Burning Moscow

Kolpakic walked back and forth a few more times in the house, finally stopped, and suddenly turned his head and said to Gurov: "Comrade Military Commissioner, in a few hours, our troops' counter-assault will begin. If this German tank unit is not blocked and allowed to rush to the Kletskaya area, the flanks of the units participating in the counterattack will be attacked, so that our counterattack operations may fail."

Gurov just thought for a moment, and then nodded in agreement: "Comrade Commander, what you said is reasonable. In order to ensure the victory of the counterattack, someone really needs to stop the German tank unit." Speaking of which, Gurov He smiled and said to me: "Comrade Major, you also heard about the counterattack plan that we discussed with several division commanders. In order to ensure the success of this counterattack against the German army, as a military commissar of the group army, I ask you to This German tank unit blocked for more than two hours. Major Oshanina, do you have any questions?"

I thought to myself, it's over. It seems that this time I was in a disaster. I blamed myself for being quick, and I didn't even figure out the status, so I jumped out and grabbed this mission with no hope of surviving. Now that the commander of the group army and the members of the CMC have reached a consensus, it is too late for me to regret it. I hurriedly report to the attention: "Comrades of the CMC, I promise to complete the task."

Kolpakic then said, "Major Oshanina, I know you have too few people. To let you resist the Germans is to let you die, but there is no way. In order to ensure the success of the counterattack, someone must pay. sacrifice."

When I heard him say this, the corners of my mouth twitched. The heart said that even if someone wants to sacrifice. Can't let me make such a senseless sacrifice. I'm just four or five people. It is simply a fantasy to block the attack of German tanks. But now that the commander has given the order, I have to follow the order.

Kolpakic called Lieutenant Peter to his side again and asked him where he planned to deploy.

Lieutenant Peter pointed to a point on the map and said, "Comrade Commander, there is a hill with high slopes and dense forests on the way to the Kretskaya area. I intend to set up our blocking position here."

When Kolpakchi looked down to study the map. Gurov also peeked over. The two watched for a long time, then raised their heads and glanced at each other. Gusev nodded and said: "Comrade Commander, I think their blocking positions are well chosen and they can be caught off guard by the German tanks."

Kolpakchi specifically told me: "Comrade Major, you are not familiar with the terrain. As for where to establish a position, this is the responsibility of Lieutenant Peter." After hearing my response, he told Lieutenant Peter: "Lieutenant. Comrade. Major Oshanina is your superior. After the battle begins, you must obey her command."

"Comrade Commander, please rest assured, I will obey the major's orders."

Kolpakic nodded in satisfaction, called Semikov over, and told him: "Comrade Captain, you go to the arms warehouse and help them prepare the necessary weapons and ammunition."

Seeing that Kolpakchi had deployed everything, I quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, can I leave?"

He nodded and said, "Major, you go get ready. Good luck, and hope you can all come back alive."

I tried my best to squeeze a smile on my face that was more ugly than crying, and replied: "Comrade Commander please rest assured, as long as one of us is alive, we will do our best to stop this German tank unit." , I turned around and shook my head at Lieutenant Peter, and said, "Comrade Lieutenant, let's go!"

Lieutenant Peter took me to the outside of their house and called out all the people in the house who could breathe. As soon as I saw the soldiers standing in front of me, my heart was cold. With Lieutenant Peter, there were really only four people.

Lieutenant Peter did not notice the change in my expression and enthusiastically introduced me to his subordinates: "Comrade Major, this is Sergeant Grigory Samoylov, Sergeant Alexander Belikov, Corporal Ivan . Aleynikov. The boys were brave in the previous two days of fighting, and they were all good."

I didn't speak, but just nodded to show that I knew it.

Lieutenant Peter said loudly to several people: "Brothers, General Kolpakchi told me just now that a German tank unit will pounce on the Kletskaya area after dawn. I received it. The command is: Immediately build fortifications on their only way, and block them at all costs...."

"I said Comrade Lieutenant," the older Sergeant Belikov interrupted him and reminded him: "We said it was a company, but in fact there were only four people. We only rely on these few of us to stop him. It’s impossible for the German tank unit."

"You can't stop it, you have to stop it!" Lieutenant Peter said categorically: "This is an order from a superior. We must complete it without compromise."

"But, Comrade Lieutenant..." Belikov wanted to defend himself, but was interrupted rudely by Peter. He pointed to me and said to everyone: "The commander sent this major to carry out this order with us. You guys. Take a good look. A female commander knows that this is a death-death operation, or has come without hesitation. Are you men inferior to a woman?"

The short corporal Aleynikov looked at me and asked in disbelief: "Comrade Major, do you really want to fight the German tanks with us?"

"Yes, comrade corporal." I looked at the unusually young face in front of me, and politely replied: "The lieutenant is right. I will fight with you." Belikov, who wanted to say something. Seeing me saying this, he closed his mouth obediently.

