Burning Moscow

As the date of the Battle of Kursk approached, I was under greater and greater psychological pressure. In addition to inspections at the front, I also called every division and commander every day to check their preparations. Although I was careful and careful, and told the commanders at all levels below, but when something happened, I still couldn't escape it.

In the early morning of June 21, we received a telegram from Vatutin, ordering us to prepare for all battles to prevent possible German offensives.

Danilov held Vatutin's telegram and said in a suspicious tone: "Comrade Commander, do you think the Germans will attack our defense area?"

Before I could speak, Bezikov, the acting chief of staff next to me, replied first: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I think it is entirely possible. You must know that the fascist bandits crossed the border on the early morning of June 22 two years ago. We are fighting without declaration, and I think they will definitely make big moves in the near future."

After listening, Danilov turned his attention to me and asked with a smile: "Comrade Commander, what do you think?"

When I heard his question, I smiled bitterly, saying that the German attack was in early July, not now. Your judgment is basically accurate. While I was considering how to answer him, a man hurried in from outside. I looked up and found that it was Lieutenant Colonel Ras Mihin, Director of Intelligence. Seeing his flustered expression, I guessed something might have happened, so I quickly asked him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what's the matter?"

"Report to Comrade Commander, we have just intercepted a piece of information. It says that they successfully seized the fourth position on our first line of defense at 3 o'clock in the morning today." Ras Mihin said as he put it in his hands. The telegram was delivered.

I glanced at the content above, and there was no difference between what Ras Mihin said, and quickly told Bezikov: "Chief of Staff. Map."

After Bezikov spread out the map on the table in front of us, Danilov took a look and then pointed to one of the locations. He said in a certain tone: "Comrade Commander, the fourth position is here. It is located at the junction of the 51st and 52nd Guards Division and is under the jurisdiction of the 52nd Division. Once the Germans have a firm foothold, they can use this as a starting point for the offensive. In this way, our first line of defense will be split, forming a situation where we are fighting each other, and finally we will be defeated by the superior German forces."

While Danilov and I were studying the map, Bezikov walked to the side and picked up the phone on the desk. Through the operator, the division head of the 52nd Guards Division was passed. As soon as the phone was connected, Bezikov scolded into the microphone furiously: "Is it Colonel Nekrasov? This is Bezikov. I ask you, is your No. 4 position lost?"

Hearing Bezikov questioning Nekrasov’s teacher, Danilov and I stopped discussing, quietly listening to Bezikov’s call, only to see Bezikov slapped the table and cursed. "I ask you, since the position is lost, why don't you report it? Don't you know the seriousness of the matter and are not afraid of being sent to a military court?"

When Bezikov returned to the table angrily. I looked up and asked, "Chief of Staff, what is going on?"

Bezikov sat down on the bench next to me, and then said angrily: "According to the Nekrasov report. The German troops quietly touched the battlefield at about 3 o'clock this morning. Because of the people at that time. It was the most tired, so after the sentry was dealt with by the enemy's pioneers, no one noticed it. However, the luck of the German army was not good. When their successor troops passed through the minefield, a soldier accidentally touched the mine, exposing the target and awakened. Commanders in the shelter.

As some of them got into the trenches, it was difficult for our commanders to form an organized resistance. After some fierce fighting. Except for a small number of them withdrew from the position, the rest were sacrificed honorably. "

"How many people are there in our position?" I waited for Bezikov to finish. Asked immediately.

"The defender has a company, and the company commander is a commander with rich combat experience." Bezikov answered truthfully: "When he saw the enemy's momentum, he commanded the commanders to fight and retreat, and retreat. Out of position four."

"When he found that the enemy had touched the position and started fighting with the defenders, did he immediately report the situation to his superiors?" I had been to position 4 before and knew the fortifications there, even if the Germans rushed into the trenches. Our defenders can also use a few ready-made firepower points to stand by and stand by, how can they withdraw from the position so easily? Thinking of this, I asked this sentence again, just to find out what kind of countermeasures the defending company commander took at the time.

Bezikov thought for a while and replied: "The company commander said that the incident happened suddenly and there was no time to warn him. After knowing that they had retreated to a friendly position, he reported the situation to the regiment headquarters by telephone."

"It's just a nonsense." After listening to Bezikov's account, Danilov started filming the case. "Fortunately, the German army is a small army. If it comes from a large army, then our first line of defense will be It may be completely broken by the enemy."

I waited for Danilov to finish, and quietly told Bezikov: "Chief of Staff, call Colonel Nekrasov and shoot the company commander who lost the position on the spot, and at the same time order him to immediately organize the forces and order the number four. Take it back for me."

After I finished speaking, Bezikov said hesitantly: "Comrade Commander, is it a bit too much to shoot the company commander? You know, after all, he led the troops to resist for a long time before withdrawing from the position."

I looked at Bezikov, and said solemnly: "Chief of Staff, you must remember that military discipline must be strict for large corps operations. If Colonel Nekrasov cannot organize the troops to retake the lost positions, I will take them back. He was also removed from his post."

"Yes, Comrade Commander is right." Danilov immediately agreed with my approach, "Nekrasov has an inescapable responsibility as a division commander. If he can't do so within the specified time, he will If the lost ground is regained, then I suggest immediately dismissing him from his post."

"Comrade Commander, since we can intercept this information, I think the intelligence department of the Front Command can also do it." Lieutenant Colonel Ras Mihin asked cautiously: "Do we need to report this matter to the higher authorities? "

"You are right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Ras Mihin's words reminded me that although I lost my position, I would be scolded by my superiors, but if I conceal this matter from my superiors, the consequences would be very serious. I followed the flow and said: "You go and send a telegram to the front army headquarters. Report the loss of the No. 4 position by telegram to your superiors. When clearing the siege, you must make a special note. Said that after we learned the news of the loss of the position, Immediately organize troops to counterattack. It will surely be possible to restore the positions occupied by the Germans in the shortest time."

