The day after the 27th Army occupied the Merefa Fortress and railway terminal, the troops of the 7th Guards Army passed through this area and advanced towards Poltava.
After a day of fierce fighting, the heavily armored German 8th Army, composed of the 3rd and 47th Tank Corps and the 11th Infantry Corps, retreated toward Poltava and Kremenchug.
The defeat of the German army in Kharkov and Merefa not only opened up the road for the Steppe Front to Poltava to the Dnieper River, but the neighboring Voronezh Front also made smooth progress, forcing the German army to retreat in the entire left bank of Ukraine.
Seeing that the Steppe Front and Voronezh Front were progressing smoothly, the Supreme Command adjusted the original combat plan the next day, stipulated new dividing lines, and made several changes to the offensive directions of each front.
The mission of the Voronezh Front was to seize Kiev from the Germans, which had been lost for two years.
The task of the Steppe Front is to quickly attack in the general direction of Poltava and Kremenchug, prevent the enemy from establishing a solid front line and destroy the enemy Poltava and Kremenchug groups.
Due to the outstanding performance of the Steppe Front in the Battle of Kursk and the Battle of Kharkov, the Supreme Command no longer regards them as a reserve force, but will use them as the main force.
In order to strengthen the strength of the Steppe Front, the base camp transferred the 37th Army commanded by General Saroshin from its reserves, and the 5th Guards Army of General Zadov, which was assigned to the Voronezh Front, was also redeployed back to the Steppe Front. In addition, General Glagolev's 46th Army was also transferred from the Southwest Front.
Konev was overjoyed to have three more armies under his command. Originally, during the Battle of Kursk, his troops were dismantled to pieces. Now, not only did the troops that were taken away were returned to the army, but also new troops were obtained. In this way, in the next battle, his chances of winning will be greatly improved.
Konev excitedly said to Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I really didn't expect that the Supreme Command was so generous this time and gave it to our three armies at once."
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Although the three armies allocated by superiors have not yet entered the designated positions, Zaharov still couldn't help but be happy: "As soon as the new troops are in place, we will have a strong improvement in military strength." Compared with the German army, we will have the upper hand."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, the superiority in military strength means nothing." Seeing that Zakharov was getting carried away, Konev quickly reminded him: "Don't forget, when our army was in this area at the beginning of the year, not only did its military strength exceed that of Germany There were more people, and even more weapons and equipment than the Germans. But in the end, our army suffered a disastrous defeat, and even the liberated Kharkiv and Belgorod fell back into the In German hands.”
Konev's words reminded Zakharov that he couldn't help but feel a little nervous when he thought about the Soviet army's first victory and then defeat in this area at the beginning of the year. He cautiously asked Konev: "Comrade Commander, what did you say about the war at the beginning of the year?" It won’t happen again, right?”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you can rest assured about this." Konev comforted him and said: "After the Battle of Kursk and the Battle of Kharkov, the elite German troops have been almost wiped out by our troops and Comrade Vatutin's troops. Even if the Germans can replace these lost soldiers in the shortest possible time, their strength will be greatly reduced."
"That's true." Zakharov said in agreement: "Especially Comrade Sokov's 27th Army, their combat effectiveness is very terrifying. I sometimes even consider it. If they are allowed to fight against each other as a group army, A group of German armies, who can win the final victory?"
Regarding Zakharov's statement, Konev smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you forgotten that the structure of the German army is different from ours? One of their divisions has a strength of 15,000 people; and our division only has 6,000 to 9,000 people. Even if the number of divisions is the same, the strength will be far lower than that of the enemy. Sokov's 27th Army is used to deal with a German army. This idea is inherently absurd."
However, Zaharov's words also reminded Konev. After staring at the map for a while, he raised his head and said to Zaharov: "Chief of Staff, according to the reconnaissance intelligence, the Germans will desperately defend Poltava. And tried to use this place to delay the advance speed of our front army for a long time.
