"I think I have a say in this matter." General Gorokhov, the military commissar who had become almost transparent, suddenly said, "Can I say something?"
"Please speak, Comrade Military Commissar." Sokov behaved quite politely.
"When the war broke out, I was on the Leningrad Front." Gorokhov said: "Faced with the influx of enemies, our soldiers and mobilized residents behaved very bravely, and accounted for the proportion of troops and equipment.
The superior enemy fought tenaciously. However, our cities, settlements and villages were still continuously occupied by the Germans.
At that time, there was a feeling of defeat in the army and the city. It felt that no matter how brave and tenacious we were, it was impossible to stop the enemy. The fall of Leningrad was only a matter of time. But with the arrival of Marshal Zhukov,
It gives us hope again.
After Marshal Zhukov took over as the commander of the front army, he first asked the troops fighting the enemy to change their tactics. In the past, we were hiding in the trenches. If the Germans did not move, we were very happy. If the Germans attacked, we would fight to the death and not take a step.
We will not retreat. But after the implementation of the new tactics, the situation has completely changed. If the Germans attack, we will resist; if the Germans stand still and stop attacking, we will no longer be happy because we have a chance to breathe, but will take the initiative to attack.
.
What has changed is not only a tactic, but also a change in mentality. With the enemy's attack being contained, everyone regains hope and is full of confidence in victory."
When Gorokhov said this, he stared at Sokov and said solemnly: "If the person who restored the hope and confidence of the Leningrad army and people back then was Marshal Zhukov; then today the entire 53rd Group Army can
The person who became famous in battle is none other than you, Commander."
Seeing that Gorokhov actually raised himself to the same level as Zhukov, Sokov couldn't help but blush, and quickly waved his hand and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, you are really commending me. How can I be the same as Zhukov?"
How about comparing it to a marshal?"
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov just smiled faintly when he heard Gorokhov's flattery to Sokov, and then got back to the topic: "Let's continue to talk about how you plan to actively defend."
Sokov originally just had an idea, but when Gorokhov interrupted his whole idea, he thought for a long time and said: "German tanks are indeed more powerful than our tanks, but tanks without fuel and ammunition
, just a pile of scrap metal. Therefore, I plan to send out several small troops, disguised as German troops, to attack the German oil depots and logistics bases. As long as the logistical supplies of the German tanks are cut off, their threat to us will be greatly reduced.
Once the time is right, we can launch a large-scale counterattack."
"Is it possible?" As soon as Smirnov asked this question, he realized that he had said the wrong thing and quickly defended: "Comrade Commander, our troops have never implemented this kind of tactic before, so I don't have any idea.
end."
When Sokov was in Kremenchug, he once commanded the 53rd Army. He knew that the original commander and chief of staff were old-school soldiers who were used to face-to-face offensive or defensive battles and were familiar with the tactics he commonly used.
It is very unfamiliar. Since he is now the commander of the 53rd Army, he must start to gradually promote his tactics in the army.
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." If you want to promote your tactics, you must first convince Chief of Staff Smirnov: "I once used this tactic to make the Germans miserable."
"Okay, Comrade Commander, since you said so, then I'll do as you say." Smirnov said, "But we are not familiar with the tactics you mentioned. You can tell us what we should do."
Seeing Smirnov's cooperation, Sokov was very satisfied. He nodded with a smile and said: "To carry out this task, we must first select a group of commanders and fighters who understand German. After all, they are pretending to be Germans.
If you don’t speak German, it’s easy to get cheated.”
…………
At the same time, at the headquarters of the Second Ukrainian Front.
"Comrade Commander," Zakharov, who had just finished the phone call, said to Konev with a serious expression: "I just finished a phone call with the commander of the 5th Guards Airborne Division, and I can confirm that the Komarovka Highlands have been
Occupied by German troops."
"What the hell is going on?" Konev slapped the table hard and said angrily: "Why didn't they notice that the position was lost for so long?"
