Although the final attack date of Operation Rumyantsev has not yet been communicated to each unit, Sokov, who is well aware of this period of history, did not wait passively. Instead, he summoned the troops of each division and brigade in his headquarters.
Commander, introduce them to the problems they will face in the next stage.
"Comrade commanders," Sokov did not leave the task of explaining the combat intentions to Samyko, but personally said to the division and brigade commanders attending the meeting: "Due to the enemy's failure in the Kursk area and the Russian
General Kossovsky's offensive in the Orel area forced the enemy to shift their defense focus to the Belgorod-Kharkov area, because only by holding this area can they contain our army.
Attack on Ukraine and Donbas.”
He tapped the map twice with his explanatory stick and continued: "According to the intelligence obtained from reconnaissance, Kharkov will be the focus of the Germans' defense. They have deployed a large number of defense forces here and established a nine-nine-depth
Ten kilometers of defensive positions.
Kharkov is the center of this defense system, and it is also the extrusion of the defense of the entire Belgorod-Kharkov area. The Germans built five lines of solid fortifications north of Kharkov.
A defensive belt covering several roads leading to Kharkov."
While Sokov was explaining above, the tank commander Polubyarov, who was sitting below, whispered to the commander of the 384th Division, Major General Gritsenko: "Gritsenko, I remember receiving the order yesterday.
We are well prepared to attack Belgorod, but why are we discussing the issue of Kharkov now?"
"Yes, General Polubyarov." Not only General Polubyarov was confused, but also Major General Gritsenko was confused. He said in a low voice: "Don't look at us in Belgo
There are so many troops gathered near Rhodes, but it is impossible to capture this city in less than ten days and a half. It is indeed a bit too early to discuss attacking Kharkov at this moment."
Sokov saw many commanders whispering to each other, as if they were discussing what he had just said, so he stopped and tapped the table twice with his explanatory stick. The crisp knocking sound immediately made those who were talking
The commanders who were whispering among each other fell silent.
Although Sokov did not hear clearly what his subordinates were talking about, he could guess it. He coughed heavily, cleared his throat, and said: "Comrade commanders, I know that you all have questions in your mind. We are now
Aren’t you preparing to attack Belgorod? Why did today’s meeting involve Kharkov?”
When the commanders present heard what Sokov said, they all nodded in agreement, indicating that they were confused about this issue.
Sokov did not immediately explain to them, but pointed his finger at Gritsenko, who had just spoken: "Major General Gritsenko, tell me why you have such doubts in your mind."
"Comrade Commander," Seeing Sokov calling his name, Gritsenko stood up and expressed his doubts in public: "Our army's attack on Belgorod has not yet been launched.
Isn’t it a bit indifferent to discuss attacking Kharkov?”
When everyone heard what Gritsenko said, they couldn't help but feel a little bit in their hearts, wondering if Sokov would be angry if the other party spoke to Sokov in this tone?
But fortunately, Sokov did not care about what Gritsenko said, but explained to everyone: "Yes, we have not launched an attack on Belgorod yet, but judging from the recent battles
Judging from the situation, how long do you think it will take us to capture Belgorod?"
Sokov's words silenced everyone. After a few minutes of silence, Polubyarov said: "Comrade Commander, if it were other troops, it would probably take half a month at the earliest.
It is possible to capture the city. But if it were us, it would only take about a week."
Hearing what General Polubyarov said, the commanders present showed proud expressions on their faces. Yes, judging from the battles in the Battle of Kursk, General Polubyarov did not say
Wrong, no matter how powerful the enemy is, as long as they encounter Sokov's troops, they will not be able to escape being severely damaged or annihilated.
But Sokov's subsequent speech shocked everyone: "General Polubyarov, your thinking is too conservative. In my plan, we can occupy it in only three days at most."
Belgorod, and then turn around and head south to capture Kharkov."
After seeing Sokov's words, all the participants had shocked expressions on their faces. Chief of Staff Samyko said: "Comrade commanders, do you think we can't get it within three days?"
Nizhny Belgorod?”
Polubyarov shook his head and said: "I think it is impossible to capture a city like Belgorod with strong fortifications in three days."
"General Polubyarov, it seems that you still have no confidence in Comrade Commander." Samyko said with a smile: "When we went to the front headquarters for a meeting yesterday, Comrade Commander once announced in front of everyone that
After the battle begins, our assault troops can capture the enemy positions on the other side of the river within a quarter of an hour."
"What, just a quarter of an hour to capture the enemy position on the other side?" Even if a shell fell and exploded in the venue at this time, the shock would definitely not be comparable to Sameko's words: "How is this?"
Maybe, within a quarter of an hour, it is a question whether our assault troops can break through the enemy's fire blockade and reach the other side. How can we occupy the enemy's position? This is impossible, absolutely impossible."
Faced with everyone's doubts, Sokov did not defend himself, but quietly watched everyone discuss.
After finally quieting down in the meeting place, Sokov turned his attention to Dobrushin: "Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin, tell me, are you confident in occupying the enemy's position on the other side within a quarter of an hour?"
When Dobrushin heard Sokov call his name, he stood up quickly and replied confidently: "Report to Comrade Commander, all the commanders and fighters of our brigade will definitely be able to capture the enemy positions on the other side of the river within the specified time.
"
The crowd immediately exploded, and they thought to themselves: Comrade Commander, it’s okay to just talk nonsense, but you, a little lieutenant colonel and brigade commander, actually dare to say that so brazenly. If it hadn’t been in front of Sokov, I’m afraid someone would have
He sneered at Dobrushin.
Sokov raised his right hand, pressed his palm down slightly, indicating that Dobrushin could sit down, and then said to everyone: "Comrade commanders, I know that everyone's hearts are full of doubts. Dobrushin feels that Dobrushin can sit down."
