Burning Moscow

ps: I want to hear more of your voices and receive more suggestions from you. Now search the WeChat public account "qdread" and pay attention to it for more support! Back to the division headquarters, I asked Akhromeyev two questions in succession: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Captain Klimov and the messenger Sidorin have gone back to the headquarters of the group army? Second regiment one. What are the battalion troops doing now?"

"Reporter Commander," Akhromeyev seemed to have expected that I would ask this sentence a long time ago, so he reported without hesitation: "Yes, Captain Klimov and the messenger already carry our report. Returned to the headquarters of the group army. As for Captain Khorushov's troops, after they have cleaned the battlefield, they are building new fortifications on the 107.5 heights."

I nodded and added: "The Germans will soon know about the 107.5 highland we captured. Because the highland has been occupied by the enemy for a while, the wreckage of tanks, armored vehicles, and trucks that were destroyed in front of the position is completely clear. The north side has resumed its easy-to-attack and difficult-to-defend posture, so the first battalion must build a complete defense system in the shortest possible time to resist the violent offensive that the enemy may launch.

"The commander is right," Deputy commander Pantaiyev added next to him: "The enemy is absolutely unwilling to lose the 107.5 heights, and will definitely send heavy troops to fight for it. It is foreseeable that in the coming days, this high ground will Become the focus of contention between the enemy and ours."

Kirilov came over, handed Bantai Leyev a cigarette, and sighed: "There is no way, we lack heavy weapons, otherwise we won't be afraid of more enemies. If you want to defend this high ground, there is no solid and perfect one. The fortifications, in a day, Captain Khorushov’s battalion should be wiped out."

I stared at the map on the wall, thinking about the upcoming battle in my heart. In the absence of air superiority and heavy weapons such as tanks and artillery. To fight a war of attrition with the Germans at 107.5 Heights, it is estimated that the entire Second Regiment must be thrown in. But in this way, we would not be able to mobilize enough troops to carry out the task of attacking northward and converging with the Don Front Army assigned by the group army headquarters.

Pantai Leyev walked to my side. He asked in a low voice, "Comrade Teacher, what are you thinking about?"

I pointed to the map and said: "Deputy commander, look at it, our superiors ordered us to attack the enemy in the north on the 21st, and try to join forces with the Don front army going south. But if you want to ensure the safety of the attacking force's flanks, you must The 107.5 high dungeon is firmly in our hands. If we want to defend this high ground, we must retain at least one regiment. Our division currently has only four regiments, and Mamayev Gang has to leave enough troops. Guarding, as a result, our forces for frontal offenses appear to be somewhat insufficient."

Pantai Leyev looked at the map and said disapprovingly: "But the enemy north of Mamayev Hill was still transferred northward to defend the Don front army? Even if we only dispatched two regiments, It can easily traverse a wide area of ​​tens of kilometers. Push to the rear of the German army."

Regarding Pantai Leyev's optimism, I really can't laugh or cry, just want to say something. Akhromeyev has already helped me first: "Comrade deputy commander, the situation is not as simple as you believe. Although the scouts reported that the German troops in the camp have basically been withdrawn, it just means that they have reconnaissance. The location is like this, and what those undetected locations are like, this is no one knows. In the numerous defense zones, maybe it is the battalion of several servant states or the conservative battalion of the East. It may also be German. Heavy troops are on guard, so the number of troops we participate in the offensive must not be small. Otherwise, we will not be able to complete the plan of meeting with friendly forces.

Pantaiyev frowned when he heard Akhromeyev's words. After a long time, he said slowly: "Comrade commander, it seems that we should send people to conduct reconnaissance to understand the enemy's defense in this area, so that we can make a targeted counterattack plan."

"Chief of Staff, let you arrange this matter." Kirilov, who also came to us sometime, heard the content of our conversation, so he gave instructions to Akhromeyev in time. . "It is necessary to find out the enemy's defense situation in this area as soon as possible."

"Wait a minute, Comrade Chief of Staff." When I saw Akhromeyev pick up the phone to call the troops below, I stopped him again, "Paid Grams and Captain Beckman's soldiers Go, they were originally Germans, and the documents they kept were all genuine. Even if they were interrogated by the German patrol, they would not reveal themselves."

"The division commander is right," Bantai Leyev said in agreement: "Tell the commander who led the team to prevent misunderstandings and accidental injuries and ask them to continue to wear our army uniforms before leaving the defensive area of ​​our division."

"Understood." Akhromeyev replied briefly and began to dial.

"Comrade Oshaninna," a familiar voice suddenly came from the door, and a few of us turned our heads and looked over, only to see Yelyomenko, who was inspected by the group army command, and his deputy, Lieutenant General, hurriedly left. Come in.

"Comrade Commander," I was really surprised to see Ye Leomenko appearing at this moment. I thought he had gone back to the east bank of the Volga earlier, but he was still in the city. I hurriedly greeted everyone, raised my hand to salute, and asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, why are you still in the city? We all thought we were back to the front army headquarters on the other side of the river."

