After Guchakov withdrew his troops, the chief of staff came out of the headquarters and reported to Koida: "Comrade division commander, Major General Malankin, commander of the Guards Division, wants to speak to you."
"Major General Malanjin?" Koida didn't know that the 81st Guards Division was now under the command of the 27th Army. When he heard what the Chief of Staff said, he asked casually: "Where did the call come from? "
"The second line of defense is right behind us." The chief of staff pointed to the second-line position in the distance with his hand and said to Koida: "Now the remaining troops of the 81st Guards Division are deployed there."
Koida walked into the headquarters, picked up the microphone on the table, put it to his ear and said, "Hello, are you Commander Malankin? I am Colonel Koida."
"Yes, I am Malanjin." Malanjin's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Colonel, I didn't expect that not long ago, our two divisions would have to fight side by side again."
Because the two division commanders had jointly resisted the attacks of the 6th and 19th Armored Divisions, and today they launched an attack against the 3rd Armored Division at the same time, they could be regarded as comrades in the same trench.
Hearing what Malanjin said, Koida also laughed: "Comrade General, I was originally worried that it would be very difficult to block the German attack with just the strength we have. But now we have you as our backing , I feel much more at ease.”
"Colonel Koida," although Malanjin saw a new round of German attacks that were repelled by the Soviet air force, he still felt that he needed to remind Koida that the enemy was still very powerful. Don't let this happen. Underestimating the enemy: "According to the intelligence we have, the German troops attacking us are the Grossdeutschland Division, known as the elite of the Wehrmacht. Their equipment is well-equipped and their soldiers are well-trained. Facing their attack, you must not take it lightly, right?" .”
"Comrade General," Koida was very grateful for Malanjin's kind reminder. After waiting for the other party to finish speaking, he immediately added: "Don't worry, even if there are only a few German soldiers on the opposite side of us, we will not I will take it lightly and do everything possible to stop them.”
Seeing that Koida did not become elated because of a series of victories, Malanjin's heart hanging in his throat returned to his stomach. Before he put down the phone, he warned the other party: "Colonel Koida, if you need anything, please call us and we will do our best to support you."
"Thank you, Comrade General. I will call you if necessary."
When Koida put down the phone, the chief of staff came over and said to him: "Comrade division commander, I think it is very inappropriate to locate the division headquarters here. A single round of enemy artillery fire is enough to destroy our command system. We We don’t have many troops to begin with. If we lose the unified command again, I’m afraid there will be no way to stop the enemy’s attack.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff?" Political Commissar Mashkov heard what the Chief of Staff said, so he interrupted and asked: "Then where do you think we should locate the headquarters?"
"I think the division headquarters can be located on the second line of defense?" the chief of staff said hesitantly: "The artillery preparations before the enemy attacks? The targets to be bombarded are all the first line of defense. The second line of defense is less threatened. We can better direct our troops there."
Koida asked expressionlessly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what if we set up the headquarters on the second line of defense? How should we command the troops once the phone line is blown down by artillery fire?"
"Don't we still have walkie-talkies?" the chief of staff said plausibly: "Even if the phone line is blown down, we can still keep in touch with here."
"What if the antenna set up outside was also blown up by enemy artillery fire?" Koida continued to ask: "Then how do we understand the situation at the front and pass on the latest orders?"
"This, this..." The chief of staff heard what Koida said. He didn't know how to answer for a moment.
"Comrade Division Commander," Political Commissar Mashkov carefully thought about the Chief of Staff's proposal and felt that what he said was quite reasonable. He had just seen the situation on the position. Such crude fortifications were difficult to carry. Once the division headquarters is destroyed, the troops holding on to the position will become scattered because of the loss of unified command. "I think what Comrade Chief of Staff said makes sense. You might as well consider his opinion."
"No," Koida said resolutely, "Comrade Political Commissar, I understand that you and the Chief of Staff have good intentions and feel that the headquarters should be set up in a safe place so that we can better command the troops. But. Have you ever thought about what the soldiers would think if they saw us moving the headquarters to a relatively safe place in the rear? Will it have a negative impact on the morale of the troops? "
Koida's words stopped Mashkov. He scratched the back of his head and said with a wry smile: "This is a troublesome problem. If we stay here, our headquarters will be in danger of being destroyed by the enemy; but if Move the command headquarters to a safe area, and worry about affecting the morale of the soldiers."
"Otherwise, let's divide the command post into two parts." The chief of staff suggested: "I will continue to stay here to command, and the division commander and political commissar will take one part to a safe area behind to re-establish a backup command post."
"No," Koida once again rejected the chief of staff's proposal and said loudly: "I am the commander of the first division. If you want to stay, it should be mine. The chief of staff and political commissar go to the back to establish a backup headquarters."
"Division Commander, you and the political commissar should go to the backup headquarters. I will take command here."
"No, I have the final say on all matters of the 188th Division." Koida said resolutely: "If the headquarters wants to be split, you and the political commissar will go to the rear, and I will stay alone to command..."
Just as the two sides were arguing, the phone on the table rang. The chief of staff picked up the phone and listened for a moment, then handed it to Koida: "Comrade division commander, this is the call from the commander."
Knowing that the call was from Sokov, Koida quickly tidied up his military appearance, then walked over and took the call, nodded, and said to his ear: "Hello, comrade commander, I am Colonel Koida. Do you have any instructions?”
"Colonel Koida, have all your troops arrived at their designated positions?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, our division has all arrived at the designated position."
After Sokov waited for Koida to finish speaking, he nodded slightly, and then continued: "I think there are not many troops left in your division now, right?"
"Including the wounded, there are more than two thousand people."
