Chapter 1100 Westward Advance (Part 1)

  The imaginary **** battle never happened.

This plan involved four infantry divisions, one artillery division, and three tank brigades. In the end, Sokov only used one regiment of troops to carry out several battalion-level attacks, and wiped out the defenders in the city. successfully liberated the city.

Knowing that the 124th Guards Regiment commanded by Sokov had successfully captured Donetsk, Vitkov was excited, and while reporting the victory to the Front Army Command, he ordered the divisions to speed up and go to Donetsk as soon as possible. Gram close.

   When Rokossovsky received a telegram from Witkov, his first reaction must be that the operator made a mistake in translation. According to his thinking, it would be a very difficult task for Sokov's troops to launch an attack before dark today. But the telegram said that Sokov commanded a guard regiment and had successfully captured Donetsk. This is simply a fantasy.

  In order to verify the authenticity of this matter, Rokossovsky personally called Witkov: "Colonel Witkov, please tell me what was written in the telegram you just sent me?"

"Comrade Commander of the Front," Witkov did not know the reason for Rokossovsky's question, but replied truthfully: "Major General Sokov not long ago personally commanded the 124th Guards Regiment, successfully Donetsk, which was occupied by the German army, was liberated. Now, all the troops of the combat group are moving towards Donetsk, preparing to strengthen the defense there and meet the enemy's possible counterattack."

  After hearing Witkov's answer, Rokossovsky was silent for a long time, then murmured: "So, is the liberation of Donetsk true?"

   "Of course it is true, Comrade Front Army Commander." Witkov explained to Rokossovsky: "The battle report was sent from the radio station of the 124th Guards Regiment. I think there should be nothing wrong."

   "Thank you, Colonel Witkov." After confirming the news of victory, the expression on Rokossovsky's face became relaxed: "Thank you for bringing us such good news."

  As soon as he put down the phone, Ma Linin came over, handed the telegram in his hand to Rokossovsky, and said in his mouth; "Comrade Commander, the German telegram just intercepted, they said that Donetsk has fallen."

  Through the comparison of the intelligence of the two parties, Rokossovsky felt that Donetsk was liberated by Sokov's troops, which is already a firm fact. He quickly picked up the high-frequency phone on the table and contacted Moscow.

  After getting through to Stalin's phone, Rokossovsky said excitedly: "Comrade Stalin, I have some good news to report to you."

   "Is it good news, Konstantin Konstantinovich?" Stalin said in surprise: "The current situation on the battlefield is not good for our army, and we need an exciting good news."

   "This is indeed exciting news." Rokossovsky said: "According to the battle report just obtained, the troops commanded by Major General Sokov have successfully captured Donetsk."

"What, our army has captured Donetsk?" After listening to the report, Stalin's instinctive reaction was that Rokossovsky made a mistake. According to the original plan, it would take at least two days for the troops of the combat group , to rush to Donetsk, and after a short rest, attack the city again. Yesterday I proposed to launch an attack before dark today, but Rokossovsky repeatedly contradicted himself, saying that the distance is so long that it is impossible for the troops to enter the designated attack position in such a short period of time. Now just over ten hours later, he told himself that Donetsk had been liberated by his own army. How could this be possible? So he asked solemnly: "What is going on here?"

Rokossovsky heard the meaning behind Stalin's words, and quickly explained to him: "Comrade Stalin, the situation is like this. According to the normal speed of marching on foot, I am afraid that Sokov's combat group is still marching. They The reason why Donetsk was taken so quickly was that Sokov personally led a regiment of guards, drove to the town of Khalzisk in a truck, and from there launched a surprise attack on the enemy."

   "So that's what happened." Stalin nodded, picked up the cigarette case on the table, took out a cigarette from it, crushed it with his fingers, and stuffed the shredded tobacco into the pipe. He put the pipe in his mouth, but didn't light it up: "I don't know what plans Xiao Xiaosha has next?"

   "The troops belonging to the combat group are now heading towards Donetsk." Rokossovsky reported to Stalin: "It seems that he wants to build a line of defense there to block the way of the German army going east."

What Stalin was most concerned about at the moment was whether after Sokov's troops occupied Donetsk, could they divert the attention of the high-level German army and make them withdraw some troops from the direction of Kharkov. Belgorod's troops will be able to get a few days of respite.

"Konstantin Konstantinovich." Stalin asked Rokossovsky tentatively: "Do you think the attention of the Germans will be attracted by Misha's actions? Even if they only come from Kharko By drawing a division of troops in the direction of the husband, our troops will have a chance to breathe."

"It's hard to say, Comrade Stalin." Regarding Stalin's statement, Rokossovsky said with some embarrassment: "If I were Manstein, even if I knew that my rear was under attack, I'm afraid I would find a way to attack first." Only when the enemy in the direction of Kharkov is eliminated will we turn around and deal with the enemy who captured Donetsk."

  Stalin struck a match, lit the tobacco in his pipe, took a puff and said: "If Misha's troops really can't mobilize the enemy, then what's the point of us capturing Donetsk."

"Of course it makes sense, Comrade Stalin." Seeing that Stalin was a little discouraged, Rokossovsky quickly comforted him and said, "If our army stays in Donetsk and cannot mobilize the enemy, then we can consider attacking Zapo Roger Manstein has already moved his headquarters back to Zaporozhye. If he is attacked again this time, he will definitely order the troops on the front line to return to help, and then he will be able to send troops in the direction of Kharkov. Troops take the pressure off."

"Well, what you said makes sense." Stalin said thoughtfully: "If the troops can attack from the direction of Donetsk and threaten the safety of Zaporozhye, Manstein will definitely send troops back to help. Then our troops will be able to breathe a sigh of relief."

During the call, Rokossovsky reached a consensus with Stalin that after all the combat groups arrived in Donetsk, they needed to actively move westward, posing as a threat to Zaporozhye, forcing Manstein Because troops were transferred from the direction of Kharkov to return to aid.

  Receiving a telegram from Rokossovsky, Sokov found that the other party's order coincided with the next move he imagined. Although it will take two or three days for the main force to arrive at Donetsk, but during the time waiting for the arrival of the troops, he can't do nothing, so he ordered Starcha: "Comrade Colonel, head west immediately. They dispatched scouts to scout the enemy's movements. In addition, they sent a separate scout team to the direction of Zaporozhye to find out the situation of the city's defenses."

  (end of this chapter)