Yeleimenko waved his hand, walked quickly to the table, picked up a tea mug on the table, and drank water gurglingly. I took the opportunity of the commander to drink water and quietly asked her husband: "Comrade Deputy Commander, you have been to the headquarters of the group army, how is the situation there?"

* The husband gave a wry smile and replied, "What else is terrible. When we went, what we saw was a bleak scene. The shelter of Cui Kefu's headquarters was like a big crater with logs. Exposed from the soil, all the surrounding objects are covered with this thick layer of cinder and dust..." Maybe it was because I looked nervous when I heard all this, and quickly added: "But Cui Kefu and his political commissar , The chief of staff is fine."

"Oshanina, come here." Yeliao Menko, who was full of tea, sat at the table and stretched out comfortably. Beckon me to pass, "I have something to ask you."

I walked up to Ye Leomenko and asked respectfully: "Comrade Commander, I wonder if you have any instructions?"

Ye Leomenko glanced at me, and then solemnly asked: "When I was at Cuikov headquarters. I heard that your division was going to attack a position occupied by the enemy. How is the situation now?"

Hearing this question, I immediately understood that Klimov and Sidorin, who were carrying the report, had not returned to the group army headquarters at this moment, otherwise Yelyomenko could not have known that we had regained the 107.5 height. Since he asked, I quickly answered: "Comrade Commander. This is the situation. After reconnaissance, we found that the defending army on the 107.5 hill on the west side of Mamayevgang was only a German company. We took advantage of the enemy’s defensive emptiness and decisively mobilized the forces of the three battalions. We launched a counterattack to the high ground. After some fierce fighting, we have successfully regained our position from the enemy."

My report made Yeleomenko's eyes brighten, but after hesitating for a while, he still asked in a suspicious tone: "Comrade Oshanina, you said that the 107.5 highland was taken back by you?"

"You are absolutely correct." I replied affirmatively: "After capturing the high ground, I have ordered a battalion of the Second Regiment to enter the position and asked them to hurry up and repair the fortifications in the shortest possible time. Build a perfect defense system. In order to counter the possible counterattack the Germans may launch."

"You did it right, you did it right." Yeliamenko praised me after a few words. Suddenly he changed the topic and asked: "Have you received Cui Kefu's order to counterattack the Germans in the north on the 21st and join forces with the comrades of the Don Front Army going south?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." I did not hide it when Ye Leomenko mentioned it. I told him about the problems I was facing: "Because we want to keep our troops on Mamayev Hill and 107.5 Heights, the number of troops that can participate in the counterattack will be very limited. In addition, we do not have heavy weapons such as tanks and artillery. If we encounter tough resistance from the enemy, our troops will not be able to break through the enemy’s defenses in the shortest time."

"Oshanina, do you know?" Yelyomeenko suddenly raised his hand to interrupt me, and said to himself: "When I was chatting with Cuikov and Gurov at the headquarters of the group army, they also asked I added troops and ammunition to them. I also said that I don’t need the entire division’s replenishment. I only asked for some detachments. More important ammunition, because the combat troops in the city are especially lacking in ammunition. Although I am the headquarters of the front army, I can satisfy Cui Kefu. All the conditions put forward, but transporting troops and ammunition, it takes time and time, do you understand?!" He said to the back, holding his cane because of excitement, and paused heavily on the ground a few times.

Seeing his agitation, I quickly turned the topic off and asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, according to the order issued by the group army, General Rokosovsky’s Don Front will be in the early morning of the 21st. Launch an offensive against the Germans, do you know how they are preparing?"

Yelyomyenko shook his head and slowly said: "According to intelligence, Rokosovsky is currently gathering his artillery and tank troops. Since the Don Front Army adopted a defensive posture in the early stage, their artillery and tanks The troops are scattered and relatively backward. I am very optimistic about their deployment. On the surface, it does not support the first line of defense, but it is very flexible. If the German army adopts a middle-breaking style of play, I am very optimistic. The army can put the enemy in and lengthen their front. If the German army offensively, as long as the two armies form contact, then our army can carry out counterattacks."

I heard Yeleimenko say this, and habitually took over the topic: "If the Germans use the usual blitz operations, would our forces be too dispersed?" As soon as I said the words, I remembered that I was sitting in front of me. The commander of the front army, and he was actually in front of him, commenting on the deployment of another commander of the front army, and suddenly he was shocked in a cold sweat.

However, Yeleimenko said indifferently: "Under the current situation, as the defensive side, it is not advisable to concentrate our forces too much. Because if we concentrate our forces at will, it is very easy for us to suffer a devastating German force if we lose air supremacy. Strike. What you said also makes sense. This kind of plan requires extremely high mobility of troops. If the enemy is brought in, local battles cannot be organized in time. The battlefield situation is more likely to deteriorate."

