Red Moscow

"Also." Smirnov, as a chief of staff, continued to remind Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the troops you are commanding now have doubled in size, and I am afraid that you will no longer be able to use the previous command method."

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff, you are quite right." Sukov was very grateful for Smirnov's reminder: "If the troops I command only have one army group, in order not to delay the fighter plane, I will You can directly bypass the military-level command organization and give orders to the division-level commanders below. But now there are more than ten or twenty divisions, and the efficiency of commanding according to the previous method will become extremely low.”

"Today's 27th Army is the same as ours. It has three additional armies, and each army has several divisions." Smirnov continued: "I think you can give orders to each army, and then the divisions will be assigned to each army. The commanders of the corps passed the orders to the commanders of the divisions."

"This is a good idea." Sokov nodded, and then told Smirnov: "Then find a way to find out which armies under the 27th Army and who their commanders are. I report."

After instructing Smirnov, Sokov came to the communication area and asked the director of the communications corps: "Comrade director, can I get in touch with the 98th Guards Division?"

"Comrade Commander," who knew that the director of the communications corps asked back after listening, "I wonder if you plan to send a telegram to the 98th Guards Division, or call directly?"

"Oh, can you still call them?"

"Yes," the director of the communications corps nodded and explained: "When the division was crossing the river, it found an abandoned communication line. After testing by the communications corps, it was found that this line was still usable, so we established a telephone call with us. connect."

"This is really great." Sukov was worried that some things would not be clear in the telegram. Since he can talk on the phone, it is naturally the best: "Comrade director, immediately help me get through to the division headquarters of the 98th Guards Division." .”

The call was quickly connected, and Chuvashov's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Commander, what do you want from me?"

Sokov didn't exchange pleasantries or go around in circles, but asked bluntly, "When can you launch an attack on the German river defense position?"

"The troops have been deployed." Chuvashov replied: "I plan to wait until after dark to attack the enemy. The Germans can't see how many troops we have at night, and they will definitely fall into chaos..."

"General Chuvashov, don't you know that your troops are now in a completely unfamiliar area. If you wait until dark to launch an attack. How can you guarantee that the commanders are leading the troops in the right direction? After Sokov finished speaking, he said in an unquestionable tone: "I order you now to immediately launch an attack on the German river defense position."

Chuvashov did not expect a 180-degree change in Sokov's attitude and when they met, he couldn't help but said with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, but I have already reported the plan to attack after dark to the commander of the group army. Department. Without the permission of the superior, the attack time cannot be changed casually."

"General Chuvashov, I now announce to you one thing: According to the instructions of the Supreme Command, the 27th and 53rd armies have been formed into a new combat group, and the commander of the group is me, and Trofimenko Will, just my second-in-command. Understand?"

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Knowing that Sokov was back to command him again, Chuvashov became excited as if he had been beaten with chicken blood, and he replied loudly, "I firmly obey your orders."

"Okay, since you said you would obey my order, then I will order you to attack the enemy's river defense positions immediately." Sokov told the other party on the phone: "Don't just concentrate your forces to attack the positions along the river. , You can also mobilize a part of the troops and rush directly to the enemy's rear, completely disrupting their defenses, which is very beneficial to our army's offensive."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Chuvashov said confidently: "I will order Shamrikh's 296th Guards Regiment to rush into the depth of the enemy's defense and completely disrupt the enemy's defense deployment."

Chuvashov's words reminded Sokov of the battalion commander who led the sailors to fight the enemy with bayonets on Mamayev Post, so he asked casually, "Is Shamrikh still a major now?"

"No, Comrade Commander." Chuvashov replied: "Due to his outstanding performance on the battlefield, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel not long ago, and several capable officers under him have also received corresponding military ranks. promotion." After introducing Shamrih's situation, he added a special sentence, "I think he will be very happy to know that you come back to command us."

"General Chuvashov, please tell him and his subordinates the good news that I have re-commanded the 27th Army." to boost morale."

After assigning combat tasks to the 98th Guards Division, Sokov felt that they could not be allowed to fight alone on the right bank, so he called Ponegerin again: "Lieutenant Colonel Pornegerin, how many troops do you have in Germany?" The right bank of the Nestor?"

"Two regiments, Comrade Commander." Ponedelin didn't know why Sokov asked, but he replied truthfully: "Colonel Papchenko's 122nd regiment, and Colonel Starcha's 122nd regiment." 124 regiments."

"Lieutenant Colonel Ponegelin, the Romanian army is helping to defend the city and the left bank. You can also transfer the remaining 126th regiment to the right bank." Sokov told the other party on the phone: " The 98th Guards Division of General Chuvashov is about to launch an attack on the German river defense positions. I am worried that his strength is weak, so I plan to transfer the 122 and 124 regiments to support him. Do you have any objections? "

"No." Ponegerin was used to obeying. Since it was Sokov's order, he naturally had to obey it unconditionally: "I can personally lead these two regiments and assist the friendly forces to attack the German positions."

Sending two regiments at the same time, if there is no unified command, Sokov is really worried that during the war, the two regiments will fight independently and will not support each other. At this moment, when I heard Ponegerin say that I plan to lead the attack in person, my heart suddenly became more at ease: "Lieutenant Colonel Pornegerin, your task is to rush into the depths of the German defense with a part of the 98th Guards Division." , It is very important to smash their defenses to pieces, which is also very beneficial for our next battle."

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Pornegerin said respectfully, "I will pass on your order immediately."

After finishing the phone call, Smirnov came over and was about to report to Sokov, but he stopped him by raising his hand. Then Sokov called over to Tsarev: "Commander of the Artillery, can the artillery we deploy by the river hit the German river defense positions?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Tsarev nodded, and replied in an affirmative tone: "Whether it is possible to reach the upper reaches of the German army, even part of the defensive area in the lower reaches is within the range of our artillery fire." .”

