In the counterattack on the front of the landing site, the offensive troops advanced rapidly. While reading the battle report, Sameko compared the place names mentioned above.
After Samek gave the battle report, he smiled and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, if our troops advance at the current speed, we will be able to wedge into the German defenses two to three kilometers in depth before dark.
"
Derevyanko on the side was filled with envy when he heard what Samyko said. His troops were in the northwest direction of the city and could only carry out a difficult defense, while the troops of the 27th Group Army would not fight back. As soon as they launched a counterattack, they
Completely defeated the German defense south of the landing site, and had the opportunity to wedge itself deep into the German defense.
But before Derevyanko could speak, he saw Sokov shaking his head, and then responded firmly to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, no, our troops cannot enter the depth of the German defenses."
Samyko naturally knew what Sokov was worried about, and reminded him politely: "Comrade Commander, due to the smooth progress of the troops, the two divisions we originally planned to participate in the counterattack have not yet entered the battle. I think it is completely okay.
Put them all into battle before dark, maybe we can achieve greater results this way."
Sokov didn't want to eliminate a few more enemies, but he knew better that the reason why the counterattack at the landing site went smoothly was simply because the German 1st Army Group commanded by General Blaskowitz had no experience fighting his own troops.
They used the tactics they used to deal with other Soviet troops to deal with themselves. When they used heavy artillery to bombard the opponent's positions, the other party may have thought that they were just bluffing to force them to withdraw their left bank troops.
General Blaskowitz's underestimation of the enemy allowed him to achieve the desired results so easily. If he continued to fight, his troops would definitely be able to achieve results and even wedge themselves deeper into the German defense line, but it would not be long before the Germans returned.
With the help of God and the arrival of reinforcements, the troops that penetrate deep into the enemy's defense line will become a lone army. By then, let alone continue to destroy the enemy, it is still unknown whether they can escape intact.
It was out of this consideration that Sokov shook his head and said resolutely: "Comrade Chief of Staff, when we made the counterattack plan, my principle was a limited counterattack. Now that our combat goal has been achieved,
There is no need to create extraneous problems. If German reinforcements come up, our troops who are deep behind enemy lines may be encircled and become a lone army."
Derevyanko, who was standing not far away, approached Managarov and whispered: "Comrade Commander, I think you can persuade General Sokov that the current situation is very favorable to our army. If we continue to attack
, maybe we can achieve greater results."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right." Managarov turned to look at Derevyanko and said in the same low voice: "If the troops of the 27th Group Army advance towards the enemy's defense area, they may be able to achieve greater success.
Great results. But have you considered that although we do not lack logistical supplies now, the quantity we have cannot support us in launching a large-scale offensive operation. If the troops of the 27th Group Army continue to advance and are surrounded by the enemy,
, how can they break through the enemy's defense when they are short of ammunition and supplies?"
When Managarov reached the end of his story, he was a little excited and involuntarily raised his voice, which happened to be heard by Sokov. Sokov quickly used his topic to continue: "That's right, Comrade General.
We cannot just see that the situation at hand is favorable to us and underestimate the enemy. If one or two troops are really surrounded or even wiped out by the Germans because of the rash advance. In this way, not only will our strength be weakened, but also our strength will be weakened.
It will affect military morale and morale."
After Sokov explained to everyone the reasons why he would not expand the results of the counterattack, everyone began to think about what he said. After some thinking, they had to admit that the situation he mentioned would probably happen. When that happens, it would be extremely joyful and sad.
.
Seeing that no one was talking anymore, Sokov ordered Samyko: "Chief of Staff, send a report to the forward troops. After reaching the designated counterattack position, stop advancing. Wait for the follow-up troops to arrive and hand over the defense to them, then withdraw to the original position."
garrison area.”
When Samyko sent a telegram to the troops at the landing site in accordance with Sokov's order, Runev came in from outside. After greeting Managarov and others, he walked up to Sokov and smiled.
He asked: "Comrade Commander, are you free now?"
Sokov did not immediately answer whether he was available, but asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, what can I do?"
