After a long time, he said: "Comrade Commander, so the faster our troops seize Ratsewe and Jinji, the sooner we will leave here?"
"Yes, that's right." Sokov did not deny Fomenko's statement, but added: "Now there is only one of our troops on the right bank of the Dnieper River. Once we complete the action of supporting friendly forces to cross the river, it will mean
Our mission has been completed and we can go back wherever we need to."
"Then should our attack on Ratzewe and Jingji be stopped immediately?"
"It's too late, General Fomenko." Sokov had also considered stopping the attack on Ratseve and Kinki in order to extend the stay of his troops in this area. But as soon as this idea came to him,
He denied it without hesitation. This kind of disregard for the overall situation is quite dangerous. If the 7th Guards Army fails to cross the Dnieper River, Manstein will be free to deal with himself: "I have already
We informed General Shumilov of the troops’ capture of Ratseve and Kinki, and even if we wanted to give up at this moment, it would be impossible.”
"Oh, that's such a shame."
Sokov glanced at Fomenko and continued: "General Fomenko, even if we can give up the attack on Ratseve and Kinki, we cannot do so."
"Why?"
"First of all, this kind of disregard for the overall situation is very dangerous." Sokov felt that it was necessary to make it clear to Fomenko, lest he have any further ideas: "Secondly, if the 7th Guards Army fails to force the crossing,
If they succeed, then they will not be able to establish a landing site on the right bank. If we are the only lone force on the right bank, then the Germans’ next attack target will be us. We can crush the attack of one or two divisions; we can also crush the attack of three or four divisions.
It can withstand it. But if the enemy dispatches ten divisions, do you think that even if the entire army group is held here, it can block the German attack?"
"Comrade Commander, so to speak, no matter how our superiors arrange us next, the towns of Ratsewe and Jingji must be captured?"
"Yes, that's what it means." Sokov said: "Only if the troops of the 7th Guards Army establish a landing site on the right bank, can they help us distract the German army, jointly resist the enemy's attack, and resolutely defend the right bank.
Landing Ground."
After expressing his views, Sokov said to Fomenko: "Immediately contact Colonel Rusov and ask them where they are now?"
Fomenko quickly called his chief of staff and told him: "Comrade chief of staff, please contact Colonel Rusov immediately and ask them where the regiment has advanced so far."
When the 254th Regiment set off, Fomenko specially arranged a jeep to carry a radio for communication in order to keep abreast of the progress of the troops. After receiving Fomenko's order, the division chief of staff immediately went to the radio station.
He stood next to the commander and whispered to him to contact the 254th Regiment to learn about their latest progress.
A few minutes later, the chief of staff came back from the walkie-talkie and reported excitedly to Sokov and Fomenko: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Division Commander, Colonel Rusov reported that his battalion has launched an attack on the town of Ratseve
The attack was carried out, and now the battle is going smoothly, and one of the companies has already rushed into the town."
Sokov looked at the map carefully and knew that the town of Ratsewe was not large in size. It was already the limit to use a battalion of troops to fight. It would be impossible to deploy more troops.
After the division chief of staff finished his report, Sokov asked: "Since the first battalion is fighting in the town, what about the second and third battalions? They won't be watching the fun, right?"
"How is that possible, Comrade Commander." The division chief of staff said with a smile: "Colonel Rusov found that he could not invest too many troops at once in the town, so after the battle started, he left the second battalion as a reserve
, while the commanders and fighters of the third battalion rode bicycles and continued to advance towards Jingji Town, trying to reach Jingji Town before capturing Ratsewe Town."
"Colonel Rusov's decision is correct." After listening to the division chief of staff's report, Sokov nodded and said: "While the battle in Ratseve is still going on, we can send troops to attack Jinki Town.
The Germans were caught off guard. If he really waited to capture Ratzewe before attacking Kinki Town, the German troops there would have been ready for battle, and even if they were to be eliminated, they would probably have to pay a high price."
Fomenko asked Sokov for instructions: "Then when can we contact the 7th Guards Army?"
