Red Moscow

Although the date of the final offensive of the Rumyantsev operation has not yet been communicated to all units, Sokov, who knows this history well, did not wait passively. Commander, introduce them to the problems that will be faced in the next stage.

"Commanders," Sokov said to the division and brigade commanders who participated in the meeting, instead of handing over the task of explaining the operational intentions to Sameko: "Due to the enemy's defeat in the Kursk region and the General Kosovsky's offensive in the Orel region forced the enemy to shift their focus of defense to the Belgorod-Kharkov area, because only by holding here can they contain our army Attack on Ukraine and Donbass."

He tapped twice on the map with the commentary stick, and continued: "According to the intelligence obtained from the reconnaissance, Kharkov will be the focus of the Germans' defense. Ten kilometers of defensive positions.

Kharkov is the center of this defense system, and it is also the extrusion of the defense of the entire Belgorod-Kharkov region. North of Kharkov, the Germans built five fortified belts with strong fortifications, covering several roads leading to Kharkov. "

While Sokov was explaining above, Poluboyarov, the tank commander sitting below, said in a low voice to Major General Gritsenko, commander of the 384th Division: "Gritsenko, I remember receiving an order yesterday. Prepare to attack Belgorod, why are you discussing about Kharkov now?"

"Yes, General Poluboyarov." Not only General Poluboyarov was puzzled, but even Major General Gritsenko was at a loss. He said in a low voice: "Don't look at us in Berkshire There are so many troops gathered near Rhodes, but it will take less than ten days and half a month to capture the city. It is indeed a bit too early to discuss attacking Kharkov at this moment."

Seeing that quite a few commanders were whispering to each other, Sokov seemed to be discussing what he had just said, so he stopped and tapped the table twice with his explaining stick. The crisp knocking sound immediately silenced the commanders who were whispering.

Although Sokov didn't hear clearly what his subordinates were talking about, he could guess it. He coughed heavily, cleared his throat, and said, "comrades commanders, I know that everyone has doubts in their hearts. Aren't we preparing to attack Belgorod now? Why is today's meeting involving Kazakhstan? Erkov?"

Hearing what Sokov said, the commanders present all nodded in unison, indicating that they were puzzled by this question.

Sokov did not immediately explain to them, but pointed to Gritsenko who had just spoken: "Major General Gritsenko, tell me why you have such a question in your heart."

"Comrade Commander," Seeing that Sokov called his name, Gritsenko stood up and expressed his doubts in public: "Our army's offensive against Belgorod has not yet launched, and we will start Isn't it a little bit irrelevant to discuss the attack on Kharkov?"

When everyone heard Gritsenko say this, they couldn't help but thumped in their hearts, wondering if the other party spoke to Sokov in such a tone, would Sokov be angry?

But fortunately, Sokov did not care about what Gritsenko said, but explained to everyone: "Yes, we have not yet launched an attack on Belgorod, but from the recent fighting Judging from the situation, how long do you think it will take us to occupy Belgorod?"

Sokov's words silenced everyone, and after a few minutes of silence, Poluboyarov said: "Comrade Commander, if it is another unit, it may take half a month at the earliest It is possible to take the city. If it were us, it would take about a week."

Hearing what General Poluboyarov said, all the commanders present showed proud expressions on their faces. That's right, judging from the battles that took place in the Battle of Kursk, General Poluboyarov was not wrong. No matter how powerful the enemy is, as long as they encounter Sokov's troops, they will be severely injured or wiped out. end.

But Sokov's subsequent speech stunned everyone: "General Poluboyarov, your thinking is too conservative. In my plan, it only takes three days at most before we can occupy the Belgorod, and then turned south to capture Kharkov."

After seeing Sokov's words, all the participants showed shocking expressions on their faces, and Chief of Staff Sameko said: "Commanders, do you think we can't get it within three days? Down to Belgorod?"

Poluboyarov shook his head and said: "I don't think it will be possible to take a city like Belgorod with strong fortifications in three days."

"General Poluboyarov, it seems that you still have no confidence in Comrade Commander." Sameko said with a smile: "When we went to the Front Army Headquarters for a meeting yesterday, Comrade Commander announced in front of everyone that Our assault force can take the enemy position on the other side of the river within a quarter of an hour after the battle has started."

"What, take down the enemy's position on the other side in a quarter of an hour?" Even if a shell landed and exploded in the venue at this time, the shock brought by it would definitely not compare to Sameko's words: "How can this be?" Perhaps, within a quarter of an hour, whether our assault troops can break through the enemy's fire blockade and land on the other side is a problem, how can it be possible to occupy the enemy's position? This is impossible, absolutely impossible."

In the face of everyone's doubts, Sokov did not defend himself, but quietly watched everyone discuss.

After the meeting finally quieted down, Sokov turned his attention to Dobrushin: "Lieutenant Colonel Dobrushin, tell me, do you have the confidence to occupy the enemy's position on the other side within a quarter of an hour?"

When Dobrushin heard Sokov call his name, he quickly stood up and replied confidently: "Report to Comrade Commander, all the commanders and fighters of our brigade will definitely be able to take down the enemy's position on the other side of the river within the stipulated time. "

The crowd immediately exploded, and they thought to themselves: Comrade Commander, let's just talk about it, but you, a little lieutenant colonel and brigade commander, dare to say that without shame. If it wasn't in front of Sokov, someone would have ridiculed Dobrushin long ago.

Sokov raised his right hand, pressed his palm down, and motioned for Dobrushin to sit down, and then said to everyone: "Commanders, I know that everyone is full of doubts and thinks that Dobrushin How could the lieutenant colonel's marine brigade occupy the enemy's position within a quarter of an hour?"

