The person in front of me looks very familiar, as if I have seen it somewhere...
However, no matter how much Malashenko thought about it, he just couldn't remember it. It must have been that too much time had passed and he forgot where he had seen it.
On the contrary, looking at the confused expression on Malashenko's face, the division commander with a Stalin-style beard laughed, quite simply.
"It seems Comrade General has forgotten me. We fought side by side in Stalingrad. Have you forgotten?"
Stalingrad?
Malashenko's memory was brought back to 1942 to 1943 in an instant. The cruel and hellish battle of Stalingrad is still fresh in Malashenko's memory. It was a battle that was both physically and mentally demanding.
An extremely torturous, purgatory-like battle.
Dead people were as common as air in the city of Stalingrad.
It is not uncommon to use corpses to build bunkers and fill the vacancies in sandbags. Mountains of corpses and seas of blood can be seen everywhere on the streets, day after day. There are so many corpses that even the corpse collection team cannot collect them. When the war is at its most anxious, there is no one at all.
Pay no attention to the corpses, let the corpses that have been dead for many days lie in the streets for many days, rotten and smelly, and ignore them.
It’s not that it’s intentional, but it’s that under the premise that the living are still in danger, what happens to the dead really no longer matters.
Even now when he recalls this memory, Malashenko can still smell the putrid stench and strong smell of blood filled with rotting corpses.
For those who have personally experienced this cruel and bloody battle, this is an experience that is absolutely unbearable to look back on. But from another perspective, it exists side by side with glory and glory. It must not be forgotten, otherwise it will be a tribute to those brave men.
The betrayal of the sacrificial man.
Malashenko, who recalled too many things in his mind, took a deep breath and was about to say something. The bearded commander who was not about to transfer the right to speak to Malashenko spoke first.
.
"Have you forgotten about Mamayev Hill and Chuikov's Army Group? At that time, you were transferred to the task of attacking Mamayev Hill. Our division had just crossed the river and before it was assembled, I was standing on the commanding heights of the port.
I watched your tanks charge through binoculars. I will never forget that scene. Germans, your heavy tanks were driven like rabbits and ran all over the hills."
"Oh, by the way, I was still a regiment commander at that time, and the division commander was promoted just this year. At that time, our division was ordered to take over the defense of Mamayev Hill. By that time, Mamayev Hill had been captured by you.
We were transferred to other directions in the city to fight, and we went to take over the position. I also saw you at that time. You were standing on the turret commanding the troops to go down the mountain. I stood on the roadside and saluted you, and you returned the favor. I remembered
Yet?"
"..."
The bearded teacher described all this vividly and emotionally. Malashenko was sure that this was definitely not a lie.
But... we, Comrade Ma, have indeed forgotten about this matter. I don’t want to lie when I have something to say, and I really can’t remember that the person in front of me saluted and said hello to me.
Although this is the case, Malashenko must not tell the matter so openly, otherwise it would be too embarrassing, wouldn't it? People are so enthusiastic, but in the end you forget about this.
If you really say it out loud, it will inevitably hurt your feelings.
"I think I have probably remembered it. I will never forget the charge to Mamayev Heights in my life. At that time, we were the only organized heavy tank unit in Stalingrad. I even forgot that I
How much pressure was I under at that time? It was as if the entire city and all the comrades in the city were pinning their hopes on me. Fortunately, we completed the task in the end."
Malashenko's words also brought back the memories of the bearded division commander. The memories of heavy artillery fire and blood will never be forgotten by those who have experienced it personally.
"Who says it's not the case? I went to the division headquarters for a meeting at that time, and the commanders below were not very confident. The situation in Stalingrad was really bad. Everyone thought this city would become Kiev's second."
“At that time, our division commander told us that Comrade Malashenko, the most elite heavy tank unit in the entire Red Army and the tank hero of the motherland, was leading his troops to charge towards Mamayev Hill. As long as Comrade Malashenko’s troops
We are charging, then victory will soon belong to us. Everyone must cheer up, maintain morale, and be ready to support Comrade Malashenko at any time. We must not let Mamayev Heights fall into the hands of the Germans."
"To be honest, the effect of these words was somewhat mediocre at the time. I was probably the only one who raised my fists high and shouted a few slogans at the division meeting. But after that, everyone's view of you was very different, especially in Paul.
After you captured that old bastard Si alive and humiliated him so severely, I feel so relieved!"
"Ha, I cut out all the photos published in the newspaper at that time and put them in my notebook. When I was in a bad mood, I would take them out and look at them. What kind of bullshit is the German Marshal? But that's it. You really did what everyone wanted to do but couldn't.
The thing is done, it’s amazing, it’s a hundred times better than those useless empty slogans, a photo can boost the morale of the whole army!”
The bearded teacher is obviously a person who can't hold back his words. Once the chat box of memories is opened, he can't stop talking a lot.
However, Malashenko does not think this is disgusting. It is definitely a good thing to have an old comrade who once fought side by side to catch up with the past. The comrades who survived Stalingrad together are now far apart. Even if they are still alive and continue to fight on the front line,
They are not in the same war zone, so it is difficult to touch them. Opportunities like this to reminisce about the past are indeed very valuable.
"Oh, I almost forgot, I haven't introduced myself yet."
The bearded teacher, who was excited when talking about it, slapped his forehead suddenly, remembering what he had forgotten, and immediately introduced himself to Malashenko.
"Colonel Ilyich Gornakov, commander of the 211th Infantry Division, reports to you, Comrade General. Our department has been ordered to assist you in the next offensive. The superiors have asked me to obey your command, so please give the order and lead us to victory.
.”
Gornakov, this is indeed a name that he is not familiar with, but now he can be regarded as a real acquaintance. The two big hands that stretched out towards each other immediately held each other tightly.
"This is inevitable. We are already very close to victory. This battle will completely drive the Germans out of our motherland! Then, it will be the turn of these fascists to fight on their own land. It will definitely
To let them taste the taste of the motherland being ravaged by war, the pain we have endured must be doubled."