"Don't worry, General Fomenko." Although the 254th Regiment has launched an attack on Ratsewe, the final result is still unknown at this moment. If you rush to inform the 7th Guards Army to cross the river, nothing will happen.
The German army also deployed firepower points in the area along the river. Wouldn't that cause unnecessary casualties to the friendly forces? "I think it is not too late to contact the friendly forces after capturing the towns of Ratsewe and Kinki."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Fomenko nodded and said, "As soon as our army captures Ratseve and Kinki, we will report to you immediately."
Sokov was no longer worried about the battles in the towns of Ratseve and Kinki. After all, it was only a matter of time to eliminate the enemies there. Now he was eager to know how the battle in Chigilin was going, so he ordered someone to call Koida.
Command: "Colonel Koida, how is the progress there?"
"It went very well, Comrade Commander." Koida replied excitedly: "The troops who entered the city have occupied three streets one after another, and now they are continuing to expand their results."
"Comrade Colonel, although your progress is very smooth, you cannot take it lightly." Sokov said to Koida on the phone: "The Germans are not willing to fail. They will definitely make a desperate struggle before being destroyed.
Therefore, you must also take measures to deal with the Germans' desperate attempts to jump over the wall. Do you understand?"
"Understood." Koida replied resoundingly: "I have dispatched a reconnaissance team outside the city. Once any new enemy situation is discovered, they will report to me as soon as possible."
"Yeah, if there is any latest situation, remember to report it to me in time."
Sokov ended the call with Koida, and ordered the communications troops to connect to the army headquarters and contact Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation at the landing site?"
"Comrade Commander," Hearing Sokov's voice, Samyko felt much more at ease. He quickly asked: "How is the situation in Chigilin? How is the progress of our troops?"
"Some soldiers have already rushed into the city and occupied several streets. They are now fighting with the enemy." Sokov said into the microphone: "I believe that if we continue to fight according to the current fighting style, we will fight until the end of the day at the latest.
If you are black, you can capture the small ancient city of Qijilin."
Hearing Sokov speak in such a firm tone, Samek felt a little more at ease. He continued to ask: "Have the enemy reinforcements arrived?"
"No enemy reinforcements have been found yet." Sokov said: "I estimate that the enemy sent a grenadier regiment and an assault artillery battalion yesterday evening. After defeating the 84th Division's troops, they became extremely swollen and felt that they could not
With some strength, we will definitely be able to defend Qi Jilin, but we may not send reinforcements for the time being."
"We won't send reinforcements for the time being?" Sokov's bold inference made Sameko a little skeptical: "The Germans know that we are attacking Chigilin with all our strength, how could they not send reinforcements?"
"What I said is that we will not send reinforcements for the time being, which does not mean that we will not send reinforcements to reinforce Chigilin at all." Seeing that Samyko misunderstood what he meant, Sokov patiently explained to him: "Once the Germans find out that Chigilin is in danger, they will not send reinforcements at all."
New reinforcements will definitely be sent out to come over for support. However, with the current attack speed of the 188th Division, even if the Germans discover something is wrong and urgently dispatch troops for reinforcements, they may not be able to make it in time. Our troops will be behind the enemy's
Completely liberate the city before reinforcements arrive."
"Comrade Commander, I am still very worried." Samek said worriedly: "Even if we capture Chigilin before the enemy's reinforcements arrive, the commanders and soldiers will definitely be extremely tired. If the Germans
The reinforcements are launching an attack at this time, and I am worried that our troops will suffer heavy losses."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to worry about this." Sokov thought that as long as the towns of Ratsewe and Kinki were captured, troops from the 7th Guards Army would arrive in a steady stream to distract the German army.
Use force to reduce the pressure on yourself: "I used Major General Gritsenko's 384th Division as the reserve team of the group army, preparing to catch the opponent off guard when discovering the whereabouts of German reinforcements."
Sokov's call to Samyko was not to report on the fighting in the Chigilin area, but to find out how the fighting at the landing site was progressing: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation at the landing site?"
