Burning Moscow

Pantaiyev waited for Adil to finish talking, coughed slightly, and then respectfully said to me: "Comrade Commander, I have two plans. Would you like to hear it?"

"Please tell me, Comrade Bantai Leyev." I did not expect Bantai Leyev to take the initiative to give me advice. After a little astonishment, he quickly returned to normal, encouraging him in a friendly tone: "Know that I will definitely hand over the task of attacking the airport to your division. Now that you have a complete attack plan, you might as well talk about it and let us study it to see if there is anything that needs improvement."

Pantaiyev pointed to the map and said to me: "Comrade Commander, the first option is the one you just mentioned, to concentrate our division and Gurtiyev division, against the German antiaircraft artillery on the west side of Kuban. The position launched a fierce attack. Once the breakthrough was completed, the troops took advantage of the momentum to rush to Zaporos and seized the city in one go; the second type, when our two divisions took turns attacking the German positions, we sent an elite team to bypass the enemy's position. Go straight into the German airfield. As long as we seize the German airfield, it is equivalent to cutting off Hitler’s retreat. When we launch the final attack on Zaporos, Hitler and Manstein have only two options: one is to lead the troops. Retreat to the other side of the Dnieper River; the other is to stay in the city and be our prisoners."

Regarding the two proposals put forward by Bantai Leyev, I nodded noncommittal and secretly compared the pros and cons of the two proposals. After thinking for a while, I found that the two plans have their own shortcomings. Although the first plan is safe, it is a waste of time. Who knows how long it will take for our troops to seize the German artillery positions, and how long will it take to reach Zaporos? When we took the city down, the day lily was cold, and Hitler might have run away long ago. The second option is a bit risky. There are more troops going to attack the airport, and it is easy to reveal our intentions in advance; fewer people go, and they cannot quickly eliminate the defenders of the airport. As soon as the German troops in the city come out to respond, our squad will be in danger of being wiped out.

I didn't wait for me to give Bantai Lev an exact answer. Oberstein, who went to the next-door telecom room to report, is back. He did not come back alone, behind him was Lieutenant Razumeeva, the commander of the division communications company I was familiar with. I saw the two appearing in the command post at the same time, and there was another unclear premonition in my heart. After the two came to me and stopped, I asked with a stern face, "Lieutenant Colonel Oberstein, what happened? Why did you call Lieutenant Razumeeva?"

The corners of Oberstein's mouth twitched, and then he handed me a telegram, and said helplessly: "Comrade Commander, this is a call back from the front army headquarters. They also don't believe Hitler will appear in Zha at this time. Boros. Order our army to temporarily stop all military operations and stay in place to cover the left flank of the friendly army, in case the armored forces deployed by the German army in the Tokmak area hit our flank."

Hearing that my report was questioned, I suddenly rushed blood to my head, and I was so angry that I slapped me on the table with a severe slap. I wanted to scold these arrogant superiors, but when I saw that I was surrounded by my subordinates, I swallowed these words again, and could only sit in my own position and sulking.

"Comrade Oshanina," after a while, I heard Kirilov's voice ringing in my ears. Hastily turned his head and looked at him. Seeing that I noticed him, Kirilov went on and said, "What do you plan to do next? Do you follow the instructions of your superiors to stop the soldiers and simply secure the flanks of the friendly forces. Or have other plans?"

I did not answer Kirilov's words, but looked up at Oberstein standing in front of me. It stands to reason that Oberstein was only ordered to send a telegram to the communication room next door. Regardless of how the superior replies, he can come back alone. It is impossible to bring the communication company commander over. He must have some thoughts when he did this. I have to figure out what's going on. So I asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I want to ask you, why do you think of calling Lieutenant Razumeeva?"

"Comrade commander. Please be honest." Oberstein smiled and said to me: "As far as I know you, facing such a good fighter. No matter what your superiors say, you will not give up easily." See I nodded in agreement with his statement. He went on to say, "Since the group army and the front army command do not believe your report, then we can leapfrog and report to a higher-level chief."

Oberstein's words made my eyes shine. Yes, Khalitonov and Vatutin didn't believe my report because they didn't understand me. If I can report this information to senior commanders I am familiar with, it will be a different scene. Thinking of this, I stood up, walked in front of Razumeyeva, reached out and grabbed her arms, and asked softly: "Lieutenant, can you still contact Marshal Zhukov's radio station?"

"Yes, comrade commander." Razumeyeva replied respectfully: "I still keep the communication channel for contacting the Soviet marshal, and can send the latest information to the marshal's command."

"Since this is the case, Comrade Lieutenant," I slapped her arms with my hands twice, urging her to say, "Go back to the telegraph room immediately and send another copy of the information we have obtained to Marshal Zhukov. "

"Please rest assured, Comrade Commander, I promise to complete the task." Razumeyeva said, raising her hand to salute me, and then turned and left. In order to grasp the situation in time, Ilya, the division chief of staff, also walked out of the headquarters behind Razumeyeva.

After the two of us left, the remaining few of us sat at the table, no one said a word, they were silently thinking about their own thoughts. At this moment, I felt a bug flying around in front of my left eye. I raised my hand to drive away, while cursing in a low voice.

Kirilov heard my scolding and asked with concern: "Comrade Oshanina, what's the matter?"

"It's nothing, Comrade Political Commissar." While continuing to wave my hand to drive away the mosquitoes flying around in front of my left eye, I replied: "There is a nasty mosquito that always flies around in front of me."

"Mosquito?!" Hearing what I said, Kirilov's face showed a look of surprise, and he asked in astonishment: "Oh my God, the vitality of this mosquito is really tenacious, with a temperature of more than 20 degrees below zero. Didn't freeze it to death."

