Chapter 1065 The Quiet Suburb (Part 2)

"Misha, you are right." Zhukov agrees with what Sokov said: "Without air supremacy, the combat effectiveness of our army will be greatly reduced. During the Battle of Stalingrad, why was it in the north of the city? The several large-scale attacks launched ended in failure in the end, because the attacking troops lost air supremacy. No matter how favorable the situation on the battlefield is to our army, as soon as the enemy planes appeared and bombarded the attacking troops indiscriminately, It will cause our offense to be frustrated."

   Hearing Zhukov say so much, Sokov couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope: as long as there is the cooperation of the Air Force, there is no need to worry about the German army attacking the city. At that time, as soon as you find the enemy's artillery positions or tank assembly points, you can immediately call the air force to attack to destroy the enemy.

   It will be extremely difficult for the German army, which has lost the cover of tanks and artillery, to break through the defense of the Soviet army. At that time, the chances of defending the city will be greatly increased.

  He tentatively asked Zhukov: "Comrade General, I wonder if the Air Force can provide us with air cover?"

"Misha, I am here this time as a representative of the headquarters." Zhukov did not immediately answer Sokov's question, but said with a smile: "If I want to command any nearby troops, how can I?" Isn't it just a matter of one sentence?"

  Sokov was immediately relieved. Since Zhukov appeared here as a representative of the base camp, as long as he gave the order, I believe that no one would dare to disobey the order. Then he asked for air cover, which means he agreed.

   "Great, this is really great." Sokov said excitedly: "With air cover, no matter how many enemies come, we can have a good fight with them."

"There are ten aviation divisions under the Eighth Army of the Air Force, and I can order one or two of them to follow your command." Zhukov looked at Sokov and said, "I hope you will perform well, and don't let me down. otherwise,…"

  Although Zhukov didn't say "otherwise", Sokov knew that the end would definitely be bad. Even if he was not sent to a military court, he might be dismissed from his post. He quickly promised: "Comrade General, please rest assured that I will not let you down."

  But soon, Sokov thought of a key question: "Comrade General, I have a question. Since the Southwest Front has an air force group army, why didn't it provide air cover for the troops of the Southwest Front?"

"The reason is very simple." Zhukov said with a bitter face: "The base of the Eighth Army of the Air Force is too far away from the combat area of ​​the Southwest Front Army, more than a thousand kilometers away. When the plane arrives at the battlefield, the fuel is almost consumed. Combat enemy aircraft, or provide air cover for ground forces?"

"So that's the case." Sokov immediately understood that the reason why Zhukov agreed to the air force to provide him with air cover was entirely because he was located within the combat radius of the Eighth Army of the Air Force, so that he could unscrupulously agree to provide air cover for him. Provide air cover yourself.

"Telegram, telegram!" A communications officer rushed over waving a telegram and excitedly reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, a telegram from Colonel Bely, the 1st Tank Battalion has successfully broken through the enemy's defensive position. , Join forces with the friendly army coming from the opposite side."

   "We have joined forces, this is good news." Zhukov snatched the telegram from the staff officer's hand and checked it carefully: "Yes, indeed we have joined forces. Colonel Bely also saw General Popov with his own eyes."

  When Zhukov returned the telegram to Sokov, he asked curiously: "Misha, why did the staff officer call you division commander just now?"

"It's like this, Comrade General." Now that Bely's troops have joined forces with Popov and the others, Sokov is very happy. The 41st Guards Division. Although I am the commander of the combat group now, but I am also the division commander of the 41st Guards Division, so they are still used to calling me division commander."

"So that's what happened, I thought the staff made a mistake in the moment of excitement." After Zhukov finished speaking, he waved his big hand and said to Sokov: "Come on, let's go to meet General Popov. "

   "I'm sorry, Comrade General." When Witkov heard that Zhukov planned to meet Popov in person, he quickly stopped him and said sincerely, "It's too dangerous there, you can't go there."

   "Soldiers are not afraid of danger, I have nothing to fear." Zhukov said, and he stretched out his hand to push Witkov away.

His hand just touched Vitkov's shoulder, and Sokov also stood in front of him and said anxiously: "Comrade general, you are now the representative of the base camp here, and you still have more important work to complete." , you have no right to risk your life."

"However, General Popov has just successfully broken through. As a representative of the headquarters, I should appear in front of him and comfort him." Zhukov said: "After all, they have gone through so many arduous and outstanding battles before they succeeded jumped out of the siege of the Germans."

   "Comrade General, you can stay here with peace of mind." Sokov said to Zhukov: "I will immediately send a telegram to Colonel Bely, asking him to send someone to **** General Popov here immediately."

  Hearing what Sokov said, Zhukov couldn't say anything more, so he nodded and said helplessly, "Okay, Misha, since you said that, I'll wait here for General Popov."

   Half an hour later, Colonel Bely, who was full of gunpowder, appeared in the headquarters with General Popov.

   Popov, who had just escaped from the encirclement of the enemy, never dreamed that he would meet Zhukov here. He thought that the other party was here to investigate the fact that he ordered the breakout without authorization, and he couldn't help becoming uneasy. But he still bite the bullet, raised his hand to salute Zhukov, and said respectfully, "Hello, Comrade General, it's a pleasure to meet you here."

Zhukov got up and walked in front of him. After looking him up and down, he pulled his hand from his forehead, moved towards his arms, gave him a warm hug, and said excitedly, "It's good to be alive." , It’s good to be alive. From the outbreak of the war to the present, I have lost many good comrades in arms. I even thought I would never see you again. It is really a happy thing to see you here.”

"I would like to thank Colonel Sokov." Popov looked at Sokov who was standing aside, and said with emotion: "If he hadn't taken the initiative to send troops to rescue, my troops would have to pay more to break through the enemy's encirclement." More casualties. Even so, my troops also suffered heavy losses."

   After Zhukov greeted Popov to sit down at the table, he asked curiously: "Comrade Popov, tell me about the casualties of your troops."

"Several tank armies belonging to the fast group, the tanks were either destroyed in the battle, or when we broke out, because the fuel and ammunition ran out, we had to blow them up in order not to leave them to the enemy." Popov lowered his head, He said with a heavy heart: "As for the only infantry corps, the casualties were also very heavy when they broke through the encirclement. One-half of the soldiers were killed or injured, and two-thirds of the commanders were killed or injured. Many battalion-level units have been completely wiped out. "

Zhukov sighed softly, raised his hand and patted Popov on the shoulder a few times, and said: "This is the price that needs to be paid to defend the motherland. Soldiers will not die in vain. Sooner or later we will ask the Germans for this price." A blood debt."

  (end of this chapter)