Sokov remembered that the Germans did not seem to have used V1 missiles to attack Soviet-controlled cities, but why did V1 missiles appear in the Uman area? Moreover, they appeared three months earlier than the history he knew.
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov thought for a while and felt that such an important matter needed to be reported to Konev. If Zhukov was still at the front headquarters at this time, it would be even better. Two front commanders could be appointed at the same time.
The commander increased his vigilance. "This matter is of great importance. I need to report it to the commander of the front army immediately."
"Okay," after hearing what Sokov said, Smirnov couldn't object. He nodded and said, "Although I don't understand what this kind of weapon of the Germans is, but after hearing what you said, I think
They should also report it to their superiors so that they can be mentally prepared."
When Sokov's call came to the front headquarters, Konev, Zhukov, Rotmistrov, Zakharov, and Susaikov were drinking.
The person who answered the phone was Zakharov. After he recognized Sokov's voice, he said in a somewhat unclear voice: "Comrade Sokov, if you are not in a hurry to go back, you should be drinking with us right now."
Hearing that Zakharov was a little drunk, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little anxious, because what he was about to report would be impossible without a clear head. He hurriedly asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, can you please
Comrade Marshal, will you answer the phone?"
"Comrade Marshal," Zakharov asked with a smile: "We have Marshal Zhukov, Marshal Konev, and Marshal Rotmistrov of the Armored Forces here. Which marshal are you looking for?"
"Konev, Marshal Konev." Because Sokov was anxious, he might not address Konev's position as usual, but called him by his first name: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please give the phone to Konev."
Marshal, I have something important to report to him."
Hearing Sokov's urgent tone, Zakharov realized that something might have really happened. He quickly handed the microphone to Konev and whispered: "Comrade Marshal, Sokov is here to tell you.
I have something important to report."
Because Konev has high blood pressure, the doctor told him not to drink too much. He followed the doctor's advice at all. Even on a memorable day like today, he only drank two small glasses, and he was still completely sober.
He put the microphone to his ear and said, "Comrade Sokov, this is Konev. What do you want to report to me?"
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov replied respectfully: "The scouts we sent to the Uman area found something special. I felt it was necessary to report it to you, so I made this call to you."
"What's special?"
"How should I put it? It should be a new type of weapon of the Germans." Sokov reported the contents of the scout's telegram to Konev in detail, and finally said: "According to my analysis, that kind of weapon is similar to that of an airplane."
The thing should be the rocket newly developed by the Germans; and the device like the conveyor belt is the catapult for launching this rocket." When Sokov reported to Konev, he intentionally called the V1 missile a rocket.
, so as not to arouse the suspicion of the other party.
Konev didn't think that much. He was just considering what Sokov said: This is a newly developed rocket by the Germans! He has seen with his own eyes how powerful the rockets used by the Soviet army are today. It is very difficult to deal with the Germans.
It was effective. But now the Germans have also developed rockets, which makes him worried.
He thought for a long time and then asked: "Comrade Sokov, I would like to ask, which one has a longer range and is more powerful, the German rocket or the new rocket you developed?"
"Needless to say, Comrade Marshal." Sokov quickly explained to Konev: "Speaking of range, the maximum range of the new rocket is only 8,500 meters; and the range of the German rocket is
, I’m afraid it can reach one or two hundred kilometers.”
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Konev retorted loudly: "So far, even the navy's largest-caliber naval gun with the longest range only has a range of more than 20 kilometers.
The range. No matter how far the new German rocket has a range, it cannot hit one or two hundred kilometers away. You must have made a mistake."
Regarding Konev's doubts, Sokov said cautiously: "Comrade Marshal, although there has never been any weapon with a range of more than 100 kilometers, according to my analysis, with the advent of this kind of rocket developed by the German army,
For the first time, a weapon with a range of more than 100 kilometers appeared."