As soon as he finished speaking, almost everyone nodded at the same time, indicating that they wanted to find out what was going on. How could the Marine Brigade complete the task of forcing the crossing in a quarter of an hour, braving the enemy's intensive firepower, and Capture enemy positions? No matter how you think about this matter, it feels like a fantasy.

Lunev felt that he should say a few words at this time, so he stood up and said to everyone: "comrades, commanders, please be quiet, let me give you a brief introduction to the situation. After listening, everyone will understand, commander Why do you say that you can occupy the enemy's position on the other side of the river within a quarter of an hour?"

Everyone fell silent again, staring at Lunev intently, wanting to hear what he was going to say.

"You may not know that the superior has provided us with a batch of new river-crossing equipment." Lunev said to everyone: "This kind of river-crossing equipment can drive on the river or at high speed on the road. That is to say, Our troops on assault missions can go directly from land to water, and then from water to land after taking this kind of river crossing equipment.

Due to the extremely fast speed of this kind of river crossing equipment, our assault troops can rush from the starting position to the enemy in just one or two minutes. In the face of an enemy who is not yet ready for defense, how long can they last? "

Immediately after Lunev finished speaking, someone asked curiously: "Comrade Military Commissar, what kind of new river crossing equipment are you talking about? Why have I never heard of it?"

"If you haven't heard of it, that's right." Lunev said somewhat proudly: "Since this new type of river-crossing equipment is still in a state of absolute secrecy, except for the commanders and fighters of the 62nd Marine Brigade who are serving as assault missions, In addition, it is necessary to implement information blockade for the commanders and fighters of other troops, so as not to be known by the enemy in advance and to take countermeasures."

When they learned that the marine brigade responsible for the assault mission was actually equipped with a kind of amphibious river-crossing equipment, everyone felt itchy and wanted to see it immediately.

Sokov saw what everyone was thinking, and said with a smile: "Commanders, don't worry, after the battle starts, you will see this new type of river crossing equipment. Even your troops will have to take this Kind of equipment to cross the river."

"Comrade Commander," the commanders who were eager to see the new river crossing equipment asked anxiously in the crowd, "then when can we see this new type of river crossing equipment?"

"I have already said that you will see it after the battle to attack Belgorod begins."

"Then when can we attack Belgorod?"

Sokov has not been notified by his superiors for a long time. Facing the inquiries of his subordinates, he can only say vaguely: "Don't worry, we will launch an attack on Belgorod when the time is right. If my analysis That's right, two or three days at most will be the day to attack the enemy."

Seeing that Sokov could not tell the specific date, everyone was full of doubts about whether he would launch an attack on Belgorod in the near future.

Before everyone could ask any more questions, they saw the director of the communications soldier walking in from the outside. He looked around after entering the door, then walked quickly towards Sokov, and handed a telegram to the other party: "Comrade Commander, an urgent telegram just sent by the Front Army Command."

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the director of the communications corps. Seeing the nervous and excited expression on his face, everyone began to guess: Is this telegram related to the attack on Belgorod?

After reading the telegram, Sokov had a surprised expression on his face. However, he did not immediately announce the content of the telegram to the commanders attending the meeting, but handed it to Lunev next to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, please read this telegram."

Everyone turned their attention to Lunev again, wanting to see what his expression looked like after browsing the telegram. Seeing that Lunev's expression after reading the telegram was exactly the same as that of Sokov, some commanders were muttering in their hearts. It seems that this telegram is really related to the attack on Belgorod.

"Commanders, commanders," Sameko excitedly slapped the table on the table after reading the telegram for the last time, then stood up, held up the telegram in his hand, and said excitedly to everyone: "Front Army The command has just sent us a phone call saying that the Supreme Command has agreed to the Rumyantsev operation plan and the time for the attack on Belgorod has been fixed."

Sameko's words caused cheers in the venue, and everyone finally got the order to attack.

After the venue regained calm, Sameko announced loudly: "The time to attack Belgorod is at five o'clock in the morning on August 3. After the artillery prepared for the enemy's defensive positions for two hours, we The infantry attacked again."

"Two hours of artillery preparation?" Everyone was shocked by Sameko's words. It was the first time they had heard of such a long bombardment time. Before, an hour and a half was almost the limit. A commander murmured: "How many shells do we need to consume for two hours of bombardment?"

Sokov looked at the commander who said this, and said with a smile: "You may not know that in order to successfully capture Belgorod, our army deployed an average of 216 artillery pieces per kilometer in the main attack direction. and mortars. In the attack direction of the 5th Guards Army and the 53rd Army, the number of artillery and mortars per kilometer has increased to 230. That is to say, in order to protect all the artillery on the front For a salvo, you need to prepare shells for ten wagons."

"Comrade Commander," one of the commanders then asked, "how long can our artillery shells last?"

"Our army has a limited number of artillery units. So far, there are only the First Artillery Division and the Second Artillery Division in the established artillery units." Sokov replied: "But the hoarded artillery shells are used for an hour of artillery preparation against the enemy's defensive positions. , I don’t think there’s much of a problem.”

"Ah, the artillery preparation can only be maintained for one hour?" The commander was obviously disappointed by Sokov's reply, "That means, we must implement the artillery preparation an hour later than the friendly forces before we can launch the ground attack at the same time. attack."

"You are wrong." Unexpectedly, just after he finished speaking, Sokov said: "Our artillery shells are limited. After an hour of shelling at the same time as the main artillery of the Front Army, we can launch a ground attack an hour earlier to hit the enemy. One caught off guard."