"This is an amazing victory." After Yelemenko and Krelov finished speaking, he said with great enthusiasm: "We dispatched planes to bomb the German airport at any time, but the effect was very limited. I really didn't expect that a small team sent by Colonel Sokov could achieve such great results."
After a moment of pause, he continued, "How do you plan to reward the commanders and fighters who have made great contributions?"
Krelov did not immediately answer Yeliaumko's question, but instead looked at Cui Kov on the side. When he saw the other party nodding slightly and signaling that he could tell the reward plan, he replied loudly: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, Commander of Cui Kov and I both think that the commanders and fighters who participated in this operation should be awarded a Red Flag Medal."
Compared with the early stages of the war, the standard of awarding the Red Flag Medal at this moment has been greatly reduced. But for ordinary soldiers, it is still a matter of pride to be able to obtain the Red Flag Medal. However, Yeliaumko was obviously not satisfied with such rewards. He shook his head and said to the microphone: "General Krelov, I think your rewards to these soldiers are far from proportional to the merits they have achieved. Think about it, what kind of rewards can you provide for them?"
"We consider that we can promote the ranks of Lieutenant Guchakov, who is commanding the squad, and Lieutenant Samoilov."
"General Krelov, have you considered that besides awarding merits and promoting military ranks to the commanders and fighters who are carrying out the mission, what about the plan?" Yelemenko did not want the other party to guess the riddle, so he took the initiative to give the answer: "The team was sent by Colonel Sokov, so what kind of reward should he receive?"
When Cuikov heard Yeliaumek's words, he quickly took the microphone from Krelov and said respectfully: "Comrade Commander, I am Cuikov. If you think Colonel Sokov should also be awarded, I suggest that he also award him a Red Flag Medal. As for the promotion of the military rank, I think I will talk about it later. After all, he has just won the military rank of colonel."
Yeliaumko really had the idea of ​​promoting Sokov's rank. But after hearing Cui Kov's words, he felt that he was not considerate enough. Less than a month after he obtained the rank of colonel, he was promoted to another level and directly entered the rank of generals. I am afraid many people would have any objections. After all, in the army, there is no general under the age of thirty.
"Okay." After careful consideration, Yelemenko made the final decision: "According to your plan, Sokov and all the commanders and fighters of the squad will be awarded the Red Flag Medal, and the commanders of Guchakov and Samoilov, who commanded the squad behind enemy lines, will be promoted to the first-level military rank."
Yelemenko ended the call with Krelov, put down the microphone and said to Khrushchev who was sitting opposite him: "Military Comrade, Xiaomi Sha has made great contributions again."
While Yelemenko was talking to Krelov, Khrushchev was writing materials at his desk, and only listened to some clips intermittently. He was really not sure what happened. He heard Yelemenko say this, and he quickly raised his head and asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, where did Xiaomisha's troops win?"
"He sent a small team behind enemy lines some time ago." Yelemenko said to Khrushchev with interest: "Do you know this?"
"Yes, I know." Khrushchev nodded and said in a affirmative tone: "This squad attacked Gumlak Station with rockets a few days ago, destroying the materials that the enemy had hoarded there. Why, what important target did they attack the German army?"
"In the early morning of this year, the team attacked a German field airport more than 100 kilometers away, destroyed forty bombers parked at the airport, and killed ninety-three pilots." Yeliaomko said excitedly: "It greatly weakened the strength of the German air force, so that their bombing efforts on the city will be weakened."
Khrushchev agreed with Yelemenko's statement. The Germans may be able to replenish dozens of aircraft soon, but the loss of ninety-three pilots is not possible in less than two or three years. In other words, the eradication of the German pilot is more important than the elimination of enemy aircraft.
Khrushchev smiled and said, "Xiao Misha has many ideas for fighting. Although the situation in the city is very unfavorable to our army now, he can always give us some unexpected surprises when people unexpectedly want. If there were more commanders like him in the city, the enemy who attacked the city would have been defeated long ago."
"Comrade of Military Commissioner," Yelemenko and others said after he said, he restrained the smile on his face and said with a serious expression: "From the current situation of enemy and us in the city, the Derrensky factory cannot be defended. Look, do we need to send new troops into the city to strengthen the defense in this area?"
Hearing Yeliaumko say this, Khrushchev stood up and paced back and forth indoors with his hands behind his back. After walking for countless rounds and turns, he stopped and shook his head and said, "No, comrade Commander, we cannot send new troops to the city at present. You must know that these troops are intended to participate in the large counterattack. If they enter the city too early, they will lose in vain in the German attack. In order to fill the troops involved in the counterattack, the base camp will have to transfer new troops from other places, which may lead to the delay of our large counterattack."
"We sent the 45th Infantry Division to the city without asking for instructions." Khrushchev frowned and said, "If the superiors pursue this matter, we can also use the critical situation in the city and have to let the troops on standby enter the city in advance. But if new troops are dispatched, it is really impossible to explain to the base."
Yelemenko understood what Khrushchev said. He just saw that the situation in the city was critical and wanted to transfer new troops into the city to reverse the situation. But after hearing what Khrushchev said, he found that without strengthening technical equipment and obtaining air supremacy, sending too many troops into the city will not only fail to reverse the adverse situation in the city, but will instead cause unnecessary casualties.
