However, before making the call, the chief of staff asked Tsvetayev another question: "Comrade Commander, before I make the call, there is an urgent problem that needs to be solved."
"what is the problem?"
The chief of staff glanced at Sokov, and then continued: "Two troops fighting in the same area must have a unified command. Now the 300th Division does not belong to our group army structure. After the 87th Division was transferred, they will be in command What about us, or do we command them?”
When Tsvetayev heard what the Chief of Staff said, he thought it made sense. After nodding slightly, he curiously asked Sokov: "General Sokov, tell me, if the two troops are deployed in the same area, who should command them?" Who fights?"
"General Tsvetaye, I don't think this should be a headache." Sokov replied with a smile: "Although it is a coordinated operation, it does not attack the enemy's defense areas at the same time, and there should be no need for unified command. . The reason why I ask you to send troops to this area is just to prevent the 300th Division from being insufficient to block the Viking Division's attack. The mission of the 87th Division is just to send troops to support the 300th Division when they are in a critical situation."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Tsvetayev said to his Chief of Staff after waiting for Sokov to finish speaking: "Did you hear what General Sokov said? The 87th Division used to assist the defense of friendly forces, not attack the enemy. A joint attack does not require any unified command. You call the 87th Division immediately and ask them to go to the Fesky Collective Farm as soon as possible."
When Sokov saw that Tsvetayev not only was not angry about the 300th Division, but also acted very cooperatively, he couldn't help but be filled with questions: "Comrade General, are you really not angry with me?"
Tsvetayev smiled and asked: "General Sokov, why should I be angry with you?"
"Because of me, the superiors put the 300th Division under our command." Sokov knew that he could not hide his forced recruitment of friendly troops from Tsvetaev, so he simply told the truth: "Aren't you angry? ?”
"To be honest, when I first heard the news, I was really angry." Since Sokov was honest with him, Tsvetayev did not hide it. After he asked Sokov to sit down, he continued He continued: "But I quickly figured it out. When the superiors put the 300th Division under your command, they must have considered everything. Even if I get angry again, I can't change the established fact. You are a legend in our army. I think there are only advantages and no disadvantages to having a good relationship with you. Is that right for you, General Sokov?"
Sokov didn't know how to respond, so he just grinned.
"General Sokov, you may not know yet. In a while, our army will be transferred from the Voronezh Front to the Southern Front." Tsvetayev reminded Sokov: "If you have any cooperation, It’s best to make suggestions now. Otherwise, when we transfer to the Southern Front and want to cooperate, I’m afraid it won’t be as easy as it is now.”
Sokov believed deeply in Tsvetayev’s statement. He is familiar with Zhukov, and Zhukov can speak for him in front of Vatutin, so the 300th Division can be placed under his command so easily. If the Assault Group Army was placed under the command of the Southern Front, he would not even have a chance to communicate.
He asked cautiously: "General Tsvetaev, is the news that you are about to transfer to the Southern Front reliable?"
"Reliable, completely reliable." Tsvetayev said with certainty: "We have heard the news, and we will be transferred to the Southern Front by the end of this month at the latest."
When he learned that the Assault Group Army would be placed under the command of the Southern Front, Sokov felt somewhat disappointed. Originally, this force was close to him and could also play a role as an aid. If they were really transferred, he would have one less force to rely on. Thinking of this, he continued to ask Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, can you tell me the defense situation of your army group?"
The Chief of Staff, who had just finished the phone call, heard Sokov's question and immediately asked with vigilance: "General Sokov, why are you asking this?"
From the tone of the Chief of Staff's words, Sokov realized that his words had caused ambiguity to the other party, so he explained: "The thing is like this, the reason why I want to know your defense situation is because you are adjacent to our combat area. ." He pointed at the map on the table with his hand and said to everyone: "We have just opened a landing site on the east bank of the Oude River, but we do not have enough troops to launch an attack from there. If we can get your help, believe us. Combined forces will be the first to storm Kharkov."
