CHAPTER 3. THE BEAST'S Lair
July 13, 1942
East Prussia.
Hitler's headquarters "Wolfsschanze".
The huge gray walls of dozens of bunkers and other fortified buildings, lost in the rugged dense forests among the Mazurian lakes and swamps, made a simultaneously majestic and depressing impression. Here, not far from Rastenburg, on a total area of over 250 hectares, the Führer's main headquarters was located, which he called his "Wolf's Lair" ("Wolfsschanze"). The bunkers of the headquarters were surrounded by several solid rings of barbed wire obstacles, minefields, hundreds of observation towers, machine-gun and anti-aircraft positions. Camouflage nets and tree models reliably hid these structures from air detection, and the strict access control to the area of its location from unwanted ground visitors.
The bunkers of the "Wolf's Lair" reached a height of 20 meters (excluding their underground part)
In case of urgent travel, Hitler always had an airplane and his personal train at the nearby airport and railway station. Here, for the convenience of managing military operations, the headquarters of the High Command of the Ground Forces was located. Proving their loyalty and every minute willingness to follow the instructions of the Fuehrer, many high-ranking officials of the Reich, including Reich Minister of the Interior Heinrich Himmler, located their headquarters on the territory of the headquarters. The Reich Minister of the Reich Ministry of Aviation Hermann Goering decided not to stop only at his residence, having also located the headquarters of the Air Force High Command here.
Hitler personally inspected the construction progress of his headquarters
Along the well-lit, but damp corridor of one of the headquarters bunkers, was the chief of staff of the High Command of the Wehrmacht Ground Forces, Colonel-General Franz Halder. His duties included, among other things, reporting to the Fuehrer on a daily basis on the situation at the fronts. The exceptions were the days when Hitler was away, or, for various reasons, refused to listen to Halder's report. Turning around the next corner, he walked to the entrance to Hitler's office. The SS officer on duty, stretched out in line in front of the chief of staff, clearly reported:
- Mr. Colonel-General, the Fuhrer is waiting for you.
Halder entered the office. At the head of the table, studying a document, was Hitler. He looked up from the piece of paper lying in front of him and, taking off his small glasses, looked at the newcomer.
- Well, what have you prepared for me today, Halder? He said, nodding in response to the chief of staff's greeting.
Walking over to the table and spreading out his large cards on it, Halder prepared for his report. Hitler got up from his chair and walked closer to him.
“My Fuhrer, our operation in the south is progressing non-stop,” he began. - While the enemy is still holding on to the Taganrog sector, his main forces were compressed as a result of concentric attacks by Kleist's tank army and the 6th Army from the west and north. 4th Panzer Army enters his rear. It has already reached Kamensk with advanced units (3rd Panzer Division) and is deploying here, together with the tank and motorized divisions of the second echelon that approached here during the operation. We are also conducting serious and successful tank battles northwest of Voronezh.
The scheme of hostilities in the zone of the South-Western Front, in the period from 1942-27-06. on 1942-13-07
- How long will these "heavy and successful tank battles" last? - Hitler interrupted his report angrily. - We forgave Bok for the catastrophe near Moscow, appointed the commander of the army group in the most important sector of the front for carrying out our decisive offensive in the south, in order to replenish his armies, we practically "stripped" the tank divisions of the army group "Center", removing from each of them a full tank battalion! - Angrily shaking his hands, shouted the Fuhrer. - We gave him the most modern modernized T-III and T-IV tanks, equipped with additional armor and long-barreled guns, which, even from long distances, now leave no chance for the Russian T-34 and KV! And what do I see in the end? Instead of surrounding the Russians with a blow along the Don, he got bogged down in battles near Voronezh, and the Russian divisions calmly leave through the Don and organize their defenses on its eastern bank !!! - Hitler hit the map with the edge of his palm several times, as if showing the new line of defense of the Russians. - I have already said more than once that I did not attach any importance to Voronezh and gave the army group the right to refuse to take it if it could lead to too large losses, and von Bock not only allowed Goth to stubbornly climb Voronezh, but also supported him in this ! And at the same time, our vaunted commander of an army group has the audacity to assert that his flank near Voronezh is attacked almost by a Russian tank army !!! Where did the Soviets get the tank army ?! My generals see thousands of Russian tanks everywhere, preventing them from completing their assigned tasks! (5)
