What Sokov didn't expect was that two hours before dawn, General Kazakov, commander of the army's artillery, came to his headquarters. Seeing Sokov's confused look, Kazakov said jokingly:
"Why, Major Sokov, you don't seem to welcome my arrival?"
"Welcome, of course!" Sokov only hesitated for a moment, and then he knew the purpose of Kazakov's visit to his headquarters. The other party wanted to observe the effect of the shelling here, so he quickly said enthusiastically: "Comrade General, please sit down.
!I think you must be tired, please have a cup of hot tea."
"That's great. I'm thirsty now." After Kazakov sat down at the table, he looked up at Sokov and said, "Hurry up and give me a cup of hot tea." Waiting for the staff to bring the tea.
After bringing it over, Kazakov asked Sokov again, "Major Sokov, where is your observation location?"
Sokov had already established a spacious observation post on a nearby hill so that the headquarters could be moved there if necessary. When Kazakov asked about the observation post, he quickly replied: "We
The observation post is only two to three hundred meters away from here, do you need to command the artillery there?"
In response to Sokov's question, Kazakov nodded in affirmation: "Yes, I intend to command the artillery there." Then he ordered Sokov, "Comrade Major, the communications staff I brought is outside.
Find someone to take him to the observation post and lay a telephone line that can directly communicate with the army headquarters."
Sokov quickly said to Potukin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, send an officer to accompany General Kazakov's communications staff to the observation post and help him lay the telephone lines."
When Potukin left the division headquarters and went outside to look for someone, Sokov asked Kazakov: "Comrade General, in a few hours, our artillery will fire on the enemy's positions. I want to ask
, how long does it take to prepare for this artillery fire?"
After hearing Sokov's question, Kazakov was silent for a moment, and then said: "Major Sokov, I don't want to hide anything from you. The supplies given to us by our superiors were very small and came very slowly, so that we did not
Stockpile enough ammunition to support this attack. Therefore, I can only provide you with artillery support from two regiments, and the time will not be too long, only about half an hour."
Knowing that the artillery could only provide him with artillery support for half an hour, Sokov felt a little disappointed, but then he thought about it. The German defenses on the other side of the Zizdra River were not particularly strong. After half an hour of shelling,
It should be possible to destroy most civil bunkers or fire points.
Seeing Sokov's delay in speaking, Kazakov guessed that he must be a little disappointed. After all, the artillery could provide him with too little support, so he changed the subject and asked: "Major Sokov, are you ready to cross the river?"
Are you ready?"
"Yes, my troops have arrived at the crossing point." Sokov shook his head, trying hard to get rid of the things that were troubling him. He looked at Kazakov and said, "As long as I give my order, they will
We can cross the Zizdra River immediately."
Although Kazakov is a member of the headquarters, many things involve secrets, and Rokossovsky has not explained them to him. So much so that he still thinks that the breakthrough point for Sokov's troops is in the area where he is about to bombard.
. He kindly reminded the other party: "According to the intelligence I have, your division's forward position is only two to three hundred meters away from the German position, and there is a river fifty or sixty meters wide in the middle. If you carry out forcible crossing during the artillery bombardment,
If so, they may be accidentally injured by our own artillery shells; and after the artillery preparations are completed, the German army will soon recover from our artillery fire, and they are fully capable of stopping your attack. Even if you barely break through the German defense, you
There will also be a huge price to pay.”
Considering that the battle would start in a few hours, Sokov did not hide his true intentions from Kazakov. He pointed at the map and said: "Comrade General, our breakthrough is not here. The main force of our division at present.
They have reached the upper reaches of the Zizdra River and have chosen a suitable crossing point there. They will cross the river at the right time and hit the German flank hard."
After hearing that the main force of the 328th Division had quietly moved into the upper reaches of the Zhizdra River, Kazakov was also secretly surprised and said to himself that you have done a good job in keeping secrets. As the group army headquarters, I
None of the members actually knew this. After Sokov finished speaking, he asked with concern: "Comrade Major, the Germans have not discovered that the main force of your general division is deployed in the upper reaches of the Zizdra River, right?"
