The staff officer who received the order turned around and went to call Gurov, who was staying at the headquarters, and in a short time I heard the staff officer who dialed the phone clearly say: "Hello, Comrade Military Commissar. We have just received a distress call from Colonel Sazhin, commander of the 229th Division in our neighborhood, that the Germans are attacking the 79th State Farm, which is being defended by the 783rd Regiment in the middle of the division. The commander ordered the three cannon regiments belonging to the army group to immediately provide artillery support to the division and stop the German attacking forces. ”

When the staff officer said this, he suddenly covered the microphone, turned his head and asked Kolpakchi: "Comrade commander, comrade military commissar asked, do you want to put the rocket artillery regiment on standby into battle?" ”

Kolpakchi held up the binoculars and said without looking back: "Let the 4th and 5th Guards Rocket Artillery Regiments enter the battle, and the 47th and 83rd regiments continue to stand by." At this point, he paused for a moment, and then added: "Let Comrade Military Commissar contact the commander of the 783rd Regiment and let them provide the artillery with firing parameters." At the same time, let their troops pay attention to concealment, so as not to be accidentally injured by our artillery fire. ”

The staff officer agreed, and said loudly to Gurov: "Comrade Military Commissar, the commander said, please contact the commander of the 783rd Regiment and ask them to provide accurate firing parameters for the artillery regiment, and at the same time let the troops pay attention to concealment and avoid being accidentally injured by our artillery fire." ”

At this time, Kolpakchi suddenly whispered in my ear: "Lieutenant Colonel Oshanina, tell me, why did the Germans attack us with only such a small number of troops, and retreat at the slightest contact?" ”

Kol Parkic's question stopped me at once. Yes, yesterday the vanguard of the German army attacked this section. Even if their attack yesterday failed. As is customary. Today, too, we should rely on our superiority in aircraft and tanks to launch a fierce attack on our positions, so why would we only send a small force to fight and then withdraw? Is there some conspiracy?

Before I could come up with an answer, the staff officer came over again, walked up to Kolpakchi's side and whispered: "Comrade commander, General Chuikov of the 64th Army has called for you. ”

Kol Pakchi put down the binoculars, walked over to pick up the microphone, and called Chuikov by his patronymic and his real name: "Hello." Vassili. Ivanovic! You called at this time, is there anything wrong? ”

"Thank you, Vladimir. Yakovlevich! "I just received a call from the commander of the 229th Infantry Division, Colonel Sazhen, that his troops, with the support of your powerful artillery fire, had repelled the enemy's frantic attack. ”

Kol Pakchi smiled and said, "Old man, we're allies. Since you are in trouble, it is only natural that we will support you. ”

"How's your situation there?" Chuikov asked.

Kolpacic, who was holding the microphone, glanced outside and said disappreciatively: "A small German army came to attack just now. After encountering the artillery fire of our troops, they have already retreated in disgrace. It's calm outside. ”

After hearing this, Chuikov was silent for a while before he said slowly: "I suggest that you be vigilant, the German army will retreat after fighting like this, there must be some conspiracy." ”

After putting down the phone, Kolpacchi came to the window again, picked up the binoculars and looked out, and said to himself: "Could it be that the Germans have turned the main direction of their offensive to the 64th Army, so that we are so quiet in front of our positions?" Saying this, he turned around and instructed the staff officer: "Call the 147th and 181st Divisions and ask them how the situation is on their side?" ”

The staff officer quickly returned from a phone call and reported: "Comrade commander, I have called General Volkhin and General Novikov, and they both reported that not even a single enemy could be seen in front of the position. ”

Kol Pakchi put down the binoculars again, frowning and pondering. After a while, he walked over to the table and looked down at the map spread out on it. He stared at the map for ten minutes, and when he looked up again, I noticed that his face was a little more gloomy.

He slowly straightened up and instructed the staff officers who were on standby: "Operational staff officer, you should immediately contact the operations office of the front headquarters and learn from them about the enemy's movements in other defensive areas. ”

Soon the staff officer came to report: "Comrade commander, I have just received a report from the Operations Department of the Front Army that the defense areas of the 63rd and 64th armies are under attack by the Germans. The remnants of the 28th, 38th and 57th armies, routed by the 4th Tank Army, which had only been transferred back from the Caucasus by the Germans, were retreating in the direction of Stalingrad. ……”

When I heard this, my heart moved, and I secretly wondered whether the Germans were implementing various breaking tactics, and that three armies had already been repulsed, and that if the 63rd and 64th armies were to be crushed, with their strength, they would be able to encircle and annihilate the main forces of the 62nd Army on the Koska Line.

At the thought of the possibility of the army group being encircled, I could not help but get nervous and could not help but remind Kolpacic: "Comrade commander, I think the Germans have a conspiracy. ”

Kol Parkoch, whose attention had not been taken off the map, said without raising his head: "What conspiracy? Let's hear it. ”

I hurriedly walked to the table, pointed to the map on the table where our group army was located, and said, "Comrade commander, please see. The 64th Army was on the left flank of our army, and once the Germans routed them, they could take advantage of the situation to advance to the banks of the Chir River, which would cut off the retreat of our troops and form an encirclement. With that, I stared nervously at Kol Parkucci and waited for him to make a decision.

Korpakich nodded, picked up a red and blue pencil, pointed to the map and said, "Comrade Oshanina, you have a point. If the 64th Army, which borders us, is defeated, we will be left alone. In this way, the Germans could attack us from both the front and the flanks, leaving us untouched, and finally encircling and annihilating us in our defensive positions on the banks of the Koska River. ”

Saying this, he threw his pencil on the table, stood up straight, and ordered the staff officer again: "Operational staff officer, call General Volkhin of the 147th Division, and ask him to immediately send a regiment of troops to move south, and advance to the 155th Heights to reinforce the 229th Division." ”

Watching Korpakchi give orders in the headquarters, I felt a little lost in my heart, and my feelings began with the Battle of the Sinavino Bulge to the current Don River Defense Battle, I was a dozen soy sauce characters, staying in the headquarters and doing nothing. When the tide of battle was favorable to our army, the commanders who were in a good mood would occasionally ask me for my opinion; But once the battle situation is repeated, I become a transparent person in the headquarters, and if I don't take the initiative to speak, no one will pay attention to me.

After the departure of the troops of the 147th Division, every half hour, Kolpacchi asked the operational staff officers to call the divisions and ask if there was any movement of German troops in front of the position. The information in the newspapers of each division was the same: it was calm in front of the position, and not a single German could see it.

Just when Kolpacic was anxious about the confusing situation in our defense area, the commander of the 229th Division, a friendly neighbor, Colonel Sazhen, called. When Kol Pakchi answered the phone, I clearly heard the colonel excitedly say on the phone: "Comrade commander, thank you so much. Today's German attack on the 783rd State Farm defended by the 79th Regiment of our division has been completely crushed by us thanks to the strong artillery support of you, as well as the support of the infantry of the 147th Regiment that arrived later. The German troops, having suffered heavy losses, had already retreated to the west in disgrace. ”

A pleased smile appeared on Kolparkic's face, and he calmly asked: "Comrade Colonel, how are the results?" ”

"After counting the results of the battle, in the defensive section of the 783rd Regiment alone, nearly 600 soldiers were killed and 11 tanks were destroyed."

"Well done!" Kolpacic complimented the other party, and then added: "Now that the Germans have retreated, let the regiment of the 147th Division return as soon as possible, I fear that the Germans may soon attack our defensive areas." ”

Before Kolpacic's words could be finished, the rumbling of cannon could be heard outside the house. (To be continued......)