Sokov came to the table and saw a map on it. He unfolded it and looked at it. He saw that a staff member had marked the latest enemy and friendly situations on it. He nodded, and then asked Smirnov who was following him: "
Comrade Chief of Staff, where are the 49th and 57th armies now?"
"Here," Smirnov said, pointing to an open space between the cities of Heysin and Teplik: "They will cross the South Bug River from this location and establish a landing site on the right bank. etc.
After gathering enough troops and technical equipment, we can then advance towards Tulichin in the west and occupy it, and we will be able to obtain a solid support point."
"After our army completes the river-crossing operation," Sokov did not immediately express his opinion after hearing this, but continued to ask: "How long will it take to complete the assembly of soldiers and technical equipment?"
"I think it may take 48 hours." Smirnov said: "This is the limit of what we can do at the moment."
"No, 48 hours is too long." Sokov shook his head and said: "If the Germans are given such a long time to prepare for war, and we wait until our troops have completed their assembly before launching an attack on Tultsin, they will inevitably pay a heavier price.
price."
Hearing what Sokov said, Smirnov knew that he must have his own ideas, and quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, what do you think about it?"
"After the troops completed crossing the river, they immediately advanced in the direction of Tultsin." Sokov said in a tone that left no room for doubt: "We must seize the city while marching so that the enemy has no time to prepare for war."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Now that Sokov has issued the order, Smirnov, as the chief of staff, can only obey unconditionally: "I immediately called the two army commanders and asked them to organize a crossing of the river as soon as possible.
Establish a landing site on the right bank."
Sokov sensed something wrong in Smirnov's words. The other party was talking about organizing "crossing the river" instead of "forcing a crossing", so he couldn't help but ask: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is the position of our army crossing the river?
Are there no German defensive positions?"
"There must be defensive positions." Smirnov replied: "But according to the scout's report, no defenders were found on the positions at all. In other words, these positions are just a decoration and do not pose any threat to our army.
threaten."
Sokov raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and then ordered: "Since there are no defenders on the defense line on the other side, let the engineers build a few more pontoon bridges on the South Bug River, so that more people can pass through it in a short time.
troops."
"Well, I understand." After Smirnov agreed, he did not call immediately, but continued to say to Sokov: "By the way, Comrade Commander, there is another important thing, I almost forgot to tell you
Already."
"whats the matter?"
"The women's anti-aircraft artillery regiment from the 27th Army has arrived." Smirnov asked Sokov for instructions: "Where do you plan to place them?"
"Is the leader Major Lida?"
"The leader of the women's anti-aircraft artillery regiment is indeed called Lida," Smirnov replied with a smile: "But she is not a major now, she has been promoted to lieutenant colonel."
"Where is she?" Sokov said excitedly when he learned that the Women's Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment had arrived, "I want to see her."
"Her anti-aircraft artillery regiment is in the south of the city and has not entered the city yet." Smirnov asked Sokov tentatively: "Do you need me to inform her to come over as soon as possible?"
"Needless to say, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov always felt that although Lida was a woman, she was quite capable. Since the other party had already arrived outside the city, there was no reason to disappear, so he rushed to Smil.
Nov said: "Ask her to come to the army headquarters as soon as possible and say that I want to talk to her."
Smirnov called the director of the communications corps to him and asked: "Comrade director, can you send a telegram to the women's anti-aircraft artillery regiment and ask their regiment commander to rush to the headquarters as soon as possible?"
"I'm afraid this will be very difficult, Comrade Chief of Staff." The director of the Communications Corps said in embarrassment: "This unit has just been transferred from a friendly force. We have not obtained their contact code yet, so we cannot send them a telegram directly."
Smirnov felt a little disappointed when he learned that he could not send a telegram to the Women's Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment. However, he quickly came up with a way, called a staff officer, and told the other party: "Comrade staff officer, I will give it to you now."
You have an important task: rush to the Women's Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment station outside the city immediately, ask the regiment leader, Lieutenant Colonel Lida, to come over, and say that Comrade Commander wants to see her."
"Yes!" the staff officer agreed loudly, turned around and walked out of the headquarters.
