Red Moscow

The troops of the 41st Guards Division broke through the Transnistrian defense line and established a landing field in the right bank area, which was soon known to the 52nd Romanian regiment stationed on the left bank.

After confirming the results of the Soviet army, Colonel Udrea, the head of the regiment, immediately left his regiment headquarters, drove to the division headquarters, and prepared to report the matter to General Antoneta.

At this time, in the headquarters of the Romanian 18th Division, the division commander Antonetta was chatting with the chief of staff Dinu.

"Chief of Staff, according to reports from troops outside the city, the Russians are trying to break through Transnistria and want to establish a strong landing field on the right bank." Antonetta asked: "Do you think they can achieve this goal?" ?"

"Mr. Commander, I believe they can break through the German defense line on the Transnistria and establish a wide landing field on the right bank." Dinu said solemnly: "But their current strength is not enough. If they want to achieve this A strategic goal, more troops and equipment need to be provided to the above-mentioned areas."

As soon as he finished speaking, an officer pushed the door in and reported to Antonetta: "Mr. Commander, Colonel Udrea, the commander of the 52nd regiment, has arrived and is outside the door at this moment."

Knowing that it was Udrea who came, Antonetta hurriedly said, "Hurry up and ask him to come in!"

The officer turned half a circle on the spot, and said to the person standing outside the door: "Colonel Udrea, please come in, the teacher is waiting for you."

After Udrea entered the door, he raised his hand to salute Antoneta and Dinu: "Mr. Sir, I am here because I have something important to report to you."

"What is it?" Antoneta said disapprovingly, "You want to report to me about the Russians forcibly crossing the Transnistria? I have already received information about this matter, although I admit that the Russians are very good at fighting. But it may take a considerable amount of time for them to break through the German defenses and establish a landing field on the right bank."

Udrea waited patiently for Antoneta to finish speaking, and said unexpectedly: "Mr. Commander, I came to the division headquarters today just to tell you that the Russians, no, it is the Soviet Red Army that has successfully broken through Dnieper." The Stern River defense line, severely damaged the defenders on the other side, and established a landing field."

"What, the Russians, no, it's the Soviet army." The name of the Soviet army in Dinu's mouth has changed from "Russians" with some contempt to "Soviet army": "They have really broken through the defense line, And build a landing field?"

"Yes, Mr. Chief of Staff." Udrea nodded, and replied truthfully: "The combat effectiveness of the Soviet army is far stronger than we imagined. After the bombardment raid, the tanks led the infantry to launch an attack. They rushed in. They crossed the bridge over the Transnistria, rushed to the opposite bank quickly, and quickly occupied the position before the Germans recovered from the shelling..."

After listening to Udrea's description of the battle, Antoneta was stunned. Before he took up the post of division commander, the unit he was in had fought against the Soviet army, and he naturally knew the combat effectiveness of the Soviet army. According to his thinking, despite the fact that there are more and more Soviet troops stationed in Otatz today, it may take a long time to break through the German defense on the Transnistria, assault to the opposite bank and establish a landing field.

But what he didn't expect was that the Soviet army successfully rushed to the opposite bank in such a short time, wiped out the defenders and established a landing field that could be used for attack.

"Mr. Commander," Dinu, through Udrea's narration, has confirmed that the strength of the Soviet army has exceeded his imagination, so he took the initiative to propose to Antoneta: "Given that the strength of the Soviet army is so strong, I think The way of cooperation with them should be adjusted appropriately."

"A proper adjustment?" Antonetta asked puzzled, "What kind of adjustment?"

"In the cooperation agreement drawn up by the two parties, it is clearly stated: the Soviet army is responsible for the battle with the Germans, while our army is only responsible for the security of the city to ensure the safety of their rear."

"That's right, that's how the original agreement was." Antonetta looked at his chief of staff and asked suspiciously, "Chief of staff, is there anything wrong?"

"Mr. Commander, when we signed the agreement with the Soviet army, it was just a stopgap measure." Dinu explained to Antoneta: "If they can win the battle, we will naturally be their allies; but if they lose, Forced to withdraw from the city, and because our army did not fight the Germans, we can naturally choose to cooperate with the Germans again.