As a senior general, Tsvetayev was much better informed than Sokov. Not long ago, he heard that the divisions that were the first to rush into Belgorod and achieve outstanding results would be awarded Belgorod. The honorary title of Rhodes Division. His troops had missed the battle to liberate Belgorod, and now the results of capturing Kharkov were in front of him, and he was not willing to give up easily.
Thinking of this, he said to Sokov: "General Sokov, what can we do for you?"
Sokov picked up the red and blue pencil on the table, pointed at the second landing site with the tip of the pen, and said to Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, if you can move your troops to this area, you can strengthen our Attack power.”
"General Sokov, I think you chose a poor location to cross the river." Before Tsvetaev could speak, his chief of staff said first: "This area is the widest section of the Oud River, although the water flow is gentle. , but there is no bridge to carry the troops across. Even if a pontoon bridge is set up, enemy artillery and aircraft will blow it up. In other words, our commanders and fighters can only cross the river by boat, and they cannot carry heavy weapons."
"Yes, General Sokov." Tsvetaev expressed support for the chief of staff's statement: "If we cannot transport heavy weapons such as tanks and artillery across the river, I am afraid that no matter how many infantry we have in the past, we will not be able to transport heavy weapons like tanks and artillery across the river. Nor is it a match for the German armored forces."
"General Tsvetaev, you can rest assured on this." Sokov comforted him when he saw that Tsvetaev was a little interested in his plan, but his only concern was that he could not get the tanks and artillery across the river. : "We have special transportation tools that can transport tanks and artillery."
When Tsvetayev heard what Sokov said, he asked with some surprise: "Have you got a large barge?"
"No." Sokov shook his head and said, "Except for some small wooden boats that can carry people, there are no large barges on the river."
"If there are no barges, how can we transport the tanks there?" Tsvetayev reminded Sokov: "You know, wooden ships cannot bear the weight of dozens of tons." However, before making the call, the chief of staff asked asked Tsvetayev a question: "Comrade Commander, before I make the call, there is an urgent problem that needs to be solved."
"what is the problem?"
The chief of staff glanced at Sokov, and then continued: "Two troops fighting in the same area must have a unified command. Now the 300th Division does not belong to our group army structure. After the 87th Division was transferred, they will be in command What about us, or do we command them?”
When Tsvetayev heard what the Chief of Staff said, he thought it made sense. After nodding slightly, he curiously asked Sokov: "General Sokov, tell me, if the two troops are deployed in the same area, who should command them?" Who fights?"
"General Tsvetaye, I don't think this should be a headache." Sokov replied with a smile: "Although it is a coordinated operation, it does not attack the enemy's defense areas at the same time, and there should be no need for unified command. . The reason why I ask you to send troops to this area is just to prevent the 300th Division from being insufficient to block the Viking Division's attack. The mission of the 87th Division is just to send troops to support the 300th Division when they are in a critical situation."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Tsvetayev said to his Chief of Staff after waiting for Sokov to finish speaking: "Did you hear what General Sokov said? The 87th Division used to assist the defense of friendly forces, not attack the enemy. A joint attack does not require any unified command. You call the 87th Division immediately and ask them to go to the Fesky Collective Farm as soon as possible."
When Sokov saw that Tsvetayev not only was not angry about the 300th Division, but also acted very cooperatively, he couldn't help but be filled with questions: "Comrade General, are you really not angry with me?"
Tsvetayev smiled and asked: "General Sokov, why should I be angry with you?"
"Because of me, the superiors put the 300th Division under our command." Sokov knew that he could not hide his forced recruitment of friendly troops from Tsvetaev, so he simply told the truth: "Aren't you angry? ?”
