Red Moscow

"Just wait," Majwo replied casually, "after we liberate Kharkov, the superiors will replenish your battalion."

"What, we have to wait until Kharkov is liberated before we can replenish it?" Guchakov asked in amazement: "Then in the next battle, can we just sit on the sidelines and watch the fun?"

"No way," Majwo said rather helplessly: "Comrade Commander doesn't have any extra troops now, even if he wants to replenish you, I'm afraid it's not enough. You don't want to replenish thousands of troops like the 182nd Division Old, weak and remnant soldiers without any fighting power, as a result, they are not even qualified to participate in the battle this time."

During the Battle of Kursk, the 182nd Division added thousands of old and weak soldiers with no combat effectiveness, which led to the dilution of the combat effectiveness of the troops. As a battalion commander, Guchakov naturally knew it. He didn't want to repeat the same mistakes, so he could only smile wryly. Shaking his head, he said, "Comrade leader, you are right, maybe we really have to wait until Kharkov is liberated before we have a chance to get new additions."

"Major Guchakov, since you don't have many soldiers under your command now, why don't you go to my regiment headquarters for a while, and then go back to be your battalion commander when the superior rebuilds the first battalion. Look, how about it?" ?”

Madevo's proposal, Guchakov lost in thought. Although the first battalion exists in name only, if he really went to the regiment headquarters, he would be a miscellaneous role at best, and he would also be unable to participate in the battle for a long time. Guchakov was very conflicted about not being able to participate in the battle.

"Think about it, Major Guchakov." Seeing that Guchakov didn't answer for a long time, Majevo knew that this was a very difficult multiple-choice question, so he said reasonably: "I will give you twenty-four hours, you Think carefully about whether to stay or temporarily go to the regiment headquarters to help."

Before Guchakov could speak, a second lieutenant officer appeared at the door. He didn't enter the door immediately, but grasped the room with his eyes, as if he was looking for someone.

Golia recognized at a glance that the other party was an officer from his own battalion headquarters, hurried over and asked in a low voice, "Comrade Second Lieutenant, what's the matter?"

"Comrade battalion commander, telegram." The second lieutenant took out a boxy telegram from his pocket, handed it to Golia, and added, "It's a telegram from the division headquarters."

Although the second lieutenant's voice was very low, Ma Gewo still heard what he said, and quickly turned his head to ask: "The telegram from the division headquarters? What did it say?"

Hearing Majwo's question, Golia handed it to Majwo without even opening the telegram, and said respectfully, "Comrade leader, please take a look."

Ma Jiewo only glanced at the telegram, then raised his head and asked the second lieutenant: "Comrade second lieutenant, where is your radio station?"

"It's in the next room."

"Take me there." Majevo said, and stuffed the telegram into Golia's hand.

Guchakov saw Madevo hurrying outside with the second lieutenant, and hurriedly approached Golya and asked Golya, "Golya, what did the telegram from the division headquarters say?"

After reading the contents of the telegram quickly, Goria passed the telegram to Guchakov: "The teacher asked me if I have any news about you. If you are still alive, send him a telegram immediately. Report to Comrade Commander. Comrade Commander has sent five telegrams in a row, all to inquire about your situation."

Knowing that Sokov has been concerned about his own safety, Guchakov was quite moved. But for Goria standing in front of him, his heart is also full of gratitude. Just now he and the rest of the commanders and fighters were compressed into the meeting room by the enemy. If Goria hadn't arrived in time with reinforcements, he probably At this moment, it has become a cold corpse.

"Gorya, I still want to thank you." Guchakov held Gorya's hand and said in a calm tone, "If you hadn't led the troops to arrive in time, I probably wouldn't be in this world right now. gone."

"Look at what you said, Guchakov." Goria said with a smile: "We are all comrades-in-arms. How can I stand idly by when my comrades are in danger?"

"By the way, what do you plan to do? Do you want to work in the regiment headquarters?"

"I have to think about it," Guchakov replied with a wry smile, "I think I went to the regiment headquarters. I guess it's just an idle job, and it's not my turn to fight."

