The division headquarters of the 84th Division became Sokov's temporary headquarters. In order to facilitate his command of operations, the division chief of staff personally led the communication troops to lay out communication lines.
While the communication lines were still being laid, Fomenko sat in front of Sokov, who was reminiscing with Bergin, and asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask, what is the plan of the 7th Guards Army on the right bank?"
Where should we land and establish a landing site?”
Sokov intended to test Fomenko's ability, so he did not give a direct answer, but asked: "General Fomenko, if you were General Shumilov, where would you choose the landing site for the troops?"
Fomenko pointed to the map without thinking and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, if I were General Shumilov, I would definitely send troops to cross the Dnieper River and occupy the two small towns of Ratseve and Kinki on the river.
, and based on this, establish a stable landing site.”
Seeing that Fomenko's idea coincided with his own, Sokov was not only secretly surprised, but he still asked calmly: "Why? Tell me your reasons."
"The reason is very simple." Fomenko didn't know that Sokov was testing his ability, so he answered truthfully: "These two towns next to the Dnieper River are only eight to twelve kilometers away from our station. If we force the crossing
If things don't go well, we can definitely send you a telegram to ask for help. If our reinforcements ride on bicycles, they can reach Ratzewe in less than an hour, launch an attack from the flank of the German army, and completely defeat them."
"Go on." Sokov said with a smile.
"According to our prior reconnaissance, the total number of German troops in these two towns is only two companies, with three artillery and several machine guns and other heavy weapons." Fomenko continued: "Even if the 7th Guards Army does not plan to attack these two areas
After crossing the river, we can also dispatch troops to seize Ratsewe and Kinki to expand the area we occupy.
Moreover, after we occupy Ratseve and Kinki, we can also use artillery to block the river channel, cut off the German army's river transportation line from Kirovgrad to Cherkasy, and gradually isolate them until they are finally annihilated."
"Yes, Misha, I think what Comrade Commander said is very reasonable." As soon as Fomenko finished speaking, Belkin continued: "If we capture Ratseve and Jinji, and what is about to happen,
By attacking Qi Jilin, we have a second landing site on the right bank."
"General Fomenko, your idea is very good." Sokov nodded and said: "When I was in the 7th Guards Army, I found that they lacked enough equipment to cross the river, and they were in an area where it was difficult to even collect wood.
, which increases the difficulty of erecting pontoon bridges.”
After hearing what Sokov said, Fomenko suddenly had a bold idea in his mind, and he quickly asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, from the tone of your words, do you plan to send troops to seize the two towns of Ratseve and Kinki?"
A town?”
"Yes, that's what I thought about." Now that Fomenko has guessed his intention, Sokov no longer conceals it. Moreover, Fomenko will need to cooperate with him in the next battle: "I see you guys
A regiment can be dispatched to seize these two towns by surprise before the enemy is ready for defense, and coordinate the troops of the 7th Guards Army to cross the river."
"Comrade division commander," Belkin heard that Sokov intended to occupy the two towns of Ratseve and Jinki, and he came out first to recommend himself: "I think this glorious task can be given to our regiment to complete."
But after hearing what Belkin said, Fomenko glanced at Sokov, shook his head and said: "I'm sorry, no, my comrade deputy division commander. The 258th Regiment under your command suffered casualties in the battle that ended yesterday.
After half the time, you should stay and rest instead of taking on any combat missions."
Belkin said reluctantly: "Comrade division commander, we still have nearly a thousand commanders and fighters left in our regiment. It should not be a big problem to seize two German towns."
"No, Comrade Deputy Division Commander." Seeing that Sokov did not express his position on this matter, Fomenko felt somewhat confident, so he continued: "The remaining commanders and fighters of yours are all the backbone of future combat. If you are fighting
If you lose the troops, your regiment's combat effectiveness will be severely diluted when your superiors replenish your regiment with new recruits. By then, on the battlefield, I'm afraid your regiment will not be able to carry out the main attack mission, and you will only be able to serve as the reserve for the entire division."