At this time, a truck swayed towards where we were standing, and Captain Shemikov poked his head out of the window of the co-pilot, waved his arms desperately at us, and shouted: "Lieutenant Peter, Lieutenant Peter. "

Peter saw the approaching truck, walked up to me, touched me with his arm, and said, "Comrade Major, it seems that Captain Shemikov brought us the equipment."

I smiled slightly and said, "Let's go, Lieutenant Peter. Let's see what Comrade Lieutenant has prepared for us."

After the truck stopped. Shemikov jumped out of the car. He ran to me and bowed a salute, and said: "Comrade Major, all the equipment you need is ready, please accept it."

I walked to the side of the truck, reached out and grabbed the baffle on the side of the car, stepped on the tire with one foot, and got up with the strength of my arm. I looked into the carriage. Inside were four bulging rucksacks, four long anti-tank guns, five engineer shovels, five raincoats, a submachine gun and two round drums.

I reached out and grabbed the submachine gun, slung it on my shoulder, and jumped out of the car. Walking to Semykov, he nodded at him and said, "Thank you, Comrade Lieutenant." Then he shouted to Peter standing aside: "Lieutenant Peter, what are you still waiting for. Hurry up and take your people into the car!" "Peter quickly agreed and greeted the other three people to get in the car.

I got into the cab. The driver of the car asked me inwardly: "Comrade Commander, where are we going?"

I turned my head and yelled behind me, "Lieutenant Peter, where is our car going, please tell the driver."

Lieutenant Peter poked his head from the carriage and said to the driver, "Go to the mountains west of Kletsky."

The driver agreed and drove the truck to the designated location.

Half an hour later, the truck entered the undulating hilly area from the open plain area. Suddenly someone was tapping the top of the bridge vigorously with his hand, and then I heard Lieutenant Peter’s familiar voice: "Hey, comrade driver, stop here by the side of the road." The driver nodded silently and stepped on the brake. Parked the car firmly on the side of the road.

I opened the door and got off the truck. At this time, Peter and the four of them had already got off the car and were lining up on the side of the road. Although Peter has only three subordinates, he still sternly shouted the command: "Stand at attention, take a break! Look to the right and report the number!"

At this time, the driver poked his head out of the car window and asked, "Comrade Commander, what should I do? Should I stay here and wait for you?"

I waved at him and said, "No, Comrade Driver, there is nothing for you here. You should go back to the headquarters."

Dismissed the driver, I walked to Peter's side and asked him, "Comrade Lieutenant, where should we go next?"

"Go, go up the mountain!" As he said, he carried a big rucksack on the ground, and took a long anti-tank gun to take the lead and walked up the mountain. The other three soldiers also carried their bags and guns on their kangs, and followed him up the mountain.

We walked in the forest for about ten minutes. He stopped suddenly, turned his head and said to me who was following: "Comrade Major, here it is, this is it." Then he gave orders to his men: "Everyone find a place. , Dig individual bunker."

I stood on the spot, watching the four of them throw their backpacks aside, bent over and started digging a shelter with an engineer shovel. I asked Peter curiously, "Comrade Lieutenant, why are you digging a shelter here?"

Peter stopped his work, pointed at the foot of the mountain and said to me: "Comrade Major, look at the terrain nearby. Except for this hill, there is an open area around it. If we set the blocking position on the open plain, The German tanks can solve us with just a few shells. But if the blocking position is set on a hill, the situation is different. The mountains are dense and the German tanks are not easy to find us, so we succeed in blocking. The odds are greater."

I raised the binoculars and looked at the terrain, and found that it was exactly the same as what he said, except for this hill, surrounded by a map of Pingchuan, and setting up a position here is indeed a good choice. I looked east and saw the flag of our army flying on the defensive position two or three kilometers away. It seemed that the number of defending troops was still quite large.

After reading the terrain, I squatted down and said to Peter who was digging a cover: "Comrade Lieutenant, I have an idea."

Peter digs a bunker, panting and said, "Comrade Major, what are your thoughts?"

I pointed to the north side of the hill and said: "After daybreak, the German tanks will pass through the open ground in the north to attack our positions in the east. My assumption is that when the German tanks appear, we must hide, for the time being. Don’t shoot. We will shoot again when they shell our positions while they are marching. With the explosion of shells as a cover, it is not easy for German tanks to spot us.”

Peter stopped his work, stood in the pit with the engineer shovel in his hands, and then nodded in agreement: "Comrade Major, your suggestion is good, and we will do what you said."

Peter and his three men are very quick to move. But five minutes. Each dug a bunker as deep as half a person. Peter pointed to the bunker he dug and said to me: "Comrade Major. You can use this bunker. I'll dig another one."

I just wanted to make a lie. He had already jumped out of the bunker, walked two or three meters to the side and then bent over and started digging a second bunker. I could only thank him, jumped into the bunker, picked up the raincoat from the side of the pit, spread it in the pit, and lay down.

Lying on the raincoat, I closed my eyes hoping to take a break. After all, I haven't slept for long in the past few days. Perhaps it was because of being too tired, I fell asleep after a short while lying down.

