Sokov, who was far away in Safran, did not know the news that Manstein was about to be dismissed. He was checking the results of the Air Force. The destruction of the airport on the outskirts of Uman completely caused the German army to lose air superiority in this area.
It was indeed a great victory. However, the effect of the Sky Fortress attack was not satisfactory. It only destroyed a few missile launchers. As for the V1 missile, not even a shadow was seen.
"The record is very good." After reading the battle report, Shtemenko said with a smile: "Comrade Sokov, your decisive action today not only caused huge losses to the Germans, but also dealt a heavy blow to their
Military morale and morale. I believe that in the attack in a few days, the resistance you will encounter will be greatly weakened."
But after hearing this, Sokov just smiled faintly, and then said to Shtemenko: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, although the German airport in the Uman area was completely destroyed in the bombing, as long as our army's
Once the offensive campaign is launched, they can dispatch aircraft from other areas to compete with our air force for air supremacy.
Also, the biggest threat to us from the Germans today is not the bomber planes, but the damn V1 missiles."
"V1 missile?" Unexpectedly, Shtemenko burst out laughing after hearing this. Then he said disapprovingly: "Comrade Sokov, are you too neurotic? Yes, the power of the German V1 missile is
It is quite powerful, but its shortcomings are also obvious, that is, the hit rate is not high. If you want to hit and destroy a target, you need to launch a large number of missiles at the same time. I think the cost of this kind of thing should not be cheap, in the hands of the Germans
Quantities may be limited."
Seeing that Shtemenko underestimated the enemy so much, Sokov was really dumbfounded. The V1 missile sounded quite high-end, but the actual cost was not enough, otherwise the German army would not have mass-produced it and fired tens of thousands of them to the British Isles.
V1 missile.
Sokov coughed lightly and began to explain his point of view: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, you may not understand the terror of V1 missiles."
"Oh?" Shtemenko asked curiously, "What do you mean?"
"Based on the production capacity of the Germans, they can produce a large number of V1 missiles in a short period of time." Sokov said: "In fact, the cost of this kind of missile is far lower than we imagined. Just imagine, what if
The area where our troops were assembled was discovered by German reconnaissance troops and provided an attack target for their missile troops in the rear. How many casualties will be caused to us."
"Sokov, are you exaggerating the level of German scouts?"
"It's not an exaggeration at all." In order to convince Shtemenko, he took the initiative to provide specific examples: "The Germans used V1 missiles for the first time to attack, and the old headquarters of Marshal Konev was bombed. And several
Hours ago, the Germans accurately attacked my army headquarters again.
If the missiles that attack Marshal Konev’s headquarters and my headquarters are not one or two, but twenty or thirty, have you ever thought about what kind of temporary losses will be incurred?”
Shtemenko had seen the photos after the attack on Morenchi Village, and he naturally resonated with Sokov's statement. After a long silence, he asked Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, what good solution do we have?"
, to deal with the German V1 missiles?"
"Judging from the effects of night attacks and daytime air strikes from the Sky Fortress, the German missile launch sites are all hidden in very concealed locations. It is obviously impossible to find them all," Sokov said.
He said thoughtfully: "Therefore, I think the best way is to cut off their transportation, so that the missile launch site cannot be supplied with missiles, so that the threat to us can be reduced to a minimum."
"You mean, cut off their transportation lines?" After Shtemenko asked this, he couldn't help but frowned: "But how do the Germans plan to transport these missiles?"
"Needless to say, it must be the railway." Sokov explained to Shtemenko: "Now is the spring thaw season. If the Germans use cars to transport by road, they will definitely be stuck in the quagmire and unable to move. Therefore, they
In order to deliver the missile to the forward launch site as soon as possible, the only option is to transport it by rail."
"It makes sense, it makes sense." Shtemenko nodded and said: "It seems that we should send scouts to conduct close reconnaissance near the German station to confirm at which station the German missiles will get off."