Although Konev trusted Sokov very much, what he said sounded like fantasy, so he avoided the question and continued to ask: "Tell me, what is the power of the two rockets?
"
"Comrade Marshal." Fortunately, Sokov had learned about the explosion radius of the explosive before making the call, so he could answer Konev's question: "According to the scout's description, I estimate that the ammunition of this rocket exceeds 500
Kilograms. The death radius of 500 kilograms of explosives is 135 meters, the serious injury radius is 305 meters, and the minor injury radius is 548 meters."
After talking about these data in one breath, Sokov added: "If the power of our new rockets is like a toddler, then the power of the German rockets is like a strong man, and it is still
In its prime.”
"Comrade Sokov," Konev was very doubtful about Sokov's statement. However, considering that Sokov was not a person who spoke freely, he still asked patiently: "Even if the rockets developed by the Germans are really
It’s as powerful as you said, but what impact does it have on us?”
"The impact is very big, Comrade Marshal." Sokov didn't know how the German V1 missile appeared on the Soviet-German battlefield, but he was well aware of the power of this missile. He was deeply afraid of Konev
He ignored this matter and specifically emphasized: "If the Germans know the location of our military headquarters and fire several such rockets at us, it will cause a devastating blow to our command system."
While Konev was listening to Sokov's explanation, Zhukov came over at some point. He frowned and asked: "Konev, what did Misha say on the phone?"
"Comrade Marshal," Konev quickly covered the microphone with his hand, repeated what Sokov said to Zhukov, and finally asked: "What do you think of this matter?"
"It's nonsense, it's just nonsense." Zhukov also sneered at Sokov's statement. He decided to teach him a lesson. He couldn't just forget about it and say something he shouldn't have just after he got the promotion: "Ko
Nev, give me the microphone, I want to have a good talk with Misha."
Sokov held the microphone and said sternly: "Misha, do you know what you are talking about?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Hearing Zhukov's voice from the receiver, Sokov couldn't help but panic, but he still answered truthfully: "I am not alarmist, what I said is all facts."
"Then what is the purpose of your call to Konev?" Zhukov asked in a stern tone.
"I think that since the Germans have developed such a powerful weapon, they will probably launch it at our important targets soon." Sokov said anxiously: "I think we should take precautions to avoid unnecessary losses.
.”
"Do a good job of prevention?" Zhukov said with a sneer: "The range and power of the German rockets are all your subjective imagination. What if we just based on your imagination and let all the troops take precautions?"
Precautionary measures will cause unnecessary panic."
Zhukov's words left Sokov speechless. He knew that since the V1 missile had been put on the catapult, it was only a matter of time before it was launched. But he was not a god. He had no idea which target the Germans would attack. He could not let it fall within range.
Are all the troops in the army taking precautions? If the German missiles really come, I'm afraid Zhukov and Konev won't say anything. But if it's a false alarm and the Germans don't launch missiles at all, then they will be in trouble between them.
The image in people's minds will be damaged.
"What to do, what to do?" Sokov kept asking himself in his mind: "What reliable reasons should I come up with to convince Zhukov without arousing his suspicion?"
"Misha," Zhukov raised his voice and asked, seeing Sokov's delay in speaking, "Are you still online?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I'm still here!"
"Since you are still here, why don't you say anything?" Zhukov said with some displeasure, "I hope to hear a reasonable explanation."
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov was anxious, and the ideas in his mind suddenly became clear. He hurriedly said: "A few days ago, in order to find out where the open-pit mine where our prisoners of war were held, I asked Marshal Konev
The air force was sent to conduct reconnaissance in the Uman area. However, only one of the four reconnaissance planes sent returned successfully, and the other three reconnaissance planes were either shot down by ground artillery fire or destroyed by enemy aircraft."
"Wait a minute, Misha." As soon as Sokov said this, he was stopped by Zhukov. He turned around and asked Konev: "Comrade Konev, did you send four reconnaissance planes to Ukraine a few days ago?"
