Red Moscow

Fomenko was lost in thought.

After a long time, he said, "Comrade Commander, so the faster our troops capture Ratswe and Jingji, the sooner we will leave here?"

"That's right, that's exactly the case." Sokov did not deny Fomenko's statement, but added: "Now we are the only army on the right bank of the Dnieper River. Our mission has been completed, and we can go back wherever we should."

"Then, should we immediately stop our attack on Latswe and Jingji?"

"It's too late, General Fomenko." Sokov had also thought about stopping the attack on Ratsve and Jingji in order to prolong the stay of his troops in this area. But as soon as this idea came up, he was rejected without hesitation. This kind of disregard for the overall situation is quite dangerous. If the 7th Guards Army cannot cross the Dnieper River for a long time, Manstein will be able to escape. Take action to clean up yourself: "I have notified General Shumilov of the troops' capture of Ratsve and Jingji. Even if we want to give up at this moment, it is impossible."

"Oh, that's such a pity."

Sokov glanced at Fomenko and continued: "General Fomenko, even if we can give up the attack on Ratesve and Kinky, we cannot do so."

"Why?"

"First of all, this kind of disregard for the overall situation is very dangerous." Sukov felt that it was necessary to make it clear to Fomenko, lest he have any further thoughts: "Secondly, if the 7th Guards Army fails to forcefully cross the If they are successful, then they will not be able to establish a landing field on the right bank. If there is only our lone army on the right bank, then the Germans will target us in the next attack. An attack by one or two divisions, we can crush it; an attack by three or four divisions, we can It can withstand it. But if the enemy dispatches ten divisions, do you think that even if the entire army group is here, it will be able to stop the German attack?"

"Comrade Commander, so no matter how the superiors arrange for us, the two towns of Ratswe and Jingji must be taken down?"

"That's right, that's what it means." Sokov said: "Only when the troops of the 7th Guards Army have established a landing field on the right bank, can we help us distract the German army and jointly fight against the enemy's attack, and resolutely defend the right bank. Landing field."

After Sokov expressed his opinion, he said to Fomenko: "Contact Colonel Rusov immediately and ask where they are now?"

Fomenko hurriedly called his chief of staff and told him: "Comrade chief of staff, you should contact Colonel Rusov immediately and ask where the regiment has advanced?"

When the 254th regiment set off, Fomenko specially arranged a jeep to carry a radio station for communication in order to keep abreast of the progress of the troops. After receiving Fomenko's order, the division chief of staff immediately walked to the radio operator and whispered to him to contact the 254th regiment to learn about their latest progress.

A few minutes later, the chief of staff came back from the radio and reported to Sokov and Fomenko excitedly: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Division Commander, Colonel Rusuf reports that his battalion has launched an attack on the town of Ratesve The attack was carried out, and now the battle is going well, and one of the companies has already stormed the town."

Sokov looked carefully at the map and knew that the town of Latseve was not large. It was considered the limit to use a battalion of troops to fight, and it would be impossible to deploy more troops.

After the division chief of staff finished his report, Sokov asked: "Since the first battalion is fighting in the town, what about the second and third battalions? They won't be watching the fun from the sidelines, will they?"

"How is that possible, Comrade Commander." The chief of staff of the division said with a smile: "Colonel Rusuf found that it was impossible to invest too many troops in the town at one time, so after the battle started, he left the second battalion as a reserve team." , while the commanders and fighters of the third battalion rode bicycles and continued to advance towards Jingji Town, trying to rush to Jingji Town before capturing the town of Ratswe.”

"Colonel Rusuf's decision is correct." After listening to the report of the division chief of staff, Sokov nodded and said: "While the battle in Ratswe is still going on, we sent troops to attack Jingji Town, and it is absolutely possible to fight The Germans were caught off guard. If he had really waited to capture Ratswee before attacking Jingji Town, the German troops there would have already been ready to fight, and even if they were to be wiped out, they would probably have to pay a high price."

Fomenko asked Sokov for instructions: "Then when can we contact the 7th Guards Army?"

