"General Sokov," Zakharov's voice on the receiver was stern: "Please tell me truthfully, why did you not report such important news to the headquarters as soon as possible about the retreat of the German troops south of the landing site?"
Sokov remembered that when Zakharov usually addressed himself, he always used "you", but today he suddenly used the honorific title, which proved that the other party had reached a bizarre level of anger at this moment.
"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army," Sokov waited for Zakharov to finish and said calmly: "You are right, the enemies to the south of the landing site are indeed moving. But their movement is a real movement.
It is still a enchantment array deliberately set for us. We still cannot know the truth about this. At this moment, the reconnaissance team we sent is conducting intense reconnaissance, just to find out whether the enemy is really retreating or whether they are setting up a conspiracy. That's right.
Because I hadn’t figured out the truth yet, I made my own decision and didn’t report the situation immediately to avoid misjudgment by my superiors.”
Sokov's seemingly reasonable explanation extinguished the anger in Zakharov's heart a little. He slowed down and asked, "Is that so?"
"Of course." Sokov noticed that the other party's anger had subsided and said quickly: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, you know me. I will not report it casually until I understand the true intentions of the Germans. That is,
In order to avoid erroneous intelligence, leading to misjudgments by superior leaders."
Zakharov still trusted Sokov in his heart. After listening to his explanation, his anger gradually subsided. He remembered the reason for calling Sokov today and continued: "According to the intelligence we have obtained, the German army is
We moved towards the landing site established by the 7th Guards Army, trying to attack the landing site from several directions simultaneously and drive our troops into the Dnieper River. Therefore, I called Commander Konev who was staying at the headquarters of the 7th Guards Army.
Got the phone, ready to..."
Sokov knew very well what Zakharov was going to say next, so he said before he could say it: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, are you planning to let us send troops to contain the enemy?"
Zakharov did not expect that Sokov would guess what he said before he said it. After hesitating for a few seconds, he said: "From the current situation, you are the closest unit to the new landing site. Besides, the enemy
It was withdrawn from your defense area, and it is very appropriate for you to attack and contain the enemy."
"I don't think it's appropriate, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Seeing that what he was worried about happened, Sokov retorted resolutely: "Yes, we are the closest to the enemy now, and the enemy has also withdrawn from the vicinity of our defense area.
Logically speaking, it is natural for us to attack and contain these enemies and protect the safety of friendly landing sites. But..."
"but what?"
"But the order given to us by our superiors is to break through the German defenses south of the landing site, quickly advance south, seize Alexandria and Kirovgrad, and establish an offensive starting point to liberate the right bank of the Dnieper River," Sokov said plausibly.
Said: "Now my troops are ready for the attack. We will only wait for General Kryuchinkin's 69th Group Army to take over the defense, and then we can launch an attack on the German troops south of the landing site. If we really send troops to attack and contain the transfer,
The German army will completely disrupt our offensive steps. I beg my superiors to carefully consider my suggestion and let other units deal with the enemies flanking the friendly landing site, so that we can concentrate our strength and launch an attack to the south."
Sokov's words reminded Zakharov that according to the original plan, after Klyuchenkin's 69th Army took over the defense of Kremenchug and the landing site on the right bank, Sokov's troops would move towards the south of the landing site.
The German army launched an offensive and tried every means to liberate Alexandria and Kirovgrad in the shortest possible time. If they were ordered to attack the enemies appearing near the new landing site, it would completely disrupt the original plan.
"What should I do? What should I do?" Sokov's words made Zakharov feel very embarrassed. If Sokov did not send troops, then the landing site of Shumilov's troops might be attacked from two sides. But if
If Sokov sends troops, the original plan to develop southward will be completely disrupted.
Just when he was in a dilemma, he suddenly heard Sokov asking: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, are you feeling confused now and don't know what to do, right?"
"Yes, that's exactly it." Since Sokov guessed his thoughts, Zakharov did not hide it, but humbly asked the other party for advice: "Then tell me, what should I do?"