Mann conducted reconnaissance, and three of them were shot down?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Regarding the question raised by Zhukov, Konev gave an affirmative answer: "That's true. I didn't expect that the German anti-aircraft firepower in the Uman area was so powerful and was lost in vain.
Three reconnaissance planes.”
After receiving Konev's confirmation, Zhukov realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly linked the deployment of rocket launchers by the German army in the Uman area with the shooting down of the reconnaissance plane. He said into the microphone: "Mi
Sha, keep talking. I want to hear what conclusion you made."
"I was thinking at the time: Why did the Germans deploy such a tight defense in the Uman area?" Sokov explained his judgment to Zhukov: "If it is to prevent our army from seizing Uman, this reason is obviously not sufficient.
With the liberation of Zhitomir, Cherkasy, and Kirovgrad, our army has established a firm foothold on the right bank of the Dnieper River. Even if the Germans want to defend, they will not deploy such a tight force just in the Uman area.
Defense. Therefore, there is only one truth, the Germans have important military targets in the Uman area.
The open-pit mines where prisoners of war are held are obviously not worth the heavy defense of the German army." Sokov said: "Our army has now formed a semi-encirclement situation in Uman, Vinnitsa and other places. Even if the Germans have to carry out heavy defense,
We should not focus on Uman, because the enemy staying at this salient position may fall into a new encirclement by our army at any time, and the upper management of the German army obviously does not want to see such a situation happen."
When Zhukov heard this, he nodded and said: "It makes sense. Then how do you judge that the German army deployed strict defenses in Uman to protect their newly developed rockets?"
"Actually, it came to me suddenly." Sokov decided to continue to tell lies to Zhukov: "I received the scout's report and analyzed it carefully, and concluded that the German army planned to use this new type of rocket to attack me.
There is a possibility of attacking important military targets. Because of this, I called Marshal Konev to warn him."
After figuring out what was going on, Zhukov said with a smile: "Misha, you are worrying too much. We are more than 130 kilometers away from Uman. Even if the Germans prepare to use this newly developed rocket, they will not be able to attack it."
We carry out the attack, but do we really achieve their intentions? You know, weapons with a range of more than 100 kilometers do not exist in this world."
Before Sokov could refute, a dull explosion suddenly came from outside.
Hearing the explosion, Zhukov frowned and said sharply: "What is the noise outside?"
Konev did not speak, but picked up the phone on the table, dialed a number, and asked: "I am Konev, what is the explosion outside?... Find out immediately, there is news
, report to me immediately!”
Zakharov, who was originally drunk, was also startled sober by the explosion. As soon as Konev put down the phone, he couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade Commander, what happened outside, where did the explosion come from?"
?”
"I don't know." Konev shook his head and said, "I have issued an order to find out what happened in the shortest possible time."
Zhukov came to Konev with his hands behind his back and said solemnly: "Comrade Konev, judging from the sound of the explosion, the location of the explosion is far away from here, but the scale is not small. Could it be that German agents detonated it?
The warehouse where you store ammunition?”
"This is impossible." Konev immediately denied Zhukov's conjecture: "In order to prevent the warehouse storing ammunition from being attacked by the enemy, I have arranged heavy troops to handle it. How can it be so easy for the Germans to blow up the warehouse?
.”
"Well, that makes sense." Zhukov accepted Konev's explanation and continued: "Then let's stop making random suspicions and wait patiently for news."
After almost a quarter of an hour, the phone on the table rang. Zaharov grabbed the phone and put it to his ear: "I'm Zaharov, please speak!... What, what did you say? Say it again?"
"I don't know what the other party said. Zaharov seemed to have been drained of all his strength, and said feebly: "I understand, thank you!"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, what happened?" Konev asked.
"Comrade Marshal," Zakharov replied with a grimace: "The troops stationed in the village of Morenchi reported that the village may have been bombed. More than twenty soldiers and villagers were killed, and more than a hundred others were killed.