"Comrade Artillery Commander, what we have to deal with now is only the upstream enemy." Sokov said to Tsarev: "As for the downstream enemy, let the friendly forces deal with it. Wait for the attack of the 98th Guards Division From the start, your artillery shells the enemy's defensive positions, suppressing their firepower, and covering for friendly forces to seize the enemy's positions."

After waiting for Sokov to finish speaking, Smirnov handed over a list he had recorded, and said, "Comrade Commander, these generals are the three commanders of the 27th Army."

Sokov took it over and looked at it, but he didn't recognize any of the names on it. After he put the list on the table, he looked at Smirnov and asked, "Which one is the army on the left bank that is going to participate in the crossing operation?"

"I've already asked. It's Colonel Shechtman's 254th Infantry Division."

"Oh, it turned out to be Shechtman's unit. I didn't expect him to be a colonel after such a long time."

Hearing what he said, the muscles on Smirnov's face twitched violently a few times, and he thought to himself: Do you think everyone is as evil as you and became a general at a young age? Some people have been in the army all their lives, and maybe when they get out of the army, they are just an ordinary corporal. Shechtman can become a colonel and serve as the commander of the 254th Infantry Division, which proves that he is still capable.

"Lieutenant Colonel Vanya, Chief of Staff of the 762nd Regiment of the division, was my subordinate when I was still a platoon leader in Khimki." Sokov said to Smirnov, "Try to see if you can contact him directly." In the division, I want to talk to Colonel Shechtman."

"Director of the Communication Corps," Smirnov turned around and shouted towards the communication area, "Come here."

The next moment, the director of the Communication Corps appeared in front of Smirnov. He straightened his back and asked, "Comrade Chief of Staff, what instructions do you have?"

"Comrade Commander asked me to ask you, can you directly contact the 254th Infantry Division?"

Regarding Smirnov's question, the director of the communications corps did not immediately answer. He thought for a while, then said, "I need to try to know."

"Hurry up, Comrade Commander is in a hurry to talk to the division commander."

After more than ten minutes of tossing, the director of the communications corps finally got through to the division headquarters of the 254th Infantry Division.

The person answering the phone might be a staff officer. He asked impatiently, "This is the headquarters of the 254th Infantry Division. Where are you calling from?"

"I'm General Sokov." Sokov said simply into the microphone: "Please ask Colonel Shechtman to answer the phone. I have something important to talk to him about."

Soon, Shechtman's surprised voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Commander, is that you? I'm Shechtman!"

"Hello, Colonel Shechtman, it is a pleasure to hear your voice again."

"Comrade Commander," Shechtman said a little excitedly: "I just received a call from the Army Group Command, saying that our Army Group and your Army Group have been combined into a combat group, and you will be the commander. Is it real or fake?"

"Really, of course it is true." Sokov said into the microphone: "I called you just to confirm, is your division planning to forcefully cross the Transnistria?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander, it's our division." As soon as Sokov asked about the forced crossing of the Transnistria, Shechtman said in shame: "The German army on the other side has solid fortifications and well-established fortifications." With the defense system, our division launched several river-crossing operations in a row, but failed to achieve success."

"Colonel Shechtman, have you ever considered why you failed to cross the river?"

"The reason for the failure?" Hearing Sokov's question, Shechtman scratched the back of his head, and said with some embarrassment: "It may be because the German army on the other side has strong firepower and solid fortifications."

"Then did you prepare for artillery fire against the German fortifications before the attack?" Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, and immediately went on to ask: "When the troops began to force their way, did you organize firepower to attack the German fortifications?" What about suppressing the German firepower?"

"No." Shechtman replied embarrassingly: "The artillery regiment in our division did not provide artillery cover for the troops crossing the river because they did not have enough shells."

"Colonel Shechtman, look, after our analysis, we can find out the reason why you failed to cross the river." Sukov said: "Before the attack, if the German fortifications were not destroyed with artillery fire, then the When you attack, the Germans can rely on these fortifications and use intensive firepower to kill and damage the troops crossing the river. In this way, your troops may suffer heavy casualties, but you may not be able to cross the river successfully."

"Comrade Commander, what shall we do then?"

Sokov knew very well in his heart that the Soviet army's offensive failures in many cases were not due to the lack of bravery of the soldiers in battle, but because of problems with the tactics used by the commanders, which led to heavy casualties. A situation where victory cannot be achieved occurs.

"Don't worry, Colonel Shechtman, a force has already reached the right bank and is advancing towards the right flank of the German river defense position. When their offensive begins, the attention of the Germans will definitely be drawn to them. When the time comes, we will launch another forced crossing operation, and we will surely succeed."

"I am worried that our crossing operation will be discovered by the enemy on the other side as soon as we start, and then we will use intensive firepower to block the river and prevent my troops from boarding the right bank."

"Colonel Shechtman, as long as the Germans are not blind or deaf, it is impossible for them to not notice the crossing of thousands of people." Sukov knew that Shechtman had a lot of scruples at the moment, so he comforted him and said: " Don't worry, when the troops on the right bank launch an attack, I will order the artillery to destroy the exposed fortifications and fire points on the German river defense position to ensure that you can cross the river smoothly."

Just when Shechtman was about to hang up the phone, he heard Sokov say another sentence: "Colonel Shechtman, I hope you can perform outstandingly in this battle so that you can get more One rank higher. See what I mean?"

"I fully understand, Comrade Commander." Hearing that Sokov was thinking about his military rank, Shechtman was very excited. Chance to be promoted to General. Thinking of this, he replied loudly: "We will definitely not disappoint your expectations."