Red Moscow

Sokov didn't know that anyone was worried about his safety. He was talking to Marshal Konev at the moment.

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov learned that the troops that were supposed to take over the defense had not entered the designated position so far, so he directly contacted Marshal Konev: "All my troops have moved forward, and the area that was originally occupied has been placed in an inaccessible area." If we don't send friendly troops to take over the defense as soon as possible, I am worried that if the enemy finds out, our rear may be cut off."

The most troublesome part of fighting with large corps is dispatching troops. Konev is also worried about the fact that many troops have not arrived at the designated positions. Hearing what Sokov said, he said in embarrassment: "Comrade Sokov, I have issued an order to the troops to enter your defense zone within the specified time. But the heavy snow not long ago, seriously Interfering with the marching speed of the troops, resulting in a delay in their arrival at their destination."

"By the way," Konev thought that Sokov's troops planned to attack Uman City after handing over the defense, so he took the opportunity to ask: "Can you attack Uman City today as planned?"

Hearing Konev's question, Sokov realized that Smirnov might not have seen the news of the broken city, so he hurriedly said: "Comrade Marshal, I'm really sorry, I haven't had time to report to you. The 18th Guards Airborne The 3rd Division of the Army has successfully broken through Uman's defenses, and is now fighting the enemy in the city."

"What, your troops have already rushed into the city of Uman?" Konev asked in surprise: "When did this happen, why do I not know at all?"

"Half an hour ago, the 8th and 10th Regiments of the 3rd Airborne Division rushed into the city, and now the 2nd Regiment is preparing to enter the city." Sokov explained: "It may be because Comrade Chief of Staff hasn't sorted out the battle report yet. , so we haven’t reported the result to the Front Army Command for the time being.”

"Comrade Sokov, I congratulate you." After confirming that Sokov's troops had entered Uman City, Konev smiled and said to him: "Congratulations to your troops for taking the lead in entering Uman City. I believe that In the awards after the battle, your army will definitely be awarded the honorary title named after the city of Uman."

"Thank you, Comrade Marshal. I will convey your thoughts to the commanders and fighters on the front line to boost the morale of the army."

"How many troops do you have in town?"

"A guard airborne division," Sukov felt that he was not accurate enough, and added deliberately: "However, after two days of fighting, this division has been severely weakened. Even if they enter the city, the area they can occupy is very limited of."

"Then why don't you send more troops to reinforce?"

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov said with a sigh, "all the troops are on the road, and their marching speed has been greatly slowed down due to the difficult road after the snow."

Konev knew that what Sokov said was true. Not only was the opponent's troops unable to enter the designated position on time, but even the troops who had arranged combat missions themselves were now marching hard in the snow.

"Comrade Sokov, what is the name of the commander of the 3rd Airborne Division?" Konev said, "After Uman is liberated, I will personally award him a medal."

"Konev." As soon as Sokov spoke, he realized that the person who was talking to him was also called Konev, and he added: "The teacher is Colonel Konev. It's a coincidence that he and Your last name."

"Yeah, what a coincidence." Konev didn't expect that the commander who took the lead in commanding the troops to rush into Uman City had the same surname as himself, so he said with great interest: "Since he is a guard division, why is he still A colonel? I think he can be promoted to major general after the battle is over."

Sokov is now an admiral, so he naturally hoped that the rank of his subordinates would rise as well. Hearing Konev's promise, he quickly said, "Comrade Marshal, thank you very much. I will contact Colonel Konev later. When the time comes, I will tell him about it and make him happy."

"It's a pity that the weather is bad today." Konev sighed softly, and said in a regretful tone: "Otherwise, I can dispatch the air force and use the air superiority to destroy the stubborn enemy."

"Comrade Marshal, the air force is suitable for bombing field positions, and it can play little role in urban street battles." Sukov said: "Air force pilots have no way of knowing which building is ours and which building is the enemy. , the dropped aerial bombs may not have hit the enemy, but instead have blown up our own people.”