"I suggest you ask the commander of the front army for instructions." Sokov felt that if he did not want to send troops, he should follow the original plan and launch an attack to the south of the landing site, so he took the initiative to suggest to Zakharov: "Can you order the Guards to
The troops on the left and right wings of the 7th Army launched the river-crossing operation in advance, so as to disperse the strength of the German army and prevent them from concentrating their forces to attack the newly established landing site."
"Let the troops on both sides of the 7th Guards Army launch a river-crossing operation in advance?" Regarding Sokov's suggestion, Zakharov smiled bitterly and shook his head and said: "General Sokov, the situation is not as simple as you think. This
The two armies now do not have enough equipment to cross the river, so they have been unable to launch the cross-river operation."
After hearing the reasons given by Zakharov, Sokov said with some excitement: "If you just stay by the river and wait for the equipment to cross the river, it will delay the fighter plane."
"But there is no way to cross the river without the equipment for crossing the river." Zakharov said with a look of embarrassment: "Although the water flow is gentle at the crossing points chosen by the two armies, the river is too wide. If it is summer, it can be organized
The troops swam across the river, but it was already October, and the water in the river was freezing cold. The commanders and soldiers who entered the water would be frozen to death before they could even get ashore."
Zakharov's words reminded Sokov that October is almost already winter in Russia, and it may snow in two days. Let the commanders and soldiers swim across a thousand meters of river in the biting river, I am afraid it will
Many people were frozen when they came ashore. If everyone was frozen, how could they fight when they came ashore? Should they be placed on the shore as a target for the Germans?
After thinking about this, Sokov began to think in his mind that if the troops on the left and right flanks of the 7th Guards Army did not cross the river, the task of sending troops to cover the flanks of the new landing site would sooner or later fall on him.
Zakharov seemed to have guessed Sokov's dilemma and said: "General Sokov, I know what you are worried about. I will call the commander now and ask him what he means, and then consider whether it is up to you to
Send troops to support the new landing site."
When things came to this point, what could Sokov say? He could only say yes twice, and then put down the phone.
Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Samyko, who was still frightened, asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, what did General Zakharov say?"
"What else can I say?" Sokov replied with a wry smile: "Of course he wants us to send troops to cover the flanks of the new landing site so that the troops of the 7th Guards Army will not be attacked from the front and back."
"Then what should we do about our attack?" Sameko asked anxiously: "Do we order the troops to cancel?"
"Don't be anxious yet, my comrade chief of staff." Sokov comforted the other party and said: "General Zakharov said to call the commander immediately for instructions. Maybe there is room for change in this matter. Let's wait patiently for the news.
.”
"I'm worried that if the attack plan is cancelled, the battalion we sent to Pavlish City will become a lonely army. At that time, we can only watch them being annihilated by the enemy." Sameko.
After saying this, he asked Sokov for instructions: "Comrade Commander, before the first battalion enters the city, do you think you can send an emergency telegram to Captain Mikhailev to ask them to withdraw immediately?"
"It's too late, Comrade Chief of Staff." Although Sokov also had this thought in his mind, he thought on second thought that since he had not yet contacted the 1st Battalion, they might have already entered Pavlish. Give them to them at this moment
Giving an order to retreat would actually increase the risk of their exposure: "We don't know where the first battalion is now. If we rashly send a telegram ordering them to retreat, I'm afraid it will cause some unnecessary trouble."
"But if our attack is cancelled, this force deep behind enemy lines will become an isolated and helpless force." Samyko reminded Sokov: "Do you want to watch our troops being annihilated by the enemy?"
"They are all my subordinates. Do you think I will die without saving them?"
Sokov said, grabbing the cigarette box on the table, tearing open the package, taking out a cigarette from the exposed cigarette and holding it in his mouth. He threw the remaining cigarettes on the table, picked up the match and prepared to light a cigarette. Maybe
It was because he was too excited that he even cut several matches but could not get the matches to sparkle.
Seeing Sokov's somewhat rude performance, Samyko realized that he had wrongly blamed Sokov. The other party, like himself, was worried about going deep into the enemy's battalion. He reached out and took the match from Sokov's hand, and struck it.