"Don't worry, General Fomenko." Although the 254th Regiment has already launched an attack on Ratsve, the final result of the battle is still unknown at this moment. If the 7th Guards Army was hurriedly informed to cross the river, in case the German army still deployed firepower points along the river, wouldn't that cause unnecessary casualties to friendly troops? "I think it's not too late to contact the friendly forces after we capture the towns of Ratswe and Jingji."

"Very well then, Comrade Commander," said Fomenko, nodding his head. "I will report to you as soon as our troops have taken Ratsve and Kinky."

Sokov is no longer worried about the battles in the towns of Ratswe and Jingji. After all, it is only a matter of time before the enemies there are eliminated. Now he is eager to know how the battle in Qijilin City is going, so he ordered someone to connect to the headquarters of Keda: "Colonel Keda, how is the progress there?"

"Very well, Comrade Commander." Keida replied excitedly: "The troops that have entered the city have occupied three streets one after another, and now they are continuing to expand their achievements."

"Comrade Colonel, although you are progressing very smoothly, you must not take it lightly." Sokov said to Koida on the phone: "The Germans are unwilling to fail. Before they are destroyed, they will definitely struggle to the death. So you also have to take measures to deal with the Germans jumping over the wall. Understand?"

"Understood." Keida replied loudly: "I sent a reconnaissance team outside the city. Once they find any new enemy situation, they will report to me as soon as possible."

"Hmm, if there is any latest situation, please report to me in time."

Sokov ended the call in Koida, and ordered the communications corps to connect to the headquarters of the group army, and contacted Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation at the landing site?"

"Comrade Commander." Hearing Sokov's voice, Sameko felt a lot more at ease in his heart. He asked quickly, "How is the situation in Qijilin? How is the progress of our troops?"

"Some fighters have already rushed into the city and occupied several streets, and now they are fighting for the enemy." Sokov said into the microphone: "I believe that if we continue to fight according to the current style of play, we will be defeated by the end of the day at the latest." Black, you can take the small ancient city of Qijilin."

Hearing Sokov speak in such a firm tone, Sameko felt more at ease, and he continued to ask, "Have the enemy reinforcements arrived?"

"I haven't found the enemy's reinforcements for the time being." Sokov said: "I guess the enemy sent a grenadier regiment and an assault artillery battalion yesterday evening. After defeating the troops of the 84th Division, they became extremely inflated. With some strength, they will definitely be able to defend Qijilin, and may not send reinforcements for the time being."

"Will not send reinforcements for the time being?" Sokov's bold inference made Sameko a little suspicious: "The Germans know that we are attacking Chijilin with all their strength, so how could they not send reinforcements?"

"What I'm talking about is not sending reinforcements for the time being, but it doesn't mean not sending reinforcements to Chijilin at all." Seeing that Sameko misunderstood what he meant, Sokov patiently explained to him: "Once the Germans find that Chijilin is in danger, New reinforcements will definitely be dispatched to support them. However, with the current attack speed of the 188th Division, even if the Germans find something is wrong and urgently dispatch troops for reinforcements, I am afraid it will be too late. Our troops will be defeated by the enemy. Liberate the city until reinforcements arrive."

"Comrade Commander, I'm still very worried." Sameko said worriedly: "Even if we take Chijilin before the enemy's reinforcements arrive, the commanders and fighters will definitely be extremely tired. If the Germans The reinforcements are attacking at this time, and I am afraid that our troops will suffer greatly."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to worry about this." Sokov thought that as long as the two towns of Ratsve and Jingji were captured, troops from the 7th Guards Army would continue to arrive to distract the German army. To reduce the pressure on myself: "I use Major General Gritsenko's 384th Division as the reserve team of the group army, and I am going to catch the enemy by surprise when I discover the whereabouts of the German reinforcements."

Sokov called Sameko not to report on the fighting situation in the Chigirin area, but to know how the battle on the landing field was progressing: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation on the landing field?"