Konev felt that what Sokov said made sense, and after thinking for a while, he said to him: "Comrade Sokov, if the troops entering the city are limited in strength, we can let them control a certain area first, and wait until the main force arrives." , it will not be too late to expand the results.”

"Don't worry, Comrade Marshal." Sokov replied with a smile: "According to the latest battle report, after the troops entering the city occupied two streets, they used buildings to establish a defensive position, where they waited for the arrival of the main force."

Sokov thought of Zhukov's troops, which were attacking Uman from the north at the moment, and asked tentatively, "Comrade Marshal, I don't know how Marshal Zhukov's troops are doing now?"

"Not too good, Comrade Sokov." Konev sighed and said, "I talked to Marshal Zhukov not long ago, and he said that the Germans' resistance was very tenacious, and almost every step forward would cost blood. I thought that the strength of the First Front Army was stronger than ours, and the progress would be smoother than ours, but I didn't expect that the resistance they encountered was the most tenacious."

"Comrade Sokov, I would like to extend my congratulations to you again. I congratulate your troops on taking the lead in attacking Uman City. I will report this to the General Staff and let them tell the Supreme Commander himself the good news as soon as possible."

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov heard Konev say this, and quickly reminded him: "General Shtemenko, the deputy chief of the general staff, is by my side at the moment, and I think he will report the results of the battle to the general staff in time. Ministry reported."

Konev laughed and said, "Comrade Sokov, if you didn't remind me, I almost forgot that General Stemenko was with you. But he reported that it was his business that your troops entered the city of Uman. It is the huge battle results achieved by our front army, and the step of reporting to the General Staff cannot be avoided."

As soon as Sokov put down the phone, Shtemenko on the side said to him: "Comrade Sokov, even if Marshal Konev and I report the results of your invasion of Uman at the same time, there will be nothing wrong with it. On the contrary, it can also serve as evidence to prove the authenticity of the results.”

"It turns out that's the case." Even though Sokov won many battles, he really doesn't know about this kind of thing. Hearing what Shtemenko said, it can be regarded as gaining insight: "I understand .”

After Konev entered the city of Uman with the 2nd regiment, he found a large-scale theater in the south of the city, set up his headquarters there, and sent someone to notify the division headquarters outside the city to quickly transfer to the city. inside.

Hearing that Konev said that he wanted to set up the division headquarters in the theater, Fritzman couldn't help reminding the other party with some concern: "Comrade commander, is it appropriate to set up the division headquarters here?"

"What's inappropriate?"

"Comrade Commander," Fritzmann pulled Konev to the window, pointed to the outside and said to him, "Look, the surrounding buildings are less than 200 meters away from the theater. If the enemy occupies Take those buildings, suppress us with firepower, and then attack, can we stop their attack?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Fritzmann, you can send people to occupy those buildings, so that the Germans cannot establish firepower near our headquarters and thereby overwhelm our defenses."

"Comrade commander, at least one or two squads of soldiers are needed to control such a building." Fritzman shook his head and said, "There are at least seven buildings for us, which means that we have to Send seven to fourteen squads, equivalent to one and a half companies of soldiers. Now our strength is limited, if we really send so many people to occupy buildings, then the personnel used to defend the headquarters will be greatly weakened. "

"Then tell me, what should we do?" Konev asked angrily: "If you don't send troops to occupy the surrounding buildings, the enemy can suppress us from there; send people to occupy, you It is also said that the strength of the division headquarters has become weak. Then tell me, what should we do?"

Seeing that the division commander was angry, Fritzman thought for a long time, and finally said: "Comrade commander, I think it's better to concentrate all the troops that our regiment can use to defend the division headquarters."

"What kind of concentration method?"

"The first and second battalions are now fighting the Germans in other places. They must have no hope." Fritzman said to Konev: "The rest is the third battalion and the part you brought from the division headquarters." The total force does not exceed 300 people. We can put machine guns on the roof of the theater and block the road to the theater."

"What if the enemy takes over nearby buildings?"

