Zakharov took Sokov to the door of an office. The captain sitting at the door saw Zakharov's arrival and quickly stood up and saluted.
"Comrade Captain," Zakharov asked in a friendly manner, "Is Comrade Commander in there?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." The captain replied in a positive tone: "Comrade Commander is still working inside. Do you need me to inform you?"
"No need, Comrade Captain. I'll go in and see him directly." After Zakharov finished speaking, he stepped forward and opened the door, turned around and shook his head at Sokov: "Come in, Comrade Sokov."
Sokov followed Zakharov into the room and found that it was a spacious conference room. There was a long conference table and a dozen armchairs near the window, and Konev
He was sitting behind a desk near the door.
"Sokov is here!" Seeing Zakharov and Sokov enter the door, Konev quickly stood up, walked around from behind the desk, came to Sokov, stretched out his hand and said with a smile: "
On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Second Ukrainian Front, I welcome you!"
"Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov stretched out his hands to hold Konev's hand, shook it vigorously a few times, and said with a smile on his face: "I am the one who can return to your command.
An honor.”
After the simple greetings, we got back to business.
"Comrade Sokov," Konev said seriously, "I believe you already knew about your superior's appointment before you came to the front line."
"Yes," Sokov nodded: "Let me take over the post of Major General Tarasov and serve as the commander of the 53rd Army."
"You once commanded the 53rd Army in Kremenchug. The division commander of this unit is familiar with you. This is very helpful for you to quickly become familiar with the unit." Konev put his hand on the rope.
Cove held him on his shoulders and walked towards the wall on the other side of the conference table, saying, "Let me introduce to you the current situation between us and the enemy."
When he came to the wall with the map, Konev picked up the explanation stick on the wall, pointed at the map and said to Sokov: "In order to implement Manstein's order to stick to the bend of the Dnieper River, the Germans on the right bank of the Dnieper River
The Kanev area forms the Cherkasy salient. The core of this salient is in Korsun. The area controlled by the German army is more than 100 kilometers long and wide. It is an important place to guard the crossing point at the bend of the Dnieper River.
As of January 28, our troops once again penetrated the German defense line. At the same time, the 5th Guards Tank Army cut off the German army's retreat. Now the Cherkasy salient no longer exists, and only the Cherkasy salient remains.
Encirclement'. Our next task is to find a way to eliminate the Germans in the encirclement and achieve another great victory like the Battle of Stalingrad."
Sokov knew very well that Konev's idea was good, but it was very difficult to implement it. In the history he knew, the 60,000 besieged German troops finally broke through the encirclement. But according to the
Relevant data records that due to the muddy roads, the movement of tanks on both sides was restricted, so that the German army had to throw away all their heavy weapons when they broke through.
After Konev's words came to an end, Sokov asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I would like to ask if my tank unit is unable to carry out large-scale operations because of the muddy roads?"
Unexpectedly, after hearing this question, Konev's face showed a shocked expression. After he and Zakharov looked at each other, he asked Sokov with a straight face: "Comrade Sokov, I want to ask,
Who told you that our tank troops were unable to carry out large-scale operations because of the muddy roads?"
"Yes, Comrade Sokov." Zakharov continued: "Don't you know that from mid-January to mid-February every year, the temperature is the lowest? How can there be muddy roads?"
After listening to what the two said, Sokov couldn't help but fell into confusion. He felt that the information he read should not be false, and Konev and Zaharov didn't seem to be joking with him. So where did it come from?
What's the problem?
Seeing that Sokov was silent, Konev continued: "In order to prevent the besieged troops from being annihilated by our army, Marshal Manstein sent a rescue force to conduct a rescue operation. To the west is the 1st Division of the 3rd Armored Corps.
Armored Division, Flag Guard Division, Baker Armored Regiment, 16th and 17th Armored Divisions, 198th and 34th Infantry Divisions; to the south are the 11th, 13th and 14th Armored Divisions of the 47th Panzer Corps.
At this moment, the German troops from the west are fighting fiercely with our army in the north of the encirclement, trying to open a passage for the surrounded Stemermann Group Army. The First Ukrainian Front Army, under the command of General Vatutin, is fighting against the German troops.