(5) - Hitler was wrong. On July 6, 1942, a counterattack began only by the recently formed 5th Tank Army of the Red Army, under the command of Major General Alexander Ilyich Lizyukov. This was the first association of this class created in the Red Army. The blow was delivered from the Yelets area to Zemlyansk-Khokhol and fell on the northern flank of the troops of the 4th Panzer Army of Herman Goth, who had reached the approaches to Voronezh. The 5TA was introduced into battle in parts, as they arrived at the front line. Its main enemy was the German 9th Panzer Division, a veteran of the Eastern Front, advanced by the 4TA command in advance to defend its flank. The Germans skillfully defended themselves, inflicting heavy losses on individual units of the 5TA, and after the arrival of reinforcements in the person of the 11th Panzer Division, they went on the offensive, inflicting a major defeat on the troops of the 5TA. As a result, due to heavy losses and loss of combat capability, the 5TA was disbanded in mid-July, and its former commander A. I. Lizyukov died on July 23, 1942, in battle on his tank. However, despite the defeat of the 5TA, including thanks to its counterattack, the German offensive was deprived of the possibility of a quick change to the infantry of the tank formations that it needed so much, as a result, not having time to close their "pincers" behind the retreating divisions of the Southwestern Front.
- My Fuhrer, but the enemy really attacked with large forces our northern flank near Voronezh, the change of the 9th and 11th tank divisions was extremely difficult … - the colonel-general tried to object.
- Stop it, Halder! Hitler interrupted sharply. - Where is the 23rd Panzer Division, which was advancing from the west and was bound by the enemy, the 24th Panzer Division, "Great Germany"? Where, tell me, are the other two motorized divisions of 4th Panzer Army? Who, in spite of my demand, drove the 24th Panzer and Great Germany Division to Voronezh, thereby delaying their release? Von Bock, Sodenstern?
Hitler stared at the Colonel General. The chief of the German General Staff was silent. Now Hitler directly accuses the commander of Army Group South, von Bock, and his chief of staff, Georg von Sodenstern, of the failed release of the tank and motorized divisions. Only the fact that it was Halder who at one time, contrary to the headquarters of Army Group South, put into practice, instead of their unsuccessful proposal to shift the direction of the main attack before the enemy offensive, the plan of a prepared strike to the rear near Izyum can now save at least Sodenstern.
“My Fuehrer, the commander still makes decisions at the headquarters of the army group,” Halder said at last. “Zodenstern has shown himself well in planning our offensive, but now he simply obeys the orders given to him.
- OK then. Then urgently prepare an order for the dismissal of the commander of Army Group "South" Fedor von Bock, - Hitler ordered. - Then, give an order to reassign the 4th Panzer Army to Army Group "A", with the task of preventing the enemy from retreating with a blow from the rear. Army Group "B", moving to Stalingrad, should at the same time cover the rear and flank of Army Group "A" during its advance into the Caucasus.
- Yes, my Fuhrer.
- Okay, that's all with that. What do we have in the center and in the north?
- In the center, after the completion of Operation Seydlitz (6), we captured many prisoners. Only a few separate enemy groups managed to get out of the "cauldron". Army Group North has nothing significant - apparently, the Russians have not yet come to their senses after their defeat during the battle of Luban.
(6) - "Seydlitz" was the last operation of the Germans, which was aimed at eliminating the consequences of the penetration of Soviet troops after the counter-offensive near Moscow in the winter of 1941-1942. During this operation, the 9th German army, consisting of 10 infantry and 4 tank divisions, was able to encircle the grouping of Soviet troops - the 39th Army, 11th Cavalry Corps, separate units and formations of the 41st and 22nd armies, in the area of Kholm-Zhirkovsky. As a result of this battle, about 47 thousand people were captured by the Germans, the total irrecoverable losses of the Red Army troops amounted to more than 60 thousand people.
- "Boilers", that's good! - Hitler exclaimed, stamping his foot and slapping himself on the knee. - Now it's time to start preparing for our big offensive operation near Leningrad, in order to end this northern splinter once and for all!
