"Comrade Sokov," Shtemenko said tactfully, seeing that Sokov was a little excited, "I think we should go back to the army headquarters, where you can better command the troops."
Sokov raised his head and looked at Shtemenko, wondering in his mind why the other party asked him to return to the army headquarters. Is there something important that he needs to talk to him in private?
"Okay, Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, we will return to the headquarters right now."
On the way back to the headquarters, Shtemenko suddenly asked: "Comrade Sokov, do you know why I want you to return to the army headquarters?"
Sokov was not a roundworm in Shtemenko's belly. How could he have guessed the other party's intentions? He shook his head and answered truthfully: "I don't know."
"That Colonel Yesenin acted indecisively. He knew clearly that friendly troops were fighting the enemy in the town, but he did not move." Shtemenko said sternly: "We must not tolerate this kind of behavior that deliberately delays the opportunity for war, and must deal with it seriously.
.”
"Well, I think so too." Sokov thought of Victor's assault battalion fighting bloody battles with the Germans in the town, while the 233rd Division outside the town stood still. This made him very angry. He was thinking about what to do.
How to deal with Yesenin? When Shtemenko mentioned this matter first, he asked calmly: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, how do you think Colonel Yesenin should be dealt with?"
"When a large corps fights, military discipline must be strict. I feel that Colonel Yesenin is no longer suitable for the position of division commander." Shtemenko knew very well that although he was the representative of the base camp, he only had the right to make suggestions but not decision-making, so what would he do?
The problem was left to Sokov to solve: "Since he is your subordinate, you have the final say on how to deal with him."
Seeing Sokov appear, Smirnov had a look of astonishment on his face: "Comrade Commander, why are you back? I thought you would stay in the 41st Guards Division tonight."
"Now that our army's front has moved forward, you can't see the battlefield situation when you stay with the 41st Guards Division." After Sokov briefly stated the reason for his return, he asked: "Take over our army.
When can the defense troops arrive?"
"Tomorrow at noon." Smirnov replied: "Two friendly divisions will take over our defenses in the Safran and Velishanka areas respectively."
Sokov nodded and then asked: "Is there any latest news from the 57th Army?"
Smirnov quickly turned around and asked a staff officer not far away: "Comrade staff, do you have a report on the 57th Army?"
"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." The staff officer replied simply: "We have not received any reports about the 57th Army yet."
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." After listening to the staff report, Smirnov apologized to Sokov and said, "We have not received the latest information about the 57th Army yet."
Considering that Sokov sent a commando battalion to sneak attack the German town, Smirnov asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, how is the battle in the town going?"
"The assault battalion fought very hard." On the way back, Sokov received another report from Victor and learned that the assault battalion was now besieged by the Germans in the church and nearby streets and was withstanding the ferocious German attack. "They have already
We are surrounded by enemies and are struggling to hold on."
Smirnov couldn't help being shocked after hearing this: "But according to the original plan, once the assault camp started in the town, the 233rd Division outside the town should launch an attack, and attack them from both inside and outside to seize the town of Golovanivsik.
?”
"A plan is a plan," Sokov said with a sigh, "but during execution, deviations often occur."
"What exactly is going on?"
"Victor's troops immediately launched an attack in the direction of the German command post after the battle started. After suffering heavy casualties, they finally succeeded in seizing the German command post and trapping the enemy's command system.
"In the basement." Sokov gritted his molars and said: "While they were fighting hard, the 233rd Division, which was supposed to launch an attack from the front, remained stationary and allowed the assault battalion, which was surrounded by the enemy, to be consumed bit by bit.
.”
"Ah, this is actually happening?" Smirnov was stunned by Sokov's words: "Is this all true?"
"Of course it's true." Sokov said: "I called General Chumakov and reprimanded him before he agreed to notify the 233rd Division to launch an attack. But since then, I have not contacted him again.
The 57th Army contacted, and it is not known whether they have launched an attack on the town of Golovanivsik at this time."
After hearing this, Smirnov's expression became serious. He looked at Sokov and asked: "Comrade Commander, what do you plan to do with Colonel Yesenin?"
