A few minutes later, Klimov returned to Chuikov with an officer wearing a big-brimmed hat: "Comrade Commander, this is the commander sent by Colonel Sokov to greet us."
After he finished speaking, the officer stepped forward, straightened his back and reported to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander and Comrade Military Commissar, I am Major Tenev, commander of the guard battalion of the 41st Guards Division, and I am the commander of the division. I have come to meet you with my order.”
"Oh, I remember you, you are Major Tenev." Although Tenev had left the headquarters for some time, Chuikov still remembered this subordinate. He stretched out his hand and asked friendly: "Long time no see. Okay, how have you been lately?"
Tenev had not been serving as the commander of the headquarters guard battalion for a long time, and he had never even met Chuikov twice. At this moment, he was particularly excited to see that the commander still remembered him. He quickly stretched out his hands and held Chuikov's hand: "I'm fine. Thank you, Comrade Commander, for your concern."
After the two chatted for a while, Tenev respectfully said to Chuikov: "Commander, Comrade Military Commissar, please come with me, and I will take you to the division headquarters."
As the group entered the tunnel and walked to the division headquarters, Tenev thought that he had been sitting on the bench since arriving at the Guards Division, so he tentatively asked Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, can you let me go back to the headquarters?" Even if you can’t be a battalion commander, you can still be a company commander.”
"What?" Chuikov heard what Tenev said, with a surprised expression on his face: "You are doing well here in the Guards Division, why do you want to go back to the headquarters?"
"That's it, Comrade Commander." Tenev hurriedly explained: "I stay in the tunnels here every day and can't even see the shadow of the Germans. I can still win the battle at the headquarters." .”
"..." Tenev's words left Chuikov speechless. He said to himself that this man was so blessed that he didn't know how to be blessed. He didn't know how many people wanted to come to such a safe place like the tunnel at Mamayev Hill, but he wanted to come. Return to the headquarters where battles often occur.
Seeing that Chuikov didn't speak, Tenev knew that the other party would not agree to his request, so he did not continue to pester him. He just acted as a faithful guide and guided Chuikov and Gurov to the division headquarters.
Sokov and a group of people from the division stood quietly in the corridor outside the door. Seeing Chuikov and others approaching, he quickly stepped forward, raised his hands in salute and said respectfully: "Comrades, commander and military commissar, welcome to my division headquarters!"
Chuikov raised his hand in return and then extended his hand to Sokov. When the two shook hands, Chuikov specifically asked: "Are all those heroes here?"
"Here we come!" After Sokov said, he turned to face the crowd behind him and began to call names: "Lieutenant Grisa, Sergeant Yelizaveta, you come out!"
The two people whose names were called quickly squeezed out of the crowd, stood at attention in front of Chuikov, raised their hands in salute, and said in unison: "Hello, Commander!"
"Comrade Commander, let me introduce you." Sokov pointed to the two men and introduced to Chuikov: "This is Lieutenant Grisa. He commanded the attack on the town of Gorodishe." Waiting for Chuikov After shaking hands with Grisa, he pointed at Yelizavita and continued, "It was the three rockets fired by Sergeant Yelizaveta that accurately destroyed the enemy's open-air ammunition depot."
After Chuikov shook hands with Yelizaveta, he turned to Gurov and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, read out the order of honors we give to these heroes."
Gurov nodded, took out a stack of documents from his satchel, turned out the documents of Grisa and Yelizavita, and began to read: "In view of the bravery shown in the fight against the German occupying forces, and heroism, to Lieutenant Grisa...Sergeant Yelizaveta of the Order of the Red Banner.”
After Gurov finished reading the order of conferment, Klimov, who was standing aside, quickly placed two red boxes in his hands. Gurov lowered his head and glanced at the box in his hand, came to Grisa, handed one of the red boxes and certificates to Grisa, and then handed the other box and certificate to Yelizavi Tower Sergeant.
After doing all this, Gurov smiled at the two and nodded, then took a step back, suppressed the smile on his face and asked Grisa: "Comrade Lieutenant, don't you know what you should say after receiving the medal?" ?"
Grisa heard Gurov's words, and after looking at each other, they both said in unison: "Serve the Soviet!"
"It can be seen that both of you have served well." Gurov glanced at the medals hanging on their chests, and his face was filled with smiles again: "I hope you can continue to work hard and build more honors for the motherland. Merit.”
After the simple and simple award ceremony, the group entered the division headquarters. After Chuikov sat down, he saw that the people sitting at the table were all division leaders, so he said to Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, I am here today with Comrade Military Commissar. In addition to awarding medals to commanders and soldiers who have made meritorious deeds, we also I have something important to discuss with you."
As soon as he heard that there was something important, Sokov's scalp went numb. He was deeply afraid that Chuikov would propose to mobilize his troops to reinforce a certain place, which would inevitably weaken Mamayev Heights. Defense force. But in front of Chuikov, he did not dare to complain casually, so he could only bite the bullet and said: "Comrade Commander, if you have anything to do, just tell me."
"That's it. Comrade Military Commissar and I believe that," when Chuikov said this, he turned to look at Gurov. Seeing that the other party cast an encouraging look at him, he continued: "With your ability, For you to be a division commander is really too humiliating. Therefore, we plan to apply to our superiors to transfer a few more divisions or brigades into the city and give them to your command to form a combat group responsible for the operations at Mamayev Hills and the Old City. Fight the enemy. I would like to ask your opinion. Are you willing to serve as the commander of a combat group?"
Putting several divisions or brigades under your command may sound like you have been promoted and your rights will be greater, but your responsibilities will also increase exponentially. Now there is only one division of troops, and there is not much problem in dealing with the enemy on Mamayev Hill and the Old City. But once the number of troops stationed in this area increases, it will definitely attract the attention of the Germans, and then I will be Will become the target of public criticism.
It was out of this consideration that after hesitating for a moment, Sokov shook his head and said to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, thank you for your kindness. I think it is inappropriate to establish a combat group under the circumstances in front of us."
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Set a small goal first, such as remembering in 1 second: Shukeju
