Just after sending off Yakov and his hovercraft unit at noon the next day, Sokov received a call from Konev: "Comrade Sokov, what cities have your troops occupied on the right bank of the South Bug River?"
?”
After crossing the South Bug River, Sokov's troops not only occupied Tulchin, but also successively occupied the three cities of Tomaspili, Krizopili and Chernivtsi.
When Konev asked, Sokov replied without hesitation: "Comrade Marshal, in addition to occupying Tulchin, we also occupied the three cities of Tomaspili, Krizopili and Chernivtsi.
"
"Well done, Comrade Sokov. I congratulate you on the brilliant results you have achieved." After Konev finished speaking, he immediately returned to the subject: "According to the deployment of the front army, the 52nd Army is about to attack from your left flank.
Entering the battlefield, you should immediately prepare to open the channel."
"Make way for the 52nd Army?" Sokov heard something wrong in Konev's words. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, if I guess correctly, you mean to let General Korodeev
The 52nd Army to complete the task of forcibly crossing the Dniester River?"
"Haha, Comrade Sokov, it saves trouble to talk to smart people." Konev did not deny Sokov's guess, but said truthfully: "We have considered that after successive battles, not only the number of soldiers, but also the strength of your troops will be reduced."
Weapons and ammunition are consumed too much, and the commanders and soldiers have become exhausted. At this time, letting the 52nd Army go up will give you a chance to rest and recuperate."
Konev's words made Sokov fall into deep thought. You must know that the reason why the current troops are progressing smoothly and can seize the four cities on the right bank of the South Bug River in a very short period of time is entirely because there are no large German troops in this area.
The Romanian army, which was an organized force, was responsible for the defense. When faced with the Soviet attack, they put down their weapons and surrendered after a slight resistance.
Judging from the current situation, the defenders on the right bank of the Dniester River must still be dominated by the Romanian army. This means that the battle to force the crossing of the Dniester River will not be as tragic as imagined. At this time,
When the 52nd Army came to take over the task of crossing the river, it was like picking peaches. Thinking of this, Sokov felt very uncomfortable. His troops had fought for so long, but now they were making wedding dresses for others.
"Comrade Sokov, Comrade Sokov, are you still there?" Konev heard that there was suddenly no sound in the receiver. He thought Sokov had hung up the phone, so he quickly raised his voice and asked a few questions.
"I'm still here, Comrade Marshal."
"Since you are still here, why don't you say anything?" Konev may have guessed what Sokov was thinking, so he comforted him and said: "Comrade Sokov, have you ever thought about it, if I continue to let you follow the original plan?
Attacking Transnistria, I have no doubt that you can achieve another huge victory. How much combat effectiveness can your troops maintain after this victory? If we need to enter Romania next, your
Do the troops still have the ability to continue to serve as the vanguard of the entire army?"
Konev's words stopped Sokov. He was only thinking about how to eliminate the places that appeared in front of him, but he ignored the price that needed to be paid to eliminate these enemies. Even the defenders on the right bank of the Dniester River,
They are all Romanian troops with little combat effectiveness, but their own troops will still inevitably suffer casualties. If they receive new combat missions, they may become powerless.
After thinking about this, he said seriously: "I understand, Comrade Marshal. Since we have to make way for the 52nd Army, do we need to give them one or two of the cities we have captured?"
"There is absolutely such a need." Konev was originally thinking about how to persuade Sokov to let him give up one or two occupied cities to the 52nd Army. At this moment, if he took the initiative to bring it up, he would follow suit and say: "You guys
The city of Krijopili can be handed over to the 52nd Army, so that they can have a foothold on the right bank of the South Bug River."
"Comrade Marshal, after we made way for the 52nd Army, did we stop where we were to rest?"
"If you suddenly stop attacking, I'm afraid the enemy will take the opportunity to launch a counterattack." Konev said to Sokov: "Therefore, you must continue to attack the enemy in a small area so that they cannot mobilize enough troops.
