Without Shtemenko, Sokov would have no ability to change Konev's decision. But since the deputy chief of staff is with him, and he can persuade Konev, maybe things will turn around.
Sure enough, when Shtemenko talked to Konev for ten minutes, he put down the phone and said with relief: "Comrade Sokov, I have communicated with Marshal Konev. He said that he has already issued instructions to other troops.
It is very difficult to change the order to attack in advance."
Hearing what Shtemenko said, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. But the other person's next words rekindled his hope: "But Marshal Konev thinks your statement is very reasonable. In order to seize it as soon as possible,
City, he doesn't mind taking a middle approach."
"What kind of compromise?"
"Marshal Konev told me that according to the new order, all participating troops will launch an attack on the German defenses after the artillery preparations are completed." Shtemenko said: "He is going to make a fuss about the artillery preparations."
"Making a fuss about artillery preparations?" Sokov asked confusedly: "Does Marshal Konev intend to extend the time of shelling the enemy's positions?"
"No, no, no, Comrade Sokov, you guessed wrong." Seeing that Sokov, who had always seen things very accurately, also made a mistake in judgment, Shtemenko showed a smile on his face: "It's time to prepare for artillery fire.
It remains the same, but it is divided into two parts." He did not wait for Sokov to ask again, and continued, "The time for artillery preparations to start is still at six o'clock, and the artillery bombardment will be suspended after an hour, and will be carried out again at nine o'clock.
The shelling will officially end at ten o'clock."
After Shtemenko said this, he carefully observed Sokov's expression and saw that he was happy, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Sokov, are you satisfied with Marshal Konev's arrangement?"
"Satisfied, of course satisfied."
Sokov just nodded twice, and suddenly realized that his move might misunderstand Shtemenko, and quickly explained to him: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, you may not know. Every time the German army is attacked
When our army is shelling, except for a few observation posts, the rest of the officers and soldiers will retreat along the communication trenches to the second line of defense to avoid the shelling. After our army's shelling is over, they will return to the first line of defense again and prepare to fight against our army.
Preparation for the attack."
Shtemenko, who stayed at the General Staff Headquarters all year round, saw every day that a certain area was occupied by the Soviet army or the German army. But he did not know how the specific battle was carried out. After listening
Sokov's narration, he nodded with a look of surprise on his face, and said: "The Germans are really cunning. As soon as our artillery bombardment started, they moved to the second line position, which meant that all our artillery shells missed. Even if they could destroy the defense line
Some fortifications were made, but their vitality suffered little loss."
"Then is there any way to deal with this German tactic?"
"It's very simple." Sokov already had some experience in how to carry out artillery bombardment on German positions. When he heard Shtemenko's question, he answered confidently: "After the bombardment has been carried out for a period of time, the artillery fire is deliberately extended or even
The purpose is to stop the shelling and make the Germans think that the area where the shelling has just ended is safe. When they return to the front line through the communication trenches and prepare to resist our attack, they will bombard this area with artillery fire again, which will cause them huge casualties.
"
"This is a good idea. The Germans thought that our army's artillery bombardment had stopped and returned to the first line of defense. We took advantage of their relaxation of vigilance and suddenly launched a sudden artillery attack on them. We will definitely achieve good results." Shi Jie
After Menko praised Sokov's statement, he asked: "Have you ever used this method in actual combat?"
"Used it." Sokov, who had used this tactic many times and caused huge casualties to the German army, proudly replied: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, to tell you the truth, I figured out this tactic."
Listening to what Sokov said, Shtemenko did not feel that the other party was too proud, but felt that it was a matter of course. If he had not been able to often think of good ways to deal with the Germans on the battlefield, he would have achieved such brilliant results and
Was he promoted from an ordinary corporal to a general in just two years?
Shtemenko raised his hand to look at his watch and said to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, there is not much time left before the artillery preparations begin. Do you think it's time for us to go to the front?"
Sokov originally planned to set up the observation point at the headquarters of the 3rd Airborne Division, where not only the battle situation on the battlefield could be clearly observed, but also safety could be ensured. But when Shtemenko saw the troops being mobilized on the road,
But he changed his mind: "Comrade Sokov, the Third Airborne Division is moving forward. I am afraid that the original headquarters and observation posts will soon be dismantled and moved forward. I think we will also move the location of the observation posts.