“The headquarters have already begun to work out a plan for this operation, my Fuhrer,” Halder assured him.
- I believe that we need to strengthen the troops of Army Group North as much as possible for this offensive. - Hitler walked slowly to the far corner of the table, apparently pondering something. Then, turning sharply, he continued. - We will hand over our newest Tiger tanks at their disposal! Reich Minister of Armaments Speer received an order from me already this month to fully equip the first company of the new Tigers. Soon we will send them to Leningrad! You, Halder, must ensure that this company is properly trained.
- It will be done, my Fuhrer.
- And further. - Hitler took a few steps forward, again thought for a while and asked a new question. - Remind me what we have in plans for the further use of the 11th Army?
- She will be entrusted with the crossing of the Kerch Strait, my Fuhrer, - Halder showed on the map the intended direction of the attack of Manstein's 11th Army.
- Oh, yes, of course, - Hitler looked at the map, thinking about something again. Finally he turned to the Colonel General again. “Let's end with this, Halder. You are free for today.
The chief of the general staff left the Fuehrer's office. He did not really like these sudden questions from the Fuhrer about plans to use the 11th Army. Indeed, quite recently, at the beginning of July, when he flew with Hitler to a meeting at the headquarters of Army Group South, the question of the further use of Manstein's army in Kerch was agreed upon. Now, knowing Hitler's character, one could assume that he was planning to use the 11th Army somewhere else. This will obviously add to the trouble for all of us, Halder thought.
Camouflage nets hiding the communication routes at Hitler's headquarters.
Chapter 4. ORDER No. 227
05 August 1942
Volkhov front.
Special Department of the 327th Rifle Division of the 2nd Shock Army.
A young officer, about 25, slowly smoked a cigarette, casually shaking the ashes into an impromptu ashtray, which was a can of American stew. Three enamel rectangles flaunted on the buttonholes of his brand new form - along with a new appointment as an operative in a special department of the 327th Infantry Division, he had recently been awarded the title of captain of state security. After taking a few more puffs, he finally tore his eyes from the text of the report and looked at the obviously emaciated man in a faded old tunic without insignia sitting in front of him on a chair.
- Listen, Orlov, - tilting his head to one side and once again looking around the interrogated, the operative said to him. - Your story is certainly very entertaining, but absolutely implausible.
- I told and described in the report everything as it was. I have nothing more to add, - an employee of the special department heard in response to his remark.
The captain rose slowly from his chair, walked around the table and sat on the edge of it right in front of the person being interrogated.
- That is, you, Major Alexander Yuryevich Orlov, battalion commander, along with other units of the 2nd Shock Army were surrounded near Myasny Bor, as a result of which you were in German captivity. After that, according to your own words, you managed to escape from captivity with ten of your soldiers, walk several tens of kilometers through forests and swamps without food and water, cross the front line and safely return to the location of our troops in the sector of the 27th Army of the North Western Front?
- The fighters with whom I managed to escape from captivity, there were nine - with me ten, - raising his head and looking into the eyes of the special officer, Orlov answered. - Only me and three others managed to get to their own, the rest died. What did we eat? The same as under Myasny Bor, being surrounded by the roots of grasses and bark of trees … And of course, if we had not managed to capture the car of German supplies that accidentally lagged behind our column, where we found a map and food, we would not have gotten out to our own failed…
There was silence in the dugout for a while. The captain returned to his desk and, opening the tablet that lay on the table, took out a piece of paper with some text printed on it.
- Order No. 227 dated 07.28.42 (7). Read, - with these words he threw the sheet on the edge of the table.
Order No. 227 of July 28, 1942 became one of the most famous and significant documents of the war.
(7) - Order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR No. 227 of July 28, 1942, which received the unofficial name "Not a Step Back" in the troops, was a forced measure of the Soviet leadership. It was aimed at strengthening discipline in the units of the Red Army, which was greatly shaken after extremely unsuccessful hostilities in the spring and summer of 1942, especially in the south of the country. And although it was this order that led to the creation of barrage detachments, the appearance of penal companies and battalions, many commanders of the Red Army and the soldiers themselves, war veterans, assessed it as extremely necessary and even, in some cases, were forced to admit that the Soviet command had to create a similar document much earlier.