Launch a hell of a counterattack in other areas."
"Maintain the offensive in local areas?!" Sokov felt that Konev's plan was good, so he nodded in agreement: "Comrade Marshal, you can rest assured on this. Even if our army is resting and recuperating, I will mobilize enough troops.
Launch a local attack into the enemy's defensive areas."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, Smirnov, who heard the conversation between him and Konev, couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade Commander, do we really want to make way for the 52nd Army?"
"That's for sure, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov looked at the other party and said righteously: "Since it is an order from a superior, we can only choose to obey it instead of discussing the order here."
"What a pity." After confirming that the road would be opened to the 52nd Army, Smirnov's expression became depressed: "Now on our way forward, there are basically Romanian troops with extremely poor combat effectiveness. If we
They made way for the 52nd Army, and they are the ones who will make great contributions next."
Sokov had already figured out at this moment that a blessing in disguise was a blessing in disguise. If he continued to attack according to the current situation, then his troops would be liberating the Eastern European countries next. I am afraid that they would not be able to get close to Berlin before the end of the war.
"Comrade Chief of Staff," seeing Smirnov's frustrated look, Sokov asked with a smile, "I want to ask you a question."
"what is the problem?"
"If, I'm talking about if." Sokov said to Smirnov: "If the superiors did not let us stop and recuperate, but let us continue to advance westward, then after liberating Romania, the next attack target
What is it?"
"Needless to say, after liberating Romania, we can liberate Bulgaria to the south, Yugoslavia to the west, and Hungary and Czechoslovakia to the northwest..." Smirnov was talking about the countries in the direction of attack like several treasures.
Suddenly an idea flashed through him and he thought of a key question. He stopped and looked at Sokov in shock. After a while, he tentatively asked: "Comrade Commander, you mean, if we don't obey the order,
Stop and rest, then the next ones to attack are these Eastern European countries?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, you guessed it right, it is indeed like this." Sokov said to Smirnov: "If we continue to fight in this area, then the future battle to liberate Berlin will not be possible at all.
Come to our army group."
Although Smirnov understood Sokov's intention, he still asked in confusion: "Comrade Commander, even if Marshal Konev stops our attack at this moment, judging from the current situation, Ukraine where we are located
The Second Front's attack direction is the countries I just mentioned, and I'm afraid there will be no chance of participating in the battle to capture Berlin."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, what you say makes sense. If Marshal Konev has been commanding the Second Front, then the next combat mission of your and my troops is to conquer Eastern Europe and remove the enslaved people from the Germans.
Liberated from under the iron heel." Sokov said with a smile: "But have you ever thought that if Marshal Konev takes over the command of the First Front, will our army have no chance to participate in the attack on Berlin?"
"Isn't the commander of the First Front Army General Vatutin?" Smirnov waited for Sokov to finish and immediately raised his doubts. "Although he was injured, the command has been handed over to Zhukov.
Marshal. I believe it won’t be long before General Vatutin can return to his combat post.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, this is what I think about." Naturally, Sokov would not tell Smirnov that although Vatutin's injury was not too serious, he died on April 15 due to wound infection. He deliberately used
One hypothesis, said to Smirnov: "General Vatutin may not be able to recover in the short term due to the worsening of his injury; and Marshal Zhukov, who replaced him, has more important work to do, and it is unlikely that he will be able to recover in the short term.
He will leave his post as acting commander of the front army sooner or later."
Sokov continued: "Under such circumstances, the High Command must be looking for suitable candidates to take over the positions of the First Front. Who do you think is qualified for this position?"
Smirnov calculated on his fingers for a while, and finally said: "There are only two people who are qualified for the position of commander of the First Front. One is General Rokossovsky, but he is now commanding the Belarusian Front, so let
It is obviously unrealistic for him to serve as the commander of the First Front Army."
"What about the second person?" Sokov asked calmly.
