The 18th Guards Army advanced very quickly. By noon, they had broken through three German lines of defense and reached the town of Ulyanovka seven kilometers away. After a fierce battle, the enemy who stood firm
Either they were eliminated, or they fled to Uman in a hurry.
Sokov received a call from Afunin. After learning about the results achieved by the army, he first praised the 3rd Guards Airborne Division, and then said: "General Afunin, the 3rd Airborne Division fought
The commanders and soldiers must have been very tired all morning..."
"Comrade Commander," division commander Konev was obviously beside Afunin. When Sokov said this, he quickly expressed his position and said: "Although our division has been fighting all morning, this is the moment when morale is high.
, we can definitely continue to fight.”
"Colonel Konev," Sokov heard Konev's voice and said to him earnestly: "I know that your division is fighting very well, but the commanders and soldiers are tired after a whole morning of fighting. They should be let go."
They stopped to rest, eat something, and regain their strength so that they could continue to complete the next combat mission."
Now that Sokov had already spoken to this extent, what else could Konev say, so he could only agree aggrievedly.
Seeing that Sokov ordered the 3rd Airborne Division to stop and rest, Afnin asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, do you intend to have our army temporarily stop attacking?"
"General Afunin, I only asked the 3rd Airborne Division to stop and rest, but I did not order your army to stop attacking the German army." Sokov said in a stern tone: "I ordered Major General Rumyantsev's 4th Airborne Division to take over the attack.
Remember, put the two divisions into battle in turn. This will not only ensure that our commanders and soldiers have sufficient physical strength, but also prevent the enemy who is in panic from resting. Under the ebb and flow of the other, we can
Victory with minimal casualties.”
After finishing the call with Afunin, Sokov directly called the 49th Army headquarters and said straight to the point: "I am Sokov. Let your army commander, General Melekhov, answer the phone."
Melekhov's voice soon came from the receiver: "Hello, Comrade Commander, I am Melekhov. Do you have any instructions?"
"The troops of the 18th Guards Army have successfully occupied the town of Ulyanovka. How is your attack going?"
"Since replacing Colonel Stilitz's 116th Division, our progress has been much smoother." Melekhov replied: "So far, they have successfully broken through the two lines of defense of the German army and are moving toward
The third line of defense launches an attack. If everything goes well, we should be able to break through the German third line of defense before dark."
The reason why Sokov placed two armies in the Velishanka area at that time was because the German army had many fortifications in that direction and the defense force was relatively strong. However, he did not expect that the 49th Army fought for a whole morning and even the German army was defeated.
The third line of defense has not been broken through.
According to the original combat plan, the troops attacking in the Vilishanka area were to capture the town of Golovanivsik before 2 p.m. at the latest. The Germans deployed four lines of defense between the town and the Vilishanka area.
Now there is no breakthrough even at the third level. If we keep fighting at this speed, we will have to wait until tomorrow at the earliest to reach the outskirts of the town.
"General Melekhov, it's too slow." Sokov frowned and said, "Your army's offensive speed is too slow. You know, not only do you have to break through two German defense lines in a row, even if you reach Golova
In the town of Nefsik, we still have to fight against the enemies who are holding on to the town. If you wait and see like you do, when will you be able to complete the planned combat objectives?"
Melekhov, who was criticized, did not dare to refute, and finally waited for Sokov to finish speaking before he murmured: "Comrade Commander, I immediately called Colonel Stilitz and asked him to speed up the attack.
"
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then said: "I will give you another hour. If we still can't break through the German third line of defense, I will switch to other troops."
"Comrade Commander," Melekhov became anxious when he heard that Sokov was planning to replace him. He quickly expressed his stance: "I will definitely break through the Germans' third line of defense within an hour."
After Sokov ended the call with Melekhov, he answered Smirnov's call: "Comrade Chief of Staff, General Melekhov's 49th Army is not doing well. I plan to send Chumakov to
The general's 57th Army is sent up."
