Since the two bridges in the city leading to the other side were blown up by German aircraft, Tupichev tried to build the bridge many times, but no matter where he built the bridge, every time before the bridge was completed, enemy planes flew in overwhelmingly.
They came over and bombed the area where the bridge was being built, not only destroying the pontoon bridge being built, but also causing heavy casualties to the engineers.
Although his superiors planned to build an underwater pontoon bridge, Tupichev was still unsure. He was deeply afraid of being bombed by enemy planes during the process of building the bridge. To be on the safe side, he proposed that it would take five days. Unexpectedly, his little trick was discovered.
Chuikov saw through it and only gave him two days.
Seeing Tupichev's embarrassed expression, Sokov quickly came out to help him: "Comrade Director of the Engineering Corps, where do you think the best place to build the bridge is?"
Chuikov, who originally wanted to scold Tupichev, heard Sokov ask the key question, and immediately swallowed the words on his lips again. He wanted to hear how Tupichev would answer.
"I think that if an underwater pontoon bridge is to be erected, the best location should be near the bombed bridge." In order to let everyone understand what he meant, Tupichev also specifically explained: "The original choice of the two bridges
The sites are all located in areas where the water flow is relatively gentle and the river surface is narrow. If we set up a pontoon here, it will not only be convenient and fast, but also allow the ships in the fleet to have special identification marks to avoid the situation of ships crashing into the pontoon.
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"What Colonel Tupichev said makes sense." After Tupichev finished speaking, Krylov immediately agreed: "If we randomly find a place to set up a pontoon bridge, those ships responsible for transportation on the Volga River may
Because we were unable to discover the location of the pontoon bridge in time, a bridge collision accident occurred. If our pontoon bridge was not blown up by enemy aircraft but was destroyed by one of our own ships, it would be a joke."
"When it comes to building bridges, we only have Colonel Tupichev as an expert here. He has the final say on where to build the bridge." Chuikov specifically emphasized to Tupichev: "But the time to build the bridge, I
As I just said: there are only two days. The current situation in the city is very unfavorable to our army. If the reinforcements can enter the city one day earlier, we will be more certain to defend the city."
After listening to Chuikov's words, Tupichev quickly straightened his body and said: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will definitely erect the underwater pontoon bridge within the specified time."
After a pause, Tupichev asked Chuikov hesitantly: "Comrade Commander, do you allow me to leave? I want to go back and prepare materials for building a bridge."
"Permission!" Chuikov nodded and said, "I hope you can take action as soon as possible. After all, we don't have much time left now. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Tupichev raised his hand to salute Chuikov, then turned and walked out of the headquarters.
After Tupichev left, Sokov thought that his mission had been completed, and quickly asked Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, can I leave?"
Chuikov called Sokov to the headquarters because he wanted him to come up with a countermeasure on how to cross the Volga River with three full divisions in three days. He thought that it would take at least half a day for him to come up with a solution. Who knows?
In less than an hour, not only did the countermeasures come up, but the engineers also began to prepare for the bridge construction.
Now that Sokov's purpose of coming here has been reached, it doesn't make much sense to leave him here, so Chuikov waved his hand and said magnanimously: "Okay, Colonel Sokov, your mission has been completed. Now
You can go back to Mamayev Heights."
Seeing that Chuikov agreed to go back, Sokov quickly raised his hand and saluted the several group army leaders in the room, then turned and walked out of the headquarters.
Seeing Sokov's back disappear from the door, Krylov asked Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, now that we have solved the problem assigned to us by our superiors, can we report this matter to the front army headquarters?"
Regarding Krylov's proposal, Chuikov nodded slightly: "Let me report this matter to Commander Yereomenko."
When Yeremenko received the call from Chuikov, he thought the other party was asking for grace. He even said jokingly: "Comrade Chuikov, do you think two days are too short and want us to give you a few more days?"
?" Before Chuikov could speak, he continued, "No, this time is set by the base camp, and I have no right to change it."
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Chuikov replied confidently: "Comrade Commander, I am not calling you to ask you to give us a few days of grace, but to tell you that we have found a way.
All troops can enter the city in a short time."
Chuikov's words shocked Yeremenko. He asked in an unbelievable tone: "How is this possible? You know that the enemy's aircraft and artillery fire blockade the Volga River, and our number of ships that can be used for transportation is constantly decreasing. How can you
Is it possible to transport all the troops into the city in such a short period of time?"
"If we just rely on ferries, we will definitely not be able to transport so many troops into the city in a short period of time. But if we build a pontoon bridge, the situation will be different." Chuikov took the initiative and said without waiting for Yereomenko to ask further:
"Colonel Sokov suggested that we build an underwater pontoon bridge on the river so that enemy aircraft cannot detect and destroy it. In this way, we can continuously transport more soldiers and supplies into the city through the pontoon bridge.
To ensure that there is enough power to defend the city."
"Comrade Khrushchev," after Yeremenko listened to Chuikov's detailed introduction to the underwater pontoon, he quickly covered the microphone with his hand and said quickly to Khrushchev sitting opposite: "Xiao Misha has come up with a plan.
A good idea is to build an underwater pontoon bridge in the Volga River so that more soldiers and supplies can be transported into the city. With this pontoon bridge, let alone 30,000 troops, even 50,000 troops can be transported in three days."
"Oh my God, this little Misha is a genius." Khrushchev's eyes widened and he said in surprise: "He actually solved the problem that left us old guys helpless in an understatement."
Chuikov found that there was suddenly no sound in the receiver, but did not hang up. He quickly raised his voice and asked: "Hello! Hello!! Comrade Commander, are you still listening?"
"Yes, I'm listening." Hearing the voice from the receiver, Yeremenko quickly released his hand covering the microphone and said: "Comrade Chuikov, the idea of an underwater pontoon is very good. But it only depends on your group army.
The progress of the engineering troops may be a bit slow, so why don't I send the engineering troops from the front army to support you. You will be responsible for the west bank, and our people will be responsible for the east bank. This can shorten the time of building the bridge in half."
"This is great, Comrade Commander." Yeremenko offered to send engineers to help build the bridge. For Chuikov, it was an unexpected surprise. He said excitedly: "When the pontoon bridge is erected, we can
Obtain more supplies of soldiers and materials, and you will be more confident in blocking the enemy's attack."
In the evening, as night fell, the enemy planes that were hovering over the Volga River for bombing missions returned to the airport one after another. The engineers hiding on the shore came out of the cliff caves where they were hiding, and carried out the prepared bombs.
The rails and sleepers were carried to the river to prepare for the erection of an underwater pontoon bridge.
Tupichev came to the river and saw his engineers and soldiers busy. He turned around and asked the men following him: "Are all the materials for building the bridge ready?"
"Don't worry, Comrade Director." The officer quickly replied: "The materials we collected can build a 600-meter pontoon bridge. When we meet the friendly forces in the center of the river, there will still be a lot of materials left."
Tupichev nodded and said to the officer: "Some of the soldiers continued to carry materials, and the rest went down to the river to start building the bridge. By the way, don't forget to prepare vodka for the soldiers going down the river, otherwise they will be killed in the cold river water.
