Sokov originally thought that collecting bicycles would be a very difficult task. After all, except for a few people who own cars, most Russian residents travel by public transportation or horse-drawn carriages. There are very few places where bicycles can be used.
But as soon as the collection work began, the residents of the city began to enthusiastically donate their bicycles, saying that they would contribute to the elimination of the Germans. Originally, Runev had ordered the names of these donors to be registered so that their bicycles could be returned in the future.
But many people just put their cars there, turned around and left, leaving no chance for the soldiers to register.
In this way, in less than half a day, Lunev collected more than 1,300 bicycles. He returned to the headquarters happily and reported the good news to Sokov.
However, the first time he met Sokov, he did not immediately report the results of the morning. Instead, he deliberately asked in a pretentious manner: "Comrade Commander, guess how many bicycles we have collected so far?"
Sokov looked at Luniev, trying to see the answer on his face. But there was no sadness or joy on Luniev's face. Sokov hesitated and asked: "A hundred vehicles were collected?
"
Lunev did not speak, but shook his head slightly.
Seeing Lunev shaking his head, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little panicked. He could only lower his expectations: "Is it eighty cars?"
But Runev still shook his head.
Sokov was almost desperate. After collecting for a whole morning in the city, he found that there were not even 80 bicycles. He said desperately: "Comrade Military Commissar, you won't tell me that you didn't collect even 50 bicycles."
Bar?"
Seeing Sokov's expression, Lunev couldn't help but laugh: "Comrade Commander, look at how anxious you are. If you really haven't collected fifty bicycles, am I still embarrassed to come back and report to you?"
Luniev's words raised hope in Sokov's heart, and he quickly asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, please tell me truthfully, how many bicycles have been collected?"
"Thirteen hundred vehicles." After Lunev told this data, he saw Sokov's eyes almost falling to the ground. He couldn't help but said proudly: "Comrade Commander, does this data scare you?"
Jump?"
"Yes, it really shocked me." Sokov did not hide his true thoughts at all. He asked curiously: "Commissioner, where did so many bicycles come from?"
"General Sokov, I think I should know the answer." Before Lunev could speak, Managarov interrupted: "You also know that Kremenchug is located on the bank of the Dnieper River, with complex terrain and roads.
The situation is so bad that it would be inconvenient for city residents to travel solely by buses and horse-drawn carriages. Therefore, I don’t know since when, more and more families in the city have purchased bicycles, and this form of transportation has become a
The first choice for family travel.”
Sokov thought that he had hardly seen any cyclists in Moscow except for postmen, so he asked in confusion: "But even in the capital Moscow, there are not many cyclists on the streets, right?"
"General Sokov, there is a reason why there are so few cyclists in Moscow." Managarov explained to Sokov: "The production of bicycles is planned in advance. Anyone who buys bicycles in department stores
, you need to provide the bicycle ticket to the salesperson..."
Managarov's words reminded Sokov of the era when almost everything was supplied by voucher: buying rice required food stamps, eating required food stamps, buying oil required oil stamps, buying sugar required sugar stamps, and buying cloth
You need a cloth ticket, you need a TV ticket to buy a TV, and you need a bicycle ticket to buy a bicycle. This will still be the case decades later, let alone the 1940s when supplies were scarce.
Sokov was silent for a while, remembered something, and asked Managarov tentatively: "Comrade General, if you need a ticket to buy a bicycle, how come the citizens of Klemenkoug have so many vehicles?"
Woolen cloth?"
Managarov turned and looked at his military commissar Gorokhov, and said with a smile: "General Sokov, my military commissar went to the bicycle factory this morning to learn more about the bicycle factory here every year.
Half of the production is supplied to Moscow, and the remaining half is sold locally or in nearby cities, so I am not surprised that more than 1,300 bicycles were collected in half a day."
Managarov's words ignited hope in Sokov's heart. If the bicycle factory can produce eight hundred to one thousand bicycles, then two thousand of his troops can ride bicycles to fight. Thinking of this,
He cautiously asked Gorokhov: "General Gorokhov, since you have been to the bicycle factory today, I would like to ask, can the factory resume operations in the near future?"