Move forward."
Now that Shtemenko has spoken, Sokov could not object. He could only agree and then told Koshkin, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat: "Comrade Lieutenant, let's go to the headquarters of the 41st Guards Division."
.”
When Kurishenko saw Sokov and Shtemenko appear, he couldn't help being surprised. After he raised his hand in salute, he asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander, why did you come to me?" While speaking,
, his eyes unconsciously glanced at Shtemenko, wondering in his mind who this general was and why he appeared at his headquarters with the commander.
Seeing that Kurishenko was observing Shtemenko, Sokov took the initiative to introduce him: "General Kurishenko, let me introduce to you. This is Deputy Chief of General Staff and Minister of Operations Shtemenko.
General, he came to us as a representative of the base camp to observe the battle."
Knowing that the general in front of him was actually the deputy chief of staff, Kurishenko couldn't help being shocked. He quickly stood up at attention, raised his hand and saluted, saying: "Hello, comrade deputy chief of staff, I didn't know it was you. If
Please forgive me for what I did that was impolite just now."
According to the regulations in the army, when reporting to superior officers, priority should be given to the one with the highest position. Don’t see that the military ranks on the shoulder straps of Sokov and Shtemenko are both generals, but Shtemenko’s rank is general.
It will be much more valuable than Sokov's.
"It's okay, Comrade General." Shtemenko didn't pay attention to these details at all, but asked Kurishenko with a smile: "Are the troops ready for the attack?"
Hearing Shtemenko's question, Kurishenko had an embarrassed expression on his face: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, our division's task is to hold its position and not participate in this attack."
"Oh, your division will not participate in this attack?" Shtemenko was a little surprised.
"Yes." When Kurishenko learned that the general in front of him was the deputy chief of staff, a bold idea came to his mind: "Comrade deputy chief of staff, our division has been holding on to the Safran position.
.At this moment, we are about to launch an attack on Uman, but there is nothing going on with our division. If we do not participate in the attack, I am worried that all the commanders and fighters in the division will be emotional."
"I think you are the one with the emotions, General Kurishenko." Sokov unequivocally exposed the other party's true face and said unceremoniously: "Don't you know that orders from superiors can only be executed, not used?
Come to bargain?”
"Comrade Commander," Kurishenko said aggrievedly: "Our division was the first unit to enter Safran and was also the main force in resisting the German attack. Now it is finally time to launch an attack on Uman, but our division received
The order was to stand firm. It’s a bit confusing for me to participate in this battle so passively.”
"You are not passively participating in the battle by holding on to your position." Sokov said in a stern tone: "You must know that the German army has solid fortifications and a complete defense system in the Uman area. The attack we launched may not be the same as the second one.
We can succeed in one go. If we abandon all positions and launch an attack on the enemy, once the attack is thwarted and the enemy takes the opportunity to launch a counterattack, what kind of force can we use to stop them?"
"General Kurishenko, you must know that whether you can hold on to the current position is related to the success or failure of the campaign. The fate of the entire campaign may be in your hands, the entire campaign! Do you understand?"
Kurishenko, who was still dissatisfied at first, became energetic after hearing what Sokov said. He straightened his back and said: "I understand, Comrade Commander, I was wrong. I will lead the way."
The troops will hold fast and will never let an enemy pass through our position."
"That's right, General Kurishenko." Sokov was very satisfied with Kurishenko's answer. After praising the other party, he asked: "Where is your observation location?"
"Two hundred meters away from here, there is a slope, and my observation post is located there." Kurishenko understood what Sokov meant by asking this question, and explained specifically: "You can see the whole thing clearly if you stand there.
battlefield."
"Very good, then arrange for someone to take us there immediately." Sokov said in a commanding tone: "In addition, let the communications troops lay a telephone line for us. I will command the troops there."
"Comrade Commander," after hearing Sokov's plan to go to a nearby observation post, Kurishenko quickly persuaded him: "I think it's better to wait until the attack starts before you go there. Otherwise, once the Germans find out that someone is going there, they will
Carrying out shelling, I must be responsible for your safety."
