Red Moscow

"I think the ammunition and fuel can be concentrated and handed over to General Chuvashov's 98th Guards Division." Trofimenko looked at Sukov and said, "I think that with the division's capabilities, it is completely possible up to the task."

In fact, the best choice in Sokov's mind was also Chuvashov's 98th Guards Division. After all, this is one of his old troops. There are many veterans in the division and the combat effectiveness is also very strong. But this matter was brought up by Trofimenko, and it is unavoidable that it is suspected of being a public servant for personal gain. After all, the division belongs to the 27th Army.

Sokov turned his gaze to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think?"

Seeing that Sokov was noncommittal to Trofimenko's proposal, Sameko couldn't decide whether the other party agreed or not, and didn't know how to answer for a while.

"Why don't you speak, Comrade Sameko." Seeing Sameko's delay in speaking, Sokov asked a little strangely: "As the chief of staff of the combat group, isn't it because of expressing your own opinions on such matters? "

Knowing that he could no longer remain silent, Sameko decided to take a gamble, straightened his back and said, "I agree with General Trofimenko's proposal that the ammunition and fuel that have been collected should be handed over to the first guard It is used by the 98th Division. You must know that this division has the highest combat effectiveness in the 27th Army's combat sequence."

Seeing that Sameko and Trofimenko agreed, Sokov nodded, and then told Sameko: "Since you think so, then immediately call Lieutenant Colonel Ponejielin and let him Carry out this order."

Pornegelin received a call from Sameko and learned that all the ammunition and fuel of the three divisions would be collected and handed over to the 98th Guards Division. It’s not a problem to hand it over to the 98th Guards Division. I want to ask, when will the superiors replenish us with new ammunition and fuel?”

Perhaps because he was worried that Sameko would not care about what he said, he added specifically: "We handed over the existing ammunition and fuel to the 98th Guards Division, which is equivalent to disarming ourselves. If the Germans know the information, If we attack us at this time, even if I don't tell you, you can probably guess what will happen to us."

Sokov, who was next to Sameko, heard the question asked by Ponejielin. He knew very well that if he did not explain the situation, it might cause unnecessary panic, so he took the microphone from Sameko: "Lieutenant-Colonel Ponejelin? I'm Sokov!"

As soon as the caller was replaced by Sokov, Ponegerin's mood stabilized a little, and he repeated what he had just said: "Comrade Commander, you should be very clear that if our troops run out of ammunition and If the fuel is used, it will become a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. Once the German army launches an attack on us, the only thing we can do is to abandon the position and move to a safe place."

"Lieutenant Colonel Pornegelin, do you trust me?"

To Sokov's question, Pornegerin replied without hesitation: "Of course I do."

"Since you believe me, I can tell you responsibly that you will get new supplements by this evening at the latest." Sokov said: "The railway line connecting our defense zone from the rear has been repaired and opened to traffic. Yes, the materials supplied to us by the superiors are now coming towards us."

Now that Sokov had already made a promise, Ponegerin naturally had no further words. After putting down the phone, he invited the other two division commanders to his headquarters.

After the two arrived, he first spoke to Shechtman and said: "Comrade Colonel, I just received a call from the headquarters asking our two divisions to gather the ammunition and fuel in their hands and hand them over to Chuvasau Colonel Husband's troops."

The two of them couldn't help being stunned after listening to Ponegelin's instructions.

After a while, Chuvashov tentatively asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I would like to ask, has the superior assigned any combat tasks to our division?"

"Comrade General, please take a look." Ponedelin put the map in front of Chuvashov and said to him: "The troops of the 2nd Tank Army occupied Khotin and are preparing to advance to Chernivtsi. .The command is ready to gather the ammunition and fuel of our group to support your march to Novy Selica."

"Novo Selitsa is less than 100 kilometers away from Chernivtsi, which we want to liberate. If you act quickly, you may be able to successfully enter Romania ahead of General Bogdanov's troops. "

After Chuvashov figured out what was going on, he naturally would not let friendly troops enter Romania first. You must know which army wants to enter the enemy's land. This is a major event that can be recorded in history. As a soldier who loves honor deeply, how could he miss such an important opportunity.

