"Who are you? Comrade Commander. Chuikov asked with an indifferent expression.

I habitually looked at the other party's collar badge and found that it was actually a battalion-level political commissar, and it seemed that he was either the political commissar of this division or the director of the political department. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but look at Lyudnikov, who was standing aside.

When Lyudnikov saw Chuikov asking, he just wanted to step forward to make an introduction, but the commander had already straightened up and saluted Chuikov, and replied loudly: "Report to Comrade Deputy Commander, I am Titov, political commissar of the battalion level, and now I hold the post of political commissar of the 138th Division. ”

Chuikov circled around him with his hands behind his back, and suddenly asked again: "Since you are the political commissar of the division, where did you go if you didn't stay in the command headquarters and fight with Colonel Lyudnikov commanding?" ”

Titov replied loudly: "Report to Comrade Deputy Commander, I was ordered to lead the troops in a counter-assault on the enemy. ”

"Since you are leading the troops to carry out a counter-assault, why did you throw the troops down and run back alone?" Chuikov visibly questioned him.

Titov's body was still straight, and he replied without humility or arrogance: "Comrade commander, on the battlefield, the tanks of both the enemy and us have been lost, and our infantry, like the enemy's infantry, is exhausted and unable to attack. The reason why I returned to the division headquarters was because I thought that there were still two companies of reserves in the division, and if they were thrown into battle, they would be able to reverse this stalemate on the battlefield in one fell swoop. ”

Chuikov's originally tense face softened, and he asked kindly: "Commissar Titov, it's actually like a matter of transferring reserves. You just make a phone call. You don't need to run back to the headquarters yourself. ”

"Comrade Commander. Allow me to explain it to you. "Titov called Chuikov deputy commander, and Lyudnikov still habitually called him commander. Seeing that Chuikov nodded his head in approval, Lyudnikov then reported: "Our division currently has no other communication equipment except for a radio station and a small number of telephones. In many cases, when it was necessary to convey orders to the subordinates, the only way to do so was to let the signal corps carry the orders to inform the troops. Speaking of this, he lowered his voice and said in a low voice, "Comrade Commander." Can you add some communication equipment to our division? ”

Chuikov shook his head with a wry smile and said, "I not only want to replenish your division with communication equipment, but also want to replenish your weapons and ammunition, and even send you another reserve." But I can't. At present, a considerable part of the logistical supply of the army group is still on the military column from Tula to Stalingrad, and it is still unknown whether it can be successfully transported. ”

After Chuikov finished speaking, there was a brief silence in the headquarters.

Seeing that several people were speechless, I hurriedly stepped forward and said to Chuikov: "Comrade commander. Let's go outside and see, maybe our troops have already repelled the enemy. ”

"Yes. Yes, yes, Comrade Commander, let's go out and have a look. Lyudnikov, seeing that I had relieved him, looked at me gratefully, and then echoed.

"Let's go. Let's go by the way to see which unit has just arrived in the military column. ”

When we walked out of the division headquarters and came to a nearby hillside to observe the battlefield with binoculars, we found that the battle was over. The enemy's tank units have been completely wiped out, and dozens of tanks turned into scrap metal are emitting black smoke from the steppe. As for the infantry, there were not many who escaped, and most of them were either killed or captured by our troops. At this moment, the commanders and fighters of our army are cleaning up the battlefield, some are collecting weapons and ammunition from the enemy, and some are treating the wounded of our army.

I looked at the battlefield for a while, then turned my telescope to the location of the artillery position, and saw that there was smoke of gunpowder, and there were only four or five intact artillery pieces left on the position, and there were not many people moving around. This shows how heavy the casualties of the artillery regiment were in the air raid just now.

At this time, Titov suddenly pointed to the distance and shouted: "Comrade Deputy Commander, look, someone is coming, maybe it is the commander of that unit." ”

I looked in the direction of his finger and saw a group of soldiers walking towards us. The people in front of them were wearing large-brimmed hats, and at a glance they knew that Lu Dao was the commander, followed by a group of soldiers wearing steel helmets. Without saying a word, Chuikov put away the binoculars, took them in his hands, and walked down the hillside, towards the group of soldiers.

As the group of soldiers approached, I could clearly see that at the front was a major general, with a colonel on his left and a political worker in the right rear, followed by guards and soldiers.

They came to a stop in front of Chuikov, and the three commanders raised their hands in unison to salute Chuikov. After returning the salute, Chuikov politely asked: "I am Chuikov, deputy commander of the 64th Army, Comrade General, which part of you are from?" ”

The major general straightened up, his hands naturally drooped, his fingers pressed against the seams of his trousers, took a step forward, and replied: "General Chuikov, we are from the 98th Infantry Division. I am the division commander, Major General Grazkov. Then he turned to the side, pointed to the two commanders behind him, and said: "This is the chief of staff, Colonel Seryokin, and the political commissar Tartin. ”

After Chuikov shook hands with the three of them in turn, he introduced a few of us. He began with Lyudnikov: "This is Colonel Lyudnikov, the commander of the 138th Infantry Division, and next to him is his political commissar, Comrade Titov. But when he introduced me, he paused, as if considering what identity to give me, and after a while, he said slowly: "This Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina is temporarily serving as the chief of staff of the group army. ”

After shaking hands, Grazkov and Lyudnikov came up to me and said amicably: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I didn't expect you to hold such an important post in the headquarters of the army group at such a young age. ”

I didn't know how to reply to him, so I smiled at him.

