Weiler probably never dreamed that Sokov's troops would suddenly launch an attack under the most unlikely circumstances.
When the officers and soldiers of the 42nd Army were blocked by the Soviet troops at the left landing site and unable to continue advancing, the German commander issued an order to retreat, but at this moment, a strange sound came from the air.
As screams rang out, pieces of artillery shells drew beautiful arcs in the air and hit the dense German offensive formation. In the sky full of smoke and dust, the artillery shells exploded into thousands of shrapnel, intertwining with each other to form an airtight network, harvesting every living life near the explosion point. In the rising black smoke, the torn remains of tanks and armored vehicles, together with the broken limbs of German soldiers, were thrown into the air by the air waves, and then fell down like rain, falling still with heat and smoke. On the smoky Russian land.
However, this was just the beginning. After the five-minute artillery attack began, a red signal flare flew into the sky, sending an attack signal to the commanders and soldiers on standby on the landing site.
Just as thousands of commanders and soldiers were preparing to launch an attack, they suddenly heard a familiar melody, a melody that made people's blood boil. At first the commanders and soldiers thought it was their hallucination. But they soon learned that this was not their own hallucination, but the sound coming from the speakers that had just been installed not long ago. The gramophone was playing the familiar "Holy War".
The commanders and soldiers who were already ready to attack rushed out of their positions with loud shouts. The assault force was divided into two groups. On the left was Major General Gritsenko's 384th Division, and on the right was the 315th Division from the Assault Group Army. The commanders and fighters followed the fleeing enemy and quickly rushed towards the German positions in the distance.
Not long after the infantry set off, the tank brigade to cooperate with the battle also set out. More than sixty T-34 tanks and a dozen self-propelled artillery quickly caught up with the infantry in front, and gradually passed them, leading the infantry charge from the front.
The officers and soldiers of the 42nd Army have been attacking the Soviet landing site since dawn. According to their usual thinking, the Soviet army could only conduct passive defense in the face of its continuous attacks, so it did not deploy many troops on the defense line. Now the Soviet tanks and infantry are coming like a tide, how can they resist it.
The first line of defense was quickly broken through by the Soviet army. After leaving the necessary troops for defense, they continued to advance towards the German second line of defense.
From the moment the battle started, Sokov and Tsvetaev stood on a high ground, holding telescopes to observe the situation on the battlefield.
Tsvetayev couldn't help but be overjoyed to see the troops smashing through the enemy's defensive positions. He originally thought that if the troops at the landing site were to advance towards the city, they would definitely have to go through a fierce battle before they could capture the enemy's first line of defense. However, Now, this goal has been achieved effortlessly.
"General Sokov, your tactics are really great. Our troops broke through the enemy's defense line so easily." Tsvetayev said confidently, perhaps because he saw that his troops were performing too easily. : "I believe it won't take long for our army to occupy the enemy's second line of defense."
"Comrade General," Sokov was not dazzled by the victory in front of him. He knew very well that the enemy was far stronger than himself. When they reacted and gathered their forces to counterattack, the fierce battle would begin. In order to prevent Tsvetayev from underestimating the enemy, he said euphemistically: "The enemy in Kharkiv is much stronger than us. Even though we have the advantage now, if the enemy concentrates their strength to launch a counterattack, we must stop them." , I’m afraid it’s not an easy task.”
After hearing what Sokov said, Tsvetayev suppressed the smile on his face and said solemnly: "Then what should we do?"
"What we can do now is to find ways to disperse the German forces." Sokov looked at the smoke-filled battlefield on the east bank of the Ude River and said: "As long as the enemy's forces are dispersed, they will not be able to drive our commanders and fighters into the Ude." De River.”
After speaking, Sokov turned around and ordered the communications staff standing nearby: "Communications staff, please get me through to the group army headquarters immediately. I want to speak to Chief of Staff Sameko."
