The train fully loaded with the 98th Guards Division set off, and all regiment-level cadres were having a meeting in the last carriage.
Before the formal meeting, Chief of Staff Uzakov announced to everyone: "Comrade commanders, I have good news to tell you. In view of the outstanding performance of our division in the battle to liberate Kharkov, the Supreme Command awarded The high honor of our division 'Kharkov'."
After everyone listened, they were stunned for a moment, and then began to whisper among themselves to make sure they heard correctly. You know, after the liberation of Belgorod, everyone hoped that their superiors would grant them a title named after the city, but in the end they were disappointed. Hearing Uzhakov say this at this moment, it was as if he was dreaming, and he thought he was hallucinating.
Upon seeing this, Chuvashov quickly stood up from his seat and said to everyone with a smile: "Comrade commanders, don't doubt your ears. You heard it right. What Comrade Chief of Staff just said is true. The High Command indeed conferred upon our division the high honor of 'Kharkov'."
Lieutenant Commander Shamrih, the new commander of the 296th Guards Regiment, stood up and asked the question in his mind on behalf of everyone: "Comrade Division Commander, I would like to ask how many troops in our group army have received this high honor this time. ?”
"Only two units received high honors this time." Chuvashov stretched out two fingers and said: "Our division and General Fomenko's 84th Infantry Division."
"Ah, there are only two divisions?" Shamrih asked in surprise: "You know, the first troops to rush into the city were all troops of our 27th Group Army. Why did only two divisions receive this honor?"
Shamrich's words aroused the resentment of other commanders: "That's right, even if not all divisions can receive this honor, at least half of the divisions should be. Two divisions are too few."
"Quiet, please be quiet, comrades commanders." Seeing that the voices below were getting louder and louder, Uzhakov slapped the table with his hand several times and said loudly: "We will continue the meeting."
After the carriage became quiet again, Uzakov continued: "Perhaps everyone is wondering where to let the troops board the carriage to go? Before boarding the carriage, for the sake of confidentiality, except for our three division leaders, No one knows the destination this time. Now that we have set off, I can tell everyone that we are going to Klemenkoug."
"Klemenchug?!" The leader of the 302nd Regiment repeated the place name and said in surprise: "Are we going to cross the Dnieper River?"
"That's right," Uzakov nodded and replied: "The superior ordered our division to take a train and quickly go to Kremenchug, seize the city and control the bridge on the Dnieper River, and at the same time, build a bridge on the right bank. The reliable landing site ensures that the main force of the front army can successfully break through the German Dnieper River defense line."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Shamrih asked curiously: "As far as I know, the troops of the 7th Guards Army and other friendly forces are attacking Poltava at the moment. This city is blocking our way to Croatia. On the road to Kleminchug, if we don’t capture the city, I’m afraid we won’t be able to reach Kleminchug.”
"Major Shamrih, you don't have to worry about this." After Uzakov accepted the combat mission from the headquarters, he received instructions from Samyko and knew what to do next. In order to reassure all the commanders, he readily told the truth: "There is a railway line that bypasses the Poltava area. We will rush directly to Kremenchug from this line and take advantage of the enemy. When you notice it, take Klementchuk quickly."
After Uzhakov detailed the combat missions to the commanders present, he asked, "Are there any questions?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Shamrih stood up again and asked, "I would like to ask, do we have artillery preparations before attacking?"
"No, Comrade Major." Uzakov shook his head and replied: "Not to mention artillery preparations, there are no tanks. In other words, we can only rely on pure infantry to capture this city."
Hearing what Uzakov said, the expression on Shamrih's face became solemn: "So that's it, that is to say, when fighting in the city and encountering enemy firepower, we can only use new rockets or A rocket launcher to destroy it instead of counting on our artillery or tanks?”
"Yes, that's exactly what it is, Comrade Major."
Seeing the expression on Shamrih's face, Chuvashov and Uzakov looked at each other and smiled, and then said: "Comrade Major, don't worry, this time we attack Kremenchug, we will mainly use sneak attacks. , there may not be a fierce battle.”
When Shamrih heard what Chuvasov said, his eyes suddenly lit up and he asked repeatedly: "Comrade Commander, I wonder what your plan is?"
