Burning Moscow

　　 Due to time constraints, we were unable to gather all the commanders of the group army for a meeting. We could only communicate the order to the various units by telegram. In order to verify the authenticity of the orders, the commanders who received two important orders within one day called the headquarters to verify them. Suddenly, several telephones in the house rang one after another, and we all acted as operators temporarily, explaining to the commander who called.

　　 The work of explaining to the commanders of the various army groups lasted an hour before it ended. After confirming the authenticity of the order, commanders at all levels issued preparations to their troops one after another.

　　 After answering the phone, Konev asked Sokolovsky to set up a communication room in the cabin next to the conference room. In this way, we can not only understand what is happening on the front line in the shortest time; at the same time, we can also communicate the orders issued by Konev to the various troops in the shortest time.

　　 Ten minutes before the start of the battle, the two commanders of the Air Force Group called and reported to Konev: "Comrade Marshal, our air force has been dispatched!"

　　 After listening to the other party's report, Konev nodded his head casually, and said calmly, "Well, I know."

　　 When the pointer pointed to four o'clock, Konev turned his head to look at Sokolovsky who was standing aside, nodded at him, and then said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, let's get started!"

　　 Sokolovsky, who was holding the microphone all the time, received Konev's order and immediately said loudly into the microphone: "Comrade Marshal ordered, the front artillery fires!"

　　 The command post is located far away from the front, so no matter whether it is the bombing of the air force or the artillery preparation, we have no chance to see or hear. We can only understand the progress of the battle through the battle reports of the front troops.

　　According to the plan, two hours of artillery preparation were required before ground forces launched an attack. However, due to the limited number of artillery shells, the actual artillery strikes stopped after only half an hour. The troops deployed in the direction of Lutsk, with the strength of a division, launched an impact on the defensive positions of the German 291st Infantry Division.

　　 Although the German army mastered our army's combat plan, they did not expect that we would launch an attack a day earlier, so they were caught off guard. The main attacker was the 120th Infantry Division. It took only ten minutes to break into the German defensive position and launched a fierce battle with them.

When receiving this battle report, Konev was still stunned. He shook the battle report in his hand, frowned and said: "According to our reconnaissance, the troops deployed here, in addition to the 291st Infantry Division, also There are the 72nd and 88th Infantry Divisions. But now we only use one division and easily penetrated into the German defense. Tell me, is there any conspiracy by the Germans?"

"I think there is a problem. Our offensive went too smoothly." Sokolovsky added as soon as Konev's words were said: "According to the prior war game, we must break through the first line of defense of the German army. It took at least five divisions and took at least one day. Now only one division can easily penetrate the German defense line. This is definitely problematic. I suggest that the 120th Division should suspend the offensive and build it in place. Defense line, wait until the successor troops arrive."

I saw Konev with a hesitant expression on his face after hearing Sokolovsky’s words. I was afraid that he would be impulsive, so he agreed to the other party’s proposal and ordered the troops to suspend the attack, so he said first. "Comrade Marshal, I think the offensive cannot be stopped. In addition to allowing the 120th Infantry Division to continue to advance after breaking through the German defense, the second echelon should also be put into battle."

"Lida," Konev turned his head to look at me, and asked with a serious expression: "Don't you think the situation on the battlefield is too abnormal? The enemy's resistance is far below our imagination, maybe They just want to contain our main force and launch a counterattack from other directions."

While trying to recall the history I knew, I cautiously replied: "Comrade Marshal, I think that after knowing that our army is about to launch a large-scale offensive, the German army has taken decisive measures to deal with it. The line position withdrew to the second defensive zone, and counterattack troops were deployed on the front of the defensive line."

　　 "Then what shall we do now?" Sokolovsky asked impatiently when I finished speaking.

I walked to the map hung on the wall, pointed to Kovel in the west of Lutsk and said: "If the German resistance here is very weak, it proves that they have withdrawn the 72nd and 88th Infantry Divisions to the second. In the defensive zone, the 291st Infantry Division is their left-behind force. What we can do now is to use the weak and advantageous fighters of the German first line of defense to invest more troops and increase the offensive strength, in addition to leaving enough Except for the troops to clear out the enemy in this area, the rest of the troops continue to attack the second line of defense."

I thought I would immediately agree with Konev for the point I expressed, but he shook his head and said, "Lida, what you said is your judgment. We can't take any risks." He then told Sokolovsky: "The Chief of Staff, immediately put the 76th Infantry Corps into combat, cooperate with the 120th Infantry Division to clear out the enemy in this area, and strengthen the fortifications in the area, turning it into our new offensive. Point of departure."

　　Although Konev put the second echelon into the battle in the order given by Konev, he rejected the bold and interspersed advice I had suggested and adopted a steady and steady tactic. When I heard Sokolovsky’s order, I could only sigh slightly, saying that this arrangement would make us missed opportunities.

　　 When the battle in the direction of Kovel was intense, the battle to attack Lviv was also in full swing. However, the offensive in this direction had long been expected by the Germans. Therefore, our troops launched three offensives that were not even close to the enemy's position and were beaten back.

　　 The attack in the direction of Lviv is not smooth, we can only pin all our hopes on Kovel in the north. Fortunately, as the 76th Infantry Corps entered the battlefield, the German 291st Infantry Division could no longer support it. By noon, the 504th and 506th Regiments of the division should not be able to resist our army’s attack and began to move backwards. Retreated.

