"This is really great." Sokov said: "Comrade Sidorin, please convey my gratitude to Lieutenant Colonel Glushko for the results he has achieved."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sidorin said politely: "I will convey your gratitude to him." After a brief pause, he continued to ask, "After capturing Uman, what will be our next mission?"
What is it?"
"After the friendly forces enter the city, hand over the defense to them." Sokov stared at the map in front of him and said: "Then the 18th Guards Army advances to Heysin and Jeplik to the west to seize these two small towns.
After crossing the city, forcefully cross the South Bug River. After completing the river crossing operation, quickly push towards the Dniester River."
Sidorin quickly pulled the map in front of him. After seeing clearly the direction Sokov was talking about, he couldn't help but take a breath: "Comrade Commander, our division has been greatly weakened after successive battles.
, I’m afraid it’s not appropriate to participate in such a long-distance attack.”
"I understand, Comrade Sidorin." Sokov naturally knew what price the 18th Guards Army paid in order to capture Uman. Among the three divisions of the army, the 41st Guards Division suffered the most losses. He comforted
Sidorin said: "But don't worry, you won't be allowed to go deep alone this time. There will be tank brigades and artillery units to coordinate with you."
"That's good, that's good." After listening to Sokov's words, Sidorin couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although the German resistance was not strong when attacking Uman this time, due to the lack of tank troops,
With cooperation, in some battles, the troops inevitably made huge sacrifices: "With the cooperation of the tank troops, I think our attack will be smoother."
After Smirnov waited for Sokov to put down the phone, he asked: "Comrade Commander, would you like to recruit the three military commanders to the headquarters and assign them the next combat mission?"
"I don't think it's necessary." Sokov shook his head and said, "Hastily calling the three army commanders over to assign tasks before the fighting in the city is over will cause the fighting troops to lose unified command, and
into chaos and give the Germans some breathing space."
"But if we wait until the battle is over to convene a meeting with several military commanders, wouldn't it be too late?" Smirnov reminded Sokov: "Then the friendly forces may get ahead of us and attack Nanbu.
The Ge River will be forcibly crossed."
"The battle of the 18th Guards Army can come to an end." Sokov said to Smirnov: "Have Commander Afnin come to the headquarters immediately and order the army to stop fighting in the city."
"The battle in the city?"
"The 49th and 57th Infantry Corps can be put in charge." Sokov said: "Now most of the city has fallen into the hands of our army, and the remaining enemies have also been disrupted and scattered around the city.
There is sporadic resistance. If the troops of the two armies cannot destroy the enemy who has basically lost their combat effectiveness, it means that their commanders are unqualified, and we should consider replacing them with more suitable commanders."
Sokov took a sip of tea and said to Shtemenko who was sitting next to him: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, after the Battle of Uman, should you return to Moscow?"
Hearing what Sokov said, Shtemenko couldn't help laughing, and then asked: "Why, Comrade Sokov, are you so unwelcome to me?"
"No, Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff." Sokov responded with some embarrassment: "In any case, this is the frontier. It is inappropriate for you to stay here as the deputy chief of staff of the army. You will be attacked at any time.
It's life-threatening. If anything happens to you, I won't be able to explain it to my superiors."
"Don't worry, Comrade Sokov." Seeing Sokov so uneasy, Shtemenko said with a smile: "I can't stay here for long. I will leave as soon as the Battle of Uman is over. No.
I always make you fearful for me."
Knowing that Shtemenko would leave after the battle, Sokov felt somewhat reassured, but he still said something he didn't mean: "If our headquarters hadn't been transferred frequently, I would have liked you to stay here.
If there is anything I don’t understand, I can ask you for advice.”
Unexpectedly, Shtemenko burst out laughing after hearing this. He nodded Sokov with his hand and said: "Sokov, you, you, you are so good at saying beautiful words. It's obviously you who taught me to learn them."
There are a lot of things, but you just want to ask me for advice. Isn't this a slap in my face?"
Sokov laughed dryly and turned to ask Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there any news about Colonel Yakov?"
