The words of the artillery regiment commander made everyone present realize that in order to eliminate the unsightly Soviet troops opposite them, in addition to sending ground troops to attack, they could also use intensive artillery fire to blow them to pieces.
Herbert knew very well that the reason why his troops were able to defeat the Soviet army was that in addition to the well-trained officers and soldiers, rich combat experience and bravery, strong firepower was also one of the main factors for victory.
.
"Yes, our advantage is that we have strong firepower." Herbert said: "We must know how to use this advantage to deal with those damn Russians. After dawn, we should not launch an attack on the town for the time being. There should be
It is already in ruins, and even occupying it is of little significance. If any Russians are found inside, fire immediately to eliminate them all."
"Your Excellency, division commander," the division chief of staff waited for Herbert to finish and reminded him in a low voice: "Our artillery is limited in number. If we want to eliminate the Russians in the town, we may need to think of other methods."
"You don't have to worry about this." Hurlbut said confidently: "The troops attacking the town are not just our division, there are other troops, plus their artillery, it shouldn't be too big to eliminate the Russians in the town.
question."
"Yes, the other troops participating in the attack are also equipped with artillery." The artillery regiment leader continued: "They can undertake most of the artillery missions."
The commander of the light infantry battalion, who had never spoken, couldn't help but ask: "Mr. Colonel, why do we let other troops take on the main artillery task? Is it that our divisional artillery cannot complete such a task?"
The commander of the light infantry battalion is just a major. Questioning a colonel in such a military meeting is simply an act of provocation and is a typical offence.
The people present thought that Herbert would get angry and reprimand the ignorant major. However, what surprised everyone was that the always stern division commander said to the artillery regiment commander with a gentle expression: "Colonel, since the major has proposed to you
If you have a question, then tell him the answer."
The reason why Hurlbert was so tolerant to the major was entirely because the battalion suffered heavy losses in the two-day battle, especially in the shelling that ended not long ago. Another company of the battalion was killed in the Soviet artillery fire.
Reimbursed.
Although the commander of the artillery regiment did not know about this, since it was Herbert who had spoken, he naturally had to explain it to this officer with a lower rank than himself. He coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and said with a
With some dissatisfaction, he said: "Major, the reason why I said that friendly artillery should bear most of the bombardment of the town is because the artillery of our regiment also needs to bombard the bridges built by the Russians on the Dnieper River."
At this point, he sneered and continued: "If there is no need for artillery fire to block the river, once the Russians are allowed to set up a pontoon bridge on the Dnieper River, they will continuously transfer troops from the left bank to the area where the battle is now
Within, build a solid bridgehead.”
The commander of the light infantry battalion was too low-level to know that the Soviet army had ever built a pontoon bridge on the Dnieper River. But after hearing what the artillery regiment commander said, he obediently kept his mouth shut. He knew very well that once he let go
The Soviet army completed the erection of a pontoon bridge on the Dnieper River. A large number of troops and equipment can be transported from the left bank to the right bank through the bridge.
Seeing that the commander of the light infantry battalion stopped talking, Herbert continued: "After listening to the artillery regiment commander's introduction, everyone should understand in their hearts why we cannot concentrate all the artillery fire to deal with the Russian defensive positions.
It is because we want to retain enough artillery to destroy the pontoon bridges built by the Russians on the Dnieper River."
While the German army was studying the strategy for the next day, Shumilov on the right bank of the Dnieper River received a call from Sivarenko and learned that the artillery of the 27th Army had dealt a devastating blow to the Ratseve garrison.
, asked with some excitement: "General Sivarenko, can you confirm that the defenders in Ratseve Town were hit by devastating artillery fire?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sivarenko replied in a positive tone: "I am absolutely sure."
"What about the troops in front of your position?" After Shumilov confirmed this information, he asked cautiously: "What actions did they take? Did they launch an attack on the town?"
"No, Comrade Commander." Ever since he learned that the artillery of the 27th Army was shelling the town of Ratseve, Sivarenko had sent out an observation post to keep an eye on the friendly positions to see if they would take any action. But until the shelling ended,
, there was no sign of an attack on the friendly forces, so he truthfully reported to Shumilov: "I sent people to keep an eye on the area. If there are any actions by the friendly forces, I will know it as soon as possible. But so far,
So far, the friendly forces have shown no sign of attacking."
