Red Moscow

After finishing the phone call, Sokov looked down at the map in front of him, and began to think about how to strengthen the defense of the area. After a long time, he raised his head and looked at Sameko on the opposite side: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Chernivtsi is an important city. After the Germans find out that it is occupied by our army, they will never let it go. To counterattack, we must take precautions in advance.”

"Comrade Commander, I don't understand." Gorokhov interrupted. "Since we and the Germans know that Chernivtsi is an important city, how can they retreat without a fight?"

"The reason is very simple," said Sokov lightly in the face of Gorokhov's doubts: "The original defenders of Chernivtsi must not be Germans, otherwise they would not easily give up this strategically important city." meaningful city."

"I think General Bogdanov's troops can be stationed here." Sameko said: "The 2nd Tank Army under his command has a large number of tanks and artillery. The ability to withstand the enemy's attack."

"But if the 2nd Tank Army is stationed in Chernivtsi," Smirnov waited for Sameko to finish, and put forward his own ideas: "Isn't the right wing of our army empty? To launch an attack in this direction, I am afraid we will have to deploy troops to strengthen this direction."

"General Smirnov, you don't worry too much." Trofimenko said suddenly: "I think that after the 2nd Tank Army enters Chernivtsi, troops from the 27th Army can take over the vacated tanks. position so that our right flank will not be attacked by the Germans."

"This is a way." Sokov felt that the fighting has been going on until now, and the troops of the 53rd Army and the two tank armies are basically used, while most of the troops of the 27th Army are still on standby, so he agreed: " General Trofimenko, I will entrust you with the task of protecting the right wing of the combat group."

"Comrade Commander, you can rest assured." Trofimenko assured Sokov: "I will definitely ensure the safety of the right wing of the combat group."

After solving the problems facing the combat group, Smirnov reminded Sokov again: "Comrade Commander, the liberation of Chernivtsi is a major event. Do you need to report to the Front Command immediately? ?”

Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch, hesitantly said: "Marshal Konev should be sleeping, so it's inappropriate to disturb him at this time, right?"

"There's nothing inappropriate." Smirnov said with a smile, "You brought him good news, and he wished you would bother him." After finishing speaking, he called out directly without waiting for Sokov to make a statement I asked the director of the communications corps and asked him to connect to the front army headquarters.

Chief of Staff Zakharov was on duty at the Front Command tonight. When he learned that it was a call from the combat group, he immediately became alert. He asked into the microphone: "Comrade Sokov, has the enemy situation in your place changed?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army," Sokov said with a smile, "I'm calling you at this time because I have something very good to tell you."

"What a great thing?" Sokov's words aroused Zakharov's interest: "Quickly tell me, what is it?"

"My troops have taken Chernivtsi..."

"Hasn't Chernivtsi been occupied a long time ago? What a great thing..." When Zakharov said this, he suddenly paused for a moment, and then said in surprise: "Wait a minute, Sokov Comrade, the Chernivtsi you speak of is Ukrainian or Moldavian?"

"If it was Chernivtsi in Ukraine, I would definitely not report it." Sokov said with a chuckle, "Of course it is Chernivtsi in Moldavia."

"My God." Zakharov said with some shock: "If Chernivtsi, which is occupied by you, is really from Moldavia, it means that your troops will soon be able to enter Romania. It's inside."

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army." Sokov nodded in affirmation of Zakharov's statement: "I am dispatching troops to Chernivtsi to strengthen the defense there. When there are enough troops assembled, we will March immediately into Romanian territory."

Zakharov was silent for a moment after listening, and then asked: "How is the progress of Kravchenko's 6th Tank Army, and when will they reach the old border?"

"They are still more than 200 kilometers away from Wengen." Sokov replied, "Even if everything goes well, it may take two days to reach Wengen."

"It will take two more days, that's such a pity." Zakharov said in a regretful tone: "Not long ago, I congratulated Kravchenko, congratulating his troops on the possibility of becoming the No. A force that reaches the border. Now it seems that they can only strive to become the second force."

"If there are no accidents, they should be able to become the second army to reach the old border." Sukov asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I don't know how the other troops are progressing. When will they reach the old border?" Borders?"

"It's still early." Zakharov sighed and said, "Except for your combat group, the rest of the troops encountered tenacious resistance from the German army during the advance process. They can advance five to ten kilometers every day. It’s progressing very quickly.”

"Comrade Zakharov, who are you talking to?" Sokov felt Konev's voice faintly coming from the receiver.

Sure enough, his guess was confirmed in the next moment, and he only heard Zakharov saying: "Comrade Marshal, I was talking to Sokov, and he told me that his troops captured Chernov not long ago. It is possible to attack Romania at any time.”

"Comrade Zakharov, this is unlikely." Konev said in a skeptical tone: "Before dark, his troops closest to the city were tens of kilometers away. How about taking this big, well-fortified city? Give me the microphone, and I'll ask Sokov myself."

Soon, Konev's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Sokov, I am Konev."

"Hello, Comrade Marshal."

"I heard that your troops have liberated Chernivtsi. Is this true?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, of course it is true."

"I have a question, how did your troops capture an important city on the border of Moldavia in such a short period of time?"

"Comrade Marshal, the answer is very simple." Sokov replied calmly, "Because the defenders in the city voluntarily abandoned the city, our troops were able to take the city without bloodshed."

"Oh, the enemy took the initiative to abandon the city?" Konev was also a little surprised: "Comrade Sokov, what do you think about this matter?"

"Comrade Marshal, if the defenders in the city are Germans, they voluntarily abandon the city because they want to shrink their troops, and then choose an area to start a decisive battle with our army." Sokov analyzed: "And because our army has to draw troops, To defend those occupied cities, the troops used for frontal attack will definitely be weakened to a certain extent, and they will definitely suffer a big loss in the face of a decisive battle by the German army."

