I was bent down and hiding behind Vylor and Savchenko, but when I saw that the soldier who ran over turned out to be Sergeant Shaykin, I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and quickly stood up straight and shouted at everyone: "Don't shoot, it's your own people!" With that, I walked past the two of them and walked towards Shaikin.

Coming to Shaykin, I raised my hand and grabbed his arm and asked with concern: "Comrade sergeant, are you okay, you were not hit by the enemy's bullet?" ”

Shaikin shook his head and said confidently: "Report to the division commander, I am very good, the enemy's bullets will not hit me." Then he boasted to me, "Not only did it not hit me, but I killed seven people, one of whom was killed by a grenade that I recognized." ”

"Well done, Comrade Shaikin!" Clearly knowing the sergeant, Vellore came over and praised Shaikin as she put her pistol in her holster: "It was because of your decisive and courageous actions that the division commander and regimental commander were rescued from danger. I would like to report your heroic deeds to the whole regiment and call on everyone to learn from you. ”

Shaykin couldn't help but giggle when he heard Vylore say this. When he was almost smiling, I quickly asked him: "Comrade sergeant, just now I sent a small detachment to reinforce you, did you see them?" ”

"Yes," Shaikin replied with a vigorous nod, "because they appeared in German uniforms, the German soldiers who came out of our army were stunned for a while, and they were caught off guard." ”

Hearing that the enemy who had sneak attack had been eliminated, I breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time did not forget to care about the detachment of Second Lieutenant Gretka: "What are the casualties of our troops? ”

"Our troops at the time of the extermination of the Germans. There were also casualties. Paid the price of one dead and one wounded. Shaikin thought for a moment. He added: "But all the Germans in our uniforms were killed, and none of them escaped, and there were 19 of them." ”

I then asked, "Sergeant Shaikin, in addition to the one dead and one wounded you just mentioned, do we have any casualties?" ”

"Yes," Shaikin replied without hesitation, "and in the confrontation with the Germans, we lost five of them." Eleven people were wounded, although none of them were serious. ”

"Comrade division commander, the casualty figures have been counted." Velore suddenly spoke: "In the battle that just ended, we killed a total of 27 people. We lost 115 casualties and wounded 25. ”

I was taken aback by the number reported by Vellol, you must know that most of the commanders and fighters of the 2nd Regiment have gone through a lot of battles and have rich combat experience, but they have paid such a painful price after encountering a sneak attack by a small army of the enemy. Surprised, I retorted, "Comrade Vellore." Why are our casualties so great? ”

Seeing that my face was not good, Vellor hurriedly explained: "Comrade division commander. There are two main reasons why our regiment has paid such a big price: first, the enemy is wearing the uniform of our army, and our commanders and fighters cannot quickly distinguish between the enemy and us, and as a result, the enemy is given an opportunity to take advantage of; Second, the area where the enemy launched the attack was stationed the militia company with the weakest combat effectiveness in the whole regiment. ”

When I heard the militia company, my heart suddenly tightened, and I hurriedly asked: "Who is the company commander, Captain Iglatov?" ”

Velore shook his head, uttered an unfamiliar name, and added, "The disguised enemy was spotted by this fallen company commander." According to the wounded soldiers, when the company commander saw the team entering the trench, he came forward to inquire because he saw all the fresh faces, but he did not expect the other party to suddenly open fire, and the company commander died on the spot. A dozen or so fighters around, most of whom fell under the enemy's guns before they could fire a single shot. The soldier who reacted to the situation to us was shot in the shoulder and fell to the ground, and another martyr was pressed on top of him, so that he was not discovered by the Germans. ”

"Comrade division commander, Second Lieutenant Greteka, they're here." Oleg, who had been silent, suddenly shouted.

I looked up and saw a dozen commanders and fighters in German uniforms walking towards us, two of them carrying a stretcher. Because my vision was blocked by the person walking in front, I couldn't see who was lying on the stretcher.

In the process of waiting for them to come, I couldn't help but smile bitterly in my heart, I was almost killed by the German soldiers wearing our uniforms today, and it was the German soldiers who surrendered to Cheng in the German uniforms who rescued me. If they hadn't come back from a mission by chance, perhaps the enemy detachment that had sneak attack would have wiped out more commanders and fighters of the Second Regiment.

As they got closer and closer, I didn't see the familiar figure of Gretka for a long time, and my heart began to panic, remembering that Shaikin had just reported that they had paid the price of one dead and one wounded, but I wondered if Gretka was one of them?

