Sokov did not know that anyone was worried about his safety. He was on the phone with Marshal Konev at the moment.
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov learned that the troops that were supposed to take over the defense had not yet entered the designated position, so he directly contacted Marshal Konev: "All my troops have moved forward, and the area originally occupied is already in a state of insecurity.
If we don’t send friendly troops to take over the defense as soon as possible, I’m worried that once the enemy detects it, our retreat may be cut off.”
The most troublesome thing about large corps operations is dispatching troops. At this moment, Konev was also worried that many troops had not arrived at their designated positions. Hearing what Sokov said, he said in embarrassment: "Soko
Comrade Husband, I have issued an order to the troops to enter your defense area within the specified time. However, the heavy snowfall not long ago seriously interfered with the marching speed of the troops, causing their arrival at the destination to be delayed.
Already."
"By the way," Konev thought that Sokov's troops planned to attack Uman City after handing over the defense, so he took the opportunity to ask: "Can you attack Uman City as planned today?"
Hearing Konev's question, Sokov realized that Smirnov might not have reported the news of the city's destruction, and quickly said: "Comrade Marshal, I'm really sorry, I haven't had time to report to you yet. 18th Guards Airborne Corps
The 3rd Division of the Army has successfully broken through Uman's defenses and is currently fighting the enemy in the city."
"What, your troops have already rushed into the city of Uman?" Konev asked in surprise: "When did this happen? How come I didn't know about it at all?"
"Half an hour ago, the 8th and 10th regiments of the 3rd Airborne Division rushed into the city, and now the 2nd regiment is preparing to enter the city." Sokov explained: "Maybe it's because Comrade Chief of Staff hasn't compiled the battle report yet.
, so we have not reported this result to the front army headquarters for the time being."
"Comrade Sokov, I congratulate you." After confirming that Sokov's troops had entered the city of Uman, Konev smiled and said to him: "Congratulations to your troops for taking the lead in entering the city of Uman. I believe that,
In the awards after the battle, your unit will definitely receive the honorary title named after the city of Uman."
"Thank you, Comrade Marshal. I will convey your message to the commanders and soldiers on the front line to boost military morale and morale."
"How many troops do you have in the city?"
"A Guards Airborne Division," Sokov felt that he was not accurate enough, and specifically added: "But this division has been severely weakened after two days of fighting. Even if they enter the city, the area they can occupy is very limited.
of."
"Then why don't you send more troops to reinforce?"
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov said with a sigh, "all the troops are on the road. Due to the difficult roads behind the snow, their marching speed has been greatly slowed down."
Konev knew that what Sokov was talking about was true. Not only was the opponent's troops unable to enter the designated position on time, but even the troops who had arranged combat missions were now marching with difficulty in the snow.
"Comrade Sokov, what is the name of the commander of the 3rd Airborne Division?" Konev said: "After Uman is liberated, I will personally award him the medal."
"Konev." As soon as Sokov said this, he realized that the person he was talking to was also named Konev, so he added: "The division commander is Colonel Konev. It's quite a coincidence that he actually has the same name as Konev.
You have the same surname."
"Yeah, what a coincidence." Konev also didn't expect that the commander who took the lead in commanding the troops to rush into Uman City had the same surname as him, so he said with interest: "Since it is the Guards Division, why is he
A colonel? I think after the battle is over, we can arrange for him to be promoted to major general."
Now that he is a general, Sokov naturally hopes that the ranks of his subordinates will also rise. After hearing Konev's promise, he quickly said: "Comrade Marshal, thank you very much. I will contact Colonel Konev later."
When the time comes, I will tell him about it and make him happy."
"It's a pity that the weather today is bad." Konev sighed softly and said in a regretful tone: "Otherwise, I could send out the air force and use air superiority to destroy the stubborn enemy."
"Comrade Marshal, the Air Force is suitable for bombing field positions and has little effect in urban street fighting." Sokov said: "Air Force pilots have no way of knowing which building is ours and which building is the enemy.
