After making the call, Sokov looked down at the map in front of him and began to think about how to strengthen the defense of the area. After a long time, he raised his head and looked at Samyko opposite: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Cherno.
Fuse is an important city. After the Germans find out that it has been occupied by our army, they will never give up and will definitely launch a crazy counterattack. We must take precautions in advance."
"Comrade Commander, I don't understand." Gorokhov interrupted and asked: "Since we and the Germans know that Chernivtsi is an important city, how could they retreat without a fight?"
"The reason is very simple," Sokov said lightly in the face of Gorokhov's doubts: "The original defenders of Chernivtsi were definitely not Germans, otherwise they would not easily abandon this strategic city.
A city of meaning.”
"I think General Bogdanov's troops can be stationed here." Samyko said: "The 2nd Tank Army under his command has a large number of tanks and artillery. Even if the German army uses armored assault, his troops will have
Able to withstand the enemy's attack."
"But if the 2nd Tank Army is allowed to enter Chernivtsi," Smirnov waited for Samyko to finish, then put forward his own idea: "Wouldn't the right wing of our army become empty? Once the German army emerges from this
To launch an attack in this direction, I'm afraid we will have to deploy troops to strengthen this direction."
"General Smirnov, you are worrying too much." Trofimenko suddenly said: "I think that after the 2nd Tank Army enters Chernivtsi, the troops of the 27th Army can take over the vacated tanks.
position to ensure that our right wing will not be attacked by the Germans."
"This is a way." Sokov felt that until now, the battle has been carried out, and the troops of the 53rd Army and the two tank armies have been basically used, while most of the troops of the 27th Army are still on standby, so he agreed: "
General Trofimenko, I will leave the task of protecting the right wing of the combat group to you."
"Comrade Commander, you can rest assured." Trofimenko assured Sokov: "I will definitely ensure the safety of the right wing of the combat group."
After solving the problems currently faced by the combat group, Smirnov reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the liberation of Chernivtsi is a big event. Do you need to report it to the front army headquarters immediately?
?”
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and said hesitantly: "Marshal Konev should be sleeping. Isn't it inappropriate to disturb him at this time?"
"There is nothing inappropriate." Smirnov said with a smile: "What you brought him is good news, and he is eager for you to disturb him." After saying that, without waiting for Sokov to express his position, he called directly.
Called the director of the communications corps and asked him to get through to the front army headquarters.
The person on duty at the front headquarters tonight was Chief of Staff Zakharov. When he learned that the call was from the combat group, he suddenly became alert. He asked into the microphone: "Comrade Sokov, is it?
Isn’t it that the enemy situation there has changed?”
"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army," Sokov said with a smile, "I am calling you at this time because I have a great thing to tell you."
"What a great thing?" Sokov's words aroused Zakharov's interest: "Tell me quickly, what is it?"
"My troops have captured Chernivtsi..."
"Hasn't Chernivtsi been occupied a long time ago? What a great thing it is..." When Zakharov said this, he suddenly paused for a moment, and then said in surprise: "Wait a minute, Sokov
Comrade, is the Chernivtsi you are talking about Ukrainian or Moldavian?"
"If it were Chernivtsi in Ukraine, I would definitely not report it." Sokov chuckled and said, "Of course it's Chernivtsi in Moldavia."
"Oh my God." Zakharov said with some shock: "If Chernivtsi occupied by you is really from Moldavia, it means that your troops will soon be able to enter Romania.
Within the territory.”
"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov nodded and confirmed Zakharov's statement: "I am dispatching troops to Chernivtsi to strengthen the defense there. Once enough troops have been assembled, we will
Immediately march into Romania."
After listening, Zakharov was silent for a moment, and then asked: "How is the progress of Kravchenko's 6th Tank Army? When can they reach the old border?"
"They are still more than two hundred kilometers away from Wengerne." Sokov replied: "Even if everything goes smoothly, I'm afraid it will take two days to reach Wengerne."
