Chapter 1472

  Wyler probably never dreamed that Sokov's troops would suddenly launch an attack under the most unlikely circumstances.

  When the officers and soldiers of the 42nd Army were blocked by the Soviet army on the left landing field and could not move forward, the German commander gave an order to retreat, but at this moment, a strange sound came from the air.

  As the screams sounded, the shells drew beautiful arcs in the air and hit the dense German attacking queue. In the sky full of smoke and dust, the shells exploded into thousands of shrapnel, interweaving each other into a large impenetrable net, harvesting the fresh lives near the explosion point. In the rising black gunpowder smoke, the wreckage of torn tanks and armored vehicles, together with the broken limbs and arms of German soldiers, were thrown into the air by the air waves, and then drifted down like rain, falling on the still hot, blazing ground. On the smoky Russian land.

  However, this was only the beginning. After the five-minute artillery attack began, a red flare flew into the sky, signaling an attack to the commanders and fighters on standby on the landing field.

   Just when thousands of commanders and fighters were about to launch an attack, they suddenly heard a familiar melody, which made people's blood boil. At first the commanders and fighters thought it was their own hallucination. But soon they knew that this was not their own hallucination, but the sound from the speakers just installed not long ago, and the phonograph played the familiar "Holy War".

  The commanders and fighters who had already been ready to go, shouted loudly and rushed out of the position. The assault force was divided into two groups. On the left was the 384th Division of Major General Gritsenko, and on the right was the 315th Division from the Shock Army. The commanders followed the fleeing enemy and quickly rushed towards the distant German position.

   Not long after the infantry set off, the tank brigade that cooperated with the battle was also dispatched. More than 60 T-34 tanks and a dozen self-propelled artillery quickly caught up with the infantry in front, and gradually passed them, leading the infantry to charge in front.

   The officers and soldiers of the 42nd Army have been attacking the Soviet landing field since dawn. According to their consistent thinking, the Soviet army could only conduct passive defense in the face of its continuous offensive, so it did not deploy many troops on the defense line. Now that the Soviet tanks and infantry are coming in like a tide, how can they resist it.

  The first line of defense was quickly broken through by the Soviet army. After they left the necessary troops for defense, they continued to advance towards the second line of defense of the German army.

  From the beginning of the battle, Sokov and Tsvetayev stood on a high ground, holding binoculars to observe the situation on the battlefield.

Seeing the troops breaking through the enemy's defensive position in a devastating manner, Tsvetayev couldn't help but be overjoyed. He thought that the troops on the landing field would have to go through a fierce battle before they could occupy the enemy's first line of defense if they were going to advance to the city. Now it is effortless to achieve this goal.

"General Sokov, your tactic is really great. Our troops broke through the enemy's defense line so easily." Perhaps seeing that his troops were too relaxed, Tsvetayev said confidently : "I believe it won't be long before our army can occupy the enemy's second line of defense."

   "Comrade General," Sokov was not dazzled by the victory in front of him. He knew very well that the enemy's strength was far stronger than his own. When they reacted and assembled their forces to counterattack, the fierce battle would begin. In order to prevent Tsvetayev from having the idea of ​​underestimating the enemy, he said tactfully: "The enemy in Kharkov is much stronger than us. Don't look at our advantage now. If the enemy concentrates their strength to launch a counterattack, we must block them. , I am afraid it will not be an easy task.”

   Hearing what Sokov said, Tsvetayev restrained the smile on his face, and said solemnly: "Then what should we do?"

"What we can do now is to find a way to disperse the power of the German army." Sokov looked at the smoky battlefield on the east bank of the Ude River and said, "As long as the enemy's forces are dispersed, they will not be able to drive our commanders into Ude." De River."

   After finishing speaking, Sokov turned around and told the communications staff officer standing next to him: "Communications staff officer, connect me to the Army Command immediately. I want to speak to Chief of Staff Sameko."