Carry out a tenacious blockade to prevent the two armies inside and outside the encirclement from joining forces."
When Sokov heard this, he couldn't help but interjected: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I think I understand what you mean. If the Germans fail to break through from the north of the encirclement, they will definitely change the direction of the breakout and choose to break out from the south.
And if they want to successfully break out of the encirclement, they must first break the defense line of my brother's 53rd Group Army. Is my understanding correct?"
"Exactly, Comrade Sokov." Konev and Zakharov looked at each other, with knowing smiles on their faces: "Originally, I was worried about the 53rd Army commanded by Major General Tarasov.
Blocked the German assault, but now you are the one commanding this force, I feel much more at ease."
Sokov is very self-aware. He does not think that a unit that makes his superiors uneasy will become invincible just because he is the commander. There must be a long process. He asked cautiously
Said: "I would like to ask how the troops and equipment are doing?"
"Comrade Sokov," this time it was Front Army Chief of Staff Zakharov who spoke: "The troops belonging to the group army have just been replenished. Now the Guards Division has 10,000 people per division, and the ordinary infantry division has 8,000 people.
People, you already outnumber the besieged Germans."
Knowing that the number of his troops had exceeded the number of besieged German troops, Sokov did not feel particularly happy. He knew very well that the outcome of the war was not only determined by the number of people, but also by weapons, equipment and reasonable tactics.
, then asked: "What about the weapons and equipment?"
"Except for an artillery division and several rocket launcher battalions directly under the group army, each division is equipped with artillery regiments." Zakharov said: "As for the weapons in the hands of the soldiers, although the number of machine guns and submachine guns is somewhat smaller,
, but almost everyone is equipped with a Mosin-Nagant rifle..."
Hearing the data reported by Zakharov, Sokov couldn't help but frowned: He didn't expect that tens of thousands of troops would have a limited number of machine guns and submachine guns. It would be difficult to create a firepower advantage on the battlefield with such weapons. As for
The artillery is even weaker. The artillery regiments of each division are equipped with 76.2 mm cannons. Even if the artillery division is equipped with all heavy artillery, it will be difficult to start a balanced artillery battle with the enemy's artillery.
Sokov suddenly felt like he was being ordered to do something in danger. He felt that it would be very difficult to stop the German army from breaking through with all its strength. But judging from the current situation, it would take at least a week or two for the German army to change the direction of the breakthrough. He should
He should rush to the 53rd Group Army as soon as possible to understand the actual situation of the army and make timely adjustments. After thinking of this, he asked: "I would like to ask, when can I go to the 53rd Group Army to take up my post?"
"Of course, the faster, the better. After all, every minute on the battlefield is precious." After Konev said this, he raised his hand and looked at his watch. He found that it was almost eleven o'clock in the evening, so he changed his words.
: "But you and your men have just arrived from Moscow and must be very tired. Why not stay here for one night and set off again at dawn tomorrow."
After leaving Konev's office, Sokov found Ponedelin and others, took out a map and said to the three of them: "Comrades, the situation is very serious for us. Now the German army's powerful relief corps is on the north side of the encirclement.
, launched a fierce battle with the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front. According to my judgment, their definite breakout attempt will definitely be crushed. Next, they will choose the new breakthrough direction to the south of the encirclement.
The task General Konev gave our group army is to stop the enemy at all costs when they break through to the south and prevent any enemy in the encirclement from escaping."
Muzichenko waited for Sokov to finish and immediately asked: "What is our military strength?"
"The specific number of soldiers will not be known until after the 53rd Army." Sokov replied: "However, the Chief of Staff of the Front Army told me that the number of soldiers in the Army Group has exceeded the number of besieged German troops."
"What is needed on the battlefield is not numbers, but people, people with fighting ability. Now is not the time to play with numbers." Muzichenko said with a straight face: "In the Battle of Uman, our numbers exceeded the attacking Germans.
But what was the final result? The troops in the encirclement were almost wiped out, and the three of us became prisoners of the Germans for various reasons..."