Konev agreed with Sokov's statement: "This makes sense. Last year on the left bank of the Dnieper River, our two front armies had an absolute advantage in terms of numbers and equipment, but why did they end up in the end? Or was it defeated? It is nothing more than the fact that the German army, which is at a disadvantage in terms of strength and equipment, can form an advantage over our army in some areas, thus winning the battlefield."

After a short pause, he continued to ask: "Then if the defenders are the Romanian army, what is the reason why they voluntarily abandoned the city?"

"Romania's elite troops have long been exhausted in the process of fighting our army. The troops we are facing now are just newly formed troops in the later stage, and their combat effectiveness can only be regarded as second-rate." Sokov said : "The Romanian commanders know very well that none of their first-rate troops are our opponents, and these second-rate troops formed in the later period are even more unable to resist our attack. Instead of letting these troops be consumed in battle, it is better to give up some of them. Towns, gather your forces together, wait for the situation to change in the future, and then make further plans.”

Konev couldn't help laughing when he heard this, and then asked, "Then tell me, how will the situation change in the future?"

"I estimate that after the main force of our army enters Romania, Romania will choose to surrender. Quit the camp of the Axis powers and choose to stand on the same front as us."

"Well, this possibility does exist." Konev said: "As the battlefield situation becomes more and more favorable to our army, Romania, which was originally attached to the Germans, will definitely make new choices. Joining our camp, yes Germany declared war, which was probably their only option."

"When can your troops enter Romania?"

Sokov originally planned to strengthen the defense of Chernivtsi first, and then after Kravchenko's 6th Tank Army reached the old border, the two northern and southern troops entered Romania at the same time.

But at this moment, hearing Konev's question, he knew that his plan would not work. Then he said with some hesitation: "Comrade Marshal, I am transferring the 2nd Tank Army on the right wing of the combat group to Chernivtsi, and the area they vacated will be replaced by troops from the 27th Army."

Unexpectedly, after listening to Konev, he asked back: "Is it necessary for you to send troops to defend the right wing?"

"However, Comrade Marshal, the right wing of my combat group is the German Vinnytsia heavy group, and we must guard against their possible attacks on the right wing."

"Marshal Zhukov's troops will launch an attack on the German army's Vinnitsa heavy group starting tomorrow." Konev said: "The Germans can't protect themselves enough, how can they deploy troops to attack your right wing? ?”

Sokov was naturally happy when he heard what Konev said. However, he also understood the combat habits of the Soviet army, and said that he wanted to capture a certain area within the specified time, but in the end such combat tasks were basically impossible to complete.

"The day after tomorrow, Comrade Marshal." Sokov thought to himself for a while before replying, "My troops will be able to cross the border and enter Romania the day after tomorrow."

Regarding the time given by Sokov, Konev thought about it and felt that it was more appropriate, so he nodded and said, "Okay, Comrade Sokov, just as you said, your troops will cross the border the day after tomorrow. Line, enter the territory of Romania. If you need anything, just ask me, and I will try my best to meet your needs."

"Comrade Commander," as soon as Sokov put down the phone, the crowd gathered around. Smirnov asked on behalf of the crowd, "Is it a little too hasty to enter Romania the day after tomorrow?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right, it is indeed too hasty." Sokov said helplessly: "According to my idea, it is best to wait until General Kravchenko's 6th Tank Army also arrives at the old After the national border, two armies entered Romania simultaneously from the north and the south.”

"Although on the surface, Comrade Marshal is anxious to let us enter Romania, but in fact the most anxious person..." Sokov said, pointing to the ceiling with his finger: "It is the top one."

Although Sokov didn't say it clearly, everyone knew who was the most anxious.

"Comrade Commander," Trofimenko asked after a short silence, "Which unit do you plan to let enter Romania first?"

As soon as this question came out, all eyes were on Sokov. Which army was the first to cross the border into enemy territory is a matter worthy of the annals of history. So everyone can't wait to know which army Sokov intends to let get this honor.

"The first unit to reach the old border is the 296th Regiment of the 98th Guards Division." Sokov didn't understand what everyone meant. After some careful consideration, he made a final decision: "As for the first to enter For the troops in Romania, I plan to choose the 41st Guards Division of Lieutenant Colonel Ponegelin. Do you have any opinions?"

Regarding the choice made by Sokov, everyone really couldn't say anything. According to everyone's thinking, the first troops to enter Romania must be one of the three divisions in the Ponegelin cluster. And Sokov directly chose Ponegerin's 41st Guards Division. It sounds so logical. How can everyone have different opinions?

As the military commissar of the 53rd Army, Gorokhov wished that this honor would fall on his troops. When he heard that Sokov chose the 41st Guards Division, there was no reason to disagree. He quickly stated: "I I agree with Comrade Commander's proposal, let the 41st Guards Division carry out this glorious and arduous task."

The military commissars agreed. Smirnov, the chief of staff of the army group, can't sing the opposite, right? Naturally, he chose to go along with it: "I agree with the commander and Comrade Military Commissioner that it is undoubtedly the most appropriate for the 41st Guards Division of Lieutenant Colonel Ponejerin to carry out this glorious task."

Seeing that the opinions of the two deputies were consistent with his own, Sokov was very relieved. He turned his head to look at Trofimenko and Sameko: "I don't know what you two think, so what?"

"Agree!" "I have no objection!"

"Okay, since everyone agrees, the 41st Guards Division of Lieutenant Colonel Ponegerin will be the first unit to enter Romania." Sokov said to Sameko, "Chief of Staff, you Let's call and inform Lieutenant Colonel Pornegelin of our decision."