At this moment, Sokov was really dumbfounded. It seemed that the stain of the entire 300th Division being drunk on the battlefield would stay with them for the rest of their lives, maybe until they were demobilized. When he thought of demobilizing, Sokov couldn't help but fell into deep thought:
The 150th Infantry Division that captured the Reichstag in Berlin was demobilized shortly after the end of World War II, not to mention other units. Even though you are now the commander of a group army, what should you do once the unit is deactivated?
"General Sokov," Managarov saw that Sokov was deep in thought, thinking that his words had embarrassed the other party, and quickly defended: "I just said it casually, you must not take it seriously.
"
"Comrade General," Sokov looked at Managarov and said, "I am thinking that the 300th Division may have to bear this stain for a lifetime. Is it necessary to talk to the commander of the division so that they can let go of it?"
Take the burden and build new meritorious deeds in the following battles."
"Comrade Commander," as soon as Sokov finished speaking, Lunev interjected: "I think you should leave this matter to me. I will go talk to the commanders and fighters of the 300th Division and let them relax.
This baggage."
"Okay." The war was about to begin, and Sokov did not want to be distracted by these trivial matters, so he nodded decisively and agreed to Lunev's request: "Comrade Military Commissar, this matter will trouble you."
"Comrade General," Sokov turned to Managarov after handing over his troublesome problem to Lunev: "Your troops are also arriving one after another. How do you plan to deploy them?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Managarov seemed to have guessed that Sokov would ask this question, and quickly ordered his Chief of Staff Derevyanko: "Show General Sokov the defense plan we have drawn up.
.”
Derevyanko came to Sokov with the defense map, put it on the table, and then began to explain: "General Sokov, according to our plan, the 28th Guards Infantry Division, the 116th Infantry Division,
The 130th Division was deployed to the northwest and north of Kremenchug to guard against enemies from upstream; while the 214th, 233rd and 252nd Infantry Divisions were deployed to the southwest of the city to guard against enemies from downstream. The Infantry Division
The 299th Division, tank regiment, artillery, and ski brigade are deployed to the north of the city to guard against enemies who may retreat from Poltava."
After reading the defense map of the 53rd Group Army, Sokov nodded slightly, then called Samyko, pointed to the defense map and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please copy this map and make it correct.
Friendly forces should know how to deploy their defenses to avoid repeated deployments."
What Sokov said was not unfounded. According to his experience, there were serious problems with the coordination and communication between the Soviet armies. When conducting joint defense, either all troops were deployed in the same area, or several units appeared at the junction.
Gaps of kilometers, or even more than ten kilometers, were drilled by the Germans.
After listening to Sokov's order, Samyko nodded and said: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I immediately ordered the combat staff to make a copy of this picture." After saying this, he suddenly remembered that Sokov seemed to
Without saying hello to the other party, he put himself in charge of the defense map. It seemed a bit inappropriate. He quickly said to Derevyanko, "General Derevyanko, I want to make a copy of your defense map. Do you have any objections?"
When Derevyanko heard this question, he did not answer immediately. Instead, he quickly glanced at Managarov. Seeing his expression, he nodded and said: "How could it be, General Samyko? Since
We are friendly forces, and letting you know our defense situation is what we should do."
After obtaining Derevyanko's permission, Samyko called a staff officer, handed him the defense plan, and told him: "Comrade Lieutenant, please make a copy of this map immediately. We are eager to get it."
Well. Remember, it must be kept confidential."
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." The staff officer took the defense plan from Sameko's hand, turned around and walked aside to draw the map.
The staff officer who drew the map was a skilled worker, and it took him less than ten minutes to complete the drawing of the defense plan. Sokov took the drawing in his hand, looked at it, and shared the defense plan that Derevyanko handed to him.
It was no different. After a few words of praise, he let him leave.
Sokov then handed the original defense map back to Derevyanko and said with a smile: "General Derevyanko, thank you for the defense map. I think with this defense map, the relationship between our two armies will be better."
Cooperation will make us more perfect.”
"Comrade Commander," Samyko came to Sokov with a newly received telegram and said with a serious expression: "The first line of defense of the 73rd Infantry Brigade has been occupied by the German army."
