Burning Moscow

"Comrades in command, I believe that our soldiers have the tenacity and self-sacrifice spirit. I am very relieved to have them stick to Korostviv. [?八?一({中文［网＜〔]〉"I am right After the two commanders had finished speaking these two sentences, they raised their hands and pressed down to signal them to sit down. After they were seated again, I went on to say: "Since I can’t contact Korostwiv’s troops for the time being. , Then put their business aside, let’s discuss how to deal with the German army from the direction of Alexandria. They have just severely damaged General Konev’s troops and their morale is very high. If they rush towards us regardless of Coming here, if we want to stop them, our army will inevitably pay a painful price."

After hearing what I said, Sivakov, who had just sat down, stood up again, frowned and said: "Comrade Commander, I think you are too worried. Our troops have been fighting with the Germans these days. When fighting, I know their strength very well. Now the roads are muddy and the German tanks can’t go into battle. If the infantry lost the cover of the tanks, the combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced.”

"Comrade Commander," Kistyakov retorted as soon as Sivakov had finished speaking, "Even if the German tanks cannot be put into battle due to road problems in the next battle, we can't. Take it lightly. They can’t use tanks, and they can send out planes for bombing.”

Sivakov opened his mouth and just wanted to refute, but was interrupted first by Kistyakov: "You probably want to say that we also have a plane, but I don’t know if you have noticed it. Since it started to rain, our air force has been How many times has Timon appeared? If it were not for the Germans to control the air, I guess General Konev's troops would not have been easily defeated."

"But, Comrade Deputy Commander, why is this?" Sivakov asked puzzledly: "You must know that we have several air force groups along the Dnieper River. One or two thousand aircraft cannot control the air superiority of the battlefield. ?"

"General Sivakov, you don't know." I interrupted and explained to Sivakov and other commanders: "The Germans use concrete runways. Even if it rains, they can take off as usual. Our field airport uses it. The runway was damaged by rain, and the pilots risked their lives every time they took off. This is why in the recent sky, German planes are often seen, but our military planes are rarely seen."

After I finished speaking, the expressions on the faces of the two army commanders became serious. After a while, Tawart Kirazzi began to say: "In this case, we have to stick to the existing line of defense. Air defense is very necessary."

"Yes, comrade commander. You have to defend the current defense zone. Air defense is very important." I looked at Tavart Kiradze and said, "In addition to the two regular anti-aircraft artillery regiments and two anti-aircraft guns in General Povsky. Outside the machine gun battalion, there is also a self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery regiment. After the meeting is over, you and Sivakov will go to him and work out an air defense plan."

After Kistyakov waited for me to finish speaking, when he stood up and tried to say a few words to the two commanders, he was interrupted by Lopukhov who hurried over. He handed me a telegram and said in a flustered expression: "Comrade Commander, I just got in touch with the communications team sent to Korostviv. This is a telegram from them."

"Major, you must have read this telegram." After I said this, I scanned the audience with my eyes and saw that everyone's eyes were on me. Then I continued: "Now everyone They are all anxious to know the news of the troops in Korostviv, so please give you a brief introduction."

Lopukhov immediately faced everyone and said: "The report returned from the communications team stated that the Germans dispatched more than fifty bombers yesterday afternoon and carried out an hour-long bombardment on Korostviv. During the bombing, Kra The headquarters of General Vchenko was unfortunately hit by a bomb..."

"What? The command of General Kravchenko was blown up and hit?" Hearing this bad news, Kistyakov jumped up from his seat and asked in a flustered expression: "What's going on with him? , Is it alive, or...sacrificed?" By the time he said the last word, his voice had become low and inaudible.

Seeing Kistiakov's failure, Lopukhov quickly explained: "No, General Krasovsky was only injured. After the first aid of a military doctor, he was out of danger."

I know that the commander of the three guard divisions and one tank brigade in Korostwiv is just three colonels and one general. Although Askarepov, the commander of the 77th Guards Division, was the only major general, his commanding ability was limited, and he could barely command one division. If he was allowed to command three divisions, he might get messed up. In order to find out who is in command of the troops, I waited until Lopukhov's words were over, and immediately asked: "Major, who is currently in command of the troops?"

"It's General Askarepov, commander of the 77th Guards Division." Lopukhov replied truthfully.

Askarepov was not a suitable candidate, and the other two division commanders and one tank brigade commander also lacked the ability to stand alone. If you want the troops to form a unified command, you must send another person from the headquarters to command the troops.

I glanced over the people present: the first one was Chistyakov, he was the deputy commander of the group army, and he could take over my command when I was not in the headquarters; the second one was Zykov, also It's not appropriate. Regardless of whether I or Kistyakov is in the command of the battle, he needs a chief of staff to cooperate. The third Akhromeev, it is impossible to go to Korostwiv to command the joint forces. One is that his military rank is too low, and the other is that he has no experience in commanding such a large corps...

After turning around the room, my eyes finally fell on Tavart Kiradze and Sivakov. I coughed softly, and then said: "Due to the injury of General Kravchenko, the Koroslav troops are now in a state of nowhere. I need a military-level commander to command this force. You Who wants to go?"

"Comrade Commander," Before the two commanders could answer, Bezikov said first: "We don't need to send someone to take over the command of the troops. The highest rank there is General Askarepov, who will automatically Took over the command."

"I know, Comrade Chief of Staff. I know that General Askarepov will automatically take over the command." I waited for Bezikov to finish, and immediately said in a dissatisfied tone: "But his ability is limited and he has no With the experience of commanding large corps operations, if he is fully responsible for the defense of Koroslav, I am worried that the troops will be trapped in the encirclement of the Germans."