After the call was connected, Sokov ignored the pleasantries and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation there at your place? Are the troops ready for combat?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sameko replied in a positive tone: "The troops participating in the assault have been assembled on the west bank. They can only pass the bridge and the two bridges in the shortest time as soon as the shelling begins. The pontoon completed the river crossing.”
"General Sokov," Tsvetayev next to him heard this and couldn't help but interjected and asked: "I wonder how long is the shortest time?"
Sokov glanced at Tsvetayev, and then repeated his question to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what is the shortest time you mentioned?"
Samyko had obviously expected Sokov to ask this question, and immediately answered unequivocally: "No more than ten minutes."
Sokov could accept the time mentioned by Samek. After nodding slightly, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the troops at the left landing site have broken through the German first line of defense and are advancing towards the second line of defense. You must also be quick in your movements, otherwise you will fall behind. "
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, it is not enough to rely on ground troops to attack. We must get air support to advance further."
Tsvetaev did not understand what Sokov suddenly said, and asked with some surprise: "General Sokov, are you planning to request air force support from the Front Army Headquarters?"
"Yes, that's what I mean." If the troops attacking from the landing site were all Sokov's troops, he would have called Konev or Zakharov and asked them to send out air force support. But now two armies are fighting together, and Tsvetayev's military rank is higher than his own. If he doesn't explain the matter clearly to him and just makes a casual phone call, I'm afraid the other party will have a grudge. "Look, should you call General Konev, or should I?"
A smile appeared on Tsvetayev's face: "General Sokov, the landing site on the east bank of the Oud River was established by your troops, and I was just cooperating with you in the battle. I asked my superiors for air support. I think it would be more appropriate for you to make the call."
Since Tsvetayev offered to make the call, Sokov did not show any pretense and immediately ordered the communications staff to connect the line to the front army headquarters.
Seeing the communications staff answering the phone, Tsvetayev said with emotion: "General Sokov, you are still thoughtful. Before the attack, you ordered someone to install a phone that can communicate with the front army headquarters."
"Comrade General," Sokov replied: "The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly. If we simply communicate by telegraph, we may delay the fighter plane. But with the phone, we can report the latest intelligence here to our superiors at any time, and Ask for their assistance when appropriate.”
After the call was connected, the person on the other end of the phone answered the phone was Konev: "Comrade Sokov, do you have any important information that you want to report to me?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov quickly reported to Konev about the attack by the troops at the left landing site, and finally said: "Our troops at the right landing site will also launch an attack on the enemy soon. , I hope you can send the air force to provide necessary air support for our offensive forces."
Konev was shocked by Sokov's report. He did not expect that Sokov would launch an attack on the enemy without saying a word. After thinking for a moment, Konev asked: "How is the progress on the left wing?"
"We have successfully broken through the enemy's first line of defense and are advancing towards the second line of defense." Sokov said: "In order to prevent the enemy from concentrating their forces and driving our left offensive troops into the Oud River, I plan to Let the right wing participate in this attack and try to achieve maximum results."
"Comrade Sokov, I believe that your attack will successfully plunge the enemy into chaos." Konev said generously: "I will send the air force to provide you with air support as soon as possible."
Just when Sokov breathed a sigh of relief and was about to hang up the phone, he suddenly heard Konev ask again: "Comrade Sokov, did you just say that the troops cooperating with you are the troops of the 5th Assault Army?"
"Yes, Commander of the Front Army."
"Since it is a joint operation, I am very concerned about who has the final say in commanding the operation, you or Lieutenant General Tsvetaev?" Konev deliberately used the word "lieutenant general" when asking this question. He emphasized his tone.
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov glanced at Tsvetayev who was standing not far away and replied: "This attack is limited to my troops, and the friendly forces are only cooperating with us."
Although Sokov did not clearly say who had the final say, Konev understood what he meant. After laughing twice, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Sokov, I wish you good luck. I hope to hear news of your victory soon.”
