Burning Moscow

I ordered the soldiers of the guard company to act as a guest correspondent, sending telegram orders one after another to General Guriyev. It wasn't until the afternoon that the telegram forwarding stopped. Just when I thought it could come to an end, Cui Kefu actually called me directly.

Hearing my voice, he couldn’t wait to say: "Oshanina, I don’t want to hide it from you. Our situation is very bad now. The commander of the Volga Fleet, Major General Rogachev, told me that although they have already used it. All available forces, risking ship destruction and death, brought supplies from the east coast. However, due to the continuous shelling and bombing by the enemy, we have lost 5 of the 6 cargo ships that we transported on the Volga River. One ship is left for use. As a result, the original plan to transport the artillery regiment belonging to the 39th Guards Division at noon today can only be postponed indefinitely."

"Comrade Commander," I heard Cui Kefu say that the artillery regiment of the 39th Guards Division could not reach the designated position on time. I immediately understood that he must want me to transfer the artillery battalion to the guards, so I immediately asked him for instructions: " I understand what you mean, what instructions do you have, I will implement it right away!"

"Now that you understand what I want to say, then I won't go around in circles." Cui Kefu was particularly refreshed when he heard my promise, and he stopped hesitating, but said straightforwardly: "I need you to send an artillery battalion to serve. The divisions on offensive missions increase the necessary artillery support."

"Comrade Commander please rest assured, I promise to complete the task."

"Very good." After Cui Kefu said this, he planned to hang up, but I stopped him in time. He asked curiously: "Oshanina. Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

"That's it. Comrade Commander." It has been almost a day since they lost contact with Major Pugachev. Without further information from them, my heart was still unreliable, so I quickly took advantage of the opportunity to talk with Cui Kefu to inquire about their whereabouts, so I summoned up the courage to ask Cui Kefu: "Comrade Commander, this is how it is. Yesterday, after completing the relief operation of the headquarters, I did not have two infantry companies and two tanks. Did I participate in the battle to recover the primary school? I want to ask, how are they now?"

Cui Kefu was silent for a moment and replied: "As far as I know, after the two tanks seized the school, they ran out of fuel and ammunition. They had to blow up in order not to leave it to the Germans. As for the infantry. They lost almost half of the casualties in the battle to seize the teaching building. The remaining people are now standing in the building, covering the artillery observers to continuously provide shooting parameters for the artillery of our group army. That's right. The commander of yours. Major Pugachev and Major Perskin of the tank battalion are still alive. They are directing the troops to continue fighting."

Knowing that Pugachev and Perskin were safe and sound, I took a long sigh of relief and thanked Cui Kefu repeatedly on the phone: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Commander. Thank you for telling me such good news. Would you please? Don't worry, I will personally bring artillery troops to help the commanders of the guards and drive back the German troops who have stormed into the city."

"Very well, since you are so confident, then I wish you good luck!"

Putting down the phone, I called Morozov to the command post and told him about the task of assisting the guards in tackling fortifications. Finally, I asked him: "Major, do you think there is any difficulty?"

Morozov thought for a while, then nodded and replied: "Commander, it is difficult to say that there must be some. The current situation of the artillery battalion, as you know, is that there is only one dissatisfied mortar company in the battalion. An anti-tank artillery company and a heavy howitzer detachment. If you just stick to the Mamayev Hill, all the artillery can go into battle. But if you go to the city to participate in the fortification, I think the heavy artillery is inconvenient to move, or just Just bring the mortar with you."

"Okay, it's up to you which troop to send!" I promptly expressed support for what Morozov said. After thinking for a while, I tentatively asked, "Comrade Major, do you think you can also bring the Thunder Cannon?"

After hearing my last sentence, Morozov quickly shook his head like a rattle: "No, no, comrade commander, this is absolutely impossible."

His words made me wonder. Although the flying thunder cannon is a little bit less accurate, it has great lethality. It is an invincible weapon for siege of the city. Why not use it?

Seeing my face full of doubts, he quickly explained to me: "Comrade commander, this is the case. Although the flying thunder cannon has great lethality, the flying distance is not far, only more than two hundred meters, which happened to be in the enemy's machine gun. Within the range. Before we set up the launch tube, the enemy’s machine gun fire can wipe out all our soldiers. So I strongly suggest to you that you still need to be cautious about the use of flying thunder cannons, and it’s best to use them at night. It’s not easy to expose the target."

