A lot happened on the last day of July.
First, the headquarters of the Supreme Command decided to leave the task of capturing Belgorod and Kharkov to Konev's Steppe Front.
Secondly, the 27th Army commanded by Sokov was reorganized and continued to be commanded by General Konev.
Third, all the officers and men of the 62nd Marine Brigade have already experienced the feeling of riding a hovercraft. Some of the original helmsmen have become proficient in driving hovercrafts after several days of training.
Fourth, through Yakov's efforts, Asiya was officially transferred to the Weapons and Equipment Department and became a female doctor in the department.
Sokov sent Asiya away and just returned to the headquarters. Samyko said to him anxiously: "Comrade Commander, we just received a call from General Konev, ordering us to rush to the front headquarters immediately and accept the call. New combat mission."
"It seems that a new battle is about to begin." After Sokov muttered to himself, he asked: "Should I be ordered to go alone, or should all the army leaders go to the meeting?"
"In addition to you and Comrade Military Commissioner, I am also going to attend the meeting."
Half an hour later, the three Sokovs arrived at Konev's front headquarters.
After entering the building, Sokov saw that the corridor leading to the conference room was filled with commanders from various units. Judging from their epaulettes, they were basically generals. Except for two or three people who have the same military rank as Sokov and Samyko, the rest are basically lieutenant general or general.
Seeing the three Sokovs appear, someone immediately greeted them.
The person who greeted Sokov was General Kryuchenkin, the commander of the 69th Group Army. He held Sokov's hand and said enthusiastically: "Hello, General Sokov. I really didn't expect to meet you here." .”
"Hello, General Kryuchinkin." When Sokov saw Kryuchinkin, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised. Isn't the 69th Army affiliated to the Voronezh Front? Why did he appear at the front headquarters of the Steppe Front?
Kryuchinkin saw Sokov's doubts and quickly explained to him: "General Sokov, you may not know that as early as ten days ago, our group army was officially placed under the command of the Steppe Front Army. Now you and I They are all General Konev’s men.”
"This is great." Sokov grabbed Kryuchinkin's hand and shook it vigorously. "We can fight side by side again."
"General Sokov, I may disappoint you." An embarrassed expression appeared on Klitschko's face: "My troops suffered serious losses in the Battle of Kursk and were transferred from the Voronezh Front. I thought that Our superiors pulled us down to replenish our troops, and there will be no combat missions for two or three months.
But what I didn't expect was that ten days ago, the base camp ordered the troops of the Steppe Front to march towards Belgorod, and our army group followed. Since we have not received the necessary supplements, we may not be able to participate in the next battle. "
"So that's it." After listening to Klitschko's words, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little regretful. The 69th Group Army, which was short of troops, was obviously unable to attack the heavily guarded city by the German army. They could only stand aside and watch this battle. It’s lively.
While the two were talking, the closed door at the end of the corridor opened. An officer stood at the door and said loudly to the people in the corridor: "Comrade commanders, there will be a meeting soon. Please come in." Originally. The commanders who were still chatting together immediately stopped talking when they heard the officer's words and walked quickly towards the conference room.
"Comrade Commander." Samyko came to Sokov and said to him: "Let's go in."
Sokov and others followed the crowd into the conference room and found a seat toward the back to sit down. The purpose of choosing this location was to leave the conference room early after the meeting.
As soon as everyone sat down, Konev, Lieutenant General Susekov, Military Commissar of the Front Army, and Lieutenant General Zakharov, Chief of Staff, walked in from outside the gate.
Seeing Konev entering, the commanders who had been seated suddenly stood up and paid attention to the three of them.
The three of them walked straight to the long table at the end of the conference room. Konev sat in the center of the table, Susekov sat on his right, and Zakharov sat on his left.
"Please take a seat, comrades commanders!" Konev raised his hands and pressed down, and said loudly: "Our meeting will begin soon."
