Chapter 1594

"Front Army Commander, my troops can launch a counterattack against the enemy at any time, but they lack sufficient supplies to maintain a long-term battle." Although Sukov knew that Konev understood these principles, he did not hesitate to attack the enemy in front of other army commanders. , I still need to make some things clear, so as to avoid other people's gossip in the future: "You also know that wars are about logistics. If we don't get enough logistics support, even if we get some good results in the initial stage of the offensive, we will soon It was wiped out under the enemy's crazy counterattack. Maybe in the end, our offensive intention was not achieved, and the troops suffered huge losses instead."

   "Comrade Minister of Logistics," Konev waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and looked at the Minister of Logistics sitting in the crowd: "If you want to give the 27th Army..."

Sokov thought that with the transfer of the main force, his own army would definitely not be the only army participating in the attack at that time. Maybe Managarov's 53rd Army would also fight side by side with him, so he quickly interjected: "The front army Commander, and General Managarov's 53rd Army, they also need to be replenished."

Konev nodded, and followed Sokov's words: "Yes, there is also General Managarov's 53rd Army. In the next battle, they will fight side by side with the 27th Army. The logistics supply is Indispensable."

The Minister of Logistics was an elderly lieutenant general. After hearing what Konev said, he took off his big-brimmed hat, scratched the back of his head, and said in embarrassment: "Comrade commander, this is very difficult. You know Even if we only provide enough supplies for the 27th Army, our logistics department is very struggling. If the 53rd Army is added, the supply of hundreds of thousands of people will be an astronomical figure, unless the superior provides us with more wagons and trucks, otherwise it would be impossible to provide them with enough military supplies in a short period of time.”

"Comrade Minister of Logistics," before the other party finished speaking, Zakharov interrupted him: "You should understand in your heart that this is simply impossible. Now all fronts are in urgent need of replenishment, and the transportation capacity is already tight. , and then ask the superiors to allocate more wagons and trucks, they will not be approved at all.”

When the Minister of Logistics talked with Konev and Zakharov, Sokov thought in his heart: "If it is really impossible, why don't you contact Yakov in private and ask him to send a hovercraft to transport supplies for you. The terrain is used, and the load capacity is quite large. Normally, it takes three to four days to deliver the materials transported by wagons and trucks to your own troops, and the hovercraft may be able to deliver them in one day."

  But after thinking about it, the hovercraft is indeed very convenient, but the maintenance is too troublesome, and a dedicated maintenance team is needed to maintain it. If it can be used on a large scale, when I called Yakov some time ago and asked him to provide me with heavy artillery shells, I can use this kind of transportation instead of letting Zhukov come forward to ask the Air Force Commander for help. Provide a transport plane by yourself, which is specially used to transport shells.

Seeing Sokov's pensive look, Konev guessed that he was worried about the transportation of supplies, so he took the initiative to say: "Comrade Sokov, the current position of your army group is very important. And it is also the best starting point for the attack. Don’t worry, I will find a way to replenish supplies for you as soon as possible.”

   "Comrade Commander," hearing what Konev said, the Minister of Logistics couldn't help crying again: "Our transportation capacity has reached its limit, and it is impossible to increase it any further."

   But Konev just smiled slightly after listening, and then asked: "The rail and road transportation on the ground has indeed reached its limit. I don't deny this at all. But, have you considered air transportation?"

   "Air transportation?" The logistics minister said with a confused face: "But we haven't opened an air transportation line?"

"As far as I know, a transport plane takes off from somewhere in Moscow every two days to deliver urgently needed heavy artillery shells to Sokov's troops." Konev said with a smile: "If the Air Force can increase the transportation I believe that it won't be long before the troops of the 27th Army can stockpile enough combat supplies."

  The Minister of Logistics said with great concern: "Can the superior agree?"

When Konev was talking to the Minister of Logistics, all the commanders present cast envious glances at Sokov. They never dreamed that there was actually a transport plane dedicated to transporting heavy artillery shells for Sokov. Very envious.

