Sokov's troops are going to move westward as a whole. Who should hand over the city of Uman? This has become a problem. Let's hand it over to the friendly forces of the Second Front. Moskalenko's 38th Army is just outside the city; hand it over to Youmo
Skalenko's troops, it's not easy to explain to Konev.
Shtemenko saw Sokov's dilemma and asked directly: "Comrade Sokov, are you in trouble about who to hand over the city to?"
"That's right, Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff." Sokov glanced at Moskalenko sitting opposite and continued: "It stands to reason that if we want to hand over defense, we should hand it over to friendly forces on the same front. But now
The friendly forces are too far away from us. Even if we travel at the fastest speed, we may have to wait until tomorrow to arrive.
But if we want to hand it over to General Moskalenko’s troops, we need to ask Marshal Konev for instructions and notify Marshal Zhukov at the same time.”
"Leave this matter to me." Shtemenko took the initiative to take over Sokov's troubles: "I will call Marshals Zhukov and Konev and tell them about the situation here.
Notification.”
Regarding the phone calls to the two marshals, neither Sokov nor Moskalenko was the right candidate. But Shtemenko, as deputy chief of staff, was the most appropriate person to contact the commanders of the two fronts.
.
Although he had just had a minor unpleasantness with Moskalenko, Sokov still took advantage of Shtemenko's phone calls to the two marshals and took the initiative to strike up a conversation with him: "General Moskalenko, you guys
Did the Army Group use armored units in this attack?"
"No." Moskalenko answered wrongly, "This damn road is full of mud. According to the plan, with the cooperation of tank troops, we should launch a fierce attack on the German positions. But our tanks were out of sight.
No matter how far they are, they are stuck in the quagmire and unable to move. We have no choice but to temporarily change our tactics and use pure infantry to attack the enemy's position."
"My situation is similar." Sokov sighed and said: "To tell you the truth, this time in the attack on Uman, due to the muddy roads, tank troops could not be used, and we only used infantry. Without the cooperation of tanks,
We paid a huge price when we broke through the German defense lines."
Sokov's words resonated with Moskalenko: "Yes, in the face of the strong German fortifications, if there are no tanks to guide the front during the attack, and you just rely solely on infantry, you will definitely have to pay a lot more.
cost.
General Sokov, I am not afraid of your jokes. In order to break through the four lines of defense of the German army, two of my divisions had to withdraw from the battle due to excessive casualties and retreated to the rear for replenishment."
"My situation is similar." Sokov continued: "After this round of fighting, the number of my most elite 18th Guards Corps has been reduced by more than half. I ordered them to advance to the west to capture
When they attacked the cities of Hessin and Jeplik, I was worried that they might not be able to complete this arduous task due to insufficient troops. That’s why I ordered the 49th and 57th armies to follow up, just to prepare for them to lose their ability to attack.
After that, these two forces will take over from them."
"Oh, that's it." Moskalenko nodded after hearing this and changed the topic to another direction: "General Sokov, I heard that your army has a special transport tool that can be used in swamps and
It can also travel quickly on water. I wonder if this rumor is true or false?"
Faced with the question raised by Moskalenko, Sokov hesitated. He didn't know whether he should tell the other party about the hovercraft. After a fierce ideological struggle, he decided to tell the other party. After all, people who had seen the hovercraft
Quite a few. If he told him that he didn't have it, and he found out through other channels that he had it, he would probably be resentful of him. Sokov didn't want to make enemies casually, so he decided to tell him the truth.
"Your information is accurate, General Moskalenko." Sokov replied with a smile: "There is indeed such a transport that can travel in swamps, lakes and forests with a full load of cargo. I
When he was still serving as the commander of the 27th Army, during the battles to liberate Belgorod and Kharkov, he used this kind of hovercraft to carry commanders and combatants to conduct raids on the German river defense positions, and achieved excellent results.
Effect."
"A raid on the German river defense positions?" Moskalenko asked cautiously: "General Sokov, I don't quite understand. Can you explain it more clearly?"
