With the annihilation of the German 255th Infantry Division, the fighting near Belgorod temporarily calmed down. Neither the Soviet Union nor Germany took the initiative to launch an attack, but were seizing the time to prepare for war.
Facing more and more Soviet troops and technical equipment massing outside the city, Hott, who had just returned to Belgorod, ordered all officers and soldiers to race against time to repair the fortifications and prepare to rely on the fortifications to resist possible Soviet attacks.
As for the Soviet army, they are mobilizing troops from different areas and rushing to the outskirts of Belgorod. As soon as the troops and technical equipment are assembled, they will immediately launch a new attack on Belgorod.
During this period, Sokov was not idle. While moving his troops to the west of Belgorod, he constantly urged Yakov, hoping that he could send the weapons he needed as soon as possible.
When Yakov reported his work to Ustinov, he was originally worried that the other party would refuse. Unexpectedly, after listening to Yakov's report, Ustinov immediately said without hesitation: "Comrade Yakov, according to the original
According to the plan, we should provide newly produced assault rifles to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Guards Divisions on July 25. Since Sokov is eager to use them, he might as well hand over these weapons to his group army first
Bar."
When Yakov came to Ustinov's office, he thought it would be great if he could help Sokov get 10,000 assault rifles. Unexpectedly, Ustinov gave him 30,000 as soon as he asked.
It was completely beyond his expectation.
Just when Yakov was at a loss, he heard Ustinov say again: "Yakov, I think that in addition to assault rifles, Sokov also needs new rockets. How about it, he asked you
How much does it cost?”
Yakov hurriedly replied: "He originally wanted two thousand new rockets and one hundred rocket launchers, but I refused."
"Why did you reject him?" Ustinov asked curiously: "You know, he asked you for these weapons and equipment in order to better attack the enemy."
"Comrade People's Commissar," Yakov said with a wry smile: "Nowadays, there are many troops who want to be equipped with new rockets. If I meet Sokov's request and provide them with two thousand new rockets, it means that I
The quotas of other troops have to be reduced. As a result, some people will definitely be dissatisfied."
"Yakov, if anyone is dissatisfied with the number of weapons we have allocated to Sokov's troops, you can ask him to come to me." Ustinov said confidently: "I will explain it to them personally.
of."
Yakov did not expect that Ustinov would be so generous to Sokov's troops. He couldn't help being surprised and happy, and quickly asked: "Comrade People's Commissar, you mean that I can meet Sokov's request, for
He provides two thousand new rockets?"
"No, how can two thousand be enough?" Ustinov waved his hands and said: "Our army will soon launch an attack on Belgorod. As far as I know, Sokov's troops will be on the offensive.
If the main force does not have enough siege weapons, it will be very difficult for them to liberate the city from the enemy."
"Then how many new rockets do you think should be provided to Sokov?"
"Five thousand!" Ustinov opened his right hand and made a gesture to Yakov: "I think it is necessary to provide all of this more than a month's production to Sokov's troops to help them in the war.
In the following battles, we will achieve even more glorious achievements."
"Comrade People's Commissar," Yakov was a little surprised to see that Ustinov thought so highly of Sokov, "Do you think so highly of Sokov?"
"Yakov, based on Sokov's consistent performance, I think he will have more dazzling performances in the battle to liberate Belgorod." Ustinov naturally had his reasons for doing this.
As a member of the Supreme Command, he heard the bearded man say with his own ears that if his troops captured Belgorod, he would order a salute to be fired in Red Square in celebration.
As the people's commissar in charge of the weapons and equipment department, Ustinov had no chance to go to the battlefield. But in the battle to liberate Belgorod, Sokov's troops relied on the weapons he provided and established a brilliant record.
, he would naturally be able to follow suit. It was out of this consideration that he decisively decided to give priority to supplying various new weapons to Sokov's troops.