After all the commanders present sat down, Lieutenant General Susekov, the military commissar of the front army, stood up. He held the edge of the table with both hands and leaned forward slightly. After his eyes swept over every commander present, his emotions changed. He said with some excitement: "Hello, comrades, commanders! During the Battle of Kursk, many of our troops were transferred to friendly forces and fought with them tenaciously against the enemy... Now that the battle is over, some troops have officially been designated They were returned to the command of friendly forces, and some units returned to the front army's organization."
When he said the last sentence, he cast his eyes on Sokov, who was sitting in the last row. After his eyes stayed on Sokov for a while, he moved to other places. He continued: "Comrade commanders, the headquarters of the Supreme Command ordered us and the Voronezh Front to attack the troops entrenched in Belgorod-Khar Kokov's enemies launch an offensive and completely eliminate them in this area. The specific combat deployment will be told to you by the chief of staff, General Zakharov."
After Susekov sat down, Zakharov stood up and said with his usual expression: "Comrade commanders, the main forces of the Voronezh Front and the Steppe Front are now assembled to the north and northwest of Belgorod respectively. This created the conditions for a large-depth and wide-frontal assault on the junction of the German 4th Tank Army and the 'Kenf' Battle Group.
The order from the Headquarters of the Supreme Command to our front forces is the determination to carry out a split assault from the northwest area of Belgorod to the general direction of Varki and Novodolaga in order to split the enemy Belgorod-Kharkov Group , and then encircled and annihilated the enemy forces in the Kharkov area..."
After Zakharov introduced the general situation, like Susekov, he focused on Sokov: "As for the west of Belgorod, General Sokov's 27th Army will be responsible for the attack. "
Zakharov had already called his name, and it was obviously inappropriate to continue sitting still. Sokov quickly stood up and replied loudly: "Our army promises to complete its mission."
"General Sokov," who knew that after listening to Sokov's statement, Konev stopped Zakharov who was about to continue, looked at Sokov and asked: "I want to ask, how old are you? How long will it take to break through the German defenses west of Belgorod?”
Based on the information fed back by the scouts, Sokov knew the situation of the German army in the west of the city very well. Hearing Konev's question at this moment, he quickly replied: "Reporting to Comrade Commander of the Front Army, if it is just to break through the German defensive positions in the western suburbs of the city, I think a quarter of an hour is enough."
Sokov's words were like sprinkling a handful of salt into a red-hot pot, causing it to explode.
"What, a quarter of an hour to break through the German outer positions on the outskirts of the city? Did I hear that right?"
"You heard it right, what I heard was also a quarter of an hour."
"His tone is a bit too crazy. If it is left to my troops to attack, it will take a day to break through the enemy's defense. He said it only takes a quarter of an hour. This is simply a fantasy."
Listening to the other commanders talking about him, Sokov said nothing, as if the person the other commander was talking about was not him, but an unrelated person.
Konev naturally heard these comments, but he did not express his position immediately. Instead, he quietly observed Sokov's expression. Surprisingly, he found that Sokov's expression was as usual, and he did not seem to pay attention to other people's comments at all. .
After the conference room became quiet again, Konev asked the question that everyone was concerned about: "General Sokov, do you know the enemy's defensive deployment in the west of the city?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I understand very well." Sokov replied: "It may only take a quarter of an hour to break through the enemy's defensive positions on the outskirts of the city, but after the troops enter the city, they must clear out the enemies in the west of the city, at least It will take two days.”
"Oh, you only need a quarter of an hour to break through the defensive positions on the outskirts of the city." Konev asked curiously: "Then why does it take two days to capture the western part of the city?"
"Now our defense area and the enemy's defense area are only separated by a river." Seeing countless suspicious looks from around him, Sokov decided to use this opportunity to explain to everyone: "The enemy thought that we did not have enough equipment to cross the river. The river can be crossed, hence the fortifications on the shore, as well as a few trenches and some civil fire points."
