"Just wait," Majevo replied casually: "After we liberate Kharkov, the superiors will replenish your battalion."
"What, you have to wait until Kharkov is liberated before you can replenish us?" Guchakov asked in surprise: "Then in the next battle, will we just sit on the sidelines and watch the fun?"
"There is no way," Majewo said helplessly: "Comrade Commander now has no extra troops. Even if he wants to replenish them for you, I'm afraid it's not enough. You don't want to be like the 182nd Division and replenish thousands of troops.
The old, weak and remnant soldiers without any fighting ability ended up not even qualified to participate in the battle this time."
During the Battle of Kursk, the 182nd Division added thousands of old and weak soldiers without combat effectiveness, which diluted the combat effectiveness of the unit. As a battalion commander, Guchakov naturally knew that he did not want to make the same mistake again, so he could only smile bitterly.
He shook his head and said: "Comrade leader, you are right. Maybe we really have to wait until Kharkov is liberated before we have the opportunity to get new reinforcements."
"Major Guchakov, since you don't have many soldiers under you now, why not work in my regiment for a while, and then when your superiors rebuild a battalion, you can go back and be your battalion commander. What do you think?
?”
Guchakov fell into deep thought at Majevo's suggestion. Although the battalion now exists in name only, if he really went to the regiment headquarters, he would be a handyman at best, and he would also be unable to participate in the battle for a long time. As for being unable to participate in the battle
Guchakov was very conflicted about this point.
"Think about it, Major Guchakov." Seeing Guchakov's delay in answering, Majevo knew that this was a very difficult multiple-choice question, so he said reasonably: "I will give you twenty-four hours.
Think carefully about whether you should stay or temporarily come to the regiment headquarters to help."
Before Guchakov could speak, a second lieutenant officer appeared at the door. He did not enter the door immediately, but looked toward the room with his eyes, as if he was looking for someone.
Golia recognized the other person as an officer from his battalion at a glance, walked over quickly, and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, what's the matter?"
"Comrade Battalion Commander, telegram." The second lieutenant took out a square telegram from his pocket and handed it to Goliath. At the same time, he added: "This is a telegram from the division headquarters."
Although the second lieutenant spoke in a low voice, Majewo still heard what he said and quickly turned around and asked: "The telegram from the division headquarters? What did it say?"
Hearing Majievo's question, Golia didn't even open the telegram, but handed it to Majewo directly and said respectfully: "Comrade leader, please take a look."
Majewo unfolded the telegram and only glanced at it. Then he raised his head and asked the second lieutenant: "Comrade second lieutenant, where is your radio station?"
"It's in the next room."
"Take me there," Majevo said, putting the telegram in Golia's hand.
Guchakov saw Majevo hurriedly walking outside with the second lieutenant, and quickly approached Golia and asked: "Goriya, what is the telegram from the division headquarters?"
After Golya quickly read the contents of the telegram, he handed it to Guchakov: "The division commander asked me if I have any news about you. If you are still alive, send him a telegram immediately. He needs it immediately.
Report to Comrade Commander. Comrade Commander has sent five telegrams in succession, all to inquire about your situation."
Guchakov was quite touched when he learned that Sokov had been caring about his own safety. However, he was also full of gratitude for Goliya standing in front of him. Just now he and the remaining
The commanders and soldiers were all compressed into the conference room by the enemy. If Golia hadn't arrived in time with reinforcements, he would have turned into a cold corpse at this moment.
"Golia, I also want to thank you." Guchakov held Golia's hand and tried his best to say in a calm tone: "If you hadn't led the troops to arrive in time, I would probably no longer be in this world at this moment.
Already."
"Look what you said, Guchakov." Golya said with a smile: "We are all comrades-in-arms. How can I stand by and watch when my comrades-in-arms are in danger?"
"By the way, what are your plans? Are you going to work at the regiment headquarters?"
"I still have to think about it," Guchakov replied with a wry smile: "I feel that if I go to the regiment headquarters, I will probably be a sinecure. If I have to fight, it won't be my turn."
The two of them had just said a few words when the second lieutenant appeared at the door again. He straightened his body and reported to Golia: "Comrade battalion commander, the regiment commander asks you to come over." After he said this, his eyes changed again.
