The troops deployed by the 41st Guards Division on the right bank are already ready for battle. The 126th Regiment staying in Otac City is also mobilizing before departure, preparing to go to the right bank to join the other two regiments, and then
Together they launched an attack on the German river defense positions.
When he learned that the 126th Regiment was about to set off, Sokov said to Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I am going out for a trip, and I will leave the affairs in the headquarters to you."
Hearing that Sokov was about to go out, Smirnov's heartbeat suddenly accelerated. He was deeply afraid that Sokov would go to some dangerous place again. If something went wrong, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov advised: "The war is about to begin. I think you should stay in the headquarters and command the troops. Don't run around. If something unexpected happens, I'm afraid no one will be able to take the responsibility.
"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, don't worry, I won't go too far." Sokov knew very well that with the change of his identity, I am afraid that he will not be able to act as freely as before in the future. Where to go, he must first
Make it clear to the Chief of Staff to prevent him from worrying about himself: "No, the 126th Regiment will soon cross the river to the right bank of the Dniester River. I will go and see them off."
The 126th Regiment's station is only one block away from the headquarters, and there are a large number of patrols along the way. If Sokov really goes there, there is really no need to worry about safety issues. But out of caution, Smirnov
Before Sokov left, he specifically warned: "Comrade Commander, you must pay attention to your own safety."
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said with a smile: "With Koshkin by my side, I will not be in danger."
Soon, Sokov arrived at the station of the 126th Regiment. At this moment, the troops were busy gathering, and the scene seemed a bit panicked. Sokov grabbed a passing soldier and asked: "Where is our commander?"
place?"
Seeing that the person asking the question was the commander, the soldier quickly raised his hand in salute and reported: "Comrade Commander, the regiment commander Lieutenant Colonel Harin is still in his office, assigning combat tasks to the battalion commanders."
After thanking the other party, Sokov led Koshkin and the soldiers of the guard platoon towards the location of the regiment headquarters.
When passing a small square, Sokov suddenly saw a company gathered here, and directly in front of the company, an officer was speaking loudly.
"Comrade Commander," Koshkin saw this and said to Sokov with a smile: "This should be a pre-war mobilization."
Hearing that they were doing pre-war mobilization, Sokov stopped. He wanted to hear how these commanders mobilized the soldiers before the war. He said to Koshkin: "Comrade Lieutenant, we are here to listen."
For a moment, listen to how this officer mobilizes his men before the war."
Sokov glanced at the officer's epaulette, which showed the rank of lieutenant. He should be the instructor of the company. He heard him say loudly: "Comrades, I think many people know that I just returned from the army after being injured some time ago and served as the company's instructor."
The instructor here.”
When Sokov heard this, he thought that his guess was quite accurate. The other party was really the instructor of the company.
"I was lucky. The place where I was injured and hospitalized happened to be my hometown." The instructor continued: "After I recovered and was discharged from the hospital, I wanted to go home to see my mother before returning to the team. After all, since the war started, I have not
I have met my mother. When I came to the building where I lived and looked at the familiar windows and closed curtains upstairs, I couldn't help but shed tears."
When he said this, the officer's tears flowed down his cheeks. After wiping the tears on his face with his hands, he continued: "Everyone knows that after the war broke out, residents in many places were evacuated.
When we arrived at the far rear, I didn't know whether my mother had also been evacuated to the rear. In order to find out, I shouted loudly at the familiar window: 'Mom, I'm back! Your son is back!'
Unexpectedly, as soon as I finished speaking, there was the sound of opening windows upstairs. Not only the windows I was familiar with were opened, but even the windows of the neighbors were all opened. My mother and the mothers of other soldiers all opened their doors from the window.
I stuck my head out to see if my son was back. Except for my mother who was ecstatic, the other mothers had disappointment written all over their faces."
"Comrade Commander," Sokov suddenly heard someone talking next to him. He turned around and saw that it was a young soldier. He wiped the tears on his face and said to Sokov, "I haven't seen him in many years.
As for my mother, I don’t know how she is doing now.”
"Comrade soldier," Sokov put a hand on the soldier's shoulder and said to him: "Sometimes there is no news, but good news. My mother was thrown from a German plane while working in a factory last year.
Killed by an aerial bomb."
