Burning Moscow

Hearing what Vachuk said, I couldn't help but groan secretly. Although the building collapsed in half, from where I was, I could see rows of black hole muzzles protruding from the rubble outside the enemy’s building. Our soldiers rushed up like this, no matter how brave they were, they couldn't stand up to the three-dimensional firepower of the Germans behind the windows upstairs and the rubble on the ground. But since the troops rushed forward, even if they wanted to call them back, it was too late.

The development of the next thing was as expected. When our commanders rushed to the German position only 100 meters away, the German troops upstairs and behind the rubble opened fire decisively. Under the intensive firepower, our troops quickly lost more than half of them. At least 50 or 60 people were killed or injured by the troops of more than 100 people. The remaining commanders and fighters were also crushed by the fire and dared not move in the crater on the snow.

In addition to the shooting of machine guns, submachine guns, and rifles, mortar shells continued to fly out of the building, attacking the area where our commanders and fighters were crawling. The shells exploded next to the surviving soldiers, and they were constantly being lifted into the air with snowy soil, weapon parts and broken arms, and they kept falling on our soldiers, covering them little by little.

Seeing this situation, I can’t help cursing in my heart: These **** Germans must have taken our new fortifications, and after careful study, they have used them to deal with us, otherwise they will not be forced to set up in the building. Fired.

But Vachuk saw that his army’s offensive was frustrated again, and his teeth were itchy. After taking a deep breath, he turned his head and ordered to the back: "Chief of Staff, call two more connections and let them continue. Go forward, before it gets dark. Take this building to me."

Unexpectedly, the Chief of Staff did not follow his orders to make the call. Instead, he persuaded in tears: "Comrade Commander, we can't fight like this anymore. We can't break through the enemy's defense without artillery support. This attack has just begun. In just over an hour, two or three hundred people have died in our teacher! If we continue to fight like this, it won't take long for the entire teacher to be wiped out.

After glancing at me, Vachuk yelled at his division chief of staff angrily: "No! We must take down the enemy's position! Don't you understand that the enemy in the building in front is wedging me A nail in the division’s line of defense, if we don’t remove them, we can’t move forward! I order to continue the assault, even if the 284th Division sacrifices all, we must seize the position here! This is an order, to execute it. Right!"

The chief of staff was yelled by him, and his head suddenly lowered. I had no choice but to agree: "Yes, comrade teacher, I will call now."

"Wait a minute, Comrade Chief of Staff, don't call." I put down my binoculars and stopped the division chief who was about to call, then turned to Vachuk and said, "Comrade Colonel, the German firepower is too strong. The front of the building is an open area without any barriers. If there is no artillery cover, no matter how much troops are used to attack, it will be difficult to take down the building occupied by the enemy, which will increase unnecessary casualties."

Unexpectedly, Vachuk stretched his neck and retorted, “Comrade Commander, if we don’t take down this building, our division’s defense zone will not be integrated with other friendly forces, and at the same time we will not be able to move forward.” , He glanced at the other commanders in the command post. Reluctantly added, "Our 284th Division has no people who are greedy for life or death."

For his stubbornness. I told him with a dark face: "Col. Vachuk, Paulus’s troops have been trapped by our army. The German troops who came to rescue them were also repelled by us. At present, the enemy’s ammunition supply is very difficult, even if we surround us. If they don’t attack, it won’t take long for them to lose their combat effectiveness because they run out of ammunition and food. Then, if we attack again, we will achieve a multiplier effect."

"But, Comrade Commander..." When Vachuk wanted to say something, he was interrupted by the telegrapher I brought. The telegrapher called me next to him: "Reporting the commander, it's a phone call from the political commissar. ."

I glanced at the emotionally excited Vachuk, and hurried to the walkie-talkie. When I heard Vasilyev’s voice in the earphones, I said to the transmitter: “Hey, Comrade Political Commissar, I’m Oshanina, what can I do?”

"Where are you?" Vasiliev asked politely.

"I'm at the division headquarters of the 284th Division." I replied briefly.

"That's it, Comrade Oshanina." Vasilyev said excitedly: "I just received a call from General Trikov, and he formally notified me that from now on, the Stalingrad front will be transferred to the Don. The commander of the front army is General Rokosovsky, the military commissioner is Major General Terekin, and the chief of staff is Comrade Malinin who has just been promoted to lieutenant general."

When I heard that the military commissar of the front army was a major general, I couldn't help but stunned for a moment. I wondered if this position should not be assumed by a political cadre. How could a military chief officer be arranged? However, I didn't care about it. Instead, I asked with concern: "Comrade political comrade, do you have any orders for the new front commander to convey?"

