Red Moscow

"Great, this is really great." As soon as Sameko learned that the troops had established a defensive position in the machining factory, he immediately reported the good news to Sokov by phone. After hearing this, Sokov said excitedly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you told Colonel Shechtman to use the machinery processing plant as the starting point of the attack, continue to expand the results of the war, and occupy as many areas as possible."

"Comrade Commander," Sameko asked cautiously after Sokov finished speaking: "Since our troops have broken through the city, the next step is to start street fighting with the Germans. Do you think it is necessary to send tanks to help out?" ?”

Sokov did not answer the question immediately, but covered the microphone and asked Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, have you been to Kharkov?"

"I've been. What's the matter?"

"Is the street there suitable for tanks?"

After listening to this question, Tsvetayev thought for a while and said: "The streets in Kharkov are very spacious, let alone one or two tank brigades, even if you invest in a tank army, they can fully deploy."

After confirming that the streets of Kharkov are spacious, Sokov let go of his hand covering the microphone and said to Sameko: "Chief of Staff, I have already asked General Tsvetayev, and he said The streets are wide enough to use tanks, so you send them to assist the 254th Division."

For the sake of safety, Sokov finally emphasized: "Remember, tanks can only be used during the day, and the attack at night can rely on pure infantry."

Sokov's words made Sameko confused: "Why?"

"The field of view in the tank is narrow, especially at night, the area that the tank crew can see clearly is even more limited." Sokov explained: "Once the enemy's anti-tank fighters hide in the dark and attack our tanks, they will It caused our tank troops to pay a huge price. However, using tanks to fight during the day, the tank soldiers and the infantry following the tanks can detect hidden anti-tank fighters in time and eliminate them in time."

After Sokov's explanation, Sameko understood what was going on, and quickly replied: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will warn the tank commander not to use tanks at night."

"General Sokov." Tsvetayev, who was standing next to Sokov, said anxiously as soon as he put down the phone: "Without the cover of tanks, what should we do if we encounter solid fortifications or enemy fire points?" ? If you attack by force, you will definitely pay a heavy price."

"Comrade General, please rest assured." Regarding Tsvetayev's concerns, Sokov was still very grateful, but in order to reassure the other party, he said with a smile: "My troops are equipped with a large number of rocket launchers. , In street fighting, that thing is not only a sharp weapon against tanks, but it can basically be shot one by one when encountering enemy firepower points and solid fortifications."

"I've heard of that kind of weapon, but I haven't seen it." Even though Tsvetayev's troops and Sokov's troops fought together, the commanders and fighters of the 384th Division did not use this weapon in battle. So Tsvetayev still doesn't know what the rocket launcher looks like, so he made a request to Sokov: "General Sokov, if there is a chance, please let me see this powerful new weapon. "

"Don't worry, Comrade General." To Tsvetayev's simple request, Sokov didn't have any reason to refuse, and quickly nodded and said: "At the right time, I will let you see my department." Equipped rocket launcher."

"The enemy finds that your right-wing troops have broken through the city defenses, and I'm afraid they will mobilize troops to counterattack and drive them back from the city." Tsvetayev reminded Sokov: "Do you think we are considering letting the left-wing troops also launch a counterattack?" What about attacking?"

"Wait a minute, Comrade General." Now that the right wing has successfully rushed into the city, it is not impossible to let the left wing troops attack the city, but Sokov felt that the time for the attack was not yet ripe, so he told Tsvetaev Said: "Before the right wing broke through the city defense, we put on a storming posture on the left wing. There must be a large number of active German forces in front. If we attack at this moment, it is tantamount to hitting a stone with an egg. I think it is better to wait for a while and wait for the enemy's attack." After the defense is relaxed, attack by surprise."

Tsvetayev witnessed Sokov's use of troops today, and knew that every step he took had his own intentions. Now that he said so, he stopped persuading him and asked how to arrange the riverside Artillery: "Now that the target of the right wing breakthrough has been reached, what should I do with the artillery division I stayed by the Oude River? Should I take the opportunity to cross the river and assist the friendly army in attacking the city; or return to the original artillery position?"

