Chapter 826

After dark, trakov specially called me to inform me that the great counterattack under Stalingrad had officially begun and that our counterattack date was still November 20.

After listening to trekov's notice, although I have already known the battle that happened today in the historical materials of later generations, I still have to pretend to ask trekov how it is, otherwise my calmness will arouse his suspicion.

Trekov may have been waiting for me to ask him this question when he called. Hearing my real question, he immediately excitedly briefed me on the situation of today's friendly counter offensive: "at 7:20, all kinds of artillery and mortars concentrated on the main breakthrough area with a length of about 28 kilometers entered combat preparation. At 7.30, orders came to fire. 3500 guns and mortars hurled a ton of steel and explosives at the enemy's positions. After one hour of sabotage, another 20 minutes of suppression.

Oshanina, you know what? This was the first time in the Great Patriotic War that our army carried out such a powerful artillery assault. Our artillery attack caused great losses to the enemy and made them panic.

At 0850 hours, the tanks of the southwest front, the infantry and tanks of the 5th and 21st group armies, and the assault group of the 65th group army of the Don front turned to attack at the same time.

At noon, the fast group of the 5th group army (1st and 26th) and the 4th group army of the 21st group army successfully broke through the German tactical defense and went out to the campaign area. Our army has broken through the enemy's resistance, the attack is developing smoothly, and the battle has been launched in the depth of the enemy's defense. "

When I relayed what trakov said to the other commanders, everyone got excited. Kirilov, who has always been calm, unexpectedly suggested: "Comrade oshanina, today is an important and memorable day. Why don't we have a drink to celebrate it?"

I looked at kirilov suspiciously and asked in surprise, "comrades of the political commissar, if you know that we are going to command a war tomorrow, don't you worry that drinking will delay our business?"

Kirilov replied with a smile, "it's all right, comrade oshanina. We'll just drink a little. It won't delay our business." Then he went to the wall, lifted the map on the wall, and magically pulled out a flat stainless steel wine pot from behind. I can't laugh or cry at his action. I don't know when he hid the wine pot behind the map.

Kirilov came back to us with the jug, unscrewed the lid, raised the jug high and said aloud, "for the great counterattack!" With that, he looked up and took a sip. After drinking, he gave me the bottle and said, "Comrade o'shanina, have a drink, too."

Although I don't want to drink, it's hard to be gracious. Especially in this case, if I refuse rashly, kirilov will be unable to get off the stage. So I took the bottle, raised it high like kirilov, and said loudly: "for our victory!" Then he got close to his mouth, took a small sip, and handed the bottle to Bantai leiev.

After all the people in the headquarters, including major basmanov and lieutenant razumeyeva, had a round of drinking, kirilov put away the wine pot, and then our commanders sat down around the table and got down to business.

Bantaileiev first asked: "Comrade division, since the Germans are beaten so badly by the comrades of the Don river front army and the southwest front army today, I don't think they are likely to attack mamayev post tomorrow. Should we adjust the time for launching a counter attack?"

I shook my head slowly and said in an indisputable tone, "no, the time of the counter attack can't be changed. It's better to bombard the enemy at 12 noon tomorrow before launching a counterattack."

"Why?" Bantaileiev asked somewhat unconvinced.

"Comrade deputy division commander, the reason why I don't agree to change the attack time is very simple." I know bantaileiev is a reasonable person. As long as the reason is clear to him, he can understand me, "because the German army will attack our mamayev post tomorrow."

As soon as my words came out, there was a scream. On behalf of others, political commissar sherbina asked me, "Comrade deputy commander, if, according to what commander trakov said, the German troops are dazed by our artillery attack, it is estimated that their organizational system is now in disorder, and they are too busy to spare enough force to deal with our mamayev post?" At this point, he paused for a moment, then lowered his voice and said cautiously, "are you a little too nervous?"

What will happen tomorrow, for them, is an unknown with many uncertain factors, but for me, it is a history that has already happened. Although the counterattack launched by the two Soviet front forces today was very powerful, it did not make the German Sixth Army feel the direct threat. Therefore, Paulus thought that our counterattack would be the same as those in the past and end in failure. So at 18 PM, he sent a notice to the German army in the city, Get them ready to attack the next day.

However, Baron von weix, commander of group B of German army, found that the situation was a little bad. He sent a new order to Paulus at 22:00: "in view of the situation in front of group 3 of Romanian army, we are forced to take resolute measures, so as to quickly deploy troops to cover the wing of group 6 army, and guarantee lihaya (south of kamensk shahejinski)," he said The security along the railway in the Qier river section (the group army relies on it for supplies). To this end, I order:

1. Immediately stop all offensive operations in Stalingrad, except the operations of the reconnaissance units. The intelligence of these units is essential for organizational defense.

2. The 6th group army immediately took out two motorized regiments and one infantry division from its formation, and took out another auxiliary motorized regiment as far as possible, and assigned these units to the command of the 14th tank army; In addition, we should draw out as many anti tank weapons as possible, and assemble these groups on your left wing in echelons, so as to carry out raids to the northwest or the West. "

However, after receiving this order, Paulus didn't take it seriously at all, and didn't even convey it to his subordinates. He was still thinking about how to achieve greater results in the battle of attacking Stalingrad the next day. He didn't know that their end had come quietly.