"Understood." I was upset at the thought of not being able to use the flying thunder cannon, and I waved at Morozov: "Well, Major Morozov, go and gather your troops and wait for me at the foot of the mountain. , I will go down soon."

Morozov agreed, saluted us and turned and left.

As soon as Morozov left, Akhromeyev said worriedly: "Master, you are the leader of a division, how can you do such an adventurous thing. If you have any shortcomings, the teacher will be messed up. "

Hearing his words of such concern, I couldn't help but warm up. I smiled at him and Kirilov, who was standing next to him blankly, and said to the two of them: "Political commissar, chief of staff, you have also heard it. Sending soldiers to fight with the guards, this is the command that Commander Cuikov personally gave me. I can’t go if I don’t.” At this point, I walked to Kirillov, who ignored me, and raised my hand to embrace his shoulder. , Hippie said with a smile: "Comrade political comrade, you are also the main leader of the division. When I am away, you and the chief of staff will be responsible for the work in the division."

Unexpectedly, Kirilov, who has always been very accommodating to me, said with a full face: "Comrade Oshanina, as your political commissar, I have to remind you that you are the commander of a division, not a company commander or a battalion commander. . You must always keep in mind. Your position is in the division headquarters. Instead of charging and engulfing like ordinary grass-roots commanders. For this kind of task of assisting friendly forces, I think it is appropriate to send Major Morozov to it. You don’t need you personally. Go out."

Kirilov's words in a head-to-head manner made me speechless. When I was hesitating how to persuade him, Razumeyeva ran over in a hurry, stood in the middle of the two of us, and reported loudly: "Report to the division commander, political commissar, and group army command." The telegram was handed over to me. At the same time, I added a sentence: "It's a telegram for you, it doesn't need to be forwarded to the guards."

I took the telegram and only looked at it a few times. I was shocked. I thrust the telegram into Kirilov's hand, strode to the table, and leaned over to look at the map lying on the table.

Akhromeyev didn't know what was wrong, and hurriedly asked, "Comrade Commander, what happened?"

I patted the map on the table with my hand, and said angrily: "The enemy's assault force has just occupied the central railway station. The group army and the central area of ​​Stalingrad have been cut into two sections. At present, the main force of the group army has been separated. In the area north of the Tsaritsa River.

At the same time, Paulus launched an assault on the town of Red October, north of Mamayevgang, with two infantry divisions and 150 tanks. This assault was countered by our 95th Infantry Division, the 284th Division and the 137th Tank Brigade. We also promptly brought the 193rd Infantry Division under the command of General Smekhotvorov. It was transferred from the western suburbs of Red October Town in the Vishnevaya Valley to fight to strengthen the force in this direction. "

Kirilov, who had just walked to the table, put down the telegram and said with a serious face: "With the departure of the 193rd Infantry Division, apart from the militia, there are no more regular troops of our army near the factory area. It’s not that I look down on our militia, but their equipment and training are not as good as the enemy who is attacking the factory area. Therefore, the 39th Guards Division must destroy the German army entrenched near the gully in the shortest time and rush into it. The factory area meets with the militia forces that are standing there."

Seeing that Kirilov said this, I knew that I might not be opposed to bringing troops to attack, so I struck while the iron was hot and said: "If this is the case, then I will immediately bring the mortar company and the guards. The main force converged and quickly rushed to the gully area to eliminate the German forces occupying there and converge with the militia forces in the factory area."

Kirilov shook my hand silently and shook it vigorously. It took a long time before he said: "Comrade commander, pay attention to safety. Major Akhromeyev and I are waiting for you to come back safely!"

"Don't worry, I will definitely come back. The bullet that can kill me has not been produced yet." I said confidently. To reassure the two of them, I deliberately added: "I will let Buss Manoff took a platoon with me so that you don’t have to worry about my safety."

"One platoon is not enough!" The two said in unison: "You can simply bring the second company of guards with you!"

"It's not necessary, it's not necessary." I waved my hand repeatedly to deny the proposal of the two, "With the combat power of the guard company, one platoon is more than enough. Let them stay on the high ground and be responsible for the guard work of the division." After that, before the two of them could say anything against it, I hurriedly left the headquarters with Basmanov, who had been standing by.

At the foot of the mountain, I saw Morozov and his mortar company waiting in the fortification at the foot of the mountain. Seeing me walking down the traffic trench, Morozov hurriedly shouted the password, gathered all the soldiers in his hand, and formed a neat square in front of me.