Orlov took the sheet and studied its contents carefully for several minutes. Then, returning the paper, he said:
- In this Order, we are talking, first of all, about the unauthorized withdrawal from the positions held. My battalion was retreating from its positions with a fight, following the order, - Orlov lowered his voice and looked away. - It is not our fault that we were unable to break through the encirclement of the Germans because of the difficult terrain, the physical exhaustion of the soldiers' forces, the strong barrage of enemy fire and the almost complete lack of ammunition by that time …
- Here's how! And cowardice and alarmism are not discussed in the Order ?! - shouted the captain of state security, banging his fist on the table. - The surrender to the enemy of a major of the Red Army is not a vivid example of such cowardice? The loss of the entire battalion by the commander, while being alive to the location of his units, does not deserve severe punishment? Where was your last patron that every Red Army commander should keep for himself?
“I sent a German to the next world with my last patron, when, as a result of a breakthrough, we ended up in their trenches, where we had to engage in close combat and hand-to-hand combat,” the major replied calmly and firmly. “As for the fact that I managed to survive … Remember, captain - the dead do not win. And we must survive and win! And even though there are only a handful of us left, we can still cling to the throat of this Nazi bastard!
The special officer was silent for a while. Then, taking out a new cigarette and lighting a cigarette, he again got up from the table and slowly walked around the room in a circle, apparently pondering something. Finally he stopped and asked the next question.
- What do you know about the fate of the army commander, General Vlasov?
“I don’t have any reliable information about him,” the major again looked away. - However, the German officer interrogating me in captivity, after my refusal to cooperate, stated as an example that on July 11, 1942, in the village of Tukhovezhi, he surrendered on his own and the commander of the 2nd shock army, General Vlasov, agreed to work for them.
After that, the captain was silent for a while, then, in spite of the major, he said dully:
- Orlov, even if the fact that you did not accept the offer of the Germans to work for them and really were able to escape from captivity and go out to your own people on your own, turns out to be true - and this still requires additional verification - all the same, the order is an order. I am sending your case to the military tribunal. Most likely, you will be demoted to the rank and file, deprivation of all orders and medals. For further service, you will be sent to a separate penal battalion formed at the front, where you will have to atone for your guilt before the Motherland with blood.
The last phrase of the state security officer sounded deliberately false. Orlov looked at him, sighed and smiled slightly.
- Captain, then at least let me say goodbye to my soldiers. And then I'll go to atone for my guilt.
The operative was almost taken aback by such familiarity. He turned sharply to the major, with an obvious desire to refuse him harshly. But, meeting his eyes with Orlov, he suddenly changed his mind.
- Do not leave the location of the unit. Come to me tomorrow, exactly at six o'clock in the morning. Have only the most necessary things with you. While you can be free, - finished the captain, turning his back to the major.
An hour later, Orlov approached the dugout, where he was placed with the soldiers who left the encirclement with him. He was noticed by Sergeant Malrusin, who was fixing a tree-earthen fence - the soldiers were building them in conditions located around peat bogs and swamps, instead of the usual trench.
- T-t-comrade Major, work on strengthening the x-passages of the messages z-z-finished. The personnel of the g-get ready for the rest, - he went out to meet the major, he reported. Since childhood, the sergeant stuttered a little, so sometimes even a short report took much longer than the allotted time.
“Okay, Andrei,” Orlov said, lightly patting him on the shoulder.
`` W-what t-there, in the Special Section? - Malrusin looked worriedly at the commander.
“Everything is fine, they are sent on a three-month rest to a good officer’s sanatorium,” Orlov replied with a grin. The sergeant, bewildered, not understanding whether the commander was joking or talking seriously, looked at the major - but instead of explaining, he slapped him on the shoulder again and pushed him slightly towards the entrance to the dugout. “Let's go to the others,” he said.
The air in the small dugout was damp. A pleasant pine scent rose from the floor, covered with pine branches. A number of earthen bunks were equipped along the wall of the room, on which, over a layer of hay, a raincoat-tent lay. In the center of the dugout stood a large table, hastily knocked down from boards and scraps of tree trunks. There was a log bench on one side of the table, and wooden boxes on the other side. On the table smoked a cartridge case from under a shell for a forty-five - in its dim light, Sergeant Major Ryabtsev, sitting at the table, darned his tunic. Private Kotsota, who sat down on the bench next to the foreman, was diligently drawing something out on a piece of paper with a small remainder of a pencil - apparently, he was writing a letter to his relatives. Noticing the major entered, the soldiers stood at attention.
