I threw the microphone down the table and walked back and forth around the room with my hands behind my back. In order for this offensive to succeed, I made a lot of preparations in advance, replenished the 67th Guards Division with sufficient troops, equipped them with the most advanced assault rifles, and even equipped them with powerful artillery firepower.

According to the artillery fire that Baksov and they now have, they can smash all the rudimentary fortifications of the German army on the outskirts of Butovo in the shortest possible time. I thought that the attack would be a sure victory, but it turned out to be so badly defeated, which made me feel extremely bad when I heard the news.

Seeing that I was walking around the house in an irritable mood, Kirillov first got up and threw the microphone on my desk, rested it on the telephone, and then asked me with concern: "Leda, did Baksov fail their attack?" ”

I stopped, nodded at him, and then said with a sigh of anger: "The troops have stormed the city, but they have not gained a firm foothold, and they have been driven out of the city by the Germans, and a third of them have been killed and wounded. ”

"Comrade commander, the failure of the offensive cannot be entirely blamed on Colonel Baksov." After Akhromeyev carefully finished saying this, he observed that the expression on my face had not changed much, and then continued: "The soldiers have just been replenished, and the run-in time between the commanders and fighters is not enough, and there is still a lack of mutual understanding, so there may be problems of one kind or another in the cooperation in battle. There are also newly reequipped assault rifles, which are different from the original standard weapons of our army, and the soldiers cannot skillfully use the weapons in their hands, which will also greatly reduce the combat effectiveness of the troops. ”

I turned around and looked at Akhromeyev in a daze, and said: "Comrade Major, do you think that the failure of this offensive is also related to the fact that the fighters are not familiar with the use of assault rifles? ”

Akhromeyev nodded. Say with certainty: "That's right!" ”

When I think about it, it's true. But now that the assault on Butovo has begun, it is obviously unrealistic to stop and give the fighters a process of familiarizing themselves with their weapons. Now there are only two steps, one is to send troops to continue the offensive against Butovo, and the other is to let those troops that have not yet participated in the battle. Hurry up and familiarize yourself with the capabilities of the weapon.

I was thinking about how to get my commanders and fighters to quickly grasp the new weapons in their hands when I heard Kirillov calling out to me: "Leda, Lida, Lida!" ”

Because I was thinking about something, Kirillov called me three times in a row before I heard it. I looked up at him and asked blankly, "Comrade Military Commissar, do you have anything to do?" ”

"Leda," Kirillov saw that I noticed him. After pondering for a moment, he said: "I feel that the political agitation work of our group army has been very insufficient. ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, if you have any thoughts, you might as well tell me and listen to them." I knew that Kirillov was telling the truth, and because of my dislike for political workers, they were often just an ornament in the troops I commanded. At this moment, Kirillov was heard to suddenly mention the matter. It immediately raised my vigilance.

"I think that in the troops offensive money. A military meeting should be held in the army to introduce the combat mission to all commanders and fighters, so that everyone can know what to expect. Speaking of political work, Kirillov, who had always spoken little in the command, began to gush on and on, "Hold a symposium of all the fighters in a regiment or battalion. They were required to never allow the Germans to gain a foothold wherever there were commanders and fighters of our army; Every soldier is required to contribute to the motherland and victory, and not be afraid of sacrifice.

Political workers at all levels should set specific tasks for party members, such as which fighters should do well during the offensive. Party members must be at the forefront. Be a model for offense......"

