Red Moscow

When Sokov received a call from Chuvashov, he thought that the other party was going to report to him about the occupation of Novy Selitsa, so he said first: "Comrade Chuvashov, your division has successfully captured Novy Selitsa. General Bogdanov has already reported to me about the matter. He complained about me, and without even saying hello, sent other troops to attack Novy Selitsa and took the city ahead of them. "

Speaking of this, Sokov couldn't help but glanced at Trofimenko, and continued: "Good job, no wonder your division can become the elite of the 27th Army."

"Comrade Commander," Chuvashov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and said hastily, "I have something very important that I want to report to you immediately."

"Go ahead, Comrade Chuvashov."

"The Shamrich regiment of our division has arrived near Chernivtsi. Not long ago, the commander of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Shamrich, reported to me." Chuvashov reported: "They found on the banks of the Prut River After careful identification, it can be confirmed that it is the boundary marker of our national border."

Chuvashov's words stunned Sokov. After a while, he raised his voice and said, "Comrade Chuvashov, what did you just say? Please repeat it."

Chuvashov thought that the effect of the phone call was not good, so he raised his voice and repeated what he just said: "Lieutenant Colonel Shamrich reported to me that his troops found a stone tablet on the bank of the Prut River. It can be confirmed that the stone monument is the boundary marker erected on the national border of our country.”

Sokov's voice became hoarse with excitement: "Comrade Chuvashov, can you really confirm it?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander, I can assure you." Chuvashov replied in an affirmative tone: "It is indeed a boundary marker on the border."

"Comrade Chuvashov, I congratulate you." After confirming the authenticity of the news, Sokov raised his voice and said, "Congratulations to you for being the first army to return to the old border. , will be recorded in the history books."

After finishing the call, Sokov said to several deputies around him: "comrades commanders, I have some good news for you. The Shamrich Regiment of the 98th Guards Division has successfully reached Prussia south of Chernivtsi. On the bank of the Rut River, a boundary marker was found on the edge of the national border. That is to say, the regiment became the first unit of the entire army to reach the old national border."

"They are really amazing." After expressing his views, Gorokhov proposed to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, such important good news, I suggest reporting it to the Front Army Command immediately."

"That's right, Comrade Military Commissioner is right." His words immediately aroused everyone's response: "We should immediately report this news to the Front Army Command."

Regarding everyone's proposals, Sokov naturally followed suit, and immediately said to Gorokhov: "Comrade Military Commissar, it is up to you to report this good news to the Front Army Command."

Taking advantage of the time when Gorokhov called the Front Army Command, Sokov said to several others: "The right-wing troops are progressing smoothly. If there are no accidents, they will be able to enter Romania tomorrow. This is the great defender For the first time since the outbreak of the Civil War, our troops set foot on foreign soil."

"Does it need some ceremony?" Smirnov asked tentatively: "After all, this is a very important historical event. Should we build a pontoon bridge on the river and arrange a military band on the bank to send off Our troops cross the river?"

"I don't think it's necessary." Trofimenko shook his head and said, "We cross the river with great fanfare, and we may be shelled or bombed by the enemy. If this causes huge casualties to the troops and affects the morale and morale of the troops, That would be worth the candle.”

Sokov felt that what Trofimenko said was reasonable, so he echoed: "I agree with the deputy commander's opinion. When crossing the river and entering Romania, don't engage in any face-saving projects, so as not to cause unnecessary losses to the troops. .”

While chatting here, Gorokhov, who had just finished calling the Front Army Command, hurried over and said to Sokov excitedly: "Comrade Commander, good news, good news."

Sokov was taken aback: "What good news?"

"I just brought the Shamrich Regiment to the old border and found our boundary markers, and reported to Marshal Konev in detail." Gorokhov said with a little excitement: "After hearing this, Comrade Marshal I am very happy, and announced on the spot that in recognition of the achievements of the Shamrich regiment, the regiment is going to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner. At the same time, the regiment leader Shamrich was officially promoted to colonel."