"Muzichenko," Ponedelin heard Muzichenko mention the Uman battle that he was ashamed of, and quickly stopped him and said: "The Uman battle is in the past tense, what we want to discuss now is
How to block a possible breakout operation launched by the German army."
Muzichenko glanced at Sokov, wanting to see his reaction. Seeing that he was just staring at the map in front of him expressionlessly, he wisely closed his mouth and lowered his head to look at the map on the table.
"We will set off for the 53rd Army early tomorrow morning," Sokov said after looking at the map for a while: "Only after understanding the specific situation of the Army can we formulate corresponding countermeasures."
"Yes, our current top priority is to understand the actual situation of the 53rd Group Army so that we can formulate a reasonable combat plan." Ponejelin said: "Also, in terms of weapons and equipment, you may be needed at that time.
Contact Colonel Yakov and ask him to provide us with some weapons specifically."
"That's for sure." After Sokov learned that the 53rd Army's equipment was poor, the first thing he thought of was to contact Yakov and ask him to send him 20,000 assault rifles and thousands of new rockets.
Only after possessing such a weapon can you feel at ease.
But before the matter was completed, Sokov did not want to make any announcement. He could only say with a cold expression: "I will contact Colonel Yakov at the appropriate time and ask him to provide us with a batch of weapons and equipment."
After explaining the basic situation to the three of them, Sokov said, "Okay, it's getting late. You all go back and rest. We will rush to the 53rd Army's station early tomorrow morning."
Before dawn the next day, Sokov was awakened by a knock on the door.
He rolled out of bed in a daze, without even putting on his boots, and came to the door barefoot, reached out and opened the door. After seeing clearly that it was Koshkin standing at the door, he casually asked: "Lieutenant Koshkin"
,whats the matter?"
"Comrade General," Koshkin straightened his body and said respectfully: "Everyone is ready to go and is waiting for you."
"What, everyone is ready to go?" Sokov asked in surprise: "Has the car arranged by General Konev arrived?"
"Yes, the vehicle is already waiting outside." Koshkin said, "Major Ponyjelin asked me to invite you."
Knowing that everyone was waiting for him outside, he quickly said to Koshkin: "Lieutenant Koshkin, go back and tell Major Ponyjelin that I will be there in five minutes." After saying that, he turned around without even closing the door.
Just walked towards the bathroom.
Five minutes later, Sokov, who was neatly dressed, walked out of the building. He saw a dozen jeeps and five covered trucks full of soldiers parked at the door.
Seeing Sokov coming out, Ponedelin came up to meet him and said to Sokov: "Misha, everyone is ready to go and can go at any time."
Sokov thought that he had already delayed a lot of time and didn't want to keep everyone waiting any longer, so he waved his hand and announced: "Let's go and try to get to the army headquarters as soon as possible."
The headquarters of the 53rd Army is stationed in a small town called Bochapinchi, which is only more than 20 kilometers away from Konev's headquarters. Although the road is full of snow and the vehicles are not traveling very fast, it only takes less than one
Within hours, we reached our destination.
Chief of Staff Smirnov had already received a call from Zakharov and learned that the new commander was coming to take office today, so he took the members of the headquarters and waited outside.
However, in order to keep it secret, Zakharov only told Smirnov that a new commander had taken office, but did not tell him who the new commander was. At this moment, when everyone was waiting uneasily outside the headquarters, Military Commissioner Gorokhov asked curiously
Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you know who the new commander is?"
"I don't know." Smirnov shook his head and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army did not say anything. He only said that he is an excellent commander who will enable our group army to make repeated military exploits on the battlefield after taking office."
When Gorokhov heard what Smirnov said, he couldn't help but asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, tell me, will our new commander be General Sokov?"
"I don't think so." Smirnov shook his head and said: "Two days ago, the Chief of Staff of the Front Army informed me that a group of trainees selected by General Sokov will soon serve as regimental commanders in our group army.
At that time, I specifically asked about General Sokov and was told that he was still studying at the Frunze Military Academy and would have to wait at least half a year before graduating."
Gorokhov was disappointed: "If what the Chief of Staff of the Front Army said is true, then the new commander is definitely not General Sokov. Apart from him, I can't think of anyone else who can command the troops to win one victory after another.