Taking advantage of the air force's opportunity to attack the German ground forces, Koida led his troops into the position.
As soon as he entered the position, he grabbed a busy soldier, leaned close to his ear, and asked loudly: "Where is your battalion commander?"
The soldier saw clearly that the person standing in front of him was actually the division commander. He quickly straightened his back and prepared to raise his hand to salute him, but Koida stopped him: "Don't salute on the battlefield!"
"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." The soldier quickly put down the hand that was about to be raised to his forehead and said to Koida: "Comrade Division Commander, the enemy's shelling has smashed our position into pieces, and the shelter where the battalion headquarters is located has been under fire. Destroyed, I will take you to the location of the battalion commander."
Koida and political commissar Mashkov, along with several guards, followed the soldier and walked forward along the trench filled with floating soil. When the soldiers along the way saw Koida and Mashkov, they quickly stood up straight and leaned against the trench wall to pay attention to the two men.
"Comrade soldier," Mashkov chatted with the soldier leading the way with great interest: "What is your name and where are you from?"
"My name is Lenek, I'm from Kiev." The soldier replied expressionlessly.
"Oh, it turns out you are from Kiev." Mashkov then asked: "When did you join our army?"
"I escaped from Kiev in January 1942 and walked on the road for more than two months before arriving in Moscow." Lenek said through gritted teeth: "After arriving in Moscow, I first entered a factory. I joined the militia there, but I never had the chance to fight the Germans. In March this year, the base camp formed a grassland front army, and when they came to the factory to recruit soldiers, I signed up immediately."
"What about your family? Have they all escaped?"
"No. They are all dead." Lenek's eyes were red, and he gritted his teeth and said, "The Germans killed them all." At this point, he stopped and turned to Koida. , "Comrade division commander, the battalion headquarters is here!"
Koida stretched out his hand to Lenek, shook his hand, and said with a smile: "Thank you, comrade soldier."
Guchakov happened to come out of the dilapidated command post and saw Koida and Mashkov at the door. He quickly straightened up and reported to the two colonels: "Division Commander, Comrade Political Commissar, the 562nd Regiment is one The battalion commander, Lieutenant Guchakov, reports to you that our battalion is repairing the fortifications, please give instructions!"
"Well done, Captain Guchakov." Koida held Guchakov's hand again and said with a smile on his face: "Well done to your battalion, it actually blocked two fierce attacks by the German army."
For Koida's praise, Guchakov felt that he deserved it. The first time was when Yegor used rocket launchers to destroy many German tanks. With the help of the tanks used as fixed forts behind the position, the victory was finally achieved. The enemy's attack was barely repelled; but for the second time, the German army was attacked by the Soviet air force before they even got close to the position, and was beaten to a pulp.
Therefore, Guchakov said modestly: "Comrade division commander, you are too kind. Our battalion did not really fight against the Germans..."
"Comrade Captain," Mashkov interrupted Guchakov before he could finish his words: "Your battalion has performed its duties very well and resolutely blocked the path of the Germans here. The arrival of the troops bought valuable time, and for this reason alone, your battalion should receive a commendation."
"How many people are left in your battalion?" Koida asked.
"There are still 87 people left in the entire battalion."
"87 people." When he heard this number, Koida's heart seemed to be tugged hard by someone, and he felt severe pain. He thought to himself: "If the superiors did not send the air force to support, just relying on Gucha Can the small number of troops under Kokov stop the German attack?"
"Comrade Captain," Koida continued after a brief silence: "Your battalion has successfully completed the mission assigned to you by your superiors. The next defensive mission will be left to other troops to complete. Your battalion will first Retreat to the back to rest.”
Now that Koida had given the order, Guchakov did not refute. Instead, he agreed loudly, called over Lenek, who was leading the way, and told him: "Leneck, you go and notify the first company commander and the third company immediately. Company commander, order them to assemble their troops and prepare to withdraw and rest.”
