Burning Moscow

Before the German ground troops appeared, the enemy planes in the air circulated high in the sky for a few laps, braving bursts of black smoke from violent anti-aircraft fire, and flew toward the pier. Pinshu

Seeing the enemy plane turning around and flying towards the dock, I screamed in my heart. There are so many people and materials on the dock. Once the enemy plane bombards it, it will inevitably cause heavy losses.

Kirilov, who was standing next to me, suddenly made a strange noise in his throat, which attracted my attention. The telescope in his hand had already left before his eyes, just staring at the outside with wide-eyed eyes.

"What's the matter with you, Comrade Political Commissar?" I felt a little dissatisfied with his gaffe. Isn't it the first time I saw an enemy plane bombing the dock? Isn't it worth the fuss?

"Don't you see what the enemy plane wants to do?" Kirilov said excitedly.

I nodded blankly and replied, "I see, the enemy plane is about to bomb the pier. Alas, I hope the troops and civilians gathered on the pier can be concealed in time, so as to reduce their casualties in air strikes."

"No, it's not the dock." His fingers trembling with excitement pointed to a farther place. "Look further away and look into the Volga River. There are more than a dozen of our ships in the river, which are approaching the dock. ."

I raised the telescope again and looked towards the Volga River, which was next to the high ground. I saw a dozen steamships full of soldiers, with black smoke coming out of their chimneys, and they were approaching the pier at full speed. And those enemy planes that just flew away from the high ground are now circling above the fleet.

Seeing the enemy plane approaching, the anti-aircraft machine guns mounted on the steamship fired, and together with the anti-aircraft guns on the shore, they built an airtight firepower net under the fleet.

But judging from the performance of the enemy aircraft, these pilots all have rich combat experience. They hovered in the air, and as soon as they found the right opportunity, they emerged from the dense black smoke formed by the high artillery shells towards the fleet moving in the river. Dive down. As soon as the bombing and strafing operations were completed, the nose was immediately raised and the aircraft flew to high altitude to readjust the formation.

With the fall of the bomb, the surging Volga water suddenly splashed in all directions. High water jets were set off around the steamboat. The sailor driving the steamboat, in order to avoid the bombs dropped by the enemy aircraft and the machine guns fired by the airborne machine gun, began to take evasive routes on the water. Although the sailors were skilled in posture, but there were many enemy planes that could not stand in the sky, and with little effort, several steamboats were shot and caught fire.

Just as I was worried about the sailors and commanders on these steamboats, a steamboat at the forefront of the fleet was hit by a bomb again. The steamboat shot in the tail quickly burned. The bow slowly tilted up and began to sink downward a little bit. And the surviving commanders on board. He began to plop and jump into the water, and when he got into the water, he waved his arms and swam desperately towards the pier.

Seeing enemy planes bombarding our river crossing troops, Kirilov gritted his teeth and cursed with anger: "This **** German, when our air force arrives, we will get rid of all of you. "After speaking, he walked to the telephone, picked up the microphone and called Akhromeyev: "Comrade Chief of Staff. This is Kirilov. Please send an emergency telegram to the group army headquarters saying that a large number of enemies The plane is attacking our fleet on the Volga River. If the air force cannot come to support it quickly, our river crossing units will be wiped out by the enemy planes in the river."

Looking at the overbearing enemy plane in the air, I couldn't help feeling. Why didn't God let me carry some advanced weapons beyond this era like other traversers did when I crossed. If there were dozens of air missiles, these enemy planes in the sky would have been knocked down like flies.

When Kirilov returned to me, he was afraid that I would have any thoughts about his self-assertion, so he specifically explained to me: "Comrade commander. I just called Akhromeyev Chief of Staff. Let him send a report to the group army headquarters immediately, requesting the superior to send another plane to support us. As the matter is urgent, I did not discuss with you, so I made my own decision. Please forgive me for my recklessness."

"You are right. Comrade political comrade." As soon as I finished his words, I immediately expressed my attitude, pointed at the enemy plane flying over the Volga River, and added: "If you change me, I will also ask for help from my superiors. You see, the newly formed antiaircraft artillery group by superiors is not helpful for such a large-scale German machine gun. Without the air force, we would have to hide in the fortifications and be beaten passively."

