After Koida received Sokov's promise, he couldn't help but feel ecstatic. According to his understanding of the landing site on the right bank, there were no solid defensive positions there. Facing the crazy German attack, the troops holding the position would definitely fall in a short time.
There will be heavy casualties, and by then your troops will be transferred to the right bank area.
On the way back to the army, political commissar Mashkov saw Koida looking overjoyed and couldn't help but ask: "Comrade division commander, what makes you so happy?"
"Comrade Political Commissar, at the meeting just now, Comrade Commander personally stated that as long as the troops at the landing site on the right bank are severely depleted and need to be withdrawn to the rear for rest, our division will be transferred up."
When Sokov expressed his position, Mashkov also heard it, but he was obviously not as optimistic as Koida: "Comrade division commander, I think you may be disappointed. Maybe our division has no chance of entering the landing site on the right bank. This battle
It will be over.”
Mashkov's words surprised Koida: "Why?"
"I just talked with Colonel Shechtman, the commander of the 254th Division," Mashkov sighed and said to Koida: "Just a few days ago, our division had not reached Kremenchug.
At that time, Comrade Commander organized a limited counterattack, which not only consumed the effective strength of the German army, but also pushed the defensive positions forward for a certain distance. The 182nd and 300th Divisions were responsible for defending these areas.
In other words, the original first-line troops are now in the second-line defense position at the landing site. Even if the defenders holding the first-line position suffer heavy casualties, they will still be the second-line troops to replace them, and it will not be our turn at all."
"What?" Koida's eyes widened in surprise and asked Mashkov: "Comrade Political Commissar, is everything you said true?"
"Yes, it's true." Mashkov also specifically said: "If you don't believe it, you can call and ask the commanders of other divisions when we return to the division headquarters."
"Forget it, no need." Koida waved his hands and said: "Comrade Political Commissar, I believe what you said is true. It seems that the so-called reserve team, ready to take over the defense of friendly forces at any time, is nothing more than
Comrade Commander gave us a verbal check."
"Don't worry, Comrade Division Commander." Seeing Koida's expression becoming depressed, Mashkov quickly comforted him and said: "Although our division may not be able to participate in the defense of the right bank, when the attack begins, our division will be able to
Go into battle as a viable force."
"Comrade Political Commissar," Koida was thinking about how to deploy defenses after his troops entered the right bank during the entire meeting. He had no chance to communicate with other commanders. At this moment, he heard Mashkov say this.
, he couldn't help but asked curiously: "Then when do you think we can participate as an effective force in the offensive operations of the right bank landing site?"
"I don't know the specific time," Mashkov replied: "But according to what I know, it shouldn't take long before the troops on the right bank will launch a round of attacks on the enemy's defense zone."
After listening this time, Koida asked with great interest: "Comrade Political Commissar, what did you base your judgment on this time?"
"Before leaving the headquarters, I had a few words with Colonel Manoxin, the political commissar of the 84th Division..."
When Koida heard this, he couldn't help but interrupt Mashkov: "Wait a minute, my comrade political commissar, I want to know how many friendly commanders have you talked to?"
"I have basically talked with the commander of the landing site on the right bank." Mashkov replied with a smile: "You were chatting with the commander and chief of staff at the time. I had nothing to do outside the church. I saw friendly troops.
The commander was here, so he went over to say hello, chat a few words and learn about their situation."
Koida thought about it carefully, and it seemed to be true. As soon as the meeting ended, he pulled Sokov and Samyko to ask questions, while Mashkov was waiting for him outside the church. When he came out of the church
, happened to see him chatting with other commanders, but because he was walking in a hurry, he didn't see clearly which unit the other commander belonged to.
"Comrade Political Commissar," Koida asked after a period of silence: "On what basis do you judge that the right bank will take offensive actions against the enemy?"
"The reason is very simple. The commanders and fighters of the 84th Division are organizing learning to ride bicycles."
"Riding bicycles?!" Koida was puzzled: "What are they doing on bicycles?"