How could the Lieutenant Colonel's Marine Brigade occupy the enemy's position within a quarter of an hour?"
As soon as he finished speaking, almost everyone nodded at the same time, indicating that they wanted to find out what was going on. How could the Marine Brigade complete the crossing mission in a quarter of an hour despite the enemy's intensive firepower, and then
Occupy the enemy's position? No matter how you think about it, it seems like a fantasy.
Lunev felt that he should say a few words at this time, so he stood up and said to everyone: "Comrade commanders, please be quiet. I will briefly introduce the situation to you. After listening, everyone will understand that Commander
Why do you say you can occupy the enemy position on the other side of the river within a quarter of an hour?"
Everyone fell silent again, staring at Lunev intently, wanting to hear what he had to say.
"You may not know that our superiors have provided us with a new batch of river crossing equipment." Lunev said to everyone: "This kind of river crossing equipment can travel on the river and at high speed on the road. In other words,
Our troops on assault missions can go directly from land to water, and then from water to land after riding on this river-crossing equipment.
Due to the extremely fast speed of this river-crossing equipment, our assault troops can rush from the starting position to the enemy in just one or two minutes. Faced with enemies who are not ready for defense, you say, they
How long can it last?”
After Lunev finished speaking, someone immediately asked curiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, what kind of new river crossing equipment are you talking about? Why have I never heard of it?"
"If you haven't heard of it, that's right." Lunev said somewhat proudly: "Since this new type of river crossing equipment is still in a state of absolute confidentiality, except for the commanders and fighters of the 62nd Marine Brigade who are responsible for the assault mission,
In addition to meeting the situation, it is also necessary to implement information blockade on commanders and fighters of other units to prevent the enemy from knowing in advance and to take countermeasures."
When they learned that the Marine Corps brigade responsible for the assault mission was actually equipped with a kind of amphibious river crossing equipment, everyone was itching to go and take a look immediately.
Sokov saw everyone's concerns and said with a smile: "Comrade commanders, don't worry, you will be able to see this new type of river crossing equipment when the battle starts. Even your troops will take this
I’m planting river crossing equipment to cross the river.”
"Comrade Commander," the commanders who were eager to see the new river crossing equipment asked anxiously in the crowd: "Then when can we see this new type of river crossing equipment?"
"I have already said that you will be able to see it after the attack on Belgorod begins."
"Then when can we attack Belgorod?"
Sokov has not been notified by his superiors for a long time. When asked by his subordinates, he could only say vaguely: "Don't be anxious. When the time is right, we will launch an attack on Belgorod. If my analysis
That's right, in two or three days at most, it will be the day to launch an attack on the enemy."
Seeing that Sokov could not give a specific date, everyone was full of doubts about whether he would launch an attack on Belgorod in the near future.
Before anyone could ask any more questions, they saw the director of the communications corps walking in from outside. After entering, he looked around, walked quickly to Sokov, and handed a telegram to the other party: "Commander
Comrade Comrade, this is an urgent telegram just sent from the Front Army Headquarters."
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the director of the communications corps. Seeing the nervous and excited expression on his face, everyone began to speculate: Is this telegram related to the attack on Belgorod?
After reading the telegram, Sokov showed an expression of surprise on his face. However, he did not immediately announce the contents of the telegram to the commanders attending the meeting. Instead, he handed it to Lunev next to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, look
Read this telegram."
Everyone turned their attention to Luniev again, wanting to see what his expression was like after reading the telegram. Seeing that Luniev's expression after reading the telegram was exactly the same as Sokov's, some commanders were muttering to themselves,
It seems that this telegram is really related to the attack on Belgorod.
"Comrades, commanders," Sameko was the last one to read the telegram and clapped his hands on the table excitedly. Then he stood up, raised the telegram in his hand high, and said excitedly to everyone: "Front Army
The headquarters just sent us a call saying that the Supreme Command has agreed to the Rumyantsev action plan and the time to attack Belgorod has been determined."
Sameko's words caused cheers in the venue, and everyone finally waited for the order to attack.
After the venue returned to calm, Samyko announced loudly: "The time to attack Belgorod will be at five o'clock in the morning on August 3. After the artillery prepared for two hours of artillery fire on the enemy's defensive positions, we
The infantry launched another attack."
"Two hours of artillery preparation?" Everyone was shocked by Sameko's words. This was the first time they heard about such a long artillery time. The previous one and a half hours was almost the limit. A commander murmured
Said: "How many shells do we need to consume for a two-hour bombardment?"
Sokov looked at the commander who said this and said with a smile: "You may not know that in order to successfully capture Belgorod, our army deployed an average of 216 artillery pieces per kilometer in the main attack direction.
and mortars. In the offensive direction of the 5th Guards Army and the 53rd Army, the number of artillery and mortars per kilometer has increased to 230. In other words, in order to protect all the artillery on the front,
To fire a salvo, you need to prepare ten wagonloads of shells."
"Comrade Commander," a commander then asked: "How long can the shells our artillery possess can sustain the bombardment?"
"The number of artillery in our group army is limited. At the current position, the organic artillery only has the 1st Artillery Division and the 2nd Artillery Division." Sokov replied: "But the accumulated artillery shells can prepare for an hour's artillery fire on the enemy's defensive positions.
, I think it’s not a big problem.”
"Ah, the artillery preparation can only be maintained for one hour?" The commander was obviously disappointed with Sokov's answer. "This means that we must prepare the artillery one hour later than the friendly forces before we can launch the ground attack at the same time.
attack."
"You are wrong." Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Sokov said: "Our artillery shells are limited. After an hour of shelling at the same time as the main artillery force of the front army, we can launch a ground attack one hour in advance to hit the enemy.