"I think the ammunition and fuel can be concentrated and handed over to General Chuvashov's 98th Guards Division." Trofimenko looked at Sokov and said: "I think it is completely possible with the capabilities of this division.
Up to the task."
In fact, the best choice in Sokov's mind is also Chuvashov's 98th Guards Division. After all, this is one of his old troops. There are many veterans in the division and its combat effectiveness is also very strong. But this matter was left to Trofimen
Co pointed out that it was unavoidable to be suspected of serving the public good for personal gain. After all, the division was affiliated with the 27th Group Army.
Sokov turned his attention to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think?"
Seeing that Sokov was noncommittal to Trofimenko's proposal, Samyko was not sure whether the other party agreed or not, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer.
"Why don't you speak, Comrade Samyko." Seeing Samyko's delay in speaking, Sokov asked strangely: "As the chief of staff of the combat group, isn't it because you express your own opinions on this matter?
"
Knowing that he could no longer remain silent, Samyko decided to take a gamble and straightened his back and said: "I agree with General Trofimenko's proposal that all the ammunition and fuel collected should be given to the Guards Division."
Used by the 98th Division. You must know that the combat effectiveness of this division is one of the best in the combat sequence of the 27th Group Army."
Seeing that Samyko and Trofimenko agreed, Sokov nodded, and then told Samyko: "Since you think so too, call Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin immediately and ask him
Carry out this order."
Ponedelin received a call from Samyko and learned that the ammunition and fuel of the three divisions were to be collected and handed over to the 98th Guards Division. He couldn't help but said anxiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please give the ammunition and fuel to the 98th Guards Division."
Leave them all to the 98th Guards Division, so that won't be a problem. I would like to ask, when will the superiors replenish us with new ammunition and fuel?"
Perhaps because he was worried that Samek would not care about what he said, he specifically added: "We handed over the existing ammunition and fuel to the 98th Guards Division, which is equivalent to disarming ourselves. If the Germans get the information,
If you launch an attack on us at this time, you can probably guess what will happen to us even if I don't tell you."
Sokov was next to Samyko and heard the question asked by Ponedelin. He knew very well that if he didn't explain the situation, he might cause unnecessary panic, so he took the microphone from Samyko's hand:
"Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin? I am Sokov!"
Upon hearing that the caller was changed to Sokov, Ponedelin's mood stabilized slightly. He repeated what he had just said: "Comrade Commander, you should be very clear that if our troops run out of ammunition and
Fuel will become a lamb to be slaughtered. Once the German army attacks us, the only thing we can do is to abandon our position and move to a safe area."
"Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, do you believe me?"
To Sokov's question, Ponedelin replied without hesitation: "Of course I believe it."
"Since you believe me, I can tell you responsibly that you will be able to get new supplies by this evening at the latest." Sokov said: "The railway line linking our defense area from the rear has been repaired and opened to traffic.
Yes, the materials supplied to us by our superiors are now coming towards us."
Now that Sokov had made a promise, Ponedelin naturally didn't hesitate. After putting down the phone, he invited the other two division commanders to his headquarters.
After the two of them arrived, he first said to Shechtman: "Comrade Colonel, I just received a call from the headquarters, asking our two divisions to collect the ammunition and fuel in their hands, and then hand it over to Chuvasao
Used by Colonel Husband’s troops.”
After listening to Ponijelin's instructions, the two of them couldn't help but be stunned.
After a while, Chuvasov asked tentatively: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I would like to ask, have the superiors assigned any combat tasks to our division?"
"Comrade General, please take a look." Ponedelin placed the map in front of Chuvashov and said to him: "The troops of the 2nd Tank Army have occupied Khoktin and are preparing to advance towards Chernivtsi.
.The headquarters is ready to concentrate the ammunition and fuel of our group to support your march towards Novoselica."
"Novoselica is less than 100 kilometers away from Chernivtsi, which we want to liberate. If you act quickly, you may be able to get ahead of General Bogdanov's troops and successfully enter Romania.
