First, Ponejelin got a chance to express himself, and secondly, he could also pass this battle to test Ponejelin's commanding ability and whether he was worthy of the heavy responsibility entrusted to him.
The battle on the right bank continued until noon. Sokov received a call from Ponedelin: "Comrade Commander, we have occupied all positions on the right bank of the Dniester. Except for a few defenders who escaped, the remaining
They were either killed or captured."
"Have the results been calculated?!" Sokov asked eagerly.
"Yes, the statistics have been calculated." Ponejelin reported on the phone: "2,319 enemies were killed and 842 were captured. 127 artillery pieces of various calibers, 20 machine guns, more than 2,100 rifles, and supporting equipment were seized.
ammunition……"
"Wait a minute, Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin." Sokov interrupted the other party before he could finish his words: "Where are the casualties of our army?" He was worried that Ponedelin would only report to the 41st Guards.
Regarding the casualties of the division, he specifically added, "The casualties I mentioned refer to the casualties of our three divisions."
"The 98th Guards Division suffered 1,124 casualties, of which more than 300 were killed; the 254th Infantry Division suffered 4,195 casualties, and more than 1,200 were killed." Ponejelin reported clearly: "My 41st Guards Division suffered 358 casualties,
15 people were sacrificed.”
"Why are the casualties of the 254th Infantry Division so high?" Faced with such a disparity in casualty figures between the two armies, Sokov inevitably aroused curiosity.
"Because the division was fighting across a river, most of the casualties were caused by German artillery fire and machine gun fire when crossing the river." Ponejelin explained to Sokov: "The 98th Guards Division came from
The German flank attack was relatively weak, so the casualties were much less than those of the 254th Division."
"As for our division, it is because it was the last to enter the battle. When we entered the battlefield through the gap opened by the 98th Guards Division, the battle was nearing its end, so the casualties of our division were minimal."
"So that's it, I understand." Sokov nodded and continued: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, your next task should be to seize the time to repair the fortifications, consolidate the occupied areas, and ensure that the German army
During the counterattack, you can withstand their attack."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Ponejelin replied: "I will arrange manpower, seize the time to repair the fortifications, and improve the defense system. Don't worry, as long as I am here, the Germans will not be able to reoccupy here."
"Very good, Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin." Sokov was very satisfied with Ponedelin's answer. "Then I will hand over the right bank position to you."
"Comrade Commander," Ponejelin said worriedly, thinking that his troops had all moved north after crossing the river, and that the right bank positions across the river from Otac City were now engaged in an empty city strategy. "The original right bank position
All the troops have withdrawn from the position. If the Germans find out that there are no our troops there and launch an assault, the landing site will be lost."
"Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, I have already considered the problem you mentioned." Sokov said with a smile: "Shortly after your attack, the 3rd Guards Airborne Division was led by the division commander Colonel Konev.
Down, crossed the river to the right bank, and took over the position you vacated. In other words, when you hold the position on the right bank, you don't have to worry about attacks from the left wing, because the airborne troops will protect your flank well."
As soon as the phone call was finished, Major General Afuning walked in from outside.
Seeing Afunin entering the door, Sokov hurriedly greeted him, shook hands with him, and asked with concern: "General Afunin, the 4th Guards Airborne Division, have also arrived in Otac City?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, the 4th Guards Airborne Division has also entered the designated position." After Afunin briefly reported to Sokov, he asked: "I want to ask, the 41st Guards Airborne Division
When can we return to construction?"
Sokov hummed in surprise, and then asked: "General Afnin, why did you suddenly think of the 41st Guards Division?"
"Comrade Commander, there are only three divisions in my army." Afunin said with a wry smile: "If the 41st Guards Division is out of organization for a long time, I can only rely on the 3rd and 4th Guards Airborne Divisions to fight with the enemy.
If you fight, your strength will be reduced by one-third."