After everyone got to know each other, we returned to the division headquarters in Lyudnikov. Only then did Chuikov ask curiously: "General Gorazkov, why did your division suddenly appear in the 74th Willinghouse?" Is there any combat mission? ”

Gorazkov nodded and replied: "Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander. Our division received orders from above. The whole division rode in military columns. Rush to the Don River. Assist the 62nd Infantry Division of the 112th Army in attacking the German units that were building fortifications on the left bank of the Don River, destroying them all or driving them across the Don River. ……”

"Wait a minute, Comrade General." Chuikov interrupted him and said dissatisfiedly: "What did you just say, the 62nd Division of the 112th Army? You must know that this division belongs to the battle sequence of our 64th Army. ”

Gorazkov took off his hat and raised his hand to touch the back of his bare head. Somewhat embarrassed, he said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, that's what I received from the order. Our division was originally subordinate to the 64th Army, but when the troops boarded the train, they received another order that we had been assigned to the 62nd Army. ”

After hearing this, Chuikov's face changed greatly, and he walked around the house without saying a word with his hands behind his back. After walking for a while, he stopped, turned his head and asked Lyudnikov: "Comrade Colonel, can the radio of your division be in contact with the army group command?" ”

"Yes. Comrade Commander. Lyudnikov immediately gave an affirmative answer.

After Chuikov and Shumilov got in touch, he hurriedly asked: "Comrade commander." I want to ask, what did the 112th Division belong to the 62nd Army? ”

Shumilov hurriedly comforted him and said: "Comrade Chuikov, don't worry, listen to me tell you slowly." After you left, we received a telephone call from the Front Command, saying that in order to facilitate the command, the headquarters had decided to transfer the 112th and 229th Infantry Divisions and some other units that originally belonged to our group army to the 62nd Army. At the same time, some other newly formed units were assigned to our 64th Army. ”

"I had just met with the commander of the 98th Division, Major General Gorazkov, and I learned from him that they were preparing to rush to the Don River and coordinate with the 112th Division, and that the two divisions would attack each other on the left and right to destroy the enemy occupying the left bank of the Don. Is there such a thing? ”

"Yes, Comrade Chuikov." Shumilov replied very patiently: "This is a dead order from the command of the Front, and it must be completed today." However, since it is a combat mission of the 62nd Army, you don't have to worry about it, after all, you are now the deputy commander of the 64th Army, and not the commander of the 62nd Army. ”

"No, General Shumilov." Chuikov said in a resolute tone, "How can two forces that are not familiar with each other fight together in an unfamiliar area?" I had to go to the Don River and coordinate and direct them in battle to ensure that the orders assigned by the front command could be fulfilled. ”

Shumilov was silent for a moment, and then agreed to Chuikov's proposal, and he specially advised: "Comrade Chuikov, it is best for you to contact Colonel Sologub of the 112th Division immediately to discuss the time of the attack of both sides, so as to ensure that each side can cooperate with each other in battle." ”

"Understood, General Shumilov, please rest assured, I will contact Solokub."

"In that case, I wish you the best of luck! General Chuikov, take care! ”

Having interrupted communication with Shumilov, Chuikov handed over the call code of the 112th Division to the communications corpsman and asked him to contact the divisional headquarters of the division.

Soon Sologub's deep voice came out of the microphone: "Hey, I'm the division commander, Colonel Sologub, where are you?" ”

Chuikov said loudly: "Hello, Comrade Colonel, I am Chuikov. ”

"Comrade General, do you have any instructions?" Solokub asked politely.

"Comrade Colonel, where are your troops?"

"On the right bank of the Don, Comrade General."

"What?" Chuikov was taken aback when he heard this, and hurriedly asked: "If you want to carry out the order to attack the Germans on the left bank, don't you want to force the Don River?" ”

"Exactly, Comrade General."

"Are there enough ships?" Chuikov asked with concern.

"We didn't have many ships to collect, because they were all small boats, we could only transport infantry over, and we had to throw the rest of the heavy artillery and trucks on the right bank."

"When are you going to attack?"

"About an hour later. In the event of an offensive, my artillery chief, Colonel Godlevsky, will provide the necessary artillery support for our offensive. ”

"Listen, Colonel Sologub." Chuikov couldn't wait to say, "I will rush to the Don River as soon as possible with the 98th Division that will cooperate with you, and fight with you the German troops on the left bank of the Don River." I beg you, it has allowed the preparation time for artillery fire to be longer. Try to destroy the enemy's resistance with artillery fire. Reduce casualties when troops cross the river. Do you understand? ”

"Understood. Comrade commander, I resolutely carry out your orders. ”

As soon as the communication with Sologub ended, Chuikov urged Gorazkov: "Comrade General, please urge your troops to board the train as soon as possible, take the military column along the railway line to the Don River as soon as possible, and flank Colonel Sologub's troops left and right, and wipe out all the German troops on the left bank." ”

"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander. I'm going to deploy it. Gorazkov loudly agreed, turned around and left the division headquarters with two of his deputies.