"I have talked with the factory director and most of the skilled workers in the factory are still there. As long as the raw materials are complete, we can start work at any time." Gorokhov said with some complacency: "The factory director assured me that the daily output can be
Less than a hundred vehicles.”
The daily output at any time is only about a hundred units, but Sokov knows that under the current situation, this is probably the limit of the bicycle factory. Even if he gives the other party any mandatory orders, it will not be of much help in increasing the output. He clicked
He nodded and said: "Under the current situation, being able to produce a hundred bicycles every day is already very impressive. We cannot force the other party to blindly increase production to avoid adverse effects."
"Then we should send someone to supervise." Gorokhov reminded Sokov, "Anyway, we have no way of knowing what they are thinking after they have been producing in enemy-occupied areas for two years. I'm worried that if
When they are producing, there may be saboteurs hidden inside to sabotage the factory."
"You can rest assured about this." Sokov comforted Gorokhov and said: "The factory is also our key prevention area. We have arranged a lot of manpower to serve as guards, and we will never let the enemy cause damage."
"Comrade Commander," Lunev said when he saw Sokov handing over the task of supervising production to Gorokhov, he was not only secretly relieved. This kind of thing offends people, but there are so many trivial matters. Since Gorokhov
Hof was willing to accept this chaotic mess, and he couldn't help but ask: "So what's my next task?"
"Supervise the soldiers learning to ride bicycles."
If it had been a day ago, Sokov had proposed that the soldiers learn to ride bicycles, someone might have questioned it. But after he issued this order at this time, Lunev immediately replied readily: "I will immediately arrange for the people directly under the command to
The troops began to strengthen patrols to prevent enemy destruction."
Sokov warned: "Comrade Military Commissar, after the bicycles come back, let the soldiers who can ride bikes familiarize themselves with the conditions first. After they are familiar with them, teach those soldiers who can't ride bikes to ride."
Lunev very much agreed with Sokov's order. Although the bicycles collected were all similar in shape, the commanders and soldiers had been fighting for many years and had very few opportunities to ride bicycles. If they were not allowed to familiarize themselves with the conditions of the bicycles, they would be ordered rashly.
If you go to the battlefield on a bicycle, something big might happen.
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Lunev said: "After the bicycles are shipped back, I will arrange for the soldiers directly under the unit to practice riding bicycles as soon as possible."
While arrangements were being made here for the commanders and fighters to learn to ride bicycles, the phone rang at the 53rd Army. After Chief of Staff Derevyanko picked up the phone and listened for a while, his affection suddenly became serious, and he said into the phone:
He said: "Wait a minute." Then he covered the phone and reported to Managarov: "Comrade Commander, the commander of the 28th Guards Division called and said that an enemy force crossed the river from the upper reaches of the Dnieper River and was heading towards the Guards.
The position of the 88th Infantry Regiment launched an attack."
"What kind of strength does the enemy have?" Managarov heard what Derevyanko said and quickly asked: "Does it have artillery and tanks? What countermeasures did the division commander take?"
Derevyanko waited for Managarov to finish asking a series of questions, and then continued: "The attacking German infantry has about two battalions, and there are twenty tanks to cover their attack."
"Tell the division commander that in addition to leaving the 92nd Guards Regiment to hold on to the existing position," Managarov ordered Derevyanko: "immediately mobilize the 89th Guards Regiment and the 61st Guards Artillery Regiment to rush to support.
Be sure to block the enemy's attack."
When Sokov heard this, he winked at Samyko, who was standing aside in a daze, and motioned for him to ask about the specific situation. Samyko, who understood the situation, quickly stepped forward and asked Derevyanko politely: "
General Derevyanko, where is the enemy now? I think we can help you."
Derevyanko originally wanted to reject Samyko's kindness, but then he thought about it. The only heavy artillery regiment in the army was transferred to them. Now the 28th Guards Division was attacked by the Germans and asked them to provide artillery support.
It should be a matter of course.
Thinking of this, Derevyanko said politely to Samyko: "General Samyko, please come here and I will tell you the specific location of the enemy."
After reading the map, Samyko raised his head and looked at Derevyanko and said: "General Derevyanko, we have deployed a heavy artillery regiment. The immediate battle location is no more than eight kilometers away. I can order them to provide artillery support to the defenders.