But judging from the current situation, it is almost impossible for the Germans to capture the city again. Therefore, we must change from passive cooperation with the Soviet army to active cooperation. "

"Chief of Staff, can you explain clearly how to change from passive cooperation to active cooperation?"

Dinu cast his eyes on Udrea standing beside him: "Mr. Sir, if I'm not mistaken, Colonel Udrea came here today to change the way of cooperation."

"Oh," Antoneta heard what Dinu said, looked up at Udrea and said, "Colonel, if you have any good ideas, you might as well tell us."

"Mr. Commander," Udrea said solemnly: "Our regiment is now stationed on the bank of the Dniester River. Now that most of the Soviet troops have reached the opposite bank, the defense on the left bank has become empty. You see, whether Can you propose to General Sokov that our regiment take over the vacated positions?"

He was deeply afraid that his proposal would be rejected by Antonetta, and he specifically added: "It was originally our regiment's defense zone, and it is very appropriate for us to take over and protect the rear of the Soviet army."

"Colonel, do you mean that we should fight with the Russians, no, with the Soviet army?" Antoneta looked at Udrea and asked, "Is my understanding correct?"

"Exactly, sir." Seeing that Antonetta understood what he wanted to express, Udrea nodded and said, "Actually, there are still many things we can do. First, take over the positions they vacated. Next..."

"The next step is to fight side by side with them and jointly attack Faxi Temple in Germany. Right?" Dinu interjected.

"Yes, Mr. Chief of Staff, you are right." Udrea saw that the two did not clearly object to his proposal, so he boldly continued: "If the current trend continues, the Soviet army will enter Romania. It’s just a matter of time. I think that the choice Romania can make is to withdraw from the Axis powers and join the Soviet army to fight against the Germans.”

Udrea’s words made Antonetta understand that Romania will stand on the same front with the Soviet army sooner or later, so why not take the lead in cooperating with the Soviet army? What about fighting side by side?

After thinking about this, Antonetta, who was eager to stand in line, quickly told Dinu: "Chief of Staff, help me connect to the Soviet Army Command. I want to talk to General Sokov in person."

Unexpectedly, Dinu sat in his seat and did not move. Just when Antonetta was about to attack, he heard the other party say: "Mr. Commander, I think that since we want to change the way of cooperation with the Soviet army, it may not be appropriate to make a phone call." , or we should go to the headquarters in person and have an interview with General Sokov, so that we can appear more sincere."

"Mr. Commander, I think the chief of staff is right." Udrea chimed in and said, "Since we want to cooperate with the Soviet army in a real sense, it is more sincere to talk face-to-face."

Seeing that Dinu and Udrea had the same opinion, Antonetta did not insist on his own opinion, but nodded and said, "Okay, then let's go to the Soviet Army Command."

When the three came outside the Soviet headquarters, they were unexpectedly blocked. The officer on duty looked at the three of them warily, and asked, "What are you looking for, Commander?"

"Mr. Officer!" Udrea, who was the lowest among the three, said to the officer with a smile: "We are the Romanian 18th Infantry Division, and this is our division commander, Major General Antoneta, and the one next to him is the staff officer. Colonel Chief Dinu, I am Colonel Udrea, the head of the 52nd Regiment. We really have something important to do and we need to see General Sokov immediately, please pass it on.”

After the star officer found out the identity of the other party, he knew that his troops were cooperating with the Romanian army. Now that the three military officers of the other party have come to visit, there is indeed no reason to reject the other party.

"You wait, I will go in and inform you."

After receiving the report from the officer on duty, Sokov showed a confused expression on his face: "You mean, the commander and chief of staff of the Romanian 18th Infantry Division are outside the door?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander. In addition to the two of them, there is also a commander of the 52nd regiment, who is also with them."

Knowing that Antonetta, Dinu and others were coming, Sokov hurriedly told the other party, "Hurry up and ask them to come in."

A few minutes later, the officer on duty led Antoneta and the others in.