Smirnov nodded and said: "Not long ago, I received a telegram from Colonel Yakov, but I haven't had time to show it to you yet. He has arrived in Kursk now and is loading goods. It will take about 24 hours.
You can return later.”
After hearing this, Sokov couldn't help but murmured: "We won't leave until 24 hours later. I guess we won't be able to make it in time."
"Can't catch up? What can't be caught up?" Smirnov just asked this curiously, and immediately guessed Sokov's intention, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, don't you want Colonel Yakov to do it?"
The hovercraft detachment will assist us in breaking through the defense line of the South Bug River?"
"What's not possible?" Sokov stared at Smirnov and said, "With the assistance of the hovercraft unit, we can send a division's commanders and their equipment to the other side within an hour.
"
"Let me do the math," Smirnov said with his fingers: "Although it only took Colonel Yakov and the others one day to get from here to Kursk, their speed would be greatly increased when they returned because they were fully loaded with goods.
Slowing down, that is to say, it will take almost three days to reach us. It seems that they are indeed unable to catch up with the crossing battle."
The phone rang, and Sokov grabbed the phone and put it to his ear: "I'm Sokov."
Marshal Konev's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Sokov, this is Konev. How is the situation there? How long will it take to capture Uman?"
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov reported to Konev: "The municipal building has been captured, and most of the city has indeed fallen into the hands of our troops. The organized resistance of the Germans has basically been crushed, and the remaining
The enemy below is based on small teams, occupying some important locations, and is carrying out a final desperate resistance."
"Then when will you take over the whole city?"
Sokov thought about it in his mind and finally gave an answer: "Comrade Marshal, I think we should be able to capture the entire city before dawn."
Konev hummed, and then said: "Comrade Sokov, a few days ago you said that it would take three days to capture Uman. I thought you were lying. But now it seems that you have captured the entire city.
I’m afraid I won’t be able to get it for 24 hours, which is really amazing.”
"Comrade Marshal, the reason why we can achieve such results is that the First Front commanded by Marshal Zhukov is indispensable." Taking down Uman is a great achievement, but Sokov will not just grab the credit. On the contrary, he
We must also share some of the credit: "If it hadn't been for their attack from the north, which attracted the main force of the German army, it would have taken us another day or two to reach outside Uman."
"Comrade Sokov, you don't have to be modest." Konev said with a chuckle: "Even if the main force of the German Uman Group was attracted to the north by Marshal Zhukov, if another unit comes to fight, I'm afraid it won't be that bad.
Easy to reach outside Uman. What are your plans next?”
"I plan to order the troops to advance to Heysin and Ceplik in the west. After seizing these two small cities, they will then forcibly cross the South Bug River. After completing the river crossing operation, they will quickly push towards the Dniester River."
When Sokov finished reporting his intentions, Konev nodded and said: "Comrade Sokov, you have considered the problem very comprehensively. I also plan to order the 27th and 52nd Army to move westward after the liberation of Uman.
Push forward, forcefully cross the South Bug River, and then continue to push towards the Dniester River."
Sokov glanced at Smirnov who was on the phone not far away, and reported his plan to Konev: "Comrade Marshal, I have ordered the 18th Guards Army to stop fighting in the city and will
The remaining combat tasks will be completed by the 49th and 57th armies."
"After you tell the 18th Guards Army to stop attacking, do you plan to give them any new combat missions?"
"That's right, Comrade Marshal." Sokov replied truthfully: "I plan to have the army withdraw from the battle and then advance westward with the tank brigade and artillery to seize the two small cities of Heysin and Teplik.
"
"Well, your decision is correct, Comrade Sokov." Konev said approvingly: "According to my original plan, it will be at least a week later to advance to the south of the Bug River. It seems that we can now make this move
The time has been greatly advanced.”
"How's it going? Are there any difficulties?"
"There are definitely difficulties." Sokov said hesitantly: "After a long battle, the combat attrition of the 18th Guards Army has exceeded 60%. If they cannot be replenished in time, they will have to wait until they cross Nanbuge.
After crossing the river, I'm afraid we won't have the strength to continue moving forward."
