Red Moscow

Stemenko came to the theater and met Sokov. Before the other party could speak, he said first, "Comrade Sokov, I have some good news for you."

Sokov, who was about to complain a few words, couldn't help being taken aback when he heard what Shtemenko said, and then asked, "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, what good news is there?"

"That's right. On the way we came here, we met a unit." Shtemenko said excitedly: "They are the vanguard of the 9th Regiment of the 4th Division of the Airborne Forces. According to the lieutenant who led the team, their main force may be They will enter the city one after another in a few minutes. As soon as they arrive, we will be able to expand the results of the battle."

"Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, this is really exciting news." Sokov said: "I will contact General Afunin immediately to see if the 4th Airborne Division has arrived near the city of Uman."

Fortunately, during the attack, the radio operator accompanying Sokov was not injured, and the radio station was not damaged, so General Afunin was easily contacted.

Sokov felt that the battle had come to this point, and even if he could monitor the conversation between himself and Afunin, he might not have time to take any measures, so he used plain language without any scruples: "Afunin General, where is the 4th Airborne Division?"

"Report to Comrade Commander," Afunin replied: "According to Major General Rumyantsev's report, the division's 9th and 12th regiments have already entered Uman City, while the 15th regiment is slightly behind, but it will also arrive at Uman at a moment's notice." Zhongnei entered the city. As for the 41st Guards Division, it may take half an hour to reach the outside of the city."

"Very good." Although the main force of the 18th Guards Army did not reach the outskirts of Uman City within the time specified by him, the addition of the new force made the battle in Uman City more beneficial to him: " General Afunin, after all the troops of the 18th Guards Corps have entered the city, you should also move your headquarters to the city."

Perhaps because he was worried about the other party's prevarication, Sokov added: "Now, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff and I are in Uman, in Colonel Konev's headquarters."

Sokov could have directly told Afunin the exact location of his headquarters. But worried about being known by the German army, in order to save their failed ending, the Germans will concentrate their efforts to launch a fierce attack on the theater, and things will not be so good. And after the 18th Guards Army entered the city, even if the Germans knew the location of the headquarters, they could only stare blankly.

After Sokov put down the phone, Shtemenko asked, "Comrade Sokov, what are your plans after the 18th Guards Army enters the city?"

"Of course it is to expand the results of the battle." Sokov explained to Shtemenko: "Before the other two armies arrive, try to expand the area under control."

"Aren't you considering taking over the city?"

Sokov looked at Shtemenko, hesitated for a moment, and asked back: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, do you want me to occupy the city, or completely control the city?"

If people from other countries listened to it, they would feel that Sokov's statement was inexplicable. Isn't occupying the city the same as controlling the city? But according to the tradition handed down from Tsarist Russia, as long as the red flag is planted on the top of the city's municipal building, the occupation of the city will be declared complete, even if most of the area is still under enemy control. But the control of the entire city, referring to the resistance of the city's establishment, has disappeared, and all areas have been controlled by the Soviet army.

Shtemenko did not give an answer, but said noncommittally: "That depends on how you think about it."

Sokov pointed to the map spread out on the table, and said to Shtemenko: "Now the 10th Airborne Regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Tunzik is only two blocks away from the municipal building. In an hour, the red flag can be planted on the top of the municipal building."

Without waiting for Shtemenko to speak, Sokov continued: "But I don't think it makes much sense to do so. I still prefer to annihilate the effective forces of the German army in the city, and then complete the control of the entire city."

After listening to Sokov's decision, Shtemenko nodded and said in an affirmative tone: "Comrade Sokov, since you have made a decision, then do it according to your ideas. This way, I also think it does not make much sense, but it is easy to make some offensive troops feel slack."

Colonel Konev, who was standing aside, couldn't help asking when he heard this: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, why do some troops feel slack?"