"By the way, Comrade Oshanina, the enemy planes have been carrying out artillery and air strikes on Mamayev Hill and 107.5 Heights today. What are their intentions?"

Hearing Kirilov’s question, I shrugged my shoulders and said disapprovingly, “Isn’t this very clear? They just want to use all kinds of shells and bombs to destroy us, and then send ground troops to easily occupy this high ground. , And launched an attack on the city with Mamayevgang as the starting point for the offensive."

After listening to what I said, Kirilov habitually said: "Our soldiers will stand on the ground like a nail, and will not retreat even one step."

I looked at my watch, and it was dark in a few hours, so I said to Kirilov: "Let’s go, Comrade Political Commissar, the German ground troops will not be dispatched. We stay here and see nothing. We should go back. Go to the headquarters."

Kirilov frowned, unwillingly raised his binoculars to look into the distance, and finally reluctantly agreed: "Okay!"

The reason why I want to go back to the command center at this time is that for my own safety, it is better to stay in a command center that cannot be destroyed by bombs than to stay in an observation station that may be destroyed by shells or bombs at any time; It is possible to contact each group through the walkie-talkie to keep up with the latest situation.

As soon as I walked into the headquarters and saw Akhromeyev sitting at the table, I asked loudly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation of the regiments?"

Akhromeyev quickly picked up the notepad in front of him and stood up and reported to me: "Comrade Division Commander, Captain Godunov, Commander of the Third Regiment, reported that the enemy’s bombardment of heights 107.5 has completely stopped. Within the first few kilometers, no enemy ground troops were found."

While listening to his report, I walked to the table and sat down. When there was a paragraph in his report, I looked up and asked, "How about the casualties of the three regiments?"

Hearing my question, Akhromeyev froze for a moment before repliing: “Due to the lack of strong defenses in the positions received by the Third Regiment, the first battalion placed on the high ground had been killed or wounded during the enemy’s bombing and shelling. Exhausted. And the shelter of Captain Godunov, the acting commander, was also hit by a shell, and the captain was slightly injured."

"So how many troops are still on the 107.5 high ground?"

Without looking down at the notepad in his hand, Akhromeyev replied without hesitation: "There are still 129 people on the high ground, including 45 wounded. I have ordered Comrade Godunov to adjust after dark. The second battalion will take over defense."

After listening, I nodded, and then asked, "How is the situation of the group?"

With the experience of answering the question just now, Akhromeyev reported to me in detail: "Report to the commander. There are currently more than 500 casualties in the regiment, of which nearly 400 have been sacrificed. Head of the regiment, Sederikov and political commissar. Comrade Oberstein is adjusting the defenses to prevent possible ground attacks by the Germans." Seeing what I wanted to ask, he quickly said: "The second regiment has been repaired well because of the fortifications. In addition to the small casualties of the infantry unit, the division artillery battalion His technical equipment did not suffer any loss in the battle."

"Reporter commander," I was talking with Akhromeyev. The communications company commander Razumeyeva called out a report behind her. When I turned around, she went on to say: "The group army command is calling." After speaking, he handed me a full-written tele-newspaper.

I took a look. The telegrams sent by Cui Kefu are really quite a lot. In the telegram, he first praised us, saying that the combat plan proposed to him was very consistent with the current reality. Then he conveyed the decision made by the Military Committee of the Group Army:

"1 First of all, the defenders of the city must be made clear that they cannot continue to retreat, and there is nowhere to go. The enemy's offensive must be smashed. Slindagrad is our last battlefield, in order to defend this city. We must fight the enemy's last stand. We Soviet soldiers must respond to the call of the party and carry out the orders of the people. We must either defend the city or die on the battlefield. We have no third way to go. We must propagate this decision to the entire people through the party and group organization.

2 In the major enterprises in the city, establish an armed team composed of workers and employees. They should cooperate with the group army or rely on their own strength to defend the factory. They must be issued weapons and other equipment in accordance with military standards. Those braved the bombardment of planes and artillery. The workers and staff who repair the damaged technical equipment must of course be organized into militarized teams under the leadership of the Party and Soviet organizations in accordance with the organization of companies and battalions.