The two had just exchanged a few words before the second lieutenant appeared at the door again. He straightened his body and reported to Golia: "Comrade Battalion Commander, Commander, please come over." Turning to Guchakov, he added, "And you, Major Guchakov, please come over too, Commander."

Following the second lieutenant to the next room, he happened to see Majwo return the earphone and microphone in his hand to the operator. Madevo turned around and said to Guchakov: "Comrade Major, I just talked to the division commander. He said that since your battalion lost contact with us, Comrade Commander has sent telegrams to the division headquarters over and over again, asking us to We must find out your whereabouts as soon as possible. It seems that Comrade Commander is very worried about your safety.

The division commander told me that since your troops have been wiped out, it is of no use to stay at the front. It is better to return to the group army headquarters as soon as possible. If possible, it is best to stay with the commander to work. "

Guchakov was a little moved by what Madevo said. He thought that Sokov was the master who couldn't sit still in the headquarters, and the master who would run to the front whenever he had time. If he followed him, maybe Really get the fight. However, he did not reply immediately, but tentatively asked Majwo: "Comrade commander, I would like to ask what you mean. Do you agree with me taking the remaining soldiers back to the headquarters of the group army?"

"Major Guchakov, it is an order issued by the division commander himself for you to take people back to the headquarters of the group army." Majvo said to Guchakov seriously: "You have been in the army for a long time. You should Knowing that orders from superiors can only be executed, not discussed. Got it?"

"Understood!"

"Now that you understand, then quickly take your people and return to the army headquarters." Majevo nodded at Guchakov and said, "Your mission has been completed, so go to the rear to rest with peace of mind." , I will arrange a vehicle for you."

An hour later, a soldier came in and reported to Majwo: "Comrade Commander, the truck is ready and ready to go."

"Major Guchakov," Majvo turned around and said to Guchakov when he learned that the truck was ready, "The truck that will send you back will be parked in the open space outside. You can start now."

As he spoke, he extended his hand to Guchakov and said friendlyly, "I hope we can meet again soon, good luck!"

Guchakov left the inpatient building with his surviving men and walked towards the truck parked in the open.

When he was about to board the car, Yegor, the second company commander, suddenly said: "Comrade battalion commander, we are leaving here, but the first company commander and more than 200 soldiers are staying here. I want to see the ruins ahead. It is right to honor them.”

Hearing Yegor's proposal, Guchakov's eyes couldn't help but turn red. He thought that Narva and a company of commanders and fighters were basically buried in the ruins of this building. Chance to come back again. So he nodded to Yegor, saying that he agreed with his suggestion.

After Yegor walked into the ruins with a few soldiers, Seriosha came to Guchakov, took out a cigarette and handed him one, and then said: "Comrade major, don't be discouraged, since this is the commander Comrade personally sent a message to let you take the rest of the people back to the headquarters of the Army Group, presumably there is another appointment for you."

"Another appointment?" Guchakov thought that Seryozha was an old friend of Sokov, and he must know a lot of inside stories that he didn't know. He asked quickly, "Seryozha, did you hear something?"

"I haven't heard anything about it." Seryozha shook his head, denying Guchakov's statement. But seeing the disappointed look on the other party's face, he quickly added: "But you should know the temper of Comrade Commander. Since he is eager to transfer you back from the front, it proves that he has already thought about how to settle you. According to me It is estimated that after you go back, you may be able to work as an official in the security force of the group army headquarters."

"Battalion Commander, Comrade Commander!" A soldier who had just followed Yegor into the ruins ran out, shouting while running, attracting a lot of attention from nearby.

Seeing this, Guchakov couldn't help frowning slightly. After the soldier ran in front of him, he asked dissatisfiedly, "Comrade soldier, what made you make such a fuss?"

"Comrade battalion commander, good news, good news." The soldier didn't seem to notice Guchakov's accusation, and with the hand that didn't hold the gun, he grabbed Guchakov's arm and shook it vigorously, and said excitedly at the same time: "The first company commander, the first company commander and more than twenty soldiers are still alive."

This time it was Guchakov's turn to lose his composure. He grabbed the soldier's skirt and asked emotionally, "What did you say, say it again."