  After the call was connected, Sokov ignored the pleasantries, and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation there? Are the troops ready for battle?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sameko replied in an affirmative tone: "The troops participating in the assault have already assembled on the West Bank. They can only pass the bridge and the two bridges in the shortest time as soon as the shelling starts. The pontoon completes the river crossing operation."

   "General Sokov," Tsvetayev next to him couldn't help interjecting when he heard this, "I don't know how long is the shortest time?"

   Sokov glanced at Tsvetayev, and then repeated his question to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is the shortest time you mentioned?"

  Sameko obviously expected that Sokov would ask this question, and immediately replied unambiguously: "No more than ten minutes at most."

   Regarding the time mentioned by Sameko, Sokov can accept it. After he nodded slightly, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the troops on the left landing field have broken through the first line of defense of the German army and are advancing towards the second line of defense. You have to move quickly, or you will fall behind. "

  After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, it is not enough to rely on ground troops to attack. We must get air support to advance further."

   Tsvetayev didn't understand what Sokov said suddenly, and asked with some surprise: "General Sokov, are you planning to request air force support from the Front Command?"

   "That's right, that's what I mean." If the troops that launched the attack from the landing site were all Sokov's troops, he would have already called Konev or Zakharov and asked them to send out air force support. But now the two armies are fighting together, and Tsvetayev's military rank is higher than his own. If you don't explain this matter clearly to him, just call casually, I'm afraid the other party will feel resentful. "Look, are you calling General Konev, or am I?"

There was a smile on Tsvetayev's face: "General Sokov, the landing field on the east bank of the Ud River was established by your troops, and I was just cooperating with you in combat. Regarding the request for air support from the superior, I It seems more appropriate for you to call."

  Since Tsvetayev offered to let him call, Sokov was not hypocritical, and immediately ordered the communications staff to connect to the line of the Front Army Command.

   Watching the communications staff member answering the phone, Tsvetayev said with emotion: "General Sokov, you should be more thoughtful. Before the attack, you ordered someone to install a phone that can communicate with the Front Army Command."

"Comrade General," Sokov replied: "The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly. If we simply communicate through telegrams, it may delay the fighter plane. But with the telephone, we can report the latest information from our place to the superior at any time, and When the time is right, ask for their assistance."

  After the call was connected, the person on the other end of the phone was Konev: "Comrade Sokov, do you have any important information, do you want to report it to me?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov quickly reported to Konev about the attack by the troops on the left landing field, and finally said: "My troops on the right landing field will soon launch an attack on the enemy. , I hope you can send the air force to provide the necessary air support for our offensive force."

  Sokov's report shocked Konev. He didn't expect Sokov to launch an attack on the enemy without making a sound. After thinking for a while, he asked: "How is the progress of the left wing?"

"We have successfully broken through the enemy's first line of defense and are approaching the second line of defense." Sokov said: "In order to prevent the enemy from concentrating their forces and driving our attacking troops on the left into the Oud River, I plan to Let the right wing also participate in this attack, and try to achieve the greatest results."

   "Comrade Sokov, I believe that your offensive will successfully throw the enemy into chaos." Konev said generously: "I will send the air force to provide you with air support as soon as possible."

   Just when Sokov breathed a sigh of relief and was about to hang up the phone, he suddenly heard Konev ask again: "Comrade Sokov, you just said that the troops who are cooperating with you are the troops of the 5th Assault Army?"

   "Yes, Commander of the Front Army."

"Since it's a joint operation, I'm very concerned about who is in charge of the operation, you or Lieutenant General Tsvetayev?" Konev deliberately used the word "Lieutenant General" when he asked this question. Emphasized the tone.

   "Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov glanced at Tsvetayev who was standing not far away, and replied, "This attack is limited to my troops, and the friendly forces are only fighting with us."

Although Sokov did not specify who is in charge, Konev still understood what he meant, and after laughing twice, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Sokov, I wish you good luck, Hope to hear the news of your victory soon.”

   After Konev finished the call, he held the microphone in a daze for a while, and then said to Zakharov who was standing next to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I think it is necessary to tell Marshal Zhukov this good news."

