Zakharov added: "Poltava is originally a fortress city, and its city walls are extremely strong. If conventional shelling methods are used, even 152mm artillery will be difficult to blast a gap in the city wall. But direct aim is used instead.
When it comes to shooting haute, even a 122mm artillery is far more effective than a 152mm artillery."
"It's getting late, you should go back to the troops as soon as possible." Seeing that everything that needed to be explained was finished, Konev said to Zadov and Shumilov: "Work out a practical plan with your artillery commander as soon as possible.
Feasible tactics must capture the city in the shortest possible time, there is not much time left for you."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." The two group army commanders replied respectfully: "As soon as we return, we will work with the artillery commander to formulate new tactics for artillery in siege warfare."
After Zadov and Shumilov left, Zakharov asked Konev: "Comrade Commander, do you think they will use new tactics to deal with the Germans' strong fortifications after they return?"
"I have already said what needs to be said." Konev said a little tiredly: "If there is no new progress in their siege operations in a short period of time, I may have to consider replacing them with other troops.
attack."
"Other troops?" When Zakharov heard what Konev said, he first thought of Sokov: "Comrade Commander, do you plan to let Sokov's troops take over the siege operations?"
"No, no, no, I will not mobilize Sokov's troops." Konev waved his hands and said: "On the landing site on the right bank of the Dnieper River, I can rest assured only if Sokov is there."
When Zakharov heard what Konev said, he originally wanted to express a different opinion. But after thinking about several group army commanders in the front army in his mind, he felt that there was really no one who could defeat Sokov. If so.
Not to mention that Konev was worried about handing over the landing site on the right bank of the Dnieper River to someone else, he was even worried about himself.
In the city of Kremenchug hundreds of kilometers away, Sokov was saying to Managarov and others: "...Whether it is a frontal attack on the landing site or a battle on the left bank, the Germans will
It ended in failure. But the enemy who suffered a defeat will never give up so easily. They will definitely come up with new plots to retake the landing site..."
"General Sokov," Derevyanko couldn't help but interrupt after hearing this: "Can you tell me what kind of plot the enemy will use to seize the landing site from us?"
"I don't know, General Derevyanko." Sokov looked at Derevyanko and said seriously: "I am not God, nor am I Manstein's chief of staff. I don't know what he will do next.
Such an action. But one thing I know very well is that if the Germans attack on the frontal battlefield does not go well, they will definitely send small troops to penetrate into the direction of our army to cause damage."
"Then how should we deal with them?" Derevyanko continued to ask.
"We can only strengthen patrols in the defense zone, and at the same time prohibit soldiers from going out after dark, so as not to be taken advantage of by the Germans." Sokov said with some helplessness: "We need to strengthen security in important areas..."
When Derevyanko heard Sokov mention that security work should be strengthened in important areas, he thought that the other party was worried about a small German team sneaking into the headquarters. He even said carelessly: "General Sokov, if you are worried about the security of the headquarters,
I can tell you that there is no need to be afraid. The guard troops deployed near the church are not only from the 27th Army, but also from our 53rd Army. The Germans will not be able to fly in even if they have wings."
"General Derevyanko, you are wrong. It is precisely because there are two different troops near the church that the Germans have an opportunity." Sokov explained to Derevyanko: "For example, the Germans
Dress up as our troops and infiltrate near the headquarters. When my subordinates see them, they will think they are your subordinates; and when your subordinates see them, they will also think these disguised enemies are my subordinates."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Managarov heard this and immediately realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly said to Derevyanko: "General Sokov is right. If the security of the headquarters is protected by two different
The troops can easily be exploited by the enemy. Let’s withdraw the security troops belonging to us to the periphery and hand over the security work here to the security troops of the 27th Group Army.”
After Managarov finished instructing Derevyanko in one breath, he did not forget to ask Sokov for his opinion: "General Sokov, do you think this is okay?"
As soon as Sokov thought about it, he asked the 53rd Army's guard troops to withdraw from the square area and take charge of the peripheral defense. This would make it more difficult for the Germans to penetrate. He nodded in agreement: "Okay, Comrade General, as you please
As you say. Your troops will be responsible for the outer defense, and my troops will be responsible for the security of the church and square area."