"General Afunin, I originally wanted to take the time to talk to you about this." Sokov said apologetically to Afunin: "Since you came first today, I will tell you directly. There will be a long period of time in the future.
During the time, the 41st Guards Division will be separated from the 18th Guards Corps, which is your command, and they will have more important combat tasks to perform."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." After hearing what Sokov said, Afunin immediately realized that the division under his command might not come back, and he felt a little disappointed. In order to resolve the embarrassment, he asked tentatively: "
Comrade Commander, what is the combat mission of our army?"
Sokov brought Afunin to the table, pointed to the map spread out on it, and said to him: "General Afunin, now we have two landing sites on the right bank of the Dniester..."
"Two landing sites?" Afunin asked in surprise after hearing this: "Isn't there only one landing site? It is across the river from Otac City, which is the area where the 3rd Guards Airborne Division is defending."
"General Afnin, your information is out of date a long time ago." Smirnov said with a smile: "Not long ago, three divisions of our army once again launched an attack on the German positions on the right bank of the upper reaches of the Dniester River.
Offensive. After several hours of fierce fighting, our army has successfully captured the enemy's river defense position and established a second landing site on the right bank."
"It turns out that we have captured another landing site." Afunin stared at the map for a while, and then said: "In this way, the troops of the 3rd Guards Airborne Division do not have to worry about their right wing when they hold on to the landing site on the right bank.
Will be exposed to the enemy."
"That's right," Sokov nodded and said, "We have placed the two troops on the right bank. No matter which troop the Germans attack, they will support each other."
Just as I put down the phone here, the phone on the table rang again.
As soon as Sokov put the microphone to his ear, he heard Zakharov's voice: "Comrade Sokov, I heard that your troops have broken through the German defense line of the Dniester River and have
Successfully established a new landing site on the right bank."
"Then what are you going to do next?" Zakharov asked.
"My main force is still one to three days away from the Dniester River," Sokov said: "After all the troops arrive, we will concentrate our superior forces and launch a new attack on the German defense lines.
.”
"Then can you tell me how long it will take for you to regroup?"
"It will take about three days," Sokov mentally calculated the arrival time of each unit. He felt that after three days, more units would arrive in Otac City one after another. At that time, they would have enough strength to attack the city.
The German defense advanced in depth: "Only when more troops arrive in the city of Otac will we have the strength to launch a new round of attack on the enemy."
"Okay then." If it were another army, Zaharov would definitely have used a stern tone to order the commander of the other side to destroy the enemies in front within a certain time limit and complete the tasks assigned by his superiors.
But the person he was talking to now was Sokov, who was good at creating miracles. If he forcibly ordered the other party to attack first within a certain time, it would probably disrupt his original battle plan, so Zakharov felt that
We should not put too much pressure on Sokov, but should let him command the battle according to his own ideas: "Marshal Konev has already said that you can command the troops according to your own ideas. I hope you can
Build more meritorious deeds."
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov felt a little moved when he saw that the Front Army Command had absolute trust in him and fully supported him in continuing to command operations: "I will never let you down."
"Also, there is a 52nd Army on your left wing. They have just arrived at the river not long ago and do not know the enemy situation on the other side. See if you can send a reconnaissance team to conduct reconnaissance on the German positions downstream."
"No problem, I will immediately arrange for manpower to go to the area to conduct reconnaissance."
After ending the call with Zakharov, Sokov asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I wonder if General Trofimenko knows that his troops have successfully broken through the German army in the direction of the Dniester River.
And established a landing site on the right bank?”
"No, Comrade Commander." Smirnov answered simply: "Aren't the 98th Guards Division and the 254th Rifle Division now under the command of the 41st Guards Division in Ponejelin? This is precisely because
With such considerations in mind, I did not let them report the results to the 27th Group Army."
When Sokov heard this, he immediately understood one thing. Smirnov felt that the three divisions on the right bank were already independent troops, and there was no need to keep in touch with their superiors, so he even did such a big thing as breaking through the defense line.