"I see, Comrade Military Commissar." Kirillov's words reminded me that during the Battle of Stalingrad, political workers at all levels in the division were constantly at the forefront to make all kinds of agitation and propaganda to the fighters, so that my troops could always maintain vigorous combat effectiveness. I didn't expect that my current position is getting higher and higher, and I don't pay more and more attention to this aspect of work. I was going to go to the positions of the Baksov's division and see if there was any way to boost their morale, and since Kirillov had brought up political mobilization, then I would take him with me. "I'm going to go to the front of the 67th Guards Division, so come with me. You can tell the division political commissar directly what you just said, and ask him to arrange time for political mobilization in the troops. ”

"Alright, Leda." Hearing my offer, Kirillov readily agreed: "I'll go with you." ”

I turned my gaze to Povsky again and instructed him: "Comrade Colonel, you come with me too." ”

On the way to the Butovo front, Kirillov, who was sitting next to me in the back of the jeep, comforted me and said: "Lida, don't worry too much, as long as the political workers at all levels in the division explain to the soldiers the significance of this offensive, I believe that the next battle will be very smooth." ”

Although I also believe that the propaganda and agitation work of the political workers can boost the morale of the troops, I still seem to be less confident in whether or not I can capture Butovo, so I am a little unconfident in speaking: "I hope so! ”

When Baksov saw our group appear at his headquarters, he couldn't help but be taken aback, and hurriedly greeted him, saluting and nervously asking: "Commander, military commissar, why have you all come to us?" ”

After I returned the salute, I sat down in the position he had just done, looked up at him, and asked with a serious face: "Comrade Colonel, can you tell me, since our troops have rushed into the city, why were they beaten out by the Germans with a counterattack?" ”

Hearing my question, Baksov's face turned red, and he lowered his head and muttered: "After the artillery preparation was over, our troops quickly rushed into the city. But as soon as we reached the city center, the Germans had a company of Tiger tanks pressing over, and due to the lack of anti-tank weapons in our troops, the queue was quickly overwhelmed by German tanks. ”

"Comrade Colonel, where are the anti-tank weapons of your division?" When I found out that the troops were driven out of the city by the enemy because of the lack of anti-tank weapons, I immediately became angry and asked angrily: "If I am not mistaken, the superiors have issued you 40 rocket launchers, and each platoon is equipped with one or two, right?" ”

"Yes. Comrade Commander. Faced with my questioning, Baksov admitted with a red face.

"If you have bazookas, why don't you use them?" I asked viciously: "Do you think that the assault rifles in the hands of the soldiers can take out the tanks of the Germans?" ”

"I took into account that the next street battle was going on, and there weren't many places where the bazookas could be useful, so the attacking troops didn't carry them at all." Baksov after the briefing. He took the initiative to admit his mistake to me: "Comrade commander, I was wrong. I now ordered that in the new offensive, all troops must be armed with bazookas, so as not to suffer the Germans' losses again. ”

Seeing that Baksov's attitude of admitting his mistake was not bad, I dismissed the intention of scolding him and instructed him: "Comrade Colonel, let the troops bring all the bazookas, even if they don't fight tanks, when they encounter enemy fire points in the city." It is also possible to take it out with a bazooka. ”

"Hit enemy fire points with bazookas?" When Baksov heard me say this, he asked in amazement: "Isn't the bazooka used to hit tanks, how can it still hit the enemy's firing points?" ”

When I heard his question, I almost rushed up and kicked him, I didn't expect Lao Maozi to be so dead-eyed. Since the bazooka can destroy the enemy's tanks, of course, it can also take out the enemy's firepower points, and no one stipulates that the bazooka can only be used to fight tanks. I pointed at him, so angry that I couldn't speak for a long time. Fortunately, it was Povsky who asked me to relieve the siege, and he smiled and said to Baksov: "Comrade Colonel. As long as you can destroy more enemies, you can use any weapon. ”

Kirillov probably didn't want to see Baksov continue my criticism, so he quickly changed the topic and asked Baksov: "Comrade Colonel, where is your commissar?" ”

"I went to the divisional health camp to visit the wounded." Baksov replied briefly.