3 Without the consent of the commander of the group army and the chief of staff, it is strictly forbidden to evacuate the existing position without authorization.

The headquarters of the 4th Army remained in the city of Stalingrad on the right bank, and under no circumstances was allowed to retreat to the east bank of the Volga River or the island. "

After reading the content on the telegram. I handed it to Kirilov and said to him: "Comrade Political Commissar, take a look. This new decision made by the Group Army Military Committee is very helpful for us to stick to this city."

Kirilov took the telegram and nodded as he watched it, not yet sharing his opinion with me. We were so engaged in the conversation that we couldn't answer the phone that rang on the table. In the end, it was Akhromeyev who answered the phone.

After Akhromeyev put down the phone, he excitedly said to us: "The division commander and political comrades, our air force has arrived. At this moment, we are fighting fiercely with the enemy's aircraft outside. I believe it will not be long before they can be in the air defense force. With cooperation, all these **** enemy planes were driven away from our high ground and over the pier."

"This is really great!" Although I said so, I was muttering in my heart that the enemy has nearly fifty planes. If there is no equivalent fighter plane, it is not easy to defeat the enemy.

While waiting for the results of the air combat outside, the three of us were not idle either, or contacted several regiments of the division by telephone or radio, in order to understand the situation on the battlefield in time.

About ten minutes later, the phone on the desk rang again. I was the nearest to the phone, so I grabbed the microphone and said loudly, "Hey, this is the division headquarters."

Pugachev's excited voice came from the headset: "Reporter Commander, our air force rushed to the battlefield. After a battle with the enemy plane, the enemy plane has begun to turn around and flee."

Hearing that the enemy planes had been beaten away, I couldn't believe it was all true. How many fighter planes should our army dispatch to kill so many enemy planes? So he asked repeatedly: "How many fighters our army has dispatched, are there any losses in the battle, and what kind of results have been achieved?"

"Our army dispatched 16 fighters. Perhaps the enemy's fuel and ammunition were insufficient. Therefore, we fought with our air force for a while before hurriedly retreating. According to my observations, at least ten enemy planes were killed by our fighters. Or the anti-aircraft artillery fired, dragging smoke from the sky with flames. As for our fighter planes, it seems that there is no loss."

I put down the phone and said triumphantly to Kirilov and Akhromeyev: "The political commissar, chief of staff, and the third regiment commander Pugachev just called to report that our army dispatched 16 fighters and shot them down. At least ten enemy planes were lost. After driving the enemy planes from above us, they have already followed them."

Hearing this good news, Kirilov was all smiles, but Akhromeyev was sad. He said to himself: "Strange, why is it like this again? The enemy plane was bombarding us. , As long as they saw our fighters appear, they fought perfunctorily and fled northward. Will there be any conspiracy?"

Akhromeyev’s words made me frown and think about it. The Germans acted strangely today. They just shelled and bombed the positions of our division, but did not send out ground troops to attack. What is going on? What?

Before we could come up with an answer, a loud noise suddenly came from outside the cave. If a heavy object fell on the ground, the ground under our feet also trembled slightly. Hearing this movement, Kirilov immediately asked vigilantly: "What's the matter, what's the matter?"

I turned my head and saw Basmanov standing next to him, and directly told him: "Comrade Captain, you go out and see what's going on. Then come back and report to us right away. Did you hear me?" Basmanov nodded and agreed. Later, he turned around and opened the wooden door and walked out.

After the guard battalion commander left, Akhromeyev walked to my side and said cautiously: "Could it be the bomb that the enemy dropped from the sky and did not explode?"

As soon as Kirilov heard what he said, he immediately retorted: "Impossible, how can a bomb make such a big movement. Besides, this time the enemy plane is coming. The main target of attack is the crossing of the Volga River. The troops, and those antiaircraft artillery positions deployed behind us, how could there be bombs falling outside of our division headquarters."