"This is good news." Sokov didn't expect Konev's reaction to be so fast, and quickly told Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you call General Chuvashov immediately and tell him the good news." .”

"Comrade Commander, it's not enough just to call General Chuvashov." Sameko said with a smile: "After all, this is a great happy event. I suggest that while calling, call Shameko Lieutenant Colonel Mrich, no, it is now a colonel, sincere congratulations to him."

When Sameko went to arrange phone calls and dispatches, Smirnov on the side said with emotion: "I thought General Kravchenko's Tank Army, or General Afunin's 18th Guards Army, After crossing the river north of Wengeny, they could become the first army to enter Romania, but judging from the current situation, no matter how fast they move, they can only become the second army to enter. What a pity."

"Yes, it's indeed a pity." Sokov said: "But it's like this on the battlefield. There are always various uncertain factors happening, which no one can control."

Not long after, Shamrih received a telegram from the Front Army Command, telling him that in recognition of their becoming the first troops to reach the old border, the whole regiment would receive the Order of the Red Banner; The school was promoted to colonel.

After Shapovalenko saw the telegram, he immediately extended his hand to Shamrih and said enviously: "Comrade commander, I congratulate you. Congratulations on your attainment of a higher rank."

"Comrade Commissar," Shamrih said shyly after hearing Shapovalenko congratulating himself, "I have been promoted. As my deputy, you should also receive the same honor. I think the superior may have been negligent. On this point, I will respond to my superiors in time and let them promote your rank as well."

"No, no." Shapovalenko waved his hands and said, "You were promoted to colonel, which is exactly what you deserve. As your deputy, I didn't play much role at ordinary times, and I didn't get promoted. It's also within reason."

"Come here!" Shamrih called a staff officer, handed him the telegram he had just received, and ordered: "Immediately convey the contents of this telegram to the commanders and fighters of the regiment."

The staff officer agreed loudly, took the telegram in Shamrih's hand, turned around and walked out of the temporary headquarters.

After the staff officer left, Shamrikh discussed with Shapovalenko: "Comrade Political Commissar, according to the original plan, our regiment will complete the mission when it arrives near Chernivtsi. But the superior gave us such a great honor , we can’t live up to the trust of our superiors.”

Shamrih said so for a reason. Although everyone knows that according to the performance of the 98th Guards Division in the battle, after the battle is over, the superiors will definitely reward them for their merits. But he never dreamed that his troops arrived at the border of the old country and within half an hour after discovering the boundary markers, the rewards from the superiors came down. This was an unprecedented thing. This alone made him feel flattered, and he naturally wanted to perform well.

Shapovalenko and Shamrih have a strict division of labor. He only cares about the propaganda and agitation work in the regiment. What should we do next?"

"Now the whole regiment only has more than 1,000 people. Even if there are fewer defenders in Chernivtsi, it will be very difficult for us to take them down." Shamrih said: "So I plan to move the troops to On the outskirts of the city, attack the enemy's outlying positions. It is a good thing to be able to win one or two areas; but it doesn't matter if we can't complete the mission, we will temporarily retreat to a safe area and wait until more friendly troops arrive. , It is not too late for us to launch an attack again."

"This is a good way." Shapovalenko said: "However, before the offensive begins, I suggest to conduct a reconnaissance of the city to find out the enemy's general deployment of troops and distribution of firepower. As for the troops, let's stay Rest where you are."

"Yes." Shamrih agreed with Shapovalenko's proposal: "I will send out scouts and let them conduct reconnaissance on the situation in the city."

The scouts were sent out, and the troops rested by the Prut River again. Shamrich gave the car captain an order to take the convoy back immediately to pick up more troops to join him.

After doing all this, Shamrich began to formulate a plan to attack Chernivtsi. When he first set off, he still felt that his troops were sufficient, so he rejected many people who wanted to join the army. Looking back at this moment, Shamrih can't help but feel regretful.

"Comrade Commander," a communications staff officer came over to salute Sokov with a telegram, "it's time to receive a telegram from the division headquarters."