After Konev ended the call, he held the microphone in a daze for a while, and then said to Zakharov standing next to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I feel it is necessary to tell Marshal Zhukov this good news."
"Comrade Commander, this is what it should be." In fact, even if Konev didn't say anything, Zaharov planned to propose it to Konev. When he heard him mention this matter first, he said with a smile: "I believe Marshal Zhukov will be very happy when he knows about this matter."
The director of the communications corps learned that Konev wanted to talk to Zhukov, so he answered the phone at the Voronezh Front headquarters in the shortest possible time.
After the call was connected, Zhukov's voice came from the receiver: "Is it Comrade Konev? I'm Zhukov!"
"Hello, Georgy Konstantinovitch!" Konev called Zhukov's name affectionately and said a little emotionally: "I have good news to tell you."
Knowing that Konev had good news to tell him, Zhukov immediately asked impatiently: "General Konev, was it your troops that broke into Kharkov?"
"Well, that's not the case." Faced with Zhukov's question, Konev replied with some embarrassment: "My troops are still destroying the enemy's effective forces outside the city and have not entered the city yet."
"Since your troops haven't rushed into the city yet, what good news can you report?"
"Well, not long ago, Major General Sokov reported to me that his troops launched an attack from the left-wing landing site on the east bank of the Oud River towards the defensive positions of the enemy's 42nd Army. So far, they have successfully broken through the enemy The first line of defense, the troops are advancing towards the second line of defense."
"Oh, Misha's troops launched an attack on the Germans?" Zhukov asked in surprise: "Is the news reliable?" "Comrade Sokov, I believe that your attack will successfully plunge the enemy into chaos." Kone The husband said generously: "I will send the air force to provide you with air support as soon as possible."
Just when Sokov breathed a sigh of relief and was about to hang up the phone, he suddenly heard Konev ask again: "Comrade Sokov, did you just say that the troops cooperating with you are the troops of the 5th Assault Army?"
"Yes, Commander of the Front Army."
"Since it is a joint operation, I am very concerned about who has the final say in commanding the operation, you or Lieutenant General Tsvetaev?" Konev deliberately used the word "lieutenant general" when asking this question. He emphasized his tone.
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov glanced at Tsvetayev who was standing not far away and replied: "This attack is limited to my troops, and the friendly forces are only cooperating with us."
Although Sokov did not clearly say who had the final say, Konev understood what he meant. After laughing twice, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Sokov, I wish you good luck. I hope to hear news of your victory soon.”
After Konev ended the call, he held the microphone in a daze for a while, and then said to Zakharov standing next to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I feel it is necessary to tell Marshal Zhukov this good news."
"Comrade Commander, this is what it should be." In fact, even if Konev didn't say anything, Zaharov planned to propose it to Konev. When he heard him mention this matter first, he said with a smile: "I believe Marshal Zhukov will be very happy when he knows about this matter."
The director of the communications corps learned that Konev wanted to talk to Zhukov, so he answered the phone at the Voronezh Front headquarters in the shortest possible time.
After the call was connected, Zhukov's voice came from the receiver: "Is it Comrade Konev? I'm Zhukov!"
"Hello, Georgy Konstantinovitch!" Konev called Zhukov's name affectionately and said a little emotionally: "I have good news to tell you."
Knowing that Konev had good news to tell him, Zhukov immediately asked impatiently: "General Konev, was it your troops that broke into Kharkov?"
"Well, that's not the case." Faced with Zhukov's question, Konev replied with some embarrassment: "My troops are still destroying the enemy's effective forces outside the city and have not entered the city yet."
"Since your troops haven't rushed into the city yet, what good news can you report?"
"Well, not long ago, Major General Sokov reported to me that his troops launched an attack from the left-wing landing site on the east bank of the Oud River towards the defensive positions of the enemy's 42nd Army. So far, they have successfully broken through the enemy The first line of defense, the troops are advancing towards the second line of defense."