"What else can be done, of course, is to launch an attack on the enemy." After Mashkov finished saying this, he realized that he did not speak clearly enough and Koida might not be able to understand, so he specifically explained: "Comrade Commander
When introducing the situation, you should see that the area where the 84th Division is stationed is full of forests, lakes and swamps, which is not conducive to the use of mechanized troops. In order to improve the efficiency of the attack in this area, Comrade Commander gave General Fomenko
The troops were equipped with a batch of bicycles for the soldiers to march on bicycles..."
Hearing this, Koida immediately understood Sokov's intention. He imagined the scene of soldiers chasing the enemy on bicycles, and said in surprise: "Oh my God, this idea of Comrade Commander is really awesome."
It’s such a fantasy, I don’t know how he came up with it.”
"It doesn't matter how you came up with it." Mashkov said: "After the commanders and fighters of the 84th Division have mastered the skills of riding bicycles, in the next attack, their action speed will become even faster.
The attack launched at the landing site will begin from their defense zone."
Koida was thinking that the roads on the battlefield were in extremely poor condition. If he wanted to mobilize troops quickly, it would not be enough to just rely on existing railway and road transportation. His division had been waiting in the Merefa Fortress for a long time.
It took half a month to arrive here by train. If the entire division is equipped with a large number of bicycles, even if transportation by rail or road is not possible, one's own subordinates can still ride to Klementchug.
"Comrade Political Commissar," Koida said, "I am thinking in my heart, if each person in our division has a bicycle, no, even if there is one bicycle for two people, then the marching speed can be at least doubled. As long as there are enough
With our bicycles, after receiving the long-distance raid mission assigned to us by our superiors, the troops can rush to the battlefield as quickly as possible."
"Comrade Division Commander," Mashkov also felt the same way about Koida's statement, but he said regretfully: "But under the current circumstances, where will the superiors find enough bicycles to equip our division?
?”
"As far as I know, there is a bicycle manufacturer in the city of Kremenchug." Koida had some understanding of the situation in the city of Kremenchug. He took the initiative and said: "Anyway, we are going back to the division.
We'll pass by there on the way, so we might as well go talk to the factory director and see if he can think of something for us."
"Comrade Division Commander, the bicycle factory in the city has long been taken over, and all production has been provided to the 84th Division." Mashkov stopped Koida's idea: "Even if we find the factory director, I'm afraid he won't be able to
Provide us with even one bicycle."
Koida knew that what Mashkov said must be true. After all, while he was communicating with the commander and chief of staff, his political commissar was communicating with commanders of other troops outside the church and learned a lot that he didn't even know.
Things. Regarding the bicycle factory, there must be nothing wrong with it.
"What can we do?" Koida said with a frustrated look: "If the superiors really cannot provide us with bicycles, then in the next battle, our soldiers will have to rely on their own two legs to march."
"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Mashkov said helplessly: "As far as I know, there shouldn't be many commanders and fighters in the division who can ride bicycles. Even if a sufficient number of bicycles are seized on the battlefield in the future, I'm afraid they can be sent
The number of uses will also be very limited."
The speaker is unintentional, but the listener is intentional. Mashkov's words gave Koida a new idea: "Comrade Political Commissar, what you said makes perfect sense. Since Comrade Commander has set a precedent for marching by bicycle, then in the future the troops will use
There will be more and more places with bicycles, and if we don’t let our commanders learn to ride bicycles, we will fall behind the friendly forces. Therefore, we must find a way to get a batch of bicycles."
Mashkov agreed very much with Koida's statement, but he still had a headache about how to get bicycles: "But where are we going to get bicycles?"
"When I get back to the division headquarters, I'll call Chief of Staff Sameko." Koida has already thought about it. Since he can't get the bicycle from the bicycle factory, he will go directly to the headquarters and get it from there.
The bicycles he needs: "Ask him to help us get a batch of bicycles for the commanders and fighters to use for practice."
Koida is also a person who works vigorously and resolutely. The first thing he did when he returned to the division headquarters was to call the headquarters and ask Sameko for a bicycle.
After hearing the other party's strange request, Samek quickly covered the phone with his hand and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, Colonel Koida said on the phone that he hopes we can provide a batch of bicycles to their division."
