Burning Moscow

Before I called Cuikov, I suddenly remembered something, so I removed my hand from the phone and asked Savchenko tentatively: "Comrade Savchenko, is there a German soldier monitoring team in the Eastern Camp?"

Savchenko nodded and replied affirmatively: "Yes, according to Captain Karpov, there is a soldier monitoring team composed of five German soldiers in the camp."

Hearing his answer, my heart suddenly became bottomless, and I couldn't help asking nervously: "You didn't get into the camp, right?"

Savchenko thought for a while, and said in an uncertain tone: "I don't think I found it!"

"Is there or not? Comrade Savchenko, I don't want to hear your ambiguous answer, I want to know the accurate answer." Kirilov said to Savchenko in a serious tone: "Because it is related to The success or failure of our instigation action this time."

Kirilov's words were very heavy, and Savchenko frowned and began to think hard. After a long time, he still reported in a hesitant tone: "The commander, political commissar, whether this was discovered by the Germans, I really cannot be sure. However, according to Captain Karpov, the Germans wanted to secure the artillery position. It’s safe to stay with a few heavy howitzers all day long, and rarely go anywhere else. The camp where we met was near the entrance of the camp, hundreds of meters away from the artillery position where the Germans stayed. "

The expression on Kirilov's face became serious, and he kindly persuaded me: "Comrade Oshanina, I think this matter should be taken seriously, before we can figure out our private contact with Captain Karpov. Whether we have been in contact with Captain Karpov. Before the Germans found out, I felt that I would not report to the headquarters for the time being. At the same time, the ongoing countermeasures work was temporarily suspended."

In all honesty, Kirilov’s proposal is the safest approach. If we report to the headquarters here, Karpov's back foot will be taken by the Germans, and we will be in vain, and we will lose the face of the superiors. Based on this consideration, I can't help but hesitate.

Seeing that I was not in a hurry to call Trikov, Kirilov struck while the iron was hot and said, "Comrade Oshanina. I know your starting point is to change the current unfavorable situation. But have you thought about it, even if we They agreed to Karpov’s request and accepted them, but they added a weaker combat force, and the Germans just lost an irrelevant rebel army. The situation in the entire Stalingrad area, It will not have a big impact."

"Comrade Political Commissar, you can't say that." I retorted Kirilov's point in time. I tried to recall the historical knowledge that I learned in later life. Analyze the current situation for him: "Comrade Political Commissar, you must not underestimate the force of the Eastern Battalion. As far as I know, after the terrible defeat of the Germans under Moscow, the policy towards prisoners of war also changed. German commander In Hitler’s acquiescence in Xi’an, he began to select people from our country’s ethnic minorities and prisoners of war to form the so-called “Oriental Legion.” So far, the German army has formed the “Armenian Legion” with 11 battalions and the “Azerbaijani Legion” with 14 battalions. Legion, 14 battalions of the Georgian Legion, 5 battalions of the Caucasus Muslim Legion composed of Azerbaijanis, Chechens, etc., 34 battalions of the Turkestan Legion, and 8 battalions of the Volga Tatar Legion In August this year, after the German Southern Army Group captured Elista, the capital of the Soviet Kalmyk Autonomous Republic, Germany carried out anti-Soviet propaganda in this Kalmyk-Mongol settlement area and successfully recruited 3,000 deceived by them. Kalmyk Mongols."

The series of data I mentioned, not only Kirilov, but even Akhromeyev and Savchenko were stunned. After a while, Kirilov asked cautiously: "Comrade Oshanina, are the data you mentioned accurate?"

I nodded vigorously and said affirmatively: "Yes, what I said is only the information from the beginning of September. Maybe now the German army has formed a new Dongfang Battalion, maybe." When I said this, I suddenly decided in my heart. Determined, I felt that he should report Karpov's conditions to Trikov, and they would decide how to deal with it. But the first thing to do is to persuade Kirilov, who is already a little shaken in front of him, "Comrade political comrades, in fact, the Germans are still worried about the officers and soldiers of the Eastern Army, and they are worried that they will fight back in battle, so these troops The battalions were scattered and deployed to the various German troops, and a soldier monitoring team was sent to achieve the purpose of control. Once the rebellion is successful, it can serve the purpose of disintegrating the Eastern Army. If we give up our fight for them, It is possible to strengthen their confidence to serve the Germans, and in this way, we will push them to the opposite of ours invisibly."