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Chuvashov assured Ponedelin, "please tell the commander that our troops will be able to enter Romania ahead of friendly troops."

Since there was still a distance of about 100 kilometers from the defense zone to the starting point of the attack, Novyshelitsa, Chuvashov asked Ponedelin: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you know if we can get enough transport vehicles for us? You know , a distance of more than one hundred kilometers, if our soldiers are allowed to march on foot, I am afraid it will take two days to walk."

"This is easy to handle. I will immediately call Comrade Commander and ask him to provide you with enough transport vehicles so that the troops can be quickly delivered to Novoshelica in the shortest possible time." Proposed to Chuvashov Bornejelin readily agreed to the request: "I believe he will definitely agree."

What happened next was exactly as Bonejeline had predicted. When Sokov learned that the 98th Guards Division was planning to go to Novy Selitsa by car, he personally called the logistics chief of the Army Group and asked him to prepare two hundred trucks for the commanders and fighters of the 98th Guards Division to transport Weaponry and supplies.

Although there were two hundred trucks, only one-third of the commanders and fighters of the 98th Guards Division took the car, and the rest had to march on foot in the direction of Novi Selita.

With cars instead of transportation, the marching speed of the troops will naturally be faster. In the evening, the 296th Guards Regiment, which was the vanguard, arrived in Novi Selitsa.

After the political commissar of the regiment Shapovalenko got off the car, he asked the head of the regiment Shamrih: "Comrade commander, where do you plan to let the troops sleep tonight?"

"I see that the soldiers are all in high spirits. If I let them go to rest, I guess few of them will be able to sleep well." Shamrich is a person who can't sit still. He was eager to make a first effort, so he ordered: "After the troops are assembled, immediately launch an attack on the German position."

Several battalion commanders agreed with Shamrih's proposal very much. They knew very well in their hearts that whichever army entered Romania first would have the opportunity to be recorded in history. Naturally, everyone would not let go of such a good opportunity, so they expressed their opinions one after another: "Comrade commander, you will Give the order, and we will take Novy Selitsa."

The attack happened suddenly without artillery cover.

Most of the defenders in the city are Romanian troops, with only a small number of German troops scattered in different parts of the city. Therefore, in the face of the attack launched by the Soviet army without warning, they had no time to respond.

The battle lasted only ten minutes, and the troops of the 296th regiment broke through the Romanian army's outer positions, rushed into the city smoothly, and started street fighting with the fleeing Romanian army.

Seeing the troops rushing into the city, Shamrih turned around and told the radio operator: "Comrade radio operator, immediately send a report to the division headquarters, saying that the vanguard of our regiment has rushed into the city of Novi Selica, request The main force arrived as soon as possible to assist our attack."

While the operator was sending a telegram, he asked Shapovalenko: "Comrade Commissar, have those trucks been sent back?"

"Yes, they have all been sent back." Shapovalenko replied, "I think the 299th regiment should be able to arrive here in an hour at most."

Shamrich raised his binoculars to look at the distant combat area, and then put down the binoculars: "The Romanian army's resistance awareness is not firm. If there is another regiment of troops, I believe that this city will be captured soon." City."

"Comrade Commander," Shapovalenko suddenly had a bold idea in his heart at this moment: "Tell me about the defenders in Chernivtsi, are they all Romanian defenders?"

"This possibility exists." After answering this question, Shamrih asked back: "Comrade political commissar, why are you asking this?"

"I was thinking, after we successfully captured Novoselitsa, we could transfer a battalion and drive overnight to Chernivtsi..."

, Before Shapovalenko could finish speaking, Shamrich interrupted him: "Comrade political commissar, your idea is too risky. Have you ever thought that Chernivtsi is also a It’s not a small city, if we only send one battalion there, doesn’t it mean that the commanders and fighters will die?”