“At ease, guys, at ease,” the major told them, going up to the table and taking the duffel bag off his shoulder. Having untied it, the major began to take out and spread the stew, bread, and sugar on the table. The last item removed from the duffel bag and placed on the table was a large jar of alcohol.
- Where from, Comrade Major? Kotsota asked in surprise.
- I have not yet had time to be removed from the officer's allowance - that's a little bit and trotted the quartermaster service, - Orlov answered. - Moreover, today we have a reason, - he paused and added, - we will say goodbye.
The soldiers, tearing their eyes away from the food lying on the table, silently looked at their commander. Not long ago, when, after so many weeks of fighting, captivity and torment, they went out to their own, it seemed to them that soon they would again go into battle under his command, finally break through to the Leningraders, avenge their dead friends and comrades. But now, looking at the sadness reflected in Orlov's eyes, they realized that everything would be completely different.
Malrusin decided to break the established silence.
- T-Comrade Major, r-allow t-t-then invite the guests, - the sergeant smiled mysteriously.
- What kind of guests? - turning to him and slyly squinting in response, asked the major. - Although, knowing you, I think I guess.
- Yes, there is a medical battalion not far, - said Malrusin almost without stammering and nodded his head, as if indicating the direction. - I went there to do the dressing, well, and p-p-met someone …
Smiles appeared on the faces of the soldiers and the commander.
“Well, okay, come on, take“someone”to visit us,” Orlov said, laughing. - Only quickly, one leg is here, the other is there. In the meantime, we will lay the table …
About half an hour later, having tried to set the table for receiving guests as accurately as possible during this time, the major and his subordinates were finishing the last preparations for their meeting.
- So how many of them will there be, together with us, Comrade Major? - Asked Orlov Kotsot, putting several mugs on the table. - At least he said, or something.
- Well, our Malrusin usually likes to get acquainted with two girls, - the foreman answered for the commander, slicing bread into large pieces and grinning. - What if suddenly it does not work out with one, try to spin a novel with the second. Increases the likelihood of hitting a target, so to speak …
“Okay, okay, everything seems to be ready,” Orlov said, glancing around at the prepared table. - You can take seats, as they say, according to the tickets purchased.
At that moment, footsteps were heard at the entrance. A few seconds later, two young nurses entered the dugout, one after the other. After them, obviously pleased with himself, Malrusin also entered.
“Here, s-Comrade Major, these are our guests,” he said.
The girls looked no more than 17-18 years old. Their slender figures looked so fragile that even the smallest tunics they wore looked too loose on them. One of the girls was a green-eyed brunette with long hair gathered from behind, the second had not very long light-blond curls hanging from under her cap, and her big gray eyes looked directly at Orlov. For a moment the major caught himself thinking that he had rarely seen such beautiful eyes before.
“We wish you good health, Comrade Major,” the brunette said in an embarrassed and quiet voice.
- Hello, girls, hello, - Orlov tried to give his voice as much simplicity as possible. - Come on in, do not hesitate. The fighters and I are very pleased that you agreed to accept our invitation.
The nurses walked closer to the table. As soon as the men helped them take the places prepared for them, Malrusin again appeared between the girls.
“So, h-get acquainted,” he continued cheerfully. - This beautiful brunette's name is Catherine, and this not less charming blonde is Anastasia.
- Actually, Andrey is a modest guy, but if he becomes talkative, especially with girls, then it is difficult to stop him. - looking at the sergeant, said Orlov. - Since you, Ekaterina, are now between two Andreas, - the major nodded to Private Kotsota, - you can make a wish. In the meantime, Igor and I will pour out the "People's Commissars", - he handed Sergeant Major Ryabtsev a flask.
“Comrade Major, we don’t drink at all,” said Anastasia and again looked Orlov straight in the eye.
He smiled again.
- And we do not force anyone. But, if at least symbolically join, we will not object.
