Then, Chistyakov pointed out several shortcomings. At the same time, I was secretly grateful to Zhukov, who had sent him as deputy commander, and that having such a general with rich combat experience as my deputy would greatly help improve my command ability.

Before the battlefield in the forest was cleaned, the tanks of the tank corps that had not been able to participate in the battle appeared one after another near our observation post, and the tank units were to complete their assembly here and lead the troops of the 90th Guards Division to attack the German strongholds along the Oud River.

At this moment, the roar of the motor of the plane was heard in the air, and hearing this sound, Managarov's face showed an expression of surprise, and he said with some excitement: "Our bomber formation is coming!" ”

However, I was not so optimistic, and hurriedly ordered Babakhin, who was standing next to me: "Comrade Colonel, immediately send a few soldiers with red flags to the open place to wave them, so that the Air Force will know that our troops are below, so as not to misunderstand." ”

The reason why I gave this order was because when I was in Stalingrad, Chuikov and I were accidentally bombed by friendly forces, and if it weren't for my fate, I guess there would have been no one like me in the world. Now that the victory of our army is in sight, if there is another accidental bombing incident, it will be too wrong.

When my order was given, Babakhin stood still. Seeing that he did not move, I asked with some dissatisfaction: "Comrade Colonel, why haven't you carried out my orders?" ”

Babakhin glanced at the sky outside, and then said with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, it's daytime. Our air force shouldn't be indistinguishable from friend and foe, right? ”

"Colonel. Now that the commander gave the order. Hurry up and do it. Chistyakov said and kicked him again, urging him: "Hurry up, maybe something will happen if it's too late." ”

Babakhin heard Chistyakov say so seriously that he had to reluctantly agree, call his chief of staff, and order the other party to let a few fighters take the red flag to the open area and wave it for a while, so that our air force can identify it.

There was a reconnaissance aircraft in front of the flying formation, which probably spotted the troops and tanks that were massed on the ground. He lowered his altitude and hovered above us. I pointed to the reconnaissance plane in the air and said to Babahim: "Colonel, you see, this reconnaissance plane is a pathfinder, and if he finds out that the troops on the ground are not ours, the bombers behind will dive down and drop bombs on us." How many of your troops do you think survived such intense bombardment? ”

My words scared Babakhin into a cold sweat, especially after he saw the fighters waving red flags in the clearing, and the reconnaissance plane regained its altitude. After flying into the distance, he raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and said, "Comrade commander." Or are you thoughtful, if you don't send someone out to wave the red flag, maybe something big will happen? ”

When the dense formation of bombers flew over our heads, I said to Chistyakov at the top of my voice: "Two comrades generals, did you see it? Such a spectacular flying formation, carrying out non-stop concentrated bombing of the enemy's transport lines. Think about it, how spectacular it is for bombers to hover over the enemy's rear every day! By the time our bomber fleet had blown the Germans to the point that they could not even carry a single bullet or loaf of bread into the city, the Germans' will to resist would be completely destroyed. Even the most tenacious German officers and soldiers, with no ammunition, no supplies and no medicine, could only obediently raise their hands and surrender to us. ”

As the bombers departed, I turned my attention again to the next operational objective, thinking that the tenacity of the German defense had far exceeded my imagination, so according to the original plan, only one division was sent to clear the German strongholds along the Oud River, such a force was enough?

Thinking of this, I beckoned Chistyakov and Managarov to sit down at the table, asked Babakin for a map, spread it on the table and said to the two: "Comrade generals, you two have seen with your own eyes how tenacious the German defense is. ”

I said this, pausing intentionally to see how the two of them reacted. "Yes, we thought that with one division, under the cover of artillery and tanks, we could easily take this forest controlled by the Germans. As a result, the 71st Guards Division fought hard for a day and night, and it was only a draw with the Germans, and if the 90th Guards Division had not entered the battle in time, I think it was still unknown when it would have been able to take here. ”

"That's right," Managarov added, after Chistyakov finished speaking, "after today's battle, I understand that in order to quickly deal with some enemies, we must increase the investment of troops." Comrade commander, in your plan yesterday, didn't you plan to send three divisions of our army group to cut off the rear of the German army? He paused for a moment, nodded in approval, and then added, "In this way, the task of cutting off the rear of the German army will be entrusted to the 48th Infantry Corps from the 69th Army, while my three divisions, together with the 90th Guards Division, will clear the German strongholds along the Ud River." Do you think that's appropriate? ”

In fact, even if Managarov doesn't say it, I plan to use his troops to participate in the offensive on Kharkov. As for the remaining divisions, I plan to wait until Kharkov is about to be broken through before throwing them into battle, and then the troops will be able to achieve great results at a very small cost. After all, after the Battle of Kharkov, there will be a series of battles to follow, and without a unit that knows the roots, I will never be sure.

I then said to Managarov: "Comrade General, at present there are too many numbers of troops, and if there is no unified command, then in the battle to clear the German strongholds on the Ud-River, the troops may fall into a state of confusion. ”

"General Managarov, I have a suggestion." Chistyakov helped: "It's better to let the commander of the 22nd Guards Army, Major General Sivakov, take unified command of these troops." What do you think? ”

After listening to this advice, Managarov looked at Chistyakov, then at me, and finally said very cheerfully: "Okay. Since both of them mean this. So that's it. ”

I see that Managarov agreed to Chistyakov's proposal. He called Sivakov to the headquarters of the 71st Guards Division. After listening to my deployment, he politely asked: "Comrade commander, do you have any other instructions?" ”