"No." Sokov shook his head and explained to Kazakov: "In order to prevent the Germans from discovering our actions, I used the tactic of concealing the truth to attract their attention."
"What did you say?" Hearing the word coming out of Sokov's mouth, Kazakov asked in surprise: "I didn't understand what tactics you were talking about. Can you explain it in more detail?
"
From Kazakov's reaction, Sokov realized that he had spilled the beans, and quickly introduced the tactics he used to conceal the truth to Kazakov. After listening, Kazakov nodded in approval.
He said: "Yes, yes, Major Sokov, you used this tactic very well. The Germans must have thought that our army had assembled a large number of heavy troops on the position opposite them, and had to strengthen the defense of the forward position. So
As a result, we can eliminate more enemies when preparing for artillery fire."
Considering that the time for artillery preparation was too short, Sokov decided to adjust the original battle plan. He first ordered the radio operator to send a telegram to Lieutenant Colonel Pavel, informing him to cross the river one hour in advance. After completing the river crossing task, he
Quickly move south, pounce directly on the German flank, and give them a severe lesson.
Half an hour before the bombardment started, Sokov accompanied Kazakov to the observation post he had set up, intending to command the attacking troops here. As soon as he entered the door, Kazakov saw the communications staff he had brought with him, and he spoke
Asked: "Comrade Staff, how is the situation? Can you speak directly to the headquarters?"
"Yes, Comrade General." After answering the question, the communications staff officer carefully asked, "Do you need to try the phone line?"
Kazakov thought that the battle had not yet started, and if there was any problem with the phone, it could be dealt with in time, so he urged the communications staff: "Then call the army headquarters immediately. I want to speak to the commander."
The call was quickly connected, and Rokossovsky's voice came from the receiver: "General Kazakov, you should be in the 328th Division now. How is their morale now?"
After Kazakov glanced at Sokov quickly, he smiled and said to the microphone: "Their morale is very high, and they will definitely achieve good results in the next battle. By the way, Comrade Commander, others
How are your troops prepared?"
Sokov thought that Kazakov and Rokossovsky might have something confidential to discuss, so he walked to the lookout, raised his binoculars and looked at the German positions in the distance. He saw silence on the enemy positions.
, no one could be seen at all. I don’t know whether the enemy was afraid of being beaten by Soviet snipers and did not dare to show up, or it was too early and the Germans had not gotten up yet.
As soon as the time for the attack arrived, Kazakov turned to the staff officer holding the microphone behind him and nodded, indicating that the artillery bombardment could begin. After receiving the signal, the staff officer immediately said loudly into the microphone: "General's order, fire immediately!"
As the order was given, the rumble of artillery shell explosions soon came from outside, and dazzling flames rose up from the German positions in the distance. The bodies of the German soldiers curled up in the trenches and huddled in the civil fortifications were...
The stopping place was lifted into the air by the air waves. Many missed cannonballs fell into the Zizdra River, raising water columns that reached the sky. Seeing the water columns rising from the river, Sokov thought to himself.
:Fortunately, I did not choose to attack from the front, otherwise our ship would have been shot in the river. Not only would the ship be blown to pieces, but no one on board would survive.
Seeing that their position was being shelled by the Soviet army, the German artillery positions deployed in the distance also fired. They tried to suppress the Soviet artillery. As a result, they fired only a few shots, and the Soviet artillery deployed in another direction
Then they opened fire, suppressing the German army with powerful firepower, and soon silenced the German artillery.
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch, then turned to ask Potukin who was standing next to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what position has Lieutenant Colonel Pavel's troops reached?"
"Please wait a moment, comrade division commander. Let me see if there is a telegram." Potukin quickly put down the telescope in his hand and walked towards the telegraph operator sitting in the corner.