What I said made Kirilov like a divine initiation. After hearing this, he got up from his seat and said to me resolutely: "Comrade Oshanina, what you said is right, regardless of our Karpo Whether his husband’s contact was discovered by the Germans, he should immediately report to him. Let’s call Cui Kefu myself.” After speaking, he reached out and grabbed the phone on the table.

I reached out and held his hand on the microphone, shook his head and said, "Comrade political comrade, I am not only the chief military officer in the division, but also the advocate of this rebellion. Anyway, I will report this to my superiors. I should do this. Even if the superiors blamed me and dismissed me for investigation, I can rest assured that there are you and Akhromeyev in the division." After speaking, I gently moved his hand away. , Picked up the phone on the desk and dialed the number of the group army headquarters.

When I heard Trikov’s voice, I reported to him in detail the contact with Karpov and the other party’s four conditions. After that, I added: "Comrade Commander, this is the situation. I personally think that Karpov’s four conditions are completely acceptable to us."

After Cui Kefu heard what I said, he did not speak unexpectedly. After being silent for a long time, he sighed softly, and said helplessly: "I can achieve the rest of the conditions, but the safety of the dependents must be guaranteed. It is not my choice. You know. According to an order issued by the Supreme Command. The families of deserters and captured personnel are almost all taken into exile. What’s more troublesome is that we don’t know where Karpov’s officers and soldiers are and what their names are. How can I help them find the whereabouts of their loved ones?"

Hearing what Cui Koff said was very tactful, so I hesitated to suggest to him: "Why don't I ask Karpov to remove this condition when we contact next time, and replace it with a new one that we can accept?"

"New conditions?!" Cui Kefu suddenly became interested when he heard me say this. He asked curiously: "Oshanina, if you ask him to change conditions, what new conditions will he offer?"

I thought hard and replied to Cui Kefu: "If I am asked to make conditions, I will propose to transfer us to other combat areas after the troops are anyway, so as to avoid direct fighting with other Eastern Battalion troops."

Cui Kefu gave a hum, and then said thoughtfully: "I also think that if you ask him to re-impose the conditions, it is really possible to mention the conditions you mentioned. Although the commanders of the Eastern Battalions come from different places, the following The soldiers of the United States are intertwined. They are inextricably linked. If they are allowed to switch their guns to fight with their fellow villagers or friends, the troops may have infighting."

"Comrade Commander, since you have agreed to the other party's three conditions in principle." Seeing that Cui Kefu showed no signs of anger, I hurriedly asked while the iron was hot: "You see when I should send someone to do the second. Contact?"

"No hurry, this matter is not in a hurry for the time being." Cui Kefu said nonchalantly: "I can't give you an accurate answer for the time being. I need to ask my superiors for instructions. I will notify you when the results are available."

After I put down the phone, Ahromeyev couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade commander, what did the commander say, did you agree to the other party's terms?"

"The commander said, this matter is put on hold, and he will notify us after he asks his superiors for instructions."

"Why is this?" Akhromeyev asked confusedly.

"Cough cough," Kirilov who was next to him suddenly coughed twice. When everyone's attention was focused on him, he turned his head and said kindly to Savchenko who was standing next to him: "Comrade Savchenko , You have been busy all night, are you tired? Hurry back and have a good rest. If there is anything, I will send someone to inform you."

Without a word, Savchenko raised his hand to salute and turned away.

As soon as Savchenko left, Kirilov sighed and said leisurely: "Commander Cuikov is doing the right thing. This matter is of great importance. If there is no approval from a higher-level leader, what will happen in the future? If so, none of us can run away."

