According to Sokov's idea, Rudenko could send twenty or thirty bombers to bomb the enemies hidden in the Dubovka woods, which would be a great honor to himself.
But what he didn't expect was that Rudenko actually sent 526 planes to carry out an hour-long bombing of the German troops in that area.
The enemies hiding in the woods never imagined that the Soviet army would carry out such a violent bombing, and they were immediately stunned. In order not to be killed by the bombing or burned to death by the fire in the woods, they ran out of the woods one after another.
They were scurrying around like headless flies. Unexpectedly, there were many officers and soldiers who jumped into the Berezina River and tried to swim to the other side. As a result, they were hit by the firepower of the Soviet army on the other side. Soon, hundreds of people appeared on the river.
There were pieces of corpses, and some sections of the river were even stained red with blood.
After the air force's bombing ended and the smoke slowly dissipated, the observation post of the 48th Group Army discovered that the bombed area had turned into a huge cemetery - filled with enemy corpses and bombed-out technical equipment.
After receiving the report from the observation post, Sokov called Rudenko and expressed his gratitude: "General Rudenko, thank you! Thanks to the air force you sent, the German troops in the Dubovka area were saturated.
The bombing has basically wiped them out, allowing my troops to attack Bobruisk without any scruples. On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the group army, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you and the air force under your command."
"General Sokov, you don't have to be so polite." Rudenko said with a smile: "I never thought that this kind of saturation bombing could actually destroy a huge German army. It seems that I will do more in the future.
Carry out such a bombing to achieve greater results."
Sokov knew very well that it would not be easy to bomb such a densely packed German army again in the future. But he only thought about these words in his heart and would not say them out loud, "General Rudenko, I express to you
Congratulations, congratulations on achieving such significant results."
After the two exchanged pleasantries, Sokov put down the phone and asked Sidorin, who had also just finished the call: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the offensive situation on the front line?"
"General Onupryenko reported that the troops of the 4th and 10th Guards Regiments have arrived on the outskirts of Bobruisk." Sidorin said hesitantly: "But there are German troops appearing on the positions.
White flag, seems to want to send someone to negotiate with us."
"Someone in the German army wants to negotiate with us?" Sokov was stunned for a moment when he heard what Sidorin said, and then he understood what was going on. The German army's troops originally deployed to the east of the city were intended to attack their own attacking troops.
Side, but now it has been subjected to devastating bombing by the Air Force. Since the original plan failed, the Germans must have new ideas.
But since the Germans wanted to negotiate, Sokov decided to give them a chance. If they could really convince the other party to lay down their weapons and surrender, it would greatly reduce the casualties of the troops. Why not do such a thing? Thinking of this,
Sokov decisively ordered Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, call General Onupryenko back and order the 6th Guards Division to suspend the attack and let the negotiators sent by the Germans come over."
As the order was issued, the 6th Guards Division, which was fighting on the southeastern outskirts of Bobruisk, stopped attacking and instead built fortifications on the spot, preparing to switch from attack to defense.
However, before the German negotiators arrived, Rokossovsky called first. He asked angrily on the phone: "Misha, what's the matter with you? Why did you stop the attack?"
"Comrade General," Sokov heard Rokossovsky's anger from his voice, and quickly explained to him: "My subordinates told me that the German army's position had a white flag, and their command
The officer wanted to negotiate with us. I felt that if we could really get the Germans to take the initiative to lay down their weapons, unnecessary casualties of the troops would be reduced, so I ordered the attack to be stopped."
After listening to Sokov's explanation, Rokossovsky slowed down and said: "Misha, do you think the Germans will take the initiative to lay down their weapons and surrender?"
"It's unrealistic to ask them to put down their weapons and surrender." Sokov shook his head and said, "I think the negotiators sent by the German army are just to test or delay. But even if it is only 100%
Even if we have the chance, we will make 100% efforts. Once we really convince the Germans to surrender, this will greatly reduce the sacrifices of our troops."
"Misha, your idea is good, but it is not easy to get the Germans to surrender." Rokossovsky said with a sneer: "The Germans are sending you a signal for negotiation.