"The second person is our Marshal Konev." Smirnov said thoughtfully: "If Marshal Zhukov cannot act on his behalf for a long time, and General Vatutin cannot return to his combat post for the time being, then what will happen?
It may happen that the situation you mentioned arises, and the superiors ask Marshal Konev to assume the position of commander of the First Front Army."
Sokov clearly remembered that after Vatutin died of an infection due to his injuries, Zhukov proposed to find a suitable candidate as soon as possible to take over the position of commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front. It was at this time that Konev was recruited by Stalin
Included in the list of candidates.
After some weighing, Stalin finally decided to let Konev replace Zhukov. In order to ensure a safe transition, he even ordered the merging of the First and Second Fronts. Only after Konev had completely taken control of the situation did he resume his duties.
The two fronts were separated and General Malinovsky was appointed commander of the Second Front.
"Comrade Chief of Staff, based on my analysis." In order not to make Smirnov suspicious, Sokov probably said it was based on his own analysis, "General Vatutin estimates that there is little chance of returning to his original post, so I
We still prefer Marshal Konev to take over this position."
"I hope so." Smirnov said to Sokov and to himself: "Marshal Konev really served as the commander of the First Front Army in order to stand firm as soon as possible.
Heel will definitely deploy one or two trustworthy troops to help him open up the situation. So will the troops he chooses be our group army?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, what's wrong with you? It's not like your personality to have so little confidence in yourself." Sokov said with a smile: "Since the beginning of the Uman Battle, the results achieved by our group army are obvious to all.
If he arrives in a new unit and wants to open up the situation as soon as possible, he will definitely mobilize a unit that is trustworthy and has strong combat effectiveness. Think about it, who else can meet this standard except us? "
But there was still no smile on Smirnov's face. He said hesitantly: "I think Marshal Konev has a high chance of mobilizing our army, but I am worried about another thing."
Sokov looked at the other person and asked curiously: "What's the matter?"
"Comrade Commander, you just said that the combat effectiveness of our group army is among the best in the entire front army. Marshal Konev will definitely choose us first." Smirnov said worriedly: "But if it is a newcomer,
If the commander does not agree to release them, then our defense zone adjustment will be affected."
"There is no need to worry about this." Regarding Smirnov's worries, Sokov just smiled faintly, and then said confidently: "I believe Marshal Konev is capable of handling this matter."
"How to deal with it?" Smirnov could never think of any good way to make the newly arrived commander of the front army agree to place such a powerful force under the command of friendly forces.
"Comrade Chief of Staff, let me give you an example." Sokov pointed at Smirnov, then pointed at himself, and said: "Suppose we are two commanders belonging to different units. I am now
You will definitely not be willing to withdraw the most effective troops from your army, right?"
"That's for sure," Smirnov said in a tone that left no room for doubt: "Why should I let you transfer my strongest unit?"
"But if the superiors merge our two armies, I will be the chief military officer, and you will be just my deputy." Sokov said in the simplest way: "In this way, the transfer of troops will become a matter of responsibility.
I have the final say on internal affairs. When the superiors decide to split us into two again, I will have the right to choose the troops first."
"Isn't this unrealistic?" Smirnov expressed doubts about Sokov's statement: "The First Front Army now has 700,000 people, and our Second Front Army also has about 500,000 people.
The two armies combined total 1.2 million people. I don’t think anyone has the ability to command such a huge army."
"In order to facilitate the transition of Marshal Konev, it is entirely possible to merge the two forces in a short period of time." Sokov said casually: "As for whether my analysis is accurate, you can wait until the Uman Battle is over.
Understood."
"Well, I hope so." Smirnov was dubious about Sokov's statement. However, in order to prevent Sokov from stepping down, he still pretended to agree with him: "If Marshal Konev really
After becoming the commander of the First Front Army, the Supreme High Command also ordered the merger of the two front armies, and we did have the opportunity to choose the area to participate in the war."