Rasmihin went out to send a telegram, but Bezikov was still standing there. I glanced at him and said angrily: "Colonel, what are you doing here, don't you call Nekrasov quickly and inform him of my decision."

"Yes, Comrade Commander. I'll do it now." Bezikov replied in a panic, turned and walked to the phone, picked up the handset and started dialing.

After connecting, Bezikov said loudly into the microphone: "Colon Nekrasov? This is Bezikov. The commander ordered that the company commander who had lost his position be shot on the spot. And you, immediately organize the troops. , Take back the lost position, or you will be sent to a military court..."

Before Bezikov had finished speaking, I walked over and grabbed his hand. Take the microphone from his hand. Listening to the slightly panicked voice of Colonel Nekrasov coming from the headphones, I deliberately slowed down and said: "Colonel Nekrasov, this is Oshanina. I order you to organize the troops immediately and wait for me. As soon as it arrives, a counterattack will be launched against the fourth position."

When I put down the phone, Bezikov asked nervously in a low voice: "Lida, are you really going to the frontier?"

I was deeply afraid that Bezikov and Danilov would stop me, so I explained the reason for going to them clearly: "Deputy commander, chief of staff, if we simply regain our position against Colonel Nekrasov. He might be too nervous about the order given by him. He made the wrong decision, resulting in heavy casualties and unable to regain the position."

After I explain it. Asked Povsky, the artillery commander of the Group Army, who was sitting aside: "Colonel Povsky, we are near the first line of defense. How many artillery can be used?"

The artillery commander who had just taken office quickly got up from his seat and reported to me straight up and said: "Comrade Commander, we have deployed a cannon regiment, a mortar regiment, and a nearby line of defense on the first line of defense. The Guard Rocket Battalion can provide sufficient artillery support for the troops counterattacking the fourth position."

"Very well, Comrade Colonel." I am very satisfied with what Povsky said. As long as we have enough artillery support, it will be easy to destroy the enemy in the fourth position. So I went on to say: "You will go to the 52nd Guards Division with me later, and command the artillery to cover the position of the Germans."

In response to the order I gave, Povsky replied with a smile on his face: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I am very happy to go to the forefront with you."

Just when we were ready to set off, Lieutenant Colonel Ras Mihin hurriedly walked into the headquarters and handed me a telegram with a serious expression. At the same time, he said: "Comrade Commander, a call back from the Front Army Headquarters. "

The content of the telegram is very brief, just one sentence: "Take it back, take back the lost ground for me." The inscription was Vatutin's name.

Looking at this telegram, I couldn't help but feel amused. Vatutin also seemed to be a very educated person. Why was the order so vulgar? But I didn’t care about his tone. Instead, I raised the telegram in Yang's hand to Danilov and Bezikov and said, “You see, Commander Vatutin sent the telegram personally. Let us Take back the position immediately. So I will rush to the front immediately. As for this, I will be responsible for you."

On the way to the headquarters of the 52nd Guards Division, Colonel Povsky, who was sitting next to me, suddenly said, "Comrade Commander, you are doing the right thing!"

Hearing these thoughtless words, I couldn't help asking in confusion: "Comrade Colonel, I don't understand what you mean?"

"That's it, Comrade Commander." The middle-aged artillery commander explained to me: "As far as I know, the Supreme Commander himself will never forgive any unfavorable news, even undecided unfavorable news, and conceal it. If he doesn’t let his superiors know about any attempts, he will unceremoniously punish those who have hoped and succeeded next time, instead of reporting the current defeat to his commander. That’s why I think you’re reporting to the superior in time, It is completely correct."

Povsky's words shocked me into a cold sweat. If Ras Mihin didn’t tell me just now that the intelligence department of the front army command could also intercept the German telegram, maybe I would really wait for the fourth position to be recovered before telling the matter. Tujing report. Unexpectedly, I was so lucky to have escaped a catastrophe under the circumstances.

We are getting closer and closer to the first line of defense, and our team of four jeeps has been stopped more and more times. On this cinder-paved road, we can see the checkpoints set by our military commanders and fighters from time to time, and I have to show my ID repeatedly for the commanders and fighters in the checkpoint to check.

Not far from the division, we were stopped by another checkpoint. Judging from the scale of the sandbag fortifications on both sides of the checkpoint, there is at least one platoon of troops stationed here. A second lieutenant stretched out his hand and stopped our car. After the car stopped, he took the two soldiers and walked towards the car I was in.

After checking the documents, he raised his hand to salute, returned the documents to me, and then said: "Hello, Comrade Commander, please forgive me for not recognizing you just now."

"Have you seen me before?" I asked politely as I put my ID back into my pocket.

"Yes, Comrade Commander~www.NovelMTL.com~ Second Lieutenant respectfully replied: "I have seen you several times when you visited our division's defense area before. "After that, he turned around and waved his hand to the checkpoint at the back, signaling the soldiers there to remove the roadblock in the middle of the road.

Before our car started, the second lieutenant reminded me kindly: "Comrade Commander, the front is the frontier. We don't know if there are small groups of German troops lurking nearby, so you must pay attention to your safety."

"Thank you, Comrade Ensign." I nodded gratefully for the ensign's concern: "I will pay attention."

When we came to the division headquarters, it was the division chief of staff who came out to receive us. He told me that the division commander had already gone to the regimental headquarters of the 223 regiment, where he would direct the troops to launch a counterattack against the fourth position. (To be continued.)

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