Red Moscow

Sokov waited for Koshkin to leave, then lay on the bed again, ready to sleep with his eyes closed. But too many things happened tonight, his brain was in a state of excitement, and he couldn't sleep at all.

It wasn't until the sky outside the window dawned that he fell asleep in a daze.

Unexpectedly, not long after falling asleep, he was awakened by a hasty knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Sokov, whose dream was disturbed, yelled at the door angrily, "Who is at the door?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the knocking on the door stopped abruptly.

Sokov turned over and got out of bed, came to the door with bare feet, and slammed the door open, only to find a combat staff officer standing at the door.

"Comrade Staff Officer," Sokov knew very well that the appearance of the combat staff officer at his door meant that a battle was about to start, so he asked in a slow tone, "Did something happen?"

"Comrade Commander," the combat staff officer replied respectfully, "General Tsarev asked me to invite you, saying that the Germans are gathering on the right bank of the Transnistria and asking if you can fire immediately."

"Comrade staff, please go back and tell General Tsarev." Sokov said to the staff when he learned that the battle was about to start, "If he thinks the opportunity is ripe, he can immediately order the artillery to fire at the enemy."

He turned his head and glanced into the room, and added: "You go back to the headquarters first, I'll pack up and go there."

Ten minutes later, Sokov appeared in the headquarters after washing up. He came to Smirnov and asked bluntly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, why haven't you fired on the German troops on the other side?"

"Comrade Commander," Smirnov saw Sokov coming, and quickly reported to him: "General Tsarev said that the order for the artillery to fire on the enemy still needs to be issued by you." After finishing speaking, he He rushed to the side and shouted, "General Tsarev, Comrade Commander is here, please come here."

Tsarev, who was busy, heard that Sokov was coming, and immediately trotted over, "Comrade Commander, our artillery is ready to fire, and we are just waiting for your order."

After hearing this, Sokov was a little dumbfounded, and he said to Tsarev: "General Tsarev, you are the artillery commander, and you can give the order to fire on the German army's assembly point directly, without asking me for everything. Understand? ?”

"Understood, Comrade Commander. I will immediately issue an order to the artillery to shell the assembled German troops." Tsarev sighed softly after speaking, and said in a regretful tone: "It's really It's a pity that such a silent dawn will soon be broken by the sound of our artillery."

"General Tsarev, we broke the silence of the dawn with the sound of cannons today, so that there will be more dawns in the future, and we can enjoy the silence at this moment." Sokov didn't want to talk nonsense with Tsarev, so he waved at him, He ordered: "The fighter planes on the battlefield are fleeting, order the artillery to fire!"

When the sound of rumbling guns came from outside the house, Smirnov asked Sokov for instructions: "Comrade Commander, according to the information fed back by our scouts, the German army on the other side has only one infantry regiment equipped with a small number of tanks and artillery. After the raid, shall we hold our ground, or shall we strike decisively and quickly establish a landing field on the right bank of the Transnistria?"

Sokov originally planned to follow the order of the Front Army Command, focusing on defense, and only engaged in small-scale battles with the enemy in individual areas. But at this moment, Smirnov's proposal couldn't help but make him feel excited. You must know that with the 27th and 52nd armies entering the battlefield, the offensive breadth of his troops has been greatly reduced. In other words, he can concentrate more troops to attack in a certain direction.

Seeing Sokov staring at the map on the table in a daze, Smirnov naturally understood that the other party was weighing the stakes, so he didn't urge him. It wasn't until he received a call from Colonel Papchenko that he couldn't help urging Sokov: "Comrade Commander, have you considered it?"

Sokov raised his head, looked at Smirnov and asked, "Chief of Staff, do you think we should attack?"

Smirnov raised the microphone in his hand and said to Sokov: "I am talking to Colonel Papchenko, the head of the 122nd regiment. He said that he saw the Germans from his regiment command post. The assembly area has turned into a sea of ​​flames, presumably the enemy's casualties are not small, he thinks he should go out decisively to destroy the remaining enemies, and find a way to establish a landing field on the right bank."

Sokov did not immediately give an answer, but said to Smirnov: "Let him wait a moment." Then he called a staff officer and asked, "Where is Colonel Burgos, our armored corps director?"