Seeing Konev's attack, Zakharov quickly explained: "Comrade Commander, I have learned about this matter, and I really can't blame them entirely."
"Why?"
"The scouts who went to collect intelligence captured a German prisoner. According to the results of the interrogation, the German soldiers who carried out the sneak attack were all wearing white camouflage uniforms and used the cover of the snow to quietly approach the airborne division's defense area."
Harrov reported: "First they sent out capable soldiers to kill our sentries, and then controlled the communication equipment. After doing all this, their large troops swarmed in, and in just a few minutes
Within, Komarovka and several nearby villages were captured.”
After listening to Zakharov's report, Konev finally realized: "It turns out that the Germans acted so quickly and covertly that even the airborne division headquarters didn't get any news. If it hadn't been for Sol
Comrade Kove reminds us that maybe we are still kept in the dark."
After a pause, Konev asked again: "Did the Airborne Division take any measures?"
"They are organizing troops to launch an attack on Komarovka and nearby villages to take back the lost positions from the Germans."
"Yes, the lost positions should be regained." Konev was worried about the insufficient strength of the 5th Guards Airborne Division, and said to Zakharov: "Chief of Staff, please contact the commander of the 5th Guards Tank Army immediately.
Comrade Rotmistrov and asked him to send troops to participate in the battle to retake Komarovka."
But after Zakharov waited for Konev to finish speaking, he did not immediately follow his orders. Instead, he said cautiously: "Comrade Commander, I have an idea."
"Tell me, what do you think?"
"Since it was Comrade Sokov who reminded us that the German troops appeared near Hill 239, there might be a problem with the defense line in the Komarovka area. Then we might as well tell him the results of the investigation and see what good ideas he can come up with.
?”
Zakharov's suggestion made Konev silent for a long time, and finally nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, then tell Sokov about the situation here and see what good suggestions he can make.
.”
After getting Konev's permission, Zakharov quickly ordered someone to get through the phone call of the 53rd Army Headquarters.
"Hello, I'm Zakharov, who are you?"
"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." Smirnov's voice came from the receiver: "What instructions do you have?"
"Where is Sokov?"
Smirnov glanced at Sokov who was sitting next to him and replied: "He is sitting next to me. Do I need to let him answer the phone?"
"Yes, give him the microphone."
When Sokov learned that Zakharov was looking for him, he first thought that it might be related to the incident in the Komarovka area. So he put the microphone to his ear and asked directly: "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army
, you called me because you wanted to inform me about the situation in Komarovka, right?"
Zakharov did not speak immediately, but covered the microphone with his hand, turned to Konev and said: "Comrade Commander, he guessed what I was going to say before I spoke."
Konev nodded with a smile and gestured to Zakharov to continue talking to Sokov.
Zakharov moved his hand covering the phone and continued: "Comrade Sokov, you guessed it right. My call to you is indeed related to the Komarovka area."
Knowing that Zakharov was looking for him because of the Komarovka area, Sokov quickly asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, is that place already occupied by the Germans?"
"You guessed it right, Comrade Sokov." Zakharov replied in a positive tone: "I learned from the 5th Guards Airborne Division that the Germans did occupy the highlands of Komarovka and its vicinity.
several villages.”
"I want to ask," Sokov interrupted: "How did the enemy capture the hills and villages?"
"The enemies were all wearing white camouflage uniforms, and using the cover of night and snow, they quietly approached the airborne division's defense area." Zaharov explained: "They sent out a small and capable team, first killing the sentries on duty, and then
After taking control of our communication equipment, we launched an overall attack and quietly eliminated the two companies of our army stationed in this area."
"What a great job." Sokov couldn't help but sigh after hearing what Zaharov said. But as soon as he said it, he felt that it might cause Zaharov to misunderstand, so he quickly explained: "
Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, please don’t get me wrong. I am saying that the Germans used their sneak attack tactics so well. Not only did they easily capture Komarovka, but they also did not alert our nearby troops. This can be said to be a battle that can be recorded.
