Chapter 1101 Westward Advance (Part 2)

"Comrade Commander," Starcha said cautiously after Sokov finished speaking: "Donetsk is more than two hundred kilometers away from Zaporozhye. The scouts we sent will have to wait at least three or four days. Only the detected information can be sent back.”

   "Let them wear German uniforms and three-wheeled motorcycles." Sokov ordered without explanation: "In this way, they only need five or six hours to get close to Zaporozhye."

"Comrade Commander," Berkin interjected, seeing that Starcha was silent after Sokov finished, "I think that in the present situation we should not focus our main attention on Zaporozhye. Direction. With our existing battlefield projection capabilities, it is too far away from us."

"Comrade Commissar," Sokov didn't know why Belkin, who had always had a tacit understanding with him, would sing the opposite tune at this time, but he guessed that he must have his own ideas, and asked quickly: "Do you have any other ideas? "

"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Belgin nodded, pointed to the map and said to Sokov: "Not long ago, General Popov's troops were defeated in the Red Army Village northwest of the city. There must be a small group of our army operating in an area. If we try to attack the Red Army Village, it is possible that these scattered small groups will be regrouped."

Sokov was stunned. He stared at the map in front of him for a long time without speaking, thinking over and over again what Belkin said: Yes, it is more than two hundred kilometers from here to Zaporozhye, and to the northwest The Red Army Village is only 40 kilometers away, and it only takes two hours for the tank brigade to reach the outside of the city. And after the early fighting, the fortifications there have been basically destroyed. If an attack is to be launched, the enemy may not have any fortifications to rely on for defense.

Thinking of this, he slammed his fist on the table heavily, and said angrily: "Yes, the political commissar is right. We can definitely attack the Red Army Village in the northwest, why go so far to attack Where is Zaporozhye?"

He quickly re-issued the order to Starcha: "Comrade Colonel, the task of reconnaissance on Zaporozhye continues. Small units are connected and can cooperate with each other during siege operations."

  Starcha nodded, and then asked: "Comrade commander, do you have any other instructions?"

"We occupied Donetsk, and the Germans will definitely not be reconciled." Sokov felt that although the German army did not have the troops to counterattack in a short period of time, if they did not send them, they would send out the air force to bombard the city indiscriminately. , and added: "I am worried that they will dispatch the air force to bomb here. Therefore, you must hurry up and build air defenses to reduce losses in the German bombing."

"Comrade Commander," Starcha was reminded by Sokov, and immediately realized that although his troops occupied Donetsk, they could not sit back and relax. Even if the German ground troops could not come temporarily, they would definitely Bombers will also be dispatched to bombard cities indiscriminately. "But we only have 4,000 people now. If we want to build fortifications in such a large city, there may be a shortage of manpower."

"Colonel Starcha, have you forgotten the residents in the city?" Sokov reminded the other party: "There are at least 30,000 to 40,000 residents in this city. You can organize them and help us build fortification."

"Comrade commander, when mobilizing the residents, you should leave it to me." Belkin said with a smile: "Anyway, I am the political commissar of the regiment, and I conduct propaganda and agitation to the citizens, but my It's your job."

  Seeing that Belkin took the initiative to take on this task, Sokov said smoothly: "Okay, Comrade Political Commissar, then I will leave this task to you to complete."

  After Starcha left, Belgin resumed his previous address to Sokov: "Misha, when will our follow-up troops arrive?"

Sokov smiled wryly, and said: "I guess it will take two days at the fastest to get there. After all, it is about 100 kilometers away from Luhansk, and some roads in some areas have been destroyed by the German army. , so that our marching speed had to be slowed down."

"Two days?" Belkin frowned and thought for a while, then said to Sokov: "Misha, if our army really arrives in two days, it will take another day to reach the Red Army Village. So Once it comes, it is equivalent to giving the German army three days to prepare, and when we go to occupy the Red Army Village, I am afraid we will pay a greater price."

   "You're right." Sokov agreed, "Only by using the speed of your troops and attacking the German army by surprise before they are ready, can you achieve the greatest victory with the least casualties."

   "Misha, do you have any good ideas?"

"Let the troops of our division speed up their march and arrive at Donetsk as soon as possible." Sokov said: "At that time, in order to confuse the enemy, the other divisions still maintained their original marching speed, so that the enemy would not let our army reach Donetsk. Timothy miscalculates."

After Belgin agreed with Sokov's plan, he put forward his own opinion: "Misha, since Donetsk has fallen into the hands of our army, the convoy of transport troops can be allowed to enter the city directly. Reducing the time spent by troops on the road allows us to complete the project much earlier.”

Sokov took a pen and drew a circle in the northwest of Donetsk, and said to Belkin: "Comrade Commissar, I plan to let the convoy drive directly here, so that the soldiers can save a lot of walking. It is also beneficial for them to preserve their physical strength, and when they enter the battlefield, they will have enough physical strength to fight."

"This time, which regiment do you plan to let be the spearhead of the attack on the Red Army's village?" After Belgin asked this question, before waiting for Sokov to answer, he offered to ask again: "I think it's better to send this regiment to the Red Army Village." Let our regiment complete this difficult task. After all, the commanders and fighters have just occupied Donetsk, and their morale is high. Once they are put into battle again, I believe they will be able to display extraordinary combat effectiveness."

Regarding Belkin's request, Sokov almost agreed, but after thinking about it, he shook his head and said: "You are right, your regiment just won a huge victory not long ago, but we also It should be noted that some troops were disabled during the battle, if they are allowed to continue to participate in the battle, I am afraid that after the battle is over, quite a few numbers should be cancelled."

   "Then which regiment do you plan to use for the main attack mission?"

"Colonel Ershakov's 125th Regiment, which includes Major Shamrikh's Marine Battalion, they are not only strong in combat effectiveness, but also good at fighting tough battles." Sokov said: "Give such a difficult task to the They, I am very relieved."

  Belkin once commanded the battle of the Marine Battalion, and he couldn't be more clear about their combat effectiveness. Since Sokov is going to let the 125th Regiment attached to the Marine Battalion be the main attacker, he can't object, so he can only nod his head, "Okay, Misha, I will do as you say, and let the 125th Regiment carry out this difficult task." And an honorable task."

  (end of this chapter)