I am very familiar with this period of history, so I can decisively make the decision not to change the time of the counter offensive. However, it is difficult for me to persuade my subordinates. After all, a lot of things are going on or have not yet happened. Let alone my little division commander, even if the group army commander trekov and even the front army commander Yeliao Menko don't know, how can I know before them?

Hesitated again and again, finally I had to put out the regulations as a shield. I put a face on my face and said solemnly, "political commissar sherbina, you have not been in the army for one or two days. Don't you know that the orders of the superior are not allowed to be discussed and can only be carried out?"

Hearing what I said, all the people shut up and no one mentioned the change of the counter offensive time.

The night passed.

Before the fog had cleared, the German attack on mamayev hill and 107.5 highland began.

Seeing the war situation, as I judged, the whole headquarters was silent. Several commanders stood beside me, learning from me, looking up at the map on the wall.

I heard shelbina say to whom in a low voice: "Comrade deputy commander's judgment is so accurate that the Germans really launched an attack. Fortunately, we are now relying on fortifications to resist the German attack. If we leave our position to fight with the enemy in the open field, our troops will pay a heavy price. "

Then I heard Bantai leiev say: "now the fog outside is too big for our air force to move. Even if we send out tank battalions to cover the infantry to charge, the results will be very limited."

Instead of paying attention to bantailiev and sherbina, I turned around and called ahlomeyev: "Comrade chief of staff."

Akhromeyev quickly came to me and asked in a low voice, "what instructions do you have, sir?"

I said briefly, "you call commander Oleg and ask them what's going on there?"

When akhromeyev went to make a phone call, kirilov came close to me and asked in a low voice, "Comrade oshanina, why do you only ask the chief of staff about the situation of the second regiment and the situation of the fourth regiment by the way? Don't you worry about Lieutenant Colonel gedar at all?"

"Comrade political commissar, you can rest assured." I lightly comforted him and said, "the northern highland held by the fourth regiment has a relatively perfect defense system. It is very difficult for the German army to attack. However, the 107.5 highland held by the second regiment is not the same. Due to the lack of solid fortifications, the troops in the position have been fighting with the enemy. So far, thousands of officers and soldiers have been sacrificed on this high ground. When victory is coming, we must not give up the land that permeates the blood donation of the martyrs to the Germans. "

After listening to what I said, kirilov, after a moment's silence, took the initiative to put forward to me: "Comrade oshanina, if that's the case, we should send the troops of the third regiment earlier. Once the position of the second regiment is in danger, they can take it up in time."

I thought that the thick fog outside had not cleared away, and the troops would not be attacked by the German army during the mobilization process, so I simply agreed to kirilov's proposal, and then turned to ask razumeyeva, who was sitting by the wall, "Comrade lieutenant, contact commander kosga of the third regiment immediately, and let his troops move to the rear side of 107.5 highland ahead of time."

As soon as I gave the order to mobilize the troops, akhromeyev held the microphone at the table and called me, "Comrade division commander, it's commander trakov."

I heard it was a call from trakov. I rushed to the table, took the call from him, and politely said, "Hello, comrade commander, what's your instruction?"

From the receiver came trakov's voice. He said with a smile, "Comrade oshanina, are the Germans attacking your position now?"

"Yes, comrade commander. The German army is attacking the northern highland of the fourth regiment and the 107.5 highland held by the second regiment at the same time. " After reporting the situation, in order to reassure trikov, I specially explained to him, "but we are confident to hold the position and wait for the time of counter attack!" When I mentioned the counterattack, trakov could not help sighing and said with regret: "originally, our attack time was at seven o'clock in the morning. Unfortunately, because of the damned fog, the artillery observers could not see anything, so the time for artillery preparation had to be postponed." I raised my hand and looked at my watch. Seeing that the pointer had already pointed to eight o'clock, I asked casually, "Comrade commander, do you know when our artillery preparation is going to be delayed?" Trekov may have looked at his watch, and then he replied, "I think the artillery preparation before the attack should start at about 8:30. By that time, the thick fog outside almost dissipated." At the end of the call with trakov, I looked up and asked akhromeyev, "chief of staff, you've spoken with lieutenant commander Oleg. What's the situation there?" Akhromeyev shook his head and answered with a worried face: "Comrade teacher, the situation is very bad. After the German artillery attack on Highland 107.5, thousands of infantry, under the cover of more than a dozen tanks and dozens of armored vehicles, are launching a fierce attack on the highland. Although the second regiment fought very hard, a unit of the enemy has already rushed into our hillside position and is engaged in a white-edged battle with our commanders and fighters. Lieutenant commander Oleg has asked the commander of the first battalion, Captain horushov, to take the reserve to reinforce them. "“ Comrade division commander, "bantailiev immediately reminded me after hearing ahlomeyev's report," we should send reinforcements immediately. We must never let the enemy occupy the 107.5 highland, otherwise we will be very passive. " I waited for bantaileiev to finish, but did not make a statement. Instead, I turned to ask razumeyeva in the distance, "Comrade lieutenant, are the troops of the third regiment going now?"“ Report to the commander, "razumeyeva stood up and replied," after receiving the order, the third commander, lieutenant commander kosja, immediately ordered major Godunov to lead the Third Battalion and drive to the 107.5 highland. It is estimated that they will arrive at the designated position in a few minutes. " It was said that the reinforcements of the third regiment had been sent, and all the people on the scene breathed a sigh. Bantailiev said: "as long as the Third Battalion can get to the 107.5 highland in time, then the Germans will never take the position away from us."