Before the three of us could analyze the reason, the wooden door was pushed open from the outside, and at the same time a panicked voice from Basmanov came in: "Commander, political commissar, chief of staff, come and see, it’s the pilot, it’s us. My own pilot." Then Basmanov and a soldier from the guard battalion appeared at the door. Together, they supported a man in a pilot's uniform.

When the two of them helped the pilot and came to us, I realized that the pilot was injured. He blindfolded his eyes with one hand, and blood dripped from his forehead through his fingers. I quickly instructed my guard battalion commander: "Hurry up, Comrade Captain, help Comrade Pilot to sit down." Then I turned my head and shouted at Razumeeva: "Comrade Lieutenant, hurry up and call the female hygienist Shmakova. Come here. This comrade pilot is injured and bleeding."

Basmanov helped the pilot to sit down on his seat, and took out a first aid kit from his briefcase. After removing the pilot's hand, he directly covered the roll of gauze on his head, which made it loud. The ground reported to me: "Comrade Commander, it was a crash. The plane of this comrade pilot was shot down and made an emergency landing not far from our cave."

Because I don’t know when the hygienist will arrive, and seeing the pilot’s painful expression, I quickly distracted him by asking questions: "Comrade pilot, what’s your name?"

After the pilot looked up at me, he replied weakly, "My name is Vitaly Popkov, and I am a squadron commander of the Fighter Aviation Regiment."

I glanced at his rank and continued to ask: "Captain Popkov, how was your plane shot down?"

Popkov heard this question and said with a wry smile: "My squadron and I were ordered to support you. In the air battle just now, I took the lead in attacking the enemy aircraft that was bombarding our fleet. After beating down a bomber with an airborne machine gun, he rushed to an escorted fighter and started an air chase with him. After two or three minutes of air combat, I successfully beat his plane The volley exploded. At this time, tracer bullets shot from three sides and just flew through the window of my plane. I looked down, and I was shocked. Oh my God, our own anti-aircraft guns were firing at me! Why did they fire at me? I don’t know the artillery at all. Those anti-aircraft gunners must have just been on the battlefield. Maybe they wanted to hit the German plane and hit the wrong target. The anti-aircraft fire exploded around me, and I still don’t know who it was. They hit me, or the German plane. I only know that my gas tank is on fire. You know, the plane is our pilot’s closest partner, although the flames have rushed around the cockpit. But I didn’t parachute. I was driving my old man like this. I made an emergency landing on the open space outside your headquarters. My luck was obviously good. Although the plane was broken up, it didn’t explode. Then it was the captain next to you. Comrade, and a few other fighters, dragged me out of the dilapidated cockpit." At this point, he nodded at Basmanov and said sincerely, "Thank you, thank you. Captain Comrade, thank you for saving me, your kindness, I will never forget."

After listening to Popkov's words, I was really dumbfounded. The pilot who came to support us was shot down by our own artillery fire. This is really funny, but as he said, he had good luck. Although the plane broke down when landing, he was lucky to be alive.

In order to hide the embarrassment on his face. I deliberately turned my head and yelled at the back: "What's the matter, why hasn't the hygienist come after so long?"

As soon as the voice fell, the door was pushed open again, and Razumeyeva immediately jumped in, panting and said: "Master, I have found a hygienist." Finished. She turned slightly to the side, letting Shmakova out from behind.

Seeing that Shmakova was about to salute us, I quickly raised my hand and interrupted her, and hurriedly told her: "Comrade hygienist, you are here just in time. The pilot captain is injured. Hurry up and bandage him."

While Shmakova was bandaging Popkov's wound, Kirilov pulled me aside and whispered: "Comrade Commander, what do you think of this matter?"

"What do you do?" Kirilov's words confused me, so I asked, confused.

After looking at the pilot, Kirilov whispered: "Our anti-aircraft gunners knocked off their plane. According to the regulations, those anti-aircraft gunners might be shot.

Shot! This long-lost word shocked me. I hurriedly looked at the pilot and saw that all the people around were watching Shmakova dressing up the wound. They didn’t even notice Kirilov and I. Whispering. I tentatively said: "Comrade political comrade, or else, when there is no one in the command post, we will discuss with the pilot again and try to hide this matter from reporting it. I believe those anti-aircraft gunners did not deliberately. In the chaotic situation, incidents of false strikes are inevitable."