"Comrade Colonel, please send someone to take me to the health camp. I have important things to look for your commissar. Kirillov said and raised his hand to look at his watch, urging: "Time is running out now, please hurry up." ”

Baksov immediately shouted outside, when one of the fighters came in. He immediately ordered the other party: "You take the comrade military commissar to the political commissar, understand?" ”

"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." When the fighter had finished agreeing, he walked up to Kirillov, made a gesture of please, and said: "Please, Comrade Military Commissar, I will take you to the commissar." ”

After Kirillov left, Baksov couldn't help but ask me curiously: "Comrade commander, I don't know if there is anything important about the political commissar of the military commissar looking for me?" ”

"The military commissar said that before launching a new offensive, political workers should mobilize every soldier who participated in the battle, so that they can understand the significance of this battle so that they can exert greater capabilities in the battle." After I finished speaking, I stood up and said to Baksov: "Let's go, Comrade Colonel, take us to the observation post." ”

"Observation Post?!" When Baksov heard me say this, he couldn't help but be stunned, and then asked rhetorically: "Comrade commander, what are we going to observe the station?" ”

I rolled my eyes at him and said angrily, "Comrade Colonel, can we stay in your headquarters and see the enemy's disarmament?" ”

Fortunately, Baksov was not too stupid, and when he heard me say this, he immediately understood what was going on and quickly led me and Povsky to the observation post.

Through my binoculars, I could see that Butovo was in ruins, and at the outermost part of the ruins were the German defensive positions. In the preparation of artillery fire before the last round of attacks, their fortifications had been blown beyond recognition. At this moment, countless German soldiers are hurrying to repair the fortifications and prepare to resist our next round of attack.

After looking at it for a while, I turned my head sideways and asked Povsky, who was standing next to me: "Comrade Colonel, how many artillery observers did you bring?" ”

Povsky hurriedly put down his binoculars, straightened up and reported to me: "Comrade commander, I have brought five artillery observers, who are at the moment in the trenches outside, and can report the observed information to the artillery positions in the rear at any time. ”

Seeing that Povsky's artillery was ready, I turned again and asked Baksov: "Comrade Colonel, when will your troops launch a new offensive again?" ”

Baksov also raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then replied: "According to the plan, the shelling will begin in five minutes." After half an hour of artillery preparation, my troops charged again. ”

"Are you sure this time?" I looked at him and asked with some trepidation.

To my question, Baksov hesitated for a moment before answering: "Comrade commander, after our troops withdrew from the city, the Germans re-laid minefields in front of their positions. I hope that later in the course of the shelling, our artillery will be able to clear the enemy's minefields. ”

I turned my inquiring gaze to Povsky, who immediately nodded his head and replied affirmatively: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, our artillery is a minefield that can destroy the enemy." ”

As soon as the time for the shelling came, Povsky walked out of the observation post, raised his flare gun in the trench and jerked the trigger. As a red flare was raised, the artillery units, which had long been ready, launched a fierce artillery attack on the enemy according to the shooting elements that had been set for a long time.

There was a screeching sound in the sky, and then the first wave of shells smashed into enemy positions, accurately covering the minefields laid by the Germans. As the shells exploded, the planted mines exploded in pieces like volcanic eruptions, and the smoke of the rising flames quickly obscured the enemy's position.

The artillery spotter who stayed in the trench quickly reported the firing parameters to the rear, so that the artillerymen could quickly adjust the firing angle and distance.

Under their guidance, the raindrops of cannonballs flew in waves, smashing into the enemy group like meteors, the sound of ballistic strokes intertwined, and the fierce roar burst into clusters of blinding halos, and the shrouded smoke shone with rolling fireballs. The panicked enemy troops were running wildly, and the rushing flames reflected their swarms of figures, and the storm of shrapnel smashed the flesh and blood of all the living and dead soldiers in the vicinity of the blast site.

The artillery bombardment had just sparsely settled, and the smoke and dust had not yet dissipated, and the heat was still there, but before I could wipe the sweat from my forehead, there was a tsunami-like "Ula" sound outside. Baksov hurried to the observation port and excitedly reported to me: "Comrade commander, our infantry has charged!" ”

Through the binoculars, I saw that the commanders and fighters of the charge were charging in groups, and hundreds of soldiers let out a deafening cry as they waded through shrapnel floats, trampled over the shredded flesh of the enemy, waved their flags, and bravely rushed towards the city of Butovo. (To be continued.) )