Hearing what Sivarenko said, Shumilov couldn't help but frowned. He thought to himself: What kind of trick is this Sokov going to do? According to past tactics, after the shelling, shouldn't the troops be organized to attack immediately?
When the enemy was stunned by the bombing, he decisively regained the lost position.
After ending the call with Sivarenko, Shumilov thought for a while and decided to report the matter to Konev and talk to the other party about his inner thoughts.
Konev was woken up from his sleep by his adjutant, and he was still a little unhappy. But when he heard that it was Shumilov who called him, he realized that something might have happened to him. He quickly got out of bed, put on his military coat and came to his home.
At the command post, he picked up the microphone on the table: "Sumilov, this is Konev, what happened there?"
"Comrade Commander," Shumilov reported respectfully on the phone: "I just received a call from General Sivarenko. He said that the artillery of the 27th Army had shelled the town of Ratseve, giving the German troops who occupied the town a
Give it a devastating blow."
The 15th Guards Division abandoned the town of Ratseve. Before retreating, Sivarenko reported the matter to Shumilov, who in turn reported the matter to Konev. Therefore, Konev
At this moment, I was not surprised when I heard Sivarenko's report. He just said lightly: "General Shumilov, as far as I know, the 15th Guards Division is currently deployed behind the 27th Army. Even in the town
Under shelling, the troops participating in the attack will not have their turn. If he wants to ask for a battle, don't agree to him for the time being, and let him take the troops to rest for a few days. Do you understand?"
"Comrade Commander, you have misunderstood me." Shumilov heard what Konev said and immediately realized that the other party had misunderstood. He quickly explained: "Although the friendly forces dealt a devastating blow to the enemy, they did not launch an attack."
Ground attack."
"What, what did you say?" This time it was Konev's turn to be surprised. He asked in confusion: "General Shumilov, didn't you say that the artillery of the 27th Group Army caused a devastating blow to the enemy? They
Why not attack?"
"I don't know." Shumilov called Konev at this time just to find out what Sokov was thinking. He and Sokov were on the same level, so it was inconvenient to ask about many things, but Konev
It would be different if my husband came forward. "Comrade Commander, why don't you call him and ask him what's going on?"
"I'll think about it." Konev said hesitantly, "I'll call you after I understand the specific situation."
After finishing the call with Shumilov, Konev sat at the table and asked his adjutant to bring him a cup of strong tea with sugar. While sipping the tea carefully, he thought about why Sokov's troops did not take advantage of the opportunity.
Launch a counterattack.
Before the cup of tea was finished, Chief of Staff Zakharov appeared in the headquarters. He must have been awakened from his dream. He yawned and greeted Konev: "Comrade Commander, you are here too.
"
"Well, the adjutant said that General Shumilov wanted to see me for something, so I came over to answer the phone." He looked at Zakharov standing in front of him and asked curiously: "Why are you here too?"
"It was a combat staff officer from the headquarters who woke me up," Zakharov, sitting opposite Konev, said, "It was General Shumilov, commander of the 7th Guards Army, who called me.
I was worried about something important, so I came here to have a look."
"Yes, General Shumilov did call." Konev decided to find out what the other party was thinking before calling Sokov, and tentatively asked Zakharov: "Chief of Staff
Comrade, you have had contact with Sokov before, so you should know him well, right?"
"It's quite familiar. Comrade Commander, if you have any questions you want to ask, as long as I know, I will tell you the truth."
"General Shumilov told me," Konev said unhurriedly: "The artillery under Sokov's command carried out an artillery bombardment on the town of Ratseve, dealing a devastating blow to the defenders in the town.
"
As Konev's chief of staff, Zakharov naturally knew the reason why the 15th Guards Division abandoned the town of Ratseve. He nodded and said: "Sokov did a good job. This shelling will definitely kill the enemy."