On the other hand, they organized troops to launch a crazy counterattack in the 65th Group Army's attack area. After fierce fighting, Batov's troops were forced to abandon some newly occupied areas."
Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov couldn't help but be startled. He thought that the Germans were coming to negotiate, but it was just a delaying measure. They just wanted to gain precious time to readjust the defense deployment. Just when he thought
As he was talking, he suddenly heard Ponyjelin, who was sitting next to him, muttering in a low voice: "Maybe the Germans who want to negotiate and the Germans who are launching the counterattack are not the same people at all."
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional. Ponedelin's words made Sokov feel bright. He quickly said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander, I feel that the Germans who want to negotiate with us will not be able to counterattack the third party."
The enemies of the 65th Group Army may not be the same, so there is such a contrast."
"Oh, you said that the enemies who wanted to negotiate and the enemies who carried out the counterattack are not the same group of people?" Rokossovsky said thoughtfully after listening to Sokov's words: "Could it be that the Germans in the city
Is there internal strife?"
"Comrade General, as for whether the enemies in the city are having internal strife, I will know what happened after I talk to their negotiators."
What happened next proved that Sokov and Ponedelin's guesses were completely correct.
The German negotiator was a major. After he expressed his intention to come, Sokov asked bluntly: "Major, since you want to negotiate with us, why did you carry out counterattacks in the west and southwest of the city?
?”
"Mr. General!" the German major spoke Russian very well and could express his purpose clearly without the need for translation: "I was sent by General Hamann, the commander of the city defense. And those who command the counterattack in the southwest and west of the city are
General Govermeister, commander of the 41st Tank Corps. There was a huge difference between General Hamann and General Govermeister as to whether to continue fighting or to stop resisting."
After confirming his guess, Sokov continued to say to the major: "Major, General Haman proposed that he hand over the city to us and we let your troops leave safely. Please forgive me, I cannot agree to this of yours.
condition."
"Why?" the German major asked in surprise.
"The reason is very simple," Sokov looked at the German major and said: "We want to recover all the lands occupied by you. Bobruisk, which we let you leave today, will fight you in other cities tomorrow. When we arrive, Bobruisk will let you leave today.
At that time, will you still take the initiative to hand over the city to us?"
"I think maybe not." The major said with some lack of confidence: "Judging from the current situation, it is unwise for our army to continue to hold on to Bobruisk, so it is allowed to choose to give up. But when we arrive in a new city,
Maybe we will fight you to the last man."
"Major, it seems that you are an honest person." After listening to what the major said, Sokov said in an appreciative tone: "How about you stay and join the anti-war alliance formed by the Germans themselves. etc.
After the war is over in the future, people like you will be needed to build a new Germany."
Sokov's words surprised the German major. He asked in surprise: "Mr. General, although our army has suffered a defeat recently, it does not mean that we are incapable of continuing to fight. When it comes to defeating us, it is too late."
too early."
"Major, I can make a bet with you." Sokov looked at the other party and said with a half-smile: "Germany will be completely defeated by us if it persists for at most one year."
"This is impossible." The German major jumped up from his seat and said sternly: "Although our recent war has been unfavorable, we still have outstanding marshals and generals like Manstein, Rommel, and Model. They must have
I can defeat you."
"Then let's wait and see." Sokov said to the major: "Major, go back and tell General Hamann that your only way out is to lay down your weapons and surrender to us. Only in this way can more lives be saved.
Only when you re-establish a new Germany in the future can you preserve enough elites."
After seeing off the German major, Sokov said to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, inform General Onupriyenko that after the German negotiators enter their defense area, the 6th Guards Division will resume its original position.
attack."
"Okay. I will call General Onupryenko immediately and ask him to prepare to resume the offensive." When Sokov was negotiating with the German major, Sidorin was sitting aside. He was deeply afraid that Sokov would temporarily
Unexpectedly, I fell into the trap of the Germans, and I was in trouble if I really agreed to the other party's proposal. At this moment, I was overjoyed when I heard the order given by Sokov. After agreeing loudly, I ran to the side and made a phone call.