Looking at Lenek's leaving figure, Mashkov curiously asked Guchakov: "Comrade Captain, do you know this soldier?"
"Yes, Comrade Political Commissar." Guchakov answered simply: "I know all the commanders and fighters in the battalion."
"I think this person's name is..." Although Lenek had just told Mashkov his name, he had forgotten Lenek's name at this moment.
"My name is Lenek, he's from Kiev." Guchakov said unambiguously: "In March this year, he will join our army as a militiaman in the factory."
After listening to Guchakov's words, Mashkov asked with some surprise: "Comrade Captain, do you think you can remember the resumes of the soldiers so clearly?"
"Comrade Political Commissar," Guchakov grinned and replied: "The whole battalion at full strength is more than 600 people. When I have nothing to do, I like to go to the squad below and chat with the soldiers. Understand their family situation. Comrade Commander once said that a qualified commander must be in harmony with his subordinates, so that he can be comfortable commanding troops on the battlefield."
"Yes, Comrade Commander said this." Koida waited for Guchakov to finish, then nodded and said to Mashkov: "I have heard it too. Only commanders and soldiers are mutually exclusive. Only by being familiar with each other can we have better cooperation on the battlefield."
Mashkov asked Guchakov: "Comrade Captain, I just heard Lenek say that his family members are all dead. Do you know what's going on?"
"Know!"
"Know?!" Guchakov's answer surprised Mashkov: "Can you tell me?"
"This, this..." Guchakov saw the communication company soldiers brought by Koida pulling telephone lines and setting up antennas in the command post, and said with some embarrassment: "It won't affect the work of the communication company, right? "
"No." The person who spoke this time was Koida: "It takes time to set up communication antennas and connect phone lines. It also takes time to assemble your troops. Take this opportunity to tell us about this person." Let’s call it Soldier Lenek’s situation. To tell you the truth, I’m also very curious.”
"Lennek is a piano teacher, teaching piano in schools." Seeing that both Koida and Mashkov wanted to know about Lenek, Guchakov stopped being pretentious and began to tell them Get Up: "Shortly after the war broke out, the enemy launched an attack on Kiev. At the beginning, everyone thought that our army could completely crush the enemy's attack. However, in September, they discovered that our army not only showed no signs of repelling the enemy , but there is a possibility of being annihilated.
Under such circumstances, people with connections in Kiev began to think of ways to leave this city that would fall sooner or later, and the Lenek family was no exception. The families pooled together a large sum of money and contacted a truck to leave Kiev. The driver promised them that he could deliver them safely to Moscow.
When the truck braved German artillery fire, it left Kiev and drove on the road to Moscow. Everyone in the car thought they had been rescued and would reach Moscow smoothly in a few hours.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, intensive gunfire rang out from the front. Lenek's father and driver were killed on the spot in the driver's cab. Then machine guns fired into the car, killing Lenek's mother and sister. and the neighbor's family were all beaten to death.
Seeing his relatives who died around him, Lenek realized that although they had left Kiev, they were not out of danger yet. The Germans had cut off the road from Kiev to Moscow. In order not to be shot to death randomly, Lenek took the risk and jumped out of the truck, and then fled back to Kiev under the cover of night.
Shortly after the Germans occupied Kiev, they carried out a purge of the Jews in Kiev. They posted notices in the city, asking local Jews to gather at the intersection of Melnikov Street and Deggarevskaya Street on September 29, 1941, so that the German army could implement the "relocation plan." The next day, tens of thousands of people gathered at designated locations. They were asked to walk from Melnikov Street to the Babi Yar Gorge on the outskirts of Kiev, guarded by German troops.
When approaching the canyon, all men, women and children were asked to take off their clothes, fold them and place their valuables in categories. Then, they were divided into several teams to enter the canyon. The Germans massacred them with machine guns. "
Hearing this, Mashkov couldn't help but interrupt and asked: "Comrade Captain, so Lenek is a Jew? How did he escape from danger?"