Sokov did not immediately answer Moskalenko's question. Instead, he organized his thoughts and asked: "General Moskalenko, for example, if your troops want to forcibly cross a river up to 500 meters wide, it will probably take
for how long?"
Moskalenko made some calculations in his mind and replied cautiously: "I think it will take ten minutes at the fastest, and that must be if the river-crossing equipment has not been sunk by German firepower."
Sokov nodded and said: "The speed of the hovercraft on the water is probably beyond your imagination. On a 500-meter-wide river, a hovercraft carrying troops can send the troops to the other side in up to two minutes. In such a short time
Within a short period of time, the Germans had no time to react, and our commanders rushed in front of them. Can you tell me, can the German river defense positions be held?"
"It can't be defended." Moskalenko shook his head and said: "If I am the defender and you are the attacker. According to my fixed thinking, it will take you at least ten minutes to complete the crossing operation, and I am deployed on the shore.
The various firepower on the other side is enough to destroy most of your river-crossing equipment, causing the forced crossing operation organized by you to end in failure. But if the crossing time is shortened to two minutes, my troops will not have time to react."
Although he said this, Moskalenko's heart was full of doubts. Is there really such a transport that can travel quickly on the water? He hesitated for a moment and asked tentatively: "General Sokov, are you
Is everything true?"
"Of course, of course it's true!" Sokov nodded and replied in a positive tone: "But the hovercraft is now helping us haul equipment. I'm afraid it will take a few days to return. I don't know if you will have a chance to see it.
.”
Moskalenko was full of curiosity about the hovercraft, and was about to ask Sokov where he could see the real thing. Hearing what he said, he couldn't help but feel discouraged. Don't look at the meeting of the two forces today, but next time
Fighting side by side, I don’t know if I have to wait until the year of the monkey, which means that the chance of seeing the hovercraft is infinitely close to zero.
Just when Moskalenko was filled with regret, Shtemenko finished calling the two marshals, walked over and said to them: "Two comrades, generals, I have something important to announce to you."
Hearing that Shtemenko had something important to announce, both of them focused their eyes on him, quietly waiting for what he would say next.
"After consultations with the two marshal comrades, Uman will be officially handed over to General Moskalenko's 38th Army from now on."
When Moskalenko heard that Uman would be handed over to his troops, he excitedly waved his fist.
"Wait a minute, General Moskalenko, I haven't finished speaking yet." Shtemenko looked at Moskalenko and continued: "In view of the current lack of offensive strength of the 53rd Army, Marshal Zhukov plans to send you
The 237th Infantry Division under his command has been temporarily placed under the command of Sokov. Are you bored?"
The smile on Moskalenko's face froze. He never dreamed that his army would be allowed to receive Uman, but in the blink of an eye, one of the infantry divisions would be assigned to the command of the 53rd Army. His
My mood suddenly dropped to the extreme.
"General Moskalenko," Seeing that Moskalenko remained silent, Shtemenko continued: "This is a decision made by Marshal Zhukov himself. You don't have any objections, do you?"
"No, no." Hearing that Marshal Zhukov made the decision himself, even if Moskalenko was dissatisfied, he could only bite the bullet and say with a smile: "I will resolutely obey the orders of Comrade Marshal." After saying this.
At this point, he turned to Sokov and asked with a smile, "General Sokov, when do you plan to receive my troops?"
"I wonder where the 237th Division is now?"
"Here." Moskalenko pointed to a small town north of Uman and replied: "The 237th Infantry Division is currently stationed there."
Sokov pointed to the west of Uman and said to Moskalenko: "General Moskalenko, my headquarters will be transferred amicably soon. You ask the commander of the 237th Division to arrive with the troops.
Come join me here."
"Okay." Moskalenko said with a wry smile: "I will order the troops to rush to your designated location as soon as possible."
"Comrade Commander, your phone number." Smirnov waited for Moskalenko to finish speaking, then called Sokov and shook the phone in his hand: "It's Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin.
Yes, it’s related to the Uman open-pit mine.”
When he learned that it was related to the open-pit mine, Sokov couldn't help but his eyes lit up. He quickly walked up to Smirnov, took the microphone from his hand, put it to his ear and said: "I am Sokov.