"Except for the artillery regiment that has crossed the river, the rest of the artillery returned to their original positions, ready to support the defenders on the other side with artillery fire at any time."

When the two were discussing the details of the next battle, the phone on the table suddenly rang without warning, which startled Sokov.

He picked up the microphone and stuck it to his ear, and immediately heard Konev's voice coming from inside: "Comrade Sokov, have your troops rushed into Kharkov?"

"Yes, Commander of the Front Army." Hearing Konev's question, Sokov proudly replied: "Colonel Shechtman's 254th Division has already rushed into the city and is working in the southwestern direction of the city. The factory has occupied a piece of territory and is preparing to use it as the starting point for the next attack."

"Since your troops have rushed into the city, why didn't you report them in time?" After hearing this, Konev said angrily: "Don't you know that we have to report in time according to the combat situation of the troops at the front?" Do you need to adjust the battle plan?"

Sokov couldn't help being surprised when he heard what Konev said, and then asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, has no one reported the results of the battle to you?"

"Who will report the results of the battle to me?" Konev said impatiently, "If the intelligence troops of the Front Army Command hadn't intercepted the German telegram, I wouldn't know that your troops have already rushed into the city."

It was only then that Sokov realized that Sameko had not reported the matter to his superiors at all except for calling himself to inform him. Presumably the other party felt that such a good thing should be reported to the superior in person. And I wishful thinking that Sameko informed himself that after the 254th Division entered the city, it would report to the Front Army Command in accordance with the regulations. Unexpectedly, no one reported it in the end. No wonder Konev was angry.

However, as the supreme commander of the group army, Sokov naturally couldn't pass the responsibility on to his deputy, otherwise, who would be willing to follow you in the future? He quickly took the responsibility on himself: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, this incident was my negligence. I did not report it to you in time. It is all my responsibility. I am really sorry."

Seeing Sokov's sincerity, Konev's anger somewhat subsided, and he said afterwards: "I know, you must think that Comrade Sameko reported it to me, and Sameko also felt that the news It is more appropriate for you to report. In the end, no one reported the frontier situation to me."

"That's right, Commander of the Front Army." Seeing Konev's words, Sokov said a little embarrassedly: "I will report to you as soon as I have a new battle report."

"It doesn't matter at all whether you report it at the first time." Konev said: "You and Sameko are not in the same place to command the battle. The coordination between the two parties must be done well to avoid similar situations from happening again. Understand?"

"Understood." After a loud reply, Sokov asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I would like to ask, when will the main force of the Front Army reach the city of Kharkov?"

"Soon, soon," Konev replied: "Tomorrow General Rotmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army will launch an armored assault on the German army from our junction. I believe that in the powerful Before the torrent of steel, the Germans couldn't stop them at all."

Knowing that General Rotmistrov's tank army would launch an attack on the German army tomorrow, the muscles on Sokov's face couldn't help twitching violently a few times. I wanted to remind Konev to be careful of the Germans setting up an ambush in the sunflower field, but when the words came to my lips, I swallowed them again. After all, I have already reminded him of this matter once. If I remind him again, it may make Konev produce suspicion. He secretly prayed in his heart that in tomorrow's battle, Rotmistrov's troops would not suffer too many casualties, otherwise the next battle would be difficult.

Before putting down the phone, Konev specifically told Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, since your troops have rushed into the city, I think you should tell Marshal Zhukov the good news as soon as possible. I believe he has been waiting Looking at your battle report."

"Thank you for your reminder, Comrade Commander of the Front Army. I will tell Marshal Zhukov the good news as soon as possible."

However, after finishing the call with Konev, Sokov did not immediately call the Voronezh Front Army Command, but directly called Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation, the tank brigade has been sent out ?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander," Sameko replied. "I sent two tank brigades, one to stand by outside the city, and the other to enter the machine shop to assist the 254th Division."