, it is possible that the dropped aerial bomb did not hit the enemy, but instead blew up one of our own people."
Konev felt that what Sokov said made sense, and after thinking for a while, he said to him: "Comrade Sokov, if the troops entering the city are limited, you can let them control a certain area first, and wait until the main force arrives.
, it’s not too late to expand the results.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Marshal." Sokov replied with a smile: "According to the latest battle report, after the troops entering the city occupied two streets, they used buildings to establish defensive positions, where they are waiting for the arrival of the main force."
Sokov remembered that Zhukov's troops were launching an attack on Uman from the north at this moment, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, I wonder what the current progress of Marshal Zhukov's troops is?"
"Not very good, Comrade Sokov." Konev sighed and said, "I spoke to Marshal Zhukov not long ago. He said that the Germans' resistance is very tenacious, and almost every step forward has to be paid in blood.
I thought that the First Front Army was stronger than us and would progress more smoothly than us, but I didn't expect that the resistance they encountered was the most tenacious."
"Comrade Sokov, I would like to congratulate you again and congratulate your troops on taking the lead in attacking the city of Uman. I will report this to the General Staff and ask them to tell the Supreme Commander himself the good news as soon as possible."
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov heard what Konev said and quickly reminded him: "General Shtemenko, deputy chief of the general staff, is by my side at the moment. I think he will report the results of this victory to the general staff in a timely manner.
Reported by the ministry.”
Konev laughed after hearing this and said: "Comrade Sokov, if you didn't remind me, I almost forgot that General Shtemenko was with you. But his report is his business. Your troops entered Uman City.
This is the huge result achieved by our front troops, and the step of reporting to the General Staff cannot be omitted."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, Shtemenko said to him: "Comrade Sokov, if Marshal Konev and I report the results of your invasion of Uman at the same time, there will be nothing wrong with it.
On the contrary, it can also serve as supporting evidence to prove the authenticity of this result."
"So that's it." Although Sokov has won many battles, he really doesn't know much about this kind of thing. Hearing Shtemenko say this can be regarded as gaining some knowledge: "I understand.
.”
After Konev led the 2 regiments into the city of Uman, he found a large theater in the south of the city, set up his headquarters there, and sent someone to notify the division headquarters outside the city to quickly move to the city.
inside.
When Konev said that the division headquarters should be located in the theater, Fritzman could not help but worry a little and reminded him: "Comrade division commander, is it appropriate to locate the division headquarters here?"
"What's inappropriate?"
"Comrade Commander," Fritzman pulled Konev to the window, pointed outside and said to him: "Look, the surrounding buildings are less than two hundred meters away from the theater. If the enemy takes over
They captured those buildings, used firepower to suppress us, and then launched an attack. Can we block their attack?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Fritzmann, you can send people to occupy those buildings so that the Germans cannot establish firepower points near our headquarters and suppress our defenses."
"Comrade division commander, to control such a building, you need at least one or two squads of soldiers." Fritzman shook his head and said: "We have at least seven buildings, which means we have to
Dispatch seven to fourteen squads, equivalent to one and a half companies of soldiers. Now that our troops are limited, if we really send so many people to occupy the building, the personnel used to defend the headquarters will be greatly weakened.
"
"Then tell me, what should we do?" Konev asked angrily: "If we don't send troops to occupy the surrounding buildings, the enemy can suppress us with fire from there; send people to occupy it, you
He also said that the troops here at the division headquarters have become weak. So tell me, what should we do?"
Seeing that the division commander was angry, Fritzmann thought for a long time and finally said: "Comrade division commander, I think it is better to concentrate all the troops that our regiment can use on the defense of the division headquarters."
"What kind of concentration method?"
"The first and second battalions are now fighting the Germans elsewhere, and they definitely can't count on them." Fritzman said to Konev: "What's left is the third battalion and the part you brought from the division headquarters.
The total strength does not exceed 300 people. We can set up machine guns on the roof of the theater to block the road to the theater."
"What if the enemy occupies a nearby building?"