"It's very difficult, Comrade Sokov." Faced with the problems raised by Sokov, Konev also found it difficult to deal with. Not only the 53rd Army, but also all the units suffered serious attrition during the battle.
Replenishment has not arrived, and even if I want to replenish them, I can't do anything: "All group armies are facing the problem of insufficient soldiers, but I can't replenish your lost soldiers until they get replenishment from their superiors."
After being silent for a while, Konev put forward his own idea: "Otherwise, you can recruit new soldiers locally. If possible, recruit a few more guerrillas with combat experience. This will ensure that your combat effectiveness will not
diluted."
If we were in Russia at this moment, Sokov would naturally be eager for Konev's proposal. But in Ukraine, the situation is the same thing. Although there are many guerrillas, they are divided into several factions: First,
Pro-Soviet guerrillas would actively provide intelligence to the Soviet army during battles and even assist in combat operations;
One type is pro-German, they are dogs raised by the Germans to help the German and Soviet troops fight;
The third type of guerrilla group was neither pro-Soviet nor pro-German. They formed their own group and wanted to fight both the Germans and the Soviet army.
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov said cautiously: "The composition of the Ukrainian guerrillas is too complex. If there is no other way, I will not recruit them. If I accidentally recruit the pro-German guerrillas, I am afraid that there will be
Holding us back during the battle."
Konev knew that Sokov was telling the truth, so he could only say euphemistically: "Comrade Sokov, in a short period of time, the front army headquarters will not be able to provide you with troop supplies, so you can only be discharged from the hospital after recovering from your injuries."
Wounded soldiers, or other means to make up for your lack of soldiers."
After putting down the phone, Sokov first asked Smirnov, who had put down the phone earlier than him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you called General Afnin?"
"Yes, we have already fought." Smirnov nodded and said, "He said he would be at the headquarters within five minutes."
Sokov nodded and called to a colonel sitting far away: "Colonel Burgos!"
Upon hearing Sokov's order to him, Burgos quickly stood up and walked over quickly, standing in front of Sokov, waiting to accept his task.
"Comrade Director of Armored Forces," Sokov called Burgos's title, and asked: "How many tank brigades does our army have that can be put into battle?"
"Comrade Commander, there are three tank brigades that can be put into battle." After answering Sokov's question, Burgos asked tentatively: "Are you planning to have the tank brigades accompany the 18th Guards Corps?"
"Yes, that's what I think." Sokov finally added: "In addition to the armored troops, the pontoon bridge troops under the group army will also accompany you and build a pontoon bridge for you at the South Bug River."
Afunin walked in from outside and walked straight to Sokov. He raised his hand to his forehead and said, "Comrade Commander, I have been ordered to come. Do you have any instructions?"
"Come to the map." Sokov, who was standing at the table, greeted him and said, "I'll assign you combat missions."
When Afunin came to the table, Sokov pointed to the map and said to him: "General Afunin, as soon as your army completes its assembly, immediately leave the city from the west of Uman, and then move towards Hessin and Jep."
Li Ke advances, trying to capture these two cities in the shortest possible time, and then cross the South Bug River before the enemy recovers. Do you understand?"
"Comrade Commander," Afunin waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and then took the initiative to raise the difficulties he faced: "My troops have suffered heavy losses in successive battles. If they cannot be supplemented by soldiers, they will continue to fight.
is very difficult."
Before Afunin could finish speaking, Sokov raised his hand and interrupted what he was saying: "Comrade Commander, stop talking. Not only your army, but also the 49th and 57th armies have suffered more than
40%. However, you will not be able to obtain any additional personnel before receiving additional information from your superiors."
Seeing Afunin's frustrated look, Sokov continued: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, we won't let you go deep alone this time." He nuzzled at Burgos next to him.
"Well, Colonel Burgos will personally command three tank brigades and move with your army."
When he learned that a tank brigade was accompanying his troops, Afuning had a smile on his face: "Comrade Commander, if this is the case, that would be great. Having a tank brigade traveling with us can allow some soldiers to ride
The tanks advance, which can greatly shorten our march time."