After speaking, Sokov turned to Samyko and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please make arrangements immediately."
When Samyko got up to make a phone call, Sokov smiled and said to Derevyanko: "General Derevyanko, you misunderstood one thing. The important location I mentioned did not refer to our headquarters.
, although the importance of this place cannot be replaced, it is indeed not the location I want to talk about.”
"Then where is the important location you mentioned?"
"Here." Sokov stood up and walked to the table opposite, pointing to the map spread out on it: "In order to prevent the worst situation from happening, the enemy successfully broke through our defenses after crossing the river to the left bank.
, met here in Kremenchug, cutting off the retreat route of the troops on the right bank, and deliberately dug a lot of caves on the cliffs beside the river on the right bank to store the weapons, ammunition and supplies needed by the troops. I am worried about the Germans
The small teams that infiltrate into the rear of our army will destroy these caves where supplies are stored."
Listening to what Sokov said, Derevyanko knew in his heart that he had wrongly blamed Sokov. There was indeed a large amount of supplies stored in the newly dug caves on the right bank of the river. If they were destroyed by the German squad, the troops on the right bank would be destroyed.
You will face a shortage of supplies. Once supplies are insufficient, it will become very difficult to stop the enemy.
After figuring out what was going on, Derevyanko quickly expressed his position: "General Sokov, the troops on the right bank are all your troops now. If you want to strengthen the management of these materials, you can only be responsible. I
Our troops can be sent to patrol the left bank and provide necessary fire support to friendly forces on the right bank when necessary."
"I think it's okay." Sokov thinks that the plan proposed by Derevyanko is not bad. Now there are two armies, one on the right bank and one on the left bank. If joint patrols on both sides of the bank are implemented, the possibility of successful German penetration can indeed be reduced.
"Several bridges on the Dnieper River are heavily guarded by our army. If the Germans want to cross the river, they can only choose to swim. If both sides of the river are patrolled at the same time, it will be difficult for the enemy to succeed."
The joint patrol between the two armies at night was decided. The two chiefs of staff immediately called the commanders of the troops along the river and ordered them to form a capable patrol team to perform night patrols along the river.
The commander of the troops stationed by the river, upon receiving the notice from their superiors, did not dare to neglect at all, and quickly mobilized forces to organize twenty or thirty patrol teams to patrol both sides of the Dnieper River.
A series of things that happened later proved that Sokov's deployment was completely correct.
The Germans had suffered losses on both sides of the Dnieper River, and they were definitely not reconciled. After standing in front of the map for nearly an hour, Blaskowitz turned around and asked the Chief of Staff not far away: "Chief of Staff, tell me,
Is there any way we can throw the Russian defense lines into chaos?"
The German Chief of Staff thought for a while and replied: "Your Excellency Commander, on the eve of our attack on Russia, we sent a large number of Brandenburg troops, disguised as Russians, deep into the Russian rear, disrupting their communications, and blowing them up.
warehouses and bridges, and even directly attacked their headquarters after the war started. It was the Russian troops who fell into chaos because they lost their unified command."
After hearing what the Chief of Staff said, Blaskowitz couldn't help but frown slightly. He is a traditional soldier who is used to the frontal attack style. He has always been against the behavior of sending small troops deep into the enemy's rear to carry out sabotage.
It is looked down upon.
Seeing Blaskowitz's silence, the chief of staff guessed what he was thinking and said quickly: "Your Excellency, Commander, I understand what you are thinking. If it is an ordinary Russian army, as long as we continue to attack, we will
It is possible to destroy their defense lines, but the Russians who are fighting us now have caused our troops to suffer an unprecedented defeat. I think it is time for us to change our tactics."
"Change tactics?" Blaskowitz turned around, walked back to his desk, sat down, looked at his chief of staff and said, "Tell me, how do you change tactics?"
"We can send small teams deep into the depth of the Russian defenses." The chief of staff said to Blaskowitz: "Blow up their bridges, warehouses and logistics supply bases. Once the Russians occupy the bridgehead on the right bank, because of the bridge
If they are bombed and have supply difficulties, our troops can launch an offensive decisively, destroy their defenses in one fell swoop, and drive them all into the Dnieper River."