Although everyone heard my distrust of Askarepov from what I said, no one said anything. After a while, Kistyakov said: "I think Comrade Commander is right. Korostlav’s troops need a strong commander. Since the commander there is not suitable, then we One should be sent from here." After he finished speaking, he asked me specifically, "Comrade Commander, do you have a suitable candidate?"

"Comrade Commander, let me go." Before I could speak, Sivakov said first: "In Krostwiv's troops, there are two divisions belonging to our 22nd Guards Corps. It’s most suitable for me to command the troops."

Seeing Sivakov's initiative to ask, I almost nodded in agreement. Unexpectedly, Kistyakov said: "I think it is more appropriate for Korostwiv’s troops to be commanded by General Tavartkilasze. After all, he has been in the army for more than 20 years and has a wealth of combat experience."

Looking at the two army commanders standing in front of me, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed. I didn't know who should give the command of Krostwirt in a hurry.

When I was in a dilemma, I heard Bezikov cough slightly, and then he approached me and said in a low voice: "Comrade Commander, after our troops liberate Kiev, we will definitely meet Zhitomir next. At that time, our troops deployed in Korostwiv will definitely participate in the attack as the vanguard. If Tavalt Kiladze is commanded, our attack on Zhitomir will have a higher success rate. After all, he Has much more combat experience than General Sivakov."

After listening to Bezikov's words, I made a decision in my heart. The commander in Korostweiv needs to have the ability to be unique, and Sivakov obviously lacks some in this respect. I turned my gaze to Tawart Kiradze and said to him: "Comrade General, you go back and hand over the commander to the deputy commander or the military commissar, and then rush to Koroslav as soon as possible from General Kravchenko. 'S hand took over the command and fully defended Korostwiv. Do you understand?"

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Tawart Kiradze saw that I handed over the task to him, and a bright sunny smile appeared on his face.

But Sivakov, who had the greatest hope, but who was unsuccessful, was a little anxious: "Comrade Commander, why don’t you let me go to Korostviv? You know, there are two of the three guard divisions there, yes. It belongs to the 22nd Guards Infantry Corps."

"Comrade General, don't worry." I smiled and said to Sivakov: "Although you can't go to Korostviv, I will give you full responsibility for the defense of Cherkassy east." Although I know his abilities are limited, and I still delegate the heavy responsibility of defense to him because I consider that I can take over his command at any time if he sees that he is not strong in command.

Sivakov didn't know the true thoughts in my heart. Seeing that I entrusted him with such an important task, his emotions immediately stabilized.

When Sivakov commanded troops to strengthen the fortifications and deploy anti-aircraft artillery positions, Tavart Kiradze also hurriedly rushed to Korostviv with a group of chiefs of staff.

Starting on the 26th, the Germans from Alexandria launched a fierce attack on the defensive positions of the 9th Guards Division and the 375th Infantry Division. Although the roads were still muddy and it was difficult for the tanks to enter the battle, it did not affect the intensity of the battle at all.

While the Germans were bombarding our positions, they also dispatched a large number of bombers to bombard the ground indiscriminately. Seeing that the surface fortifications were almost destroyed, their infantry started a battle formation and launched a full-scale attack on our army's defensive positions.

I stood outside the headquarters and saw the bombing enemy plane flying away. I immediately called Povsky and said loudly, "Hey, artillery commander, did you see the enemy plane flying?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Povsky replied in a loud voice, "I saw it. The enemy planes above us all flew away."

"Although the German plane has flown away, their infantry will soon be engaged in an attack on our position." I told Povsky, "Comrade General, immediately order the artillery to fire and intercept the enemy's infantry with artillery. ."

"Understood," Povsky replied quickly: "I immediately let the Guards Rocket Artillery Battalion open fire, and with intensive artillery fire, destroy the enemy on the road of the charge."

When Katyusha opened fire and smashed hundreds of rockets into the German offensive queue, Kistyakov sent Akhromeyev out to call me, saying that he had received General Tavartkilasze from Kosovo. A telegram from Rostwiev.

I hurried back to the headquarters and asked as soon as I entered the door: "Comrade Deputy Commander, what did General Tawartkirazze's telegram say?"

Kistyakov handed me a telegram and said with a serious expression: "According to the report of General Tavart Kiradze, the three divisions in Korostweiv ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ were affected by the German army. The continuous shelling and bombing has reduced the number of troops to a large extent. At present, only half of the troops are left in the divisions."

I looked down at the telegram in my hand and said casually: "Comrade Deputy Commander, you can tell me what you think."

"Although the position of Korostlev is important, the terrain there is too flat to prevent effective defense." Kistyakov said anxiously: "If we continue to defend, these three divisions will soon Fight light."

I raised my head, looked at Kistyakov, and asked, "Comrade Deputy Commander, don’t you know that if we surrender Korostviv, the enemy will restore the line of communication between Kiev and Zhytomyr. Will the pressure on our front army's main attack on Kiev be greatly increased?"

Kistyakov shook his head and said, "I didn't think so far. I only know now that if they don't withdraw their troops from Koroslav as soon as possible, they are in danger of annihilation."

"No, Comrade Deputy Commander." I said categorically: "Even if the three divisions are all up, we can't hand over Korostweif to the Germans, because only by keeping here can we cut off the German traffic. Favorably support the main force of our front in the attack on Kiev." (To be continued.)