Shtemenko came to the theater and met with Sokov. Before the other party could speak, he said first: "Comrade Sokov, let me tell you good news."
Sokov, who was about to complain a few words, couldn't help but be stunned when Shtemenko said this, and then asked: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, what good news do you have?"
"That's right, we met an army on the way here." Shtemenko said excitedly: "They are the vanguard of the 9th Regiment of the 4th Airborne Division. According to the lieutenant who led the team, their main force may be
They will gradually enter the city in a few minutes. Once they arrive, we will be able to expand our results."
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, this is really exciting news." Sokov said: "I will contact General Afnin immediately to see if the 4th Airborne Division has arrived near the city of Uman."
Fortunately, the radio operator accompanying Sokov was not injured during the attack, and the radio was not damaged, so it was easy to contact General Afnin.
Sokov felt that the war had reached this point, and even if he could monitor the conversation between himself and Afunin, he might not have time to take any measures, so he used plain language without any scruples: "Afunin
General, where has the 4th Airborne Division reached?"
"Report to Comrade Commander," Afunin replied: "According to Major General Rumyantsev's report, the 9th and 12th regiments of the division have entered the city of Uman, while the 15th regiment is slightly behind, but will also be in the city in a moment.
Enter the city within the clock. As for the 41st Guards Division, it will probably take another half an hour to reach the outside of the city."
"Very good." Although the main force of the 18th Guards Army did not all reach the outskirts of Uman City within the time specified by himself, the addition of new forces made the war in Uman City more favorable to him: "
General Afunin, after all the troops of the 18th Guards Corps enter the city, you should also move the headquarters to the city."
Perhaps because he was worried about the other party's pushback, Sokov added: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff and I are now in Uman, in Colonel Konev's headquarters."
Sokov could have directly told Afunin the specific location of his headquarters. But he was worried that the Germans would know it. In order to save their failed outcome, the Germans would concentrate their efforts on launching a fierce attack on the theater. Things would not be good.
.And after the entire 18th Guards Army entered the city, even if the Germans knew the location of the headquarters, they could only stare blankly.
After Sokov put down the phone, Shtemenko asked: "Comrade Sokov, what are your plans after the 18th Guards Army enters the city?"
"Of course it is to expand the results." Sokov explained to Shtemenko: "Before the other two armies arrive, try to expand the area of the control area."
"Aren't you considering taking over the city?"
Sokov looked at Shtemenko, hesitated for a moment, and asked: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, do you want me to occupy the city or completely control the city?"
If people from other countries heard this, they would find Sokov's statement incomprehensible. Doesn't occupying a city mean controlling the city? But according to the tradition passed down from the Tsarist Russia era, as long as a red flag is planted on the top of the city's municipal building, it is declared complete.
Despite the occupation of the city, even though most areas were still under the control of the enemy. But controlling the entire city meant that the organic resistance in the city had disappeared, and all areas were controlled by the Soviet army.
Shtemenko did not give an answer, but said noncommittally: "It depends on how you think about it."
Sokov pointed to the map spread out on the table and said to Shtemenko: "Now Lieutenant Colonel Tunzikh's 10th Airborne Regiment is only two blocks away from the municipal building. If they launch a force attack, I estimate that it will be at most two blocks away."
In a few hours, the red flag can be planted on the top of the municipal building."
Before Shtemenko could speak, Sokov continued: "But I don't think it makes much sense. I still prefer to annihilate the effective forces of the German army in the city, and then complete the control of the entire city."
After hearing Sokov's decision, Shtemenko nodded and said in a positive tone: "Comrade Sokov, since you have made a decision, just do what you want. This place occupied by planting flags
I don’t think this method makes much sense, but it can easily make some offensive troops feel lazy.”
Colonel Konev, who was standing aside, couldn't help but ask after hearing this: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, why do some troops feel slack?"
"The reason is very simple." Not only was Shtemenko not angry at Konev's reckless question, but he also patiently explained to him: "If you are ordered to occupy the municipal building, you will only advance after paying a huge price.
