The German troops who stood firm in their positions were still cheering when they saw their own planes appearing. But they never dreamed that retribution would come so quickly. Before the German planes could cause much damage to the attacking Soviet tank troops, they were beaten to pieces by the hurriedly arriving Soviet fighter jets.
After driving away the enemy planes, the Soviet bombers launched a vigorous attack on the German positions on the ground. Countless aerial bombs fell from the sky, blowing up those already exposed positions into a sea of flames.
After the plane bombed, hundreds of Soviet infantrymen rushed forward under the cover of tanks, drowning the remaining German troops on the position in a hail of bullets.
The German troops were fooled by the Soviet ground-air cooperation and infantry-tank coordination. They called the headquarters one after another and asked Huot to send reinforcements for support. Regrettably, the headquarters' phone lines could not be reached at all, and the telegrams sent had not been answered for a long time. The German commander had no choice but to order the troops to abandon their outer positions, withdraw to the city, and use the buildings to engage in street fighting with the Soviet troops.
If you don't withdraw, you won't know. If you withdraw, you will be shocked. The German officers and soldiers who retreated into the city soon discovered that there were only sporadic troops on the friendly positions. The main force had long since disappeared, and they had become a lone army.
Under such circumstances, how could the German officers and soldiers have the courage to continue fighting? Facing the Soviet commanders and soldiers pouring into the streets like a tide, they just fired their guns randomly, regardless of whether they hit the target. After a while, they headed towards the south of the city. direction removed.
Sokov felt much more at ease when he learned that the troops of the Steppe Front and the Voronezh Front had successfully rushed into the city and were developing in depth along the streets.
"Comrade Commander," Samyko said excitedly to Sokov: "If the friendly forces continue to fight at this speed, they can completely occupy the entire city and eliminate the remaining enemies in the city before dark."
Sokov agreed with Samyko's statement, but he still reminded him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, beware of the Germans jumping over the wall in a hurry, and order the troops in the south of the city to block the enemies fleeing southward. You must not Let them leave Belgorod.”
"Comrade Commander, you can rest assured on this." Samyko assured Sokov: "Not to mention that the German army only has infantry left. Even with the assistance of tanks and artillery, they will not be able to break through our defenses. .”
After saying this, Sameko took a sip of hot tea from the teacup on the table and said with emotion: "Comrade Commander, I really didn't expect that those commanders and fighters who were rescued from the prisoner of war camps would be on the battlefield after they were added to the army. Their performance was so heroic. No matter how strong the enemy's defenses were, the target they attacked could not hold out for long. I think if there were 200,000 such commanders and fighters, I would have the confidence to fight all the way to Berlin."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov looked up at Samyko and said solemnly: "If our superiors allow us to integrate all the commanders and fighters detained in a prisoner of war camp into the army every time we liberate it, I believe that next year, that is, By the end of 1944, our army group will be able to invade Berlin and take away Mustache’s lair.”
When Sokov said this, Samek's eyes widened in surprise. After a long time, he murmured: "Comrade Commander, I think you may be too optimistic. Although we will soon liberate Belgorod, the road to Berlin is still very long. Nothing else. It is said that with our strength, it is a difficult problem whether we can regain Kiev, let alone Berlin, which is thousands of miles away."
Faced with Samyko's question, Sokov smiled faintly and continued: "Comrade Chief of Staff, after Belgorod is liberated, the next step is to liberate Kharkov. When these two cities are liberated, the base camp's The next operational goal is definitely to break through the German defenses on the Dnieper River and liberate Kiev. As long as Kiev is captured, it will only be a matter of time before we head west to attack Berlin."
After being silent for a long time, Samyko asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, the liberation of Berlin is too far away for us. I only care about whether we can capture Kharkov this time and hold it? You know , plus this time, we have fought four battles in Kharkov, and we failed in the first three battles. Can we succeed this time?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, although our army has launched campaigns in the Kharkov area in 1941, 1942 and the beginning of this year, they have not been successful." Sokov replied with a smile: "But the ancient East has There is a proverb: Nothing can be done more than three times. We have failed three times, and I believe we will succeed the fourth time.”