"It doesn't matter. The roof of the theater is higher than those buildings. Our machine gun fire points can completely suppress the enemies occupying the buildings."
"Okay, then I'll do as you say." Konev said to Fritzman: "I think we may stay here for a long time, so I will leave the security work of the division headquarters to
It’s your group’s responsibility.”
Members of the division outside the city, after receiving Konev's notice, also moved towards the city. Rubimov, who was not far away, was a little at a loss when he saw this. He wanted to contact the division to learn about his next step.
What should I do? But I don’t know where the division headquarters is, and I can’t get in touch even if I want to.
He stood there in a daze for a while, then suddenly saw the observation post not far away. Remembering that Commander Sokov was there, he ran over and wanted to directly request a mission from Sokov.
Before he could approach the observation post, he was blocked by hidden soldiers who asked politely: "Comrade Major, where are you planning to go?"
"Comrade soldier, I want to see the commander. Please let me go."
The soldier who stopped him did not know Rubimov, so he naturally would not let him pass. Instead, he said with a straight face: "I'm sorry, Comrade Major, I don't know you, and I have no right to let you pass. You'd better go back."
The soldier was worried, and Rubimov was not willing to go back like this. Just when he was in a dilemma, he suddenly saw a familiar figure. He quickly waved to him and said: "Lieutenant Koshkin, Lieutenant Koshkin."
Koshkin, who was on patrol, heard Rubimov's call and walked over quickly. After nodding to him, he politely asked: "Major Rubimov, what can I do for you?"
"Lieutenant Koshkin," Rubimov said anxiously, "I just saw that the division headquarters has moved to the city, but our regiment is still outside the city. I originally wanted to find the division commander, but I couldn't find him.
So I can only come here to find the commander and ask him whether our regiment should continue to stay outside the city or go into the city with the division headquarters."
After figuring out Rubimov's origins, Koshkin said with a smile: "Comrade Major, I think you are right to ask the commander about this kind of thing. If he assigns you a task, even if Colonel Konev knows
I won’t say anything.”
Koshkin brought Rubimov to the observation post and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, Major Rubimov, commander of the artillery regiment, is here!"
"Hello, Comrade Major." Sokov turned around and shook hands with Rubimov, and then said: "Well done, Comrade Major, your artillery fire destroyed the German wall and opened a path for our offensive troops.
Passage, just based on this, you can get a medal after the battle is over."
Hearing that he could get a medal, Rubimov flushed with excitement, "Comrade Commander, is this all true?"
"Major Rubimov, do you think I would joke with you about this kind of thing?"
"No, no." Rubimov replied with a silly smile: "How could it be possible, Comrade Commander, how could you joke with me about this kind of thing!"
"Major Rubimov, if you are not staying at your artillery position, why are you here here?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Rubimov, who was so excited that he didn't know his last name, remembered the purpose of his trip and said quickly: "Comrade Commander, now the division headquarters has moved forward to the city.
Leave our artillery regiment outside the city. I would like to ask, what is the next task of our regiment? Should we continue to stay outside the city, or should we immediately move to the city?"
"Didn't Colonel Konev give your regiment a mission?"
"No," Rubimov shook his head and said in a positive tone: "He didn't tell me anything before he entered the city. Our regiment did not receive an order from our superiors, and we don't know what to do now."
Sokov stared at Rubimov standing in front of him, and began to think about how to arrange this artillery unit. After thinking for a while, he asked: "Major Rubimov, you still have ammunition left.
How many?"
"Comrade Commander, according to your order before the start of the battle, each artillery has prepared three bases of ammunition." Rubimov replied: "So far in the battle, the artillery shells have consumed two bases, that is,
Said, there is still a base number of cannonballs that can be used."
"There is still a base number of artillery shells, which is quite a lot." After figuring out the ammunition situation of the artillery regiment, Sokov ordered to the other party: "The way I see it, you deploy an artillery battalion into the city to assist
The infantry will attack the fortress. The remaining two artillery battalions will continue to stay on standby."