When I arrived near the municipal building, I found a red flag flying on the top of the building. I want to ask you, in the next battle, will you continue to attack and advance regardless?"
Konev thought for a while, then slowly shook his head and said, "I think I will slow down the pace of the attack and eliminate the enemies blocking our front bit by bit."
"That's right." Sokov waited for Konev to finish, and then continued: "If the troops attacking from all directions find that there is no red flag flying on the municipal building, they will definitely want to be the ones who put the red flag on the building.
The top troops will display their great potential in the following battles."
"Oh, that's it." After Konev understood Sokov's intention, he nodded and said: "Comrade Commander, I understand that when I encounter this kind of situation in the future, I will give priority to annihilating the enemies in the city first.
We will use our vitality to plant our flag on top of the municipal building.”
"Colonel Konev, the specific situation must be analyzed in detail." Sokov reminded Konev: "If the troops fighting in the city are all from the same group army, there is definitely nothing wrong with this approach. But if we enter the city to fight,
If our troops belong to several different armies, we should consider placing flags on municipal buildings first."
After a pause, Sokov said to Konev again: "Colonel Konev, since Major General Rumyantsev's 4th Airborne Division has entered the city, you can shrink the troops appropriately and gather them to continue the attack.
.”
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Konev nodded and said, "Now my troops are too scattered. Since I have to divide my troops to guard the occupied areas, I have basically lost the ability to continue to expand the results."
"You first get in touch with Major General Rumyantsev." Although Sokov had a way to contact Rumyantsev, he did not want to leapfrog the command. Instead, he said to Konev: "Negotiate with him about the division of the offensive area.
"
Colonel Konev did not dare to neglect, and quickly ordered his radio operator to contact the 4th Airborne Division and negotiate the division of the offensive area between the two divisions.
Seeing that the other party was getting busy, Sokov said to Shtemenko: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, after the main force of the group army enters Uman, I will ask Chief of Staff Smirnov to move the headquarters as well.
We will direct the operations from the headquarters. What do you think?"
Shtemenko knew very well that the reason why Sokov said this was because he was worried that he would worry him if he ran around again, so he nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Sokov, I will obey you."
s arrangement."
Sokov was really worried about Shtemenko's safety. Just imagine if he really did anything good in Uman City, I'm afraid that he, as the commander of the group army, would end up. After hearing his promise, a huge stone hung in his heart.
It also landed.
Konev quickly ended the call with Major General Rumyantsev and came over to report to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, Major General Rumyantsev will arrive with me soon. Then we will discuss the details in detail."
Divide combat areas."
After hearing this, Sokov nodded and specifically reminded Konev: "Comrade Colonel, you have to remember that your two divisions are not the only ones liberating Uman. Soon, two more infantry corps will follow.
Yes, we must leave them enough space to attack. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Comrade Commander."
"Comrade Sokov," Shtemenko suddenly remembered an important thing: "I think that after you capture the municipal building, you should send someone to check the German files and see the building where tens of thousands of prisoners of war are held.
Where is the open pit mine located?”
The words woke him up from his dream. Sokov had only been thinking about how to capture Uman these days, but he had really forgotten about it. At this moment, Shtemenko reminded him, and he nodded quickly and said: "Deputy General Staff Officer
Comrade Chang, your reminder is timely. I will instruct the troops who captured the municipal building and find a way to obtain the relevant files of the Germans."
More than 20 minutes later, Rumyantsev appeared in front of Sokov. After raising his hand in salute, he reported in accordance with the regulations: "Comrade Commander, Major General Rumyantsev, Commander of the 4th Division of the 18th Guards Airborne Corps
Report to you..."
"Hello, General Rumyantsev." Before he could finish speaking, Sokov pulled his hand from his forehead, shook it vigorously a few times, and asked: "Your divisions have all entered the city.
?”
"Yes, Comrade Commander. The entire division has entered the city."
"Where are your troops?"
Major General Rumyantsev looked around, then walked to the table, looked down at the map spread out on it, raised his head and asked Sokov politely: "Comrade Commander, can I use this map?"