After the staff left, Smirnov curiously asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, are you familiar with Lieutenant Colonel Lida, the leader of the women's anti-aircraft artillery regiment?"
"We have dealt with each other many times before." Now that Smirnov asked about his relationship with Lida, Sokov answered truthfully: "Although she is a woman, she is very capable. If
It’s not that there are no women among the senior commanders of our army, maybe she can become a general.”
"She is now a lieutenant colonel." Smirnov said with emotion: "If she wins a few more victories, she still has a chance to be promoted to a general." Perhaps he was worried that Sokov did not believe that what he was telling the truth, and also
I specifically added, "As far as I know, our army has an excellent female sniper. She killed 307 enemies by herself..."
"The chief of staff is talking about Lyudmila, right?" Upon hearing this, Sokov knew that Smirnov was talking about the legendary Soviet female sniper Lyudmila, so he continued: "She is from the 25th Infantry Division.
A sniper who killed 309 enemies successively. After being injured by an artillery shell in June 1942, the Supreme Commander himself personally ordered that she be picked up from Sevastopol by submarine.
After recovering from her injuries, she visited the United States with a Chinese youth delegation and was received by President Roosevelt and his wife. After returning to China, she was promoted to major of the Guards. On October 25 last year, she was awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
and the Medal of Gold Star.”
Smirnov just mentioned Lyudmila casually, but he did not expect that Sokov knew more clearly than he did. He asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, how do you know her so well? Have you ever met her?"
"
"No." When Sokov was in Moscow, he really wanted to see this legendary female sniper. Unfortunately, he spent most of his time lying in the hospital, so there was no chance he could see her. As for Lyudmila,
Understood, it was just information from later generations. He shook his head and said: "I have never met her. I only read all the news about her in the newspapers."
Smirnov had no doubts about Sokov's statement. After all, the other party had been recovering in Moscow for several months after being injured last time. It was normal to read the news about Lyudmila in the newspaper.
of.
"Comrade Commander, I have an idea."
Sokov looked at Smirnov with a strange look and asked, "What do you think? You can't let Lyudmila come to our army to be a sniper instructor, right? Even if he made such a request, I'm afraid his superiors wouldn't do it."
Will agree.
Unexpectedly, Sokov's guess soon became a reality. I only heard Smirnov say: "Our army has now shifted from defense to offense, and there are more and more opportunities for street fighting. I feel that in urban combat,
The role of snipers cannot be underestimated, and I think we can invite Major Lyudmila here and let her train all the sharpshooters within the group army into qualified snipers."
Smirnov's statement made Sokov fall into deep thought. His chief of staff was right. There will be more and more street fighting in the future, and there will be many places where snipers will be needed. But within the current group army
There are no decent snipers, and you will suffer a lot when encountering enemy snipers.
He thought for a long time, then nodded and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what you said makes perfect sense. I will contact my superiors at the appropriate time to see if I can invite Comrade Lyudmila to come to us as a post.
Sniper instructor."
Although Smirnov mentioned this matter on a whim, he was still happy to see the result. At this moment, seeing Sokov agreeing, a smile appeared on his face: "Comrade Commander, since you agree, then
We need to act early, otherwise we will regret it if she is poached by other troops."
"I have an idea." Although Sokov wanted to invite Lyudmila over right now, he knew that he would be too impatient to eat hot tofu, so he planned to make this request to his superiors at the appropriate time.
An hour later, Lida, led by her staff, arrived at the headquarters.
Seeing Sokov approaching, Lida stopped, raised her hand to her forehead, and reported to Sokov in accordance with the order: "Comrade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lida, commander of the Women's Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, has been ordered to arrive.
I obey your orders, please give instructions!"
Sokov raised his hand and returned the salute, said with a smile: "Please rest a moment!" and then stretched out his hand to shake hands with the other person.
"Comrade Commander," Lida asked with concern as she shook hands with Sokov, "has your injury healed?"
"Of course I have recovered, otherwise how could I return to the front line." Sokov said with a smile, "But unfortunately, I can never return to the 27th Army."
"That's such a pity." Lida said with regret: "Although you have been gone for a long time, the commanders and fighters of the 27th Group Army miss you very much."