Yakov was deeply afraid that Ustinov would regret it, so he quickly took out a small book and wrote down: "Provide Sokov's 27th Army with 30,000 assault rifles, 5,000 new rockets, and 100 rocket launchers."
After finishing writing, he handed the notebook to Ustinov and said politely, "Comrade People's Commissar, please sign it."
As long as Ustinov signs it, the matter is certain. In the future, even if someone is jealous that Sokov has been allocated so many new weapons and takes the case to the Supreme Command, as long as he takes out this piece of paper with Ustinov
If the other party is dissatisfied with the paper in front of the husband, they can only keep their mouth shut. If they make a fuss again, they can be moved as far back as possible when allocating weapons in the future. After all the troops have been allocated,
Think about them last.
After getting Ustinov's signature, Yakov returned to his office excitedly. As soon as he sat down, he picked up the phone he was sitting on, dialed a number, and said to the operator: "Operator, give it to me.
The 27th Army, which received the Voronezh Front, spoke to its commander, Major General Sokov."
Although Yakov used a military line, he still waited for five or six minutes before he was connected to Sokov's command post.
Sokov was convening a meeting with the division commanders to discuss some details of the capture of Belgorod. When the director of the communications corps said it was his call, he quickly stood up and walked over to take the phone: "I am Sokov, and you are
Which one?"
"Misha, it's me!" Yakov's excited voice came from the receiver: "I'm Yakov!"
"Yasha, it turns out it's you!" After learning that the person who called him was Yakov, Sokov immediately thought that he had called him a few days ago, but until now, he has not seen the surprise attack promised by the other party.
Rifles, new rockets and rocket launchers. Now that the other party took the initiative to call, Sokov naturally wanted to ask about the whereabouts of these weapons and equipment: "I want to ask, when will the weapons and equipment you promised to our group army be ready?
"
"Misha, don't be anxious." Yakov said with a smile: "The purpose of my calling you today is to tell you that Comrade Ustinov has promised to give you supplies first."
"That's great." Although Sokov knew very well that Yakov's request for instructions and report from Ustinov was just a formality. As long as Yakov's proposal was not too excessive, Ustinov would basically
Everyone would agree. Now that he learned that the distribution of weapons and equipment had Ustinov’s approval, he quickly asked: “When will the weapons and equipment be delivered to us? You know, we may attack Bel at any time.
Gorod launches an attack, if your weapons cannot be delivered in time, I can only let my soldiers attack the enemy with bare hands."
"Misha, actually I have wanted to ship weapons to you for a long time." Yakov naturally would not tell Sokov. Since Ustinov was not in the weapons and equipment department some time ago, he did not have the right to directly give it to Sokov.
Shipping, everything was delayed until today to report to Ustinov. Fortunately, things went relatively smoothly. Not only did the other party easily agree to his proposal, he even doubled the quantity he needed. "But Ustinov
Zinov personally adjusted the quantity and we had to review it again, which delayed the shipping time."
Sokov did not know that Ustinov was trying to show favor to him through the distribution of weapons. Hearing Yakov say that Ustinov personally modified the number of weapons supplied to him, he couldn't help but feel half cold, but he
Still he had to bite the bullet and asked: "Yasha, don't beat around the bush, just tell me the truth, to what extent has Comrade People's Commissar reduced the number of our weapons?"
"Cut? No, no, no, you made a mistake. It's not a cut, but an increase for you."
"What, the number of weapons has not been reduced, but instead increased?"
"Yes." Yakov did not show off and explained to Sokov: "Originally, I thought I could provide you with up to 10,000 assault rifles, 1,000 new rockets and 100 rocket launchers. But the People's Commissar listened.
After my report, I generously increased the number of assault rifles and new rockets you have learned from the original 10,000 and 1,000 to 30,000 and 5,000."
"Ah, the number of assault rifles has been increased to 30,000, and the number of new rockets has been increased to 5,000?" The number reported by Yakov shocked Sokov, and he asked cautiously: "Yasha, what did you say?
