Chapter 1794 Revisiting Old Memories

The man in front of him looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before

But no matter how hard Malashenko thought, he just couldn't remember it. It must be that too much time had passed and he forgot where he had seen him before. Read М

In contrast, the division commander with a big beard like Stalin laughed at Malashenko's doubtful expression.

"It seems that Comrade General has forgotten me. We fought side by side in Stalingrad. Have you forgotten?"

Stalingrad?

Malashenko's memory was brought back to 1942 and 1943 in an instant. The cruel and hellish Battle of Stalingrad made Malashenko still remember it vividly. It was a purgatory-like battle that reached the extreme of both physical and mental torture.

The dead were just as common as air in the city of Stalingrad.

It was not uncommon to use corpses to build bunkers and fill the gaps in sandbags. The streets were full of corpses and blood, day after day. There were so many bodies that the corpse collection team couldn't collect them all. When the war was at its most intense, no one cared about the bodies. The bodies that had been dead for many days were left on the streets for many days and rotted and smelled.

It's not that they did it on purpose, but under the premise that the living were still in danger, it really didn't matter what happened to the dead.

Even now when recalling this memory, Malashenko could still smell the rotten stench and strong smell of blood of the rotten bodies.

For those who have personally experienced this cruel bloody battle, this is an experience that is absolutely unbearable to look back on. But from another perspective, it exists in parallel with glory and brilliance, and must not be forgotten, otherwise it would be a betrayal of those who died heroically.

Malashenko, who recalled too many things in his mind, took a deep breath. When he was about to say something, the bearded division commander who did not intend to hand over the right to speak to Malashenko spoke first.

"Mamayev Kurgan, Chuikov's army, have you forgotten? At that time, you were assigned to take charge of the attack on Mamayev Kurgan. Our division had just crossed the river and had not yet assembled. I stood on the commanding heights of the port and watched your tanks charge with a telescope. I will never forget that scene. Your heavy tanks were chased around the hills like rabbits."

"Oh, by the way, I was still a regimental commander at that time. I was promoted to division commander this year. At that time, our division was ordered to take over the defense of Mamayev Kurgan. At that time, Mamayev Kurgan had already been You have already taken it down. You were transferred to other directions in the city to fight, and we went to take over the position. I 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 saluted me back. Do you remember it? "

""

The bearded division commander described it all vividly and emotionally. Malashenko was sure that this would never be a lie.

But our old comrade Ma really forgot about it. To be honest, he didn't lie. He really couldn't remember that there was a person in front of him who saluted and greeted him.

Although the fact is like this, Malashenko must not speak out this matter so straightforwardly, otherwise it would be too embarrassing, right? People are so enthusiastic, but you forget it. If you really say this, it will inevitably hurt feelings.

"I think I remember it now. I will never forget the battle of charging Mamayev Kurgan. We were the only organized heavy tank unit in Stalingrad at that time. I forgot how much pressure I was under at that time. It was as if the whole city and all the comrades in the city pinned their hopes on me. Fortunately, we completed the task in the end."

Malachenko's words also evoked the memories of the bearded division commander. The memory of continuous artillery fire and blood will never be forgotten as long as you have experienced it personally.

"Who said it wasn't? When I went to the division headquarters for a meeting, the commanders below didn't have much confidence. The situation in Stalingrad was so bad that everyone thought the city would become the second Kiev."

"At that time, our division commander told us that Comrade Malashenko, the most elite heavy tank unit of the Red Army and the tank hero of the motherland, was leading his troops to charge Mamayev Kurgan. As long as Comrade Malashenko's troops were charging, victory would soon belong to us. Everyone should cheer and encourage, maintain morale, and be ready to support Comrade Malashenko at any time. Mamayev Kurgan must not fall into the hands of the Germans."

"To be honest, the effect of this statement was somewhat average at the time. I was probably the only one who raised his fist at the division headquarters meeting The leader stood up and shouted a few slogans. But everyone's view of you was very different afterwards, especially after you captured that old bastard Paulus alive and humiliated him severely. It was so satisfying! "

"Ha, I cut out all the photos published in the newspapers at that time and put them in my notebook. I would take them out and look at them when I was in a bad mood. What a shitty German marshal? That's all. You really did something that everyone wanted to do but couldn't do. It's really amazing. This is a hundred times better than those useless slogans. A photo can boost the morale of the whole army!" The bearded division commander was obviously a person who couldn't hold back his words. Once the chatterbox of memories was opened, he couldn't stop talking a lot.

However, Malashenko did not find this disgusting. It was definitely a good thing to reminisce with an old comrade who had fought side by side. The comrades who survived Stalingrad together are now scattered all over the world. Even if they are still alive and fighting on the front line, they are not in the same theater and it is difficult to meet. The opportunity to reminisce like now is indeed very precious.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I haven't introduced myself yet."

The bearded division commander, who was in high spirits, 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. My unit has been ordered to assist you in the next offensive. The superiors asked me to follow your command, so please give the order and lead us to victory."

Gornakov, this is indeed a name that he was not familiar with, but now he really knows it. The two big hands that stretched out to each other were tightly clasped together.

"This is inevitable. Victory is just around the corner. This war will drive the Germans out of our country in one fell swoop! Then, it will be the turn of these fascists to fight on their own land. We must let them have a good taste of what it's like to have our country ravaged by war. The pain we've endured must be repaid double."