It was only after following Nekrasov's division into Tomarovka that I realized that I was thinking too optimistically. Although the entire 52nd Guards Division entered the city, it was at a disadvantage compared to the German troops holding the city in terms of strength and equipment. No wonder the 67th Guards Division stormed the city some time ago, and it didn't stay long before it was driven out of the city by the Germans.

While I was thinking about it, one of the staff officers standing at the window suddenly exclaimed: "Look, the enemy is rushing towards me, and our guard battalion is exchanging fire with them. ”

The division headquarters was located on the second floor of a relatively sturdy, not completely destroyed building, where the view was very open and it was possible to see clearly many of the battles taking place on the streets. Hearing the staff officer say this, I hurried to the window, found a relatively safe corner, and raised my binoculars to look out.

I saw an isolated two-story building a few hundred meters away, besieged by the Germans. They set up several machine guns on the nearby ruins and fired wildly with dense crossfire. After fighting for a while, I guess I didn't feel like it was enough, and I added a mortar to a nearby flat ground, and only two or three shots blew a hole in the roof of the small building.

Seeing that the roof of the building had been blown through, the Germans became even more frenzied, and many infantry, under the cover of machine guns and mortars, rushed into the ruins not far from the small building, and threw grenades through the windows into the house.

After a series of explosions, several fighters who were hiding inside were blown out of the window. They fell to the ground, some of them were killed, some were only wounded, but before they could stand up, they were shot into a sieve by the Germans next to them.

With the German shelling, strafing and throwing grenades, holes were blown out of the walls of the small building. The German machine guns fired more fiercely, and the commanders and fighters who were hiding in the building. You have to lie on the ground to dodge the bullets that whizz overhead.

Seeing this, Nekrasov loudly ordered his subordinates: "Immediately draw a platoon from the guard camp and rescue the troops in the building." ”

When his subordinates heard this order, they said with sad faces: "Comrade division commander, we only have one guard platoon left now. If all of them were sent out, the division headquarters would be empty. If the Germans' small forces were to touch us, we wouldn't be able to deal with it. ”

When Nekrasov heard this, he turned to me and said solemnly: "Comrade commander, it's too dangerous here, you better move outside the city!" ”

"No," I looked at the small German troops that were still besieging Xiaolou in the distance, and said disapprerovingly, "just these few Germans can't hit us here." "Finished. I shouted out the door, "Major Basmanov." ”

At my shout, Basmanov walked in from outside, quietly waiting for my order. I pointed to the building in the distance where the battle was raging, and said to him, "Major, you take the guard company over and destroy the enemy." ”

Hearing my order, Basmanov hesitated for a moment. Then he said: "Comrade commander, I only need to take a platoon. The rest is left here to protect you. ”

I waved my hand and said in an unquestioning tone: "Comrade Major, there is also a guard platoon of the 52nd Guards Division here, and with them, our safety can be guaranteed." If you can eliminate this group of enemies as quickly as possible, then we will be safer. ”

"Understood. Comrade Commander! After a loud answer, Basmanov turned and ran out of the command.

As soon as Basmanov left, I immediately asked Nekrasov: "Colonel, is the telephone line with the command of the army group connected?" ”

"Hold it, Comrade Commander." Nekrasov led me to the table. Pointing to a telephone set on it, he said: "This is the telephone, which can directly talk to the headquarters of the group army." ”

"Please dial it for me, Comrade Colonel." I politely said: "I want to talk to Chief of Staff Bezikov." ”

After the call was connected, Bezikov heard my voice and anxiously asked: "Comrade commander, why did you run to the city of Tomarovka, don't you know that street fighting is going on there?" ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, this is not the point." Without waiting for Bezikov to finish, I interrupted him and gave him a straightforward order: "When I arrived in the city, I found that the enemy was far more powerful than we had imagined, so I now order you to immediately transfer the 51st Guards Army of General Tavart Kiradze and the 375th Infantry Division of Colonel Govorinenko. ”

"Throw the entire 23rd Guards Army into battle, Comrade Commander?" After listening to my order, Bezikov cautiously asked: "Is it really worth throwing three guards divisions and one infantry division at once to the enemy in the city?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." In response to Bezikov's question, I explained to him: "The German forces in Tomarovka were much greater than we thought, and they relied on the existing fortifications of the city to fight with us street by street, house by house. And they are constantly fighting back against us. ”

"Aren't there two other divisions of friendly forces?" Bezikov asked in astonishment: "Are they still staying in the outer positions and not storming the city?" ”

"It was like this, two divisions on the east and west flanks were engaged in a fierce battle with the German garrison. Although our troops sent air support, they were not able to break through the German perimeter defensive positions. When I said this, I suddenly remembered one more thing, and hurriedly said goodbye to Zikov: "Also, there is only one tank brigade of ours in the city, and the strength is a little weak. Please order General Kravchenko to draw another tank brigade from his Fifth Guards Tank Corps into the city. ”

As soon as I put down the phone, it rang impatiently. I thought it was Bezikov who didn't figure out something, so I called me again to ask me, but when I heard it, Zhukov's voice came from the earpiece.