"It doesn't matter. The roof of the theater is higher than those buildings. Our machine gun fire points are fully capable of suppressing the enemies occupying the buildings."

"Okay, then do as you said." Konev said to Fritzmann: "I think we may stay here for a long time, so I will leave the security of the division headquarters to Your regiment is here to take charge."

Members of the division headquarters outside the city, after receiving Konev's notice, also moved to the city one after another. Not far away, Rubimov was at a loss when he saw this. He wanted to contact the division headquarters to find out what he should do next. But the division headquarters didn't know where it was, and they couldn't get in touch even if they wanted to.

He stood there in a daze for a while, and suddenly saw the observation post not far away, and remembered that Commander Sokov was there, so he trotted all the way over, wanting to directly ask Sokov for a mission.

Before he got close to the observation post, he was stopped by hidden soldiers who asked politely, "Comrade major, where are you going?"

"Comrade soldier, I want to see the commander, please let me go."

The soldiers who stopped him didn't know Rubimov, so naturally they wouldn't let him go, but said with a straight face: "I'm sorry, Comrade Major, I don't know you, and I have no right to let you go. You should go back."

The soldier was worried, and Rubimov was unwilling to go back like this. Just when he was in a dilemma, he suddenly saw a familiar figure, and he waved at him quickly and said, "Lieutenant Koshkin, Lieutenant Koshkin."

Koshkin, who was on patrol, heard Rubimov's call, and walked over quickly. After nodding at him, he asked politely, "Major Rubimov, what can you do?"

"Lieutenant Koshkin," Rubimov said anxiously, "I just saw that the division headquarters has moved to the city, while our regiment is still outside the city. I wanted to find the division commander, but I couldn't find it. So I can only come to find the commander, and want to ask him, should our regiment stay outside the city, or go into the city with the division headquarters."

After figuring out Rubimov's background, Koshkin said with a smile: "Comrade Major, I think it's right for you to ask the commander about this kind of thing. If he assigns you a mission, even if Colonel Konev knows I won't say anything."

Koshkin took Rubimov to the observation post and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, Major Rubimov, commander of the artillery regiment, is here!"

"Hello, Comrade Major." Sokov turned around and shook hands with Rubimov, and then said: "Good job, Comrade Major, your artillery fire destroyed the German wall and opened a path for our offensive troops. Channel, just for this, after the battle is over, you can get a medal."

Hearing that he could get a medal, Rubimov blushed with excitement, "Comrade Commander, is this all true?"

"Major Rubimov, do you think I'm going to joke with you about this kind of thing?"

"No, no." Rubimov replied with a smirk: "How could it be, Comrade Commander, how could you be joking with me about such a thing!"

"Major Rubimov, what are you doing here when you're not on your battery?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Rubimov, who was so excited that he didn't know his surname, remembered the purpose of his trip, and said quickly: "Comrade Commander, the division headquarters have all moved forward to the city now. Leave our artillery regiment outside the city. I would like to ask, what is the next task of our regiment, should we continue to stay outside the city, or move to the city immediately?"

"Didn't Colonel Konev give your regiment an assignment?"

"No," Rubimov shook his head and said in an affirmative tone: "Before he entered the city, he didn't explain anything to me. Our regiment didn't receive orders from our superiors, so we don't know what to do now?"

Sokov stared at Rubimov standing in front of him, and began to think about how to arrange the artillery unit. After thinking for a while, he asked, "Major Rubimov, how much ammunition do you have left?"

"Comrade Commander, according to your order before the start of the campaign, each artillery has prepared ammunition of three bases." Rubimov replied: "The battle has continued so far, and the shells have consumed two bases, that is, Say, there is still a base number of shells available."

"There is still a base number of shells, and the number is really quite a lot." After figuring out the ammunition situation of the artillery regiment, Sokov ordered to the other party: "I think so, you send an artillery battalion into the city to assist The infantry will attack the fortifications. The remaining two artillery battalions will continue to stay where they are and stand by."