After Katukov left, Bogolyubov smiled and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Acting Commander, I wonder if you have discovered anything interesting."
"Interesting thing?" Rokossovsky looked at Bogolyubov in confusion and asked: "What interesting thing?"
"The earliest First Tank Army was formed in 1942 on the basis of the 38th Army, and its first commander was General Moskalenko, the current commander of the 38th Army."
Although after the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, many units were formed and then dismantled, Rokossovsky happened to know the history of the First Tank Army. He raised his eyebrows and then said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what you said
The First Tank Army was originally placed under the command of the Stalingrad Front, but due to mediocre results, it was disbanded on August 6 of the same year, and it existed for less than half a month.
Today's First Tank Army was formed on the basis of the 29th Army on January 4, 1943. Under the command of Katukov, this unit has achieved considerable feats. I believe it cannot be more
Over time, they will be awarded the honorary title of Guards Tank Army."
Rokossovsky did not want to discuss Katukov's troops too much, but changed the subject in time and asked Bogolyubov: "Chief of Staff, have you called the commander of the Air Force?"
"Yes, Comrade Acting Commander." Bogolyubov heard Rokossovsky asking himself and quickly replied: "As long as weather conditions permit, our aviation forces will rush to the Korosten area tomorrow to fight there.
The 60th Group Army will provide adequate air support."
"Very good." Rokossovsky nodded and said, "Based on the current situation, the Germans also feel that they cannot defend the city and are withdrawing their troops from the city in an orderly manner."
"Comrade Acting Commander, I don't understand." Bogolyubov raised his question to Rokossovsky: "Since the Germans felt that they could not defend the city, why didn't they simply withdraw, but chose to withdraw?"
The troops are staying outside the city, and they are still preparing to encircle our army? Aren't they worried that these troops will be encircled by our troops outside the city? "
In response to Bogolyubov's question, Rokossovsky grinned silently, and then replied: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the reason is very simple. Once they lost the city, they immediately chose to retreat.
Then we can leave a force there for defense, and move the main force south to reinforce the 38th Army Group and the 3rd Guards Tank Army that are under attack, so that the battle situation will develop in our favor."
"So that's it." Bogolyubov is also a smart man. After hearing Rokossovsky's words, he immediately guessed the German army's intention: "Even if our army occupied Korosten, as long as their army remains
Near the city, we don’t dare to easily dispatch our forces south for reinforcements, lest we suffer a counterattack from the enemy when the city’s troops are empty.”
"Yes, that's the truth." Rokossovsky nodded and confirmed the other party's statement: "The Germans use this method to contain our troops so that their attack in the center can achieve greater success.
Result."
"Comrade Rokossovsky," Vatutin, who was ignored by everyone, suddenly asked: "According to the battle reports we received, General Moskalenko's troops are in a very bad situation. But you can neither
The troops on the right wing were sent south to reinforce the First Tank Army, which had just arrived in Kiev, and you ordered them to stand still. Do you plan to watch the 38th Army being annihilated by the Germans?"
Perhaps because he felt that there were serious mistakes in Rokossovsky's deployment, Vatutin said this with anger: "Have you ever thought about what will happen to the 38th Army once it is annihilated by the Germans?
What impact will it have on the morale of our troops?”
"You are right, Comrade Vatutin." Rokossovsky was very tolerant of Vatutin's complaints, "If General Moskalenko's 38th Group Army is annihilated by the Germans, what will happen to him?"
The morale and morale of the 1st Ukrainian Front have been adversely affected. However, are you so unsure of your own troops?"
Rokossovsky's words stopped Vatutin. Yes, am I so unsure of my own troops? In any case, the 38th Army has four infantry divisions, several infantry brigades, and tank brigades.
, artillery divisions, cavalry and other units, even if they are attacked by the German army, they cannot be completely wiped out in a short period of time.
What's more, to their south is Rybalko's 3rd Guards Tank Army, which has a tank corps and a mechanized corps and can provide necessary support to the 38th Army in difficulty at any time.