"Yes, Comrade Sokov." Shtemenko also agreed with Kurishenko's statement. He said to Sokov: "We might as well let people lay the telephone lines first, set up the radio antenna, and then wait.
After the artillery preparations have begun, it is not too late to go over."
"Okay." Sokov felt that what Shtemenko and Kurishenko said were reasonable, so he said calmly, "Then it won't be too late to go over after the artillery preparations start."
Seeing that Sokov agreed to wait until the shelling started before going to the observation post not far away, Kurishenko could not help but feel relieved. He quickly called Sidorin and told him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, arrange it immediately
The signal corps laid telephone lines and set up antennas for the observation post.”
Sidorin had just finished assigning tasks to the communications troops when suddenly the sound of rumbling artillery came from outside. He walked quickly to the lookout and looked towards the German positions in the distance. He saw clouds of black smoke rising up, different colors.
The posture reaches straight into the sky.
Seeing that the German position was under heavy shelling, Sidorin raised his hand and looked at his watch. When he found that it was six o'clock, he had a look of astonishment on his face. He turned to Kurishenko, who was standing not far away:
"Comrade Commander, what time does your watch say it is?"
Kurishenko glanced at his watch and replied casually: "Six o'clock!"
The next moment, he suddenly thought: "No, didn't the artillery preparations start at seven o'clock? Why did it start at six o'clock? Could it be that there is something wrong with my watch?"
"Comrade Commander, my watch is also at six o'clock." Sidorin said: "It is possible for one person's watch to have problems, but it is impossible for both people's watches to have problems." After saying that, his eyes stayed on Sokov.
body, waiting for the other party to give him an answer.
After hearing what Sidorin said, Sokov realized that it might be Smirnov's negligence in not notifying the 41st Guards Division of the advance of the bombardment time. The other party might have considered that the 41st Guards Division would not participate in the attack.
, so whether the attack time is adjusted or not is of no importance to them.
"Comrade Sidorin, I think it may be due to negligence in our work." In order to dispel the other party's doubts, Sokov took the initiative to take the responsibility on himself: "The superiors adjusted the time for artillery preparations. Due to my reasons, there was no
This matter will be communicated to you in a timely manner.”
"Oh, so that's it." After figuring out what was going on, Sidorin asked tentatively: "Since the artillery preparations have been advanced by an hour, does that mean that the ground attack after the bombardment will be advanced by an hour accordingly?
"
"That's not true." Sokov did not tell Konev about his private competition with Zhukov, but said euphemistically: "Comrade Sidorin, you should know that every time the Germans are shelled by our troops,
At this time, the main force will be transferred to the second line of defense. No matter how fierce our artillery fire is, it can only destroy some fortifications, and the damage to their soldiers is very limited. The reason why we prepare the artillery fire in advance today is to prepare to end the first battle at seven o'clock.
After the Germans thought our ground attack was about to begin and returned to their positions, we would launch a second round of shelling."
Sidorin once served as Sokov's chief of staff and had indeed seen Sokov eliminate a large number of German troops in this way. Naturally, he had no doubts about his statement, but he still expressed what he felt in his heart.
Thought: "Comrade Commander, although our division will not participate in this attack, we should still be informed in advance about this kind of thing. Otherwise, if the commanders and soldiers below smell it, we don't know how to reply to them."
"Yes, it was my negligence this time. I will definitely pay attention next time to avoid making similar mistakes again."
Sidorin knew Sokov and felt that it was impossible for him to make such a low-level mistake. He must have suffered it in the past. However, the matter had passed and there was no need to pursue it further, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, what are you doing?"
How many people did you bring here today?"
"I only brought one guard platoon." Sokov replied briefly: "We are all in our own defense area anyway, so we don't have to worry about any danger, so we didn't bring more people. If we really brought a guard company or more
With our strength, the target would be too big. If we were to attract a sudden attack from the German artillery fire, we would definitely suffer heavy losses."
"I will send a company to serve as a guard near the observation post later." Sidorin said: "Comrade Commander, please rest assured that I will ask them to stay hidden and they will never be discovered by the enemy."