I thought for a moment, and then added two sentences: "General Sivakov, I just want to remind you to remember that in clearing the German strongholds along the Ude River, you should try to be as steady as possible, and immediately consolidate a little bit when you occupy a little. In this way, the Germans counterattacked. You will not be driven from your positions by the Germans. Once you have taken full control of the north bank, we will be able to attack the south bank with confidence. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." After Sivakov said this, he asked respectfully: "Allow me to leave and call a few division commanders for a pre-war meeting?" ”

"Go, go, General Sivakov." I waved my hand at him, and finally nagged again: "Give the tasks to each division as detailed as possible, so that in the battle, the commanders of each division can clearly understand their responsibilities." ”

After Sivakov left, Chistyakov asked me for instructions: "Comrade commander. Shall we stay here, or shall we return to the headquarters of the army group? "Don't wait for me to answer. He continued, "You see, this place is too cramped, and our headquarters is obviously not suitable for this location. ”

I looked at the division headquarters, which could only accommodate seven or eight people, and felt that Chistyakov's words made perfect sense, so I nodded and said, "Okay, let's go back to the headquarters of the army group." ”

When the jeep passed through the city of Durgach again, Chistyakov, who was sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly turned back to me and said: "Comrade commander, I am very worried about one thing now. ”

"What's the matter?" I was taken aback by his words, and I thought to myself, could I have been overstepped in some way?

"Well, look at the citizens outside." Chistyakov pointed to the residents on the side of the road with blank expressions and said: "Kharkiv is the fourth largest city in our country, and there are many residents in the city, and if we shell the city, it will definitely cause a lot of accidental injuries." ”

"Is there anything you can do to prevent this from happening?" When I asked this, I muttered to myself, "Don't mention the advice that our army should not use heavy weapons such as artillery in street battles, otherwise this battle will not be fought."

But sometimes the more worried he is, the more he worries, and he just listens to him say: "I think in street fighting, try not to use artillery......"

"What, what?" Before he could finish his words, Managarov retorted sharply: "Comrade Chistyakov, what kind of equipment the Germans are, even if I don't say it, I believe you know it in your heart." Do you know how much it would cost us to abandon heavy weapons like artillery and let only lightly armed infantry attack them? ”

"I know, General Managarov." Chistyakov fought back with a tough attitude: "Have you ever wondered how many casualties we will inflict on civilians if we use artillery in street battles? If your family is also in the city, can you bear to give the order to open fire? ”

"You're ......!" Managarov choked on Chistyakov's words, and he wanted to refute them, but he couldn't find the right words in a hurry, so he could only turn his eyes to me for help, and said angrily: "Comrade commander, it's up to you to make up your mind about this matter." ”

The main point of contention between the two was whether or not to use heavy weapons, including artillery, in the city, which made me feel torn between them. Speaking from the bottom of my heart, I don't want the residents of the city to pay too many casualties, but if we don't use artillery, then we can only fill the fire support points that are heavily guarded by the German army.

Maybe I thought about it for too long, and Managarov was a little impatient, so he raised his hand and patted me on the shoulder, urging: "Hey, comrade commander, tell me, what do you think?" ”

"The use of tanks and artillery in street battles does result in heavy casualties among the residents of the city." "But if we attack without heavy weapons, but with infantry, it is entirely possible that we will suffer heavy casualties and still be unable to overcome the German defensive positions......

My ambiguous statement made the two of them more confused the more they listened. After waiting for me to finish, Chistyakov asked a little anxiously: "Comrade commander, I have listened to you for a long time, and I have not understood, do you agree to use heavy weapons in the city, or do you not agree to use heavy weapons?" ”

Seeing both of them staring nervously at me, waiting for me to give my final answer, I smiled and continued: "In street fighting, the use of heavy weapons is necessary, because it will reduce the casualties of our attacking troops, and at the same time, it will also destroy the will of the German army to resist in the shortest possible time." Only if we liberate Kharkov in the shortest possible time will we be able to minimize the casualties among the population. ”

After I finished speaking, Chistyakov frowned and thought for a while, then nodded and said: "Comrade commander, you and General Managarov are right, in order to quickly liberate this important industrial city of our country, it is inevitable to pay a certain price. ”

Back at the headquarters, Kirillov and I briefly chatted about the fighting in the forest, and then we moved on to the question of how tanks and artillery could provide fire support to the attacking infantry.

Bere first reported to me the results of the tank army: "In the battle that has just ended, our troops destroyed 6 German tanks and 7 assault guns, and lost 12 tanks themselves, almost all of them T-34 tanks. ”

Hearing this, Chistyakov couldn't help but interject and asked: "Comrade General, as far as I know, your army is equipped with a lot of new tanks, why didn't they go into battle?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Deputy Commander." Beray patiently explained to Chistyakov: "Due to the delay in the arrival of the ammunition for the new tank, the departure was repeatedly postponed, so that it did not have time to participate in this battle. But now it's good, the new tanks are currently in a state of full ammunition, and I am sure that they will perform well in the next battles. ”

After hearing this, Chistyakov nodded, and then asked Povsky: "Comrade Artillery Commander, I wonder when the supply of ammunition to the artillery regiment will be completed?" ”

Hearing Chistyakov's question, Povsky quickly got up from his seat and replied respectfully: "Report to Comrade Deputy Commander, the replenishment of artillery ammunition should be completed before ten o'clock in the morning." Then the artillery positions will move forward to the Oud River, where fire suppression will be imposed on the enemy on the southern bank. ”

"Very good, very good," Chistyakov turned his face to me and asked me after saying two very good in a row: "Comrade commander, I have finished asking, do you have anything else to ask?" ”

I shook my head, and then said to the two: "I have nothing to add, General Sivakov's offensive on the banks of the Ud River will begin soon, you all go and prepare." Then I turned around and instructed Akhromeyev, "Major, call General Tavart Kiradze and ask him to bring several of his division commanders to the headquarters for a meeting before twelve o'clock in the afternoon." (To be continued.) )