The girls looked at each other, then, carefully, nevertheless pushed their mugs towards the major. Orlov, keeping his promise, only slightly splashed a little alcohol on their bottom. Then, standing up, he looked around at his soldiers.
“Unfortunately, the reason we have gathered today is far from happy,” he paused for a second. - I say goodbye to my fighters, with whom over the past few months I have gone through fire and water, hunger and thirst, pain and blood. And I don't know if I will ever be able to see them again.
- Are you being transferred to another sector of the front? - Catherine, who was sitting closer to him, asked cautiously.
- Probably, Katyusha, you could say so, - Orlov answered evasively. - Anyway. Let's not talk about sad things. Let's drink to the fact that you and I are alive, gathered at this table. Let each of us remember this evening in a cramped dugout, and those who are destined to live to see our Victory, remember that day about their military friends and girlfriends, with whom he walked the hard roads of war. And especially about those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the lives of others …
Several hours spent at the table passed quickly. The time was approaching eleven in the evening, when the girls began to get ready to return to the medical battalion. Seeing them off, Orlov also came out of the dugout. Anastasia, walking slightly ahead of him, paused, listening to the distant lonely tears coming from the front line. The dark sky on the horizon was sometimes lit up with yellow-red flashes from these explosions, the rest of it was covered with low, heavy clouds.
“You know, Nastya, I just can’t get used to the fact that the stars are almost never seen here,” Orlov said, looking at the night sky above their heads. - If we were now with us, on the banks of the Donets, a bottomless blue-black sky would open above us, in which billions of stars twinkle with all possible colors …
- Are you from Ukraine? She asked.
- Does my "South Russian" dialect betray me? - Jokingly, Orlov answered her with a question.
- To be honest, there is not much, - the girl smiled. - But, besides this, I studied well at school and I remember from the geography course that there is such a river in Ukraine - the Seversky Donets. In my opinion, this is somewhere near Kharkov, right?
- Yes, there is such a small town - Izyum, this is my homeland, - the major's face reflected the shadow of some memories. “But now my hometown is occupied by the enemy.
After his words, there was silence for a while.
“But I’m from here,” Anastasia said, trying to distract Orlov from heavy thoughts, “I was born in Leningrad. When the war began, they managed to evacuate us to Yaroslavl. I was 16 years old then, - Anastasia looked again at the horizon line, where lonely flashes of fire were still visible. “But I decided that I should be at the front, to help our soldiers liberate my city from the blockade. This is how Katya and I this summer asked for volunteers in the medical battalion. At first, because of our age, they did not take us, but we went to the military registration and enlistment office every day. Then, one day, the military commissar said: “Well, what am I to do with you, girls? Okay, go, if you really want to help our soldiers … . That's how we ended up here …
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of light footsteps approaching them. The silhouette of Anastasia's friend appeared from the darkness.
“Comrade Major, it's time for us to go,” Ekaterina said with concern in her voice, “I'm sorry, but our bosses are also very strict, we had to be in our place half an hour ago …
Orlov looked at these two fragile nurses with tenderness and said in a low voice:
- You are our good ones, thank you for everything. Let's not say goodbye to meet again soon.
The girls smiled and, picking them up, quickly turned around and disappeared into the darkness. Orlov was left alone, with his gloomy thoughts. These are the same young little girls, medical instructors, before his eyes, more than once, by some inhuman effort, they pulled out wounded adult men from the battlefield, often under fire. And how many of them were themselves wounded or killed … What lies ahead for Nastya, Katya? Will they be able to survive in this war? He wanted to curse Hitler, Germany, all those who brought suffering, death and devastation to his land.
The medical instructor assists the wounded on the battlefield. The feats of military doctors during the years of the Great Patriotic War are evidenced by the numbers - more than 50 of them were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, 18 became full holders of the Order of Glory. The total number of doctors, paramedics, orderlies and nurses awarded orders and medals was 116 thousand.
Meanwhile, the sounds of continued single exchange of artillery strikes were still heard from the front line. No one on both sides of the front knew that they would soon have to face off again in mortal combat, and the contours of the directions of upcoming strikes had already begun to appear on the diagrams and maps in the higher headquarters of the opposing sides …