"Since we talked about the next offensive target being Kharkiv, I think we should make some preparations in advance."
"Preparation?" Sameko asked in confusion, "What preparation?"
"Didn't I say that after Belgorod is liberated, we will launch an attack on Kharkov next." Sokov said: "According to my analysis, the superiors will definitely order our troops from the west of the city again. Launch an attack. Now there is an Oud River to the west of Kharkiv. We should send out reconnaissance personnel in advance to conduct reconnaissance on the German positions along the Oud River so that we can find the best landing site."
"So that's what happened." Samyko understood Sokov's intention and said to him: "The Reconnaissance Office sent a nine-member reconnaissance team to the Ude River a few hours ago. Conduct reconnaissance in the area." He raised his hand and looked at his watch, "If nothing unexpected happens, they will give us feedback on the intelligence they have detected at noon tomorrow."
"One reconnaissance team is not enough." Unexpectedly, Sokov shook his head after hearing this and said: "I think we should send several more reconnaissance teams to conduct reconnaissance in the Ude River Basin, so that we can conduct reconnaissance in the shortest possible time. Within, obtain the most comprehensive intelligence.”
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sameko readily agreed: "I will notify the Reconnaissance Department and ask them to send a few more capable reconnaissance teams to conduct reconnaissance in the Ude River Basin."
…
The 94th Guards Division, affiliated with the 7th Guards Army, successfully occupied the post and telecommunications office in the city at 1 p.m. and raised the flag of the Guards Division on the top of the post and telecommunications building.
Lieutenant General Shumilov, the commander of the group army, looked through the telescope at the temporary headquarters and saw the flag of the Guards Division flying on the top of the post and telecommunications building. He was so excited that he couldn't help himself. After he put down the telescope, he turned around and ordered the communication soldier: "Get me through the front headquarters immediately. I want to tell Commander Konev the good news."
After the call was connected, as soon as he heard Konev's voice coming from the receiver, Shumilov said excitedly: "General Konev, I have good news to tell you."
"Speak, General Shumilov."
"The 94th Guards Division of our army group has successfully planted the military flag on the top of the Belgorod Post Office Building. They were the first unit to occupy this city. I would like to thank them in advance."
Unexpectedly, after listening to this, Konev was silent for a while, and then said slowly: "General Shumilov, I understand your mood at this time, but I regret to tell you that the 94th Guards Division They were not the first troops to plant the military flag on the commanding heights of the city, so the honor of being the first to occupy the city does not belong to them."
"What, General Konev, what did you say?" Shumilov waited for Konev to finish and said in surprise: "You know, our group army is the fastest advancing among the entire front forces. Is there anyone else? Other troops jumped ahead of us and raised the military flag on a building somewhere?"
"Yes, General Shumilov, you are right." Konev said: "There are indeed other troops who jumped in front of you and planted the military flag on the commanding heights of the city. They are the well-deserved first troops. An army.”
Shumilov waited for Konev to finish and then asked unconvincedly: "General Konev, please tell me which army was ahead of us and planted the military flag on the commanding heights of the city?"
"It's Sokov's 27th Army." Konev said slowly: "In yesterday's battle, while you were still fighting fiercely with the enemy on the outskirts of the city, one of Sokov's troops successfully captured Khote. The municipal building where the headquarters is located, and the red flag was planted on the top of the building. If Holt had not seen that the situation was not good and escaped in advance, they might have become prisoners of Sokov's troops."
When Konev mentioned that the first unit to occupy the city was actually commanded by Sokov, Shumilov was speechless. After a while, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, can you tell me the number of that unit?"
"The troops that captured the municipal building were two marine brigades." Konev said: "But in view of their great results in the battle to liberate Belgorod, they will soon be awarded the Guards Division honorary title.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, although our army has launched campaigns in the Kharkov area in 1941, 1942 and the beginning of this year, they have not been successful." Sokov replied with a smile: "But the ancient East has There is a proverb: Nothing can be done more than three times. We have failed three times, and I believe we will succeed the fourth time.”