As they passed me, I finally saw that it was Gretka lying on the stretcher. I hurriedly told the soldiers to stop, leaned down and stretched out my hands to hold one of Gretka's hands hanging outside the stretcher, I grabbed his cold hand tightly, and asked with concern: "Ensign Gretka, how are you?" ”

"Report...... Comrade ...... division commander "Gretka covered the bleeding wound in his abdomen with one hand and laboriously spat out words to report the situation to me: "The enemy has been completely destroyed...... The situation of the reconnaissance...... Comrade Savchenko also knew ...... You can ask him to report back to you. ”

"I see, Second Lieutenant Gretka, you can get some rest." After I finished speaking, I straightened up and ordered the soldier who was carrying him: "Send the second lieutenant to the health center immediately." Lieutenant Colonel Oleg, you send two fighters with the second lieutenant's men. ”

Oleg did not arrange manpower as I ordered, but volunteered: "Comrade division commander, I should personally accompany Comrade Ensign to the health center." After speaking, he waved at Gretka's subordinates and said loudly: "Let's go!" ”

Watching Oleg and the troops carrying the Gretka stretcher fade away in the trenches, I remembered to ask Velore: "Comrade Vylol, how do you know that we are in danger?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Division Commander." Vellor took the initiative to report to me: "Since the Germans were attacking the high ground of the 4th Regiment, the reconnaissance detachment was forced to change the route of the march and could only go back from the direction of the 107.5 heights. To avoid misunderstandings with allies. So the commissar Comrade Kirillov ordered me. Go to the 107.5 heights to notify allies. And welcome the team back. As soon as we reached the foot of the hill, we heard a dense burst of gunfire and sporadic grenade explosions, and when Ensign Grettka heard this, he even said that something must be wrong, so we hurried over. ”

As we walked back as we spoke, I suddenly said on a whim: "Comrade Vellol, Ensign Greteka is very good today. I think he should be awarded a medal. "Although I know that my mention is ridiculous, and the Soviet army probably has never awarded a medal to a unit that surrendered to me, but for the sake of Greitka, a life-saving benefactor, even if he is reprimanded by Chuikov and Gurov, I have to apply for a medal for him.

I had thought that my mention would first be opposed by Vylor and Savchenko, after all, as the superior of Ensign Gretka, they knew him very well. Unexpectedly, Velore took out two pieces of paper from his briefcase and handed them to me, adding: "I just filled out the report when you were talking to Ensign Gretka. ”

I reached out and took it. He stopped and took the report to his eyes and read it aloud: "Ensign Gretka." The Germans, in the Battle of Stalingrad, led their troops to surrender to our army. In the battle to defend the great city of Stalingrad with our army, he showed bravery and resourcefulness. When the commander of our army was besieged by the enemy, he braved the enemy's bullets and bullets to rush forward, destroyed all the enemy, rescued our commander, and showed bravery and heroism. "I flipped through the one below and saw that the report was for Shaikin's application for a medal.

For this kind of clichéd report, I believe that there are many more in Villol's briefcase, as long as I take it out and fill in the name, it will be a new report, so after reading it, I put forward my different views to Villore: "Comrade Velore, I think the content of your report should be revised, you look at the comments on the two of them, they both use 'show xiàn brave' and 'show xiàn heroic spirit', and you can't see the characteristics of one person at all, you should find some different words to distinguish the two of them." Do you agree with me? ”

"No, Comrade Division Commander, I'm not the same." Vellore retorted firmly: "The kind of words you want to use are not available in this world. ”

"How could it not be?" I asked, surprised.

"I can't think of such a word, or rather, to be precise, such a word has not yet been coined. You know, it's easy to find a few words for a hero to comment on his exploits, but not now. Now there are thousands, or tens of thousands, of such heroes, and if they are truly worthy of them, there is really not the kind you are talking about. ”

Without saying a word, I handed the report of Liangfen's application for the award of the medal to Velol, and walked forward silently. After walking some distance, I whispered: "Comrade Vellol, thank you for your support of me!" Although I know that Ensign Gretka's report is unlikely to be approved, I would like to thank you. ”

"Why wasn't it approved?" Velore asked angrily, "I don't understand?" ”

After I was silent for a moment, I sighed and said: "Because his identity as a German is too sensitive, although he has long surrendered to our army and made a lot of contributions, many people still can't accept it psychologically if they want their superiors to award a German medal." ”

"You'll have to give it a try. The superior is not an unreasonable person, and if he knew the cause and effect of the whole thing, I think he would have made an exception. At this point, she suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Where are we going next?" To the command post of our regiment, or back to the division headquarters? ”

"Let's go back to the division headquarters, maybe the political commissar and the chief of staff know what happened just now, and I don't know how worried they are now. Only when they see me appear in front of them safe and sound, will their hearts be reassured. Then I turned to Savchenko, who was following behind, and said, "And you, Comrade Political Instructor, also go back to the headquarters with me." Since Ensign Greitka is wounded, you can only report to me the information obtained by the reconnaissance team. ”

