After receiving the lieutenant's notice, the tank brigade commander immediately rushed to the bridge to meet the two Shechtmans.
Since he was only a lieutenant colonel, when he saw the two men, he first raised his hand in salute and said politely: "Hello, two comrade colonels, I am the commander of the 219th Tank Brigade. What can I do for you?"
"Hello, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Colonel Billing said to the tank brigade commander with a smile on his face: "We just heard from your subordinates that after you stationed near the bridge, you will stop advancing. Is that true?"
"Yes, Comrade Colonel." The tank brigade commander nodded and gave Colonel Billing a positive answer.
"Can you tell us why?"
Regarding this question, the tank brigade commander did not know Solomatin's true intention. He could only answer according to his own understanding: "Comrade Colonel, I think it may be that we have not established a unified command between you and us, so we cannot be sure.
After we cross the river, we need to decide where to set up defenses at the landing site, so the commander of the army, Lieutenant General Solomatin, ordered us to temporarily stay on the left bank area near the bridge and wait for further orders."
When Shechtman heard the tank brigade commander talking about Solomatin, he specifically mentioned the opponent's military rank - lieutenant general. The muscles on his face couldn't help but twitched violently. He thought to himself: Commander Sokov
He was just a major general, but now a lieutenant general has appeared. Who should command whom?
After a few more words with the tank brigade commander, Shechtman and Billing turned around and crossed the bridge back to their headquarters.
On the way, Shechtman said to Billing worriedly: "Comrade Political Commissar, things are in trouble."
Billin asked in surprise: "What happened?"
"Didn't you just hear the tank soldier lieutenant colonel say that the commander of the 1st Mechanized Corps, Solomatin, is a lieutenant general?" Shechtman said with a wry smile: "And Commander Sokov is just a major general.
Have you ever seen a major general commanding a lieutenant general?"
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Billin was silent for only a moment, and then unexpectedly replied: "I have seen it. When I was in the Leningrad Front, after Marshal Zhukov resigned, the person who succeeded him as commander was Major General Fedyuninsky.
, and another general who followed Zhukov to the Leningrad Front, Lieutenant General Hozin, served as the commander of the 54th Group Army, taking over the command of Major General Fedyuninsky."
Billing's words gave Shechtman hope again: "Comrade Political Commissar, do you mean that even if General Solomatin has a higher military rank than our commander, he still has to accept the command of the commander?"
"I think the superiors assigned the 1st Mechanized Army to my group army command just because they want the commander to command them." Bilin said seriously: "Who will assume the unified command has nothing to do with the military rank. It depends on the commander's command ability.
, and the brilliant achievements he has established on the battlefield, let alone a major general now, even if he is just a major, his superiors may let him command a general."
As soon as the two returned to the division headquarters, the chief of staff reported to Shechtman: "Comrade division commander, I just received a call from Lieutenant Colonel Vanya, chief of staff of the 762nd Regiment, and discovered German activities in their defense area.
signs.”
Hearing what the Chief of Staff said, Shechtman's expression became serious: "Chief of Staff, tell me the details."
"The situation is like this," the chief of staff reported to Shechtman: "The person who discovered the situation was a soldier from the third company of the 1st Battalion of the 762nd Regiment. While on duty, he suddenly noticed the reflection of lenses in the woods in the distance.
It seemed that someone was observing his position with a telescope, so he reported the matter to the squad leader in time.
Then, the squad leader reported to the platoon leader, who in turn reported to the company commander, who in turn reported to the battalion commander. After the battalion commander learned of the incident, he immediately ordered the third company commander to send a platoon of soldiers to search the area.
"
Billing couldn't help but interjected and asked: "Have you found any useful clues?"
The chief of staff glanced at Billing, then focused on Shechtman again, and continued to report to him: "After some searching, several footprints were found in that area. Judging from the shape of the shoe nails,
, they are indeed military boots worn by the German army. When the battalion commander reported the search results to Lieutenant Colonel Vanya, he felt that the matter was of great importance and called me."
After Shechtman waited for the chief of staff to finish speaking, he asked noncommittally: "Comrade chief of staff, what do you think of this matter?"
The chief of staff didn't know what Shechtman meant by asking this question. He stared at the other person stupidly, not knowing how to answer.