Judging from today's fighting situation, as our army approaches Poltava, the resistance of the German 8th Army troops has become extremely tenacious. The 7th Guards Army organized multiple assaults but was still unable to break through the German defenses. "
"You are right, Comrade Commander." Zakharov nodded after hearing this and said: "The enemy has widely set up minefields and other obstacles in the direction of Poltava, and has blown up railway and road bridges. .
The Poltava garrison doubled its original size and built defensive positions along the right bank of the Volskla River. Engineering fortifications were built around and within the city. The masonry buildings were suitable for a circular defense, and the enemy established an artillery and mortar firepower to cover the approach to the Volskla River. All bridges and ferries across the river had been destroyed long before the enemy retreated.
In short, Poltava has formed a powerful defense hub, which is the link connecting various defense areas and supporting points in Ukraine on the left bank. One thing we can figure out now is that the German army defended Poltava to contain our army's attack. "
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Konev waited for Zakharov to finish and then asked tentatively: "With the current strength of our army, how long do you think it will take to capture Poltava?"
"It's hard to say, Comrade Commander." Zakharov shook his head and said: "The reason why we were able to quickly occupy Belgorod and Kharkov was entirely because Sokov's troops played a decisive role in it. If they don't participate in the siege, I think it will take at least a month to capture Poltava."
"One month." After Konev repeated the time mentioned by Zakharov, he slowly shook his head and said, "No, it's too long. You know, in such a long time, the enemy can Calmly withdraw their main force to the right bank of the Dnieper River, where they will build a new line of defense to resist our attack."
He tapped his fingers on the table and said thoughtfully: "But we can use other tactics to shorten the time to capture Poltava."
Zakharov is also a smart man. He recalled that he had just mentioned the 27th Army to Konev, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, what combat mission do you want to assign to Comrade Sokov?"
Seeing that Zakharov guessed what he was thinking, Konev did not hide it. He pointed at the map and said: "I plan to let Sokov's troops bypass Poltava and capture Klemenchu on the Dnieper River. lattice and occupy the bridge on the river. This not only cuts off the retreat route of the Poltava defenders, but also allows us to cross the river through here when the main force of our army arrives at the Dnieper River and break through the German Dnieper River defense line."
"Can you make it in time?" Zaharov asked worriedly.
"We have to try." After Konev said this, he told Zakharov: "Chief of Staff, please get through the phone to the 27th Army Headquarters. I will personally assign combat tasks to Sokov. .”
Sokov received a call from Konev and listened quietly to the other party assigning combat tasks to him. After Konev finished speaking, he finally asked: "Any questions?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov quickly replied: "Our army group is now almost three hundred kilometers away from Kremenchug. A force of more than 80,000 people has to pass through quietly. I’m afraid it will be very difficult to attack this city on the Dnieper River due to the enemy’s defense line.”
"You are right, Comrade Sokov." Konev did not deny Sokov's statement. He said truthfully: "If this task was not so arduous and other troops could not complete it, I would still I won’t consider you. After all, you just liberated the Merefa Fortress and the railway terminal a few days ago. The commanders and soldiers are exhausted and need some time to rest."
Sokov heard that Konev was trying to provoke him, but he knew very well that being the first to break through the German Dnieper River defense line was a great achievement. Moreover, according to the intelligence he had, the German army deployed a large number of Soviet prisoners of war to build defense lines. If he acted quickly and could quickly establish a landing site on the left bank of the Dnieper River and rescue a group of Soviet commanders and fighters, then his troops would be can be strengthened.
Sokov was very willing to carry out this combat mission, but before accepting the mission, many things had to be clarified. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I would like to ask how many days you plan to give me to liberate Croatia." Lemenchug?" On the second day after the 27th Army occupied the Merefa Fortress and railway terminal, the troops of the 7th Guards Army passed through this area and advanced in the direction of Poltava.
