Burning Moscow

Cui Kefu? ! This general with a bandage on his head is actually the Cui Kefu I have long liked. .

I hurriedly stepped forward, resisting the excitement in my heart, and raised my hand to salute: Comrade Deputy Commander, hello! Major Oshanina reported to you that... At this point, I was stuck. I don't know if I should say that I am happy to meet you or I will wait for your instructions. Two sentences, every sentence can be said, but every sentence seems inappropriate. Cui Kefu's level is higher than me. He said that he was very happy to meet you. It seemed that he was placed on the same level, which might make him unhappy. It is even more inappropriate to say that he is waiting for your instructions. He is only the deputy commander of the 64th Army and has no affiliation with me. Moreover, saying this in front of the commander of the 62nd Army, Kolpakci, will let him. Not happy.

When I was in a dilemma, Cui Kefu stood up, reached out to me, and said politely: Hello, Major Oshanina. He just shook my hand slightly and then released it. He turned to ask Kolpakchi: Comrade Commander, when is the female commander from your headquarters, why don't I know?

Although he only said this in a joking tone, Kolpakic's answer seemed a little unnatural: it was reported to the headquarters early this morning. Having said that, he seemed to remember the task assigned to me, and quickly looked at me and asked: Comrade Major, how is the task I assigned to you? After asking this sentence, he frowned and his tone suddenly became extremely harsh: Wouldn't you tell me that you and your team have not set off yet?

Comrade Commander, your tone is too harsh. This will scare her. To know. Comrade Major is our hero now. Hear Kolpakchi's reproach to me. Military commissar Gurov took no opportunity to stand up and speak for me.

Kolpakic was confused by Gurov's words and asked inexplicably: Hero? ! Comrade Military Commissioner, what is going on? Cui Kefu also looked curious, staring at Gurov, waiting for him to say the answer he wanted to know.

Gurov looked at me and asked with a smile: Major Oshanina, should I report to the commander or do you personally report it?

Originally, I wanted to do a good job in front of Trikov, but I heard Gurov ask. On the contrary, I was a little embarrassed, so I humbly declined to say: Comrade Military Committee, you have personally checked on the battlefield. I think it is more appropriate for you to report the results of the battle to Comrade Commander.

Gurov looked at Trikov and Kolpakchi, shrugged, and said with a kind sarcasm: Look, our heroine is still shy.

Kolpakchi repeatedly urged him: Comrade Military Commissioner, don't betray you, just say it quickly.

Gurov said unhurriedly: Comrade Commander. You may not even dream of it, Major Oshanina and the anti-tank squad led by her. What kind of results have been achieved. When I saw the destroyed German tanks on the battlefield, I was stunned. 17 ah, a total of 17 German tanks. If I hadn't seen such a result with my own eyes, I couldn't believe it was true.

what? Destroyed 17 German tanks? Hearing the result of this battle, Kolpakci did not show the surprised expression I expected, but asked in a suspicious tone: Comrade Military Commissioner, you said that you personally went to the battlefield to count the results and verified the German army. The number of tanks destroyed?

Completely correct! Comrade commander. Gurov replied very positively: To be honest, when I heard Major Oshanina report the results of the battle to me, I also expressed doubts like you. But when I went to the hills and repeatedly counted the number of destroyed German tanks, I was sure that the results were true and credible. Having said that, he turned his head and looked at me with admiration, and said approvingly: I think Major Oshanina is an excellent commander who is good at creating miracles.

Hearing what Gurov said so surely, Kolpakic's suspicion was completely dispelled, and he believed that a military commissar of a group army would never deceive him on these matters. He stood up abruptly and said with excitement: I will call General Golddorf, commander of the Stalingrad Front, to report to him Major Oshanina and the outstanding results they have achieved, and to help them. Please work.

When Kolpakchi dialed the phone, Cuikov, who had been silent all the time, stood up, walked in front of me, looked me up and down, smiled and asked: Comrade Major, have you ever worked under General Zhukov? The tone of the question was very friendly, and the title also used honorific words for me, a subordinate.

I nodded and replied: Yes, General Cui Kefu. During the defense of Moscow, I worked in the Western Front. At first he was in General Zhukov’s Front Army Headquarters, and then went to the 5th and 16th Army as liaison officers. Later he also served as the commander of the 8th Infantry Division of the Guards and the Chief of Staff of the 20th Army.

After listening to my self-reported resume, Cui Kefu's smile became stronger. He reached out to me again and said: It really is you! You are Lida Musdakova Oshanina, whom Comrade Zhukov often mentioned. Let’s meet again, I’m Vasily Ivanovich Trikov.

Seeing Cuikov talking with my subordinate in such a friendly manner, Gurov asked in a bit of surprise: Comrade Cuikov, do you know Major Oshanina?