After waiting for the other party to finish speaking, Sokov continued to ask: "Have you planted our military flag on the roof of the building?"

"Not yet, Comrade Commander." Sameko said with some embarrassment: "Our troops who invaded the factory area only occupied a few factory buildings, not even the office building, and there is no suitable place to plant the red flag. .”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, why don't you use your brain?" Sokov said dissatisfiedly: "The office building can't be captured, you can plant the red flag on the top of the factory building. As long as there are flags flying over the city, it means We have occupied the city, and we can give the superior a satisfactory answer."

"Yes!" Sameko agreed loudly, and assured Sokov, "I will immediately notify the troops in the factory area and let them plant the flag on the top of the factory building as soon as possible."

"As soon as our red flag is planted on the factory building, notify me immediately, and I will report the matter to Marshal Zhukov."

Sokov put down the phone, silently lit a cigarette, and waited anxiously for Sameko's report.

Tsvetayev also took out a cigarette from Sokov's cigarette case, and after lighting it, he asked Sokov, "General Sokov, do you think that after the red flag is planted on the roof of the factory building, you can send a message to Marshal Zhukov?" Report, can you be confident?"

"Needless to say, Comrade General." Sokov looked sideways at Tsvetayev and said, "If the red flag has not been planted on the roof, report to Marshal Zhukov. Isn't that deceiving him?"

"Since your troops have occupied the factory building, it is very easy to plant the red flag on the roof of the factory building." Tsvetayev said: "But if you want to wait for General Sameko to report Afterwards, report to Marshal Zhukov, is the delay too long?"

Sokov heard what the other party said, and asked tentatively: "Comrade General, do you want me to report to Marshal Zhukov now that the troops that rushed into the city have planted the red flag on the top of the building? "

"That's right, that's what I mean." Tsvetayev did not hide his true thoughts, but told the truth: "I think Marshal Zhukov is also very anxious at the moment, and I hope to hear from you soon. Has the red flag been planted in the Upstairs, it doesn't matter at all, what matters is that our troops have rushed into the city and are fighting the enemy in the streets."

Sokov thought in his mind, now that only his own troops have entered the city, it is indeed up to him to decide whether to plant the red flag on the top of the building. Thinking of this, he changed his mind, and instead of waiting for Sameko's report, he picked up the microphone and asked the communications staff to help him connect to the headquarters of the Voronezh Front Army.

After waiting for about five or six minutes, the communication staff officer reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the phone of the Voronezh Front Army Command has been connected, and you can talk now." After speaking, he handed over the microphone come over.

Soon Zhukov's familiar voice came from the receiver: "I'm Zhukov, is this Misha?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, it's me."

Zhukov asked with great anticipation: "You call me at this time, do you have any good news to tell me?"

"You guessed it right, Comrade Marshal." Sokov replied with a smile: "My troops have broken through the German defense line in the southwest, successfully rushed into the city, and occupied several parts of the machine factory. plant."

"Good job." Knowing that Sokov's troops had rushed into the city, Zhukov smiled: "Did they put the flag on the top of the building?"

"I have ordered them to plant our flag on top of the occupied factory."

Knowing that the flag had been planted on the building, Zhukov didn't ask any more questions about the top of the building, because he knew very well in his heart that according to Sokov's original plan, he never thought of destroying the city today. As a result, the opponent had to order troops to enter the city in advance because of his temporary adjustment of the plan.

"Well done, Misha. You and your subordinates are doing well." Zhukov said gratifiedly, "On my behalf, please express my high respect to your subordinates."

"I will, Comrade Marshal." Sokov was eager to know whether Zhukov was satisfied with the results of the battle, so he asked, "We only occupied a part of the machinery processing factory. Is this considered to have completed the task of the superior?"

"Needless to say, Misha." Zhukov said with a smile: "According to the tradition of the Russian army, in an ancient city like Kharkov, as long as the red flag is planted on the top of any building, it means that we The city has been taken. Rest assured, I will immediately report your situation to the Supreme Commander himself, and claim the honor of the first troops to break into the city."