"
After Chuvashov figured out what was going on, he naturally would not let friendly troops enter Romania first. You must know which troops want to enter the enemy's land. This is a major event that can be recorded in history. As a soldier who deeply loves honor
, how could he miss such an important opportunity.
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Chuvashov assured Ponedelin: "Please tell the commander that our troops will definitely be able to enter Romania ahead of the friendly forces."
Since there was still a distance of almost 100 kilometers from the defense area to Novoselica, the starting point of the attack, Chuvashov asked Ponedelin: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, can you get us enough transport vehicles? You know
, a distance of more than 100 kilometers, if our soldiers were allowed to march on foot, it would probably take two days."
"This is easy to handle. I will immediately call Comrade Commander and ask him to provide you with enough transport vehicles to quickly deliver the troops to Novoselica in the shortest possible time." Chuvashov proposed.
Ponejelin readily agreed to the request: "I believe he will definitely agree."
What happened next was just as Ponedelin expected. When Sokov learned that the 98th Guards Division was planning to take a bus to Novoselica, he personally called the Army Logistics Minister and asked him to
Two hundred trucks are being prepared for the commanders and fighters of the 98th Guards Division to transport weapons, equipment and supplies.
Although there were two hundred trucks, only one-third of the commanders and fighters of the 98th Guards Division were in the trucks, and the rest had to march on foot in the direction of Novoselica.
With the transportation of cars, the troops' marching speed was naturally faster. In the evening, the 296th Guards Regiment, as the leading regiment, arrived in Novoselica.
After the regiment political commissar Shapovalenko got out of the car, he asked the regiment leader Shamrih: "Comrade regiment leader, where do you plan to let the troops sleep tonight?"
"I see that the soldiers are all in high spirits. If we let them rest, I guess not many of them can sleep well." Shamrih is a person who can't rest. This time he rushed to Novoselica as the vanguard.
Anxious to make a first achievement, he ordered: "As soon as the troops are assembled, they will immediately launch an attack on the German positions."
Several battalion commanders agreed very much with Shamrich's proposal. They knew very well that whichever unit entered Romania first would have the opportunity to go down in history. With such a good opportunity, everyone would naturally not take it lightly.
Let them go, and they all expressed their opinions: "Comrade leader, just give the order, we will definitely take Novoselica."
The attack occurred suddenly without artillery cover.
Most of the defenders in the city were Romanian troops, with only a small number of German troops scattered in different parts of the city. Therefore, they had no time to react when the Soviet army launched an attack without warning.
The battle only lasted for more than ten minutes. The troops of the 296th Regiment broke through the Romanian army's outer positions, smoothly rushed into the city, and started a street battle with the fleeing Romanian army.
Seeing the troops rushing into the city, Shamrih turned around and ordered the radio operator: "Comrade radio operator, immediately send a report to the division headquarters, saying that the leading troops of our regiment have rushed into the city of Novoselica. Please request
The main force will arrive as soon as possible to assist our attack."
While the operator was sending the telegram, he asked Shapovarenko: "Comrade Political Commissar, have those trucks been sent back?"
"Yes, they have all been sent back." Shapovarenko replied: "I think in another hour at most, the 299th Regiment should be able to get here."
Shamrih raised his telescope and looked at the combat area in the distance, then put down the telescope: "The Romanian army's resistance is not determined. If there is another regiment, I believe that this city will be captured soon."
City."
"Comrade Commander," Shapovarenko suddenly had a bold idea in his mind at this moment: "Tell me about the defenders in Chernivtsi. Are they all Romanian defenders?"
"This possibility exists." After Shamrih answered the question, he asked: "Comrade Political Commissar, why are you asking this?"
"I'm thinking that after we successfully capture Novoselica, we can allocate a battalion and drive to Chernivtsi overnight..."
Before Shapovalenko could finish speaking, Shamrih interrupted him: "Comrade Political Commissar, your idea is too risky. Have you ever thought about Chernivtsi?
It's not a small city, but if we only send one battalion there, doesn't that mean we're sending our commanders and soldiers to death?"
"Comrade Commander, I was interrupted by you before I could finish what I just said." Shapovarenko said helplessly: "What I mean is to send a battalion of troops to Chernivtsi."