   "Comrade Commander, this is as it should be." In fact, even if Konev didn't say anything, Zakharov planned to propose to Konev. At this time, when he heard this matter first, he said with a smile on his face: "I believe that Marshal Zhukov will be very happy when he finds out about this matter."

  The director of the communications corps learned that Konev wanted to talk to Zhukov, so he connected the Voronezh Front Army Command in the shortest possible time.

  After the call was connected, Zhukov's voice came from the receiver: "Is this Comrade Konev? I am Zhukov!"

   "Hello, Georgi Konstantinovich!" Konev called Zhukov's name affectionately, and said emotionally, "I have good news for you."

   Knowing that Konev had good news to tell himself, Zhukov immediately asked impatiently: "General Konev, did your troops rush into Kharkov?"

   "Well, that's not true." Faced with Zhukov's question, Konev replied with some embarrassment: "My troops are still outside the city to destroy the enemy's vital forces, and have not entered the city yet."

   "Since your troops haven't rushed into the city yet, what good news is there to report?"

"Well, not long ago, Major General Sokov reported to me that his troops had launched an attack on the defensive positions of the enemy's 42nd Army from the left flank landing field on the east bank of the Oud River. So far, they have successfully broken through the enemy's The first line of defense, the troops are advancing to the second line of defense. At the same time, the troops on the right landing field will soon launch an attack on the German 11th Army."

   "Oh, Misha's troops have launched an attack on the Germans?" Zhukov asked in surprise, "Is the news reliable?"

   "Totally reliable, Comrade Marshal." Konev replied confidently: "This information was reported to me by Comrade Sokov himself."

  Hearing such good news, Zhukov's mood fluctuated somewhat. After taking a deep breath, he continued to ask: "General Konev, did Misha ask you for anything?"

   "He asked me to send in the air force to provide air support for his attacking force."

   "It is absolutely necessary to provide air cover for Misha's offensive troops." As an excellent commander who has experienced many battles, Zhukov naturally knows the importance of air cover in offensive operations. He clearly remembered that at the same time last year, he commanded three armies to attack north of Stalingrad, but because the troops lacked air support, hundreds of thousands of commanders and fighters launched an attack on the German army and did not achieve ideal results.

  Now the number of aircraft on our side has surpassed that of the German army, and we have mastered most of the air supremacy in the Kharkov area. Providing air cover for Sokov's troops is very helpful to expand the results of the battle. Zhukov asked tentatively: "General Konev, how many planes do you plan to send to support Sokov's troops?"

Although most of the air power at this time was used by Konev in the main battle area of ​​the front army, but at this moment when he heard Zhukov's question, after hesitating for a moment, he still said decisively: "Comrade Marshal, I will find a way to let The air force dispatched an aviation division to provide sufficient air cover for Sokov's troops."

"Very good." Zhukov knew that Konev had done his best to dispatch an aviation division, so he did not force the other party, but said reasonablely: "However, it is obviously necessary for one aviation division to support two landing sites." If it is not enough, I will ask Comrade Vatutin to send another aviation division. I believe that with the strength of two aviation divisions, it will definitely provide sufficient air support for Sokov's troops and relieve their worries."

  After Konev and Zhukov reached a consensus, as soon as the call ended, he immediately ordered the director of the communications corps to call Sokov. As soon as he heard Sokov's voice, Konev said excitedly: "Comrade Sokov, I want to tell you some good news. Your offensive force will be supported by two aviation divisions, so you don't have to worry about it." There's a threat from the air."

  Sokov was surprised when he heard this. He asked in amazement: "Comrade Commander, shouldn't the Air Force of the Front Army be in the most intense fighting area at this moment? Where can so many planes be dispatched to support us?"

"You are right. Our air force is indeed insufficient. At best, we can only send you an aviation division." Konev truthfully told Sukov: "But after I reported your situation to Marshal Zhukov, he It is decided to transfer another aviation division from the Voronezh Front to support you. In this way, the German army will not pose any threat to you from the air, and you can safely and boldly advance deep into the enemy."

  (end of this chapter)