Seeing them entering the door, Sokov rushed to meet them, and after following them far away, he stretched out his hand and said in a friendly tone: "General Antoneta, welcome to my headquarters as a guest."

"Hello, General Sokov." Facing the general who made the Germans fearful, Antonetta showed enough respect: "I didn't expect that we would meet again so soon."

After calling the three of them to sit down, Sokov asked Antonetta bluntly: "General Antoneta, I wonder if you are here at my headquarters today. Is there anything important?"

"General Sokov, you are right. We are here today, and we have something very important to do." On the way here, Antoneta had already figured out how to answer the other party's question: "We hope to adjust the agreement. way of cooperation.”

"Adjust the cooperation method in the agreement?" Smirnov, who had just walked over, just heard Dinu's words, and said with a straight face, "How do you want to adjust?"

"In our original agreement, it was said that if the battle happened to the Germans, your army would be fully responsible, and the task of our division was only to maintain order in the city." After Antonetta finished speaking in one breath, he tried "I remember right?" he asked.

"Yes, absolutely correct." Smirnov said, "You remember correctly."

Antonetta waited for Smirnov to speak, and said with a smile: "I have been thinking about it for the past two days, since we have all stood on the same line in order to fight against the common enemy - the German Faxi Temple invaders. You should fight side by side. But now, your troops are fighting against the German army. And we are only responsible for such small issues as the security of the city, which is obviously inappropriate."

"Then how do you think about it and what do you plan to do next?" Smirnov asked.

"Since we are allies on the same front, there is no reason for you to fight the Germans in the front, while we maintain law and order in the rear." Antoneta continued: "Therefore, we intend to fight side by side with you. "

"Be more specific." Sokov interjected, "This way we can figure out your intentions."

"General Sokov," Udrea felt that it would be more appropriate for him to speak up on this matter. If Antonetta came forward if he was rejected, there was still room for change: "I saw that your army crossed the Dne Stern River, the position that our troops gave up has become empty again. So I thought, since we are allies, why can't we take over the positions that you vacated to ensure the safety of your rear."

Udrea's words hit Sokov's mind. Now that the main force of the 18th Guards Army has not arrived, he hastily dispatched troops to establish a landing field on the right bank, and the defense force on the left bank has become weak. If the Romanian army can really help itself in the defense of individual areas, it can also relieve part of the pressure on itself.

Unexpectedly, Udrea saw that Sokov did not speak for a long time, thinking that the other party did not approve of his suggestion, and quickly added: "Actually, we also want to attack the Germans with you, but the combat effectiveness of the troops is too poor." , if you really go to the battlefield, I am afraid that not only will you not be able to help you, but it will become your burden. Therefore, I think it is okay for us to hold on to the vacated positions."

To be honest, Sokov looked down on the combat effectiveness of the Romanian army. The troops that were really capable of fighting were transferred to the Soviet Union by the German army to participate in the war as early as the Great Patriotic War, and were consumed a little bit. The combat power of these newly formed troops can't be compared with the early troops at all. If they are rashly allowed to participate in the battle, I'm afraid they will really become their own weakness.

Although it is not appropriate for the Romanian army to participate in the offensive, it can be considered if it is used to hold the position. If Udrea's 52nd regiment really takes over the position on the left bank, then he can deploy more troops to the right bank to consolidate the newly established landing field.

Faced with the sincerity expressed by the Romanian side, Sokov naturally would not pour cold water on the other party, so he nodded and agreed to Udrea's proposal: "Well then, Colonel Udrea, we will follow your The plan mentioned is to hand over the defensive positions on the left bank to you."

After finishing speaking, Sokov turned to Smirnov and said: "Chief of Staff, you immediately call Lieutenant Colonel Ponejielin, and ask him to notify the troops holding the position on the left bank and immediately report to the No. The 52nd regiment was handed over to defense."

Seeing that the Romanian army, which was originally tasteless, offered to help its side hold their ground, Smirnov also seemed very happy in his heart. He nodded and said, "Okay, Comrade Commander, I will immediately call Lieutenant Colonel Pornegerin and inform him of the good news."