"Koida wants a bicycle?" Sokov was equally surprised by Koida's request. He pointed at Sameko and ordered: "Comrade Chief of Staff, ask him if he wants a bicycle."
What?"
Sameko released his hand covering the microphone: "Colonel Koida, Comrade Commander asked me to ask you, what do you want a bicycle for?"
Koida quickly told Sameko what he knew about the situation, and finally emphasized: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you must be very clear about the road conditions in our country. I believe that in order to speed up the march of the troops,
To achieve speed, it is necessary to equip our commanders and fighters with a sufficient number of bicycles."
"But the bicycles produced today will be given priority to the 84th Division. After all, they will be the first troops to use bicycles in combat." Sameko said to Koida in a regretful tone: "I'm sorry, Comrade Colonel,
I cannot fulfill your wish, please forgive me!"
But Samyko's reply was already as expected by Koida. He said with a smile: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are the only one who can get bicycles in Kremenchug now. I hope you will."
Can you help me."
Before Sameko could reject himself again, he continued: "It doesn't matter if you can't provide us with bicycles in large quantities. I just hope that you can give us a hundred bicycles first so that I can use them as a trainer."
Commanders, when our superiors equip us with a sufficient number of bicycles in the future, the unit's mobility will be greatly improved."
Koida's request sounded reasonable, and even if Samek wanted to refuse, he couldn't say it. He could only look at Sokov for help, hoping that Sokov could come up with a solution.
After Sokov figured out Koida's intention, he thought for a while and said to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please tell Colonel Koida that one hundred bicycles are not available for the time being. We can only provide them with twenty bicycles first."
vehicles. They can completely use these bicycles to teach all commanders and fighters in the division to ride bicycles."
Hearing that Sokov only provided 20 bicycles to the 188th Division, the muscles on Samyko's face twitched violently a few times, and then cautiously reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the 188th Division now has eight thousand
There are many people. Isn’t it too little to only give them twenty bicycles?”
"That's enough." Sokov said carelessly: "Although there are more than 8,000 people in the 188th Division, it is impossible for everyone to learn to ride a bicycle. Those who really need bicycles are combat troops. Give them twenty bicycles,
We can let them learn how to ride bicycles as a company."
Now that Sokov had spoken to this extent, Samyko understood that it would be useless to persuade him any more, so he nodded and released his hand covering the microphone: "Comrade Colonel, the commander and I have already discussed this.
, we don’t have that many free bicycles now, and we can only provide you with twenty bicycles at best..."
"What, only twenty vehicles?" Koida couldn't help but wailed when he heard the number Samek said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, can't you find a way to get us a few more vehicles?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade Colonel, I can't provide you with more bicycles." Sameko said without being humble or condescending: "Twenty bicycles are already our limit. If you don't want them because you don't want them, then I won't give them to you.
Already."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff." Koida originally wanted to ask for more, but after hearing what Sameko said, he knew that even if he made another request, he would be rejected, so he said decisively: "Twenty cars are just two.
Ten cars, I’ll send someone to pick them up later.”
Sokov waited for Samyko to put down the phone and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how many bicycles do we have in our security forces?"
"There are about more than two hundred bikes." Samyko explained to Sokov: "Originally there were only a dozen or so bikes at the beginning, but as the bicycle factory resumed production, while supplying it specifically to the 84th Division, we also obtained some
Production, and thus the number of bicycles owned by the Guard, increased from an initial few to more than two hundred."
"Very good." Sokov said sincerely that since there are more than 200 bicycles in the guard force, there is no need to contact the bicycle factory anymore. Twenty of them can be directly transferred out and handed over to the people sent by Koida:
"Notify the security forces immediately and ask them to dispatch twenty bicycles and give them to the people from the 188th Division."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Sameko nodded: "I immediately called the guard troops and asked them to prepare the bicycles handed over to friendly forces in advance so that they can ride away as soon as they arrive."
Thinking that Koida wanted to use bicycles to equip his troops, Sokov smiled. As long as the number of bicycles equipped in the future is enough, the mobility of his troops will be greatly improved, and it will be the Germans'