A textbook battle.”
"Comrade Sokov, although these Germans are our enemies, I also admire them in my heart."
"Then what measures have you taken?" Sokov asked tentatively: "For example, sending troops to launch an attack to try to retake this area from the Germans?"
"Now the 5th Guards Airborne Division is gathering troops and will soon launch an attack on the Komarovka Highlands." Zakharov said: "I believe that the airborne commanders and fighters will retake the highlands in the shortest possible time.
"
"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army," Sokov organized the words in his mind after listening to what Zakharov said, and then said: "If I were you, I would never let the troops launch such an attack."
Sokov's words confused Zakharov, and he asked puzzledly: "Why?"
"For the Germans, occupying Komarovka and nearby villages is a life passage for them." Seeing that Zakharov did not understand, Sokov explained to him: "In order to keep this passage
, when the Germans are attacked, they will definitely put up a desperate resistance. I think no matter how many troops are invested, it will be very difficult to regain this area in a short time, and the war will fall into a stalemate."
"That's right, Comrade Sokov, what you said makes sense, and we have also taken this into consideration." After Zakharov finished speaking his innermost thoughts, he humbly asked Sokov for advice: "What's good about you?
Is there any way?"
"The Germans are eager to break through. If they are blocked, they will fight their way out. As a result, casualties will be inevitable for both the enemy and ourselves." Sokov said cautiously: "Therefore, we have to change our thinking and
Troop casualties were kept to a minimum."
"Oh, do you have a way to reduce the casualties of the troops?" Zakharov said with some surprise: "Tell me about it."
"Stop the attack on Komarovka!"
"What, stop the attack on Komarovka?" Even if a shell fell next to Zakharov and exploded, it would not be as shocking as Sokov's words.
"Yes, stop the attack on Komarovka." Sokov said plausibly: "Get out of the way and occupy both sides. I think this will allow our army to reduce casualties while greatly injuring the German army.
There is vitality.”
"I don't understand." Sokov's remarks confused Zakharov: "Can you explain it to me?"
"I have just said that the Germans are eager to break out. If they find something blocking them, they will definitely find a way to destroy it." Sokov asked rhetorically: "What will they do if they find that the road ahead is clear?
Woolen cloth?"
"It's very simple." Zaharov replied without thinking: "The German officers and soldiers will definitely rush forward desperately in order to escape from this death zone."
"Yes, that's it." Sokov waited for Zakharov to finish and added: "If at this time, our troops adopt a flank attack or a trailing attack to attack the enemy who is trying to escape the encirclement.
, do you think they can organize an effective resistance?"
Zakharov thought about Sokov's words and immediately understood what the other party meant: "Comrade Sokov, I think I understand what you mean. If we deliberately give way to the Germans and the Germans are eager to escape, they will
We have no intention of fighting, and just want to jump out of our encirclement in the shortest possible time. At this time, if our troops adopt flank attack or trailing attack tactics, the enemy will definitely not be able to organize an organized resistance, and will inevitably pay a huge price
casualties."
"Yes, that will definitely be the case then." In order for Zakharov to adopt his suggestion, Sokov also drew a pie for him: "Just think about it, the German troops who were defeated by you will flee.
If they are blocked by us again at Highland 239, they will have no way to retreat, and I'm afraid they will all be annihilated in a short time."
The beautiful scene Sokov described made Zakharov's heart beat so much that he almost blurted out and agreed to the plan proposed by Sokov. But when the words came to his lips, he swallowed them back. He gently swallowed them back.
He coughed, cleared his throat and said: "Comrade Sokov, your proposal is very constructive, but I need to ask General Konev for instructions first. After getting his consent, I will decide what tactics to use to deal with attempts to break out.
enemies."
This chapter has been completed!