Red Moscow

After Zhukov and Vasilevsky came out of Stalin's office, they immediately drafted an order in the name of the Supreme Command to send a messenger to the Second Ukrainian Front by plane.

Although the courier set off by plane, it took several hours to fly to the front line. Zhukov decided that he needed to notify Konev in advance for such an important matter.

After the call was connected, Konev was somewhat puzzled when he heard that Zhukov was calling him. He thought that Zhukov should stay in Kiev at this moment and command the troops of the First Front Army. How could he appear in Moscow?

However, he thought that Zhukov's calling himself was definitely not for small talk, but for something more important, so he tentatively asked, "Comrade Marshal, is there anything important?"

"Marshal Konev, I called you today to announce an order from the Supreme Command!"

Hearing that it was an order from the Supreme Command, Konev suddenly became nervous: "Please tell me!"

"From now on, the 27th Army and the 53rd Army will be formed into a new combat group. The commander of the group will be Admiral Sokov, and at the same time continue to serve as the commander of the 53rd Army. The deputy commander will be the current commander of the 27th Army. Commander Trofimenko."

"What, form two armies into one combat group?" Konev was dumbfounded after hearing Zhukov's order: "Comrade Marshal, as far as I know, whether it is our army or the German army, a combat group has The strength is only a few regiments or brigades, and at most two divisions. This is the first time I have heard of a combat group composed of two army groups."

"There is a first time for everything." After Zhukov finished speaking, he explained to Konev: "The Supreme Commander himself is not satisfied with your recent results, so Vasilevsky and I discussed and decided Forming such a combat group can improve the predicament you are currently encountering."

Before Konev could speak, he continued: "Marshal Konev, the reason why we merged the 27th and 53rd armies and let Sokov be the commander of the group is because we considered that the two armies They have all been commanded by Sokov, and commanders at all levels are not only familiar with Sokov, but also like his commanding style."

"But the battle group formed by the two armies is a bit too large." Konev said with a wry smile, "I'm worried that Sokov alone will not be able to control this force."

"Isn't there Trofimenko as the deputy commander?" Zhukov said: "Although Trofimenko has become the commander of the 27th Army, the combat effectiveness of the unit has declined, but after all, he is a man with rich experience. An old commander with command experience, he will assist Sokov, I believe Sokov will be able to manage this unit well."

"Comrade Marshal, let me have a few words with Marshal Konev." Vasilevsky took the microphone from Zhukov's hand and whispered in his ear, "Marshal Konev, I am Vasilevs Ki. After the formation of the Sokov combat group, although the total force is equivalent to a small front army, they still have to accept your command. If you find that Comrade Sokov has made any mistakes in command, you can point it out to him Well."

Konev saw that the deal was done, and even if he wanted to object, it would be useless, so he could only say helplessly: "Okay, Marshal Vasilevsky, I will immediately convey the order of the Supreme Command to General Sokov. "

After putting down the phone here, Konev came to the map hanging on the wall and stared at the location of the Transnistria in a daze.

Seeing this, Chief of Staff Zakharov hurried over and asked with concern, "Comrade Marshal, what happened? I think you lost your mind after answering a phone call."

Konev turned his head and looked at Zakharov and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, something happened. The superior intends to withdraw two armies from our front."

"What, two armies were taken away?" Hearing what Konev said, Zakharov couldn't help exclaiming. You know, the Second Front Army now has only seven armies, with a total strength of 600,000 troops. Leaving two group armies is equivalent to reducing one-third of the combat power. As the chief of staff, he is not in a hurry: "Why did the superior do this?"

"It is like this," Konev said to Zakharov: "The Supreme Command is not satisfied with our recent achievements, so it decided to transfer the 27th and 53rd armies to form a new combat group."

"Use two armies to form a combat cluster?" Zakharov said with a look of shock: "Isn't the formation of the troops too large? I really can't think of any commander in the front army who can be the commander of the cluster." duty."

"The Supreme Command has made a decision. Sokov will be the commander of the cluster. The official order has been sent by a courier by special plane."

"Oh, it turns out that Sokov is the commander of the cluster." When Zakharov heard that the newly formed unit was actually commanded by Sokov, he felt more at ease, and even took the initiative to say: "Two The group army is all his old subordinates, I believe that the commanders and fighters can adapt to his command style, so it should not be difficult to establish meritorious service on the battlefield."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I'm thinking, since the superior appointed Sokov as the commander of the battle group, how to fight the next battle, I should ask him first to see what he plans."

"Comrade Marshal, there is one thing I forgot to ask just now." Zakharov asked: "Who leads this battle group? Is it directly under the Supreme Command, or under our command?"

"Of course it is under our command." Konev said: "In any case, these two armies have so far belonged to the combat order of our Second Front Army."

"That's good, that's good." Hearing that the newly formed Sokov combat group is still part of the Ukrainian Second Front's combat order, Zakharov couldn't help but be overjoyed: "The more achievements Sokov makes, the more we The greater the benefit."

"The current situation on the battlefield is that our army's follow-up attack is weak." Konev said to Zakharov: "Although the written appointment of the combat group has not yet been sent, you can notify Sokov in advance and let him resume the attack. Adjust the deployment and prepare to continue to advance deep into the German defense."

"Okay, I'll call right away and tell him the good news."

When Sokov received a call from Zakharov, he was dumbfounded: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, what are you talking about? The Supreme Command intends to form the 27th and 53rd Army into a combat group, and I will be in charge Commander?" The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this possibility was unlikely, so he asked tentatively, "You're not joking with me, are you?"

"Comrade Sokov," Zakharov immediately restrained the smile on his face when he heard Sokov ask, and said seriously: "Do you think I will make fun of you for such a thing? The official letter of appointment is still on the way , you will receive it by tomorrow at the latest!"