"The first command issued by Commander Rokosovsky to us is to'stop the offensive, consolidate the existing positions, and hurry up to make repairs.' Comrade commander, I know that the 284th Division is launching an offensive against the Germans. However, their artillery was lost in the early battle. If they attack the enemy without the support of artillery fire, I am worried that they will suffer unnecessary casualties. So I suggest to you: order the 284th Division to attack time out."

"Comrade Political Commissar, I agree with your opinion." Hearing Vasilyev's opinion coincides with me, I was overjoyed and quickly agreed: "I will order Colonel Vachuk to stop the attack."

I put down the earphones and the microphone, walked back to Vachuk again, thinking that he was a commander on the same level as me not long ago, and now suddenly he has to accept my command, which may be psychologically unacceptable for a while, so that’s why. Stubbornly stubborn, want to continue this futile attack. Therefore, when I spoke to him, I did not adopt that condescending posture. Instead, I said to him kindly: "Comrade Colonel, let me tell you the good news first. Starting today, the Don Front Army and the Stalingrad Front Army have merged. The new front headquarters is headed by General Rokosovsky. His first order was to suspend the offensive and consolidate the current position. Hurry up and make repairs."

When Vachuk heard the words, he fell silent. He lowered his head for a moment and raised his head to ask me: "Comrade commander, in that case, our division will no longer attack the enemy's position in the near future?"

"Military offensives can be suspended, but political offensives cannot be stopped!" I am deeply afraid that he will take my words to the ears. As soon as I left, I quietly launched an offensive on the enemy, so I solemnly said to him: "The higher level has sent many German comrades from the anti-fascist alliance to allow them to use tweeters to carry out uninterrupted anti-war propaganda against the German army. , And at the same time fired propaganda bullets to the enemy’s control area every day. Tell them on the flyer: as long as they lay down their weapons and surrender, they will get the treatment that a prisoner of war deserves. We will provide them with sufficient rations and treat the wounded. ."

"Does this work?" Wachuk asked in disbelief: "Will the Germans surrender to us after listening to the propaganda anyway?"

I understand in my heart that in the real history, although the Soviet army fired a lot of propaganda bombs on the besieged German army. However, since both sides have abused each other’s prisoners of war, most German officers and soldiers who saw the flyer did not eat this set at all. But at this moment, in order not to discourage Vachuk’s enthusiasm, I can only say vaguely: "It should be effective."

After explaining everything. I turned and left the division headquarters of the 284th Division. As soon as I walked out of the door, I suddenly remembered one thing, so I stopped, and kindly reminded Vachuk who was following out: "Comrade Colonel, you are the head of the first division. . Not an ordinary commander, so your headquarters should be located a little farther away from the forward position. Let’s say this.” I said, pointing towards the building occupied by the Germans in the distance, and said earnestly, “You The headquarters is only 200 meters away from the enemy’s position. At such a close distance, let alone covered by the fire of mortars and machine guns, even the snipers in the building can easily hunt and appear near the headquarters. Commander of the United States. Once the divisional command organization is destroyed, the troops that have lost their command will fall into chaos, which will give the German army a chance."

In response to my reminder, Vachuk nodded vigorously and said to me: "Comrade Commander, please rest assured, I will follow your orders to stop the military offensive against the German army and launch a political offensive instead. Also, , In the future, the position of my headquarters will be a little farther away from the front."

I knew in my heart that he said this, but it was just to calm my heart. It won't be long before he will come back to his old state, otherwise, he will not die in the battle in a few months later. However, I still showed enough kindness to his statement. I reached out to him and said with my mouth: "Since this is the case, then I wish you good luck!"

When he returned to the army headquarters, Chief of Staff Vitkov had already returned. He first reported to me the results of the 150th Division, and then informed me of another important news: "Comrade Commander, on the way back today. I met General Krylov and I heard something from him."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, what's the matter?" Witkov's words caught my attention, thinking that he used to be General Krylov's deputy, he must know the inside information that I didn't know, so I couldn't help but curiously. Question: "Is the army to supplement us coming?"

"Supplementary troops?" Hearing what I said, Vitkov shook his head and said regretfully: "As far as I know, the troops supplemented to our 62nd Army will not be able to enter Stalingrad one after another in several days.

I heard that for the time being I can’t supplement the 62nd Army, which is seriously under-represented. I can’t help but feel a little disappointed. I am not interested in the gossip that Vitkov will announce, but out of courtesy, I still asked casually: " What special news is that, Comrade Chief of Staff?"