Seeing Vatutin's silence, Rokossovsky continued: "Comrade Vatutin, I understand your mood at this time. Seeing that the 38th Army is in danger but no troops are sent to rescue them, I feel the same
It's very contradictory. But as senior commanders, we often cannot act emotionally. At this moment, sending General Katukov's First Tank Army to reinforce it can indeed rescue the 38th Army and slow down the German army's advance towards Kiev.
But after this battle, the First Tank Army will definitely pay a heavy price and needs to be replenished before it can participate in the large-scale counterattack against the German army. The reserve force that can be used in the base camp is also very limited now. If we have to wait
The superiors will give us supplements, and the waiting time will be very long."
Although Vatutin has made many mistakes in command this year, he is still an experienced commander after all. Naturally, he knows very well that occupying Kiev is only a starting point for the liberation of the entire Ukraine. If it cannot be done before the German army has completed its overall defense preparations,
If we quickly advance deep into the German defenses, then this battle will be protracted.
"Comrade Rokossovsky, you are right." At this time, Vatutin could only bite the bullet and admit that Rokossovsky's approach was undoubtedly the most correct.
The 38th Army fought hard against the German troops attacking Kiev. After the enemy had lost a large amount of its effective forces, and then put the effective forces that had been recuperating for a long time into the battle, it could easily crush the enemy's attack and take advantage of the opportunity to expand the results.
"Comrade Vatutin," Rokossovsky heard Vatutin's conciliatory tone from the other party's tone, and said with a smile: "Anyway, you know the army better, if I have any
Feel free to point out what I did wrong, and the two of us will discuss important matters."
Although Rokossovsky took over the command of the troops, which made Vatutin feel uncomfortable, the two still reached a consensus on the issue of dealing with the German army: "No problem, Comrade Rokossovsky, I
I will definitely do my best to help you command the troops."
Seeing that the two commanders had reached superficial cooperation, Bogolyubov, as the chief of staff, couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. In this way, the two would no longer restrict each other when issuing various combat orders to the troops.
Early the next morning, the weather turned sunny.
Lieutenant General Krasovsky, commander of the 2nd Air Force Group Army, immediately called the bomber division commander and ordered: "Comrade Colonel, the weather has cleared and you can attack."
As the order was issued, 124 bomber fighters took off one after another, completed their formation in the air near the airport, and flew in the direction of Korosten.
Considering that the bomber division might be intercepted by German fighter jets when performing its mission, Krasovsky sent two more fighter jets from the aviation regiment to accompany him.
Arriving over the city of Korosten, the bomber planes swooped down from a high altitude and dropped aerial bombs on the German defensive positions. Those buildings that had long been under the attack of Soviet artillery fire were vulnerable to the explosion of aerial bombs.
, collapsed one after another and turned into ruins.
The Soviet troops on the ground cheered when they saw their own bomber planes indiscriminately bombing the German positions.
Chernyakhovsky, who was staying in the forward observation post, saw that the German position was shrouded in the smoke of the explosion, and the corners of his mouth could not help but curl up slightly. The chief of staff next to him reminded him: "Comrade Commander, look at our army.
When should we attack the enemy?"
"Don't be anxious, my comrade chief of staff." Chernyakhovsky said without looking back: "It's okay to wait until our air force bombs again and destroys most of the defenses on the enemy's position before launching an attack again.
It won't be too late, and the casualties of the commanders and soldiers can be reduced by then."
"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff glanced at Major General Pukhov standing next to him and reminded Chernyakhovsky in a low voice: "The commander of the 13th Army is still here."
The chief of staff's words reminded Chernyakhovsky that he was now fighting in coordination with the 13th Army and had to discuss some matters with friendly forces. He quickly put down his telescope and said apologetically to Pukhov: "I'm sorry.
General Pukhov, I was so absorbed in watching this that I forgot you were still around."
Pukhov's military rank and qualifications were higher than those of Chernyakhovsky. Even if he had any dissatisfaction, he could only hide it in his heart and could not express it. He responded politely: "Chernyakhovsky
General, can you tell me what your next step is?"