"It will take two more days. That's such a pity." Zakharov said in a regretful tone: "Not long ago, I congratulated Kravchenko and congratulated his unit on becoming the first
A force that has reached the national border. Now it seems that they can only strive to become the second force."
"If there are no accidents, they should be the second unit to reach the old border." Sokov asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I don't know how the other troops are progressing. When will they arrive at the old border?"
National borders?”
"It's still early." Zaharov sighed and said: "Except for your combat group, the rest of the troops encountered stubborn resistance from the German army during the advancement process. They were able to advance five to ten kilometers every day.
It’s progressing very quickly.”
"Comrade Zakharov, who are you talking to?" Sokov felt Konev's voice faintly coming from the receiver.
Sure enough, his guess was confirmed the next moment, and Zakharov was heard saying: "Comrade Marshal, I am talking to Sokov on the phone. He told me that his troops captured Chernov not long ago.
We are planning to launch an attack into Romania at any time."
"Comrade Zakharov, this is impossible." Konev said in a skeptical tone: "Before dark, his closest troops to the city were dozens of kilometers away. How could it be possible in such a short time?
How about taking this well-fortified big city? Give me the microphone and I will ask Sokov personally."
Soon, Konev's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Sokov, this is Konev."
"Hello, Comrade Marshal."
"I heard that your troops have liberated Chernivtsi. Is this true?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, of course it is true."
"I have a question. How did your troops capture an important city on the border of Moldavia in such a short period of time?"
"Comrade Marshal, the answer is very simple." Sokov replied calmly: "Because the defenders in the city voluntarily abandoned the city, our troops were able to capture the city without losing any blood."
"Oh, the enemy took the initiative to abandon this city?" Konev was also a little surprised: "Comrade Sokov, what do you think of this matter?"
"Comrade Marshal, if the defenders in the city are Germans and they voluntarily abandon the city, they want to shrink their forces and then choose an area to start a decisive battle with our army." Sokov analyzed: "And because our army wants to mobilize its troops,
To defend those occupied cities, the troops used for frontal attacks will definitely be weakened to a certain extent, and they will definitely suffer heavy losses in the face of a decisive battle by the German army."
Konev agreed with Sokov's statement: "This makes sense. Last year on the left bank of the Dnieper River, our two fronts had an absolute advantage in numbers and equipment. But why in the end?
Or was it a defeat? It was nothing more than the fact that the German army, which was at a disadvantage in terms of strength and equipment, was able to gain an advantage over our army in local areas and thus achieve victory on the battlefield."
After a brief pause, he continued to ask: "Then if the defenders are Romanian troops, why did they voluntarily abandon the city?"
"Romania's elite troops have long been exhausted in the battle with our army. The troops we face now are just newly formed troops in the later period, and their combat effectiveness can only be regarded as second-rate." Sokov said.
: "The Romanian commanders know very well that none of their first-rate troops are our opponents, and these second-rate troops formed later are even less able to resist our attack. Rather than letting these troops be consumed in the battle, it is better to actively give up some
Towns and cities, gather your forces together and wait for the situation to change in the future before making further plans."
Konev couldn't help laughing when he heard this, and then asked: "Then tell me, how will the situation change in the future?"
"I estimate that after the main force of our army enters Romania, Romania will choose to surrender and withdraw from the Axis camp, and choose to stand on the same front as us."
"Well, this possibility does exist." Konev said: "As the battlefield situation becomes more and more favorable to our army, Romania, which was originally dependent on the Germans, will definitely make a new choice. Joining our camp will have a negative impact on our army.
Germany declares war, which is probably their only option."
"When can your troops enter Romania?"
Sokov originally planned to strengthen the defense of Chernivtsi first, and then wait for Kravchenko's 6th Tank Army to reach the old border, and then the two units from the north and the south would enter Romania at the same time.