Kirilov nodded, looked in the direction of the crowd, and said in agreement: "Well, I will talk to Captain Popkov in a moment. Also, with Colonel Yersov, who commanded the anti-aircraft artillery group. , I also need to let him know. After all, our fighter plane was shot down, and there are definitely not a few people who see it. If we are stabbed by someone with ulterior motives, you and I will be in trouble."

Shmakova's hands and feet were very swift, and she soon wrapped up Captain Popkov. After she was injured in the medicine box, she came to us and raised her hand to salute the report, saying: "The wounds of the commander, political comrade, and comrade Captain have been bandaged. He is only suffering from skin injuries, and he will recover after a period of training."

After hearing this, Kirilov nodded, and then said to the female hygienist: "I see, you can go back."

Shmakova saluted us again and turned to leave.

The German army has been shelling and bombing the Mamayev Hill and 107.5 Heights since the morning. Seeing the twilight fall, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, saying that the Germans have been tossing for a day, and by this time I should be quiet and quiet. Got it. Unexpectedly, when I just thought of this, there was another rumble of cannons outside.

The sudden sound of the cannon not only caught the attention of Akhromeyev and I, but Kirilov and Popkov, who were chatting privately in the corner of the command headquarters, were also alarmed. Popkov abruptly got up from his seat and asked in surprise: "What's the matter, where is the enemy shelling?"

Standing next to the telegraph, Akhromeyev quickly told Nadya: "Comrade telegraph operator, immediately get in touch with the first and third groups, and ask what happened?"

"Yes!" Nadya promised and began to call a group.

Hearing Nadya said that the group was connected, I walked quickly to the radio and picked up the microphone and shouted loudly: "Hey, is this Lieutenant Colonel Xiejielikov? This is Colonel Oshanina. Answer Me, what happened. Where are the Germans shelling?"

Sergeikov’s reply soon came from the headset: “Report to the commander, the German army is shelling the north **** position of our regiment. The political commissar and I are leaving a few observation posts, and the rest of the commanders and fighters are withdrawn into the air-raid shelter and avoid bombs. Trench." Maybe he was afraid that I was worried, he finally emphasized, "Master, please rest assured, we will never let the enemy's feet step on our high ground again."

After talking to Sergeikov. Then I talked to San Tuan again. Godunov calmly reported to me: "The enemy is bombarding our regiment's position. Because the northern **** has been completely destroyed in shelling and air raids. So I only left a squad of fighters on it as a guard. All of them evacuated to the southern slope."

I remembered the situation of the three regiments that Akhromeyev reported to me just now. There are only more than 100 people on the high ground. If the Germans launch an onslaught at this time, they will not be able to stop them, so I asked with some worry: " Captain Godunov, where is the second battalion of your regiment now?"

"The second battalion is still in the residential area. According to the plan, they will enter the high ground in the dark and change defenses with the first battalion in two hours.

"No, Comrade Captain, the second battalion must be changed in advance." I said sternly, "I immediately ordered the second battalion to start from the residential area and rush to the southern **** of the high ground to stand by. Once the enemy's shelling stops, I will immediately enter the position. ."

Godunov heard my tone stern. Didn't dare to mention any objective reasons, but honestly agreed: "Yes!"

The enemy's shelling stopped abruptly after ten minutes.

Listening to the sudden silence outside, Kirilov and Akhromeyev and I looked at each other. We were all confused by the inexplicable German style of play, just shelling and bombing. They don't send ground troops to attack. What's the point of this? In addition to consuming their ammunition reserves, it will not have a big impact on us.

Just when we were puzzled, the radio in front of Razumeyeva and Nadya suddenly rang. I heard the two shouting loudly into the microphone: "Hey, this is the division headquarters, where are you?" My heart couldn't help but chuckle. The heart said that it should come, but finally came, and the enemy's ground attack began.

Information about the first group and the third group came one after another through the walkie-talkie in front of Razumeeva and Nadya. Both regiment leaders reported that the enemy's infantry, under the cover of a dozen tanks, launched an attack on our high ground.

