Weiler probably never dreamed that Sokov's troops would suddenly launch an attack under the most unlikely circumstances.
When the officers and soldiers of the 42nd Army were blocked by the Soviet troops at the left landing site and unable to move forward, the German commander issued an order to retreat. But at this moment, a strange sound came from the air.
As screams sounded, pieces of artillery shells drew beautiful arcs in the air and hit the dense German offensive formation. In the sky full of smoke and dust, the artillery shells exploded into thousands of shrapnel, intertwined with each other.
It formed a large airtight net, harvesting every living life near the explosion point. In the rising black smoke, the torn remains of tanks and armored vehicles, together with the broken limbs of German soldiers, were blown away by the air waves.
It was thrown into the air, and then fell down like rain, landing on the Russian land that was still hot and smoking.
However, this was just the beginning. After the five-minute artillery attack began, a red flare flew into the sky, sending an attack signal to the commanders and soldiers on standby at the landing site.
Just as thousands of commanders and fighters were preparing to launch an attack, they suddenly heard a familiar melody, a melody that made people's blood boil. At first, the commanders and fighters thought it was their own hallucination. But they soon learned that this was not their own hallucination.
It was the sound coming from the speakers that had just been installed not long ago, and the gramophone was playing the familiar "Holy War."
The commanders and fighters who had been preparing for the attack shouted loudly and rushed out of the position. The assault force was divided into two groups. On the left was Major General Gritsenko's 384th Division, and on the right was the 315th Division from the Assault Group Army. The commanders and fighters
Follow the fleeing enemy and quickly rush towards the German position in the distance.
Not long after the infantry set off, the cooperating tank brigade also dispatched. More than sixty T-34 tanks and a dozen self-propelled artillery quickly caught up with the infantry in front, and gradually passed them, becoming
Lead the infantry charge from the front.
The officers and soldiers of the 42nd Army have been attacking the Soviet landing site since dawn. According to their usual thinking, the Soviet army can only conduct passive defense in the face of its continuous attacks, so there are not many deployments on the defense line.
The strength of the Soviet army. Now the Soviet tanks and infantry are coming like a tide. How can they withstand it?
The first line of defense was quickly broken through by the Soviet army. After leaving the necessary troops to defend, they continued to advance towards the German second line of defense.
From the moment the battle started, Sokov and Tsvetaev stood on a high ground, holding telescopes to observe the situation on the battlefield.
Tsvetayev couldn't help but be overjoyed to see the troops smashing through the enemy's defensive positions. He originally thought that if the troops at the landing site were to advance towards the city, they would definitely have to go through a fierce battle before they could capture the enemy's first line of defense. However,
Now, this goal has been achieved effortlessly.
"General Sokov, your tactics are really great. Our troops actually broke through the enemy's defense line so easily." Tsvetayev said confidently, perhaps because he saw that his troops were performing too easily.
: "I believe it won't take long for our army to occupy the enemy's second line of defense."
"Comrade General," Sokov was not dazzled by the victory in front of him. He knew very well that the enemy was far stronger than himself. When they reacted and gathered their forces to counterattack, that would be the beginning of a fierce battle. In order to prevent
Tsvetayev had the idea of underestimating the enemy, and he said euphemistically: "The enemy in Kharkiv is much stronger than us. Even though we have the advantage now, if the enemy concentrates their strength to launch a counterattack, we will stop them. I'm afraid
It’s not an easy thing.”
After hearing what Sokov said, Tsvetayev stopped the smile on his face and said solemnly: "Then what should we do?"
"What we can do now is to find ways to disperse the German forces." Sokov looked at the smoke-filled battlefield on the east bank of the Ude River and said: "As long as the enemy's forces are dispersed, they will not be able to drive our commanders and fighters into Ud.
De River.”
After speaking, Sokov turned around and ordered the communications staff officer standing nearby: "Communications staff officer, get me through to the group army headquarters immediately. I want to speak to Chief of Staff Sameko."