After two or three minutes, Potukin walked back to Sokov and said to him: "Comrade division commander, Lieutenant Colonel Pavel called back. They are still two kilometers away from the German position. As soon as the artillery fire stops, they can
Attack immediately."
Twenty minutes into the bombardment, a new idea suddenly appeared in Han Zhan's mind. He said to Potukin: "Chief of Staff, call Colonel Bindasov and ask them to prepare for the attack."
"What, let the 1135th Regiment prepare for an attack?" Potukin heard Sokov's order and quickly reminded him: "Comrade Division Commander, you should have seen the situation outside. If our troops are allowed to
If you attack at this time, you may be accidentally injured by your own artillery fire."
"It will take at least twenty minutes for Bindasov and his troops to enter the attack position." Sokov glanced at Potukin and said to himself: "If they wait until the shelling is over, they take action again.
, it will take at least the same amount of time. You should know very well that every minute on the battlefield may determine the outcome of the war..."
Seeing what Sokov said, Potugin did not argue with him, but called Bindasov and ordered him to start gathering troops and prepare for an attack.
As soon as the shelling stopped, the 1137th and 1139th Regiments, which arrived near the German position, launched an attack on the enemy's position. Most of the German soldiers who were stunned by the Soviet artillery fire had not yet escaped from the void.
came out, so facing the onrushing Soviet troops, their resistance seemed negligible. It only took less than five minutes for a battalion of the 1137th Regiment to rush into the German trenches and start a fight with the surviving German troops inside.
Hand-to-hand combat and hand-to-hand combat.
"Colonel Bindasov," Sokov saw this situation, immediately put down the telescope, picked up the microphone and said to Bindasov: "The time is almost up, let your soldiers attack. Remember, your actions
It’s going to be so fast that not even a single German can escape. Do you understand?”
"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." Bindasov replied resoundingly: "We will never betray your trust in us, and we will never let a German escape."
Not long after, the commanders and soldiers carrying the boat crossed the forward position and rushed directly to the Zizdra River. When they reached the river, they threw the boat into the river, then climbed on board and used the boat in their hands to
The oars and shovels began to paddle, allowing the boat to sail quickly to the other side.
Before the boat could reach the other side, the soldiers jumped into the water, splashed ashore, and rushed to the smoke-filled German positions in groups. The soldiers in the rowing boats turned around and came back, waiting for them.
The commanders and fighters on the shore sent him across the river.
The commanders and fighters of the 328th Division launched attacks on the German positions from two directions at the same time. The Germans, who had suffered heavy casualties in the artillery fire and were blown away, could withstand such a fierce attack. The battle soon ended
It became a one-sided trend. Except for a few German troops who were still resisting, the rest saw that the situation was not good and either ran away or surrendered.
In less than an hour, the gunfire from the other side stopped completely. Looking at the positions still smoking in the distance, Sokov turned to Kazakov and said: "Comrade General, I will leave this observation post to you.
, I’m going up with my troops.”
"What, you want to lead the troops up personally?" Hearing what Sokov said, Kazakov asked in surprise: "Then who will command the troops?"
"That's it, Comrade General." Sokov was preparing to lead people across the river. He was not charging into the battle like ordinary soldiers, but moving his headquarters forward: "In order to understand the situation on the battlefield in a timely manner, I plan to
My headquarters moves forward, and I will direct the battle closer to the troops."
Hearing what Sokov said, Kazakov gave up the idea of persuading him, because he clearly remembered that Rokossovsky liked to emphasize repeatedly that commanders should be as close to their troops as possible.
The key to winning the battle. So he stretched out his hand to Sokov and said with a smile: "Major Sokov, I wish you good luck and achieve brilliant results in the next battle."
"Thank you, Comrade General." Sokov shook Kazakov's hand and replied, "I think I will live up to your expectations. Goodbye, see you when the battle is over!"