Turning to Guchakov, he added, "And you, Major Guchakov, the regiment leader asks you to come over too."
Following the second lieutenant to the next room, he happened to see Majevo return the earphone and microphone in his hand to the operator. Majevo turned around and said to Guchakov: "Comrade Major, I just spoke with
The division commander spoke and said that since your battalion lost contact with us, comrade commander has sent telegrams to the division headquarters over and over again, asking us to find out your whereabouts as soon as possible. It seems that comrade commander is very worried about your safety.
The division commander told me that since your troops have been wiped out, there is not much use in staying at the front. It is better to return to the group army headquarters as soon as possible. If possible, it is best to stay and work by the commander's side."
Guchakov was a little moved by Majevo's statement. He thought that Sokov was the master who could not sit still in the headquarters and would run to the front whenever he had time. If he followed him, he might
We can really get a fight. However, he did not reply immediately, but asked Majevo tentatively: "Comrade commander, I want to ask what you mean. Do you agree that I will take the remaining soldiers back to the group army commander?"
Ministry station?"
"Major Guchakov, asking you to take people back to the group army headquarters is an order personally issued by the division commander." Majevo said seriously to Guchakov: "You have been in the army for a long time, so you should
Know that orders from superiors can only be carried out, not discussed. Do you understand?"
"Understood!"
"Now that you understand, then quickly take your people and return to the army headquarters." Majevo nodded to Guchakov and said: "Your mission has been completed, so you can go to the rear to rest with peace of mind.
, I will arrange vehicles for you."
An hour later, a soldier came in and reported to Majevo: "Comrade leader, the truck is ready and ready to go at any time."
"Major Guchakov," knowing that the truck was ready, Majevo turned to Guchakov and said: "The truck that will take you back to the rear is parked in the open space outside. You can set off now."
As he spoke, he extended his hand to Guchakov and said friendly: "I hope we can meet again soon, and I wish you good luck!"
Guchakov left the hospital building with his still-living men and walked towards the truck parked in the open area.
Just as he was about to board the car, the second company commander Yegor suddenly said: "Comrade battalion commander, we are leaving here, but the first company commander and more than two hundred soldiers stayed here. I want to take a look at the ruins ahead.
The right is to remember them."
Hearing Yegor's proposal, Guchakov's eyes couldn't help but redden. He thought that Narva and the commanders and fighters of the first company were basically buried in the ruins of this building. After leaving today, he didn't know when
There was a chance to come back again. So he nodded to Yegor and expressed his agreement with his suggestion.
After Yegor led several soldiers into the ruins, Seryosha came to Guchakov's side, took out a cigarette and handed him one, and then said: "Comrade Major, don't be discouraged, since this time it is the commander
Comrade personally sent a message asking you to take the remaining people back to the headquarters of the group army. I think you must have another appointment."
"Is there another appointment?" Guchakov thought that Seryosha was Sokov's old friend and must know a lot of inside stories that he didn't know, so he quickly asked: "Seryosa, have you heard any rumors?"
"I haven't heard anything." Seryosha shook his head and denied Guchakov's statement. But seeing the disappointed look on the other party's face, he quickly added: "But you should know the temper of Comrade Commander.
Since he is eager to transfer you back from the front, it proves that he has already thought about how to settle you. According to my estimation, after you return, you may be able to work as an official in the security force of the group army headquarters.
"
"Batalion Commander, Comrade Battalion Commander!" A soldier who had just followed Yegor into the ruins ran out rolling and crawling on the ground, shouting as he ran, attracting a lot of attention nearby.
Seeing this, Guchakov couldn't help but frown slightly. After the soldier ran to him, he asked dissatisfiedly: "Comrade soldier, what is it that makes you make such a fuss?"
"Comrade Battalion Commander, good news, good news." The soldier seemed not to notice Guchakov's reproach. He grabbed Guchakov's arm and shook it vigorously with the hand that was not holding the gun, and said excitedly:
"The first company commander, the first company commander and more than 20 soldiers are still alive."
This time it was Guchakov's turn to lose his composure. He grabbed the soldier by the collar and asked emotionally: "What did you say? Say it again."