"The reason is very simple." Not only was Shtemenko not angry at Konev's reckless question, but he also patiently explained to him: "If you are ordered to occupy the municipal building, you will only advance if you have paid a huge price." When I got near the municipal building, I found a red flag flying on the top of the building. I want to ask you, in the next battle, will you continue to attack and move forward regardless?"

Konev thought for a while, then shook his head slowly, and said, "I think I will slow down the rhythm of the attack and eliminate the enemies in front of us bit by bit."

"That's right." Sokov waited for Konev to finish speaking, and then continued: "If the troops attacking from all directions find that there is no red flag flying on the municipal building, they will definitely want to plant the red flag upstairs. The top troops, in the next battle, they will show their great potential."

"Oh, that's how it is." After understanding Sokov's intentions, Konev nodded and said, "Comrade Commander, I understand that when I encounter such a situation in the future, I will give priority to annihilating the enemies in the city first." A vital force, and then plant our flag on top of the municipal building."

"Colonel Konev, the specific situation needs to be analyzed in detail." Sokov reminded Konev: "If the troops fighting in the city are all from the same group army, there is definitely nothing wrong with this style of play. But if you enter the city to fight The troops belong to several different group armies, so it is necessary to consider planting the flag on the municipal building first."

After a pause, Sokov said to Konev again: "Colonel Konev, since the 4th Airborne Division of Major General Rumyantsev has entered the city, you can properly shrink the troops and concentrate them to continue the attack. .”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Konev nodded and said, "Now my troops are too scattered. Due to the division of troops to guard the occupied areas, I have basically lost the ability to continue to expand the results of the battle."

"You first get in touch with Major General Rumyantsev." Although Sokov had a way to contact Rumyantsev, he didn't want to leapfrog command, but said to Konev: "Negotiate with him about the division of the offensive area. "

Colonel Konev did not dare to neglect, and quickly ordered his radio operator to contact the 4th Airborne Division and negotiate the division of the two divisions in the offensive area.

Seeing that the other party was busy, Sokov said to Shtemenko: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, after the main force of the army group has entered Uman, I will ask Chief of Staff Smirnov to move the headquarters to the Uman. We were directing operations from the headquarters. What do you think?"

Shtemenko knew very well that the reason why Sokov said this was that he was worried that if he ran around again, it would make him worry, so he nodded and said, "Okay, Comrade Sokov, I will obey you." s arrangement."

Sokov was indeed worried about the safety of Shtemenko. If he really did something good or bad in Uman City, he might be the commander of the group army. After listening to his promise at this moment, the boulder hanging in his heart fell to the ground.

Konev quickly ended the call with Major General Rumyantsev, and came to report to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, Major General Rumyantsev will come to me soon, and we will discuss it in detail. Divide the combat area."

Sokov nodded after hearing this, and reminded Konev: "Comrade Colonel, you have to remember that the troops that liberated Uman are not just your two divisions. Before long, two infantry corps will catch up. You know, you have to give them space to attack. Got it?"

"Understood, Comrade Commander."

"Comrade Sokov," Shtemenko suddenly remembered an important thing: "I think that after you seized the municipal building, you should send someone to check the German archives and look at the building where tens of thousands of prisoners of war were held. Where is the open pit."

One word awakened the dreamer, Sokov had only considered how to capture Uman these days, and really forgot about it. At this moment, after being reminded by Shtemenko, he nodded quickly and said, "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, you reminded me in time. I will explain to the troops who seized the municipal building and find a way to get the relevant files of the Germans."

Twenty minutes later, Rumyantsev appeared in front of Sokov. After raising his hand and saluting, he reported in accordance with the regulations: "Comrade Commander, Major General Rumyantsev, Commander of the 4th Division of the 18th Guards Airborne Corps, reports to you..."

"Hello, General Rumyantsev." Before he could finish speaking, Sokov pulled his hand from his forehead, shook it vigorously a few times, and asked, "Your divisions have all entered the city?" ?”

"Yes, Comrade Commander. The entire division has entered the city."

"Where are your troops located?"

Major General Rumyantsev looked left and right, then walked to the table, looked down at the map spread out on it, and asked Sokov politely, "Comrade Commander, can I use this map?"