Looking at the energetic artillery soldier, I nodded in satisfaction, and then asked Morozov: "Comrade Major, how many guns does the mortar company have? Is there enough ammunition?"

Morozov replied loudly: "Report to Comrade Commander, there are 12 mortars left in the company, each with two ammunition bases, and there is no problem in providing artillery support to our offensive troops."

I was very satisfied with Morozov’s answer, and then turned and told Basmanov: "Comrade Captain, you bring the soldiers from the guard platoon to help Major Morozov’s gunners carry ammunition. Remember, now if you carry two more boxes of shells. , After a while, we can sacrifice a few soldiers."

"Master," Basmanov turned around to leave when he saw that I had finished telling him, so he couldn't help but tentatively asked, "Where are you going to go?"

I pointed to the motorcycle that was parked on the side of the road and had been carrying out the letter today, and said, "Where else can I go. I'll take that motorcycle to Soviet Street. Go to General Guryev. Let us provide them with gunfire." Notify them of the news of support.” After finishing speaking, I waved to Basmanov, walked straight to the motorcycle, got into the sidecar, and then ordered the motorcyclists to rush to Soviet Avenue.

On the road, when I saw a neatly lined team approaching us, I habitually looked up at the sky, fearing that several enemy planes would appear in the sky at this time. Indiscriminate bombing of the marching troops. But fortunately, there is nothing in the gray sky, so I feel more at ease in my heart.

When I passed by the army, I asked the motorcyclist to stop by the side of the road. Then I called a passing commander who looked like a company commander and asked him loudly, "Hey, Comrade Lieutenant, I know your commander, General Guriyev. Where is it?"

The lieutenant turned and pointed to the Soviet Avenue in the distance, and replied loudly, "Comrade Colonel, our commander is in the third building on the right after entering the street."

After thanking the lieutenant, I let the motorcyclist move on. At this time, the cold wind blew the smell of gunpowder and blood from the high ground. Let me further realize how cruel the battle the guards fought a few hours ago.

I saw Guriyev on the second floor of the building the lieutenant said. I quickly raised my hand and saluted him and reported: "Comrade General, the headquarters understands that our division will send artillery to assist your troops in counterattacking the gully area."

"What?" Guriyev, who was surprised by my sudden appearance, couldn't help being surprised when he heard what I said. He asked in astonishment, "Let the division’s artillery provide us with artillery cover, I heard it right?"

I nodded hurriedly and said affirmatively: "Yes, Comrade General. I received the order from Commander Cuikov to lead a mortar company to join your department and provide you with the necessary artillery support during the offensive."

"But according to the river crossing plan, our artillery regiment can arrive in half an hour at most. Why do you want your artillery battalion to support us?" Guriyev continued to ask, confused.

"That's it, Comrade General." Due to poor communication, Guriyev didn't know until now that almost all ships on the Volga River were sunk, so I could only explain to him: "According to the command It was reported that due to the continuous shelling and bombing by the enemy, five of the six cargo ships that were transporting on the Volga River had lost five, and only one remained available. As a result, it was originally scheduled to transport artillery belonging to the 39th Guards Division at noon today. The regiment’s plan can only be postponed indefinitely."

After hearing the bad news, Guriyev showed a desperate expression on his face. He murmured: "It's over, it's over, there is no cover of artillery fire. When the enemies entrenched in the gully area are wiped out, I am close. The guards are almost completely exhausted."

Seeing him so depressed, I quickly comforted him: "Comrade General, please don't worry. Although your artillery regiment cannot cross the river for the time being, my artillery should still be able to provide your troops with the artillery support they need to attack."

Hearing what I said, Guriyev's eyes suddenly lit up. He rushed over and grabbed my arm, shook it vigorously, and asked excitedly: "Great, this is great. Colonel Oshanina, you How many cannons does the artillery under his hand have?"

I forcibly endured the pain in my arm, sucked in the cold air, gritted my teeth and replied: "Although there is only one mortar company, we have twelve mortars. The soldiers have participated in many battles and have a wealth of By the way, Comrade General, there’s one more thing I haven’t had time to tell you. The enemy has just occupied the Central Railway Station again. The group army’s troops and the central area of ​​Stalingrad have been cut into two sections. The main force is separated from the area north of the Tsaritsa River. Since Paulus is also launching an offensive in other areas, the group army headquarters has already emptied the regular troops near the factory area in order to block the enemy, which means that only equipment and equipment are left. If your militiamen are poorly trained, if your troops cannot eliminate the German forces entrenched in the gully area in time and rush to the factory area, the fall of the factory will be inevitable."