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov couldn't help being surprised after hearing this, and quickly reminded Sokov: "Aren't you planning to use the 57th Army as a reserve force? How come you entered the battle so quickly?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, our attack today caught the Germans by surprise. If it is delayed longer, the Germans will have enough time to re-consolidate their defense lines. If our army wants to break through their positions,
There will inevitably be heavy casualties."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Smirnov replied: "I will contact General Chumakov immediately and ask him to move the troops to the front line. When do you plan to let him launch the attack?"
"I gave Melekhov an hour. If he still cannot break through the German third line of defense, then the troops of the 57th Army will take over his attack."
"Comrade Commander, please forgive me." Smirnov said: "The combat effectiveness of the two armies is almost the same. Since the 49th Army cannot break through the enemy's defense line, the 57th Army should not have too much hope."
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff, I won't let them fight alone." In order to reassure Smirnov, Sokov told him his plan: "I plan to send a force from Ulyanno
In the town of Fka, attack the enemy's flank on the right flank from the flank to ensure that the 57th Army can smoothly advance towards the intended target."
Hearing what Sokov said, Smirnov suddenly felt his eyes light up. Yes, if you attack from the front, you will definitely face the tenacious defense of the German army. If you attack from the flank while attacking from the front, it will inevitably be scattered.
It is difficult for the Germans, who are surrounded by enemies on both sides, to support the German defense force.
"Comrade Commander, I agree with your plan." Smirnov asked tentatively: "Should you give the order to the flanking troops, or should I give the order?"
Sokov felt that in order to facilitate the command, he should be in charge of the Safran area, so he said decisively: "Comrade Chief of Staff, we are now making a new division of labor. I will be responsible for commanding all battles in the Safran area."
; As for the battle in the Vilishankar area, you are responsible for it. If there are any problems, it will not be too late for us to communicate."
"That's okay." Smirnov replied readily: "Then I will follow your order."
Shtemenko heard the conversation between Sokov and Smirnov and asked with interest: "Comrade Sokov, how do you plan to attack the enemy forces in the town of Golovanivsik from the side?
"
"Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, this is what I think about." Sokov pointed to the map on the table and began to introduce the situation to Shtemenko: "I didn't tell General Afnin on the phone to stop the 3rd Airborne Division.
Attack, rest in the town of Ulyanovka? When the 4th Airborne Division took over and continued to attack Uman, I asked the 3rd Airborne Division to mobilize a regiment of troops to attack Golovanivsik from the flank.
The German flanks near the town launched attacks to contain part of the enemy's defense forces, allowing the frontal attacking troops to successfully break through the German defenses."
"Isn't one group too small?" Shtemenko asked.
"The 3rd Airborne Division has been fighting all morning, and it is estimated that the casualties of the troops are not small." Sokov said: "In addition, they still have to leave enough troops for the defense of the town of Ulyanovka.
Therefore, it is their limit to send one regiment to participate in the war."
"Doesn't the 41st Guards Division still have several thousand people?" Shtemenko continued: "They can completely mobilize troops to participate in the attack on the enemy near the town of Golovanivsik."
"No, we cannot use the troops of the 41st Guards Division."
Sokov's words confused Shtemenko, and he asked in confusion: "Why?"
"The 41st Guards Division now has too many new recruits. Most of them have not received any military training and do not have much combat experience." Sokov explained: "If they fight defensive battles or follow the wind, they can barely make do. But if they are allowed to fight
If we go on the offensive, the problem of insufficient combat effectiveness will be exposed, and we may even be unable to seize the enemy's position for a long time, and we will be defeated instead."
"So that's it." Shtemenko knew very well that Sokov was telling the truth. After a long period of fighting, the army had suffered a large number of attrition, and the new recruits now being added were basically from the newly liberated areas of Ukraine.
The cities in these places were occupied by the German army shortly after the war broke out. How could the residents who lived under the command of the German army have any chance to participate in military training? How could the new recruits recruited into the army have any combat effectiveness?
"You are right, Comrade Sokov." Shtemenko echoed Sokov's opinion: "Then let the 41st Guards Division stay where it is and leave the offensive tasks to other units."
Sokov picked up the phone again, called the headquarters of the 18th Guards Army, and asked the person who answered the phone to inform Afunin to answer the phone.