Regarding the Chief of Staff's statement, Blaskowitz said with concern: "Chief of Staff, I understand what you mean. But if we have sent a sabotage team, can we really penetrate deep into the Russian rear?
"
"You are right, Commander." The chief of staff did not question Blaskowitz's statement, but took the initiative to propose his own plan: "If the sabotage team is allowed to enter the Russian defense area from the front,
It's very difficult to get through the many lines of Russian defense without revealing your identity."
"Yes, this is exactly what I am worried about." Blaskowitz nodded and said: "If we can think of any good way, we can make the sabotage team we send smoothly pass through the Russians'
Layers of defense, that might cause some trouble for the Russians."
"Actually, there is a way, Your Excellency Commander." The Chief of Staff quickly walked to the wall, looked up at the map hanging on it, picked up the explanation stick on the side, and said: "We can let the sabotage team
Along the bank of the Dnieper River, we quietly took a detour back to the bridge..."
Blaskowitz stood up and came to the map, frowned and asked: "Let our people go along the river, won't we encounter Russian patrols on the way?"
"There is a possibility of encountering a Russian patrol." Regarding Blaskowitz's concerns, the chief of staff did not shy away: "But based on our past experience in dealing with the Russians, even if they deployed patrols along the river
, but the number will not be too large, and our destruction team can completely avoid them."
After hearing this, Blaskowitz finally made up his mind. He immediately ordered his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, immediately send out two sabotage squads, disguised as Russians, from the upper and lower reaches of the Dnieper River, quietly.
Approach the Dnieper River Bridge and try to blow it up to deprive the Russians on the right bank of supplies for a period of time and create favorable conditions for our attack."
"Only two sabotage teams were sent?" the chief of staff reminded Blaskowitz: "Your Excellency, Commander, is the number too small?"
"Quite a few, my chief of staff." Blaskowitz shook his head and said: "A sabotage team consisting of 20 people, carrying explosives and mines, quietly approached the bridge on the Dnieper River along the river.
, find a way to blow it up."
"Even if each team has 20 people, the total strength is still too small." The chief of staff continued: "If the bridge bombing operation changes from a sneak attack to a storm attack, our small number of troops will soon be wiped out by the Russians.
"
"No need to persuade anymore." Blaskowitz waved his hand to the chief of staff: "Just do what I want. Immediately notify the troops closest to the Russians, form an elite sabotage team, and go deep into the Russian defense zone.
To cause destruction.”
After dark, the first sabotage team to set off was from the lower reaches. There were 20 people in total. They were led by a German captain who could speak Russian. The group of people, wearing Soviet uniforms, left the defense area and walked along the first
On the right bank of the Nieper River, head towards the Dnieper River Bridge upstream.
When they first set out, the team leader was worried about encountering a Soviet patrol. However, after walking for seven or eight kilometers along the river, there was not even a single person to be seen, so he inevitably relaxed his vigilance.
The area they passed was the defense area of the 1st Mechanized Army. Although Sokov's order was also issued here, Solomatin did not pay enough attention. He felt that if the Germans wanted to carry out a sneak attack, they would wait until
Now. So I just said to my chief of staff: "Inform the troops to be more vigilant and not to let the enemy penetrate into our defense area."
After saying this, Solomatin went to sleep with peace of mind, and even ordered his orderly: "If there is nothing particularly important before dawn, don't wake me up."
The army commander was sleeping, but the army chief of staff did not take the matter to heart and did not follow Solomatin's order to call the brigade commanders below to ask them to take precautions.
The 23rd Mechanized Brigade is responsible for the defense of the banks of the Dnieper River. This brigade usually only sends out an eight-person patrol team to patrol along the river. During the patrol, this patrol team saw it raining, and the captain
Feeling that nothing had happened for such a long time, nothing would happen tonight, so he led the patrol to find a place to take shelter from the rain.
However, the German squad that carried out the sabotage mission took advantage of the favorable conditions of the rain and accelerated its march. As soon as the Soviet patrols withdrew, the German squad successfully passed through this area.