Hearing my painful voice, Guriyev realized his gaffe, quickly let go of the hand holding my arm, apologized to me, and then said: "Comrade Colonel, your mortar Where is it connected?"

While rubbing my aching arm with my hand, I replied: "My mortar company has rushed to the gully area. As long as your troops launch an offensive, they can provide artillery support in time."

He listened to me. Immediately waved to his men. At the same time, he said loudly: "Comrades. The situation is urgent, we set off immediately." He called me, and surrounded by a group of staff officers and guards under his staff, he left the simple command post and walked downstairs.

As soon as he reached the top of the stairs, he suddenly stopped and yelled, "Chernyshevsky!"

"Here!" As he shouted, a political worker squeezed from the entourage behind.

Guriyev pointed to the political worker and introduced to me: "Colonel Oshanina. This is Chernyshevsky, the director of the political department of our division." After speaking, he turned his head and looked at a height higher than himself. The head’s subordinates said, "Comrade Director of the Political Department, I will hand it over to you and the 112th Regiment at 107.5 Heights. You must assure me that you will firmly hold your position at all costs and will never let the enemy move forward. With your permission, the cowards who arbitrarily abandon their positions and retreat will be shot on the spot!"

Chernyshevsky snapped and stood at attention, and replied loudly, "Yes!"

Guriyev didn't know where he got a jeep. He asked the chief of staff of the division to sit in the seat of the co-pilot and sit in the back seat with me. As the name says, this way, the two of us can hurry up on the way to the ditch to study how to initiate the elimination of the enemy in the ditch.

When our car was halfway down the road, we suddenly saw a commander wearing a big brimmed hat running towards us, waving his arms while running, while shouting something loudly in his mouth. Seeing this scene, Guriyev quickly ordered the driver to speed up and rush over to figure out what happened.

The jeep stopped a few steps from the officer. Before the car stopped, Guriyev jumped out of the car and walked over to meet him. I quickly opened the door on the other side, got out of the car, and walked over.

I saw the commander’s collar with my hands on my legs bent over and panting heavily. It was the rank of major. I couldn’t help but sigh. Could something big happen, otherwise how could it be possible for a school-level officer? Is it so gaffe?

After waiting for his subordinates to breathe for a while, Guriyev asked, "Let’s talk about it, Comrade Major, what happened to you running in such a hurry?"

The major hurriedly straightened his body, took a deep breath, and reported: "Comrade commander, according to reports from the reconnaissance and friendly forces, a large number of enemy infantry and tanks are in the Vishnevaya Valley, the cemetery of the Red October town, and Dorji. The gully and the Crudo gully are assembled. At the same time, the 14th Division of the enemy tanks and the 94th Infantry Division and troops that have been replenished are coming from the southern outskirts of the city. The enemy's intentions are very clear. They are ready to attack the tractor factory and ' The barricade’s factory carries out new attacks."

Guriyev stretched his hand back and said without looking back, "Map."

His chief of staff ran past me, took out the folded map from his briefcase, opened it, and handed it to him. Guriyev pointed his finger at the map and asked the chief of staff: "Where are we?"

The chief of staff looked at it, then quickly pointed to a position, and said with certainty: "Comrade Commander, we are here, only about one kilometer away from the Dolji Gully. This is the nearest road to the factory area. "

"The Chief of Staff, immediately ordered the 114th Regiment to stop advancing and enter the attack position nearby, ready to attack the Dolji Gully." After knowing where his troops were, Guriyev decisively issued an order: "The 113th Regiment continues. Going in the direction of Crudeau Gully, and after eliminating the enemy in the gully, build fortifications on the spot and actively prepare for war."

When the Chief of Staff gave the order, Guriyev turned his head and said apologetically to me: "Colonel Oshanina, maybe your artillery has already arrived at the Krudau Gully, but the focus of our offensive is on the front. Dolji ditched, so I have to trouble you to transfer the troops over."

"No problem, I'll do it right away." After speaking, I turned and walked towards the motorcycle following the jeep. Walking in front of the motorcyclist, I said to him: "Comrade soldier, I order you to rush to the vicinity of the Krudau Gully and inform Major Morozov and Captain Basmanov so that they can fire the mortar immediately. Even transferred to the Crudeau gully. If they ask why, you tell him that our offensive focus is here. Go!"