Sokov knew that the other party planned to use this map to explain the division's troop distribution to him, so he nodded and said reasonably: "Okay."
"Comrade Commander," Rumyantsev waited for Sokov to stand beside him, then pointed at the map and began to explain: "Based on the city defense map we obtained before the battle started, we can know that most of the German troops are concentrated
In the north direction of the city, to resist the attack of the 1st Ukrainian Front. In our direction, the total strength of the German army is only two regiments, mainly distributed in municipal buildings, opera houses, stadiums and other places. I think about it this way..."
Sokov listened patiently to Rumyantsev's explanation, and at the same time nodded slightly. He felt that the opponent's thinking was very clear, which areas could be priority targets for attack, and which areas could be temporarily defended to contain the German forces.
Use it to cover friendly forces to seize more important targets.
After Rumyantsev finished speaking, Sokov smiled and asked him: "Comrade General, I would like to ask, how many years have you been a division commander?"
"Report to Comrade Commander." Faced with the question raised by Sokov, Rumyantsev straightened his back and replied: "After the Battle of Stalingrad, I was promoted to major general and served as the commander of the infantry division. Three
At the beginning of the month, I was just appointed commander of the 4th Guards Airborne Division."
"So, you have been in the position of division commander for a whole year." Sokov said with a smile: "It seems that the troops you command have achieved a lot of results, otherwise you would not be transferred from the infantry division.
To the Guards Airborne Division."
When Rumyantsev heard what Sokov said, he immediately realized that the commander might have something else to say. Just when he wanted to hear what else he said, Sokov waved his hand at him and said: "General Rumyantsev,
Now that you and Colonel Konev have divided the combat area, return to your troops as soon as possible and start fighting against the German army."
After Rumyantsev left, Shtemenko asked Sokov in a low voice: "Comrade Sokov, I noticed that you seem to be quite interested in Major General Rumyantsev."
"That's right, Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, you have observed very carefully." Regarding Shtemenko's guess, Sokov did not deny: "Just now, Major General Rumyantsev demonstrated the ability when he explained the division of combat areas.
, you should also have seen it. I think it is a bit too humiliating for such an excellent commander to only hold the position of division commander."
Shtemenko agrees with Sokov's view: "We have been fighting for so many years, and many commanders have grown up in the war, but the number of excellent senior commanders is still very small. Like Rumian
For a commander as capable as Major General Tsev, I think he can be given a higher position."
"After this battle, I think the superiors may make some adjustments to the troops." Sokov felt that among the three military commanders under him now, except Afuning, when the other two commanders carried out their orders, they
They all have the habit of procrastinating and shoving, and if possible, they must be replaced by someone. "If I can find excellent commanders, I wouldn't mind letting them hold higher positions, such as the position of military commander."
"Don't act too hastily, Comrade Sokov." Shtemenko took action as Sokov said, as it might cause instability in the army, so he reminded him: "Even if we have to adjust the selection of the army commander, I think it will be
It should wait until Uman is liberated."
"You are right, Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff. Adjustments to senior commanders at this moment will have a negative impact on the morale and morale of the troops." Sokov said: "I am just preparing in advance and waiting for the opportunity.
When they mature, it’s not too late to replace them.”
After the two airborne divisions adjusted their respective combat areas, the battle went smoothly. In less than an hour, most of the areas south of the city were under their control.
The two division commanders fought very steadily. Once they occupied a place, they quickly consolidated their positions and deployed sufficient troops for defense to prevent possible German counterattacks.
Looking at the red arrow representing the Soviet army on the map and the blue arrow representing the German army, Shtemenko said with emotion: "Comrade Sokov, if we didn't get the weapons that Adelina brought back before we launched the attack on Uman,
Information, I think the battle may not be as smooth as it is now."
"Yes," Sokov said, pointing to the map: "If it weren't for Agelina's intelligence to figure out the German defense situation, I estimate that the troops of the 18th Guards Corps would still be attacking the Germans outside the city at this moment.
Where are the outer positions?"
This chapter has been completed!