"
"Comrade Commander." Ponyjelin on the other end of the phone said with some excitement: "We have found the prisoners of war held in the open-pit mine."
When he learned that the prisoners of war had been found, Sokov's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, but he still tried to control his emotions and asked in a calm tone: "Where are the enemies guarding the mine?"
"They were all wiped out by us." Ponejelin said: "There were 158 people in total, and not one of them escaped."
"How many prisoners of war are there and what is their physical condition?" Sokov asked, hoping to find out how many prisoners of war could be integrated into his own army in a short period of time.
"According to the seized roster, there were 48,219 people in total."
"What, there are 48,219 people?" Sokov was startled by this number. After taking a deep breath, he asked cautiously: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, is this number reliable?"
"I think it may not be accurate." Ponejelin answered truthfully: "According to the prisoners' account, since the mine is more than a hundred meters deep, as long as they hold the top of the mine, no one can escape, so the prisoners were
After the officers and soldiers of our army were taken in, they basically ignored it. In other words, if a prisoner of war died, they would not clean it up in time and erase the person's name from the roster."
Sokov took a deep breath after hearing this, and then asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, according to your judgment, how many actual people are there?"
"I just stood on the edge of the pit and looked down. I dare not say there are too many. There are still 30,000 people."
Hearing that there were more than 30,000 people, Sokov's heart ignited hope again: "What is their physical condition?"
"Not very good, Comrade Commander." Ponejelin replied cautiously: "It seems that most people need to rest for a period of time before they can be incorporated into the army for combat. Comrade Commander, I have a request."
"What request?" Sokov asked.
"I have too few manpower. It will be difficult to deal with more than 30,000 prisoners of war. Do you think you can send me more manpower?"
"Wait a minute, let me ask first." Sokov covered the microphone with his hand, turned to Moskalenko and asked: "General Moskalenko, how many people are there in your 237th Division?"
"The 237th Division is at full strength, with a total strength of about 8,000." Moskalenko didn't know why Sokov suddenly asked about this, so he asked curiously: "Why are you asking about this?"
"That's it, General Moskalenko." Sokov explained to the other party: "My troops liberated a prisoner of war camp built in an open-pit mine and rescued more than 30,000 prisoners of war. The person responsible for rescuing them
The number of troops is too small and more manpower is needed to receive this group of prisoners of war. So I plan to personally take the 237th Division there to review, screen and treat this group of prisoners of war."
"What, there are more than 30,000 prisoners of war? That's a lot of people." Shtemenko asked Sokov in surprise: "Comrade Sokov, is this number reliable?"
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, there are 48,219 people in the seized roster. However, according to Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin's judgment, the total number should not be that many, but there are still 30,000."
"Comrade Sokov, if you can incorporate all these people into your army, your shortage of soldiers will be completely solved." Shtemenko extended his hand to Sokov and said in a friendly manner: "I
Congratulations to you."
Sokov did not shake hands with Shtemenko, but said with a grimace: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, I heard from Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin that the physical condition of these prisoners of war is not ideal, and they may need to recuperate for a while.
Only then can they be reorganized into the army.”
"As long as they can rejoin the army, I believe they will be very helpful in providing the combat effectiveness of your group army."
Sokov released his hand covering the microphone and said to Ponedelin: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I will bring an infantry division there so that there will be enough manpower to rescue and screen the rescued prisoners of war."
"A division?" Ponejelin asked in surprise: "I wonder which division you plan to bring over to help?"
"The 237th Infantry Division." After Sokov said the number, he knew that Ponedelin must not know the origin of the other party, so he took the initiative to say: "This division originally belonged to General Moskalenko's 38th Army, Zhukov
The marshal has temporarily placed this full-strength division under my command. The first task I give them is to rush to the open-pit mine to assist you in your work."
"This is great, Comrade Commander." Originally, Ponedelin thought that the division dispatched by Sokov would be a force with heavy casualties, so even if it came, the help it could do would be limited. Now there is a fully-staffed division.
Come and help him, his next work will be much easier, he said quickly: "I look forward to your arrival."