"There are only more than 2,000 people. The number is a bit small. You must know that the enemy opposite you is the elite of the German Wehrmacht. You are under great pressure."
Although Koida desperately hoped that Sokov would send reinforcements to him in his heart, he still said bravely: "Comrade Commander, please rest assured that as long as there is one soldier alive in the 188th Division, We will never let the Germans pass through our positions."
"Are you having any difficulties?"
Sokov's words were heard by Mashkov and the chief of staff who were standing next to Koida. The two of them winked at Koida desperately, signaling him to ask Sokov for reinforcements.
Seeing the expectant looks in their eyes, Koida hesitated for a moment, and finally said decisively: "Reporting to Comrade Commander, we have no difficulties. Even if there are difficulties, we will find ways to overcome them."
"Comrade Colonel, please stop insisting. Even if you don't tell me, I have some understanding of the situation of your division." Sokov said with emotion on the other end of the phone: "Your division has participated in so many battles. , not only the troops are seriously attrited, but also the ammunition should be insufficient. But even so, you are still unwilling to complain to me, which is really good."
After Sokov praised Koida, he paused for a moment, and then continued: "I said, you will not fight alone. The main force of the group army is now rushing to your area. I believe that at dawn tomorrow Before that, a large number of troops can rush to your defense area."
Hearing that a large number of troops will arrive in his defense area before dawn tomorrow, Koida couldn't help but smile. He quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, can you tell me which troops will be coming?"
"You'll know when the time comes." Although his troops were rushing to the fighting area, Sokov didn't know which troop would arrive first, so when faced with Koida's inquiry, he could only speak vaguely. Said: "There are a lot of people anyway."
"What if the antenna set up outside was also blown up by enemy artillery fire?" Koida continued to ask: "Then how do we understand the situation at the front and convey the latest orders?"
"This, this..." The chief of staff heard what Koida said, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer.
"Comrade Division Commander," Political Commissar Mashkov carefully thought about the Chief of Staff's proposal and felt that what he said was quite reasonable. He had just seen the situation on the position. It was difficult to carry such crude fortifications. Once the division headquarters is destroyed, the troops holding on to the position will become scattered because of the loss of unified command. "I think what Comrade Chief of Staff said makes sense. You might as well consider his opinion."
"No," Koida said resolutely, "Comrade Political Commissar, I understand that you and the Chief of Staff have good intentions and feel that the headquarters should be set up in a safe place so that we can better command the troops. But. Have you ever thought about what the soldiers would think if they saw us moving the headquarters to a relatively safe place in the rear? Will it have a negative impact on the morale of the troops? "
Koida's words stopped Mashkov. He scratched the back of his head and said with a wry smile: "This is a troublesome problem. If we stay here, our headquarters will be in danger of being destroyed by the enemy; but if Move the command headquarters to a safe area, and worry about affecting the morale of the soldiers."
"Otherwise, let's divide the command post into two parts." The chief of staff suggested: "I will continue to stay here to command, and the division commander and political commissar will take one part to a safe area behind to re-establish a backup command post."
"No," Koida once again rejected the chief of staff's proposal and said loudly: "I am the commander of the first division. If you want to stay, it should be mine. The chief of staff and political commissar go to the back to establish a backup headquarters."
"Division Commander, you and the political commissar should go to the backup headquarters. I will take command here."
"No, I have the final say on all matters of the 188th Division." Koida said resolutely: "If the headquarters wants to be split, you and the political commissar will go to the rear, and I will stay alone to command..."
Just as the two sides were arguing, the phone on the table rang. The chief of staff picked up the phone and listened for a moment, then handed it to Koida: "Comrade division commander, this is the call from the commander."
Knowing that the call was from Sokov, Koida quickly tidied up his military appearance, then walked over and took the call, nodded, and said to his ear: "Hello, comrade commander, I am Colonel Koida. Do you have any instructions?”
"Colonel Koida, have all your troops arrived at their designated positions?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, our division has all arrived at the designated position."
After Sokov waited for Koida to finish speaking, he nodded slightly, and then continued: "I think there are not many troops left in your division now, right?"
"Including the wounded, there are more than two thousand people."
"There are only more than 2,000 people. The number is a bit small. You must know that the enemy opposite you is the elite of the German Wehrmacht. You are under great pressure."
Although Koida desperately hoped that Sokov would send reinforcements to him in his heart, he still said bravely: "Comrade Commander, please rest assured that as long as there is one soldier alive in the 188th Division, We will never let the Germans pass through our positions."
"Are you having any difficulties?"
Sokov's words were heard by Mashkov and the chief of staff who were standing next to Koida. The two of them winked at Koida desperately, signaling him to ask Sokov for reinforcements.
Seeing the expectant looks in their eyes, Koida hesitated for a moment, and finally said decisively: "Reporting to Comrade Commander, we have no difficulties. Even if there are difficulties, we will find ways to overcome them."
"Comrade Colonel, please stop insisting. Even if you don't tell me, I have some understanding of the situation of your division." Sokov said with emotion on the other end of the phone: "Your division has participated in so many battles. , not only the troops are seriously attrited, but also the ammunition should be insufficient. But even so, you still don't want to complain to me, it's really good of you."
After Sokov praised Koida, he paused for a moment, and then continued: "I said, you will not fight alone. The main force of the group army is now rushing to your area. I believe that at dawn tomorrow Before that, a large number of troops can rush to your defense area."
Hearing that a large number of troops will arrive in his defense area before dawn tomorrow, Koida couldn't help but smile. He quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, can you tell me which troops will be coming?"
"You'll know when the time comes." Although his troops were rushing to the fighting area, Sokov didn't know which troop would arrive first, so when faced with Koida's inquiry, he could only speak vaguely. Said: "There are a lot of people anyway."