"Even if you have enough equipment to cross the river, if you want to force the crossing under the enemy's fire blockade, even if you succeed, you will inevitably pay huge casualties." A lieutenant general sitting not far away said in a contemptuous tone: " In a quarter of an hour, your troops probably won’t even be able to reach the other side, so how can they capture the German outer positions?”
Zakharov has always had a good impression of Sokov, but now seeing that he was questioned by others, he quickly came out to smooth things over: "I knew General Sokov as early as during the Moscow Defense War. I know his character very well. He He is not a person who talks big words casually. Since he said he could seize the enemy's position within a quarter of an hour, he can definitely do it."
The commanders who attended the meeting did not expect that the Chief of Staff of the Front Army would support Sokov in public, and they couldn't help showing expressions of astonishment on their faces.
"I think what Comrade Chief of Staff said makes sense." As soon as Zakharov finished speaking, Konev continued: "General Sokov's commanding ability, even the Supreme Commander himself was very impressed, saying that it seems that there is no such thing as him Unfinished call.”
Konev mentioned the Supreme Commander's own affirmation of Sokov, which played an excellent role. Sokov saw curiosity and approval on the faces of the attendees who looked at him. Even the general who had just attacked him had an uncontrollable smile in his eyes.
"Okay, General Sokov, don't play tricks." Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Konev asked Sokov directly: "Tell everyone quickly, how can you ensure that your troops will be ready within a quarter of an hour?" Inside, seize the enemy’s defensive positions on the outskirts of the city?”
After Konev finished speaking, everyone's eyes were focused on Sokov, trying to figure out what was the reason that gave the young general Sokov so much confidence.
After the conference room became quiet again, Konev asked the question that everyone was concerned about: "General Sokov, do you know the enemy's defensive deployment in the west of the city?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I understand very well." Sokov replied: "It may only take a quarter of an hour to break through the enemy's defensive positions on the outskirts of the city, but after the troops enter the city, they must clear out the enemies in the west of the city, at least It will take two days.”
"Oh, you only need a quarter of an hour to break through the defensive positions on the outskirts of the city." Konev asked curiously: "Then why does it take two days to capture the western part of the city?"
"Now our defense area and the enemy's defense area are only separated by a river." Seeing countless suspicious looks from around him, Sokov decided to use this opportunity to explain to everyone: "The enemy thought that we did not have enough equipment to cross the river. The river can be crossed, hence the fortifications on the shore, as well as a few trenches and some civil fire points."
"Even if you have enough equipment to cross the river, if you want to force the crossing under the enemy's fire blockade, even if you succeed, you will inevitably pay huge casualties." A lieutenant general sitting not far away said in a contemptuous tone: " In a quarter of an hour, your troops probably won’t even be able to reach the other side, so how can they capture the German outer positions?”
Zakharov has always had a good impression of Sokov, but now seeing that he was questioned by others, he quickly came out to smooth things over: "I knew General Sokov as early as during the Moscow Defense War. I know his character very well. He He is not a person who talks big words casually. Since he said he could seize the enemy's position within a quarter of an hour, he can definitely do it."
The commanders who attended the meeting did not expect that the Chief of Staff of the Front Army would support Sokov in public, and they couldn't help showing expressions of astonishment on their faces.
"I think what Comrade Chief of Staff said makes sense." As soon as Zakharov finished speaking, Konev continued: "General Sokov's commanding ability, even the Supreme Commander himself was very impressed, saying that it seems that there is no such thing as him Unfinished call.”
Konev mentioned the Supreme Commander's own affirmation of Sokov, which played an excellent role. Sokov saw curiosity and approval on the faces of the attendees who looked at him. Even the general who had just attacked him had an uncontrollable smile in his eyes.
"Okay, General Sokov, don't play tricks." Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Konev asked Sokov directly: "Tell everyone quickly, how can you ensure that your troops will be ready in a quarter of an hour?" Inside, seize the enemy’s defensive positions on the outskirts of the city?”
After Konev finished speaking, everyone's eyes were focused on Sokov, trying to figure out what was the reason that gave the young general Sokov so much confidence.