The motorcyclist raised his hand to salute, hit the accelerator, and drove the motorcycle away quickly.

The first battalion of the 113th Guards Regiment was the vanguard of this attack. The entire battalion had more than 400 commanders and fighters in a scattered formation, bending over with their weapons. He moved quickly toward the gully filled with **** on both sides.

There are still seventy to eighty meters away from the five or six meters high **** pile. The German machine guns placed on top of the **** pile fired. The warrior who rushed to the front fell down a lot. The one behind hastily lay down, lying on the ground crackling back, and the dense bullets splashed the **** on the top of the slope.

The two outermost firepower points were finally eliminated. When soldiers rushed into the gully, the German firepower points arranged on the **** piles on both sides opened fire again. Under the impact of the enemy's intensive crossfire, our heroic commanders fell in pieces, but continued to rush forward regardless.

Standing on the high ground behind and watching the battle with a telescope, I couldn’t help but said to Guriyev worriedly: "Comrade General. The enemy’s firepower on both sides of the ditch is too fierce. If we want our soldiers to continue to charge like this, it will cost quite a bit. A heavy price."

Although Guriyev could gritted his teeth, he still said without hesitation: "Colonel Oshanina, how can you survive a battle? If we can't quickly seize the ditch, we will wait for the enemy's troops to come up. There is a danger of the entire army being wiped out. Once our division is wiped out by the Germans, do you think that the militia in the factory district can be brave enough to stop the Germans armed to their teeth like wolves?"

Watching the soldiers fall one after another under the firepower of the enemy. I became more unbearable, so I said tactfully: "Comrade General. My artillery unit should be there soon. When they arrive and use artillery to suppress the enemy’s firepower, let your unit launch an offensive. I think In this way, the enemy can be wiped out quickly, and the militia units in the factory area can be merged through the gully."

Guriyev was not a stubborn person either. After hearing what I said, he hesitated a little and gave the command to stop the attack to the chief of staff standing nearby. This is the case. Only less than half of the commanders and fighters who were withdrawn from the first battalion involved in the offensive were left, and most of them suffered varying degrees of injury.

Ten minutes later, Morozov brought a mortar company to the place where Guriyev and I were. I quickly ordered him to arrange artillery positions, and then said to Guriyev: "Comrade General, my artillery will be ready soon. Position, your troops can attack again."

Guriyev nodded, and then issued an order to the Chief of Staff: "The Chief of Staff, since the artillery has arrived, you should immediately find the commander of the 113th regiment and ask him to attack immediately. Remember, this attack must be sent. The man held the guard's flag and rushed to the forefront."

Not long after the chief of staff left, the guards launched a second attack.

In the constant sound of gunshots and shouts of killing, more than a thousand officers and men of the 39th Guards Division braved the enemy's bullets and rushed to the enemy's position. Although the commanders who charged in the front were shot and fell from time to time, the commanders who followed not only did not stop the charge, but accelerated the speed of the charge even more unflinchingly. The flag held high by the soldiers of the Guards, although from time to time fell down in the smoke of gunfire and gunfire, it was quickly raised again by the soldiers who washed up from behind. The bright red flag of UU reading www.uukanshu.com was always flying. At the top of the queue.

The enemy army was already at the end of the crossbow. Facing such a desperate play by the guards, the entire defense line showed signs of loosening. Morozov’s mortarers, after setting up a dozen mortars, fired decisively after a little aim. The dense artillery shells flew to the German positions and exploded in the enemy's battle formation. The parts of the stumps and arms and weapons rose into the air with the smoke of gunpowder.

After several rounds of shooting, the morale of the terrified German soldiers disappeared. They dropped the weapons in their hands and turned around and fled. Their escape meant that the ditch was recaptured by the commanders of the guards.

Seeing the fleeing enemy army and the imposing guard soldiers, Guriyev couldn't help taking off his military cap, raising it high above his head, cheering like no one else: "Good kind, good kind of close. Guard soldiers!" (To be continued...)

ps: I would like to thank the book friend Peibin for two votes for his support! Thank you book friend old godfather and Chu Tiehua for your monthly support! Thanks to the book friends, the legendary tree rewards 588 coins, and Jiangdong Xuanfu rewards 100 coins

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