"I heard that the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet has issued an order to implement a new military rank system in the near future." Witkov looked around, then lowered his voice and said mysteriously: "I heard that the troops of other battlefields, the Southwest Front and the Don Front Some troops have changed their ranks."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, are you true?" Vasilyev, who was sitting next to him reading the battle report, also curiously approached and asked: "Tell us, what are the characteristics of the new rank this time? "

"You all go out first." Vitkov did not immediately answer Vasiliev's question, but stood up straight and sent out the staff who were in the headquarters until only three of us were left in the headquarters. when. He went on to say: "The dress will be different from what we are now. The big collar is no longer a diamond-shaped collar badge, but a long collar badge with copper buckles. A brand new shoulder badge is added on the shoulder. The Kong is also different from our original military rank mark..."

"It turned out to be this!" I interrupted Vitkov's words with a smile. Xin said that you are just hearsay, but I have seen this new rank that is about to be replaced, so I put on a disapproving look and said: "I thought it was a great event, it turned out to be just changing the rank. I was a month old. I knew about this before. As far as I know, the political ranks of political workers will be cancelled. In the future, there will be no more military-level political commissars, division-level political commissars, or regiment-level political commissars. Instead, they will all be changed to relatives. Corresponding military rank. For example, our political commissar, Comrade Vasilyev, will be awarded the rank of major after the implementation of the new rank."

After hearing this, Vasilyev's face showed an expression of sudden realization. Then he said to me: "It turned out to be like this. I just found it strange today, why the military commissar of the Don Front Army is not a political worker, but a major general. When Comrade Commander said this, I understand that they have already A new rank has been implemented in the army." After a pause, he couldn't help but ask, "Comrade Commander. Do you know what the new epaulettes look like?"

Although in later generations, I am an out-and-out puppet military fan and don't know much about weapons and equipment. But he was very familiar with the ranks. Hearing Vasilyev's question, he couldn't help showing off to him: "The expression of the rank of the new-style epaulettes is like this: The Soviet marshal is a big silver star;

Commander, Marshal, wavy floor, decorated with service symbols and Marshal star emblem;

general. The wavy bottom plate is embroidered with star emblems. There are 4 generals and 3 generals. 2 Lieutenant Generals and 1 Major General, all arranged vertically;

The school officer, with two vertical bars, decorated with the official star badge, three colonels are arranged in a triangle, two lieutenants are arranged horizontally, and one is a major;

Lieutenant officer, embroidered with a vertical bar, embroidered with the official star emblem, four captains are two horizontal and two vertical, three captains are triangular, two lieutenants are arranged horizontally, and one second lieutenant;

The sergeant embroiders the horizontal bars, one vertical and one horizontal for the tug, one wide horizontal bar for the sergeant, three narrow horizontal bars for the sergeant, and two narrow horizontal bars for the corporal;

Soldiers, first class soldiers have a narrow bar, and the private epaulets are empty. "

After I finished the explanation, Vitkov said thoughtfully: "Such a large-scale replacement of new military ranks will not be completed in a month or two. Since we are still at war with the Germans, our army does not know when. To get a new military rank?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to worry about this kind of thing." I remember clearly in my heart that the German army surrendered on February 2, so I confidently said: "Now our group army has been placed under the command of the Don Front. The commander of the Front Army Rokosovsky is a commander who prefers to attack. I believe he will issue a final attack on the Germans before long. In the face of our powerful offensive, we are exhausted and morale is low. The German officers and soldiers cannot resist at all. I believe that within one month at most, the Germans in the encirclement can be wiped out."

"Really? Comrade commander." Vasilyev asked with excitement: "If this is the case, it would be great."

"Of course it is true, my comrade political comrade." After I responded to Vasilyev with a smile, I solemnly said to the two of them: "Committee, chief of staff ~ www.wuxiaspot.com ~ taking advantage of the last offense. It hasn’t started yet. We have to go to the divisions of the divisions under our jurisdiction. One is to get to know each other with the commanders and soldiers, and the other is to talk to them so that every defender of Stalingrad understands. : We are the Red Army armed with Stalinism. Our cause is justice. What we are defending is a progressive society and a bright life for future generations. The enemy must perish! This is not a slogan, not a speech at a mass rally. It is our eternal belief, the driving force of our combat effectiveness and the source of brave fighting."

"Comrade Oshanina, please rest assured!" Vasilyev said confidently: "Leave this to me. As far as political and ideological work is concerned, this is my strong point. I will definitely let it Every soldier understands that the enemy cannot escape the destiny of destruction, and the final victory is certain, and it will only belong to us."

Hearing that Vasiliev had undertaken political and ideological work on a large scale, I turned my head and said to Vitkov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, although we are an army in name, our forces and weapons are very limited, so we must Taking advantage of this short armistice time and using the weapons and equipment and soldiers transported from the east coast to quickly replenish our troops."

"Please rest assured, the commander." Vitkov assured me with a resolute expression: "I will definitely complete the task you gave me, replenish the troops in the shortest time, and let them form combat effectiveness in the shortest time. To be continued)