Cui Kefu shook his head and said: I heard General Zhukov mentioned it, but I have never seen it before. Having said that, he specifically explained to me: I only returned to Moscow from abroad in March of this year. At that time, you had been transferred to the Leningrad Front, so we had no chance to meet.

While talking, Kolpakic had already contacted Golddorf, commander of the Front Army, but the other party apparently did not believe the results we reported. He was trying to explain: …Comrade Commander, this result was obtained by the military commissar of the Group Army. Comrade Rove, personally verified on the battlefield, it is true and credible. ... Maybe it was because I heard him mention that Gurov personally went to the battlefield to verify the result of this battle, so Golddorf no longer doubted it. Begin to question the list of combatants.

Kolpakchi looked back at me. The report said: This battle was commanded by Comrade Oshanina, a new major who was transferred to the group army. Those who participated in the battle were Lieutenant Peter Bolotto of the 84th Regiment of the 33rd Guards Division, and...Speaking of which, he covered the microphone with his hand and asked me loudly: Major Oshanina, there are three more What is the name of the soldier?

I quickly answered: Sergeant Grigory Samoylov, Sergeant Alexander Belikov, Corporal Ivan Aleynikov.

After listening to it, Kolpakchi repeated the three names. Then he removed his hand covering the microphone and reported the names of the three soldiers to General Golddorf.

After finishing the phone call, Kolpakchi said to the three of us with some excitement: Comrade Commander said that he will personally report this brilliant result to the Supreme Command.

Cui Kefu looked at the very excited general in front of him, and said half-jokingly: Comrade General, I really need an excellent grassroots commander like Major Oshanina, please give her to me!

Please forgive me, Comrade, the deputy commander of the 64th Army, Kolpakchi, who was not willing to accept my commander more than ten hours ago. Politely and resolutely rejected Trikov’s proposal: Major Oshanina was assigned to our 62nd Army by General Zhukov during the campaign. She will always be my adjutant in the headquarters.

Cui Kefu shrugged and said regretfully: Okay, okay, Comrade Commander of the Group Army. Although we are old comrades-in-arms, when it comes to grassroots commanders, we have become rivals who swear to fight.

I was quite moved by Cui Kefu's proposal. I must know that the reason why I promised Zhukov to come to Stalingrad was to defect to him and follow him to make contributions, so that I would have the opportunity to stand out in the future.

At this moment, the phone that Kolpakchi had just used rang. Gurov repeatedly urged him: Okay, Comrade Commander, don't quarrel with Comrade Cui Kefu anymore. Maybe it's a call from Comrade Commander of the Front. You can pick it up quickly.

Unexpectedly, this call was not from Golddorf, but from Zhukov, who was far away in Moscow. Upon hearing Zhukov’s voice, Kolpakic quickly stood at attention and greeted each other politely: hello, Comrade Zhukov. Do you have any instructions if you called me so late? Having said that, he listened and listened quietly to Zhukov's instructions.

After listening for a while, he waved to me and motioned me to come to him. When I walked in front of him, he immediately handed me the phone and whispered: Comrade Zhukov wants to talk to you in person.

I answered the phone, took a deep breath, and said politely into the microphone: Hello, Comrade General.

Zhukov’s voice came from the microphone: Lida, I just received a call from General Golddorf, the commander of the Stalingrad Front, saying that you are taking four commanders and soldiers in an ambush on the hill south of Kletzkaya. , Hit an ambush by the German tank troops. After fierce fighting, you destroyed 17 German tanks without any casualties. I want to ask you to implement it. Is the result of this battle real and reliable?

Yes, Comrade General. I replied very decisively.

Understand, I will report this result to the Supreme Commander himself as soon as possible. Having said that, Zhukov wanted to hang up the phone. Trikov rushed forward, grabbed the phone from my hand, and said loudly into the microphone: Please wait, Comrade Georgi Konstantinovich.

Zhukov heard Cui Kefu calling his father's name and real name. He was stunned for a moment. He didn't immediately hang up the phone. Instead, he asked curiously: Comrade Cui Kefu, you are not in your headquarters. What are you going to do to the 62nd Army?

Cui Koff sighed and said: Well, today I was flying to inspect the forward positions, and I encountered a German plane. After a period of maneuvers, the plane was unfortunately shot down. Fortunately, Captain Semirov, the combat staff of the 62nd Army, rescued me and sent me to the headquarters of their Army to dress up the wound, so I stayed here for the time being.

The plane was shot down by a German fighter? ! Are you injured? Zhukov asked with concern on the other side of the phone.

Thankfully, my pilot manipulated it skillfully during the landing, and I was only slightly injured. By the way, Comrade General, I will call you. There is something else to tell you.

Say it. I'm listening. From Zhukov's friendly tone. I can hear that the relationship between him and Cui Kefu is very good.