"Comrade Commander," the soldier clenched his fist and said to Sokov: "Don't worry, we will severely attack the German invaders and avenge your mother and those compatriots who died!"
I just heard the instructor in the distance continue to say: "Comrades, I know that you all miss your mothers in your hearts, and your mothers are also looking forward to your safe return. We are about to fight a war. After this battle is over,
, I think there are many soldiers who may not be able to come back..."
"Comrade Commander," Sokov was interrupted by a voice as soon as he heard this. He turned around and saw that it was Lieutenant Colonel Haring, the commander of the 126th Regiment. He jogged up to Sokov, somewhat out of breath.
He asked: "Why are you here?"
"I knew you were going to war, so I came here specifically to see you." Sokov pointed to the instructor who was doing pre-war mobilization in the distance with his hand, and asked: "Who is that officer?"
After taking a look, Dukhalin replied: "Comrade Commander, that is Lieutenant Valko, the instructor of the fifth company of the second battalion." He did not understand why Sokov asked about his subordinates, and thought that the other party had done something wrong.
Quickly smooth things over with the other person, "He has not been the company instructor for a long time, and his level may not be high. If he has offended you in any way, please forgive him."
"Comrade Dukhalin, you said his level is not high?!" Sokov said with a smile: "On the contrary, I think his theoretical level is very high. Look at the soldiers of this company, after listening to his pre-battle
After mobilization, morale immediately became high, and I believe that we will achieve great results in the following battles."
After seeing off the 126th Regiment, on his way back to the headquarters, Sokov suddenly remembered that he had not just finished listening to Varko's mobilization speech, and curiously asked Koshkin: "Comrade Lieutenant, what did Varko say later?"
What?"
Koshkin did not expect that Sokov would suddenly ask this question. He thought for a long time before answering: "He told the soldiers that if they want to go back to see their mother, they must severely attack the German devils in the battle. At the same time,
, but also learn to protect yourself and know how to achieve the greatest victory at the smallest cost."
After listening to this, Sokov's impression of Lieutenant Varko deepened a bit. He thought to himself: "There is a shortage of excellent commanders everywhere nowadays. If this battle is over, Lieutenant Varko can still survive."
, then you can arrange for him to serve as an instructor in which camp."
When Sokov returned to the headquarters, Smil couldn't help but be a little surprised. In his impression, every time Sokov left the headquarters, he would not see anyone for hours or days at most. Like this time
When I came back less than an hour after going out, it was like the sun was rising in the west.
"Comrade Commander, are you back so soon?"
Facing Smirnov's surprise, Sokov calmly replied: "Comrade Chief of Staff, didn't I say that I would go out to send the 126th Regiment out? Since they have already set off, I will naturally come back."
After a pause, he asked again: "Has the 98th Guards Division launched an attack on the enemy's river defense positions?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Smirnov nodded and replied: "They launched an attack on the flank of the German river defense position ten minutes ago. General Tsarev's artillery provided them with long-range artillery support.
, destroy the enemy's fortifications and suppress those firepower points that threaten the attack."
"Good job." Hearing that the army's offensive had begun, Sokov couldn't help but nodded. According to his assumption, the 98th Guards Division launched a surprise attack from the flank of the river defense fortifications, which would definitely catch the Germans by surprise. Again.
Coupled with the artillery support of the group army, breaking through the enemy's position is only a matter of time.
However, the attack on the right bank is only part of the entire offensive plan. Sokov then asked: "What about the 254th Division on the left bank? Are they ready to attack?"
"I haven't had time to call Colonel Shechtman yet." Hearing Sokov's question, Smirnov replied with some embarrassment: "So I don't know what the situation is there yet."
Sokov didn't waste any time and directly asked the director of the communications corps to get through to the 254th Division's headquarters.
As soon as the call was connected, Sokov heard Shechtman's voice on the receiver and asked directly: "Colonel Shechtman, the offensive battle on the right bank has begun. How are you prepared?"
"Report to Comrade Commander." Shechtman quickly replied: "Colonel Prochenko's 762nd Regiment has arrived at the river with a boat and is preparing to launch a forced crossing as soon as the boat is lowered into the water."
"Comrade Colonel, let me remind you." Sokov said into the microphone: "Every minute on the battlefield is precious. You tell Colonel Prochenko to speed up the crossing of the river before the Germans come to their senses.
