It is impossible for a person of Sokov's level to know what happened in Stalin's office. At this moment, he was ordering his troops to launch a final general attack on the already defeated Imperial Division.
In order to save this force, at Hausser's plea, the German army dispatched more than fifty fighter planes, trying to blast a gap in the Soviet encirclement so that more officers and soldiers could escape.
Sokov worked hard to surround the Imperial Division and the Skeleton Division. Now that the Skeleton Division has been destroyed, how can he let the Imperial Division go so easily? Seeing the enemy's air force dispatched, he was not to be outdone and ordered the two aviation divisions under his command to take off to fight. The fighter division would deal with the enemy aircraft, while the bomber division would bomb the fleeing enemy.
In order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the Skeleton Division, Major General Val ordered the troops to begin to assemble towards the residential areas north of the town of Rojinsik, intending to use their superiority in strength to launch an assault and break through the newly formed encirclement of the Soviet army.
Merkulov, who was commanding the troops to attack, received a call from the commander of the 199th Guards Regiment and learned that the enemy was continuously attacking the regiment's position. Since there were only temporary field fortifications there, facing the enemy The strong attack might not last long, so he could only ask Merkulov for help.
After listening to the regimental commander's report, Merkulov said to him: "Comrade Colonel, I order you to hold the position at all costs. The entire regiment must stand there like nails and not retreat even a step."
Regarding Merkulov's meaningless general order, the regiment commander could only bite the bullet and reply: "Yes, Comrade Division Commander, we will resolutely defend our position at all costs and prevent the enemy from passing through our position."
As soon as Merkulov ended his call with the front line, he immediately ordered the communications soldier: "Hurry up and get through to the headquarters. If there is any urgent military information, I need to report it to the comrade commander."
The call was quickly connected, and after hearing Sokov's voice coming from the receiver, Merkulov quickly said: "Comrade Commander, I just received a call from the commander of the 199th Regiment. The Imperial Division has assembled several soldiers." Thousands of troops are constantly attacking his position."
"Can they hold it?" Sokov asked curtly.
"It's very difficult, Comrade Commander." Merkulov understood Sokov's character and knew that the other party wanted to know the true situation on the battlefield, so he did not hide it and answered truthfully: "Our army just captured Dobro Outside the town of Pilia, only temporary field fortifications can be used, and it may be difficult to resist the enemy's uninterrupted attacks."
"I understand, Comrade General. Just wait a moment. I'll ask if there are any other troops of our army nearby." At this point, Sokov took the phone away from his ear, turned around and asked Vitkov: " Chief of Staff, which unit of our army is near the town of Dobropiliya?”
"Yes," Vitkov replied without hesitation: "According to the intelligence just obtained, Colonel Starcha's 124th Guards Regiment is now rushing to the area. It is currently about eight kilometers away from there."
"General Merkulov," Sokov said again, putting the microphone close to his ear: "I have already asked the chief of staff that the 124th Guards Regiment of Colonel Starcha is now 100 meters away from the town of Dobropilya. There are still eight kilometers to go and they are the closest troops to the town.”
"What, there are still eight kilometers?" Merkulov couldn't help but feel bitter when he heard what Sokov said. He was very aware of the current road conditions. The troops had to march eight kilometers on a muddy road, which took two hours. Even if they can arrive within a few seconds, they can be regarded as acting quickly, but can their 199th Regiment still last for two hours? He asked Sokov hesitantly: "Comrade Commander, can you get them to the town of Dobropilya within an hour?"
"This is impossible, Comrade General." Sokov said: "If there are transport vehicles and the roads are in good condition, then it will only take a quarter of an hour, let alone an hour, for the friendly forces to rush over. But with the current road conditions, Being able to get there within two hours is considered very fast.”
"What should we do?" Merkulov asked with a wry smile: "Are we just going to watch the enemy jump out of the encirclement and successfully escape back to Barvinkovo?"
"Don't worry, Comrade General." Sokov said into the microphone: "Although the 124th Regiment cannot reach the town of Dobropiliya within two hours, they can use new rockets within an hour. Bombard the enemies who have gathered together."
After putting down the phone, Sokov told Vitkov: "Chief of Staff, record my orders: First, order the Starcha regiment to rush to the town of Dobropilya as soon as possible, and select a suitable launch location as soon as possible to launch the rocket with bombs to attack the assembled enemies. Second, order Colonel Nechepolenko’s bomber aviation division to continue bombing the enemy forces on the ground.”
"Comrade Commander," Vitkov reminded Sokov: "After such a long battle, I think the number of rockets carried by the 124th Regiment should be low."
"Let Colonel Sidorin think of a way to ensure that the Starcha Regiment has a sufficient number of rockets." Sokov said decisively: "Now that the enemies are all concentrated together, our rockets can exert their maximum power. "
"Comrade Commander, I think there is still a problem in gathering so many rockets within the time limit." Vitkov said cautiously: "How about we let the Air Force continue bombing?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, there are not only our planes in the sky, but also enemy planes." Sokov shook his head and said: "As long as the enemy planes find out that our bombers are bombing the ground, they will swoop over and attack. In the bomber aviation division, there are Many bombers were lost in this situation."
"Okay," Vitkov said somewhat helplessly when he saw Sokov's resolute attitude: "I will immediately notify Colonel Sidorin and order him to immediately allocate manpower and send rockets to the 124th Regiment. In fact, we have already We have basically wiped out all the Skeleton Division, and even if part of the Imperial Division escapes, we can still consider it a great victory."
Hearing what Vitkov said, Sokov's face immediately darkened: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you can't say that. There is an old saying in the East: It is better to cut off one finger than to hurt ten of them. What this means is that it is better to cut off one finger than to hurt the opponent. Ten fingers are not as effective as breaking one finger. If we only defeat the Imperial Division, I believe it will not take long for them to regain their combat effectiveness, and they will still pose a threat to us on the battlefield. But if After annihilating the Imperial Division, even if the Germans regroup, their combat effectiveness will probably be greatly reduced.”
"I understand." After Sokov's explanation, Vitkov immediately understood the meaning of annihilating the Imperial Division and quickly expressed his position: "I will convey your intention to Colonel Sidorin and order him to do it as soon as possible. Inside, replenish enough rockets for the Starcha Regiment."
"Also," seeing Vitkov about to make a call, Sokov stopped him again and ordered: "Although we captured Colonel Shimon, the acting division commander of the Skeleton Division, alive, in our encirclement, there are still Two to three thousand officers and soldiers of the Skeleton Division continue to resist. Now the focus of the 41st Guards Division's attack has shifted to the Imperial Division. The task of clearing out the remnants of the Skeleton Division falls to Colonel Sivakov's 71st Guards Division. To be done."