Thinking of this, he nodded thoughtfully and said, "Military Comrade, you are right. Under the current circumstances, no matter how difficult the situation in the city is, we cannot easily send troops into the city. Without air supremacy and sufficient technical equipment, it is very difficult to reverse the situation in front of us. Putting too many troops in the city will also increase the supply pressure of the logistics department."
…………
In Sokov, in Mamayev hill, I don't know what happened in the Front Command on the other side of the Volga River. He had just finished talking to Krelov and was happily saying to Cydolin and Ivanov: "Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Command, I just received a call from General Krelov. The Army Command's commendation for Guchakov and others has already come down."
"Oh, so fast?" Ivanov asked in surprise: "I wonder how his superiors plan to reward them?"
"All members of the team were awarded a Red Flag Medal. Guchakov and Samoilov, who served as commanders, were promoted to the next level of military rank while receiving the medal." Although Sokov himself also received a Red Flag Medal, he was worried that the news would cause the two to lose, so he deliberately avoided this topic.
"It's amazing. I won the Red Flag Medal once I went out and was promoted to the first level of military rank." After Sokov finished speaking, Ivanov said jokingly: "I heard the rewards from my superiors to the squad, and I wanted to lead a unit deep into the enemy's back."
"Chief of Staff." Sokov ordered Sidolin: "Immediately send a telegram to Guchakov and the others, tell them the good news, and tell them that they hope that they will be cautious in the next battle and achieve greater results."
"Okay, comrade in the division commander." Sidolin said with a smile: "I immediately asked the radio operator to pass on the good news to Lieutenant Guchakov... No, he is now a captain."
…………
Guchakov and others returned to the village and saw several strange faces in the barn.
Seeing Guchakov and others returning, Samoilov quickly came up and introduced him with a smile: "Comrade Lieutenant, let me introduce you to the captain of the guerrillas. Shortly after you left, Luzsky returned to the guerrillas and invited him over."
"Hello, Comrade Pratonov." Guchakov couldn't help but feel a little shocked when he reached out to shake hands with the other party. He thought to himself that the guerrillas knew that the person living in the barn was his own people disguised as an enemy, so would the news leak? Although he was worried, he pretended to be nothing, held the other party's hand, and said with a smile: "On behalf of all the commanders and soldiers of the team, I welcome you and your subordinates to come!"
Pradonov saw that Guchakov was a little insincere, but he did not expose the other party, but said with a smile: "Comrade Commander, please forgive me for not understanding the situation, so I sent someone to attack you. Fortunately, you discovered it in time and did not lead to bad consequences, otherwise I would feel guilty for the rest of my life."
"Comrade Captain," Guchakov solemnly told the other party: "We may have to stay here for a while. In order to avoid exposing our identity, please keep it confidential for us."
"Don't worry, Comrade Lieutenant." As soon as Guchakov finished speaking, Luzsky said first: "I have told the captain about this. So far, there are no more than seven people who know about the news about you here. And they are all comrades who can be completely trusted. Before you leave here, you will never let go of any news."
Ruzsky's words gave Guchakov a reassurance. If the other party really could keep it secret, he would not have to consider changing his hiding place. Although he was wearing German uniforms, it would be unrealistic to move freely in the enemy's area.
"Comrade Lieutenant." After Samoilov and other Guchakov exchanged greetings with comrades from the guerrillas, he asked curiously: "What is the result of your attack this time?"
"Comrade lieutenant, fortunately, I am lucky to be unfair." Guchakov replied with a smile: "We successfully attacked the German field airport this time and destroyed all the planes parked at the airport. I believe that in the next few months, the Germans will no longer be able to use that airport?"
Samoilov thought of the only radio station, which was taken away when Guchakov was on his mission, so he asked quickly: "Then have you reported this result to the division headquarters?"
"Is this a matter of time, Comrade Lieutenant?" Guchakov said proudly: "A such a big thing, even if we don't report it, our superiors can still learn from the intercepted enemy telegram. Therefore, on the way back here, I asked the radio operator to report the results to the division headquarters."
Speaking of this, Guchakov quickly looked around and looked for the radio operator's voice. When he saw the other party sitting in a corner of the barn and setting up a radio station, he hurried over and instructed the other party: "The division headquarters may have to send a telegram, please pay attention to receiving the telegram."
"clear!"
Samoilov walked to Guchakov, touched the other party's arm with his shoulder, and asked in a low voice: "Comrade Lieutenant, tell me, what kind of reward will the superior give us after he learned about the results we have achieved?"
"I think after the superiors have verified the results of the battle, they will award each soldier the medal." Guchakov said in an uncertain tone: "If the division commander goes to argue with reason, it is entirely possible for you and I to get the Red Flag Medal."
"Comrade Lieutenant, you are too conservative." After Samoilov finished speaking, he shook his head and said, "With such great results, how could the superiors give me a merit just some medals? According to my experience, you might even be promoted to your and my military rank."
"No way?!" Guchakov was shocked by Samoilov's guess. He felt that it would be good to get a medal. He could not imagine that he could be promoted to a military rank: "The superior is willing to give us such a reward?"
"I dare not say other troops," Samoilov said with confidence in Guchakov's doubts: "But with my understanding of the division commander, he will definitely win the greatest reward for us. As for whether I guess is right, you will know when the division headquarters call back."
However, after waiting for almost two hours, the radio station must have been silent. Guchakov said self-deprecatingly: "Oh, it seems that the superiors are still verifying our results. When the results come out, we will call back."
Chapter completed!