"Comrade Commander," Ponedelin said to Sokov: "Now that our suspicion has been confirmed, do we need to report it to General Rokossovsky immediately?"
Sokov picked up the phone, dialed the front army headquarters, and reported to Rokossovsky: "Comrade General, everything is clear. The person negotiating with us is the city defense commander General Haman; and to the third
It was the troops of the 41st Tank Army who carried out the counterattack of the 65th Group Army."
"So that's it. It seems that there are indeed some differences among the defenders in the city, which will be very powerful for our next attack." After Rokossovsky finished these words, he asked: "Misha,
Now that your negotiations are over, what are your next plans?"
"Comrade General, I have ordered General Onupryenko's guards to wait until the negotiators return to their positions at the 6th hour to restart the attack." Sokov reported to Rokossovsky: "
At the same time, General Tolstikov's 1st Guards Division will also launch a river crossing operation from the east bank of the Berezina River. After successfully crossing the river, it will launch an attack from the east of the city to assist the 6th Guards Division
Capture Bobruisk."
"Well, Misha, you have thought very carefully." Regarding Sokov's deployment, Rokossovsky expressed his approval. "I hope you can be the first unit to enter Bobruisk."
"Comrade General," the situation on the battlefield was changing rapidly, and Sokov did not dare to guarantee that his troops would be the first to enter Bobruisk. He could only say euphemistically: "We will do our best."
After Sidorin finished calling Onupryenko, he happened to hear Sokov promising Rokossovsky that he would try to be the first unit to rush into the city. As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he
He asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, the enemy that poses the greatest threat to our army's flanks has been annihilated by the air force. Do you think the main force of the group army should be mobilized to attack the city?"
According to the original plan, the main task of the group army was to draw out the enemies in the city and eliminate them. However, as the war progressed, the situation changed and some of the original plans could no longer be implemented.
Sokov also realized this, so after hearing what Sidorin said, he nodded and said: "That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff, even if we make any more feint attacks, the enemies in the city will not dare to go out of the city to pursue them.
Therefore, we need to adjust our plan and launch a full-scale attack on the city. You immediately notify all units to move towards the city, especially the 1st Guards Division, and it is best to carry out the operation of forcibly crossing the Berezina River within two hours."
"Comrade Commander, do you plan to use the 1st Guards Division?" Sidorin waited for Sokov to finish and asked tentatively: "Are you planning to let them rush into Bobruisk first?"
"Each unit relies on its own ability." Although the designation of the 1st Guards Division represents the excellence of this unit, it does not mean that they can be the first to rush into the city, so Sokov said reasonably: "It depends on whose luck.
Even better, be the first to rush into the city. Whichever unit is the first to enter the city will receive an honorary title named after the city in the future."
Knowing that Sokov did not decide on the first team to enter the city, but let everyone cross the sea to show their magical powers, Sidorin felt more at ease. However, he then asked: "There are a large number of German fortifications in the east of the city.
Do you think it is necessary to move all the artillery of the group army to the east of the city to assist the 1st Guards Division in siege operations?"
Sokov thought for a while and then said: "I think there is no need to mobilize the artillery. After all, the main force of the artillery is deployed in the southeast of the city. This can completely provide support for the 1st Guards Division who is attacking from the east.
Necessary artillery support."
"Comrade Commander, due to angle problems in some places, the artillery deployed in the southeast may still not be able to destroy individual fortifications." Sidorin reminded Sokov carefully: "Look, can you send some artillery to the city?"
Go east to support the 1st Guards Division?"
"Let's do this." Sokov felt that Sidorin was telling the truth, so he said to him: "We can transfer a Guards Rocket Artillery Battalion to the east of the city to help the 1st Guards Division destroy the German fortifications.
"
"What?" Sokov's words surprised Sidorin. He asked in confusion: "Can the rocket launchers of the rocket launcher battalion be able to deal with the German fortifications?"