After the call was connected, Sokov ignored the pleasantries and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation there at your place? Are the troops ready for combat?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sameko replied in a positive tone: "The troops participating in the assault have been assembled on the west bank. They can only pass the bridge and the two bridges in the shortest time as soon as the shelling begins.
The pontoon completed the river crossing operation."
"General Sokov," Tsvetayev next to him heard this and couldn't help but interjected and asked: "I wonder what the shortest time is?"
Sokov glanced at Tsvetayev, and then repeated his question to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is the shortest time you mentioned?"
Samyko had obviously anticipated that Sokov would ask this question, and immediately answered unambiguously: "No more than ten minutes at most."
Sokov could accept the time mentioned by Samyko. After nodding slightly, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the troops at the left landing site have broken through the first line of German defense and are moving towards the second line.
The defense line is advancing. You have to be quick in your movements, otherwise you will fall behind."
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, it is not enough to rely solely on ground troops to attack. We must get air support to advance further."
Tsvetayev did not understand what Sokov suddenly said, and asked with some surprise: "General Sokov, are you planning to request air force support from the Front Army Headquarters?"
"Yes, that's what I mean." If the troops attacking from the landing site were all Sokov's troops, he would have called Konev or Zakharov and asked them to send out air force support. But now
It is a joint operation between two army groups, and Tsvetaev’s military rank is higher than mine. If you don’t explain the matter clearly to him and just call him casually, I’m afraid the other party will have a grudge. “Look, it’s you who called Kone
General Husband calls, or should I do it?"
A smile appeared on Tsvetayev's face: "General Sokov, the landing site on the east bank of the Oud River was established by your troops, and I was just cooperating with you in the battle. I asked my superiors for air support.
I think it would be more appropriate for you to make the call."
Since Tsvetayev offered to make the call, Sokov did not show any pretense and immediately ordered the communications staff to connect the line to the front army headquarters.
Seeing the communications staff answering the phone, Tsvetayev said with emotion: "General Sokov, you were so considerate that you ordered someone to install a phone with the front headquarters before the attack."
"Comrade General," Sokov replied: "The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly. If we simply communicate by telegraph, we may delay the fighter plane. But with the phone, we can report the latest intelligence here to our superiors at any time, and
Ask for their assistance when appropriate."
After the call was connected, the person on the other end of the phone answered the phone was Konev: "Comrade Sokov, do you have any important information that you want to report to me?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov quickly reported to Konev about the attack by the troops at the left landing site, and finally said: "Our troops at the right landing site will also launch an attack on the enemy soon.
, I hope you can send the air force to provide necessary air support for our offensive forces."
Konev was shocked by Sokov's report. He did not expect that Sokov would launch an attack on the enemy without saying a word. After thinking for a moment, Konev asked: "How is the progress of the left wing?"
"We have successfully broken through the enemy's first line of defense and are advancing towards the second line of defense." Sokov said: "In order to prevent the enemy from concentrating their forces and driving our left-wing offensive troops into the Oud River, I plan to
Let the right wing also participate in this attack and strive to achieve maximum results."
"Comrade Sokov, I believe that your attack will successfully plunge the enemy into chaos." Konev said generously: "I will send the air force to provide you with air support as soon as possible."
Just when Sokov breathed a sigh of relief and was about to hang up the phone, he suddenly heard Konev ask again: "Comrade Sokov, you just said that the troops cooperating with you are the troops of the 5th Assault Army?"
"Yes, Commander of the Front Army."
"Since it is a joint operation, I am very concerned about who has the final say in commanding the operation, you or Lieutenant General Tsvetaev?" Konev deliberately used the word "lieutenant general" when asking this question.
He emphasized his tone.
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov glanced at Tsvetayev who was standing not far away and replied: "This attack is limited to my troops, and the friendly forces are only cooperating with us."
Although Sokov did not clearly say who had the final say, Konev understood what he meant. After laughing twice, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Sokov, I wish you good luck.
I hope to hear news of your victory soon."
After Konev ended the call, he held the phone in a daze for a while, and then said to Zakharov standing next to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I think it is necessary to tell Marshal Zhukov this good news."