Shamrih thought it was a combat mission assigned to him by the division headquarters, so he quickly browsed it. After reading the above content clearly, he couldn't help laughing; "Comrade Military Commissar, it was the telegram sent by the division commander himself. He congratulated us and conveyed the award order of the group army and the decision to award the whole regiment the Red Banner Medal."

After hearing this, Shapovalenko asked curiously: "I don't know what award the teacher got this time?"

"I don't know." Shamrih shook his head and said, "But according to my estimation, after this battle is over, a heavy medal will not be able to escape."

More than half an hour later, Shamrih suddenly received a call from the leader of the reconnaissance team: "Comrade leader, I have something important to report to you immediately."

Hearing what the reconnaissance team leader said, Shamrih couldn't help being taken aback for a moment, and said to himself, "Aren't you guys on a reconnaissance mission? Could it be that there will be a result so soon?" He quickly asked, "Is there any result?"

"Reporting Comrade Head," said the reconnaissance team leader, "After our reconnaissance team entered the city, we found no sign of the defenders at all."

"What, no sign of the defenders?" Shamrih asked in surprise after hearing this: "Have you conducted a careful reconnaissance? You know, it's already dark, and the defenders may be resting in the barracks."

"Comrade commander, I know it's getting dark. According to normal circumstances, the defenders in the city should already be sleeping in their barracks." The scout team leader said, "But don't talk about patrols on the streets, even in the barricades. There are no people in sight. I wonder if the defenders in the city have abandoned the city."

"The defenders in the city have already abandoned the city?" Shamrikh couldn't help taking a breath: "So, today's Chernivtsi may be an empty city?"

"Yes, Comrade Head, I think it should be like this."

Shamrih was a little uneasy. He thought that if his troops attacked the city, no matter how smoothly they fought, they might not be able to occupy much area. But now that the defenders in the city have all withdrawn, his guard regiment of more than a thousand people may be able to liberate the city with his own ability.

Thinking of this, he said to the reconnaissance team leader: "Continue to reconnaissance, and report to me at any time. I will immediately send a battalion into the city to cooperate with your reconnaissance operations."

After finishing talking with the reconnaissance team leader, he put down the earphone and microphone, ordered someone to call the first battalion commander Yakuda, and said straight to the point: "The first battalion commander, the scout who just sneaked into the city to carry out reconnaissance, has just given I called and said that no trace of the enemy was found in the city, and I preliminarily concluded that the enemy may have abandoned the city and withdrew."

"What, the enemy in the city has withdrawn?" Yakuda asked back in surprise: "Comrade commander, what are you going to do?"

"Immediately take your first battalion into the city and launch a comprehensive search to find out whether the enemy has retreated or set a trap for us, waiting for our people to jump inside."

"Don't worry, Comrade Leader." Yakuda replied loudly, "I'll take people to the city to find out what's going on. Once I have news, I will report to you in time."

The first battalion was already on standby. Yakuda returned to the battalion, and as soon as the order was conveyed, the commanders and fighters set off in just a few minutes.

The place where the troops were stationed was two or three kilometers away from the city, but the commanders and fighters of the first battalion were eager to know what happened in the city. At the beginning, I still walked in unison, but as I walked, it became a stride.

When a soldier was walking, he accidentally tripped over a stone and rushed forward with his whole body. This movement of his made the comrades marching nearby misunderstand, thinking that the superior ordered to speed up, so he changed the original stride to a small trot. At first, only two or three soldiers were trotting, but it soon affected the soldiers next to them, so it didn't take long for all the commanders and fighters to run.

In less than ten minutes, the first battalion came to the fortifications in the outskirts, and found that there were no defenders here. At the entrance of the city, there are two soldiers from the reconnaissance team waiting here.

Seeing Yakuda bringing people over, he quickly went up to meet them, "Comrade Major, we are part of the reconnaissance team, and we are ordered to escort you into the city here."

Yakuda nodded at the other party and asked, "How is the situation in the city?"

"After repeated searches, we haven't found a single enemy in the city." A scout replied, "It seems that they all withdrew before we arrived."