But when I heard Konev's question, I knew that my plan was not feasible. He said with some hesitation: "Comrade Marshal, I am transferring the 2nd Tank Army on the right wing of the combat group to Chernivtsi.
The area vacated by them will be taken over by troops from the 27th Group Army."
Unexpectedly, after listening to this, Konev asked back: "Do you need to send troops to defend the right wing?"
"But, Comrade Marshal, the right wing of my combat group is the German heavy Vinnitsa group. We must be prepared for their possible attack on the right wing."
"Marshal Zhukov's troops will launch an attack on the German Vinnitsa heavy group starting tomorrow." Konev said: "The Germans are struggling to protect themselves, so how can they mobilize troops to attack your right wing?
?”
When Sokov heard what Konev said, he was naturally happy. However, he also understood the Soviet army's combat habits, saying that it would capture a certain area within a specified time, but in the end such combat tasks were basically impossible to complete.
"The day after tomorrow, Comrade Marshal." After calculating in his mind, Sokov replied: "My troops will be able to cross the border and enter Romania the day after tomorrow."
Regarding the time mentioned by Sokov, Konev thought for a while and felt that it was more appropriate, so he nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Sokov, as you said, your troops will cross the border the day after tomorrow.
line and enter Romania. If you have any needs, just ask me and I will try my best to meet your needs."
"Comrade Commander," Sokov just put down the phone, and everyone gathered around. Smirnov asked on behalf of everyone: "Is it too hasty to enter Romania the day after tomorrow?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right, it is indeed too hasty." Sokov said helplessly: "According to my idea, it is best to wait until General Kravchenko's 6th Tank Army has also arrived in the old city.
After the national border, the two troops entered Romania from the north and south at the same time."
"Although on the surface it seems that Comrade Marshal is anxious to let us enter Romania, in fact the person who is most anxious..." Sokov said, pointing to the ceiling with his finger: "It's the one at the top."
Although Sokov did not say it explicitly, everyone knew who was most anxious.
"Comrade Commander," Trofimenko asked after a brief silence, "Which unit do you plan to let enter Romania first?"
As soon as this question came up, everyone's eyes were focused on Sokov. Which troop was the first to cross the border and enter the enemy's territory? This is a major event worthy of being recorded in history. So everyone can't wait to know, Sokov
Which unit does Kove intend to receive this honor?
"The first troops to arrive at the old border are the 296th Regiment of the 98th Guards Division." Sokov didn't understand what everyone meant. After some careful consideration, he made the final decision: "As for the first to enter
For the troops in Romania, I plan to choose Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin’s 41st Guards Division. Do you have any objections?”
Everyone really couldn't say anything about the choice Sokov made. According to everyone's thinking, the first unit to enter Romania must be one of the three divisions in the Ponejelin cluster. And Sokov directly
The choice of the 41st Guards Division in Ponejelin sounds so logical. How can anyone disagree?
As the military commissar of the 53rd Army, Gorokhov wished that this honor could fall on his own troops. When he heard that Sokov had chosen the 41st Guards Division, there was no reason to disagree. He quickly stated: "I
I agree with Comrade Commander’s proposal and let the 41st Guards Division carry out this glorious and arduous task.”
The military committee members all agreed. Smirnov, the chief of staff of the group army, couldn't sing the opposite, right? Naturally, he chose to agree: "I agree with the opinions of the commander and comrades of the military committee. The Guards of Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin will
The 41st Division is undoubtedly the most suitable to carry out this glorious mission."
Seeing that the opinions of the two deputies were consistent with his own, Sokov felt very relieved. He turned to look at Trofimenko and Samyko: "I don't know what your two opinions are.
?”
"Agree!" "I have no objection!"
"Okay, since everyone agrees, Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin's 41st Guards Division will be the first unit to enter Romania." Sokov faced Sameko and said: "Chief of Staff, you
Please call and inform Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin of our decision."