, it was too late to report to Trofimenko.
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are wrong to do this." Sokov criticized Smirnov and said: "Although the 254th Infantry Division and the 98th Guards Division are now under the command of the 41st Guards Division in Ponedelin
.But they are from the 27th Army after all. It is best to report any results to General Trofimenko in time to avoid anything unpleasant happening."
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." After hearing what Sokov said, Smirnov immediately realized that he had made a stupid mistake and quickly apologized to Sokov: "It was my lack of consideration. I will give it to Trot right now."
General Fimenko called and gave him a detailed report on the performance of his subordinates."
Smirnov, who corrected his mistakes immediately after realizing his mistakes, immediately answered the call from the headquarters of the 27th Army. He said bluntly to the person who answered the phone: "Hello, I am General Smirnov, Chief of Staff of the 53rd Army. Please help me."
Find General Trofimenko!"
Trofimenko heard that the call was from Smirnov, and quickly stepped forward and took the microphone from the hands of the communications staff: "Hello, I am Trofimenko, is this General Smirnov?
"
"Yes, I am Smirnov." Smirnov said into the microphone: "I have good news for you."
"Good news, what good news?" Trofimenko on the other end of the phone asked in a tentative tone: "Could it be that my two divisions have successfully broken through the German defenses?"
"Yes, General Trofimenko, you guessed it right." Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Smirnov gave him a huge surprise: "The 98th Guards Division and the 254th Infantry Division
They successfully boarded the right bank, drove away and eliminated the defenders of the river defense position. Now they are seizing the time to repair the fortifications and prepare to meet possible German counterattacks."
"General Smirnov, I also have a question. I wonder if I can ask it."
"General Trofimenko, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. There is no need to have any scruples."
"That's it." Trofimenko said with some dissatisfaction; "I am the commander of the 27th Army. Although I was demoted to a deputy position, I am still the main commander. Why didn't my subordinates achieve victory after they achieved results?
Report to me, but to the command of friendly forces?"
Perhaps hearing the sour taste in Trofimenko's tone, Smirnov smiled faintly, and then said: "General Trofimenko, Commander Sokov, in order to better command the troops in combat,
, the 98th Guards Division and the 254th Infantry Division were temporarily placed under the temporary command of the 41st Guards Division. In other words, for a long time to come, the troops of these three divisions will fight together. And they
The results obtained will be reported directly to the cluster headquarters."
Smirnov's words reminded Trofimenko: "Today there is no distinction between the 27th and 53rd armies, there is just a combat group under the command of Commander Sokov."
Perhaps guessing that Trofimenko was worried at the moment, Smirnov comforted him and said: "Don't worry, General Trofimenko, at least you are still the deputy commander of the group. Once you find a good fighter, you can still
Mobilize the troops in the cluster and go into battle in a timely manner."
After Smirnov finished the phone call, he looked at Sokov and shook his head with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander, I think it is completely necessary to merge the headquarters of the two group armies and form a combat group headquarters. Such a way
Come on, no matter which unit in the cluster achieves the result, we will know it as soon as possible."
"Wait a little longer, Comrade Chief of Staff, let's wait a little longer." Sokov said to Smirnov: "The army headquarters of the 27th Group Army is still almost two hundred kilometers away from us. Is there any chance of merging it rashly?
How meaningful it is. I think it’s not too late to wait until they arrive in the city of Otac before merging the two army headquarters.”
"Now we have two landing sites on the right bank of the Dniester. In order to firmly hold these two positions, I think infantry alone is not enough." Sokov said to Smirnov: "I think
At each landing site, at least one tank brigade must be placed to deal with German armored assaults."
"This is not a big problem. The bridge outside Otac is now intact, allowing our tanks and artillery to reach the other side smoothly." Smirnov said to Sokov: "I will call the director of the armored forces now.
Ask him to immediately deploy two tank brigades to the two landing sites on the right bank to strengthen the defense there."