On the periphery, we chose to cross the Prut River and plant our flag on Romanian soil. In this way, wouldn’t our regiment become the first unit to enter Romania?”
Shapovalenko's words made Shamrich's eyes light up: "Yes, why did I forget that as long as we plant the flag in the enemy's area, we can declare that we have occupied that area."
He paused for a moment and then continued: "Originally, I wanted to put the third battalion into battle, but since you proposed such a plan, let them serve as a reserve first. After the battle is over, they will immediately report to Chernov
policy direction to advance.”
"If the third battalion is used as a reserve force, will our strength in the city be too weak?"
"It's okay." Shamrih said confidently: "The Romanian army's combat awareness is weak. Facing our army's attack, they can barely protect themselves. Even if our strength cannot expand the results, they want to drive us out.
Cities are also simply impossible."
When the 299th Regiment rushed outside the city of Novoselica, two-thirds of the city had been occupied by the troops of the 296th Regiment. Now that they saw the arrival of new troops, the two sides merged together and continued to attack the area where the Romanian army was entrenched.
When Sokov received a telegram from Chuvashov and learned that the division had occupied most of Novoselica, his eyes widened in surprise. You know, Chuvashov's 98th Guards Division
, it can be said that it is a lightly-armed force that does not even have artillery. How can it easily break through the enemy's city defense?
Sokov was skeptical about the telegram sent by Chuvashov. He said to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please call General Chuvashov immediately and ask him what's going on."
What happened? How could his troops capture the county seat in such a short period of time? I think there must be something wrong."
But Trofimenko was full of confidence in the 98th Guards Division. After Sokov finished speaking, he took the initiative and said: "Comrade Commander, as far as I know, General Chuvashov is a conscientious person.
As a commanding officer, he will never falsify a battle report like this."
Since Trofimenko was willing to endorse Chuvashov, Sokov really wanted it, so he waved his hand to Samyko, indicating that he did not need to send any more telegrams to Chuvashov.
"Comrade Deputy Commander, I think your words make sense." Sokov smiled and said to Trofimenko: "Then we will wait for the next telegram from Chuvashov to announce the division.
Novoselica has been successfully captured."
"This possibility is very high." Trofimenko has great trust in Chuvashov. He believes from the bottom of his heart that his subordinates will definitely achieve such amazing results. "Maybe it will surprise you when the time comes."
of."
Besides, the 112th and 195th Infantry Divisions starting from Hogin, guided by the tanks of the 11th Guards Tank Brigade, were advancing in the direction of Novoselica. When they were still a few kilometers away, they suddenly heard the city
The sound of gunfire came from the direction, and black smoke was even seen rising from many places in the city.
"What's going on?" The tank brigade commander sitting in the command tank saw this situation and immediately ordered all the tanks to stop advancing. Then he leaned out half of the turret and raised his telescope towards the city.
I looked around, trying to figure out what was going on.
But unfortunately, the city walls made of red bricks blocked his sight, making it impossible for him to see clearly what was going on in the city. In desperation, he could only send a few men to ride motorcycles
Head to the edge of the city to find out what's going on with the gunfire in the city.
The tank brigade stopped advancing, and the infantry following behind naturally stopped. The two division commanders gathered together and asked each other what happened. You must know that their troops are the vanguard of the 2nd Tank Army, how could there be
Which army will get ahead of itself and launch an attack on Novoselica in advance?
Of course, their closed-door analysis could not yield any useful information. In desperation, they could only follow the same example as the tank brigade commander and sent two groups of scouts to the direction of the city to investigate.
Know the situation in the city.
After waiting for more than half an hour, a scout sent by the tank brigade came back first. As soon as he saw the brigade commander, he didn't even bother to drink water and directly reported: "Comrade brigade commander, there is a fighting in the city. I'm looking for
People inquired about it and found out that it was two regiments of the 98th Guards Division that launched an attack on the defenders in the city. The battle had been going on for several hours. Now that most of the city has been liberated, the stubborn enemy cannot hold out for long.