Seeing that Yeleimenko didn't blame me, I secretly wiped the sweat from my forehead, and then asked, "Comrade Commander, is there our air force to cooperate with the Don Front Army's offensive?"

"Commander Oshanina. Air support is no longer expected." The person who answered my question was Lieutenant General *. He said with a serious expression: "According to the plan, the 16th Army of the Air Force under the command of General Rudenko, the general When the Don Front Army launched an offensive, it provided air cover for the ground forces and bombed the enemy’s strong defensive zone. But unfortunately. God seems to be deliberately embarrassing us. It is popular in the air force when the strong support of pilots is needed. Cholera, a disease borne by rats, is spreading widely, and special measures have to be taken to protect people from infection. The aircraft will not be damaged. Because rats always chew on rubber insulators wherever they go."

After listening to my husband, I suddenly felt pitch-black in front of me, my whole body was soft, and I didn't even have the strength to speak. I could judge by instinct the tremendous destructive power that this evil event would bring to the battle. The Don Front Army, which has lost air supremacy, even if the commanders and fighters have shown bravery. There was also the support of tanks and artillery, but under the German intensive aviation firepower and ground artillery fire, it was impossible to achieve the purpose of the battle with the 62nd Army.

Maybe it's seeing me desperate. Yelyomenko asked with concern: "Comrade Oshanina, what's the matter with you, is it something uncomfortable?"

I tried my best to squeeze a smile on my face, and straightened my body to assure him: "Comrade Commander, no matter how cruel the next battle is, I will express my position to you on behalf of the independent division. We will definitely fulfill the orders given to us by our superiors. , To join forces with the Don Front Army heading south."

Yelyomenko heard the determination I expressed. Nodded with satisfaction, then smiled and asked, "Do you have any difficulties?"

"Difficulty. There must be." I said carefully: "The force is insufficient. We can find ways to arm some of the citizens or contain the scattered soldiers. But the weapons we currently lack can't be solved. I know that there is a shortage of ammunition in the entire division, and a considerable number of commanders and fighters do not have weapons at all. So I beg you, can you give us some weapons and ammunition as soon as possible so that we can better complete the tasks assigned to us by our superiors."

After I said these few words, Ye Leomenko stared at me with no expression on his face and kept looking at me, making me awkward. I was afraid that he would send out an evil fire for no reason like just now. Unexpectedly, after a while, he chuckled twice, pointed at me and said, "Comrade Oshanina, you screamed for a long time in front of me, didn't you just want me to replenish you with ammunition." No problem, I can’t replenish you as a soldier, but ammunition can give priority to your division. At 12 o’clock tonight, a batch of weapons and ammunition should be delivered. You send someone to the commander in charge of logistics at the dock and ask him for a batch of ammunition. That's it." When he finished speaking, he held his cane and looked around.

I didn't know what he was looking for, so I asked quickly: "Comrade Commander, what are you looking for?"

Before Ye Leomenko could answer me, the general husband next to him took out a pen and paper from his briefcase and handed it over. Ye Leomenko took the pen and paper in the general's hand, glanced at me with a contemptuous look, and immersed himself in writing orders. After writing it, he tore off the page with the words on it, stuffed it into my hand, and said, "Well, you send someone to the dock to find the person in charge of logistics tonight, and give him this order. You should be able to get the weapons and ammunition you want." After speaking, he stood up by the edge of the table, held a cane in his left hand and paused on the ground, then reached out to me and said, "Comrade Oshanina, It's not early, I should go back too. Good luck!"

After Yeremenko and her husband left, I unfolded the warrant in my hand, and saw it read: "In response to this order, some of the weapons and ammunition that will arrive at the Volga Pier will be allocated to the independent division. Stalingrad Front Army. Commander General Andrei Ivanovich Yelemenko. UU reading www.uukanshu.com October 18, 1941."

After reading the warrant, I smiled and handed it to Kirilov. At the same time, I said to him: "Comrade Political Commissar, these are all right, we no longer worry about using weapons and ammunition." After finishing speaking, I turned to ask the person behind. Kromeyev: "Chief of Staff, have the reconnaissance units been arranged?"

Akhromeyev hurriedly replied: "It has been arranged. I am preparing five reconnaissance teams, each with ten people, all carrying communication equipment, so that they can feed back the detected situation at any time."

"Are these people reliable?" I was thinking about military matters, while Kirilov was thinking about political matters. "Don't let these former German soldiers defect on the opportunity of reconnaissance, like that. , The Germans can understand our details from the mouths of these traitors, and they can’t help but guard."

"Political commissar, please rest assured." Akhromeyev seemed to have considered these things a long time ago, so he replied confidently: "Half of the scouts in each team are our own, and there is also a political worker, what you said The situation will not happen.” (The novel will have more fresh content on the official WeChat platform, and there will also be a 100% lucky draw gift for everyone! Open WeChat now and click on the "+" sign on the upper right to "Add a friend", Search the official account "qdread" and follow it, hurry up!) (to be continued) ()