After staying in the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion for less than an hour, Sokov received an urgent call from Samyko: "Comrade Commander, something happened. Can you come back immediately?"
Although Sokov could directly ask what happened on the phone, considering that his call with Samek might be eavesdropped by German agents lurking in the city, he did not directly ask the answer, but simply said
: "I'll go back right away."
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Chuvashov next to him: "Comrade Colonel, there is something going on in the headquarters. The Military Commissar and I must rush back immediately. It is up to you and Lida to deal with the aftermath of the transfer of the women's anti-aircraft artillery battalion."
The major will discuss it."
After saying that, without waiting for Chuvasov to respond, he stood up and said to Lunev, who had not yet come to his senses: "Comrade Military Commissar, there are things in the headquarters that we need to handle when we go back. Let's go now."
On the way back to the headquarters, Lunev asked Sokov curiously: "Comrade Commander, what happened?"
"I don't know." Sokov shook his head and said, "I was worried that the phone line of the Women's Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion was not secure, so I didn't ask. But in my estimation, this matter should have something to do with the Guchakov Brigade."
"Is it related to the Guchakov Brigade?" Lunev repeated Sokov's words and said to himself: "Did the German army notice our actions and strengthen the defense of the relevant areas?"
As soon as the two returned to the headquarters, Sokov quickened his pace and walked towards Samyko who was standing at the table. Still far away, he asked loudly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what happened?"
Did it happen? Was our preparation for a sneak attack on Pavlish discovered by the Germans?"
"Comrade Commander," Seeing Sokov returning, Samyko ignored the pleasantries and directly cut into the topic: "Just after you left, I received a report from the landing site, saying that the German troops south of the landing site were evacuating.
"
"What, the German troops south of the landing site are evacuating?" This unexpected news shocked Sokov, and he quickly asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is this news reliable?"
"To be honest, when I received this information, I also doubted its reliability, so I immediately sent someone to verify it."
Sokov knew Samyko well and knew that he would not report anything to him without a final conclusion, so he asked tentatively: "What are the results of the verification?"
Sameko nodded vigorously and replied: "I requested the reconnaissance plane from Chengbei Airport to dispatch and conduct reconnaissance of the area south of the landing site. Our pilot found that there were indeed signs of large troop mobilization on the ground. When he wanted to fly low
When he could see more clearly, he was hit by machine gun fire from the ground, causing his plane to be hit in multiple places and he had to leave the area as quickly as possible."
Before Sokov could speak, Runev rushed to say: "Comrade Chief of Staff, could this be a conspiracy by the Germans? They are pretending to be retreating just to wait for our army to give up their vigilance and then attack again."
Launch an attack suddenly and unexpectedly to achieve the purpose of breaking through our defense line."
In order to prove that his statement is correct, Lunev also added: "You know, in order to divert the enemy's attention, our army often makes some false moves to paralyze the enemy. Moreover, the enemy's mobilization, reconnaissance aircraft
The pilot only saw it from a high altitude, and when he lowered his altitude a little, he was attacked by ground fire. Therefore, I think the Germans' mobilization is entirely possible as a conspiracy."
Sokov did not express any opinions on this matter. As the commander of the group army, he had to confirm whether the German troops had really withdrawn before he could formulate a series of combat plans. He frowned and thought about it, and then asked Sokov
Meko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, in which direction did the enemy evacuate?"
"After the enemy left their existing positions, they moved northwest." After pointing out the direction of the German troops' evacuation on the map, Sameko boldly expressed his judgment: "I think the evacuation will be from the south side of the landing site.
The German army should have completed the Chigilin area and assisted the enemy there in attacking the 7th Guards Army, trying to drive all our friendly forces into the Dnieper River before they could gain a foothold."
Sokov stared at the map in front of him, mentally agreeing with Samek's analysis, but he did not show it on his face. Instead, he asked expressionlessly: "What is the size of the enemy's withdrawn troops?"