"Comrade Battalion Commander," Guchakov tightened his grip too tightly, making the soldier a little breathless. He carefully freed his clothes from Guchakov's hands, and then said breathlessly: "First Company Commander
and more than twenty soldiers are still alive."
"How is this possible?" After hearing what the soldier said clearly, Seryosha asked in surprise: "The whole building was destroyed by enemy artillery fire. How did they survive?"
"When the enemy started shelling, the first company commander led the soldiers to retreat to the basement." The soldier explained to the two men: "The collapsed masonry and rubble blocked the exit of the basement, trapping them inside. The second and third battalions were
The soldiers dug for a long time before clearing away the masonry and rubble blocking the door."
"So that's it." Seryosha nodded thoughtfully. He was about to say a few words to Guchakov, but saw the latter rushing into the ruins.
Seryosha shook his head and walked into the ruins.
As soon as he entered the ruins, he saw Guchakov shaking hands with the disgraced Captain Narva. After the two men let go of their hands, Guchakov raised his hand and patted the other party on the shoulder, and then punched him with his fist.
The other person's chest, and finally gave Narva a warm hug.
At the same time, at the group army headquarters dozens of kilometers away, Sokov received a telegram from Koida. Knowing that Guchakov and the remaining commanders and fighters of the first battalion were about to return, he called Samyko and
He discussed: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Major Guchakov's battalion suffered almost all casualties during the battle, and there are only a dozen people left in the whole battalion. Look, how can we rebuild the first battalion."
"Comrade Commander, rebuilding the first battalion is easy to say, but not so easy to do." Samyko said to Sokov with a grimace: "Where can we find soldiers to supplement them now?"
"Where are the prisoner-of-war camps?" When it came to replenishing troops, Sokov first thought of the commanders and fighters detained in German prisoner-of-war camps, and asked Samyko tentatively: "Have our troops liberated any prisoner-of-war camps recently?"
?”
"No." Sameko shook his head like a rattle: "Comrade Commander, how could we have liberated so many prisoner-of-war camps? I estimate that there are no prisoner-of-war camps within a radius of five or six hundred kilometers nearby."
"Alas, what a pity." Sokov sighed and said to Sameko: "Tell the reconnaissance department that once our scouts discover the prisoner of war camp, they need to report it to the headquarters immediately."
After Samek nodded in agreement, he smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the friendly commanders heard that prisoners of war had been rescued and couldn't even hide. Only you seemed to have discovered a treasure and tried every means to get it."
They grabbed it."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I have said more than once that these commanders and fighters rescued from prisoner of war camps are a valuable asset to us." Sokov said: "Not only do they have rich combat experience, but also
Superb technical and tactical levels. More importantly, their hearts are filled with hatred for the enemy, which is enough to allow them to exert extraordinary combat effectiveness on the battlefield."
"Comrade Commander, when the enemy captured Kharkov at the beginning of the year, our army suffered a lot of casualties, and many commanders and fighters should have been captured." After some thought, Samyko said to Sokov: "
If we could find the prisoner-of-war camp where they were held and rescue them, wouldn't it be possible to rebuild a battalion of soldiers?"
Sokov stared at the map in front of him for a while, then raised his head and asked Sameko: "Chief of Staff, where do you think the enemy will detain these commanders and fighters?"
"According to my experience, the prisoner-of-war camps established by the enemy are usually far away from human habitations." Samyko drew a circle on the map with his finger and said, "It should be in the forest near Kharkov."
Seeing the circle drawn by Samyko, Sokov smiled bitterly and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the circle you drew is too big. In such a large area, even if I send a brigade of scouts,
I’m afraid it will be difficult to find the target.”
"Comrade Commander, there are many young people of school age in Belgorod. Otherwise, we can recruit some residents from the city and organize them into Guchakov's first battalion, so that we can be in the shortest possible time.
, rebuild the first battalion."
"No." Sokov shook his head and rejected Sameko's proposal: "There are only a dozen people left in the first battalion, and hundreds of new recruits without combat effectiveness are incorporated. Then this unit will not be able to carry out any tasks at least for half a year.
Combat missions. I think we should think of other ways. If that doesn't work, first transfer a company from the headquarters' security force to reinforce a battalion."