"I feel that he is no longer suitable for the position of division commander," Sokov said expressionlessly: "We need to find a suitable candidate to replace him."
"Do you have the right person?"
Sokov's eyes scanned the room, and the students who followed him from the Frunze Military Academy were directly excluded by him. After all, it was only an intermediate training class at the time, and the trainees were all regiment-level commanders. If
Letting these trainees with little command experience directly serve as division commanders may be counterproductive.
Finally, his eyes rested on Ponedelin and Muzichenko, wondering who should take over Yesenin's position.
"Comrade Commander," Ponedelin saw Sokov's eyes constantly scanning himself and Muzichenko, and guessed that the other party wanted him or Muzichenko to take over Yesenin's position.
He served as the commander of the 233rd Division, but he was still unsure about paying attention. He quickly stepped forward and said: "If you can trust me, let me serve as the commander of the 233rd Division."
Unexpectedly, Sokov shook his head gently: "You are not suitable for the position of division commander."
Although the voice was soft, most people in the command headquarters heard it very clearly. When they heard this, they could hear a gasp. The staff officers, especially the students from the Frunze Military Academy
They all looked extremely ugly. In any case, Ponedelin was Sokov's right-hand man. Why didn't Sokov agree to his request to serve as division commander?
Before Ponedelin could speak, Sokov said with a smile: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, with your ability, you are more than enough to be a military commander. Isn't it an understatement to let you serve as a division commander? I see,
You should continue to stay at my headquarters, there may be a more suitable position waiting for you. As for the position of acting division commander of the 233rd Division, I think Lieutenant Colonel Muzichenko will take the position."
Muzichenko never dreamed that he would be appointed acting division commander again. He quickly took two steps forward, straightened his body and said: "Comrade Commander, I resolutely obey your orders!"
Sokov nodded and said to Muzichenko: "After daybreak, I will send someone to take you to the 233rd Division." He glanced at the familiar students and added, "Intermediate commander training
Whoever you like among the students in the class can be taken with you to take up the post. Having several capable regimental commanders to assist you will also be very helpful for your future work."
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov asked Sokov tentatively: "What do you plan to do with Colonel Yesenin?"
According to Sokov's character, he wanted to push Yesenin to the end and let him serve as a soldier in the company. But then he thought about it. Just two days after the Battle of Uman, he removed a division commander from his position and assigned him to the army.
Serving as a soldier in a company may have a negative impact on the morale and morale of the troops.
Therefore, after some thought, he finally made a decision: "I think Colonel Yesenin will be demoted to deputy division commander and continue to stay in the 233rd Division to assist Lieutenant Colonel Muzichenko in his work."
Seeing that Sokov had made new personnel arrangements, Smirnov felt it was necessary to inform the 57th Army, so he picked up the phone and found Chumakov and conveyed Sokov's intention to him.
Chumakov learned that Sokov was planning to remove Yesenin from his post, and quickly put in a good word for him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I feel that under the current circumstances, it is very inappropriate to remove a division commander from his post. It will have a negative impact on the army."
It has a negative impact on military morale and morale. Moreover, he is commanding the troops to attack the town, and they may be able to capture it soon."
"General Chumakov," Smirnov heard that the other party was still saying good things to Yesenin at this time. He couldn't help but said with a stern face and a stern tone: "Don't forget, a few hours ago, Yesenin's division attacked the town.
The attack ended in failure. In order to seize the town as quickly as possible, Comrade Commander mobilized elite troops from the 41st Guards Division, then broke into the town from the north, attacked the enemy's command center, and disrupted the enemy's defense deployment.
Creates favorable conditions for friendly attacks.
But what did Colonel Yesenin do? His troops stayed outside the town and heard the fierce fighting inside, but he kept his troops stationary. His behavior was a delay in fighting and could be directly sent to a military court. Now
, Comrade Commander just demoted him to deputy division commander and allowed him to continue to stay in the 233rd Division, which is already a great tolerance for him."
