all I am not as familiar with Cui Koff, I can't predict what the consequences will be if this matter is reported.

Since I have been thinking about how to explain this to Gurov, and forgot to speak, Gurov on the opposite side heard that there was nothing in the headset, so he raised his voice and called me: "Hey, hello, Colonel Oshanina ,can you hear?"

His voice immediately regained my senses, and I quickly replied: "You can hear me, Comrade Military Commissioner." Then I asked in a flustered manner. "Is Comrade Commander here?"

"Commander Cuikov went to the Central Station to inspect the fortifications. He said that there might be a key area for the German offensive, and the defense must be strengthened." Gurov finished his sentence. Then asked with concern: "I heard the staff report that the enemy plane carried out an air strike on your high ground. How about it. Are the troops' casualties high?"

"Report to Comrade Military Commissioner that the Germans dispatched ten planes back and forth to carry out air strikes on our Mamayev Hill. Under the attack of the heroic anti-aircraft machine gun company, the Germans lost six planes and ran away griefly. "

"Great, Comrade Oshanina." After listening to my report, Gurov said happily: "I congratulate you for shooting so many enemy planes at one time. I want to help the anti-aircraft machine gun company. Please give credit to the commanders and fighters. You will report their names to me as soon as possible so that I can fill in the merit application form for them. By the way, I have one more thing to tell you. Yesterday I joined you in blocking the 101st Regiment of the German Armored Forces. The Gerasimov political instructor of the tank company and the commander of the front army personally asked him about his merits and decided to grant him the title of Hero of the Soviet Union."

"Heroes of the Soviet Union"! Hearing that Gerasimov was awarded this honor, my heart beat faster. Gerasimov and his anti-tank company destroyed eleven German tanks and were awarded the title of "Hero of the Soviet Union." Is there a chance to get the same honor?

"Hey. Hey, Colonel Oshanina, why are you not talking anymore?" Gurov's voice came from the headset. Turning me back and forth from dreaming into non-non-non-non-non-crime and back to reality.

My face blushed, and I hurriedly concealed: "Comrade Military Commissioner, I am happy that Gerasimov has won the honor of the'Hero of the Soviet Union', so I thought about it for a while. Please forgive me!"

"It's nothing, Comrade Oshaninna. In fact, it's not just him who won the honor, but you also received the same reward for successfully defending the dock."

Gurov's words made me almost unable to breathe for an instant, and my body shook. If it weren't for Razumeyeva to hold me in time, I really don't know if I will fall. She also asked me with concern: "Comrade teacher. Are you okay?"

I waved to Razumeyeva and asked Gurov nervously, "Comrade Military Commissioner. Can you repeat what you just said?"

Gurov laughed twice and said in a friendly manner: "Comrade Oshanina, I want to congratulate you. When Commander Yeremenko shared the heroic deeds of Gerasimov’s political instructor to General Zhukov and Comrade Stalin After the report, I was instructed to bestow the honorable title of "Heroes of the Soviet Union" on both of you. Comrade Oshanina, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you."

"Thank you, Comrade Military Commissioner." After I said this a bit incoherently, I suddenly remembered that my purpose of contacting the headquarters was to report on the unauthorized acquisition of German troops, so I coughed and waited for my mood to stabilize. Later, he said cautiously: "I have one more thing I want to report to you and Commander Cui Kefu."

"Comrade Commander is not here. I don't know when to come back. If you have anything, you can tell me directly. I will tell him when he comes back."

"That's it, Comrade Military Commissioner, I, I," Although I wanted to confess everything to Gurov, I became nervous when I said it, and I said hesitantly: "There is something I have been thinking about Report to the group army command, but, because the war is too busy, I haven't had time to say it."

"Let's talk about anything, Colonel Oshanina." Gurov may have heard the abnormality in my tone. In order to be afraid of my nervousness, he kindly encouraged me.

"When my troops and I were standing at the station behind enemy lines, we once captured a group of German soldiers..."

Before I finished speaking, Gurov suddenly interrupted and said, "But I haven't heard Commander Trikov mention the prisoners? Could it be that you felt it was inconvenient to carry the prisoners when you jumped out from behind the enemy line, so you put them all on the spot? Execution? If this is the case, I can tell you responsibly that you did the right thing. If you let these prisoners escape during the breakout, we will have to work hard to destroy them in the future."

"That's not the case, Comrade Military Commissioner." Upon hearing Gurov's analysis, I quickly retorted: "I didn't kill any of these prisoners."

"Then where are they now?" Gurov asked warily when he heard me say this.

I turned my head and glanced at Kirilov, who was sitting at the table, and saw him looking at me with a worried expression, as if he was also worried about my future. I turned around, took a deep breath again, and summoned the courage to say: "I didn't kill any of these prisoners. Instead, I adapted them and incorporated them into my guard camp."

"What are you talking about, Colonel Oshanina." Gurov's voice suddenly became severe. "You repeat what you just said, what did you do to them?"

At this moment, I calmed down instead. I said calmly: "Report to Comrade Military Commissioner, this group of captured German soldiers, I neither killed them nor released them, but after education, I included them all. To my guard battalion."

After listening to my words, Gurov fell silent.

I am most afraid of my superior being silent when talking to me. In this way, there is usually nothing good, so I nervously shouted into the microphone: "Hey, hello, Comrade Military Commissioner, are you still there? ?"

After shouting several times, Gurov’s lazy voice came from the earphones: "Colonel Oshanina, I’m still there." After speaking, he paused for a while, and continued: "I will take this Report this matter to your superiors. But in this way, I think the honor you have won may be cancelled."

What, the honor of the "Hero of the Soviet Union" that is about to be awarded to me will be cancelled. At this moment, I have all the thoughts of hitting the wall. From the 64th Army to the 62nd Army, it is not once or twice to meet with Cui Kefu. Why not tell him about it earlier? It's fine now, UU reading www. uukanshu. Com's honor is about to come, so it's gone.

Before interrupting the call, Gurov gave me an unexpected wake-up: "By the way, Colonel Oshanina, there is one more thing I almost forgot. I just got notified, a second lieutenant from Volkhov’s front. The training team can reach the headquarters of the group army tonight. I will send this unit to you as soon as possible to enrich your grassroots commanding team. Okay, I will say so much. Good luck!" , He ended the call.

Seeing me take off the headset and put down the microphone, Kirilov, who was sitting at the table, came over and asked with concern: "Comrade Oshaninna, how is the situation? What did Comrade Military Commissioner say?"

I sighed and said unwillingly: "The military commissioner originally told me that in the battle to defend the dock yesterday, instructor Gerasimov and I won the title of'Heroes of the Soviet Union' because of our outstanding performance. As a result, he now Knowing that I had reorganized the German officers and soldiers without authorization, I temporarily decided to cancel my honor."

Hearing that my glorious title of "Hero of the Soviet Union" turned into a cooked duck and flew away, not only Kirilov, but even Razumeyeva felt worthless for me. Kirilov said with regret: "It's a pity, Comrade Oshanina, not everyone is qualified to get this honor. It's a pity that you didn't expect you to lose it like this." (To be continued)