Sokov knew that the other party planned to use this map to explain to him the distribution of the division's troops, so he nodded and said reasonably, "Yes."

"Comrade Commander," Rumyantsev waited for Sokov to stand beside him, pointing to the map and began to explain: "According to the city defense map we obtained before the battle started, we can know that most of the German troops are concentrated In the north of the city, to resist the attack of the Ukrainian First Front Army. In our direction, the total strength of the German army is only two regiments, mainly distributed in municipal buildings, opera houses, stadiums and other places. This is how I think..."

Sokov listened patiently to Rumyantsev's explanation, and at the same time kept nodding his head slightly. He felt that the other party's thinking was very clear, which areas could be the priority targets for attack, and which areas could be temporarily defended to contain the German troops. To cover friendly forces to seize more important targets.

After Rumyantsev finished speaking, Sokov smiled and asked the other party: "Comrade General, I would like to ask, how many years have you been a division commander?"

"Report to Comrade Commander." Faced with Sokov's question, Rumyantsev straightened his back and replied, "After the Battle of Stalingrad, I was promoted to major general and served as the commander of the infantry division. Three At the beginning of the month, I was appointed commander of the 4th Guards Airborne Division."

"So, you have been in the position of division commander for a whole year." Sokov said with a smile: "It seems that the troops you command have achieved a lot of results, otherwise you would not be transferred from the infantry division. To Guards Airborne Division."

Hearing what Sokov said, Rumyantsev immediately realized that the commander might have meant something else, and just as he was about to hear what he had to say, Sokov waved at him and said, "General Rumyantsev, Now that you and Colonel Konev have delineated the combat area, return to your troops as soon as possible and start fighting against the Germans."

After Rumyantsev left, Shtemenko asked Sokov in a low voice: "Comrade Sokov, I found that you seem to be very interested in this Major General Rumyantsev."

"That's right, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, you have observed very carefully." Regarding Shtemenko's guess, Sokov did not deny: "Just now, when Major General Rumyantsev explained the division of combat areas, the ability he showed , you should have seen it too. I think such an excellent commander, now only serves as the division commander, is a bit too condescending."

Shtemenko agrees with Sokov's point of view: "We have fought for so many years, and many commanders have grown up in the war, but the number of outstanding senior commanders is still very small. Like Rumen A capable commander like Major General Tsev, I think he can get a higher position."

"After this battle is over, I think the higher-ups may make some adjustments to the troops." Sokov felt that among the three army commanders under him now, except for Afunin, when the other two army commanders carried out their orders, Both have the habit of procrastinating and evading, and if possible, they must be replaced by someone. "If good commanders can be found, I don't mind giving them higher positions, such as army commanders."

"Don't act too hastily, Comrade Sokov." Shtemenko reminded him that Sokov would act if he said that it might cause instability in the army: "Even if we want to adjust the candidate for the army commander, I think it will be difficult for him to do so." It should wait until Uman is liberated."

"You are right, Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff. Adjusting the senior commander at this moment will have a negative impact on the morale and morale of the troops." Sokov said: "I just make preparations in advance and wait for the right time When they are mature, it is not too late to replace them."

After the two airborne divisions adjusted their respective areas of operation, the battle went smoothly. In less than an hour, most of the areas south of the city were already under their control.

The two division commanders played very steadily. Once they occupied a place, they quickly consolidated their positions and arranged enough troops for defense to prevent possible German counterattacks.

Looking at the red arrow representing the Soviet army on the map, and the blue arrow representing the German army, Shtemenko said with emotion: "Comrade Sokov, if we did not get the Adelina brought back before we launched an attack on Uman Information, I think the battle may not be as smooth as it is now."

"Yes," Sokov said, pointing to the map, "If it weren't for Adelina's intelligence to figure out the deployment of the German army, I estimate that the troops of the 18th Guards Army are still attacking the German army outside the city. What about the outlying positions?"