A moment later, Afuning's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Commander, I am Afuning."
"General Afnin, when can the 4th Airborne Division take over the attack from the 3rd Division?"
"It will take an hour at the earliest, Comrade Commander."
"Let them speed up and replace the 3rd Airborne Division as soon as possible. I have a new task to assign to them."
"What mission?"
"Your 49th Army on the right wing is not attacking smoothly. So far, it has not captured the German third line of defense. I am afraid that it will not be able to complete the predetermined battle plan." Sokov said into the microphone: "Therefore, I plan to
Send a force from the town of Ulyanovka to attack the German flank near the town of Golovanivsik, creating favorable conditions for the right-wing troops to break through the German defense line."
"Which troop do you plan to send to carry out this glorious mission, my comrade commander?"
"Didn't I order the 3rd Airborne Division to stop and rest?" Sokov said: "I plan to transfer a regiment of troops from the division to attack the German flank."
"A regiment?!" Afuning said with some surprise: "Comrade Commander, I'm afraid the strength of one regiment is not enough, right?"
"That's enough. Their mission is only to contain and disperse the German frontal defense forces and create conditions for the friendly forces to break through frontally. Don't worry, it won't take long for the friendly forces on the right wing to break through the German defense lines and rush over to join them.
.”
"Comrade Commander, Colonel Konev happens to be here with me. Why don't you personally assign him the mission?"
Soon, the voice on the receiver changed to Colonel Konev: "Hello, Comrade Commander, I am Konev."
"Colonel Konev," Sokov said: "The mission is very simple. You send a regiment from the town to attack the German positions near the town of Golovanivsik, attract the attention of the Germans, and contain them.
Their strength reduces the pressure on the attacking friendly forces. How about it? Are there any difficulties?"
Konev was silent for a moment, and then replied somewhat reluctantly: "There is no difficulty."
"Colonel Konev," Sokov heard his hesitation and comforted him: "The friendly forces on the right wing that are responsible for the offensive mission include two corps and six divisions. With your assistance, I believe they will use
It won't take long to break through the German defenses and join forces with your men."
"Okay, I obey orders."
"Which regiment do you plan to send to carry out these important tasks?"
"I think Lieutenant Colonel Maxim Pinkov's 8th Guards Airborne Regiment can be transferred." Colonel Konev said: "So far, the regiment still has sufficient soldiers and well-equipped soldiers, and every soldier is
They are all well-trained, and it is undoubtedly the most suitable for them to perform this task."
"That's great." Sokov waited for the other party to finish before continuing: "I have given an ultimatum to the commander of the 49th Army, General Melekhov. If we can't break through within an hour,
The third line of defense of the German army, then I will use the troops of the 57th Army to take over his attack."
Knowing that the 57th Army was about to enter the battle, Konev felt inexplicably relieved. This unit was equivalent to a new force. As they entered the battlefield, the German third and fourth lines of defense seemed to be in danger. Originally, they were in danger.
We were still worried that the troops that entered the battle might be annihilated, but at this time, it seemed that even if the Pinkov regiment was unfortunately caught in an encirclement by the Germans, as long as it persisted for about half an hour, the friendly forces that had broken through the enemy's defenses might come over to join forces.
.
Sokov kept making phone calls to understand the battlefield situation from the commanders and fighters in front. At the same time, he continued to issue various new orders based on the real-time battle situation. Because he was so busy, he did not know when Koshkin came back.
None were found.
After the busy work came to an end, he accidentally turned around and found Koshkin standing at the door, so he casually asked: "When did you come back?"
"Just came back."
Sokov remembered that he had sent him to check the situation at the air defense position, and asked casually: "Koshkin, how is the situation at the air defense position?"
"It's not very good, Comrade Commander." Koshkin said solemnly: "To be precise, the situation is very bad."
"What's going on?" Yakov interrupted and asked, "Hurry up and tell me."
"The anti-aircraft machine guns on the position were all blown up by German aircraft." Koshkin said sadly: "The air defense battalion sacrificed 91 soldiers and injured 123 people. It can be said that the entire battalion has lost its combat effectiveness."