Now that Smirnov had spoken to this extent, Chumakov knew that whatever he said would be useless, so he could only bite the bullet and ask: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I don't know when I should announce this decision.
"
"The battle to attack the town is still going on. It is indeed inappropriate to announce this decision at this moment." Smirnov said reasonably: "I think it is better to wait until the town is captured before announcing this order to him."
Just when Smirnov was about to hang up the phone, Sokov stopped him in time: "Wait a minute, I have something to say to General Chumakov."
He put the receiver to his ear and asked: "General Chumakov, I would like to ask, apart from the 233rd Division, which army is closest to the town of Golovanivsik?"
"There is also Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov's 252nd Division," Chumakov replied cautiously: "Comrade Commander, you know that this division was deployed in two areas some time ago and participated in more battles.
, so there is a shortage of soldiers and ammunition. If you have any combat missions, I am worried that they will not be able to complete them."
"Get Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov immediately," Sokov said briefly: "I'll wait for him here."
Fortunately, Kirillov reported to the army headquarters before dark and did not leave. At this moment, he was resting in a wooden house dozens of meters away from the army headquarters. Hearing that Chumakov was looking for him, he did not
Not daring to be lazy, I hurried over.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he walked into the military headquarters, Chumakov handed the microphone in his hand to him and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, your call is from Comrade Commander!"
Hearing that the call was from Sokov, Kirillov quickly answered the phone: "Comrade Commander, this is Kirillov. Do you have any instructions?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov," Sokov asked Kirillov in a rare stern tone: "If I order your division to participate in the attack on the town of Golovanivsik, how many troops can you deploy?"
troops?"
Kirillov did not expect that Sokov would suddenly ask this question, and he did not know how to answer it for a while. After such a long battle, only half of the troops in the division were left, and only the full number of commanders and fighters could participate in the battle.
one-third of.
Just when Kirillov was thinking about how to answer Sokov's question. Sokov, who had not heard anything for a long time, couldn't help but became a little anxious and asked repeatedly: "Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov, are you still there?"
?Hello, are you still there?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I'm still here." Kirillov knew what question Sokov was about to ask him, so he answered first: "I'm calculating how many troops can be put into battle."
"How many troops can be put into battle?"
Kirillov counted on his fingers for a moment, and then replied: "Only two battalions can be put in, Comrade Commander."
"Two battalions?" Hearing this number, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but then he thought about it. The division was divided into two places during this period, and both of them participated in the battle. It was inevitable that the number of soldiers would be high.
"Although the number of people is a bit small, it should still be enough to attack the town of Golovanivsik."
Sokov paused for a moment and then asked: "When can you go into battle?"
"It will be in an hour at the earliest." Since Sokov assigned the task to himself, Kirillov was naturally obliged to do so, but it would take time to assemble the troops and enter the offensive area. After calculating the time required, he reported to
Sokov explained: "Comrade Commander, our division is now about three kilometers away from the town of Golovanivsik. Even if we complete the assembly at this moment and rush there at the fastest speed, it will take almost an hour."
"Now a regiment of the 233rd Division is launching an attack from the south of the town. Your division can choose the direction of attack to the east." Sokov began to assign tasks to Kirillov: "The task of your division is to quickly attack
Break through the German defense line in the town of Golovanivsik, advance to the vicinity of the church in the center of the town, and rescue the assault battalion surrounded by the Germans."
"Assault camp?" Only a few people knew about Sokov's dispatch of the assault camp to the town of Golovanivsik. Even though Kirillov was now the acting division commander, he had no way of knowing about it, so
When Sokov heard the order, he was still confused: "Comrade Commander, what is the assault battalion?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov, the situation is like this." Sokov explained: "When the first wave of attacks of the 233rd Division failed, I dispatched an assault battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Victor to attack the Gorge over a long distance.
The town of Lovanivsik entered the town from the north and rushed directly to the German command post. Now they have occupied the German command post and trapped the German commanders in the basement of the church. But unfortunately, the assault battalion
Now surrounded by superior enemy forces, if reinforcements are not sent as soon as possible, they are in danger of being annihilated."