"Not ideal, Comrade Commander." When Sokov asked about the situation at the landing site, Samekko replied with some embarrassment: "Faced with the powerful German offensive, all the commanders and fighters of Colonel Weisbach's 300th Division,
Despite the arduous and outstanding battle, the Germans broke through two lines of defense. Now the division commander is leading a counterattack in an attempt to restore the positions that were broken through by the Germans."
"The rear of the 300th Division is not Guchakov's 73rd Infantry Division and General Solomatin's 1st Mechanized Corps." Sokov said absentmindedly: "They saw that Weisbach's defense line was tight.
Even without our orders, we should take the initiative to reduce the pressure on friendly forces."
"Comrade Commander, General Solomatin is an old soldier, and his character is somewhat stubborn." Samek said cautiously: "If you see your friendly troops being attacked by the Germans before getting orders from your superiors,
Annihilation, I’m afraid he wouldn’t dare to give the order casually.”
"That won't work." Sokov shook his head and said, "To win on the battlefield, it depends on the cooperation of the team, but on which unit fights alone." He ordered Sameko on the phone,
"Chief of Staff, immediately called the two commanders Guchakov and Solomatin and told them that it was our intention and ordered them not to engage in passive defense and to know how to seize various fighter opportunities in order to eliminate the Germans'
There is vitality.”
"Understood, Comrade Commander, I will make a call." Samyko continued to report: "Colonel Khokhlov's 254th Division is also resisting the powerful German offensive. Fortunately, our artillery and group armies are directly under the
With the support of tank troops, their defense line has not been broken through by the Germans to its current position."
Samyko's words made Sokov realize a problem. He only focused on giving orders every day, but he did not realize that factions were about to appear within the group army. When the 254th Division encountered danger, artillery and direct tanks immediately provided support.
, repulsed the German attack; and the 300th Division's defense line was broken through, and it could only rely on its own strength to launch a counterattack against the German army.
Thinking of this, Sokov said with a serious expression: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you feel that there are cliques within the group army now?"
"Why do you say that, Comrade Commander?" Samek asked in confusion.
"Haven't you discovered it yet?" Sokov realized after seeing Sameko, he couldn't help but said in a more serious tone: "It was also the troops that suffered losses under the strong attack of the German army, and the 254th Division got them in time.
Artillery and tank support; as for the 300th Division, it seems that it did not receive any support and could only rely on its own strength to restore the positions occupied by the Germans."
When Sokov explained this, Samyko immediately understood: "You are right, Comrade Commander. The 300th Division commanded by Colonel Weisbach was only included in the organization of our group army in the late stages of the Kharkov Campaign.
Of course, being left out is probably inevitable. But there is one thing that makes me very confused."
"What happened?" This time it was Sokov's turn to be surprised.
"Before Weisbach served as the commander of the 300th Division, he was the deputy commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade." Samek said his true thoughts to himself: "The defense line of the troops under his command was breached by the enemy. Logically speaking,
Guchakov should actively provide reinforcements, but for some reason, he always stood still."
Sokov held the microphone in one hand and tapped the table gently with the other. His mind began to think quickly about how to avoid this kind of discrimination against the new team.
After some thinking, he had a relatively formed idea in his mind, and said into the phone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to ask about this matter anymore. I'll call Major Guchakov later."
, ask what’s going on.”
Putting down the microphone here, Sokov waved to the communications company commander standing not far away and motioned him to come to him. After the communications company commander came over, he asked with a smile: "Comrade company commander, here
Can your phone reach the headquarters of the 73rd Infantry Brigade?"
"It's a little difficult, Comrade Commander." The communications company commander explained to Sokov: "Because we are advancing so fast, we have not had time to lay the telephone line. If you want to contact the 73rd Infantry Brigade, you can only
Send messages via walkie-talkie or talk wirelessly.”
Sokov considered that some things would be difficult to explain clearly through telegrams alone, so he ordered the communication company commander: "Comrade commander, immediately use the walkie-talkie to contact the brigade headquarters of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. I want to contact their brigade commander.
Major Guchakov on wireless call."
After the communications company commander gave a resounding agreement, he said: "Comrade Commander, please give me a few minutes, and I will immediately connect you to the headquarters of the 73rd Infantry Brigade."