He asked in a deep voice, "Hey, Leda, what's going on with you there?" ”

"Report Comrade Marshal." I respectfully reported to him: "At present, the troops of the 52nd Guards Division, having successfully broken through to Tomarovka in the northern direction, are engaged in street battles with the enemy in the northern part of the city. ”

After listening to my report, he was silent for a moment, and then added: "The defense of the German army in the Tomarovka area is more tenacious than we thought. The troops on your left and right flanks, although under the cover of artillery, air force and tanks, launched a fierce attack on the German positions. But so far, it has not been possible to break through the outlying positions of the German army. To make sure your troops aren't kicked out of town by the Germans, it's best to put in reserve right away. ”

"Comrade Marshal, the Germans are constantly attacking us in the city. Our offensive has almost come to a standstill. "In order for Zhukov to have a clear idea of the situation in Tomarovka, I reported to him in detail about the situation in the city:" ...... In order to strengthen the troops' ability to attack fortified positions, in addition to the 71st Guards Division, which is rushing to Tomarovka, I have just ordered the Chief of Staff Bezikov, the 51st Guards Division and the 375th Infantry Division to enter the battle. In addition, in order to strengthen the troops' ability to attack fortifications, I also asked General Kravchenko to send a tank brigade to support us. ”

"Leda, you made the right decision." After Zhukov listened. "I will immediately call the commander of the Fifth Guards Army and the commander of the Mechanized Corps and tell them to speed up the attack, and they must rush into the city as soon as possible, join you, and completely annihilate the German defenders at Tomarovka." ”

After I ended the call with Zhukov, Nekrasov came over. Curiously asked: "Comrade commander, what did Marshal Zhukov say." Do you want friendly forces to increase their offensive efforts and join us as soon as possible? ”

"That's right, that's right, Comrade Colonel." I briefly introduced the conversation I had just had with Zhukov and Bezzikov, and then said: "Before our reserves arrived. You'd better shrink your forces, lest they be too weak and the Germans break through the lines. Well, look over there, I don't want to be near Headquarters. Seeing the Germans appear. ”

Hearing me say this, Nekrasov's face immediately turned red with shame, and he said with some embarrassment: "Don't worry, comrade commander, I promise you that in the future, you will never let the German detachment appear near the division command again." ”

I nodded, and then instructed him: "Please call the three regimental commanders at once, and ask them to shrink their troops properly and organize a new defense." ”

"Comrade Commander, this is a bit difficult to do." As soon as I finished speaking, I noticed that Nekrasov's face actually showed an embarrassed expression, and he muttered: "You also know that the battle has been going on so far, and the troops have been scattered. It is not easy to put them together, and the slightest carelessness may even cause chaos. If the Germans seize this opportunity to counterattack, our troops may be routed. ”

"What then?" Hearing him say this, I couldn't help but worry in my heart, if the troops were really like herding sheep, and if one company here and one platoon and one platoon fought separately and could not support each other, there was a possibility that they would be broken by the Germans. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but be a little crazy, and my heart said, is it possible to just watch our vitality being consumed?

At this moment, several commanders walked in outside. One of the leaders came straight up to me, raised his hand and saluted, and reported: "Comrade commander, the commander of the 71st Guards Division, Sivakov, has been ordered to come, and I am waiting for your battle order, please instruct!" ”

I was overjoyed to see Sivakov suddenly appearing, grabbed him by the shoulder, and after shaking him vigorously twice, I said excitedly: "Comrade Colonel, you have come at a very timely time. According to our observations, the strength of the German forces in the city is far beyond our imagination, and the forces of the 52nd Guards Division are currently too scattered to be broken by the counterattacking Germans, so I order you to immediately send out your troops and strengthen the existing occupied positions. ”

"Comrade Commander." Sivakov, waiting for me to finish, immediately reminded me: "Our troops have just entered the city, and they have no idea what is going on in the city, and if they recklessly break into the German firepower, they will not only fail to help the friendly troops, but will pay unnecessary casualties." ”

"Don't worry, Colonel Sivakov." As soon as he finished speaking, Nekrasov, who was next to him, smiled and said: "I will send someone to show you the way, so that you can quickly enter the combat position." ”

"That's great," Sivakov said, pointing to the commander behind him, to Nekrasov, "they are all my commanders, please send someone to be their guide." ”

Although I was not familiar with these regimental commanders under Sivakov, I still stepped forward to shake hands with them one by one and said a few words of encouragement: "Comrade regiment commander, whether we can quickly liberate Tomarovka depends on your performance. ”

After hearing my words, the regiment commanders all expressed their determination to me and said: "Comrade commander, please rest assured that our regiment will be like a nail, firmly hold on to its own position, and will never take a step back." ”

These regiment commanders, perhaps accustomed to fighting defensive battles, actually thought of holding their positions without exception when they heard my orders, but I did not correct them, but followed their words: "Comrades regiment commanders, please hold on to your existing positions for at least two hours, and when our reserves arrive, we will be able to launch a full-scale attack on the German army." ”

"Please rest assured, comrade commander," the regimental commanders said in unison, "We promise to complete the tasks you have entrusted to us." ”

Before the regimental commanders had time to leave, the staff officer standing at the window shouted happily: "Comrade commander, come and see, the guard company you sent has wiped out the Germans who rushed to the vicinity of the headquarters. ”

I walked quickly to the window, not caring if it was safe to stand, so I picked up my binoculars and looked ahead. I saw that the battle in Xiaolou had ended, and a dozen German prisoners who were dejected, escorted by Major Basmanov's guard company, were walking towards us.

"Comrade Regiment Commander, come and see." I called several regimental commanders to the window, pointed to the German prisoners who were approaching in the distance, and said to them: "These enemies have broken into here because of the weakness of the troops on the defensive line. I hope that after your troops have entered the position, not a single German soldier will be allowed to pass. Can you do it? ”

"Please rest assured, Comrade Commander." The regimental commanders replied neatly: "We can do it, and we will definitely not let a single German pass through our lines." ”

I nodded, waved at them, and ordered: "Let's go, comrades commanders!" (To be continued.) )

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