"What, the first line of defense of the infantry brigade was occupied by the enemy?" Sokov told Managarov not long ago that even if the German army wanted to break through the defense line of the landing site, the first area to be broken through would not be
The defense area of Guchakov's brigade. Unexpectedly, the words were still in his ears, but he got the news that the infantry brigade's defense line had been breached, which made Sokov extremely embarrassed.
While Sokov was looking down at the telegram, Samyko continued: "Comrade Commander, according to Major Guchakov's report, it seems that they gave up the first line of defense on their own initiative."
Sokov, who was browsing the telegram, instinctively raised his head when he heard what Samyko said, and said with some surprise: "Is it the first line of defense that the infantry brigade voluntarily gave up?"
After reading the telegram, Samyko knew that the important content was at the back of the telegram. Before Sokov could see it, he continued: "Major Guchakov reported that their front-line positions did not have solid positions.
After the enemy's artillery bombardment, the fortifications of the entire position were destroyed. Without the fortifications to rely on, the troops will inevitably pay a huge price to block the enemy's attack?"
Before Sokov could speak, Derevyanko, who was still standing aside, interrupted and asked: "Is it because the commanders and fighters of the infantry brigade withdrew to the second line of defense because there are reinforced fortifications there?"
"No, Derevyanko," Samyko unexpectedly replied.
"Since there are no solid fortifications, why give up the first line of defense?" Derevyanko asked puzzledly.
"The reason is very simple." Samyko explained to Derevyanko: "The front of the first line of defense is an open area. Even without the guidance of artillery observers, artillery fire can accurately hit the target. Now the infantry brigade has withdrawn to the second line of defense.
There is an extra hill between the defense line, the new position and the enemy's artillery. If the enemy's artillery wants to bombard the new position, it has to move its position."
"Even if an extra hill blocks the view of the German artillery, it probably won't take them long to move their positions." Derevyanko shook his head and said disapprovingly: "In another hour at most,
The enemy's artillery shells will fall on the second line of defense of the infantry brigade."
"That's not necessarily the case, General Derevyanko." Samyko said confidently: "I have contacted the air force, and they will be dispatched in ten minutes. When they arrive over the landing site, the German artillery is on the way to be transferred.
, will become the target of their bombing."
When Managarov heard this, a smile appeared on his face. He said to Sokov: "General Sokov, your chief of staff has thought very carefully. The infantry brigade has abandoned its front-line position, and the enemy wants to continue to attack them.
To carry out artillery bombardment, they had to move their positions. The air force arrived at this time and bombed the enemy indiscriminately, which would inevitably cause them heavy casualties. As long as the enemy's artillery suffered huge losses, in the next defensive battle
, the pressure on the defenders will be greatly reduced."
"That's right." Sokov also read the telegram at this moment and said to Managarov with a smile: "The infantry brigade abandoning the front-line position is tantamount to throwing a bait to the Germans. And the enemy thinks that our army is unable to
To contend with their powerful artillery fire, they had to abandon their position and retreat, and then quickly occupied the position our army gave up. But they did not know that once this position was occupied, the artillery had to move its position if it wanted to bombard the second-line infantry brigade.
, in this way, it is equivalent to giving artillery to our air force."
Things developed exactly as Sokov expected. When the German army occupied the first-line position abandoned by the infantry brigade, they found that the Soviet second-line position was only a few hundred meters away from them. If their artillery still stayed at the original position and shelled,
Then there will be a lot of cannonballs falling on the heads of your own people.
In order to better destroy the Soviet second-line defenses, the German commander issued orders to the artillery units, asking them to move forward, find better shooting positions, and establish new artillery positions to bombard the Soviet second-line defenses.
When the German artillery was preparing to move, they never dreamed that fighter planes from the 5th Army of the Soviet Air Force were taking off one after another, preparing to fly to the landing site area to launch indiscriminate bombardments at the moving German artillery.
When the Air Force takes to the skies for combat, it is inevitable to lose some aircraft. But not long ago, a fighter squadron stationed in Kremenchug was destroyed by the superior German forces. Two of the four pilots died.
, one was wounded, which made the army commander Goryunov very angry.
