"Misha, you really dare to say anything." Lunev's facial muscles twitched violently a few times, and he said with a wry smile: "If I hadn't been your partner before, knowing you as a person, I would definitely
Thought you were a panicked person."
"Don't put such a label on me." Sokov said with a smile: "I'm just telling the truth."
"To tell you the truth, I came here today with a mission."
"Come with a mission?" Lunev's words surprised Sokov. He asked in surprise: "What mission?"
"Although Antonov has already issued a transfer order, he is preparing to transfer you to the General Staff Headquarters to take up a more important position." Lunev explained: "But there will always be objections, thinking that you are too young and do not have the qualifications to hold the position."
The ability of that position. It happened that the First Ukrainian Front encountered a little trouble on the battlefield, so Antonov asked me to come over to see you and hear your views on the situation."
Lunev paused and added: "This can also be regarded as a test for you to see whether you are qualified for the work of the General Staff."
"It turns out that this is a test for me." Sokov muttered something bad: "If the plan he just proposed is proven to be correct after a period of time, then those in the General Staff who raise objections will have no choice.
You can say that, but by then I’m afraid I won’t be able to think about it anymore.”
Just as he was worrying about gains and losses, Lunev continued: "Misha, since you have reached an agreement with Marshal Zhukov and General Rokossovsky, there is still room for discussion whether to transfer to the General Staff.
.But how to resolve the crisis in Zhytomir, I hope you can tell me your true thoughts."
"Lunev, I speak from my heart." Sokov pointed at Fastev on the map and said to Lunev: "You just told me that the German 25th Armored Division is fighting
The 7th Guards Tank Corps is engaged in a fierce battle here. The Germans’ intention is obvious. As long as Fastiv is captured, they can cut off the Kiev-Zhytomyr highway at any time.”
"I believe General Rybalko, he must be able to defend Fastev." Lunev looked at Sokov and said: "As long as the Germans are not allowed to occupy this city, then they will not be able to attack the people in Zhitomir.
The 38th Army formed an encirclement."
Hearing Lunev's naive statement, Sokov was really dumbfounded: "My Comrade Military Commissar, do you think the Germans are fools?"
When Lunev heard that Sokov called himself a military commissar again, he guessed that there must be something wrong with what he just said, and quickly asked: "Did I say something wrong?"
"Yes, you are wrong, and very wrong." Sokov tapped the map with his finger and said: "The most common tactic used by the Germans is to attack from the front while detouring from both wings, so as to achieve the goal.
The purpose of encircling the defenders. Our army suffered many similar losses in the early stages of the war, resulting in tens of thousands of troops being encircled or even annihilated."
Originally, Sokov was talking about the Battle of Kiev in 1941, but then he thought about it. In this battle, the Soviet Army's senior commanders of the Southwest Front were almost killed, and more than 600,000 commanders and fighters were captured. This is
It was a taboo in the Soviet army. I had better not try to speak quickly, but if I violated the taboo, I would swallow the words that came to my lips.
"I think not." Regarding Sokov's statement, Lunev was still skeptical and stubbornly said: "Our army Korosten-Zhitomir-Berkichev
There are three armies on this line of defense, including a tank army. It may not be easy for the Germans to break through our line of defense."
"Yes, on the surface, we have three armies including the Tank Army, while the Germans only have Balck's 48th Armored Army, which is superior in strength." Sokov knew Lunev's military capabilities.
If it was not enough, he patiently explained to him: "But the factor that determines the victory of the battle is not only the number of people, but also the reasonable use of equipment and tactics.
You see, although there are three armies on this temporarily formed defense line, the distance between them is too far. When any army is attacked by the Germans, the other two armies cannot attack it in time.
Provide aid so that the Germans have the opportunity to defeat them one by one."
When Runev put his head close to the map and carefully examined the troop deployments of the Soviet and German sides, he secretly pondered what Sokov said.
Seeing that the other party was fascinated, Sokov did not disturb him, but was thinking about what measures he would take if he were in Moskalenko's position to deal with the attack launched by Balk.
After looking at the map for a while, Lunev raised his head and said to Sokov: "Misha, I think the 38th Group Army stationed in Zhytomyr can rely on the existing city defenses to carry out tenacious defense and persist in
Until reinforcements arrive."
"Reinforcements?!" Sokov heard what Lunev said and asked with a sneer: "My Comrade Military Commissar, the First Ukrainian Front Army has just liberated Kiev. Not only the casualties of the troops are not small, but also the commanders and soldiers have become
We are exhausted. It would be good to be able to hold Kiev at this moment. Wherever there is extra strength, we can reinforce the besieged Zhitomir."
"When Balck was using the Flag Guard Division and the 1st Armored Division to attack Zhitomir, his 7th Armored Division and 68th Infantry Division were moving to the two wings." Sokov felt that he knew what was going to happen next.
history, it is still necessary to remind the generals of the General Staff to find ways to reduce the casualties of the troops: "Once they are allowed to detour to the east of Zhitomir, the road from Kiev to Zhitomir will be completely cut off.
The 38th Group Army will be encircled by the Germans and may even be completely annihilated. Therefore, we must have the troops withdraw to Kiev in time before the German encirclement is formed, and deploy complete defenses to resist the German counterattack against Kiev."
"Misha, you haven't been in the army for a day or two." After Sokov finished speaking, it was Lunev's turn to smile bitterly: "When have you ever seen that our army would voluntarily give up the occupied city? If anyone is like this
He did it, and his fate awaiting him is to be sent to a military court and receive the due trial."
Lunev's words reminded Sokov that Zhitomir is an important city on the right bank of the Dnieper River. The Soviet army finally occupied it, so how could they give up easily? I'm afraid Vatutin gave General Moskalenko an order at this time.
The order was to defend the city at all costs, and the city must never be handed over to the Germans again.
After thinking about this, Sokov sighed and said to Lunev: "Lunev, even if the 38th Group Army is not withdrawn, Zhitomir will not be able to hold on for a few days. This is what I really think, you can
Report it to your superiors truthfully."
Lunev put away the map on the quilt cover and said to Sokov with a solemn expression: "Misha, I believe your analysis. General Moskalenko's 38th Group Army is now in a very dangerous situation. Only in time can
Only by retreating can we save the lives of more commanders and soldiers, I will truthfully tell Antonov and Shtemenko your thoughts."
This chapter has been completed!