"Can you come out for a moment?" Lunev glanced at where Managarov and others were sitting, and whispered: "There are a few soldiers outside who want to see you."
"Is there a soldier who wants to see me?" When Sokov learned that there were soldiers outside who wanted to see him, his first reaction was to refuse them firmly. Just kidding, he commands nearly 100,000 troops. If every soldier wants to see him, he will go and meet him.
If so, there is no time to do other things.
The words of rejection were on his lips at first, but when he thought about it, Lunev asked himself so solemnly, maybe the origins of these soldiers were extraordinary, so he changed his mind temporarily. He stood up and said to Lunev: "
Comrade Military Commissar, take me to see where they are."
Seeing that Sokov agreed to meet the soldiers, Lunev showed a faint smile on his face: "Comrade Commander, please come with me, and I will take you to meet them."
When the two of them left the church and walked across the square, Sokov couldn't help but ask: "Comrade Military Commissar, where are you going to take me?"
Lunev smiled lightly and said: "Comrade Commander, don't be anxious, you will know when you get to the place."
Soon, he came to a three-story building with soldiers standing guard at the door. Sokov knew that this was the residence of the 483rd Tank Battalion directly under the group army.
Seeing the arrival of Sokov and Lunev, the sentry standing at the door quickly raised his hand to salute. He probably never dreamed that Sokov would suddenly appear here, so when he saluted, he was so nervous that he even fired his gun.
It fell to the ground.
Sokov frowned when he saw the soldier hurriedly bending down to pick up the gun on the ground. However, he did not get angry easily because the opponent was not a regular infantryman, but just a tank soldier. He simply said: "
Comrade soldier, we are just here to take a look, don’t be so nervous."
After the two entered the door, Runev grabbed a passing tank soldier and asked him: "Where is the coca gold?"
When the tank soldier saw that the people standing in front of him were actually the commander and the military commissar, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous and said: "In the restaurant on the second floor. I just saw him in the restaurant on the second floor."
"Coca Gold?!" Sokov heard that the name seemed familiar. After the tank crew left, he curiously asked Lunev: "Military Commissar, the name you mentioned sounds very familiar, as if you have heard it somewhere.
"
"You've just heard of him." Lunev said with a smile: "When you see him, you may recognize him immediately."
Regarding Luniev's statement, Sokov smiled bitterly and shook his head. He didn't think that with his memory, he could recognize a soldier he had only seen once or twice.
Arriving at the restaurant on the second floor, as Sokov and Lunev entered the restaurant, the officers and soldiers who were eating stood up one after another and raised their hands to salute Sokov.
After an officer got up, he quickly picked up the big-brimmed hat on the table and put it on his head. He ran over and saluted Sokov and Lunev, and reported dryly: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Military Commissar, Tank
Captain Akimov, commander of the first company of the 483rd Battalion, reports to you that all the commanders and fighters of the first company are having a meal, please give instructions!"
"Continue to eat." Lunev waved his hand to Akimov and said: "We are just looking for two people, so we don't want to affect the soldiers' meal."
Just as Akimov was about to leave, Sokov suddenly stopped him and asked politely: "Comrade Captain, may I ask where you are from?"
“I am from Pripyat, Ukraine.”
Seeing that Sokov stopped the company commander without warning, Lunev couldn't help but asked: "Comrade Commander, do you know Captain Akimov?"
"I don't know." Sokov quickly shook his head and denied.
"Am I allowed to leave?" Akimov asked respectfully.
"It's allowed, of course it's allowed." Sokov said hurriedly: "Let the soldiers continue to eat."
Akimov turned back to his position and issued a series of commands to the soldiers who were standing upright. Following his commands, the standing soldiers sat down again and continued to eat.
"Comrade Commander," Luniev still thought of Sokov's strange behavior just now and asked tentatively: "Why did you just ask the captain where he is from?"
The reason why Sokov asked the captain where he was from just now was because when he heard his name, he thought of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident decades later. The person responsible for the accident was named Akimo.
However, when he learned that the man was from Pripyat near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Sokov changed his mind: Although the man's name was Akimov and he was also from Pripyat, he was not from Pripyat.