"I think we can take a two-pronged approach." Sokov waited for Shtemenko to finish and immediately added his own opinion: "First, send scouts to lurk near the German train station to find out whether the Germans have transported V1 missiles;
The second is to send out small teams, like guerrillas, to destroy roads, railways, culverts and bridges behind the enemy's rear, so that the Germans cannot transport the required V1 missiles to the front in the shortest possible time."
"This is a good idea. I agree with you." After hearing this suggestion, Shtemenko felt that it was a good idea. If ordinary guerrillas were to carry out raids, he would not feel at ease. After all, those
People are not professionals, and each destruction has little impact on the Germans. But now, with professional troops, whether it is destroying traffic or attacking key German troops, the effect is much better. "The offensive campaign is about to begin.
, I think you should arrange the action as soon as possible. Otherwise, the German army will discover the area where our troops are gathering and attack with V1 missiles, which will cause us huge casualties."
"Comrade Chief of Staff!" Sokov shouted casually, but no one answered. Only then did he realize that he was not at his headquarters at the moment, and Smirnov was not with him either.
Just when he felt a little embarrassed, Ponejelin rescued him in time: "Comrade Commander, if you have any orders to convey, you can tell me and I will help you arrange it."
"Don't we have several small detachments behind enemy lines?" Sokov said to Ponedelin: "Let Chief of Staff Smirnov inform them that if they cannot find the enemy's missile launch site, they will look for enemy transportation.
Lines, whether they are roads, railways, culverts or bridges, if they can be blown up, they will all be blown up."
"Everyone was blown up?" Ponejelin asked hesitantly: "Then how will our army pass through after regaining Uman?"
"There is nothing to worry about," Sokov said carelessly: "After our army recovers Uman, we can send engineers to repair it. Destroy the enemy's communication lines to prevent their forward troops from gaining more combat opportunities.
Supplies.”
After Ponedelin understood Sokov's intention, he couldn't help but secretly lamented that when he was the commander of the group army, he never considered sending troops deep behind enemy lines to destroy the German lines of communication. All he thought about all day long was how to build them.
fortifications to withstand German attacks.
After Sokov finished handing over the work, he found that Ponedelin did not call immediately, but stood there in a daze, so he asked curiously: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, you didn't go to make a call, why are you still standing there?"
What are you doing here?”
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." Ponedelin blushed and said sheepishly, "I'll call Chief of Staff Smirnov right away."
While Ponedelin was on the phone, Shtemenko looked around and found that Muzichenko was seven or eight meters away from him. If he spoke in a low voice, the other party would not be able to hear him. So he lowered his voice and asked
"Comrade Sokov, I don't understand why you insist on keeping the three commanders who were rescued from the prisoner of war camp by your side and entrusting them with important responsibilities. Aren't you worried?"
"worry about what?"
"What else can you worry about?" Shtemenko said softly: "Of course you are worried that they will affect your future."
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff," Sokov explained to Shtemenko when he saw that Shtemenko was biased against Ponedelin and others: "Although they were once captured by the Germans, I believe that they have great interests in the motherland.
Loyalty. Now that they have escaped from the German prisoner-of-war camp and have another opportunity to serve the motherland, I believe they will exert great potential to severely attack the Faxi Temple invaders."
Shtemenko asked about this, not because he wanted to accuse Sokov, but just out of concern. You know, if he were in Sokov's position, facing these three rescued commanders
It was too late to hide, so how could we keep them all by our side and entrust them with important responsibilities?
At this moment, seeing Sokov supporting Ponedelin and others, Shtemenko could not continue talking anymore, but changed the subject in time: "Comrade Sokov, after the offensive campaign starts, you really don't plan to
Is the tank brigade going into battle?"
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, I have just said that it is the spring thaw season in Ukraine at this moment." Sokov replied: "Both the T-34s equipped by our army and the Sherman tanks provided by the United States are suitable.
We will fight on such a muddy road. Therefore, in the early stages of the battle to liberate Uman, I do not intend to use tank troops."
"Comrade Sokov," Shtemenko smiled bitterly after hearing what Sokov said: "If your tank crews hear you say that, I think they will be disappointed."
