After Katukov ended the call with Zhukov, he put down the phone and asked Guttmann: "Comrade Guttmann, are you sure that the troops can clear out the German outlying positions outside Chernivtsi before dark?"

Guttman thought for a moment, and then replied in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Commander, I think our troops should be able to do this."

Katukov was obviously dissatisfied with Guttmann’s answer. He frowned and said sternly: "Guttmann, if you think your troops can't reach Chernivtsi before dark If so, I will hand over this glorious task to Dremov’s mechanized 8th Guards Corps to complete, and your army’s task will be changed to help them clear the periphery."

As soon as Katukov's voice fell, the entire command center suddenly became silent. Except for the gunshots from outside, no sound was heard in the room, and everyone's eyes were focused on Guttmann.

I saw Guttmann's face flushed with excitement, and I quickly came out to round the field for him: "General Katukov, since we have decided to let General Guttmann's tank corps take charge of the main attack in the pre-made combat plan, Then I think it’s better not to adjust it casually."

Guttman, who was in despair, immediately rekind his hope after hearing what I said. After giving me a grateful look, he said to Katukov: "Comrade Commander, don't worry, since our troops have already rushed across the Prut River, we will clear out German troops in Chernok before dark. There shouldn't be any problems with Witze's outer positions."

After Guttman finished speaking, Katukov did not speak, but snorted coldly.

"Comrade Commander," Seeing Katukov's expressionless face after listening to his own words, Guttman was a little worried. He hurriedly said: "I assure you with the honor of a soldier, if the troops You can’t clear out the German positions outside Chernivtsi before dark, and you will remove my position.”

"Comrade Commander, we assure you with the honor of a soldier," the rest of the commanders in the command center, as soon as Gertmann finished speaking, said in unison: "Before dark, we must clear out the German army in Chernover. Strategize the outer positions."

"It's useless to just say it." Although everyone expressed their opinion to Katukov, he still said coldly: "I want to see your actions."

Hearing what Katukov said, Guttman immediately turned around and shouted at the commanders: "You are all staring at what you are doing, and you are not continuing to work! The Chief of Staff, call Colonel Boyko and order his tank. After crossing the river, he quickly turned to the southeast to seize the German airfield."

The chief of staff agreed and grabbed the phone and was ready to give orders directly. At this time, Katukov added: "Remember, I want a complete airport, not an airport that is smashed by your tanks. Just take it. If the airport runway can be preserved intact, then our army’s fighters can immediately be stationed in Chernowitz to provide the necessary air support for the troops.”

After Guttmann heard this, he immediately replied loudly: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, we can definitely take the airport from the Germans completely."

When Guttman was busy, I was about to ask Katukov why he behaved so abnormally today that he would actually stimulate Guttman by replacing the main attacking unit. Before I could speak, I saw Katukoff winking at me, and then screaming at where Gertman was.

Katukov's eyes and movements made me suddenly realize: The reason why he said these things to Guttman was because he used the radical method. I turned my head and glanced at the busy Guttmann, and said to myself: Guttmann ah Guttmann, I hope your troops can exert the strongest combat effectiveness in the next battle, and don't let the card be disappointed. Tukov's expectations of you.

At this time, a staff officer who followed us from the headquarters walked in from the door and handed a telegram that had just been received to Katukov. At the same time, he said: "Comrade Commander, Dremov The general reported that the 1st Guards Tank Brigade of Colonel Gorelov and the 20th Motorized Rifle Brigade of Colonel Babajanyan had successfully crossed the Prut River and were moving in the direction of Chernivtsi. "

After reading the contents of the telegram at a glance, Katukov handed it to me and said, "It seems that Dremov is acting very quickly. Next, let’s look at his and Guttmann’s troops. Who can first clear out the German positions outside the city and launch an attack on the city."

I turned around and glanced at the place on the table behind me, visually inspected the distance between the two soldiers and Chernivtsi, and then said to Katukov: "Although General Dremov is far from the city The distance is a little farther, but the terrain on his side is flat, which is very conducive to the deployment of the tank troops. Maybe they can clear the obstacles first and attack the city first."

After hearing what I said, Katukov didn’t make any comments. Instead, he asked an irrelevant question: "Lida, logically speaking, the German airfield is very close to our army. You can get to the battlefield within a few minutes after takeoff. , But when our army implemented the forced crossing of the Prut River, why didn't their planes?"

If Katukov does not mention this question, I have not noticed that the air today is very calm. There are neither German bombers nor our fighter planes. I thought about it for a while, and then slowly said: "General Katukov, it may not be that the Germans did not want to dispatch the air force, but after a long period of fighting, their fuel and ammunition were severely lacking, so they could not take off. "

"It makes sense." After listening to my analysis, Katukov nodded and said: "Your analysis is very reasonable. If the German air force is not due to lack of ammunition and fuel, it is estimated that it will continue for a few days. The ground bombed the positions occupied by our army. But since yesterday, the German planes have not been seen in the sky. I think their strength is almost consumed."

Katukov and I stood in front of the lookout, watching the troops in the distance crossing the river in an orderly manner on the pontoon, while chatting about the current situation.

Just as we were engaged in chatting, we suddenly heard a burst of cheers from the command post. Katukov and I turned our heads at the same time, looked at the cheering commanders, and asked in unison: "What happened?"