Is it all true?”
The division-level commanders sitting not far away were very familiar with assault rifles and new rockets. Before they came to the meeting, they had thought in their minds that they must ask Sokov during the meeting that their troops
The weapons suffered heavy losses in the early battles, so I hope he can replenish them.
However, after the meeting began, Major General Fomenko, commander of the 84th Infantry Division, raised a question and was flatly rejected by Sokov: "Comrade General, I know that the loss of assault rifles in each division is very serious. But can the superiors give me some advice?"
We are replenishing, but it is still unknown when the replenishment will be in place."
The division commanders know very well that Sokov is telling the truth. Assault rifles are currently only installed by the 27th Army. Although the commanders and fighters of other units have heard of this weapon, they have never had the opportunity to see it. In addition, the weapons used
Since it is a special bullet, the production cycle is longer than that of other weapons, so it is really not easy to get replenishment.
But now when I heard Sokov talking to others on the phone and mentioned that his superiors would replenish him with 30,000 assault rifles, the commanders of each division began to think aloud, secretly calculating how many assault rifles their troops could get from it.
.
By the way, in addition to 30,000 assault rifles, there are also 5,000 new rockets. Distributed according to the number of the entire army's fifth division and three brigades, each unit can get almost 600. With so many new rockets
With the bombs, when attacking Belgorod, it can completely cover the enemy with firepower in local areas and blow up those enemies who are stubbornly resisting to nothing.
After making the call, Sokov returned to the conference table and saw all the commanders looking at him. He immediately realized that the conversation between himself and Yakov had been heard by these commanders attending the meeting, so he
He smiled and asked: "Did you all hear the call I just had with Colonel Yakov?"
"I heard it!" everyone replied in unison.
"Okay, now that you have all heard it, the rest will be easy to handle." Sokov said to everyone: "How to distribute these weapons, I will discuss with the chief of staff later and give them to each division and brigade.
Set a reasonable quota." As soon as he said this, he saw many people frowning. He immediately realized what the other person was worried about, so he added, "Don't worry, I will try my best to remain fair and will never let anyone
Any unit suffers."
Sokov's words were a reassurance for everyone, and everyone no longer worried about the distribution of weapons and equipment, and once again began to discuss some details of capturing Belgorod.
"Comrade Commander," Samyko pointed to the map and said to Sokov: "There is a river to the west of Belgorod with a width of 150 meters and a depth of about three meters. There is only a cement building on the river.
The bridge can be passed, but the enemy has deployed heavy troops on both sides of the bridge. How can we send scouts across the river to conduct reconnaissance in the city?"
Before Sokov answered the phone, everyone was discussing this troublesome issue. Since the enemy kept shining searchlights on the river, it was difficult for the scouts to escape being discovered by the German searchlights, regardless of whether they were rowing or swimming.
"Comrade Commander," Major General Gritsenko stood up and said to Sokov: "I think we can send out several reconnaissance teams to cross the river at the same time. Even if they are discovered by the enemy and are fired by machine guns, there will always be a small team.
Able to break through the enemy's fire network and successfully reach the other side."
"No, Major General Gritsenko, your approach is not advisable." As soon as Gritsenko finished speaking, Samyko retorted: "If we do this, not only will the reconnaissance team sent out suffer heavy casualties.
, and it will also expose our intentions. I think your method is unreliable."
"How about we let the scouts dress up as Germans and find a way to pass out from the bridge?" Koida, commander of the 188th Division, said tentatively: "You know, Comrade Commander has adopted the same method many times before.
He cleverly deceived the enemy and successfully went deep behind enemy lines to carry out his mission."
"The Germans know that we will attack Belgorod sooner or later, so the checks at each checkpoint are naturally extremely strict." Sokov shook his head and said: "Even if our commanders and soldiers dress up as German officers and soldiers, if they want to pass these checkpoints smoothly, they must
And without being discovered by the Germans, I think it is basically impossible."