"I just said that they will not be used in the early stages of the campaign, but it does not mean that they will not be allowed to participate in the entire campaign." Sokov responded with a smile: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, you and I can talk about this.
But don't go outside and say it, otherwise it will affect the morale of our army."
After the two exchanged a few words of banter, the topic returned to the upcoming Battle of Uman: "Comrade Sokov, I have heard more than one person say that your judgment of the battlefield situation is very accurate. Then you analyze it.
Let me ask you, how long will this offensive campaign launched by our army take?"
Although Sokov knew about this battle, he really didn't know how long it took. He could only answer vaguely: "I think it might take more than a month."
"It's March now." Shtemenko said with emotion: "If it really takes a month to get rid of the enemies in the Uman area, then in the remaining eight months of this year, it will be better to liberate the entire Ukraine.
A tall order."
"Not necessarily." Sokov, who understands history, naturally knows that after the Soviet army liberated the entire Ukraine on August 29, 1944, it completely drove the German army out of its own country. "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, don't look at today's
Our westward advance is very slow, but as long as we launch one or two large-scale battles at the right time, we can shorten the time to drive the Germans out of the country. I estimate that when the first snow comes in the second half of the year
, we have liberated all of Ukraine."
"We now have four front armies in Ukraine. Although we are fighting the enemy every day, the progress is not optimistic." Shtemenko obviously did not believe what Sokov said. He shook his head and said: "Do you really think that
, can we launch a larger offensive in Ukraine?"
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, we do not necessarily have to launch a new offensive in Ukraine." Sokov wanted to know whether the Supreme Command had any plans to attack Belarus at this moment, so he pointed to the location of Belarus and said to Shtemenko:
"In addition to Ukraine, we can also open up new battlefields in Belarus. I believe that with General Rokossovsky's ability, we can liberate the entire Belarus within one to two months,"
"Hahaha, Comrade Sokov, you are really good at joking." Shtemenko laughed, and he said to Sokov: "From the end of the Battle of Kharkov to now, we have fought in the Dnieper River Basin.
In more than half a year, how far did it advance into Ukraine?
Even if the Supreme Command agrees with General Rokossovsky to take action in Belarus, it will probably take a protracted battle to gain a foothold in Belarus."
Sokov clearly remembered that the Battle of Belarus lasted from June 23 to August 29, 1944. The Soviet troops participating in Operation Bagration crushed the German resistance and wiped out more than 400,000 enemies.
Finally, they were completely driven out of Belarus.
But these histories that Sokov is familiar with can only be kept deep in his heart, but he cannot tell anyone casually, otherwise it will cause unnecessary trouble for him.
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff," Sokov realized from Shtemenko's reaction that the Supreme Command had no plans to launch an offensive campaign in Belarus at the moment, so he said euphemistically: "Actually, our army is still in the direction of Belarus.
With a strong force, if we launch an attack on the Germans from here, we may achieve unexpected results."
After listening to this, Shtemenko suppressed the smile on his face and stared at Sokov's face, lost in thought. After a long time, he finally said: "Comrade Sokov, you are right, we are in Belarus."
There is indeed a large number of troops gathered in this direction. If they also launch an attack, it will inevitably distract the German defense forces and make it easier to fight in the Ukraine area."
"That's right, that's right." Seeing that Shtemenko understood his intention, Sokov nodded repeatedly and said: "If there is no major action in the direction of Belarus, the German army may mobilize troops from Belarus to strengthen their presence in Belarus.
The defense of the Ukrainian region will thus delay the advancement of the main force of our army."
"You are right, Comrade Sokov." Shtemenko nodded and said: "When I return to Moscow, I will convey your message to the Chief of General Staff, General Antonov. Maybe he will talk to you in person.
Let’s talk and understand your thoughts. I hope you can truthfully tell him your thoughts so that we can use them as a reference when formulating the next battle plan.”
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, if you can really adopt my opinion, it will be an honor for me." Sokov said respectfully: "If Comrade Chief of General Staff really wants to communicate with me in person,
I will definitely report my thoughts to him truthfully."