"Based on the information obtained so far, it should be no less than one division." Samyko said to Sokov: "However, this is only a preliminary reconnaissance result. Further information requires continued reconnaissance."
"Let the director of the reconnaissance department notify all reconnaissance teams located south of the landing site to immediately find out the true movements of the German army and how many troops have left the current defense area."
"Yes, I'll call the director of the reconnaissance department immediately."
"Wait a minute." Just when Samyko was about to make a call, Sokov stopped him again and added: "Inform the 254th and 300th Divisions on the front line of the landing site to build fortifications with great fanfare, especially in the
Minefields were laid out and barbed wire fences were pulled up in front of the positions, showing a posture of preparation for strengthening defense."
Regarding Sokov's order, Samyko seemed a little confused: "Comrade Commander, we will soon launch an attack on the enemy. If we lay minefields and pull barbed wire in front of the position at this moment, it will not be harmful to us.
Does the attack cause any inconvenience?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, don't worry." Sokov comforted Samyko: "Even if we lay minefields and pull up barbed wire, we can send engineers to clear the way for the attacking troops before the attack, and it will not affect the attack at all.
to our upcoming attack."
But after he finished speaking, he found that Sameko still looked confused, so he could only explain further: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I think what you said makes sense. The German army is preparing to mobilize the troops south of our landing site to attack them.
The 7th Guards Army has gained a firm foothold. But out of concern for us, they will be extra cautious when evacuating, and our posture of overhauling fortifications is to give the Germans the illusion that we only want to
Strengthening the defense and not having any thoughts of attack will prompt them to move more troops away."
Having said this, he turned his attention to Luniev who was aside: "Of course, the possibility mentioned by Comrade Military Commissar cannot be ruled out. As long as we strengthen our defense, even if the Germans want to give us a surprise blow, we
These newly built fortifications can also cause them huge casualties."
After understanding that Sokov was making double preparations by asking the forward troops to repair fortifications, Samyko couldn't help but his eyes lit up and he kept saying: "Comrade Commander is still thoughtful. Regardless of whether the German army withdraws troops from the south of the landing site, it is true.
It is still a conspiracy, and our army is right to build more fortifications.
Seeing us assuming a posture of strengthening defense, the Germans will think that we have no intention of attacking, and they can safely and boldly transfer more troops to the landing site established by the 7th Guards Army. Even if it is their conspiracy, look
When our army's defenses strengthened, they had to adjust their tactics and reconsider new ways to deal with our army."
However, before making the call, Samyko cautiously asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, does the Guchakov Brigade's plan to sneak attack Pavlish need to be adjusted?"
"No, no, no," Sokov waved his hands and said, "Now that the German army has begun to mobilize on a large scale, it may be more conducive to their actions. You can inform Guchakov of the latest situation, so that he can be aware of it, and at the same time, let him know the latest situation."
According to the original plan, he sent troops to sneak attack the material transfer warehouse in Pavlish."
While Samyko was on the phone, Sokov, who was staring at the map, suddenly had a thought in his mind: "Should Shumilov be notified of this matter in time, and the situation here be reported to Konev?
"
According to the intelligence obtained by Sokov, he knew that the battle at the new landing site was fierce. Although the commanders and fighters of the 7th Guards Army tenaciously resisted the German attack, they were still forced step by step towards the Dnieper River. There could be danger at any time.
The possibility of being driven into the river by the enemy.
"Comrade Commander," Luniev noticed that Sokov was staring at the map in a daze, and guessed that he might be thinking about something in his mind, so he asked: "You have been staring at the map in a daze, are you thinking about something?"
Luniev's voice pulled Sokov out of his thoughts. He turned to look at his military commissar and replied: "I am considering whether I should inform General Shumilov of the situation here."
Although Sokov did not explain the reason for reporting the news, Lunev understood immediately. He nodded and said: "General Shumilov is fighting very hard. If another German army attacks from their flanks,
If they attack, the landing ground they established may be lost. And those troops that have crossed the river will either be driven into the river, or they will be annihilated or captured by the Germans."
