"Comrade Division Commander," Starcha waited for Sokov to finish and then said cautiously: "Donetsk is more than two hundred kilometers away from Zaporozhye. The scouts we sent will have to wait at least three or four days.
Only the intelligence detected can be sent back."
"Let them put on German uniforms and three-wheeled motorcycles." Sokov ordered without explanation: "In this way, they will only need five or six hours to approach Zaporozhye."
"Comrade Commander," Belgin saw that Starcha was silent after Sokov finished speaking, so he interjected: "I feel that under the current circumstances, we should not focus our main attention on Zaporozhye.
Direction. With our current battlefield delivery capabilities, that place is too far away from us."
"Comrade Political Commissar," Sokov didn't know why Belkin, who had always had a tacit understanding with him, would rebel at this time, but he guessed that he must have his own ideas and asked quickly: "Do you have any other ideas?
"
"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Belkin nodded, pointed to the map and said to Sokov: "Not long ago, General Popov's troops were defeated in the Red Army Village northwest of the city. According to my estimation, here
There must still be small groups of our army operating in this area. If we try to attack the Red Army Village, we may reunite these scattered groups."
Sokov was stunned. He stared at the map in front of him for a long time without speaking. He was thinking over and over again in Belkinsuo's words in his mind: Yes, it is more than two hundred kilometers from here to Zaporozhye, and to the northwest
The Red Army Village is only 40 kilometers away. It only takes the tank brigade two hours to reach the outside of the city. Moreover, after the early battles, the defenses there have been basically destroyed. If an attack is to be launched,
The enemy may not have any fortifications to rely on for defense.
Thinking of this, he slammed his fist on the table and said angrily: "Yes, the political commissar is right. We can definitely attack the Red Army Village in the northwest. Why do we need to go so far to attack?"
Where is Zaporizhia?”
He quickly re-issued the order to Starcha: "Comrade Colonel, the reconnaissance mission on Zaporozhye continues. Other reconnaissance groups will adjust their directions, conduct reconnaissance on the German troops in the Red Army village, and find ways to communicate with those who have been dispersed.
Small units establish contact and can cooperate with each other during siege operations."
Starca nodded and then asked: "Comrade Commander, do you have any other instructions?"
"We occupied Donetsk, and the Germans will definitely not be willing to do so." Sokov felt that although the German army did not have the strength to counterattack in a short period of time, they would send out the air force to bomb the city indiscriminately.
, and added: "I'm worried that they will dispatch the air force to bomb here. Therefore, you must seize the time to build air defense fortifications to reduce losses in the German bombing."
"Comrade Commander," Starcha immediately realized after Sokov's reminder that although his troops occupied Donetsk, they could not rest easy. Even if the German ground troops could not come temporarily, they would definitely
Bombers will also be dispatched to bomb the city indiscriminately. "But we only have four thousand people now. If we want to build fortifications in such a large city, there may be a manpower gap."
"Colonel Starcha, have you forgotten the residents of the city?" Sokov reminded the other party: "There are at least 30,000 to 40,000 residents in this city now. You can organize them and help us with the construction.
fortifications.”
"Comrade Commander, when it comes to mobilizing the residents, you should leave it to me to take charge." Belkin said with a smile: "In any case, I am the political commissar of the regiment, carrying out propaganda and agitation to the citizens, but my
It’s your job.”
Seeing that Belkin took the initiative to take over this task, Sokov said smoothly: "Okay, Comrade Political Commissar, then I will leave this task to you to complete."
After Starcha left, Belkin resumed his previous address to Sokov: "Misha, when will our follow-up troops arrive?"
Sokov smiled bitterly and said: "I estimate that it will take at least two days to get there. After all, it is almost a hundred kilometers away from Luhansk, and some roads in some areas have been damaged by the German army.
, causing our marching speed to slow down."
"Two days?" Belkin frowned and thought for a while, then said to Sokov: "Misha, if our army really can't arrive until two days later, it will take another day to get to the Red Army Village. So
Once we arrive, we will give the German army three days to prepare. By then we will have to pay a higher price if we go to occupy the Red Army village."
"You are right." Sokov agreed: "Only by being quick and attacking the German army unexpectedly before they are ready, can we achieve the greatest victory with the least casualties."
"Misha, do you have any ideas?"
"Let the troops of our division speed up their march and reach Donetsk as soon as possible." Sokov said: "At that time, in order to confuse the enemy, several other divisions still maintained their original march speed, so that the enemy would not be able to predict our troops' arrival in Donetsk.
Tsk’s timing was misjudged.”
After Belkin agreed with Sokov's plan, he put forward his own opinion: "Misha, since Donetsk has fallen into the hands of our army, we can allow the convoys of transport troops to enter the city directly.
By reducing the time our troops spend on the road, we can complete the mission much earlier."
Sokov took a pen and drew a circle in the northwest direction of Donetsk, and said to Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, I plan to have the convoy drive directly here. Then the soldiers will be able to save a lot of distance.
It also helps them conserve their physical strength so that when they enter the battlefield, they will have enough physical strength to fight."
"This time, which regiment do you plan to let be the vanguard of the attack on the Red Army village?" After Belkin asked this question, before waiting for Sokov's answer, he took the initiative to request: "I think it is better to use this regiment.
This arduous task should be left to our regiment to complete. After all, the commanders and fighters have just occupied Donetsk and are in a state of high morale. Once they are put into battle again, I believe they will definitely be able to exert extraordinary combat effectiveness."
Regarding Belkin's request, Sokov almost agreed, but after thinking about it, he shook his head and said: "You are right, your group just won a huge victory not long ago, but we also
It should be noted that some troops were disabled during the battle. If they were allowed to continue to participate in the battle, I am afraid that after the battle is over, many of their numbers would be cancelled."
"Then which regiment do you plan to use for the main offensive mission?"
"Colonel Yershakov's 125th Regiment, which includes Major Shamrih's Marine Battalion, is not only strong in combat effectiveness, but also good at fighting tough battles." Sokov said: "Assigning such a difficult task to
I feel relieved about them."
Belkin once commanded a Marine Corps battalion in battle, and he knew very well how effective they were. Since Sokov was planning to let the 125th Regiment attached to the Marine Corps battalion serve as the main offensive, he could not object and could only nod.
, "Okay, Misha, just do as you say and let the 125th Regiment carry out this arduous and glorious task."