He lit a cigarette, and then tried his best to ask in a calm tone: "Comrade Commander, is there anything we can do now?"
"All we can do now is wait." Sokov took a deep drag on his cigarette and gritted his back teeth and said, "Let's see what Commander Konev plans. If he decides to let us cover the new
On the flank of the landing site, the original attack plan will definitely be cancelled, and then we will find a way to notify the first battalion to withdraw. Of course, before leaving, the German material transfer warehouse must be destroyed, and nothing can be left for them."
"Well, this is a good idea." After hearing Sokov's words, Samek was visibly relieved. He picked up a cigarette scattered on the table, put it in his mouth, lit it, and said slowly
: “It seems that’s the only way it can be.”
While smoking, Sokov said to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if the First Battalion can successfully occupy the material transfer warehouse tonight, then early tomorrow morning, we will order the First Artillery Division and the Second Artillery Division to bombard the German armor with artillery fire."
The area where the troops were concentrated prevented them from sending additional reinforcements in the direction of Pavlish to ensure that Guchakov's infantry brigade could successfully break through the enemy's defense lines."
"Understood." Samyko knew very well that as long as the remaining enemy's attention was concentrated on the area where the armored division was located, then when Guchakov's infantry brigade launched an attack, the resistance it encountered would be greatly reduced.
: "I will convey your order to the two artillery division commanders."
Sokov threw the finished cigarette butt on the ground, crushed it with his toes, raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it's getting late, you should make a call now."
Samyko said hesitantly: "Comrade Commander, I think it's not too late to wait for news from General Zakharov before calling the two artillery division commanders."
"No." Sokov said resolutely: "To bombard the assembly area of the German armored divisions, a lot of artillery shells are needed. Do the two artillery divisions prepare so many artillery shells now? What if when the shelling starts, it is found that there are not enough shells?
, that would miss a big deal."
"But if the attack is cancelled, these artillery shells prepared for the artillery division cannot be transported back to the hiding place, right?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov explained: "Even if the attack is cancelled, there is no need to transport the artillery shells back to the hiding place. When the enemy launches an attack on our landing site, the artillery can use these shells to provide the defenders with necessary ammunition.
Artillery support. With artillery support, we are fully capable of holding our position even if the number of troops deployed south of the landing site is reduced."
Samyko went to call the two artillery division commanders. Before he could finish the call, Zakharov's phone came in again. When he heard that the person who answered the phone was Sokov, he asked straight to the point: "Sokov
General Cove, the commander asked me to ask you, do you have the confidence to break through the German defenses in the south?"
Hearing Zakharov's question, Sokov couldn't help feeling ecstatic, indicating that Konev was also weighing the matter to decide whether to send his own troops to cover Shumilov's flank. He quickly replied:
: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, as long as General Kryuchinkin's 69th Group Army can take over the defense as soon as possible, I can concentrate all my strength to attack the enemy in the south."
Zakharov waited for Sokov to finish and then continued to ask: "General Sokov, you haven't told me yet whether your troops have the confidence to break through the enemy's defense south of the landing site?"
"We are confident." Sokov said in a firm tone: "Please tell Comrade Commander of the Front Army that since the enemy's strength in the south of the landing site has decreased, as long as we launch an attack, we will definitely be able to break through the enemy's defense and take the opportunity to expand the results and go to
Planned occupation of Alexandria and Kirovgrad."
"Very good, General Sokov." Zakharov said in an official tone: "I will truthfully convey your words to Comrade Commander."
After saying this, Zakharov suddenly changed his tone and asked: "General Sokov, I am asking you now as a friend, can you really successfully break through the German defense line south of the landing site?"
?”
"Of course, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Although it is still unknown when the attack can begin, but in the face of Zakharov's question, Sokov still replied confidently: "Because the German troops have transferred many
With so few troops, their defense on the south side of the landing site has become relatively weak. As soon as our attack starts, it will only be a matter of time before we break through their defense line."
This chapter has been completed!