Seeing the Chief of Staff's delay in speaking, Shechtman reminded him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you think these footprints found in the woods were left by the defeated bridge guarding troops, or were they from other places?"
Left behind by the incoming German scouts?"
After figuring out the question Shechtman wanted to ask, the chief of staff thought for a long time and answered: "Comrade division commander, I think they should be the footprints left by German scouts."
"Tell me your reasons?"
"The reason is very simple." The chief of staff replied without hesitation: "It has been a long time since we established the landing site on the right bank. Even if some of the officers and soldiers guarding the bridge were lucky enough to escape into the woods, they would have fled as far away as possible. How?
Maybe it's still in the woods now? Aren't you afraid of being discovered by the search team we sent?
Also, the sentries of the Third Company reported the situation after they discovered the reflection of lenses in the woods. If they were not German scouts, how could they have used binoculars to observe the movements at the landing site?"
"Well, that makes sense." Shechtman agreed with the chief of staff's analysis: "Go on."
"Our army occupied Kremenchug and established a landing site on the right bank of the Dnieper River, cutting off the German retreat route in the Poltava area. The Germans will definitely not give up." The chief of staff continued: "They sent people to the landing site.
Conducting reconnaissance nearby means that they are preparing to launch an attack on the landing site and try to drive us back to the left bank..."
"Comrade division commander," Billing and other chiefs of staff finished speaking, and immediately reminded Shechtman: "We only have one division, and it will be very difficult to defend such a vast landing site. Do you think you can take this matter seriously?
Propose to the Army Group Headquarters and ask the commander to send us additional reinforcements as soon as possible?"
"Comrade Political Commissar, you don't have to worry about this. The commander is constantly transferring troops from Merefa Fortress here. It's just that the journey is long and it will take some time to get here." Shechtman said compared to Lin.
Said: "Even if the Germans attack us before the main force arrives, we can rely on the terrain to resist. If we really can't support it, we can ask for help from the 84th Division on the right. I don't believe in the strength of the two divisions.
, even could not stop the German attack."
"The division commander is right." The chief of staff agreed: "The reason why our division directly stationed at the right bank landing site as soon as it arrived at Kremenchug was entirely because the 84th Division was preparing to launch an attack on the Svetlovodsk District.
.Later, it was discovered that the German troops were stationed there heavily and they used one division to break through the defense line, so they temporarily stopped the attack. Now the division has made all preparations for combat. As long as we encounter danger here, they can provide us with support at any time.
.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, we have three things to do now." Shechtman said to the Chief of Staff: "The first is to report the possible presence of enemies near the landing site to the Army Headquarters; the second is to contact General Fomenko and report it
We told him about the situation here and let him be mentally prepared in advance; third, we immediately sent a reconnaissance team to conduct reconnaissance in the area where the German footprints were found to see if there were any signs of German troops gathering."
Regarding the three things Shechtman ordered, the chief of staff said solemnly: "Comrade division commander, I think the second and third points you mentioned can be implemented immediately. But report this matter to the group army headquarters.
I think we should be cautious.”
"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." As soon as Billin and the Chief of Staff finished speaking, he immediately expressed support for his statement: "I think what the Chief of Staff said is reasonable. Who are the enemies that appeared near the 762nd Regiment's defense area?
We haven't figured out what it is for yet. I'm afraid it's not appropriate to report it to the Army Group Headquarters so hastily."
Shechtman frowned and thought about it. He felt that he might be scolded by Sokov if he rashly reported it to the army headquarters before he could figure out what was going on. So he thought about it again and again and decided to send someone first.
Conduct reconnaissance and contact General Fomenko.
Seeing the chief of staff pick up the phone and start assigning tasks to Colonel Prochenko, the commander of the 762nd Regiment, Billing said to Shechtman: "Comrade division commander, don't forget, we are not a lonely army. Except for the right wing
In addition to the 84th Division, there is a tank brigade and a mechanized brigade behind us. If our situation is not good, we can still ask for help from this friendly force."
"If our situation here is critical, will they support us?" Shechtman said cautiously: "You know, although the 1st Mechanized Army is assigned to the command of the group army, who will command whom has not been finalized yet.
.I am worried that by then our situation will be critical and the two brigades on the left bank will still stand still."