Now that Lunev had understood what he meant, Sokov did not need to waste any more words to explain. Instead, he expressed his concerns with concern: "If General Shumilov is notified of this matter, he will definitely request
We sent troops to cover their flanks and contain the main force of the German army, giving them enough time to establish a foothold on the right bank."
"If we really do this, it will affect our plan to attack south." Lunev quickly saw the problem and said dissatisfied: "When they gain a foothold on the right bank, they will definitely be attacked.
Praise or even awards from superiors. As for us, we may make huge sacrifices to contain the enemy, which will lead to the failure of the plan to attack south. In this way, not only will we not get any credit, but we may also miss the opportunity to fight.
Punished by superiors."
"Comrade Military Commissar, you are right." Sokov agreed with Lunev's analysis and continued: "Even if this matter is not reported to General Shumilov, it must be reported to the front army headquarters.
I am worried that after General Konev learns about this, for the sake of the overall situation, he will also order us to send troops to contain the enemy so that they cannot attack the landing site established by the 7th Guards Army from the rear."
Lunev shook his head and said: "Originally, half of our troops were unable to participate in this attack. If our superiors asked us to cover the flanks and rear of the friendly forces, I'm afraid all the original plans would be ruined."
"Yes, that's it." Sokov thought of Konev's promise that General Gargan's 57th Army would take over his defense. With such an army, not only could he hold the positions he surrendered,
, and even supported themselves when their attack did not go well. Unexpectedly, they suddenly became the 69th Group Army with an incomplete structure, so that they had to deploy the most elite guards at the 98th hour, but they assisted their
Defense. In addition, two more divisions were left as reserves, resulting in limited troops at hand. If troops were to be deployed to protect Shumilov's flanks, the original offensive plan would be completely ruined.
Samyko came back after making the phone call and saw Sokov and Lunev both looking sad. He couldn't help but curiously asked: "Commander, Military Commissar, what's wrong with you? Why do you look like the same person?"
Looks worried?"
Sokov told Samyko what he was embarrassed about.
After figuring out what was going on, Samyko also began to think deeply. After an unknown amount of time, he raised his head and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I think this matter should not be reported to the front army headquarters in a short period of time.
Do not inform General Shumilov."
"Why?"
"Although based on various signs, it is very likely that the German troops will withdraw from the south side of the landing site and go to the direction of Chigilin for reinforcements." Sameko said: "But this news has not been finally confirmed after all. What if this is Germany?
What about a trap set by others? If we report to our superiors too early, I am afraid that our superiors may misjudge and make wrong decisions.”
A smile appeared on Sokov's face, and then he asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think we should do?"
"Everything should be carried out according to the original plan, and at the same time, let the scouts seize the time to find out the enemy's true movements." Samek said: "No matter what the final truth is, as soon as our attack starts, even if General Konev knows that the enemy is
Attacking the flanks and rear of friendly forces will not allow us to deploy troops to reinforce General Shumilov. In any case, it is far better to capture medium-sized cities like Alexandria and Kirovgrad than to build new ones.
The landing site is more important."
"This is a good idea." Sokov thinks Samyko's idea is good. Since the enemy's situation is not clear yet, it is inappropriate to rush to report to superiors or inform friendly forces. The safest way is
While sending people to conduct comprehensive reconnaissance, we were making preparations for the attack. "If it was only on the eve of the attack that we found out that the German army was really going to attack the flanks and rear of the friendly forces, even if we reported it to our superiors, it would be impossible to mobilize our troops.
To contain the enemy attacking the friendly flank and rear."
Hearing that Sokov and Samyko had reached an agreement, Lunev couldn't help but hesitated for a moment, wondering if there would be any trouble if his superiors found out about this? But as soon as this idea came to him,
He was forcibly suppressed, and he thought to himself: There are so many idle troops now, why do we have to let the 27th Army give up the attack to contain the enemy? This arduous task can be given to other temporary units.
There are no troops to complete the combat mission.
This chapter has been completed!