Fomenko's words made Belkin silent. He knew very well in his heart that what the other party said was very reasonable. The combat effectiveness of an army depends entirely on how many combat backbones there are in the army. If it is his own regiment
The remaining commanders and fighters were all wiped out in the battle, so after new recruits are added, the combat effectiveness will probably be severely reduced.
Thinking of this, he asked: "Comrade Division Commander, which regiment do you plan to send to perform this task?" Perhaps because he was worried that Fomenko would keep it secret, he also emphasized, "As the deputy commander of the 84th Division,
, I have the right to know.”
"Yes, yes, Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you have such a right." Fomenko did not deny Belkin's statement, but replied readily: "I plan to send Rusov's 254th Regiment to go
To carry out this honorable and arduous task."
Colonel Rusov was quickly recruited to the division headquarters. When he learned that he would lead his troops to seize two small towns on the banks of the Dnieper River, the corners of his mouth could not help but curl up slightly. As soon as Fomenko finished assigning the task, he
Immediately assure the other party: "Don't worry, comrade division commander, our group will never let you down."
"How many bicycles do your group have?"
"More than 1,300 vehicles."
After exiting the city last night, Fomenko learned about the strength of each regiment and knew how many troops the 254th Regiment still had: "So, you are still short of nearly 700 bicycles."
"That's it, Comrade Commander."
"Comrade Deputy Division Commander," Fomenko turned to ask Belkin, "the 254th Regiment is now short of 700 bicycles. Can you support some of them?"
"That's no problem," Belkin replied readily: "Colonel Rusov can go directly to our regiment later and ask the chief of staff for bicycles, and he will provide you with a sufficient number of bicycles."
"Then when will we launch the attack?" Rusuf asked.
"Don't be anxious, comrade Colonel." Sokov said: "When the 188th Division launches an attack on Chigilin and attracts the enemy's attention, you can then set off towards Ratsewe and Kinki. While the Germans are still there,
Without regaining consciousness, he captured these two towns by surprise and cooperated with the friendly forces to cross the river."
After Rusov left, Berkin reminded Sokov: "Misha, if we occupy Ratseve and Kinki and establish a new landing site, the Germans will definitely launch a fierce attack to remove our army from
The purpose of the eviction here. Do you think it is necessary to mobilize more troops to strengthen the defense here?"
It has to be said that Belkin's proposal really moved Sokov's heart. If the main force of the army group gathered at the second landing site, then when the attack on Cherkasy was launched in the future, the troops under his command would be able to take on the main offensive task. But
On second thought, it was still not possible. The troops of the German 1st Army were launching a fierce attack on the south side of the landing site. The troops stationed there were fighting tenaciously with the German troops.
Since it was impossible to mobilize troops from the earliest landing site to strengthen the defense here, Sokov could only do the next best thing and leave the task of establishing the second landing site to Shumilov's 7th Guards Army. Thoughts of this
, he asked Fomenko: "General Fomenko, can you get in touch with the front army headquarters here?"
Fomenko did not answer immediately, but turned to ask the Chief of Staff who had just come in from outside: "Chief of Staff, Comrade Commander would like to know if we can get in touch with the Front Army Headquarters here?"
"I'm afraid this is very difficult, comrade division commander." The division chief of staff explained to Fomenko: "We are only a division-level unit. Unless the front army headquarters takes the initiative to contact us, we must use the radio station of the group army headquarters to get in touch with our superiors.
."
Knowing that he could not get in touch with the front army headquarters, Sokov felt a little disappointed, but he reluctantly asked: "Can we get in touch with the 7th Guards Army?"
"Theoretically, it is possible, Comrade Commander." The division chief of staff replied: "As long as we know the contact number of the 7th Guards Army, our radio can communicate directly with them."
"Then you immediately contact the headquarters of the 7th Guards Army," Fomenko warned the other party: "Comrade Commander has important matters and needs to get in touch with the commander of the friendly forces."
Although Sokov could contact the 7th Guards Army through Samyko, considering that there might be some inconvenience due to the intermediate transfer, he decided to choose to speak directly to Shumilov, which would be more beneficial to both parties.
Coordinated military operations.
A few minutes later, the division chief of staff reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, we have made contact with the headquarters of the 7th Guards Army. You can contact them via telegraph or direct wireless communication."