"Comrade Battalion Commander," Gutchakov tightened his grip so tightly that the soldiers were a little out of breath. He carefully pulled his lapel out of Guchakov's hand, and then he said pantingly, "First Company Commander and two dozen fighters are still alive."

"How is this possible?" After hearing what the soldiers said clearly, Seryozha asked in surprise: "The whole building was destroyed by the enemy's artillery fire. How did they survive?"

"When the enemy started shelling, the first company commander led the soldiers to the basement." The soldier explained to the two: "The collapsed masonry and rubble blocked the exit of the basement and trapped them inside. The soldiers of the second and third battalions The soldiers dug for a long time before they cleared away the bricks and rubble blocking the door."

"So that's how it is." Seryozha nodded thoughtfully, and was just about to say a few words to Guchakov, but saw the latter rushing into the ruins.

Seryozha shook his head, and followed into the ruins.

As soon as he entered the ruins, he saw Guchakov shaking hands with the disgraced Captain Narva. After the two men loosened their hands, Guchakov raised his hand and patted each other's shoulders, then thumped each other's chest with his fist, and finally gave Narva a warm hug.

At the same time, Sokov received a telegram from Koida at the Army Group headquarters dozens of kilometers away, knowing that Guchakov and the remaining commanders and fighters of the first battalion were about to return, so he called Sameko, and He deliberated: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the first battalion of Major Guchakov suffered almost all casualties in the battle. There are only a dozen people left in the whole battalion. Let's see how we can rebuild the first battalion."

"Comrade Commander, rebuilding the first battalion is easy to say, but it is not so easy to do." Sameko said to Sokov with a bitter face, "Where can we find soldiers to supplement them now?"

"Where are the prisoner-of-war camps?" When it came to replenishing troops, Sokov first thought of the commanders and fighters who were imprisoned in the German prisoner-of-war camps, and tentatively asked Sameko: "Has our troops liberated any prisoner-of-war camps recently?" ?”

"No." Sameko shook his head like a rattle: "Comrade Commander, how can we liberate so many prisoner-of-war camps? I estimate that there are no prisoner-of-war camps within a radius of five or six hundred kilometers."

"Oh, what a pity." Sokov sighed and said to Sameko, "Tell the reconnaissance office that once our scouts find the prisoner-of-war camp, they need to report to the headquarters immediately."

After Sameko nodded in agreement, he said to Sokov with a smile: "Comrade commander, the commanders of the friendly army heard that some prisoners of war were rescued, and they couldn't hide. They got it."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I have said more than once that these commanders and fighters rescued from prisoner-of-war camps are a valuable asset to us." Sukov said: "They not only have rich combat experience, but also Superb technical and tactical level. More importantly, their hearts are full of hatred for the enemy, which is enough for them to display extraordinary combat effectiveness on the battlefield."

"Comrade Commander, when the enemy captured Kharkov at the beginning of the year, our army suffered a lot of casualties, and many commanders and fighters should have been captured." After some thinking, Sameko said to Sokov: " If we can find the prisoner-of-war camp where they were held and rescue them, wouldn't that solve the problem of rebuilding the soldiers of the first battalion?"

Sokov stared at the map in front of him for a while, then raised his head and asked Sameko, "Chief of Staff, where do you think the enemy will detain these commanders?"

"According to my experience, the prisoner-of-war camps established by the enemy are generally in places far away from human habitation." Sameko drew a circle on the map with his finger and said, "It should be in the forest near Kharkov."

Seeing the circle drawn by Sameko, Sokov smiled wryly and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, the circle you drew is too big. In such a large area, even if I send a brigade of scouts, I'm afraid it will be difficult to find the target."

"Comrade Commander, there are quite a few young people of the right age in Belgorod. Otherwise, we recruit some residents from the city and put them into Guchakov's first battalion, so that we can quickly , rebuild the first battalion."

"No." Sokov shook his head and rejected Sameko's proposal: "There are only a dozen people left in the first battalion, and hundreds of new recruits who have no combat effectiveness will be recruited. Then this unit will not be able to carry out any tasks for at least half a year. Combat missions. In my opinion, we should think of other ways. If that doesn’t work, we should first transfer a company from the guard force of the headquarters to supplement the first battalion.”