"Report to Comrade Commander," the staff officer replied respectfully: "Colonel Burgos has gone to the 122nd Regiment's defense area. He said that he is going to lead the tank brigade himself and give the Germans a lesson they will never forget."

"Can I get in touch with him?"

"Of course, Comrade Commander." The staff officer replied: "He can be contacted by phone at his location, and I will help you connect to his phone."

The call was quickly connected, and Sokov put the receiver close to his ear, and said loudly: "Colonel Burgos, this is Sokov. Let me ask you now, how long will it take if you give the tank brigade a sortie mission?" Time to launch an attack on the German army?"

"Five minutes, Comrade Commander." Burgos replied on the phone: "The commanders and fighters of the tank brigade are all ready to attack. As long as you give an order, you can immediately launch an attack on the German army on the other side."

"Very good." Sokov was very satisfied with his answer and told him: "As soon as the shelling is over, you will personally lead a tank brigade to attack the position on the right bank of the Transnistria. Break through the German defenses on the right bank in the shortest possible time. Do you understand?"

Regarding Sokov's order, Burgos said with some hesitation: "Comrade commander, the Germans have a lot of anti-tank fighters on the right bank. Without the cooperation of infantry, we would not be able to pass through their defense line at all."

"You can rest assured about the issue of infantry." Sokov knew that tank units without infantry cover were lambs waiting to be slaughtered in the eyes of the German anti-tank fighters, so he comforted them and said, "I will send infantry Follow your assault."

As soon as the phone was put down here, Sokov called the headquarters of the 41st Guards Division again: "I'm Sokov, find Ponejerin for me, hurry up!"

Under Sokov's urging, the staff officer who answered the phone quickly found Ponejelin. "Hello, Comrade Commander! I'm Ponegelin, what instructions do you have?"

"According to the current situation of our army, the German army has only one regiment on the right bank of the Dniester River, and they are equipped with tanks and artillery that are not very skilled." Sokov said seriously: "So I changed my mind and planned to Assault on the right bank and find a way to establish a landing field."

"Comrade Commander, although the Germans have a small number of troops, they will find that when our army launches an attack, their resistance will be very tenacious." Seeing that Sukov had made up his mind to take the right bank, Pornegerin proposed what he is currently doing. The problem we are facing: "So I hope to get the reinforcement of tank troops, which will be very helpful for us to break through the enemy's defense line."

"There is no problem with this." Sokov replied readily: "I have already made an agreement with Colonel Burgos, the director of the armored forces. Once the shelling stops, he will immediately lead a tank brigade to attack the German positions on the right bank. And Your 122nd Regiment will follow behind to quickly establish a position on the right bank, and to protect our tanks and eliminate those German anti-tank fighters."

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Ponejielin quickly stated: "I will immediately call Colonel Papchenko and ask him to prepare for the attack. At the same time, I also plan to transfer the 124th regiment to the area , used as a reserve team.”

"Well, you are very thoughtful, so let's do it."

After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Smirnov, who was still holding the microphone: "The chief of staff informs you, please tell Colonel Papchenko that as soon as the shelling stops, their regiment will follow the tanks of the tank brigade. Launch an attack on the opponent. The official attack order will be conveyed to him by Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin himself."

When Papchenko heard what Smirnov said, he thought that the other party was perfunctory himself, but he dared not speak out, so he could only bite the bullet and said: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, I will immediately order the troops Be ready to attack, and be ready to follow our tanks at any time to launch an assault on the enemy's position."

"By the way," Smirnov suddenly remembered an important matter before hanging up the phone, and quickly added: "Also, I have dismantled all the anti-tank mines you have placed on the bridge. Accidentally, I blew up my own tank."

After being reminded by Smirnov, Papchenko immediately remembered the anti-tank mines he ordered to be placed on the bridgehead. It was originally intended to stop German tanks, but now it seems that these anti-tank mines are blocking their own tanks. He hurriedly said: "Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff, I will immediately send people to dismantle those anti-tank mines."

Since the artillery was only attacking the assembled German troops, it was not a regular pre-offensive artillery preparation. So the shelling lasted less than ten minutes before and after, and then came to an abrupt end.