Huge losses were caused. Next, he would organize his troops to attack the town and recapture the town from the remaining enemies."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you guessed wrong." Unexpectedly, after listening to his words, Konev shook his head and said: "The artillery of the 27th Group Army did cause devastating casualties to the enemy, but after the shelling ended,
Kov's troops showed no sign of attacking. Do you know what's going on?"
Zakharov was shocked, and then asked in surprise: "After completing the shelling of Ratsewe town, he didn't organize troops to continue the attack?"
"That's true."
"Why on earth is this, Comrade Commander?" Zakharov asked in confusion: "Why doesn't Sokov send troops to attack?"
Konev looked at Zakharov, smiled lightly, and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it seems that I asked you this question first."
After Konev reminded him, Zakharov realized that the other party had indeed asked this question. He had to rack his brains and start thinking, why would Sokov give up such a good opportunity?
But after thinking for a while, he couldn't come up with an answer. He could only shake his head and said to Konev with a wry smile: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, although I have spent more time dealing with Sokov, but I really
I can’t imagine why he would give up such a good opportunity.”
Since Zakharov couldn't guess Sokov's purpose, Konev drank the remaining tea in the cup and said: "Since neither you nor I can guess the answer, the best way is to immediately
Call Sokov and ask him what's going on."
Hearing that Konev planned to call Sokov, Zakharov was about to remind him that it was getting late, but then he thought about it, Konev was not calling Stalin, but had to choose a time to call Sokov.
When a subordinate like my husband makes a phone call, it means that he can call whenever he wants.
Konev ordered the communications staff officer on duty to answer Sokov's phone.
"Comrade Sokov, this is Konev." Konev said with a smile: "I heard that the artillery under your command launched a violent bombardment against the German troops in Ratseve Town. Is this true?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, this is indeed the case." Sokov is a smart man. He guessed the other party's true intention from Konev's question. So he took the lead before the other party could continue to ask.
He asked instead: "You are calling me at this time. Do you want to know why a ground attack was not launched?"
Seeing that Sokov guessed his intention, Konev laughed a few times, and then said: "Comrade Sokov, can you tell me the reason?"
"The town of Ratsewe has been turned into ruins under the shelling of our army. Even if our army reoccupies it, I'm afraid it will be difficult to build any decent defenses." Sokov explained to Konev: "Although
I have ordered the troops to enter the town after dawn and eliminate the remaining enemies inside. But after doing this, they moved to other areas and rebuilt defenses."
"So, you don't plan to deploy forces for defense in Ratsewe Town?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, that's exactly what I thought about." Sokov was worried that Konev would misinterpret his words, so he specifically explained to him: "Not to mention that the town has become a ruin, it is difficult to become a
A powerful firepower support point; even if a complete defense can be established, I do not intend to defend here."
"Why?"
"When my troops captured the towns of Ratsewe and Kinki, it was to assist the friendly forces to cross the river and establish a reliable landing site on the right bank." Sokov said plausibly: "But with the loss of Kinki town, even if we concentrated
The Germans can also use artillery fire to block the river and prevent friendly forces from setting up pontoon bridges on the Dnieper River. If there is no pontoon bridge, the troops crossing the river to the right bank will become a lone army, and in the end they will run out of ammunition and food.
and were annihilated by the enemy."
Regarding Sokov's statement, Konev did not think it was alarmist. On the contrary, he thought it was very reasonable. He waited for Sokov to finish speaking and immediately asked: "Then do you have any good ideas to make the enemy's artillery fire?"
What if we can no longer block the river?"
"It's very simple, retake the town of Kinki." Sokov said: "As long as our army controls the town of Kinki, the enemy will not be able to establish artillery positions near the town. In this way, the threat of the enemy blocking the Dnieper River with artillery fire will be eliminated.
Disappeared."
"Well, Comrade Sokov, what you said makes sense." After Konev praised Sokov, he suddenly asked: "Then which unit do you think is suitable to be the main force in seizing Jinki Town?
"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, if you trust me," Sokov said seriously, "I can let my troops try. Even if they cannot recapture the town, they can prevent the enemy's artillery from blocking the river with all their strength."