But before I could return to the headquarters, halfway through the trenches, I met Kirillov himself with Captain Basmanov and a dozen fighters of the guard company. Seeing that I was safe, Kirillov rushed over, grabbed my arm, and said happily: "Thank God." Comrade Oshanina. See that you are safe and sound. It's just wonderful. ”

I looked at my partner, who was concerned about my safety, and said gratefully: "Comrade Political Commissar, thank you for your concern. Although I was attacked by the enemy, my fortune is great, you see that I am not fine now, and I have not been hurt at all. ”

Kirillov snorted and asked loudly at Vylore, who was standing next to him, "Which company is in charge of carrying out the inventory mission, and why did you let the enemy mix up so lightly?" This matter should be dealt with strictly. None of the soldiers on duty, nor their company commanders, could escape. You immediately send someone to arrest them all. ”

"Wait a minute, Comrade Vellore." I stopped Vylore, who was about to leave, and pleaded with Kirillov for the unknown commanders and fighters: "Commissar, those Germans disguised themselves as our fighters, and there are no conspicuous identification marks on their equipment, and it is understandable that the soldiers on duty did not recognize them. ”

Kirillov looked resolute: "Comrade Vylol, what are you still doing here, don't bring people to arrest those fighters on duty and their company commanders." "I was about to speak. Kirillov had already raised his hand to stop what I was about to say, and gave the order to himself: "Captain Basmanov. You take a few fighters with Commissar Vellol. ”

Basmanov agreed, and immediately turned to call out the fighters who were following him. Seeing that Basmanov had gathered a few fighters in the shortest possible time, Velore could only sigh helplessly and obediently led them to capture those derelict fighters.

Kirillov and I, under the protection of the remaining guards fighters, returned to the command. As soon as Kirillov reached the door, he stopped, turned to me and said angrily: "Comrade division commander, let's wait here for a while, and then go in after disposing of the derelict fighters brought by Vylore." ”

When he finished speaking, I cautiously asked, "What are you going to do with them?" ”

Kirillov snorted heavily: "What else can be done, of course, all of them are shot." ”

"Shot?!" Kirillov's announced decision to punish startled me, and I quickly persuaded him with a smile: "Isn't this punishment too harsh?" I think it's almost enough to lock them up for a few days? ”

"Comrade division commander, please be strict." Kirillov said with a straight face: "Because of their dereliction of duty, let the enemy smear our positions." If the enemy had not gone in the wrong direction and entered the position of the 2nd Regiment, but had directly touched our headquarters, do you think that our division headquarters would have been able to continue to exist at this moment? ”

When Kirillov said this, I was so dumbfounded that I had to remain silent, ready to wait for the errant fighters to come, and then decide whether to save them.

After a while, Vylor and Basmanov led the soldiers and escorted the five militia fighters who were tied up, among which the person in civilian clothes who walked in the front seemed to be the head of the militia.

Velore walked up to us, raised his hand and saluted, and reported with a blank face: "Division commander, political commissar, I have brought all the soldiers on duty. Because their company commander died in the battle just now, I had to escort the platoon commander of the soldier's platoon over. Now they are all here, waiting for your disposition. With that, she stood aside, and the warriors pushed a few of the militiamen in front of us.

Kirillov nodded, walked up to the militiaman in civilian clothes, and asked briefly: "Are you a platoon commander?" After the other party nodded vigorously in affirmation, he suddenly asked: "How did the Germans get mixed with our positions?" ”

"Comrade Commissar, that's right." The platoon commander replied honestly: "When we were on duty, we saw a small unit coming down from the mountain, and I immediately stepped forward to stop them and asked which part of the commander who led the team was?" The other side replied that they were from the 35th Guards Division, because the entire division was almost lost, so the rest of them were assigned to our division, and they had come to report to the division headquarters. As you know, from time to time there have been small detachments or groups of soldiers from the city to the high ground, and they were all added to our division after the original unit was defeated, so I didn't ask any more questions and let them go. ”

After listening to the militia platoon commander's self-justification, I also understood in my heart that although he had a certain amount of responsibility for this matter, he was not guilty of death, after all, because of the lack of soldiers in the independent division, there were indeed sporadic small units that had recently come to join us. Thinking of this, I walked up to Kirillov's side, pulled him aside, and whispered to him: "Comrade commissar, I think it's better to forget it." If they make a mistake, just lock them up for a few days. If they were to be shot, the soldiers on duty would stop them back without saying anything when they encountered the troops assigned to us going up the mountain. As you know, our independent division is not the only one unit that is currently lacking in troops. Perhaps others will see that we do not accept them, and turn around and go to Soviet Street or Heights 107.5 to join the friendly forces. ”

Kirillov was stunned when he heard this, and after a while, his expression became solemn, and he was ready to give the order to deal with the derelict fighters, but thinking about the terrible consequences, and feeling that things could not be done so hastily, he had to say vaguely: "Comrade Oshanina, since you said so, then do as you just said." (To be continued......)