Chapter 300

On the morning of March 19, the work of the operations department suddenly got busy. The latest war reports were collected and sent to fejiuningsky; Through the telephone of the combat office, the operational orders were sent to the combat units of the group army. However, the 54th army was fighting with the German army, and the troops of the front army of warhoff were fighting with the German army in different places. In the vast area of the volhof River Basin, the enemy and us have been fighting together.

As I can see the latest battle report at the combat office at any time and know the cause of this situation, as I estimated, the German army launched a fierce offensive against our 52nd and 59th army groups on both sides of the breach.

Facing the fierce German offensive, the Soviet army was forced to retreat step by step after tenacious resistance. By noon, the first line positions of the two group armies were almost lost, and the troops retreated into the second line of defense, relying on solid fortifications to fight.

In order to relieve the pressure of the Volkhov front army and coordinate the battle of the second shock group army in the liuban area, fejiuninsky sent a new marine brigade with 500 Baltic navy soldiers to the kirish area and strengthened it to the 301 infantry division of major general zamirovsky. The 301 division, which has been supplemented, can be regarded as the only bright spot in today's battle. After consolidating the defense of several villages to the west of kirich, they took advantage of the victory to defeat the German troops in the area and pushed the front ten kilometers westward.

When I took this latest inspiring report and went to the headquarters to give it to fejiuningsky. But unexpectedly found that he was sitting at the table, staring at the map spread above in a daze.

He took my war report, just looked at it and threw it aside. He didn't show any joy at the results of the 301 division. After looking at the map for a while, he raised his head and said to me in a hoarse voice, "major oshanina, it seems that your judgment is correct. Today, the German army's attack on the 52nd and 59th army groups on both sides of the breach is inevitable. They want to completely encircle the 2nd assault army group and then eat it up bit by bit. "

"Yes, comrade commander. The German intention is obvious. " I replied.

"What would you consider if you were sent to the 2nd shock group army at this time?" Fejiuningsky asked suddenly and thoughtlessly.

Although I didn't understand the meaning of his question, he replied with a standard: "orders from superiors are not allowed to be discussed. If I am transferred to the second shock group army at this time, I will obey unconditionally. "

He stood up, took out a folded paper from his coat pocket, handed it to me, and said, "this is the transfer order for you to the 2nd shock group army, just received."

I took it over and opened it to see that it was really an order to transfer me to the second shock group army, signed by general meletskov, commander of the volhoff front army.

After reading the transfer order, I folded it carefully and put it in my pocket. Then I straightened up and asked fejiuningsky, "Comrade commander, I don't know when I will report to the second shock group army."

"Go now. The car sent by general meletskov is waiting for you outside."

"Yes." I promised to turn around and get ready to leave.

"Wait a minute." He took my hand, patted me on the shoulder with his left hand, called my nickname like Zhukov, and said with concern in his elder brother's voice, "Rita, it's difficult and dangerous. Promise me to come back alive. "

I tried to squeeze out a smile, said: "please rest assured commander, I will come back alive."

After I got my assault rifle from the dormitory, I went to the war office to say goodbye to Colonel Lavrov. Knowing that I was going to work in the second shock group army, which was about to be surrounded by the German army, the Colonel repeatedly told me to pay more attention to safety.

Walking out of the building, you can see a jeep parked not far from the door. This kind of vehicle with good cross-country performance, which was aided by the United States, was already heavily equipped with Zhukov's Western Front Army in the late period of the Moscow battle, and it was the first time I saw it in Leningrad.

A corporal was chatting with the sentry by the door. When he saw me go out, he immediately welcomed me. He stopped in front of me, stood at attention and said, "Hello, major o'shanina. I've been ordered to take you to the front of warhoff. "

Seeing that the corporal knew me, I couldn't help looking up and down at him. I went through all the drivers I knew in my mind and finally decided that I hadn't seen him before. So I asked curiously, "Comrade corporal, have you seen me before?"

The driver shook his head and said, "no, comrade major. I see you for the first time today. But in the army, female officers are very rare, let alone a female major, so as soon as you appear, I'll be sure it's you. " Then he reached back and said, "please get in the car."