It means that the other person is the person responsible for the accident in the future, maybe it is just a coincidence.
When Luniev asked at this moment, Sokov naturally would not tell him the truth, but said perfunctorily: "Comrade Military Commissar, the captain is directly under our army. Is there anything wrong with knowing something about his personal situation?"
Lunev felt that Sokov's explanation seemed to make some sense, so he did not continue to ask questions, but took him to a dining table near the wall.
The five tank soldiers who were originally sitting around the dinner table couldn't sit still when they saw Sokov and Lunev coming to them. They put down the tableware in their hands and stood up.
"Comrade Commander," Lunev dragged a gray-haired tank sergeant in front of Sokov and said with a smile, "Look who he is?"
Sokov stared at the elderly tank sergeant in front of him, feeling that he looked familiar, but in a hurry, he couldn't remember where he had seen him.
"Comrade Commander," the sergeant saw Sokov's frown getting tighter, so he took the initiative and said, "Do you still remember that T-34 tank with the white cross on it?"
Sokov's memory was revived with the White Cross Tank. He pointed at the other party and said with some excitement: "Oh, I remembered, you are the one who drove the tank out of the prisoner of war camp... that...
...That..." Sokov said this, but he still couldn't remember the other person's name.
Seeing that cold sweat was breaking out on Sokov's forehead, Runev quickly reminded him: "Coca Gold, Sergeant Coca Gold."
"Yes, it's Sergeant Cocakin." Sokov reached out to hold the other person's hand and said enthusiastically: "Last time we met on the battlefield, you were taken away. I thought there would be no chance to meet again.
As for you, I didn’t expect to meet you here. By the way, where are your two companions?"
Hearing Sokov's question, another slightly younger sergeant took a step forward and replied shyly: "Comrade Commander, I'm here."
"This is Sergeant Rykov." Lunev was worried that Sokov could not name the other party. In order to avoid his embarrassment, he reminded him first: "After he and Cocakin finished the review, they went through a period of
training and was reintegrated into the tank unit."
After Sokov and Rykov shook hands, he took a step back and asked curiously: "I remember there was a girl at that time. I wonder where she is now?"
"Comrade Commander, are you talking about Katayeva?" Kokkin said: "She is currently in a military hospital in Moscow."
Since Katayeva did not stay in the army, Sokov did not ask any more questions about her, but asked Cocakin curiously: "Comrade Cocakin, I remember that the last time I saw you, you were still a middle school student.
Scholars, now they are all sergeants."
Hearing what Sokov said, Cocakin had a shy expression on his face: "While we were undergoing review, we were suddenly notified that what we said had been verified and was true. Not only were we released, but
They also promoted Rykov and I to military ranks, and then sent them to a training class for a period of time before they were reintegrated into the army."
Sokov's eyes quickly passed over the shoulders of the other three soldiers and found that they all had no military ranks and were just ordinary soldiers. He asked Cocakin with interest: "Comrade Sergeant, are you the commander of the vehicle now?"
?”
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Hearing what Sokov said, Kokkin replied proudly: "I am now the tank commander. And the tank we are driving is the latest T-34/85 tank.
He thought Sokov didn't understand this new type of T-34 tank, and took the initiative to introduce it, "The previous tank only had four crew members, but now one has been added, making it five."
"Comrade Sergeant," Lunev said with a smile, "You may not know, but this new type of tank was developed by the commander and the engineers of the Red October Factory during the Battle of Stalingrad.
"
Cocakin's eyes widened and he said in surprise: "I really didn't expect that Comrade Commander actually knows how to improve tanks."
Sokov just smiled faintly after hearing this, and then asked: "Are there still telephones installed on the backs of tanks today?"
"No, at least my tank doesn't have it." After Cocakin said this, he noticed that Sokov's eyebrows wrinkled again. He immediately realized that the phone installed in the tank was probably Sokov's idea, and he quickly added
: "Comrade Commander, although our tanks are not equipped with telephones, during the training in Moscow, telephones were installed on the backs of the training tanks."