According to the plan, the Istria Battalion will set off in the direction of Popkovo at three o'clock in the morning, where it will join the main force of the 11th Guards Division and then launch an attack on the villages and towns occupied by the German army.
Unexpectedly, just as the troops were about to set off, Maxim, the communications platoon leader, hurried over and handed a telegram in his hand to Sokov: "Comrade Battalion Commander, a telegram just arrived from the division headquarters."
"A telegram from the division headquarters?!" Hearing what Maxim said, Sokov couldn't help but be startled, wondering if the situation had changed again. When he unfolded the telegram and tried to see the content clearly, Bel next to him Jin quickly turned on the flashlight to provide him with light.
The content of the telegram was simple, ordering Sokov to immediately rush to the army headquarters in Susinich. After reading the telegram, Sokov said with some confusion: "In a few hours, the battle will start. Why are you recruiting me to the army headquarters at this time?"
Belkin also saw clearly the contents of the telegram and quickly urged: "Since it is an order from the superior, you should go quickly. As for the troops, I will bring them to the rendezvous point."
Sokov took Oleg and a guard squad and drove for more than three hours. When they arrived at Sushinich, it was already dawn. Still far away from the headquarters, he saw the streets outside were full of people. In addition to soldiers, there were many people in civilian clothes. But judging from their clothes, they were obviously not residents of Susinich. .
There were several soldiers on duty at the street corner. When they saw Sokov and his group coming, one of the soldiers rushed to greet them. After blocking their way, he said politely: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander! There is a ceremony going on here." The ceremony is temporarily closed, please take a detour!"
"I am Major Sokov, the commander of the Istria Battalion." Sokov quickly identified himself to the soldiers: "I was ordered to come to the army headquarters."
Knowing that Sokov was ordered to come, the soldier quickly turned aside to make way for him. Then he shook his head and said, "Come on, Comrade Major! But you came a little late. The ceremony was held five minutes ago." here we go."
Oleg, who was following Sokov, heard what the soldier said and couldn't help but curiously asked: "Ritual, what ceremony?"
"What other ceremony could it be?" The soldier replied with a smile: "Of course it's a flag ceremony!"
"Comrade Battalion Commander," Oleg continued to ask as Sokov and the others walked towards the entrance of the headquarters: "Do you know what the flag ceremony is?"
Sokov only received a telegram asking him to go to the army headquarters. He didn't know the specific matter at all. Therefore, to Oleg's question, he could only answer truthfully: "I don't know either."
Coming outside the crowd, Sokov saw Rokossovsky and members of the headquarters standing on the steps of the building, but the person speaking now was not any of them, but Sokov. A middle-aged man in casual clothes whom I have never seen before. The middle-aged man waved his fist and said impassionedly: "...the militia comrades of the Leningrad District are all good! In view of their collective heroism and brave and tenacious fighting spirit in the battle to defend the motherland, and superb military skills, the Supreme Command decided to award them the title of the 11th Guards Rifle Division..."
When Sokov heard this, he couldn't help but wonder: The superiors gave the troops under Chernyshev the honorary title of Guards Division a few months ago, so why are they mentioned again now? . Thinking of this, he raised his hand and patted the shoulder of a man dressed as a worker in front of him, and shouted: "Comrade!"
The man who was tapped on the shoulder turned his head and saw clearly that the person tapping his shoulder was a major, so he asked politely: "Comrade commander, what can I do?"
Sokov pouted at the middle-aged man who was speaking and asked, "Who is speaking?"
"Besorov," the man said proudly, "our District Soviet member of the Leningrad District is also the head of our delegation. He came to present the flag to the 11th Guards Division on behalf of the headquarters of the Supreme Command. You Do you know that most of the commanders and fighters of this division are militiamen from various factories and enterprises in our district..."
Before the man could say anything, Sokov heard Besorov's last two words: "... Now, please invite General Chernyshev, commander of the 11th Guards Rifle Division, to come and receive this glorious face. banner!"
Amidst thunderous applause, Chernyshev and another second lieutenant walked up to Besorov with vigorous steps. After raising his hands in salute, he took the military flag with a solemn expression. After another salute to Besolov, he handed the flag to the second lieutenant.
The second lieutenant shook off the flag of the 11th Guards Division, letting the bright red flag flutter in the morning wind. Chernyshev knelt on one leg, held a corner of the military flag with both hands, and kissed it lovingly. The scene was silent for a moment. All the soldiers raised their hands to salute the military flag, and the members of the delegation also performed the gaze salute with pious faces.
Chernyshev stood up, raised his right hand facing the military flag, and solemnly swore: "For the honor of the 11th Guards Rifle Division, we take an oath!"
The commanders and fighters of the 11th Guards Division standing in the crowd, including Sokov and his group, all raised their right hands at the same time and followed Chernyshev in saying: "We take an oath!"
Chernyshev raised his voice: "We will definitely drive the fascist invaders from our land and let Lenin's flag fly over the Soviet motherland forever!"
The commanders and soldiers loudly repeated Chernyshev's oath: "...let Lenin's flag always fly over the Soviet motherland!"
…………
After the simple flag-presenting ceremony, Chernyshev and Besorov followed Rokossovsky into the headquarters. The delegation that came to express condolences to the troops was taken by Malinin to the officers' mess for breakfast.
Sokov found the division chief of staff and asked: "Comrade chief of staff, the division headquarters sent me a telegram asking me to come to Sushinich immediately just to participate in this simple flag-presenting ceremony?"
"Comrade Major." After hearing what Sokov said, the division chief of staff immediately corrected him with a straight face: "This is not a simple flag-presenting ceremony. Didn't you see that the people participating in the flag-presenting ceremony are all from Lenin, Moscow?" Representatives from all walks of life in the Gullah District? They are from the same place as our soldiers. They are responsible for the flag presentation ceremony in order to better boost the morale of our division so that the soldiers can be full of energy in today's battle. The fighting mood..."
As soon as the division chief of staff finished speaking, Sokov immediately asked in confusion: "Comrade chief of staff, since this flag-presenting ceremony is a swearing-in ceremony in disguise, why is it not held at the front line but here?"
"The starting point of our attack is within the coverage of German artillery fire." In response to Sokov's question, the division chief of staff explained to him: "In order to protect the safety of the delegation comrades, we arranged the flag presentation ceremony in Susi. Held in Niqi City." At this point, he raised his hand to look at his watch and added, "Major Sokov, there are still three hours before the attack starts. You can go to the officers' mess to eat something first, and then rush to Direct the battle from the front.”