Oberstein, who saw me waving his hand, put his head close and tried to help me drive away the pesky mosquitoes. But he looked at it for a while. Asked me in surprise: "Comrade Commander, I haven't seen any mosquitoes?"

"Always flying around in front of my eyes. Didn't you see?" When I just wanted to show them where the **** mosquitoes were, the mosquitoes that had been flying around in front of my eyes were gone. Up.

"Comrade Commander," Bantaiyev saw that I had stopped repelling the mosquitoes, and asked me again proactively: "If Comrade Soviet Marshal agrees to our request, then which plan should we use to deal with the German airport? "

"Comrade Bantai Leyev, the ideas of your two plans are very good, but they are still very imperfect." I said politely to Bantai Leyev: "The first plan took too long. And it is still missing. To achieve the desired result; the second plan is too risky. If the small team that attacked the airport could not seize the airport in the shortest time, they might be besieged by superior German troops coming from the city for reinforcements. ."

After I finished speaking, Pantai Leyev asked carefully: "Then, Comrade Commander, do you have any good plans?"

"I do have a plan. Let us discuss it together." As for how to seize the enemy's airport, I personally prefer to outsmart rather than attack, so the plan I said is mainly based on sneak attacks:" I plan to send a troop. Disguised as a German troop, to attack the enemy’s airfield. Anyway, we have seized a lot of German supplies in the battle these days. Among them, there should be a lot of their uniforms, which just happens to be useful. ."

"Comrade commander, is this necessary?" For this plan of mine, Bantai Leyev first expressed his opposition. "The number of German troops at the airport is limited. As long as we dispatch a battalion or so, with a tank company. , You can easily seize the airport, so why bother to pretend to be a sneak attack?"

Doubts about Pantai Leyev. I patiently explained to him: "Comrade commander, although the number of defenders at the airport is not large. However, their combat effectiveness should not be underestimated. You know, our scouts are not weak in combat effectiveness. But there was an encounter with the defenders at the airport. Later, in the last twenty or so named fighters, only Sergeant Adil and another soldier escaped. If we attack, if we can’t take the airport in the shortest time, wait for German reinforcements to swarm from the city. At that time, our army will be in an awkward situation of being attacked by the enemy. It is unknown how many people will come back alive by that time."

Hearing that I heard again that the troops attacking the airport might be surrounded by superior German forces because they could not occupy the airport in a short period of time, Bantai Leyev fell silent.

Oberstein saw that Bantai Leyev didn’t speak, so he hurriedly went out to complete the battle: "Comrade Commander, which unit do you plan to carry out the sneak attack? You know that Godunov’s troops were still dragged by the Germans. Near Tokmak, it’s impossible to extract it in a short time."

"Comrade Political Commissar, what's your opinion?" Before answering Oberstein's question, I habitually turned my head and asked Kirilov: "Which unit do you think is appropriate to perform this task?"

Seeing that I handed over the problem to him, Kirilov smiled slightly, and then replied: "Comrade commander, the current military security battalion has a good combat effectiveness. I suggest to draw two companies from it, and another company from the reconnaissance battalion. To form a mixed battalion to carry out this sneak attack mission."

I heard Kirilov say this, nodded in satisfaction, and added: "The strength of the guard and reconnaissance battalion may be weaker. I suggest that two more companies be drawn from the Gurtyev division. Coupled with the tank company that cooperates with the action and seize the enemy's airfield, there is no big problem."

"I agree." As soon as I finished speaking, Kirilov promptly expressed support: "I believe that with such a force, there is no problem in capturing an airport guarded by only two German companies. Even if we can't To seize the airport, as long as you blow up the airport’s runway and destroy all the planes in the airport, Hitler will not be able to fly. Except for fleeing obediently to the opposite side of the Dnieper River, or staying in the city as our captive, he has no third place. There is a way to go."

After speaking, Kirilov took action. He picked up the phone on the desk, dialed the army command, and conveyed my order to the Chief of Staff Vitkov, and asked him to take the truck out of the army immediately. Came to Cuban to gather.

As soon as Kirilov’s phone call was over, Ilya hurried in and reported to me with a look of excitement: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Marshal of the Soviet Union is calling back." After finishing speaking, he sent a telegram. Passed it to me.

I took the telegram and scanned it quickly. Zhukov did trust me very much. He not only believed in what I reported to him, but also suggested that if the group army and the front army two-level command do not agree with me to attack, I can act cheaply. If something goes wrong, he will do his utmost. .

Seeing Zhukov's telegram~www.wuxiaspot.com~, my heart is completely at ease. I stood up and announced loudly to the commanders present: "Comrades, Marshal Zhukov said in the telegram that we can specify the necessary combat plan based on the enemy's situation on the battlefield, so I now officially declare: attack on the German airfield. I will personally direct the action."

"What?" My words shocked everyone. Kirilov was the first to speak: "Comrade Oshanina, this action is too dangerous. As the commander of the army, you cannot Take the risk! Or, give this task to the head of the Pantai Leyev division you can trust, such as Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg or Lieutenant Colonel Heydar Anyway, as a military commander, you cannot take risks easily."

"Yes, Kirilov's political commissar was right." Hearing Kirilov's words, other people also rushed: "For this attack on the airport, you can send other people. You can't take risks. "

"Okay, don't fight!" I was afraid that they would continue to quarrel, and I didn't know when it would end, so I decisively interrupted them, and used my power to suppress their disagreements: "You are all old soldiers. Don’t you know that orders from superiors can only be executed and are not allowed to be discussed?"

Seeing what I said, several people had no choice but to say reluctantly: "Well, since this is the case, we obey the order!" (to be continued)