I sat in the co pilot's seat, and when the car started, I asked, "would you like to take me to the headquarters of the volhoff front army, or directly to the headquarters of general Vlasov of the second shock group army?"

"Neither. I have been ordered to send you to the headquarters of the 52nd group army, where the senior general is directing the battle. "

When I met meletskov, he was about to leave the 52nd army headquarters and take a group of staff to the front. Seeing my arrival, he just said faintly: "Comrade major, come with us." He traveled in a large group of four jeeps and two covered trucks full of guards. I don't know anyone except meletskov, and I'm embarrassed to carpool with others, so I have to let the driver who just saw me off continue to drive me and follow meletskov's team. After driving about ten kilometers, the motorcade stopped. We got out of the car, walked through the snow trench, and entered the frontier headquarters in the forest. Meletzkov entered the headquarters with about a dozen commanders. I didn't know whether I was qualified to enter, so I lingered at the door. As soon as meletzkov looked back, he saw me wandering at the door. He said with some displeasure, "major oshanina, what are you still doing at the door? Come in quickly." This headquarters has a large area and can accommodate about 40 people at the same time. Seeing a group of us coming in, a colonel studying maps at his desk came up and reported to meletskov, "Comrade commander of the front army, commander of the 65th infantry division of the 52nd group army, Colonel kosewoi, report to you and wait for your instructions!" Meletskov also saluted and asked, "Comrade Colonel, what's the situation?"“ Very bad, Comrade General. " "The bandits attacked us 13 times, and we beat them back. After the first line of defense has been broken through, the troops have retreated to the second line of defense to defend. "“ When are you going to fight back? " Meletskov asked impolitely. On hearing this, the Colonel stammered, "senior general, I don't think it's wise to fight back now. We need to know that our air defense weapons are too weak, our troops lack air cover, and the enemy's dive bombers carry out fierce raids on our division's battle formation several times a day. The casualties of our troops are very large. Moreover, we should not only dig up the shelter for the personnel, but also hide the technical weapons, transportation equipment and materials and technical reserves underground. Moreover, when we attack, we have no firepower cover at all. As soon as the artillery fire, it will attract the enemy's indiscriminate bombardment. At present, half of the artillery of the group army have withdrawn from the battle. "“ Do you know the German number in front of your division? " A general next to meletskov suddenly asked“ Report to the commander of the group army that we have just finished interrogating the prisoners, "the Colonel replied to the general." the enemy troops in front of us, except for the original German infantry division, are all the "Dutch" and "Flanders" foreign volunteer corps composed of Dutch and Belgian elements. When they attacked our defense line, they were supported by Keller's air force. " After listening to the Colonel's report, meletskov walked up and down the headquarters with his hands behind his back, and the people around him were silent, even afraid to leave the atmosphere. I secretly compared meletzkov's height, which is the shortest among the commanders on the scene. It is estimated that it is only about 1.6 meters, which is about the same height as Zhukov and Stalin. Meretskov stopped and asked Col. koshevoy, "Comrade division, if I add reinforcements to you, can you fight back against the German army immediately?"“ Yes, comrade commander of the front army. " The Colonel's answer was very straightforward. Meletzkov turned his head to the commander of the 52nd army and asked, "how many reserves do you have in your army? General Yakovlev“ No, Comrade General. " General Yakovlev replied with a sad face: "in order to defend the defense line, even the guard regiment of the group army has been sent to the front line. In addition to two sentinels on guard, there are only a group of staff officers and signalmen left in the headquarters."“ Reserves, I'll figure it out. I just want to know if you can counterattack immediately and take back the lost position when you get the replenishment? " General Yakovlev and Colonel koshevoy looked at each other and replied with one voice, "yes!" Meletzkov went to the table, grabbed a phone and dialed the number. As soon as he got through the phone, he heard him say to each other in a loud voice: "is it Comrade chief of staff? I'm meletskov. Now record my order: immediately transfer all the personnel of the second lieutenant training team and the junior commander training company to the 65th division of the 52nd army. "