Guttman walked up to us quickly and reported very emotionally: "Comrades, two commanders, we have just received a report from the 64th Tank Brigade."

The 64th Brigade of Tanks, Colonel Boyko's troops! As soon as I heard this number, combined with the excited expression on Guttman's face, I knew it must be great news. So he asked first: "General Guttmann, do you have any good news to tell us?"

"Yes, that's right, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army. It's really great news." Guttmann nodded vigorously and said, "When Colonel Boyko's tank brigade broke into the German airport, it happened to be parked. The planes on the runway tried to take off, but he ordered five tanks to drive onto the runway, blocking the way of the enemy planes. After a fierce battle, they destroyed 7 enemy planes and seized various types of planes. A total of 41..."

"Where is the battle report?" When Katukov heard this, he interrupted Guttmann's words, stretched out his hand, and couldn't wait to ask: "Hurry up and show it to me."

After reading the battle report, Katukov became excited too. While walking back and forth in the headquarters, he said excitedly: "Great, this is really great. You need to report this result to your superiors immediately. General Guttmann, immediately connected to the front headquarters, and I will personally report the good news to Marshal Zhukov."

While I was still on the phone, I suddenly remembered something, and quickly said to Katukov in a low voice: "Comrade General, after you report the good news to the Marshal later, you can ask him to dispatch the air force. Go to air strikes on the German artillery positions south of Chernivtsi to reduce the pressure on our troops during the offensive."

"Lida, you are right to remind." Katukov nodded and said: "If you don't mention it, I never think of it. As long as our air force bombards the German artillery positions, then the infantry During the offensive, the artillery blows received can be greatly reduced, so that the casualties of our army can also be greatly reduced."

After Katukov finished his report to Zhukov, he put down the phone with a smile and said to me: "Lida, Comrade Marshal has agreed to send a bomber division to assist our troops in the attack on Chernowitz." Raising his hand to look at his watch, he continued, "Since the German air force and artillery have lost their use, the frontier must not be too dangerous. How about, do you want to go ahead with me?"

I know what Katukov said is the truth. Now that the German airfield is occupied, the artillery positions will soon be violently attacked by our army, and there is no time to support the defenders in the city. Then Katukov and I went to the front. To inspect, the risk factor is greatly reduced. Thinking of this, I nodded and happily replied: "Well, General Katukov, I will follow you to the front."

Seeing that Katukov and I were leaving, Guttman also asked: "Comrades, comrades, let me go with you, and we can take care of each other."

Unexpectedly, after his words were spoken, Katukov waved his hand at him and said: "No, General Guttmann, you should stay in your headquarters and continue to command the troops. Lida and I Just go to the frontier individually."

…………

Half an hour later, the armored vehicle that Katukov and I were riding in arrived at the division headquarters of the 24th Infantry Division. The commander of the division, an elderly colonel, hurriedly heard the news of our arrival. He rushed to the door of the headquarters to greet us, and respectfully invited the two of us into the headquarters.

After we sat down in the division headquarters, Katukov looked up at the old colonel and asked amiably: "Comrade colonel, are you ready to attack?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." The old colonel replied politely: "Our artillery is building a strike position. After their artillery preparation is over, we will launch a full-scale attack."

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud voice came from the door: "Excuse me, is Comrade Commander here?"

"Come in, Colonel Veladre!" The old colonel heard this voice and immediately turned his head and said to the door: "Comrade Commander is here, please come in!"

As soon as his words fell, a commander in a military coat and a big brimmed hat came in strode from the door. After entering the door, he looked around the room, then walked towards us quickly, raised his hand to his forehead, and reported loudly: "Comrade Commander, the 200th tank brigade commander Veradre will report to you, our brigade Preparations are being made before the attack. Please give instructions!"

Katukov stood up, raised his hand in return, reached out to hold the other's hand, and asked in a friendly manner: "Comrade Colonel, you are good."

Seeing that Katukov and I were leaving, Guttman also asked: "Comrades, comrades, let me go with you, and we can take care of each other."

Unexpectedly, after his words were spoken, Katukov waved his hand at him and said: "No, General Guttmann, you should stay in your headquarters and continue to command the troops. Lida and I Just go to the frontier individually."

…………

Half an hour later, the armored vehicle that Katukov and I were riding in arrived at the division headquarters of the 24th Infantry Division. The commander of the division, an elderly colonel, hurriedly heard the news of our arrival. He rushed to the door of the headquarters to greet us, and respectfully invited the two of us into the headquarters~lightnovelpub.net~ After we sat down in the division headquarters, Katukov looked up at the old colonel. , Asked amiably: "Comrade Colonel, are you ready to attack?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." The old colonel replied politely: "Our artillery is building a strike position. After their artillery preparation is over, we will launch a full-scale attack."

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud voice came from the door: "Excuse me, is Comrade Commander here?"

"Come in, Colonel Veladre!" The old colonel heard this voice and immediately turned his head and said to the door: "Comrade Commander is here, please come in!"

As soon as his words fell, a commander in a military coat and a big brimmed hat came in strode from the door. After entering the door, he looked around the room, then walked towards us quickly, raised his hand to his forehead, and reported loudly: "Comrade Commander, the 200th tank brigade commander Veradre will report to you, our brigade Preparations are being made before the attack. Please give instructions!"

Katukov stood up, raised his hand in return, reached out to hold the other's hand, and asked in a friendly manner: "Comrade Colonel, you are good."