"Not ideal, Comrade Commander." As soon as Sokov asked about the situation on the landing site, Sameko replied with some embarrassment: "Facing the powerful offensive of the German army, all the commanders and fighters of Colonel Weisbach's 300th Division, Although the battle was arduous and excellent, the German army broke through the two lines of defense, and now the division commander is leading people to counterattack, trying to recover the position that was breached by the German army."

"The rear of the 300th Division is not Guchakov's 73rd Infantry Division, and General Solomatin's Mechanized 1st Army." Sokov said absent-mindedly: "They saw that Weisbach's defense line was tight. Even if there is no order from us, we should take the initiative to attack to reduce the pressure on the friendly forces."

"Comrade Commander, General Solomatin is an old soldier, and his character is somewhat stubborn." Sameko said cautiously: "If you see your friendly troops being killed by the Germans before getting an order from your superiors, Annihilation, I am afraid he will not dare to give orders casually."

"This is not possible." Sokov shook his head and said, "In order to win on the battlefield, it depends on the cooperation of the team, but the individual efforts of any unit." He told Sameko on the phone, "Chief of Staff, immediately call the two commanders, Guchakov and Solomatin, and tell them that it is our intention, and order them not to carry out passive defense, but to know how to seize all kinds of fighters to eliminate the Germans. Living power."

"Understood, Comrade Commander, I will call." Sameko continued to report: "Colonel Khokhlov's 254th Division is also fighting against the powerful offensive of the German army. Fortunately, our artillery and group army are directly under Supported by tank units, their defenses have not been breached by the Germans so far."

Sameko's words made Sokov realize a problem. He was only paying attention to giving orders every day, but he didn't realize that there were actually factions in the current group army. When the 254th Division encountered danger, it was immediately supported by artillery and direct tanks to repel the German attack; while the defense line of the 300th Division was breached, it could only rely on its own strength to launch a counterattack against the Germans.

Thinking of this, Sokov said with a serious expression: "Comrade Chief of Staff, do you feel that there are gangs forming within the Army Group?"

"Why do you say that, Comrade Commander?" Sameko asked puzzled.

"Didn't you find out yet?" Sokov couldn't help emphasizing his tone after seeing Sameko, "It was also under the strong attack of the German army, and the 254th Division got it in time. Artillery and tank support; as for the 300th Division, it seems that it has not received any support and can only rely on its own strength to restore the positions occupied by the Germans."

When Sokov explained this, Sameko immediately understood: "You are right, Comrade Commander. The 300th Division under the command of Colonel Weissbach was not included in our army organization until the latter part of the Kharkov campaign. Yes, being neglected is probably inevitable. But there is one thing that puzzles me."

"What?" This time it was Sokov's turn to be surprised.

"Before Weisbach became the commander of the 300th division, he was the deputy brigade commander of the 73rd infantry brigade." Sameko said to himself what he really thought in his heart: "The defense line of the troops under his command was broken by the enemy. Gutchakov should have been active in reinforcements, but for some reason, he remained on hold."

Sokov held the microphone in one hand and tapped lightly on the table with the other. He began to think quickly about how to avoid this kind of discrimination against the new team.

After some thought, he had a relatively formed idea in his mind, and he said into the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to ask about this matter anymore, I will call Major Guchakov later , and ask what is going on."

Putting down the microphone here, Sokov waved to the communications company commander standing not far away, motioning him to come to him. After the communications company commander came over, he asked with a smile, "Comrade company commander, can the phone here connect to the headquarters of the 73rd Infantry Brigade?"

"It's a bit difficult, Comrade Commander," the communications company commander explained to Sokov: "We're advancing so fast that we haven't had time to lay down telephone lines. If you want to communicate with the 73rd Rifle Brigade, you can only Send a message through the telephone or talk wirelessly."

Sokov considered that some things would be difficult to explain clearly through telegrams, so he ordered the communications company commander: "Comrade company commander, immediately use the telegraph to get in touch with the brigade headquarters of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. I want to talk to their brigade commander." Major Guchakov on the radio."

After the communications company commander agreed loudly, he said: "Comrade commander, please take a few minutes, and I will immediately connect you to the headquarters of the 73rd Infantry Brigade."