Sokov felt that wireless communication was more convenient than sending a telegram anyway, and he could explain the problem clearly at the first time, so he decisively said: "I want to have a wireless communication with General Shumilov."
Soon, Shumilov's voice came from the headphones Sokov was wearing: "I am Shumilov, am I General Sokov?"
"Yes, it's me, General Shumilov."
Shumilov on the other end was very busy at the moment and asked a little fast: "What's the matter?"
"That's it, General Shumilov." Sokov knew in his heart that if he wanted to capture those two towns, his troops would have no problem at all. The most terrifying thing was that not long after they captured the towns, the enemy launched an attack.
During the counterattack, the troops scattered in the two towns might be divided and surrounded by the enemy, so he said to Shumilov straight to the point: "I plan to send troops to capture the two towns of Ratseve and Kinki on the banks of the Dnieper River."
A small town to facilitate your crossing of the river."
After Sokov finished speaking, he heard Shumilov telling a nearby staff officer: "Bring a map."
The person who brought the map was Shumilov's chief of staff. He wanted to find out why Shumilov used the map.
"Ratsev and Kinki?" Seeing the map placed in front of him, Shumilov muttered while pointing on the map with his fingers, trying to find the place Sokov was talking about.
"Here, Comrade Commander." After the chief of staff heard the two place names clearly, he immediately pointed to their location and said to Shumilov: "These two towns are on the bank of the Dnieper River. As long as the friendly forces occupy
With these two towns, we can easily cross the Dnieper River without any fighting."
Hearing what his chief of staff said, Shumilov couldn't help but shine: "Comrade Sokov, when do you plan to launch an attack on the two towns?"
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch and replied: "We have arranged the offensive troops. If everything goes well, they will launch an attack on the two towns occupied by the enemy in two hours."
"Two hours later?" After hearing this time, Shumilov turned to his chief of staff and asked: "Comrade chief of staff, how long will it take for our troops to be ready to cross the river?"
"There are currently very few equipments that can cross the river." The chief of staff replied: "If we want to cross all the infantry, machine guns, artillery, and engineers to the other side, I am afraid we will have to wait until tonight at the earliest."
Sokov heard the chief of staff's report through his earphones and couldn't help but frowned. If the troops of the 7th Guards Army really waited until dark before starting to cross the river, it would mean that they had occupied the troops in the two towns.
It is possible to be attacked wildly by the German army and pay a huge price.
Thinking of this, he quickly said: "General Shumilov, I don't think you need to wait until dark. As long as my troops occupy the towns of Ratseve and Jinki, you can use the existing river crossing equipment.
As many troops and equipment as can be ferried across the river will be crossed first. After the personnel and equipment are unloaded on the right bank, the river crossing equipment will then return to the left bank to transport more troops and equipment."
When Shumilov heard this, it seemed that this was really the case. He quickly turned around and ordered the Chief of Staff: "Chief of Staff, you immediately call the troops below and ask the troops with river crossing equipment to prepare for crossing the river. Once the friendly forces capture the right bank,
After two towns, they began to cross the river and rushed to the other side to take over the defense of the friendly forces. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Commander." The division chief of staff agreed resoundingly: "I will call the troops right away and ask them to prepare to cross the river."
After taking people for a walk around the river, Konev walked into the headquarters and found a busy scene here. He couldn't help but curiously asked Shumilov: "Comrade Shumilov, what happened?"
Things, I feel like your troops are getting ready to go into battle."
"You guessed it right, Comrade Commander." Shumilov was particularly excited when he thought that his troops were about to cross the Dnieper River safely without any losses: "Our troops will be in two or three
Hours later, the river-crossing operation will be carried out and a landing site on the right bank will be established in the shortest possible time."
Konev was confused by Shumilov's words. He had just returned from the river and naturally knew that the number of equipment for crossing the river was very small. At best, only one or two battalions of troops and equipment could be crossed at a time. Although the number of German troops on the other side was not large,
There are not many strong fortifications and strong firepower, but if you want to successfully cross the river, you must gather more ships and rafts.
He reached out and touched Shumilov's forehead and said to himself: "You don't have a fever, so why are you talking to yourself?"
This chapter has been completed!