"To be honest, when I first heard the news, I was really angry." Since Sokov was honest with him, Tsvetayev did not hide it. After he asked Sokov to sit down, he continued He continued: "But I quickly figured it out. When the superiors put the 300th Division under your command, they must have considered everything. Even if I get angry again, I can't change the established fact. You are a legend in our army. I think there are only advantages and no disadvantages to having a good relationship with you. Is that right for you, General Sokov?"
Sokov didn't know how to respond, so he just grinned.
"General Sokov, you may not know yet. In a while, our army will be transferred from the Voronezh Front to the Southern Front." Tsvetayev reminded Sokov: "If you have any cooperation, It’s best to make suggestions now. Otherwise, when we transfer to the Southern Front and want to cooperate, I’m afraid it won’t be as easy as it is now.”
Sokov believed deeply in Tsvetayev’s statement. He is familiar with Zhukov, and Zhukov can speak for him in front of Vatutin, so the 300th Division can be placed under his command so easily. If the Assault Group Army was placed under the command of the Southern Front, he would not even have a chance to communicate.
He asked cautiously: "General Tsvetaev, is the news that you are about to transfer to the Southern Front reliable?"
"Reliable, completely reliable." Tsvetayev said with certainty: "We have heard the news, and we will be transferred to the Southern Front by the end of this month at the latest."
When he learned that the Assault Group Army would be placed under the command of the Southern Front, Sokov felt somewhat disappointed. Originally, this force was close to him and could also play a role as an aid. If they were really transferred, he would have one less force to rely on. Thinking of this, he continued to ask Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, can you tell me the defense situation of your army group?"
The chief of staff, who had just finished the phone call, heard Sokov's question and immediately asked with vigilance: "General Sokov, why are you asking this?"
From the tone of the Chief of Staff's words, Sokov realized that his words had caused ambiguity to the other party, so he explained: "The thing is like this, the reason why I want to know your defense situation is because you are adjacent to our combat area. ." He pointed at the map on the table with his hand and said to everyone: "We have just opened a landing site on the east bank of the Oude River, but we do not have enough troops to launch an attack from there. If we can get your help, believe us. Combined forces will be the first to storm Kharkov."
As a senior general, Tsvetayev was much better informed than Sokov. Not long ago, he heard that the divisions that were the first to rush into Belgorod and achieve outstanding results would be awarded Belgorod. The honorary title of Rhodes Division. His troops had missed the battle to liberate Belgorod, and now the results of capturing Kharkov were in front of him, and he was not willing to give up easily.
Thinking of this, he said to Sokov: "General Sokov, what can we do for you?"
Sokov picked up the red and blue pencil on the table, pointed at the second landing site with the tip of the pen, and said to Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, if you can move your troops to this area, you can strengthen our Attack power.”
"General Sokov, I think you chose a poor location to cross the river." Before Tsvetaev could speak, his chief of staff said first: "This area is the widest section of the Oud River, although the water flow is gentle. , but there is no bridge to carry the troops across. Even if a pontoon bridge is set up, enemy artillery and aircraft will blow it up. In other words, our commanders and fighters can only cross the river by boat, and they cannot carry heavy weapons."
"Yes, General Sokov." Tsvetaev expressed support for the chief of staff's statement: "If we cannot transport heavy weapons such as tanks and artillery across the river, I am afraid that no matter how many infantry we have in the past, we will not be able to transport heavy weapons like tanks and artillery across the river. It is no match for the German armored forces."
"General Tsvetayev, you can rest assured on this." Seeing that Tsvetayev was somewhat interested in his plan, but his only concern was that he could not cross the river with tanks and artillery, Sokov comforted him and said : "We have special transportation tools that can transport tanks and artillery."
When Tsvetayev heard what Sokov said, he asked with some surprise: "Have you got a large barge?"
"No." Sokov shook his head and said, "Except for some small wooden boats that can carry people, there are no large barges on the river."
"If there are no barges, how can we transport the tanks there?" Tsvetayev reminded Sokov: "You know, wooden ships cannot bear the weight of dozens of tons."