As soon as Sokov put down the phone, Smirnov immediately stepped forward to shake hands with him: "Comrade commander, I congratulate you on becoming the commander of the combat group."

"Misha, I also congratulate you." Yakov also smiled and stretched out his hand to Sokov, "Not long ago, you were still saying that you missed the old comrades who fought side by side. Now it's alright, you become I became the commander of the group, and my old comrades in the 27th Army have become your old subordinates again, and you can fight side by side again."

"By the way, who is the deputy commander of the cluster?" Smirnov asked.

"It is Lieutenant General Trofimenko, Commander of the 27th Army Group." Sokov replied: "As the deputy commander of the group, he assists me in my work."

After Sokov finished speaking, Smirnov took the initiative to propose: "Comrade Commander, I have a suggestion. The chief of staff of the cluster should preferably be Major General Sameko, Chief of Staff of the 27th Army Group."

"Why?"

"Because he has been with you for a long time, he understands your combat style very well, and knows how to quickly and accurately convey your orders to all units." Smirnov said with a normal expression: "One more thing, his age I am light and energetic, and I can keep working even if I don’t sleep for three to five days. But now that I am old, I tend to feel sleepy during the day after staying up late.”

In Sokov's heart, he also felt that Sameko was more suitable than Smirnov to be the chief of staff of the cluster, but now he was partnering with Smirnov, and rashly proposed to let another commander be his new partner. He was worried that the other party Inevitably there will be resistance. Unexpectedly, Smirnov actually proposed to let Sameko be the new chief of staff, so he said smoothly: "Okay, comrade chief of staff, since you insist, then I will let Sameko be the chief of staff of the cluster."

In order not to make the other party feel disappointed, Sokov added after saying this: "Comrade Chief of Staff, although Major General Sameko is my old partner, he has not been in the army as long as you. If there's anything wrong with him, you can bring it up."

Sokov's words made Smirnov feel very useful. He nodded and said, "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I will try my best to assist General Sameko in his daily work."

While talking, the phone on the desk rang suddenly.

Smirnov, who was closest, picked up the microphone and said in his ear, "Yes, this is the headquarters of the 53rd Army Group. Where are you from?...What, the headquarters of the 27th Army Group?... Hello, I am Major General Smirnov, Chief of Staff of the Army Group... Please wait a moment, I will let the commander answer the phone immediately."

The next moment, Smirnov covered the microphone with his hands and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, it is General Trofimenko, commander of the 27th Army, who wants to talk to you."

"Hi, General Trofimenko!" Sokov took the microphone and said politely, "I'm Sokov!"

"Hello, General Sokov!" Trofimenko said respectfully on the other end of the phone: "I just received a call from the headquarters of the Front Army, knowing that our two armies have been combined into a new combat group. Called to report to you."

"General Trofimenko," Sokov asked into the microphone: "Have you informed the troops under the group army about the formation of the new battle group?"

"No, General Sokov." Trofimenko said respectfully on the phone: "I also just received the notification from the Front Army Command, and I haven't had time to convey it to the troops below."

"General Trofimenko, I suggest that you inform your subordinate troops immediately." Sokov was somewhat unhappy when he heard that the other party said that he had not had time to convey the formation of a combat group to the troops below: "Now there are There are many fighter planes, and I may give orders directly to the division commanders. If you don’t communicate this matter to the troops in time, and those commanders don’t obey my orders, what should I do?”

Hearing what Sokov said, Trofimenko was really dumbfounded. He secretly said that the 27th Army was originally your old team. Even if you directly give orders to division commanders, who should not obey them?

But there are some things that you can understand in your heart, but you can't say them out, so Trofimenko, who is dumb and eats coptis, can only say in a low voice: "General Sukov, I didn't think carefully, I will immediately convey the matter of forming a combat group. Go down and let all division commanders know the news."

"Forcing the Transnistria, you must not relax." Now that he can command Trofimenko, Sokov will naturally give orders to the other party: "Wait for General Chuvashov's 98th Guards Division After the attack on the right bank, the troops on the left bank immediately carried out a forced crossing, putting the Germans in a situation where they were surrounded by the enemy, so as to ensure that the troops could break through the German defense line of Transnistria."

"Don't worry, General Sokov." Trofimenko replied: "The chief of staff, General Sameko, is responsible for this matter. I think he will never betray your trust."

When the other party mentioned Sameko's name, Sokov couldn't help but said: "General Trofimenko, is Sameko by your side? I want to say a few words to him."

"I'm sorry, General Sokov." Unexpectedly, Trofimenko politely refused, "General Sameko is on the bank of the Dniester River at the moment, and I'm afraid I can't answer your call for the time being."

Knowing that Sameko couldn't answer his call, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. But considering that the other party is also doing business, he can only say regretfully: "Then I will go to see him when I am free."

After waiting for Sokov to put down the phone, Smirnov asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, since we have troops on the right bank of the Transnistria, why not let them launch an attack and take the opportunity to expand the area of ​​our landing field?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I also want to expand the area of ​​the landing field." Sokov said rather helplessly: "The troops currently stationed in the landing field on the right bank are only two regiments of the 41st Guards Division. Do not spread out. If the Germans counterattacked at this moment, our troops on the right bank would be in danger, and we must not take such a risk."

"Then when are you going to take action?"

"We have to wait until the 18th Guards Army of General Afunin arrives at the Transnistria." Sokov stared at the map and said, "His troops are the most powerful in our army group. When they arrive, we will Then we can safely and boldly develop in depth into the enemy's defense to expand the area of ​​our landing field."