"Since we talked about the next offensive target being Kharkiv, I think we should make some preparations in advance."
"Preparation?" Sameko asked in confusion, "What preparation?"
"Didn't I say that after Belgorod is liberated, we will launch an attack on Kharkov next." Sokov said: "According to my analysis, the superiors will definitely order our troops from the west of the city again. Launch an attack. Now there is an Oud River to the west of Kharkiv. We should send out reconnaissance personnel in advance to conduct reconnaissance on the German positions along the Oud River so that we can find the best landing site."
"So that's what happened." Samyko understood Sokov's intention and said to him: "The Reconnaissance Office sent a nine-member reconnaissance team to the Ude River a few hours ago. Conduct reconnaissance in the area." He raised his hand and looked at his watch, "If nothing unexpected happens, they will give us feedback on the intelligence they have detected at noon tomorrow."
"One reconnaissance team is not enough." Unexpectedly, Sokov shook his head after hearing this and said: "I think we should send several more reconnaissance teams to conduct reconnaissance in the Ude River Basin, so that we can conduct reconnaissance in the shortest possible time. Within, obtain the most comprehensive intelligence.”
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sameko readily agreed: "I will notify the Reconnaissance Department and ask them to send a few more capable reconnaissance teams to conduct reconnaissance in the Ude River Basin."
…
The 94th Guards Division, affiliated with the 7th Guards Army, successfully occupied the post and telecommunications office in the city at 1 p.m. and raised the flag of the Guards Division on the top of the post and telecommunications building.
Lieutenant General Shumilov, the commander of the group army, looked through the telescope at the temporary headquarters and saw the flag of the Guards Division flying on the top of the post and telecommunications building. He was so excited that he couldn't help himself. After he put down the telescope, he turned around and ordered the communication soldier: "Get me through the front headquarters immediately. I want to tell Commander Konev the good news."
After the call was connected, as soon as he heard Konev's voice coming from the receiver, Shumilov said excitedly: "General Konev, I have good news to tell you."
"Speak, General Shumilov."
"The 94th Guards Division of our army group has successfully planted the military flag on the top of the Belgorod Post Office Building. They were the first unit to occupy this city. I would like to thank them in advance."
Unexpectedly, after listening to this, Konev was silent for a while, and then said slowly: "General Shumilov, I understand your mood at this time, but I regret to tell you that the 94th Guards Division They were not the first troops to plant the military flag on the commanding heights of the city, so the honor of being the first to occupy the city does not belong to them."
"What, General Konev, what did you say?" Shumilov waited for Konev to finish and said in surprise: "You know, our group army is the fastest advancing among the entire front forces. Is there anyone else? Other troops jumped ahead of us and raised the military flag on a building somewhere?"
"Yes, General Shumilov, you are right." Konev said: "There are indeed other troops who jumped in front of you and planted the military flag on the commanding heights of the city. They are the well-deserved first troops. An army.”
Shumilov waited for Konev to finish and then asked unconvincedly: "General Konev, please tell me which army was ahead of us and planted the military flag on the commanding heights of the city?"
"It's Sokov's 27th Army." Konev said slowly: "In yesterday's battle, while you were still fighting fiercely with the enemy on the outskirts of the city, one of Sokov's troops successfully captured Khote. The municipal building where the headquarters is located, and the red flag was planted on the top of the building. If Holt had not seen that the situation was not good and escaped in advance, they might have become prisoners of Sokov's troops."
When Konev mentioned that the first unit to occupy the city was actually commanded by Sokov, Shumilov was speechless. After a while, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, can you tell me the number of that unit?"
"The troops that captured the municipal building were two marine brigades." Konev said: "But in view of their great results in the battle to liberate Belgorod, they will soon be awarded the Guards Division honorary title.”