"Comrade commander, I was interrupted by you before I finished my words." Shapovalenko said helplessly, "I mean, send a battalion of troops to Chernivtsi. On the outskirts, choose to cross the Prut River and plant our flag on Romanian land, so our regiment will become the first army to enter Romania?"

Shapovalenko's words made Shamrich's eyes brighten: "Yes, how did I forget that as long as the flag is planted in the enemy's area, we can declare that we have occupied that area."

He paused for a moment, then continued: "Originally I wanted to put the third battalion into battle, but since you have proposed such a plan, let them serve as the reserve team first, and after the battle is over, they will immediately report to Chernov. policy direction.”

"With the third battalion as the reserve team, will our strength in the city be too weak?"

"It's okay." Shamrich said confidently: "The Romanian army's combat awareness is weak. Facing our army's attack, they can barely protect themselves. Even if our strength cannot expand the results of the battle, they want to drive us out In cities, it is simply impossible.”

When the 299th regiment arrived outside the city of Novi Selitsa, two-thirds of the city had been occupied by the troops of the 296th regiment. Now that a new force is coming, the two sides merged into one place and continued to attack the area occupied by the Romanian army.

Sokov's eyes widened in surprise when he received a telegram from Chuvashov and learned that the division had occupied most of Novy Selitsa. You know, Chuvashov's 98th Guards Division can be said to be a lightly armed force, not even artillery. How could it be easy to break through the enemy's city defense?

Sokov was skeptical about the telegram sent by Chuvashov, and he said to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please call General Chuvashov back immediately and ask the truth. What's going on, how could his troops capture the county seat in such a short period of time? I think there must be something wrong."

But Trofimenko was full of confidence in the 98th Guards Division. After Sokov finished speaking, he took the initiative to say: "Comrade Commander, as far as I know, General Chuvashov is a serious Commander, he will never falsify a battle report like this."

Since Trofimenko was willing to come out to endorse Chuvashov, Sokov really wanted it, so he waved to Sameko, signaling that he did not need to send Chuvashov any more telegrams.

"Comrade Deputy Commander, I think your words make sense." Sokov smiled and said to Trofimenko: "Then we will wait for the next telegram from Chuvashov to announce the division Novi Selita has been successfully captured."

"This possibility is very great." Trofimenko trusted Chuvashov very much. He believed in his heart that his subordinates would definitely achieve such an astonishing record. "Maybe it will surprise you when the time comes." of."

Besides, the 112th and 195th Infantry Divisions starting from Khoting, under the guidance of the tanks of the 11th Guards Tank Brigade, are advancing in the direction of Novi Selitsa. When they were still a few kilometers away, they suddenly heard gunfire from the direction of the city, and even saw black smoke rising from many places in the city.

"What's going on here?" The tank brigade commander sitting in the command tank, seeing this situation, immediately ordered all the tanks to stop advancing, then leaned out half of his body from the turret, and raised his binoculars towards the direction of the city Looking around, trying to figure out what happened.

But unfortunately, the city wall made of red bricks blocked his sight, making it impossible for him to see exactly what happened in the city. In desperation, he could only send a few subordinates to the edge of the city on a motorcycle to find out what was going on with the gunfire in the city.

The tank brigade stopped, and the infantry who followed naturally also stopped. The two division commanders gathered together and asked each other what happened. You know, your troops are the vanguard of the 2nd Tank Army. How could any army rush ahead of you and launch an attack on Novy Selica in advance?

Of course, their closed-door analysis cannot analyze any useful information. In desperation, he could only follow suit like the commander of the tank brigade, sending two groups of scouts to the direction of the city to find out the situation in the city.

After waiting for more than half an hour, the scouts sent by the tank brigade who came back first. As soon as he saw the brigade commander, he didn't even bother to drink water, so he reported directly: "Comrade brigade commander, fighting is taking place in the city. I asked someone to inquire about it. They are two regiments of the 98th Guards Division. The defenders of the city have launched an attack. The fighting has been going on for hours. Now that most of the city has been liberated, the stubborn enemy will not last long."