　　 Just then, Stalin called from Moscow and asked Konev about the progress of the battle. I was standing next to Konev, so I could clearly hear Stalin’s question: "Hey, Comrade Konev, your offensive campaign has been going on for eight hours. I don’t know what kind of results have been achieved. what?"

I saw Konev raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then cautiously replied: "Comrade Stalin, the situation is not ideal. The attack in the direction of Lviv met with stubborn resistance from the German army. So far, it has not been possible to approach the German defensive positions for the time being."

　　 "Where's the Kovelli direction?" Stalin heard this and asked in a more serious tone: "Isn't he close to the German position, right?"

"The situation in Kovel is slightly better," Konev showed a relaxed expression on his face when he mentioned Kovel: "The 120th Infantry Division and the 3rd Guards Army who participated in the offensive The 76th Infantry Corps has broken through the first line of defense of the German army and is looking for ways to expand the breakthrough."

　　 "Comrade Konev," Stalin asked dissatisfiedly, "Can you also put the next echelon into battle at this time?"

"I think this may not work." Konev replied in a flustered manner: "Because our offensive is 24 hours ahead of schedule, many troops are temporarily unable to reach the designated attack position. In this case, we only Can rely on existing forces to compete for the first line of defense of the German army."

　　 "It turned out to be like this, I understand." Stalin said lightly: "I hope to hear the good news from you soon." After finishing talking, he hung up before Konev could speak.

　　 Konev put down the phone and asked Sokolovsky: "Chief of staff, how long will it take for the right-wing troops to eliminate the enemy in the first line of defense?"

"Comrade Marshal, this is not easy to say." Sokolovsky replied with some embarrassment: "Although our offensive has forced the two German regiments to withdraw from the battle, it is possible to eliminate the enemy in this area. It will take several hours or even longer."

After listening to Sokolovsky’s answer, Konev walked back and forth in the house a few times with his hands on his back, then stopped, and said: "The chief of staff, immediately issue the order, except for the 120th Infantry Division. Clearing out the remnants of the enemy in situ, the rest of the troops carried out assaults westward to attack the second line of defense of the German army."

"That's not good, Comrade Marshal." Hearing the order given by Konev, Sokolovsky immediately reminded him tactfully: "Although there is only one German regiment left on the battlefield, if you do not They were all annihilated and attacked directly on the second line of defense. Once the Germans counterattacked, our retreat might be cut off by this German army."

"Isn't there still the 120th Infantry Division? I believe they are fully capable of eliminating this enemy." Regarding Sokolovsky's concerns, Konev waved his hand and said with a little spirit: "If I had just Adopting Lida’s suggestion, leaving a portion of the troops to deal with the German 291st Division, and the main force directly rushing towards the enemy’s second line of defense, maybe the situation will be different from now."

It’s a pity that there is no regret medicine in the world. At this moment Konev realized that the suggestions I made were actually effective. It was already too late. The new decision he made could only do his best to remedy the previous mistakes. We all hope that the German army has no time. Build a stronger defense in the second line of defense, so that we still have a chance to break through their second line of defense.

　　 The 76th Infantry Corps rushed to the second line of defense. Under the tenacious defense of the German army, the results achieved were almost negligible. A trench that was finally captured, before the commanders could gain a foothold, they were driven out by the frenzied counterattack enemies. Seeing that the situation was not good for him, the commander of the army temporarily stopped the offensive after consulting his superiors, established a defense on the spot, and waited for the opportunity to launch another offensive.

　　 Not long after the news of the defeat of the offensive came, the report of the 120th Infantry Division that cleared the enemy in the first line of defense was also sent back. After reading the report, Sokolovsky smiled bitterly, and said with joy: "Comrade Commander, although today’s attack in the direction of Lviv did not go smoothly, we have achieved a lot in Kovel. As a result of the battle, our troops overcame the main German defense zone and cleared the remnants of the enemy in the area. They advanced eight kilometers in 16 hours. This is really a remarkable victory."

After Konev waited for Sokolovsky to finish speaking, he commanded: "Chief of Staff, our officers and men should be exhausted after fighting for a whole day. Let them temporarily stop the offensive, rest on the spot, and attack the enemy tomorrow. It’s not too late to attack."

　　 When I heard Konev’s order, I was muttering to myself, if I were a commander of the front, what should I do in this situation? Is it like Konev ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ to let the troops suspend the offensive and rest on the spot; or organize another wave of offensive to see if there is a chance to break through the second defense of the German army.

　　 After Konev gave Sokolovsky's orders, he saw me silently and asked curiously: "Lida, what are you thinking, do you have a different view of my order?"

"Comrade Marshal," after a fierce ideological struggle, I felt that it would be a pity to give up the attack at this time, so I decisively said to Konev: "According to the report of the artillery unit, they were in the daytime. I have added two base ammunition. Can you order them to bombard the second line of defense of the German army and cover our troops to launch another wave of offensive?"

　　 "Lida, tell me your reasons." Konev asked noncommitantly: "Why continue to attack the Germans."

"Comrade Marshal, although the offensive we launched today caught the Germans by surprise, due to their tenacious defense, we did not achieve any desired results today." I looked at Konev with a serious expression. For my own reason, "If we don’t attack overnight, we will give the Germans a breathing space. They can use the night time to mobilize troops and fortifications. In that case, when we attack tomorrow, we will suffer. More tenacious defense."

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I think the deputy commander is right." As soon as I finished speaking, Sokolovsky echoed: "If the Germans really use the night to mobilize troops and strengthen defenses, it will give Our offensive tomorrow will cause more trouble, so I think we should launch another round of offensive against the German defensive positions."rw