In this case, the order I gave was very brief: "The order is clear, and at all costs, resolutely hold the position."

Next, when discussing the deployment of combat with Kirilov and others, Akhromeyev took the initiative to ask me: "Comrade Commander, since it is dark, it is estimated that the enemy's aircraft will not be dispatched again. At this time, whether it can be dispatched. How about our artillery battalion and tank battalion, to hit the enemy head-on?"

Akhromeyev’s words immediately resonated with Kirilov. He nodded quickly and said in agreement: "I agree with the Chief of Staff. Since the enemy’s aircraft can’t be dispatched, we can also keep our secrets. Take out the weapon and teach the Germans severely."

"I have no problem with using the artillery battalion. But the tank battalion." Regarding their proposal, I only agreed to use the artillery battalion and explained my reasons to the two of them. "Because our fuel and ammunition are limited, I mean for the time being Don’t use it. After all, the battle has only begun now. If our strength is exposed prematurely, it will attract more enemies to our direction. At that time, with the current strength of our division, it will be impossible to defend Mamayer. Fugang’s."

After listening to my statement, Kirilov no longer insisted on his opinion. After thinking for a while, he nodded and said: "Well, then send out our artillery battalion. I think it depends on our heavy howitzers and flying thunders. The artillery can crush the attacking enemy."

Just as we were having a good time talking, Razumeyeva suddenly shouted nervously: "Master, come here soon!"

Seeing her look flustered, I quickly walked to her, bent down and asked in a low voice: "What's the matter?"

She handed me the earphones and microphone, and at the same time whispered: "San Regiment's position is lost!"

"The position is lost?!" Although Razumeyeva's voice was small, it was like a bolt from the blue sky, and she almost smashed me and sat on the ground.

I put on the earphones and shouted at the microphone: "Hey, hello, is it Godunov?"

Godunov’s weak voice came from the earphones: “Comrade commander, the enemy’s infantry quietly touched the position when the shelling was over and the smoke had not cleared. After a squad of soldiers in our regiment stayed at the position found out, they A tenacious battle has been launched, but outnumbered, all have died heroically."

"Take it back, take the position back to me! When your second battalion arrives, immediately organize your troops to counterattack and take the position back to me." I yelled at him angrily: "If the position can't be taken back," You won't come back, just live and die with the battlefield."

I threw the earphones and microphone on the table angrily, and said to Kirilov and Akhromeyev who were surrounding him: "Godunov's position is lost."

My words surprised the two of them. Akhromeyev asked in surprise: "There are more than one hundred people on the high ground. How can you say that you lose your position?"

I said angrily: "When the bombardment was launched, Godunov said that the position on the northern **** of the 107.5 highland ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ had been destroyed by the enemy's shelling and bombardment, so he only stayed. After a squad of soldiers were on guard, the rest of the soldiers retreated to the southern **** to stand by. Unexpectedly, after the shelling was over, the German infantry took advantage of the smoke that had not yet dissipated to touch the position. The soldier of the squad who held the position. Although he acted very bravely, he died because of the outnumbered. I have ordered Godunov to organize a counterattack as soon as the troops of the second battalion arrive, and must take back the position from the enemy."

When I said this, Nadya called me timidly: "Master, Lieutenant Colonel Sergeikov, the commander of the regiment, wants to talk to you."

I have not yet been liberated from the wrath of losing the position of the three regiments. I heard that the commander of the regiment was looking for me again. I was worried that the same problem was the same, so I was quite rude when I said: "Lieutenant Colonel Sejerikov, what do you have? Want to report to me? Didn’t you also tell me that your position was occupied by the Germans?"

"Ah?! What position is occupied? Comrade commander, I don't understand what you are saying." Sergeikov's tone was a little nervous. After a moment of silence, he said loudly to me: "Reporter commander, there was just a moment of silence. The enemy tried to touch our position while the smoke was not over, but we found it and repelled it. Now the comrades of the political comrades, with the soldiers of the second battalion, are carrying out a counter-charge, trying to wipe out this enemy To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly pass. Your support is my biggest motivation.)