"Yes, Lenek is a Jew." Guchakov nodded and continued: "When he went to the designated place, he happened to meet a teacher from the school. The teacher knew some German and learned from the teacher who lived at home. When the Germans learned the real purpose of the gathering, they stopped him and hid him in the attic of their house at their own risk.
Lenek hid in the attic and watched the endless queue of Jews, escorted by the Germans, passing hour after hour. In the crowd he saw his relatives, friends and neighbors. He knew that these people would be taken to the Babi Yar Gorge and shot, but he was powerless and could only watch as they walked toward death step by step.
Over the next few months, his days seemed like years. Since there were Germans living in his friend's house, he did not dare to leave the attic for even half a step, lest he expose himself and injure his well-meaning friends. It wasn't until January 1942 that the Germans living at a friend's house were transferred in other directions. He had the chance to escape from Kiev and walked with difficulty for several months before finally arriving in Moscow. "
After listening to Lenek's tragic past, Mashkov continued to ask: "Comrade Captain, how is his performance in the army?"
"He performed very bravely on the battlefield." After Guchakov said this, he realized that he was using general formulas to evaluate his subordinates, and quickly added: "According to my statistics, the number of people who participated in the battle from our division Since then, he has destroyed two German tanks, one armored car and eight trucks, and killed 21 German officers and soldiers."
"Oh, he actually achieved so many results?" Mashkov was a little surprised when he heard this and asked: "Why don't you see his name in the results reported by your battalion?"
"Comrade Political Commissar, it's not that I don't want to report his results." Guchakov said with some embarrassment: "It's that he didn't let me."
"What, he won't let you report your results?" As a nation that is keen on honors, some people actually don't want to get the honors they deserve. This makes Mashkov extremely puzzled: "Comrade Captain, have you asked Pass him, what’s going on?”
"He said that he was avenging his relatives, friends and neighbors." Guchakov said: "He said that the Germans owed him 159 lives. After he killed the same number of Germans, he would pay for his death. After his relatives and friends take revenge, let me report the results he achieved."
After figuring out the ins and outs, Mashkov pondered for a moment, and then said to Koida: "Comrade Commander, this is an amazing hero. We must not let him remain unknown like this."
Over the next few months, his days seemed like years. Since there were Germans living in his friend's house, he did not dare to leave the attic for even half a step, lest he expose himself and injure his well-meaning friends. It wasn't until January 1942 that the Germans living at a friend's house were transferred in other directions. He had the chance to escape from Kiev and walked with difficulty for several months before finally arriving in Moscow. "
After listening to Lenek's tragic past, Mashkov continued to ask: "Comrade Captain, how is his performance in the army?"
"He performed very bravely on the battlefield." After Guchakov said this, he realized that he was using general formulas to evaluate his subordinates, and quickly added: "According to my statistics, the number of people who participated in the battle from our division Since then, he has destroyed two German tanks, one armored car and eight trucks, and killed 21 German officers and soldiers."
"Oh, he actually achieved so many results?" Mashkov was a little surprised when he heard this and asked: "Why don't you see his name in the results reported by your battalion?"
"Comrade Political Commissar, it's not that I don't want to report his victory results." Guchakov said with some embarrassment: "It's that he didn't let me."
"What, he won't let you report your results?" As a nation that is keen on honors, some people actually don't want to get the honors they deserve. This makes Mashkov extremely puzzled: "Comrade Captain, have you asked Pass him, what’s going on?”
"He said that he was avenging his relatives, friends and neighbors." Guchakov said: "He said that the Germans owed him 159 lives. After he killed the same number of Germans, he would pay for the death of those who died." After his relatives and friends take revenge, let me report the results he achieved."
After figuring out the ins and outs, Mashkov pondered for a moment, and then said to Koida: "Comrade Commander, this is an amazing hero. We must not let him remain unknown like this."
