Chapter 159 Simple Flag Ceremony

  According to the plan, the Istria Battalion will set off in the direction of Popkovo at three o'clock in the morning, where it will meet with the main force of the 11th Guards Division, and then attack the villages and towns occupied by the German army.

  Unexpectedly, just as the troops were about to leave, the communications platoon leader Maxim hurried over and handed a telegram to Sokov: "Comrade Battalion Commander, a telegram just arrived from the division headquarters."

"A telegram from the division headquarters?!" Hearing what Maxim said, Sokov couldn't help being taken aback, wondering if the situation had changed. Jin quickly turned on the flashlight to illuminate him.

  The contents of the telegram were very simple, ordering Sokov to immediately rush to the Army Group Headquarters in Susinich City. After reading the telegram, Sokov said a little puzzled: "In a few hours, the battle will start, and I was recruited to the army headquarters at this time. What's going on?"

  Belkin also read the content of the telegram clearly, and hurriedly urged: "Since it is an order from the superior, then you go quickly. As for the troops, I will take them to the meeting place."

   Sokov took Oleg and a guard squad and drove for more than three hours. When they arrived at Sushinich, it was already dawn. Still far away from the headquarters, he saw that the streets outside were full of people. Apart from soldiers, many of them were in civilian clothes, but judging from their attire, they were obviously not residents of Susinich .

There were several soldiers on duty at the intersection. Seeing Sokov and his group approaching, one of the soldiers hurried up to greet them. After blocking their way, he politely said: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander! There is an ongoing The ceremony is temporarily impassable, please detour!"

   "I'm Istria Battalion Commander Major Sokov," Sokov quickly identified himself to the soldiers: "I was ordered to come to the Army Group Headquarters."

The soldier knew that Sokov was coming under orders, so he quickly turned his body to one side to let him out of the way, then shook his head and said, "Go, Comrade Major! But you are a bit late, the ceremony was over five minutes ago." it has started."

  Oleg, who was following Sokov, heard what the soldier said, and couldn't help asking curiously: "Ritual, what ceremony?"

   "What other ceremony could it be?" The soldier replied with a smile, "Of course it is the flag-giving ceremony!"

   "Comrade Battalion Commander," Oleg continued to ask when Sokov and the others walked towards the entrance of the headquarters, "Do you know what the flag-giving ceremony is?"

  Sokov just received a telegram asking him to go to the headquarters of the Army Group. He didn't know what it was, so he could only truthfully answer Oleg's question: "I don't know either."

Coming outside the crowd, Sokov saw Rokossovsky and members of the headquarters standing on the steps of the building, but the person speaking now was not any of them, but Sokov A middle-aged man in casual clothes that I have never seen before. The middle-aged man waved his fists and said impassionedly: "...the militia comrades in the Leningrad district are all doing well! In view of the collective heroism, brave and tenacious fighting spirit and Superb military skills, the Supreme Command decided to award them the title of the 11th Guards Rifle Division..."

Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help but wonder: the superiors conferred the honorary title of Guards Division to the troops under Chernyshov's command, it was all a few months ago, why are the old things being brought up again now? . Thinking of this, he raised his hand and patted the shoulder of a man dressed as a worker in front, and shouted, "Comrade!"

  The man who was patted on the shoulder turned his head and saw clearly that it was a major who patted himself on the shoulder, so he politely asked, "Comrade commander, what's the matter?"

  Sokov pouted at the middle-aged man who was speaking, and asked, "Who is speaking?"

"Besorov," the man said proudly, "the district Soviet member of our Leningrad district is also the head of our delegation. He is here to present the flag to the 11th Guards Division on behalf of the headquarters of the Supreme Command. You Do you know that most of the commanders and fighters of this division are militiamen from various factories and enterprises in our district..."

Before the man could say anything, Sokov heard Besorov's last two words: "...Now, General Chernyshov, commander of the 11th Guards Rifle Division, is invited to receive this glorious flag !"

  Amid the thunderous applause, Chernyshov walked up to Besorov with another second lieutenant. After raising his hand in salute, he took the military flag with a solemn expression. After another salute to Besorov, the flag was handed over to the second lieutenant.

  The second lieutenant shook off the flag of the 11th Guards Division, letting the bright red flag flutter in the morning wind. Chernyshov knelt down on one leg, took a corner of the military flag with both hands, and kissed it affectionately. The scene was silent for a moment, all the soldiers raised their hands to salute the military flag, and the members of the delegation also looked at the salute devoutly.

   Chernyshov stood up, raised his right hand facing the military flag, and solemnly swore: "For the honor of the 11th Guards Infantry Division, we swear!"

  The commanders and fighters of the 11th Guards Division standing in the crowd, including Sokov and his party, all raised their right hands at the same time, followed Chernyshov and said, "We swear!"

   Chernyshov raised his voice: "We will definitely drive the Communist invaders out of our land, and let Lenin's flag fly over the Soviet motherland forever!"

  The commanders and fighters repeated Chernyshov's oath aloud: "...let Lenin's flag fly over the Soviet motherland forever!"

  ...

   After the simple flag-giving ceremony, Chernyshov and Besorov followed Rokossovsky into the headquarters, and the delegation that came to condolences to the troops was taken by Ma Linin to the officer's cafeteria for breakfast.

  Sokov found the chief of staff of the division and asked, "Comrade chief of staff, did the division send me a telegram telling me to come to Sukhinich immediately, just to participate in this simple flag-giving ceremony?"

"Comrade Major." Hearing what Sokov said, the chief of staff of the division immediately corrected him with a straight face and said: "This is not a simple flag-giving ceremony. You didn't see those who participated in the flag-giving ceremony. Representatives from all walks of life in Gele District? They are from the same place as our soldiers, and they are in charge of the flag-giving ceremony to better boost the morale of our division so that the soldiers can be full of energy in today's battle fighting spirit..."

  As soon as the division chief of staff finished speaking, Sokov immediately asked in puzzlement: "Comrade chief of staff, since this flag-giving ceremony is a disguised swearing-in meeting, why is it not held at the front line, but here?"

"The starting point of our attack is within the range of German artillery fire." Regarding Sokov's question, the chief of staff of the division explained to him: "In order to protect the safety of the comrades of the delegation, we arranged the flag-giving ceremony in Sushi. It will be held in the city of Nich." At this point, he raised his hand and looked at his watch, and added, "Major Sokov, there are still three hours before the start of the offensive, you can go to the officers' mess hall to have something to eat, and then rush to Leading the battle from the front."

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  (end of this chapter)