"General Pukhov," Chernyakhovsky called Pukhov to the table, pointed to the map spread out on it, and said to him: "Look, the two Germans who evacuated from the city
The two divisions are now positioned in the northwest and southwest directions of the city. When I plan to launch the final attack on the city, I will send troops to bypass the two wings of the city to drive away these two German divisions."
"Well," Pukhov nodded and said, "Do you want my troops to be responsible for one of the directions?"
"Yes, that's what I mean." Seeing that Pukhov understood his intention, Chernyakhovsky nodded and said firmly: "The tasks of attacking the city and detouring from the left wing will be completed by my troops.
.You only need to send troops to detour from the north of the city and drive away the enemies staying on our right flank."
Regarding Chernyakhovsky's arrangement, Pukhov felt that it was very reasonable. The task he originally received was to send some troops northward after liberating Korosten to directly threaten Chernobyl and Puri.
Piat echoed the troops of the Belorussian Front moving south, forcing the German army to divide its forces for defense.
"No problem." Pukhov replied readily: "I immediately sent troops to detour to the north of the city to drive away the enemies entrenched on the right wing of our army."
While Pukhov was on the phone, Chernyakhovsky ordered his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, order the 161st, 167th and 195th Infantry Divisions to immediately launch a final attack on the city;
The 232nd and 237th Divisions will detour to the south of the city to drive away the enemies on our left flank. The 303rd Division, as the general reserve of the group army, will not be used for the time being."
"What about the 107th and 121st Divisions?"
"These two infantry divisions made great sacrifices in the battle to attack the city." Chernyakhovsky said: "They can be temporarily withdrawn to repair for a period of time, and then participate again after they have received supplements.
It will not be too late to attack the German army."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, the chief of staff said in embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, this may be very difficult to handle. In any case, the 107th and 121st Infantry Divisions have suffered heavy casualties in the battles over the past few days.
Now that victory is in sight, but they are ordered to withdraw, I am worried that the commanders and soldiers will be emotional."
Didn't Chernyakhovsky know that withdrawing the two infantry divisions that had been severely damaged in the battle at this moment was suspected of killing the donkey? But considering the overall situation, since these two divisions no longer have the ability to participate in the next
Rather than letting the remaining commanders and fighters be consumed in the street fighting, it would be better to withdraw them first for repairs, and then join the battle after they regain their strength.
After thinking about this, he said to the Chief of Staff with a straight face: "Chief of Staff, please tell the two division commanders that this is my order. As my subordinates, they can only unconditionally execute my order instead of discussing it."
Is this order reasonable? Do you understand?"
"I understand, Comrade Commander." The Chief of Staff quickly replied, "I will immediately convey your message to the two division commanders."
The bombing had just ended, and before the smoke cleared, the three infantry divisions who received the order launched the final attack on the city filled with smoke. For a time, the deafening sound of Ura resounded throughout the battlefield.
The German officers and soldiers who were shrouded in gunpowder smoke and had not yet fully awakened from the bombing could not help but become panicked when they heard the sound of Ura getting closer and closer. They could not see where the enemy was, so they could only look into the smoke.
From the direction where the sound came from, people were frantically pulling the trigger, trying to stop the Soviet attack.
However, their shooting attracted more intense firepower. In addition to machine guns, submachine guns and rifles, they were also bombarded by 82mm caliber mortars. Many soldiers who were shooting desperately were knocked off the ground by the blast of air.
Pulled it up, threw it high into the air, and then fell heavily.
The German defense line was quickly broken through. Like a rising tide, the attacking Soviet troops overran the dilapidated German positions, quickly rushed into the streets, and started a battle with the retreating German troops.
The German troops in the city lost the courage to resist. They fled from the buildings that had been bombed or were about to collapse, and fled hurriedly along the road to the west of the city, trying to escape from this place of death as soon as possible.
The German officers and soldiers who left the fortifications and crowded on the streets filled with bricks and rubble became the targets of the rushing Soviet troops. After bursts of intensive gunfire, scores of German officers and soldiers fell in a pool of blood.
middle.
As the battle progressed to noon, the gunfire and explosions in the city began to become sparse, and the German resistance was being destroyed bit by bit. As a red flag fluttered on the top of the municipal building, announcing that the city had been liberated by the 60th Army