Cui Kefu began to complain to him: Comrade General, as you know, my 64th Army was newly formed by a reserve team. Most of the commanders and fighters in the Army participated in the battle for the first time. In order to quickly improve the combat effectiveness of the troops, I hope you can send me more commanders with combat spirit like Major Oshanina.

Regarding Cui Kefu's request, Zhukov was silent for a long time before he replied leisurely: Comrade Cui Kefu, your commanders and fighters. Although many are participating in the battle for the first time, as long as they fight two or three battles, their combat experience will become rich. By the way, I want to hear your views on the Don Defense Line.

Trikov glanced at Kolpakchi standing beside him, and then replied with a serious expression: Comrade General, the situation of the defense line is not optimistic. According to our army's regulations and tutorials, the defender must first understand the enemy and select the battlefield based on the situation, and deploy the troops in the most advantageous position. Defenders must rely on favorable terrain to build positions. Defenders can carry out counter assaults under favorable conditions, develop firepower and conceal themselves when necessary. Simultaneously. The terrain should hinder the movement of the attacker and weaken its mobility as much as possible, and should be able to prevent the advance of enemy tanks when there is engineering support. The attacker has no concealed approach, so as to extend the time he is exposed to defensive firepower as much as possible. ...

Hearing Cui Kefu's remarks like an endorsement, I secretly guessed that this should be part of the commander's tutorial at the Frunze Military Academy.

...I observed from the plane today that the defense line of the 62nd Army did not meet these requirements, and they did not have time to use the natural barriers of rivers and valleys. In fact, I think that as long as some fortifications are built in these places, it can become an insurmountable obstacle for the enemy. However, our army's position is built on a bare, unsafe grassland, which can be easily observed from the ground or from the air. There are many gaps between defensive positions and troops, especially on the right flank. If these gaps were discovered by the Germans, they would pass through these places, surround our army's defensive positions, and go straight to our army's defensive rear.

Because the defense line west of the Don River was too long, the defense line of the 4 divisions of the first echelon of the 62nd Army was 90 kilometers long, and the defense line of the 2 divisions and 1 brigade of the 64th Army was also 50 kilometers long. Especially the 192nd Infantry Division on the right flank of the defensive line stretched the longest. Nearly a quarter or even a third of the troops of the first echelon divisions were deployed 4 to 50 kilometers away from the main force. There was neither artillery cover nor air force support. Once they were severely attacked by the Germans, They will be defeated very quickly.

Zhukov was noncommittal, and just said lightly: Next, let's talk about the situation of your 64th Army.

Cui Kefu went on to report that: After I got acquainted with the situation and analyzed and compared the information about the enemy collected by the units of the 62nd Army, I deployed the troops in the Don River Basin as follows: Infantry Divisions 214 and 229, Navy The 154th Marine Brigade and the 121st Tank Brigade occupied the right bank of the Don River from Surovenko to Suvorovskaya. The left end of the defense was defended by the 29th Infantry Division; the 112th Infantry Division of the Second Echelon was deployed at the 62nd The area around the Chir River, the joint of the Group Army and the 64th Army; the 66th Marine Corps Brigade, the 137th Tank Brigade and the various cadets as the third echelon assembled in the residential area of ​​the Meshkova River.

When Cui Kefu reported, Zhukov was obviously looking at the map. Just after listening to his report, he immediately praised: Your deployment is good, you can attack and retreat and defend. The Germans want to break through your line of defense~www.NovelMTL.com~ It is estimated that it will take a lot of work.

Cui Kefu smiled bitterly and said: Comrade General, soon after my troops were deployed, General Golddorf came to the headquarters with a written order from the Supreme Command and took up the post of commander of the 64th Army. After he took office, he checked my various orders, he did not make any major changes to the first echelon's affiliation, approved and ordered execution. But for the configuration of the second echelon of the group army, he has made major changes. He ordered the 112th Infantry Division not to be placed in the joint of the 62nd and 64th Army, but to be transferred to the outskirts of the Stalingrad line of defense, which smoked the Myshkov River from the village of Logowski. Gromoslavki Village; the 66th Marine Corps Brigade, the 137th Tank Brigade and various cadets were transferred to the Aksai River location, which is the left wing of the group army.

Comrade General, I know that you are looking at the map. You see, this decision of General Golddorf has transferred all the reserve forces of the group army to the left bank of the Don River, which is the defensive position of our group army west of the Don River. The second echelon and reserve team.

Regarding Cui Kefu's complaint, Zhu Kefu seemed extremely helpless. Although he was the nominal deputy commander, he belonged to two different fronts after all. He could not express his opinions casually on certain things, otherwise he would be suspected of interfering in the command of friendly forces. He pondered for a moment, and then told Cui Kefu: I know, about the lack of a reserve team, I will study with General Golddorf as soon as possible, and I will notify you when the results are available. (To be continued...)