"Comrade Commander, this is what we should do." In fact, even if Konev didn't say anything, Zakharov planned to propose it to Konev. At this time, when he heard him mention the matter first, he said with a smile: "I believe Zhukov
The marshal will definitely be very happy when he finds out about this."
The director of the communications corps learned that Konev wanted to talk to Zhukov, so he answered the phone at the Voronezh Front headquarters in the shortest possible time.
After the call was connected, Zhukov's voice came from the receiver: "Is it Comrade Konev? I'm Zhukov!"
"Hello, Georgy Konstantinovich!" Konev called Zhukov's name affectionately and said with a little excitement: "I have good news to tell you."
Knowing that Konev had good news to tell him, Zhukov immediately asked impatiently: "General Konev, was it your troops that broke into Kharkov?"
"Well, that's not the case." Faced with Zhukov's question, Konev replied with some embarrassment: "My troops are still destroying the enemy's effective forces outside the city and have not entered the city yet."
"Since your troops haven't rushed into the city yet, what good news can you report?"
"Well, not long ago, Major General Sokov reported to me that his troops launched an attack from the left-wing landing site on the east bank of the Oud River towards the defensive positions of the enemy's 42nd Army. So far, they have successfully broken through the enemy
The first line of defense, the troops are advancing towards the second line of defense. At the same time, the troops on the right landing site will soon launch an attack on the German 11th Army."
"Oh, Misha's troops launched an attack on the Germans?" Zhukov asked in surprise: "Is the news reliable?"
"Completely reliable, Comrade Marshal." Konev replied confidently: "This information was reported to me personally by Comrade Sokov."
Hearing such good news, Zhukov's mood fluctuated somewhat. After taking a deep breath, he continued to ask: "General Konev, did Misha make any request to you?"
"He requested that I send the air force to provide air support for his offensive forces."
"It is completely necessary to provide air cover for Misha's offensive troops." As an excellent commander who has experienced hundreds of battles, Zhukov naturally knows the importance of air cover in offensive operations. He clearly remembers that last year
At the same time, he commanded three armies to launch an offensive north of Stalingrad. However, due to the lack of air support, the attack by hundreds of thousands of commanders and fighters against the German army did not achieve the desired results.
Now the number of our own aircraft has exceeded that of the German army, and we have mastered most of the air superiority in the Kharkov area, providing air cover for Sokov's troops, which is very helpful in expanding the results of the war. Zhukov asked tentatively: "Kony
General Fu, how many aircraft do you plan to send to support Sokov's troops?"
Although most of the air power at this time was used by Konev in the battle area with the main force of the front army, when he heard Zhukov's question at this moment, he hesitated for a moment and said decisively: "Comrade Marshal, I will find a way to let
The Air Force dispatched an aviation division to provide strong enough air cover for Sokov's troops."
"Very good." Zhukov knew that Konev had done his best by deploying an aviation division, so he did not force him, but said reasonably: "But one aviation division has to support two landing sites. Obviously,
If it is not enough, I will ask Comrade Vatutin to send another aviation division. I believe that with the strength of two aviation divisions, we will definitely be able to provide sufficient air support for Sokov's troops and relieve them of worries."
After Konev and Zhukov reached a consensus, as soon as they ended the call, they immediately ordered the director of the communications corps to dial Sokov's phone. As soon as he heard Sokov's voice, Konev said excitedly: "Comrade Sokov
, I want to tell you good news. Your offensive force will be supported by two aviation divisions, so you don’t have to worry about threats from the air."
Sokov was surprised after hearing this. He asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander, shouldn't the air force of the front army be in the most intense fighting area at this moment? Where can so many aircraft be deployed to support us?"
"You are right, our air force is indeed insufficient. At best, we can only send you one aviation division." Konev told Sokov truthfully: "But after I reported your situation to Marshal Zhukov, he
It has been decided to allocate another aviation division from the Voronezh Front to support you. In this way, the German army will not pose any threat to you from the air, and you can confidently and boldly advance deep into the enemy."