After Gorazkov and the others left, I asked Chuikov in a soft voice: "Comrade commander, what are we going to do?" ”

"Go back to the car. We drove to the Don River, then found a high ground and set up a command post there, where we commanded the coordinated operation of the two divisions. ”

Thanks to Chuikov's repeated urgings, the driver drove the car very quickly, and in less than forty minutes we followed the railway to a place only three or four kilometers from the Don River. Over here. The railway to the railway bridge over the Don River has been blown up, at least a few hundred meters of tracks. It has turned into a twisted twist, and it seems that the troops of the 98th Division had to get off and walk after arriving here.

We climbed a small hill nearby, and the top of the slope was full of large and small craters, and Chuikov jumped into a crater more than half a person deep, looked left and right, and said: "The view here is wide, and the temporary headquarters is located here." ”

Seeing who was in the crater at the command post of Chuikov, I couldn't help but look up at the sky, afraid that at this time there would be another enemy plane in the sky. Chuikov looked at me looking around and looked absent-minded, and said with some displeasure: "Oshanina, what are you looking at, why don't you hurry up and let the communication soldiers move the walkie-talkie here." I quickly gathered my thoughts, said loudly, and ran downhill to find the communications soldier who was still in the car.

After our headquarters was arranged, the 112th Division's forced crossing operation began.

First, the artillery of the 112 Division fired at the German positions on the left bank. I don't know what the road was about, but after only a few shells were fired from each gun, the shooting stopped, and then the infantry in the division began to force the crossing.

I saw through the binoculars that the equipment used by the infantry to cross the river was really shabby, except for two or three ferries full of commanders and fighters, the rest of the soldiers were forced to cross the river with wooden rafts and a few door panels tied together. Seeing this scene, my heart was half cold, and my heart said Colonel Sologub, didn't you let your subordinates die? A few machine guns were on the ferry, which could barely suppress the enemy's firepower to a certain extent, but the wooden rows and door panels, which were all drawn by the soldiers' hands, were live targets without the slightest ability to defend themselves. As long as the German guns are fired at the same time, before you can cross the middle of the river, your troops will be almost dead.

As soon as I thought so, the artillery on the German positions on the left bank opened fire. The whistling shells exploded in the dense queue of forcible crossings, and columns of water rose into the sky, and from time to time wooden platoons and door panels and the commanders and fighters on them exploded to pieces. Some of the wooden rafts were also shaken apart, and the commanders and fighters on them fell into the boiling water of the Don River, and were swept downstream by the raging water.

Chuikov's angry voice suddenly sounded in his ears: "Colonel Sologub, what are you doing, why don't you open fire?" Are you ready to keep your heavy artillery cubs? Without suppressing the enemy's artillery, they can wipe out all our river-crossing troops like targets! I order you, fire now! Shoot all the shells! ”

Unexpectedly, the equally anxious voice of Sologub came from the opposite side: "Comrade commander, it's not that I don't let the artillery open fire, our shells are all gone." You can rest assured, even without the cover of artillery, I promise to complete the task well. I immediately boarded the ship and led the fighters in a assault on the left bank. With that, the call was terminated.

Chuikov held the silent microphone and looked ahead, looking at the Don River in the distance, which was under fire. Inadvertently, a crystal teardrop slid down his cheek and down his jaw.

At that moment, the whistle of a train was heard from the bottom of the mountain, and I turned my head to see that a column full of troops from the 98th Division was heading in our direction. I hurriedly shouted to Chuikov: "Comrade commander, you see, the troops of the 98th Division are coming, as long as they attack from the rear of the enemy, they will definitely be able to cover the 112th Division to successfully land on the left bank and destroy the enemy." ”

Five minutes later, Gorazkov and his commissar ran up the hill panting, stood on the top of the crater and saluted Chuikov: "Comrade General, the 98th Division has arrived smoothly, and at the moment the deputy division commander is gathering troops, and it is estimated that in ten minutes, an attack on the enemy will be launched." ”

"Great," said Chuikov, who came out of the crater in two steps, pointed to Gorazkov in the distance, and said, "Comrade General, do you see that?" At present, the 112th Division is forcibly crossing, and since their shells are all gone, the artillery is unable to provide the necessary artillery cover for the infantry crossing the river and suppress the artillery fire of the enemy troops on the left bank, so that the troops crossing the river suffered heavy casualties. ”

Gorazkov took the phone in Chuikov's hand and looked at it, and then said categorically: "Please rest assured, Comrade General, I will personally lead the troops to make a surprise attack, and I must occupy the enemy's riverside position as soon as possible to cover the smooth landing of the 112th Division." After speaking, he turned to his political commissar and said: "Comrade political commissar, you immediately spread out the divisional artillery under the hillside, shell the enemy's positions, and relieve the pressure on the troops crossing the river." (To be continued......)