   Even if someone is jealous, but after thinking about it, this is probably the discount that the winner should enjoy. If one's own troops can also achieve the record of the 27th Army, maybe the superiors can also give him special treatment.

"Comrade Commander," Air Force Commander Goryunov stood up, glanced at Sokov, and said to Konev with a smile: "There are still more than a dozen transport planes in my Air Force Army. If Sokov The general doesn’t mind, I can help him transport the military supplies he needs for combat.”

Sokov, who was worrying about supplies, heard what Goryunov said, and suddenly his eyes lit up: Yes, how did I forget that the Steppe Front Army also has an air force group army, they must have a lot of transport planes, with their help , The speed of transporting materials will definitely be greatly improved.

Thinking of this, Sokov stood up quickly, and said to Goryunov with a smile on his face: "General Goryunov, thank you, with your help, I think we will be able to get enough supplies in the shortest possible time." military supplies."

"Comrade Commander," with the support of the air force, Sokov's problem seemed to be resolved, but Zakharov approached Konev and asked in a low voice: "What about General Managarov's 53rd Army?" What to do? If they don’t get sufficient supplies, it may be difficult to attack the enemy.”

"It doesn't matter," Konev already had a mature idea in his heart: "After Sokov's troops attack, Managarov's troops are responsible for covering their flanks, so that the amount of ammunition consumed can greatly reduced."

   "This is fine." Zakharov agreed with Konev's statement: "After the battle starts, we will provide a certain number of weapons and ammunition to the 53rd Army to ensure that they can maintain normal combat consumption."

  After Konev announced the end of the meeting, Sokov walked out of the building, found an open place to stop, and looked at the people coming out of it.

   Seeing this, Lunev asked Sokov curiously: "Comrade Commander, are you waiting for someone?"

   "That's right." Sokov nodded and said, "I'm waiting for General Goryunov and want to ask him something."

  Lunev heard what Sokov said, and immediately guessed what he wanted to ask, so he tentatively asked: "Comrade Commander, do you want to ask about Rezanov?"

"That's right, I just want to ask about Rezanov." Sokov replied, "See how General Goryunov arranges him. Take them back together."

Soon, Goryunov came out of the building and saw Sokov, Lunev and Sameko standing on the side of the road from a distance, so he walked up quickly and asked with a smile: "So General Koff, are you waiting for me?"

   "Hello, General Goryunov, I am indeed waiting for you." Sokov said straight to the point: "I would like to ask how you placed Rezanov?"

"Rezanov?" After Goryunov repeated the name, he suddenly remembered who Sokov was asking, and quickly replied, "General Sokov, you are talking about the person who provided us with important information." pilot?"

"Yes, that's him." Sokov asked cautiously: "According to your air force's report, the attack on the German airfield has achieved great results. I want to know, Comrade Rezanov, who provided you with information, is he now How's it going?"

"Don't worry, General Sokov." Goryunov confirmed that Sokov was concerned about Rezanov, and said with a smile: "He has made such a contribution, how could we treat him badly. The chief of the group army passed by After research, it was decided to award him the rank of lieutenant. Due to his physical condition, he will temporarily stay in the headquarters as a staff officer. It will not be too late to return to the blue sky after he recovers in the future."

Knowing that Rezanov was awarded the rank of lieutenant, the stone hanging in Sokov's heart finally fell to the ground. Awarding the rank and allowing him to stay in the headquarters as a staff officer meant that the Air Force Group Army recognized Rezanov . After a brief exchange of greetings with Goryunov, he shook hands and said goodbye.

   On the way back to the headquarters by plane, Sameko approached Sokov's ear and asked loudly: "Comrade Commander, the Air Force has already made arrangements for Rezanov, so what about the remaining five people?"

"Let them stay in the field hospital first." Sukov couldn't think of how to arrange for the other five people for a while. After all, he didn't know their situation and couldn't make arrangements for them, so he replied, "Wait until their bodies recover. After that, it’s not too late to think about arranging work.”

   "Okay." Sameko said loudly, "Then I'll let them stay in the field hospital to recuperate."