Regarding Kirilov’s statement, Akhromeyev said unconvincingly: "Comrade Political Commissar, I don’t see what’s wrong with this? Moreover, once it succeeds, it will not only strengthen us and weaken the enemy, but also Damaging their morale."

"What do you know?!" Kirilov snorted heavily at Akhromeyev, and said grimly: "Have you forgotten about Marshal Kurik?"

Kirilov’s words were like casting a forbidden spell on Akhromeyev. He immediately closed his mouth obediently and sat back to his place without saying a word.

Seeing this scene, it confused me. I asked Kirilov inexplicably, "Comrade Political Commissar, what is going on? What happened to Marshal Kulik?" In my memory, except for killing three during the Great Purge. Apart from a marshal, Stalin never killed a marshal again, and the name of Kulik didn't sound familiar.

Kirilov looked around vigilantly, and then said in a voice that could only be heard by the three of us: "After the Great Patriotic War began, the Supreme Commander himself sent three of his five marshals to the central front. Overseeing the operations of the Western Front. Krykov held the position of representative of the base camp. Like Marshal Budjoni, his personal bravery is beyond doubt. But unfortunately, Kulik was caught in the battlefield almost as soon as he entered the battlefield. In the chaos, even lost contact with the rear. For a long time, Stalin and the Soviet Supreme Command were afraid that he was surrounded by the German army, and even captured by the German army. For this reason, several groups of people were sent to find him. When Kulik was finally found on the chaotic battlefield, it was discovered that the representative of the Supreme Command was not directing operations in the headquarters, but was performing the duties of a company commander, busy intercepting and organizing the rout of skirmishers. Get up and retreat while fighting. After this incident, Comrade Stalin began to doubt the ability of this old comrade-in-arms to master troops and respond in a complex situation.

soon after. Stalin transferred him to Leningrad. Served as commander of the 54th Army. Because the 54th Group Army is a group army directly under the base camp and is responsible for operations at Volkhov and Mga Bulge, its forces far exceed the general group army. Moreover, the commander of the Leningrad Front, who had the right to direct him in combat, was Kulik's old superior Marshal Voroshilov. But soon, General Zhukov was ordered to replace Voroshilov in command of the Leningrad Front, and soon there was a conflict with Kulik. At that time, Zhukov asked Kulik to immediately launch an offensive against the Mga protrusion from the outside in order to contain the German offensive towards Leningrad and alleviate the plight of Leningrad defenders. Kulik believes that with his current strength and equipment. Launching an offense can only fail, so delays repeatedly. Judging from the situation of the enemy and ourselves at the time, Kulik may be right, but Zhukov considered the problem from the overall situation of the campaign. Even if Kulik's offensive fails, it can still help Leningrad's situation. Oshanina, you have been dealing with General Zhukov for a long time. You should know that his personality is extremely tough. Even if Kulik's rank is higher than him, he is directly under the base camp. But he still insisted on his own opinion and tried to command Kulik. Finally, the lawsuit hit the Supreme Commander himself. Stalin transferred Kulik from the Leningrad front and gave Zhukov full authority to command all troops in the Leningrad region.

Marshal Kulik was sent to the Kerch Peninsula to direct the battle. Unexpectedly, in just a few days, his command errors led to the fall of the entire Crimean Peninsula except Sevastopol. This time, Marshal Kulik completely angered the benefactor of the Supreme Commander-in-chief. He was soon deprived of the rank of marshal, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and all national rewards by the Special Court of the Supreme Court of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Supreme Soviet rostrum due to charges of ineffective combat and defeatism. The marshal was suddenly reduced to a private soldier. "

Hearing that the rank of the Marshal was beaten to the end, he became a private soldier, and thinking about the past when he was demoted from a major general to a major, I suddenly felt fortunate and felt that I was much luckier than him. Then I asked Kirilov in a low voice curiously: "Comrade Political Commissar, where has Kulik been transferred after he was demoted to a private soldier?"

Kirilov shrugged his shoulders when he heard my question, and said, "One month after he was demoted, he was reappointed as a major general, as if he went to a newly formed unit to become the artillery commander. After all, He is the creator of the Artillery of the Red Army and is known as the Tsaritsyn Artillery King."