"Comrade division commander, why do you think the friendly forces will stand still?" Billing raised a question in his mind: "Aren't they worried that after we are defeated or even wiped out by the Germans, they will become the next target of the Germans?
"
Hearing what Billing said, Shechtman sneered: "My comrade political commissar, maybe they want to watch us be defeated by the Germans, and then they launch an attack from the left bank. Even if they can't stop the enemy, they can still
Effectively slowing down the advance speed of the German army, and then chose to retreat into the city of Kremenchug.
If they can block or even defeat the German attack, they will receive great honor, because they can defeat an enemy that even the heroic 27th Army cannot defeat. The superior commander will definitely look at them differently because of their outstanding performance.
look."
Billing felt that Shechtman's statement was quite reasonable. If his troops were defeated by the Germans, but the 1st Mechanized Army currently stationed on the left bank could crush this enemy's attack, they would definitely receive great honors, and even
In the near future, this unit will also be awarded the honorary title of Guards.
After the chief of staff made a call to the 762nd Regiment, he reported to Shechtman with some surprise: "Comrade Division Commander, Colonel Prochenko reported that the regiment's chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Vanya, has sent out three reconnaissance teams.
At the same time, conduct reconnaissance to the south, east and southeast of the landing site."
Hearing what the chief of staff said, Shechtman quickly pulled the map on the table in front of him, lowered his head and began to study it. After looking at it for a while, he punched the map and said repeatedly: "This million
Lieutenant Colonel Niya is not simple. He actually sent reconnaissance teams in three directions at the same time. In this way, no matter where the German army is gathering in any direction, the reconnaissance team can detect it at the first time and feed back the intelligence in a timely manner.
return."
"Comrade division commander, have you forgotten that Lieutenant Colonel Vanya was originally the commander's old subordinate." Billing said to Shechtman with a smile: "He has learned a lot about the commander's skills and believes in him.
It won't be long before we find out what's going on."
"Comrade division commander," the chief of staff asked from the side, "should you call General Fomenko, or should I?"
"We will not make any calls for the time being." Shechtman shook his head and said, "We still don't know if there are German troops gathering near the landing site. There is no need to make a fuss now. We should patiently wait for the intelligence from the reconnaissance team."
"What about General Fomenko?" asked the chief of staff.
"When the enemy starts to attack us in a big way, it will not be too late for us to ask General Fomenko for help." Shechtman said confidently: "Anyway, the defense areas of our two divisions are very close, and they can attack them in the shortest possible time.
Come over and support us."
A communications staff officer walked over quickly and handed a telegram he had just received to the chief of staff. After the chief of staff quickly browsed the contents above, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and he hurriedly asked Schechter
Mann reported: "Comrade Division Commander, good news, Comrade Commander has boarded the vehicle with the 73rd Infantry Brigade and is preparing to rush to us."
"Oh, Comrade Commander is coming?!" Hearing what the Chief of Staff said, Shechtman grabbed the telegram in his hand and read it carefully. When he was sure that the content above was consistent with what the Chief of Staff reported, he
There was also a relaxed expression on his face, "This is great. Comrade Commander will be able to arrive in Klementchug in a few hours, and then we won't have to worry about who will command the troops."
Shechtman handed the telegram in his hand to Billin and continued: "Comrade Political Commissar, you were right just now. With the commander's command ability, even if his military rank is lower than that of General Solomatin, Klemen
All troops here in Qiug still need to obey his command."
"Since the commander is coming, it means that the main forces will continue to enter the landing site on the right bank." After reading the telegram, Billing curiously asked Shechtman: "Comrade division commander, do you think the commander will finally arrive?"
Where will our division be placed on the landing site?"
Shechtman looked at the map and said confidently: "Our division performed well in the Battle of Kursk and the liberation of Belgorod and Kharkov. I think the commander saw it. And
The terrain to the south of the landing site is flat, which is very conducive to the deployment of troops. This is undoubtedly the best place for the German army to attack. Troops with strong combat capabilities like ours are naturally responsible for the defense of the most difficult areas."
"Comrade Division Commander, as a result, our troops may suffer huge casualties."
"Don't worry, Comrade Political Commissar." Shechtman said: "No matter how heavy the casualties of the troops are, Comrade Commander will give us more. I hope that through this battle, the troops like the 84th Division and the Guards
Like the 98th Division, they received high honors."