, crossed the Dniester River.”
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Shechtman replied: "I will immediately convey your order to Colonel Prochenko."
Soon, the 762nd Regiment, under the command of Colonel Prochenko, began a forced crossing operation.
The Germans, who were stunned by the artillery fire from the 98th Guards Division and the Army Group, suddenly discovered that the Soviet troops on the left bank were beginning to cross the river. They immediately deployed some mortars and combined with machine gun fire to block the river and prevent the Soviet troops from crossing the river.
For a moment, the water surface of the Transnistria began to boil like a pot, and water columns rose into the sky. From time to time, small boats were hit by artillery shells, and fragments of the hull and the bodies of soldiers were lifted into the air by the air waves, and fell heavily into the air.
It fell into the river and was washed away by the rapid water.
Some boats were overturned by water jets, and the soldiers on the boats fell into the water. Some of them were immediately washed away by the river. The remaining people swam desperately to nearby boats. After being rescued on board, they continued to fight without hesitation.
Rushed to the other side.
In this way, the 762nd Regiment successfully boarded the right bank after losing more than 30 boats and more than 200 soldiers. The heavy machine gunners immediately dragged their machine guns off the ship and found a suitable
Set up a machine gun position at the right place, fire at the enemy's fire points, and cover your comrades' landing.
Many small boats were still more than ten meters away from the shore, and the infantry on board jumped off the boats one after another, wading into the water and rushing to the shore. Once ashore, they rushed towards the enemy's position, preparing to attack the Germans under the cover of machine gun fire.
Seize the position from his hands.
Colonel Prochenko was originally watching the battle on the left bank. When he saw that his men had boarded the right bank and were fighting for positions with the enemy, he could not stay still and quickly issued an order to the soldiers next to him: "Prepare a boat for me.
I want to go to the other side."
Hearing that Prochenko was going to the other side, the regiment chief of staff Vanya quickly reminded him: "Comrade regiment leader, the fighting on the other side is still going on. If you go there now, you may be in danger. I think you should wait for us.
After the warrior has gained a firm foothold, it is not too late for you to cross the river."
But Colonel Prochenko stared at him and said to Vanya: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you feel scared by the enemy's artillery shells and machine gun bullets? The soldiers are bleeding and dying at the front. They are not afraid of death. We do
Is a commander worse than a soldier?"
After saying that, he quickly walked out of the observation post and walked quickly towards the river.
When they came to the river, there happened to be a small boat returning from the other side. Colonel Prochenko jumped on it. Before he could order the boat to sail, a cannonball fell into the water not far away and exploded, causing the water column to rise.
Prochenko fell directly into the water.
Vanya, who followed closely behind, was shocked and shouted to the side: "The leader has fallen into the water, hurry up and save people."
The surrounding soldiers heard the shouts of the political commissar and rushed to the river, ready to go into the water to rescue the fallen regiment leader. But they didn't expect that as soon as they reached the shore, they saw a wet Prochenko emerging from the water.
come out.
Seeing Colonel Prochenko emerge from the water, Vanya felt much more at ease, but he still shouted to him: "Comrade Commander, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Prochenko raised his hand and wiped the river water from his face, waved to Vanya, and said with a smile: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I forgot to tell you, I once served as a sailor, so shallow
Water can't kill me."
After saying that, Prochenko climbed back into the boat and shouted at the stunned soldiers on the boat: "What are you still doing? Why don't you row to the other side quickly?"
But before the boat left the shore, Vanya climbed onto the boat and said to Colonel Prochenko: "Comrade commander, don't forget that I am your chief of staff. On the battlefield, no matter where the commander appears,
No matter where you are, as the chief of staff, I will always stay by your side."
After hearing what Vanya said, Prochenko, who originally wanted to drive him off the boat, changed his mind: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, since you said so, let's go to the other side together." Then he turned to the soldiers standing on the bow of the boat.
He made a gesture and loudly ordered him: "Comrade soldier, sail the ship!"
The soldier agreed loudly, then rowed the oars desperately and drove the boat towards the right bank where the battle was raging. Perhaps because the regiment commander and chief of staff were on his boat, he was full of courage at this moment.
The water columns rising into the sky nearby did not affect the speed of the boat at all.