I learned from Kirilov’s seemingly insignificant long talk: No matter how you have the ability before, once the Supreme Commander has a bad impression of you, then your future is almost ruined. But at the same time Kirilov also hinted that Zhukov is currently the most favored in front of the Supreme Commander, and that many things are possible as long as the newly promoted deputy commander passes through the new deputy commander.

Just as I was considering whether to send a telegram to Zhukov to report my current situation to the old superior, the phone on the desk rang first. Hearing the sudden ringing of the bell, I couldn't help but chuckle, and I said to myself that something was wrong, right?

Akhromeyev picked up the microphone and just said a few words. He suddenly stood up from his seat, held the microphone in both hands, and handed it to me. At the same time, he said respectfully: "Comrade Commander, this is the future call of Zhukov. He wants to Talk to you in person."

I heard that it was Zhukov’s call. I couldn’t help but wonder what he was calling for? Immediately after thinking of whether it was Cui Kefu who had reported to him about instigating rebellion, he called to ask him in person. Quickly grabbed the microphone in Akhromeyev's hand, put it close to his ear, took a deep breath, and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade General, I am Oshanina, do you have any instructions? ?"

When Zhukov spoke, he would never talk politely, nor would he say a few words to the caller, he always went straight to the subject every time, and this time was no exception. He only listened to him and asked angrily: "Comrade Cui Kefu called me and said that you are trying to instigate a rebel army that betrayed the motherland. Tell me, what do you think?"

As soon as Zhukov spoke, he classified Karpov's troops as rebels. If I had prepared it a long time ago, I didn't know how to say it. Seeing my delay in speaking, Zhukov urged impatiently: "Hey, Lida, why don't you speak? My time is precious. I can only give you a few minutes to explain your reasons. If I can't be convinced, Then your plan must be cancelled unconditionally."

Zhukov had such an episode. Instead, I calmed down. After sorting out ideas. I talked eloquently: "Comrade General, maybe many people have said to you that the officers and soldiers of the Dongfang Battalion are not good at fighting. But no matter how bad their fighting capacity is, they are soldiers who have fought after all. As long as we fight with them, we will be exhausted. Advantages, there will still be losses. It is conceivable that if we can make them switch their guns to hit the Germans, it will inevitably let the Germans deploy a part of their forces to guard against them, so that the pressure on our front will be reduced and we can The saved troops are invested in much-needed areas, and it can even change the contrast between enemy and our forces on the local battlefield."

"Even if you instigated this battalion, their strength was limited, and it would not have a big impact on the strength of the enemy and ourselves in the entire Stalingrad area. Is it necessary to spend such a large amount of effort?" From Zhukov's words, I heard Although he was a little tempted, he still had obvious scruples at the same time.

"Comrade General. I think so." For a leader as familiar as Zhukov, I have much less scrupulous when speaking. Therefore, I know that there is no limit to words. "If Captain Karpov’s troops succeed anyway, the significance is not only the change in the strength of the enemy and the enemy, but also the importance of the German military to the rest of the Eastern Battalion troops. From now on, the German army will be wary of the rest of the Dongfang Battalion, and will not let them directly participate in the battle, or even move them far away from our army. In this case, we will face the pressure It can also be mitigated to varying degrees.” Finally, he added: “Comrade General, it’s not a day or two for me to have this idea. I think we should not only attack the enemy military, but also fight political wars with them. Those troops who detached themselves from them, split out from them, and strive for all the forces that can be obtained to strengthen us. Even if those troops cannot stand on the same front with us, we must ensure that they remain neutral in the battle between us and the Germans. This way It can alleviate the pressure we endure when fighting."

"Your words are very reasonable." Zhukov finally uttered a compliment to me, and then he talked about Cui Kefu and their views like old friends: "Although Cui Kefu reported to me yesterday about the rebellion plan you mentioned, but He and you have two completely different views. You want to bring Karpov’s troops here, but Trikov just wants to use this force anyway, using the cannons in their camp to bombard the surrounding German camps. As for how many troops can protrude from the German encirclement in the end, just let it go.