Burgos, who had been ready for battle, immediately led a tank brigade and launched an assault on the German position on the opposite bank. The commanders and fighters of the 122nd Regiment, seeing that the tanks had driven onto the bridge, also came out of the concealed fortifications one after another, shouted Ulla with their weapons in hand, and bravely rushed to the German position on the opposite bank.

The German army, which had already been blown dizzy by the Soviet artillery fire, never dreamed that the shelling had just ended, and the smoke had not dissipated. The Soviet army on the other side, under the cover of tanks, launched an attack on their position. I was caught off guard.

A few surviving firepower points, seeing the Soviet infantry entering the range, immediately fired eagerly, trying to prevent them from approaching their positions. Unexpectedly, these exposed firepower points became the targets of Soviet tanks. After a series of shelling, the firepower points were all destroyed, and none of the soldiers inside were spared.

The firepower of the machine guns on the ground was muted. Although sporadic shooting could cause certain casualties to the Soviet army, it did not have the slightest effect on changing the situation of the battle.

Soon, the commanders and fighters of the 122nd Regiment rushed into the German positions under the cover of tanks, jumped into the trenches, and fought in the trenches with the surviving German troops.

Although the German troops holding their positions were desperately resisting, they were at an absolute disadvantage in terms of strength and equipment, but the shelling that ended not long ago made their morale extremely low. In less than twenty minutes, the commanders and fighters of the 122nd regiment occupied all the German positions on the right bank.

Seeing that the position had been occupied, Colonel Papchenko immediately called to report to Ponejielin and said: "Comrade commander, I have good news for you. Our regiment has successfully occupied the position on the right bank of the Transnistrian River and established a A solid landing field."

"Well done, Colonel Papchenko, you are really well done." Ponejielin firmly remembered what Sokov said, and established a landing site on the right bank of the Transnistria as a future The starting point of the offensive, "Since the enemy's position has been occupied, stop advancing and turn to defense on the spot. Hurry up to repair the fortifications, improve the defense system, and prevent possible counterattacks by the Germans."

Although Colonel Papchenko is still a little bit unsatisfied, since the commander gave the order, he can only obey unconditionally: "Yes, comrade commander, I will immediately order the troops to stop advancing, turn to defense on the spot, and hurry up to repair the fortifications. Improve the defense system."

After finishing the call with Papchenko, Ponedelin immediately reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I have the honor to report to you that the 122nd regiment of Colonel Papchenko has successfully occupied the We have cleared the German positions on the right bank and, following your orders, are establishing a solid landing field from which to build up our offensive."

"Very good, Lieutenant Colonel Ponejielin, you have done a good job." Sokov now only wants to establish a landing field on the right bank of the Transnistria to prepare for future attacks, and does not intend to continue to move forward, because The result of doing so will make him a key target of the German army: "Your next task is to consolidate the right bank and prepare for a counterattack against the German army."

"Comrade Commander," Tsarev expressed his puzzlement to the order issued by Sokov: "Since we have broken through the German defense line on the right bank, why don't we take the opportunity to expand the results of the battle? You know, we can use the The area of ​​the landing site has expanded by dozens or even hundreds of square kilometers."

"General Tsarev, I don't know if you have thought about it carefully." Sokov looked at Tsarev and said, "That's right, with the strength of our army group, even if the area of ​​the landing field is doubled, there is no problem. .

But have you ever thought that the friendly forces on the left and right flanks are now more than ten or twenty kilometers behind us. If we advance further, we will become a lone army. If the Germans were to turn around from both sides, we would be surrounded by them.

But now, after we have captured the German position on the right bank of the Transnistria, we are concentrating on establishing a reliable landing field. First, it can be used as a starting point for future attacks; Eliminate possible threats to our left and right. "

After listening to Sokov's words, Tsarev finally understood the other party's intentions. He nodded and said, "I understand, Comrade Commander. You are worried that our army will go deep alone and will fall into the encirclement of the German army. This led to a reversal of the situation on the battlefield. Concentrating our forces on consolidating the occupied areas is very helpful for our next operations.”