"Misha, you are right." Zhukov agreed very much with what Sokov said: "Without air supremacy, the combat effectiveness of our army will be greatly reduced. During the Battle of Stalingrad, why did we fight to the north of the city?
Several large-scale attacks launched ended in failure because the attacking troops lost air supremacy. No matter how favorable the situation on the battlefield was to our army, as soon as the enemy's planes appeared and bombed the attacking troops indiscriminately, they would lose control of the air.
It will cause our offense to be frustrated."
After hearing what Zhukov said, Sokov couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope: As long as the air force cooperates, there is no need to worry about the German troops attacking the city. Then as soon as the enemy's artillery positions or tank assembly points are discovered,
You can immediately call in the air force to attack and destroy the enemy.
Without the cover of tanks and artillery, it would be extremely difficult for the German army to break through the Soviet defenses. By then, their chances of holding the city would be greatly increased.
He tentatively asked Zhukov: "Comrade General, I wonder if the Air Force can provide us with air cover?"
"Misha, I am here this time as a representative of the base camp." Zhukov did not answer Sokov's question immediately, but smiled and said: "If I want to command any nearby troops, I can also
Isn’t it just a matter of one sentence?”
Sokov was immediately relieved. Since Zhukov appeared here as a representative of the base camp, as long as he gave the order, I believe no one would dare to disobey the order, so his request for air cover would be equivalent to his consent.
"Great, this is really great." Sokov said excitedly: "With air cover, no matter how many enemies come, we can have a good fight with them."
"There are ten aviation divisions under the Eighth Army of the Air Force. I can order one or two of them to obey your command." Zhukov looked at Sokov and said: "I hope your performance will not disappoint me.
otherwise,……"
Although Zhukov did not say "otherwise", Sokov understood that the outcome would definitely be bad. Even if he was not sent to a military court, he would probably be dismissed from his post. He quickly assured him: "Comrade General, please don't worry.
You will not be disappointed.”
But soon, Sokov thought of a key question: "Comrade General, I have a question. Since the Southwest Front has an air force group, why is there no air cover provided for the troops of the Southwest Front?"
"The reason is very simple." Zhukov said with a bitter look on his face: "The headquarters of the Eighth Army of the Air Force is too far away from the combat area of the Southwest Front Army, more than a thousand kilometers away. By the time the plane arrives at the battlefield, the fuel has been almost consumed, so what else can be done?
Fight enemy aircraft, or provide air cover for ground forces?"
"So that's it." Sokov immediately understood that the reason why Zhukov agreed to the Air Force providing him with air cover was entirely because his location was within the combat radius of the Eighth Air Force Army, so that he could unscrupulously agree to provide him with air cover.
Provide air cover yourself.
"Telegram, telegram!" A communications staff officer rushed over waving a telegram and reported excitedly to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, this is a telegram from Colonel Bely. The 1st Tank Battalion has successfully broken through the enemy's defensive position.
, joined forces with the friendly forces coming from the opposite side."
"The troops have joined forces. This is good news." Zhukov snatched the telegram from the staff officer's hand and looked at it carefully: "Yes, the troops have indeed joined forces. Colonel Bely also saw General Popov with his own eyes."
When Zhukov returned the telegram to Sokov, he asked curiously: "Misha, why did that staff officer just call you division commander?"
"That's it, Comrade General." Now that Bely's troops have joined Popov and his companions, Sokov feels particularly good. He smiled and explained to Zhukov: "The staff officers and communications troops here are all from close range.
The 41st Guards Division. Although I am now the commander of the combat group, I am also the commander of the 41st Guards Division, so they are still used to calling me the division commander."
"So that's what happened. I thought the staff officer made the wrong call in a moment of excitement." After Zhukov said this, he waved his big hand and said to Sokov: "Let's go to meet General Popov.
"
"I'm sorry, Comrade General." When Vitkov heard that Zhukov was going to greet Popov in person, he quickly stopped in front of him and said sincerely: "It's too dangerous there, you can't go."
"Soldiers are not afraid of danger, so what do I have to fear?" Zhukov said, reaching out to push Vitkov away.
As soon as his hand touched Vitkov's shoulder, Sokov also stood in front of him and said anxiously: "Comrade General, you are now the representative of the base camp here, and you have more important work to complete.
, you have no right to risk your life."
"However, General Popov has just successfully broken through. As a representative of the base camp, I should appear in front of him and comfort him." Zhukov said: "After all, they went through so many arduous and outstanding battles before they successfully succeeded.
Escaped the German encirclement."
"Comrade General, please feel free to stay here." Sokov said to Zhukov: "I immediately sent a telegram to Colonel Bely and asked him to send someone to escort General Popov here immediately."
Hearing what Sokov said, Zhukov could not say anything more, so he nodded and said helplessly: "Okay, Misha, since you said so, I will wait here for General Popov."
Half an hour later, a smoke-filled Colonel Bely appeared in the headquarters with General Popov.
Popov, who had just escaped from the enemy's encirclement, never dreamed that he would see Zhukov here. He thought that the other party was here to investigate him for ordering a breakout without authorization, and he couldn't help but become uneasy. But he still had to bite the bullet.
, raised his hand and saluted Zhukov, and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade General, I'm glad to see you here."
Zhukov stood up and walked up to him. After looking him up and down, he pulled his hand from his forehead, stretched it towards his arms, and gave him a warm hug. At the same time, he said excitedly: "It's good to be alive."
, Just live. From the outbreak of the war to now, I have lost many good comrades-in-arms, and I even thought I would never see you again. It is really a joy to see you here."
"I want to thank Colonel Sokov," Popov looked at Sokov standing aside and said with emotion: "If he hadn't taken the initiative to send troops to rescue, my troops would have had to pay a lot if they wanted to break through the enemy's siege.
Even greater casualties. Even so, my troops also suffered heavy losses."
After Zhukov asked Popov to sit down at the table, he asked curiously: "Comrade Popov, tell me about the casualties of your troops."
"The tanks of several tank corps belonging to the rapid group were either destroyed in the battle, or when we broke through, because they ran out of fuel and ammunition, they had to be blown up in order not to leave them to the enemy." Popov lowered his head,
He said with a heavy heart: "As for the only infantry corps, it suffered heavy casualties during the breakout. One-half of the soldiers were killed, two-thirds of the commanders were killed, and many battalion-level units were completely wiped out.
"
Zhukov sighed softly, raised his hand and patted Popov's shoulder a few times, and said: "This is the price that needs to be paid to defend the motherland. Soldiers will not die in vain, and sooner or later we will ask the Germans for this."