Zhukov's words scared me into a cold sweat. I didn't expect that Cuikov and the others just wanted to use Karpov and them all at once. After the use, they left them to fend for themselves. Thinking of this, I asked Zhukov nervously: "Comrade General, I don't know what you plan to do with Karpov's troops?"

"Captain Karpov's four conditions, except for the dependents, I can agree to them." Zhukov said decisively: "If you have time someday, I suggest you go to his camp in person and meet face to face. He talked to determine his determination anyway. And when they are anyway, you must send the strongest troops to meet them. Even if the troops sent out are all gone, you must ensure that Karpov’s troops are not lost and Minimize losses. As you just said, Karpov’s Eastern Battalion, anyway, is not only about changing the strength of the enemy and the enemy on the battlefield, but also shaking the enemy’s military spirit and effectively damaging the enemy’s morale. ."

Zhukov's words made me feel like a spring breeze. Thanks to his clear support, I became more confident about the next countermeasures. I sweared to him: "Comrade General, please rest assured, I promise to complete the task you gave me."

Putting down the phone, I saw Kirilov and Akhromeyev's faces filled with uncontrollable smiles. Knowing that they might have heard the conversation between me and Zhukov more or less, I said to them: " The political commissar, chief of staff, and General Zhukov just talked to me. Surely you have heard it?” Seeing that both of them nodded and admitted, I went on to say, “Since our plan for rebellion has been supported by the general, I believe that I will be When the husband meets again, he can be firmer in his determination anyway. Next, we will discuss, if Dongfangying is anyway, how can we take them out of danger?"

If you don’t discuss it, you don’t know. After a discussion, it was discovered that the position of the Dongfang Battalion was surrounded by three German divisions. No matter which direction it rushed out from, it would inevitably have to engage in a firefight with the German forces in one of the directions. Moreover, the German combat formation in this area is extremely dense. Once the battle starts and the encirclement cannot be highlighted in the shortest time, what awaits them is the end of annihilation of the entire army. Even if we send a response unit in the past, we will not send too much. Order someone to die.

Akhromeyev saw us discussing for a long time, but did not think of a reasonable way, was so angry that he slapped the table and complained: "It's really troublesome. Karpov’s Eastern Battalion was sandwiched by three German divisions. If we want to take them out, we must fight with German troops. Without air dominance and lack of tanks and artillery, we want to enter the enemy's tightly defended area, let alone a regiment, even if all divisions are filled in. It doesn’t necessarily open a gap."

Although Akhromeyev’s words were angry, they were also truthful. I looked at the map on the table and thought about the various assumptions I had just discussed. I found that there was really no other way to take Karpo out of the storm. The husband camp came out, and it seemed that I was still too wishful thinking. When I think of this, I can't help being extremely frustrated.

After Akhromeyev's complaint, he turned to look at Kirilov and asked him: "Comrade political comrade~www.wuxiaspot.com~ don't know what you think?"

Kirilov sneered, and said disapprovingly: "Since our troops can't fight in, and Karpov's troops can't fight out, otherwise we simply follow Commander Cuikov's thinking. Karpov's troops are doing anyway. After that, kill the members of the soldier inspection team sent by the German army to the camp, and then turn the muzzle and fire at the nearby German camp. It can be destroyed as much as possible. After the shells are cleared, find a way to break through the direction of Mamayev Hill. , Count as much as you can rush out."

"No, resolutely no!" As soon as Kirilov finished speaking, I did not hesitate to veto: "We spent so much effort to instigate Karpov camp, although the changes in the strength of the enemy and us are only inconspicuous. However, it can hit the morale of the enemy and serve the purpose of disintegrating the remaining army of the Eastern Legion. Once we easily abandon the Karpov Camp, those Eastern Legions will die in sorrow. These troops that are chilling to our performance will be It will completely fall to the Germans and become a big trouble for us in the future. So I am determined to disagree with the opinion of the political commissar." (To be continued.)

ps: Bow to thank book friend Few155 and Moge Fantongshoe for their voting support!

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