."
Just when Derevyanko was about to nod, Managarov unexpectedly said: "General Samyko, thank you for your kindness. I don't think it is necessary to provide artillery support under the current circumstances."
"There is no need to provide artillery support?" Sameko was stunned: "Why?"
"The enemy only deployed two battalions of troops. It is simply impossible to break through our defense line consisting of several divisions." Managarov said confidently: "They will definitely continue to increase their troops in the future.
If we use heavy artillery prematurely and let the enemy know our strength, I am afraid that the next battle will not be easy to fight."
When Samyko offered to use a heavy artillery regiment to support the 28th Guards Division, Sokov disagreed in his heart. Even if the Germans dispatched 20 tanks, they only used two battalions of infantry. This enemy, the Guards
The division's two infantry regiments and one artillery regiment are more than enough to handle it. Using a heavy artillery regiment in this situation is simply a waste.
Just when he was thinking about how to politely refuse to provide heavy artillery support for the Guards Division, Managarov said what he wanted to say first. After looking at the other party with grateful eyes, he echoed: "Comrade General
That's right. This German unit attacking the Guards Division may be just the vanguard of a probing attack. If we expose our strength too early, we will be in a passive situation in the next battle."
Seeing that the two commanders had reached an agreement, Derevyanko did not mention the support of the heavy artillery regiment anymore. Instead, he said to the Guards Division Commander on the other side of the microphone: "Comrade Division Commander, the Commander ordered your troops to deploy immediately.
The 89th Guards Infantry Regiment and the 61st Guards Artillery Regiment went to support the 88th Guards Regiment, while the 92nd Guards Regiment held on to its current position."
The division commander on the other end of the phone vaguely heard the discussion in the headquarters. At this moment, when he heard Derevyanko's order to him, he immediately agreed loudly: "I understand, Comrade Chief of Staff, I will follow your order immediately.
, mobilized the 89th Guards Infantry Regiment and the 61st Guards Artillery Regiment to support the 88th Guards Regiment, while the 92nd Guards Regiment continued to hold its current position."
Before putting down the phone, Derevyanko specifically emphasized to the commander of the Guards Division: "Comrade division commander, don't worry, you are not fighting alone, you are backed by the main force of the powerful group army. When you encounter danger,
We will send troops to reinforce you."
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." The Guards Division Commander never thought that the two invading German battalions could break through his defense line. It was just because he reported to his superiors in accordance with regulations. Now that he received the formal order, he felt confident
He said: "As long as there is one soldier alive in our division, we will never let the enemy cross our positions."
When Derevyanko put down the phone, Sokov reminded Managarov: "Comrade General, since the Germans have begun to cross the river from the upper reaches, the crossing of the river from the lower reaches will probably begin soon. Can you see whether capable troops are dispatched?
Patrol along the banks of the Dnieper River in order to discover the enemy's intention to cross the river at the first opportunity."
"General Sokov," Sokov's words gave Managarov a wake-up call. He felt that strengthening reconnaissance along the river was not feasible. But if infantry was to be relied upon for patrolling, not only would it require a lot of troops, but it would also be effective.
Not good either, so he tentatively asked Sokov: "Is there a reconnaissance squadron stationed at the airport in the north of the city this morning? I think we can send a reconnaissance plane to patrol along the river. If the Germans really have the intention to cross the river, then we
The reconnaissance aircraft can detect it immediately and provide feedback in time. What do you think?"
If Managarov did not mention the reconnaissance plane, Sokov almost forgot that there was a squadron of reconnaissance planes and entered the airport in the north of the city. If reconnaissance planes are dispatched for reconnaissance, not only the reconnaissance range can be increased, but also the reconnaissance speed can be increased.
It will also be greatly improved.
After thinking about this, Sokov readily agreed to Managarov's proposal. He turned around and told Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, call the airport in the north of the city immediately and ask them to dispatch two reconnaissance planes.
Conduct reconnaissance on the lower reaches of the Dnieper River to see if there are any signs of German troops crossing the river."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Samyko nodded and replied: "I will immediately pass on your order and have the reconnaissance plane patrol the lower reaches of the Dnieper River to see if there are any signs of German troops gathering on the right bank."