When he received Sameko's call for help and knew that the German artillery units would soon be transferred and asked him to dispatch fighter planes to carry out air strikes, he immediately agreed without hesitation. He planned to use this opportunity to avenge the sacrificed pilots
avenge.
In order to ensure the success of the air strike, he not only dispatched bombers from two aviation regiments, but also dispatched an equal number of fighter planes. At the same time, two aviation regiments were on standby at the airport. Once the air combat over the landing site was unfavorable, they would quickly rush to the landing site.
support in the area.
When a large number of Soviet fighter planes rushed over the landing field, they soon discovered the German artillery positions being deployed on the ground. The bombers immediately lowered the high ground and began to dive and drop bombs. As the bombs landed on the artillery positions and exploded, the Germans
The cannons were blown to pieces, and the remains of the artillerymen were thrown up high by the air waves, and scattered like heavenly flowers on the still hot soil.
Knowing that the artillery had been attacked by the Soviet air attack, four German fighter jets rushed over the landing site and joined the battle group. Although the hurriedly arriving German fighter jets and pilots had rich combat experience, as soon as the battle began,
Two bombers and a fighter were hit and fell trailing long black smoke tails.
But the Soviet fighter planes recovered and immediately launched a siege on the four enemy planes.
One of the leading fighter jets was besieged by five Soviet fighter jets. Bullets flying from all directions hit the wings and fuselage of the German fighter jets, leaving them riddled with holes. Before the pilot could parachute, the plane was
It exploded in the air.
After killing this enemy plane, the Soviet fighter planes dispersed and launched a siege on the remaining three German fighter planes.
Since the Kuban air battle, the German army has experienced serious shortages in terms of the number of aircraft, as well as the fuel and ammunition required by the aircraft. Those who can still fly into the air at this moment are experienced veterans who have fought with Soviet fighter planes.
Has achieved good results in air combat.
But a good man cannot be defeated with two fists. No matter how good the German pilots were, they still felt a deep sense of powerlessness in the face of Soviet fighter planes that were several times more numerous than their own.
After a fierce battle, the remaining three German fighter jets were shot down. Except for one pilot who was seriously injured and unable to parachute and perished with the crashed plane, the remaining two pilots parachuted successfully.
But the area where they parachuted happened to be within the defense zone of the infantry brigade. Seeing a German pilot parachuting in the sky, Guchakov quickly dispatched a guard platoon to search the area where the German pilot parachuted, and brought them back alive or dead.
After killing the German artillery, the bombers that had not yet dropped all their aerial bombs came to the front line occupied by the Germans and dropped all their aerial bombs at once, blasting the German officers and soldiers who had no solid fortifications until they howled like ghosts.
Seeing that the enemy was blown away by our own air force, the commanders and fighters on the second line asked their superiors to fight, hoping to take the opportunity to launch a counterattack and take back the lost positions from the enemy's hands.
But Guchakov was unmoved, just shook his head and said: "No, we can't counterattack like this. It is undeniable that once we launch a counterattack, it is indeed possible to regain the position from the enemy, but then
Well, the commanders and soldiers who stick to this position will have to face the enemy's powerful artillery fire every day, and there will inevitably be a large number of casualties. If the casualties of the troops are too large, then the next battle may not be our part.
, let alone make great achievements."
The sentence of "making a great contribution" immediately shut up those commanders who were eager to fight. After everyone thought about it carefully, it seems that this is really the case. If the troops are in defensive operations, they will suffer heavy casualties. When the attack begins, this unit will
Due to excessive casualties, insufficient troop resources and other factors, they will be transferred to the rear for repairs. In this case, everyone will miss out on making achievements.
Although Guchakov persuaded everyone not to mention the counterattack, Chief of Staff Askel still reminded him: "Comrade Brigadier, I think you should send a telegram to the headquarters first to explain the reason why we cannot counterattack.
Report it. Otherwise, we would be a little passive if we tried to defend ourselves until our superiors inquired about it."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, what you said is very reasonable." Guchakov agreed very much with Askel's statement and ordered him: "Then you will draft a message to the headquarters to prevent us from implementing it.
Please report the reasons for counterattack in detail to your superiors.”