When I was falling asleep, I felt someone shaking my shoulders, and a low voice called me hastily: "Comrade Major, Comrade Major, you wake up."

I was suddenly awakened from my dream, my heart throbbed, seeing clearly that it was Lieutenant Peter who had awakened me, and asked a little displeased: "Comrade Lieutenant, what's the matter?"

"Comrade Major. It's a German. Their tank is coming in our direction."

Germans, tanks. These two words remind me that I was sleeping on the battlefield. Suddenly, the remaining sleepiness was completely shocked. I hurriedly sat up and asked nervously, "Where is the German tank?"

Peter pointed to the northwest and said, "Comrade Major, look over there. The dust raised on the plain is German tanks coming towards us."

I turned over and raised my binoculars in the bunker and looked in the direction where the dust was rising. Sure enough, many German tanks were lining up in battle formations, coming forward aggressively.

"There are 30 tanks in total," Belikov said with excitement when he finished counting first: "We are four of us here. Each brother can be divided into seven. The remaining two, whoever moves fast, will do it. Come and fight." From his tone, I couldn't hear the slightest fear, as if what he was going to fight later was not a German steel behemoth, but just a few hares in the forest.

German tanks lined up in battle formation are getting closer and closer to our hills. Seeing the enemy's tank on the open ground in front of him, Belikov turned his head and asked Peter, "Comrade company commander, do you shoot?"

Peter waved his hand and said, "Wait a minute, when these fascist bandits fire on our defense positions, we will shoot again so that they will not find us hidden on the hill."

At the forefront is a T-3 medium tank with a T-4 tank on each side, followed by a group of T-2 light tanks. The tank soldiers in the uniform of the black tank soldiers did not find our position on the hill at all. The top covers of several tanks were open, and some tank soldiers stood there with half of their bodies sticking out.

At this time, the leading T-3 tank fired on our army's position in the distance, and then the rest of the tanks also fired one after another. I yelled at Peter next to him: "Lieutenant, the time has come, let's fire!"

Peter roared: "Everyone, free to fire!" After finishing speaking, he aimed at the leading T-3 tank and pulled the trigger. After a loud gunshot, the tank started to smoke and began to slow down. After driving for a few meters, it stopped. The tank soldiers inside hurriedly opened the hatch and crawled out.

Then, Belikov, who had made the most noise just now, also fired a shot at a Y-2 tank. The armor-piercing incendiary bomb with a steel core accurately hit the tank's fuel tank, and the German tank immediately caught fire.

Seeing Peter and Belikov with two shots, they destroyed two German tanks. Sergeant Samoilov and Sergeant Aleinikov next to him were not to be outdone. They aimed at the two T-4 tanks. The trigger was pulled, and after five or six shots were fired, the two Type IV tanks were lying on the ground and burning.

Seeing the tank soldiers in black clothes escaping from the destroyed tanks, I really wanted to give them a name with the gun in my hand. Unfortunately, the submachine gun was less than 300 meters away, so I could only watch them come and go. Fled back on the way.

When the tenth tank was destroyed by us, the Germans finally discovered that there was a dangerous enemy hidden on the hill to their right, so they turned their guns and began to shell the hill.

When the first shell fell fifty or sixty meters away from us and exploded, I hurriedly shouted at Peter: "Comrade Lieutenant, let everyone move quickly, otherwise the German artillery fire will wipe us all out. "

Lieutenant Peter responded, jumped out of the bunker, picked up the anti-tank gun, and carried the big rucksack and shouted: "Everyone has it, come with me." After shouting, he ran to the west side of the hillside. I didn't care about the others, and ran behind him with the submachine gun.

As soon as we ran out, a few shells exploded in the concealed place we had just now. The big tree with a thick bowl was blown off by the waist, and shrapnel flying horizontally hit the nearby tree trunk as a sound.

After we ran out for more than a hundred meters, we found another place to hide. Looking at the old battlefield that was blown into a sea of ​​flames, Belikov wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand, and then said fearfully: "Fortunately, we moved in time, otherwise we will all be buried in the flames now."

Lieutenant Peter crouched by my side and asked me for instructions: "Comrade Major, what shall we do next? Should we continue to fight or retreat?"

"Is there any ammunition?"

Lieutenant Peter raised the big rucksack~www.NovelMTL.com~ and replied, "I have ammunition."

"That's good!" Since we have enough ammunition, we don't need to retreat and we can continue to fight, so I told them: "Everyone spread out, find a place to hide, and continue to shoot at the German tanks. Remember, everyone fights. After five rounds, we will move our positions. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" All the people answered in unison.

In the next few hours, we were like snipers, changing places after a few shots. Because the German tank unit did not have the cooperation of infantry, facing the shooting of us anti-tank fighters, they could only use artillery fire to blast the hills.

This cat-and-mouse game didn't end until five o'clock in the afternoon. The German tanks that had all their shells were evacuated griefly, leaving only 17 burning tanks under the hills. (To be continued...)

ps: Thanks to the book friends: Xiaoxiangzi, Dashuai Nan, t00030003 for voting.