After a day of fierce fighting, the heavily armored German 8th Army, composed of the 3rd and 47th Tank Corps and the 11th Infantry Corps, retreated toward Poltava and Kremenchug.
The defeat of the German army in Kharkov and Merefa not only opened up the road for the Steppe Front to Poltava to the Dnieper River, but the neighboring Voronezh Front also made smooth progress, forcing the German army to retreat in the entire left bank of Ukraine.
Seeing that the Steppe Front and Voronezh Front were progressing smoothly, the Supreme Command adjusted the original combat plan the next day, stipulated new dividing lines, and made several changes to the offensive directions of each front.
The mission of the Voronezh Front was to seize Kiev from the Germans, which had been lost for two years.
The task of the Steppe Front is to quickly attack in the general direction of Poltava and Kremenchug, prevent the enemy from establishing a solid front line and destroy the enemy Poltava and Kremenchug groups.
Due to the outstanding performance of the Steppe Front in the Battle of Kursk and the Battle of Kharkov, the Supreme Command no longer regards them as a reserve force, but will use them as the main force.
In order to strengthen the strength of the Steppe Front, the base camp transferred the 37th Army commanded by General Saroshin from its reserves, and the 5th Guards Army of General Zadov, which was assigned to the Voronezh Front, was also redeployed back to the Steppe Front. In addition, General Glagolev's 46th Army was also transferred from the Southwest Front.
Konev was overjoyed to have three more armies under his command. Originally, during the Battle of Kursk, his troops were dismantled to pieces. Now, not only did the troops that were taken away were returned to the army, but also new troops were obtained. In this way, in the next battle, his chances of winning will be greatly improved.
Konev excitedly said to Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I really didn't expect that the Supreme Command was so generous this time and gave it to our three armies at once."
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Although the three armies allocated by superiors have not yet entered the designated positions, Zaharov still couldn't help but be happy: "As soon as the new troops are in place, we will have a strong improvement in military strength." Compared with the German army, we will have the upper hand."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, the superiority in military strength means nothing." Seeing that Zakharov was getting carried away, Konev quickly reminded him: "Don't forget, when our army was in this area at the beginning of the year, not only did its military strength exceed that of Germany There were more people, and even more weapons and equipment than the Germans. But in the end, our army suffered a disastrous defeat, and even the liberated Kharkiv and Belgorod fell back into the In German hands.”
Konev's words reminded Zakharov that he couldn't help but feel a little nervous when he thought about the Soviet army's first victory and then defeat in this area at the beginning of the year. He cautiously asked Konev: "Comrade Commander, what did you say about the war at the beginning of the year?" It won’t happen again, right?”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you can rest assured about this." Konev comforted him and said: "After the Battle of Kursk and the Battle of Kharkov, the elite German troops have been almost wiped out by our troops and Comrade Vatutin's troops. Even if the Germans can replace these lost soldiers in the shortest possible time, their strength will be greatly reduced."
"That's true." Zakharov said in agreement: "Especially Comrade Sokov's 27th Army, their combat effectiveness is very terrifying. I sometimes even consider it. If they are allowed to fight against each other as a group army, A group of German armies, who can win the final victory?"
Regarding Zakharov's statement, Konev smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you forgotten that the structure of the German army is different from ours? One of their divisions has a strength of 15,000 people; and our division only has 6,000 to 9,000 people. Even if the number of divisions is the same, the strength will be far lower than that of the enemy. Sokov's 27th Army is used to deal with a German army. This idea is inherently absurd."
However, Zaharov's words also reminded Konev. After staring at the map for a while, he raised his head and said to Zaharov: "Chief of Staff, according to the reconnaissance intelligence, the Germans will desperately defend Poltava. And tried to use this place to delay the advance speed of our front army for a long time.
In short, Poltava has formed a powerful defense hub, which is the link connecting various defense areas and supporting points in Ukraine on the left bank. One thing we can figure out now is that the German army defended Poltava to contain our army's attack. "
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