  When he returned to the headquarters, Sokov suddenly remembered an important matter. He quickly pulled Lunev aside and asked in a low voice, "Comrade Military Commissar, there is something I want to ask you."

"what's up?"

"After the three of General Ponegerin and the others were sent to Moscow, there was no news at all." From the arrangement of the five escaped prisoners of war, Sokov thought of the arrangement of Ponegerin and others who were sent to Moscow for review. Ask Lunev curiously: "Do you have any latest news from them?"

   "I don't know much about this." Lunev shook his head and said, "Although I am the deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, I have no authority to ask questions about the review of senior commanders."

  Hearing what Lunev said, Sokov not only frowned, but he also became worried about Ponejelin and others, fearing that they would suffer misfortune because of their failure and capture.

   Seeing Sokov's preoccupied look, Lunev hurriedly asked, "Comrade Commander, why did you think of asking them?"

"Comrade Military Commissar, according to the information I have, the troops will soon be reorganized." Sokov clearly remembered that by October 20, the Voronezh Front Army would be reorganized into the Ukrainian First Front Army, while the Steppe Front Army Reorganized into the Ukrainian Second Front Army: "The reorganized group army will add an army system. I am afraid that among the division commanders under our command, it is difficult for anyone to be qualified for the post of army commander. Therefore, I plan to wait for General Ponejelin to complete the review. He can serve as a commander in our group army."

  When Ponejelin and others were taken away, Sokov once said this to Lunev. But Lunev didn't take it to heart at the time, thinking that Sokov was just talking casually. Now that Sokov brought up the old matter again, he had to treat it with caution, "Comrade Commander, do you really plan to let Ponegerin take up the post of army commander?"

"That's right." Sokov nodded, and said in an affirmative tone: "In any case, General Pornegerin used to be the commander of the army group, and he was the commander of the army. Said, there should be no problem."

"But he spent two years in a German prisoner-of-war camp, and the tactics he was familiar with are already outdated." Lunev carefully reminded Sukov: "If he still follows the outdated tactics to command Combat, I am worried that the troops will suffer unnecessary losses."

  Sokov thought to himself that Apanashenko, who is known as the Tsar of the Far East, won the rank of general before the war broke out. But since he had been in the Far East, training troops for Stalin, he had no idea how to fight the Germans. Therefore, after requesting to fight against the Germans on the Western Front, Stalin specially arranged for him to serve as Vatutin's deputy, planning to wait until he became familiar with how to deal with the Germans before entrusting him with important tasks. Ersk was sacrificed later in the battle. The situation of Ponejielin and others today is similar to that of Apanashenko. They must first be familiar with how to fight the Germans before they can safely and boldly hand over the troops to their command.

"Comrade Military Commissar, you are correct. Although General Pornegerin was the commander of the Army Group before the war, his tactics have long been outdated. It is indeed not safe to directly entrust the troops to his command, so I plan to let him stay in the headquarters for a while, and let him take up the post of army commander after he is familiar with our usual tactics."

"That's fine too." Based on his understanding of Sokov, he knew that once the other party made a decision, no matter how much he persuaded, he would not change his mind, so he said smoothly: "Then I will call Bey first." Comrade Leah, ask how the censorship of Pornegerin and others is going."

   After finishing speaking, Lunev walked towards a hut not far away, where he had a radio station for private communication with Moscow, and he planned to send a telegram to Beria to learn how far the review work had progressed.

   And Sokov returned to the table, and Sameko began to study the next battle plan.

Sameko pointed to the map and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I think that if you want to attack the enemy, the best place to attack is undoubtedly the defense area of ​​General Fomenko's 84th Division. The terrain there is complicated. The enemy can't deploy too many armored units, and once the battle starts, we can make a quick breakthrough there."

Sokov agreed with Sameko's statement in his heart. He thought quite proudly: "Now the 84th Division is equipped with more than 4,000 bicycles. Even if the enemy is defeated, they can still rely on the mobility of bicycles." , catch up and severely injure the fleeing enemy, thereby rapidly expanding the area of ​​the landing field."

  (end of this chapter)