"Miss me?!" Sokov asked teasingly: "What do I have to miss?"
"Everyone says that as long as you command the troops, we can achieve a major victory no matter what the circumstances."
Facing Lida's praise, Sokov waved his hand and said with some embarrassment: "You have praised me, what can I do? If I don't have the commanders and soldiers to support me, I can't win the battle by myself."
"Comrade Lida," Sokov promptly changed the subject: "Who is your deputy now? Is it still Captain Ulanova?"
"No, Comrade Commander." Unexpectedly, Lida shook her head and said: "Ulanova has been transferred to the 6th Guards Army and was awarded the rank of major. Now my deputy comes from a day care
Mill, she was a math teacher before the war."
"Mathematics teacher is a good profession." Sokov nodded after hearing this and said: "After the war is over, she can go back and continue to be a teacher."
"Yes, I really envy her." Lida said with a somewhat sad expression: "But if I retire from the army after the war, I don't know what to do."
"Comrade Lida, don't be so pessimistic." Before Sokov could speak, Smirnov rushed to say: "When the war is over, you will not be the only one who will retire, but tens of thousands of commanders and soldiers.
Don't worry, the relevant departments will make appropriate arrangements for you and provide you with suitable jobs."
Smirnov's words made Sokov sigh with emotion: "Comrade Chief of Staff, tell me, what can I do after I retire?"
Smirnov thought Sokov was making fun of him, so he chuckled and said: "Comrade Commander, if others say you are retiring, I will believe it. But with your current age and position, I am afraid you still need to have a second officer in the army."
Thirty years, so now you don’t have to think about retirement at all.”
Sokov thought about it carefully and found that what the other party said made sense. He was promoted to general when he was only in his twenties. Even if he stayed in the army for another twenty or thirty years, he would still belong to the young group. There was really no need to think about it.
A matter of retiring or not.
"Lida, tell me about the situation in your regiment." Sokov has just taken over the women's anti-aircraft artillery regiment. He must first understand the strength of this unit in order to arrange reasonable work for them: "How many anti-aircraft guns are there now?"
"There are three battalions under our regiment." Lida heard Sokov ask about the situation of the troops, and she quickly replied seriously: "They are the M1939 37 mm rapid-fire anti-aircraft artillery battalion, equipped with 12 anti-aircraft guns; the 57 mm anti-aircraft artillery battalion.
, equipped with 12 anti-aircraft guns; the 85mm anti-aircraft artillery battalion, equipped with 9 anti-aircraft guns."
“What’s the staffing situation like?”
"Due to the heavy losses we suffered in the early battles, the number of gunners per gun now is only about one-half of the standard configuration."
"How can you do this when you have such a huge shortage of soldiers?" Sokov frowned and said, "We should replenish it as soon as possible."
"But where do the soldiers come from?" Hearing what Sokov said, Lida also frowned: "I can't just make a bunch of people out of thin air, right?"
"Did the army not replenish your regiment when it replenished its troops?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Lida nodded and said: "We are a women's anti-aircraft artillery regiment, and the recruits to be supplemented to the group army are all men, so they will definitely not be supplemented to us. And we have no right to recruit troops without authorization.
, so the problem of soldier shortages has never been solved."
"Lida, in the name of the commander of the group army, I now authorize you to recruit qualified soldiers on your own." Sokov said to Lida with a serious expression: "If there is a shortage of technical equipment, you can also report it directly to me.
I will arrange for you to replenish it as soon as possible."
Lida was overjoyed by Sokov's words. She couldn't help but grabbed Sokov's hand and said excitedly: "Comrade Commander, that's great. If I can get your authorization, then our regiment will never do it again in the future."
I am worried about the lack of soldiers."
"Comrade Lida," Sokov took his hand out of Lida's and began to assign tasks to her: "The engineering troops of the Army Group will soon build a pontoon bridge on the South Bug River, and the tasks of your regiment are:
It is to establish an air defense position in the area where the bridge is being built to prevent them from being attacked by German air attacks. Do you understand?"
"Understood!" Lida replied loudly: "I promise to complete the task you assigned me."