"Comrade commanders," Chuvashov stood up and said to everyone: "After the train bypasses Poltava, everyone will put on German military uniforms and pretend to be German troops retreating from the front. I hope they can Deceive the defenders in Kremenchug."
Chuvashov's words seemed to be a reassurance to all commanders. Yes, the current situation is so chaotic. If our troops disguise themselves as Germans, they might actually be able to sneak into the German defense zone, and then it will be easy to capture Klementchug.
The train carrying more than 6,000 commanders and fighters went smoothly along the way and encountered no damage to the railway. As a result, they bypassed Poltava half an hour in advance and officially entered the German defense zone.
At this time, the commanders and fighters on the train all changed into German uniforms, and even the flags on the train were changed to German ones. As long as the train was not stopped for questioning, the Germans who saw the train along the railway line would think that the train was full of troops who had just withdrawn from the front line.
The train was seen smoothly bypassing Poltava and heading towards Kremenchug. Deputy division commander Dobrushin said to Chuvashov: "Comrade division commander, it seems we are very lucky. We entered the German defense line so easily without being noticed by them."
Although Chuvashov was secretly happy when he saw that the troops had successfully entered the German defense lines without encountering any trouble, when he heard what Dobrushin said, he still said with a straight face: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, Before our troops reach Klemenkoug, any accident may happen, and we must not take it lightly just because we passed Poltava smoothly, otherwise we will suffer big losses."
Dobrushin realized that he had underestimated the enemy because he saw the troops were moving smoothly. He quickly admitted his mistake to Chuvashov: "Comrade division commander, I was wrong. I should not have underestimated the enemy at this time. Fortunately, you reminded me In time, otherwise it may lead to a big mistake." The train loaded with the 98th Guards Division set off, and all regiment-level cadres were having a meeting in the last carriage.
Before the formal meeting, Chief of Staff Uzakov announced to everyone: "Comrade commanders, I have good news to tell you. In view of the outstanding performance of our division in the battle to liberate Kharkov, the Supreme Command awarded The high honor of our division 'Kharkov'."
After everyone listened, they were stunned for a moment, and then began to whisper among themselves to make sure they heard correctly. You know, after the liberation of Belgorod, everyone hoped that their superiors would grant them a title named after the city, but in the end they were disappointed. Hearing Uzakov say this at this moment, it was as if he was dreaming, and he thought he was hallucinating.
Upon seeing this, Chuvashov quickly stood up from his seat and said to everyone with a smile: "Comrade commanders, don't doubt your ears. You heard it right. What Comrade Chief of Staff just said is true. The High Command indeed conferred upon our division the high honor of 'Kharkov'."
Lieutenant Commander Shamrih, the new commander of the 296th Guards Regiment, stood up and asked the question in his mind on behalf of everyone: "Comrade Division Commander, I would like to ask how many troops in our group army have received this high honor this time. ?”
"Only two units received high honors this time." Chuvashov stretched out two fingers and said: "Our division and General Fomenko's 84th Infantry Division."
"Ah, there are only two divisions?" Shamrih asked in surprise: "You know, the first troops to rush into the city were all troops of our 27th Group Army. Why did only two divisions receive this honor?"
Shamrich's words aroused the resentment of other commanders: "That's right, even if not all divisions can receive this honor, at least half of the divisions should be. Two divisions are too few."
"Quiet, please be quiet, comrades, commanders." Seeing that the voices below were getting louder and louder, Uzhakov slapped the table with his hand several times and said loudly: "We will continue the meeting."
After the carriage became quiet again, Uzakov continued: "Perhaps everyone is wondering where to let the troops board the carriage to go? Before boarding the carriage, for the sake of confidentiality, except for our three division leaders, No one knows the destination this time. Now that we have set off, I can tell everyone that we are going to Klemenkoug."
"Klemenchug?!" The leader of the 302nd Regiment repeated the place name and said in surprise: "Are we going to cross the Dnieper River?"
"That's right," Uzakov nodded and replied: "The superior ordered our division to take a train and quickly go to Kremenchug, seize the city and control the bridge on the Dnieper River, and at the same time, build a bridge on the right bank. The reliable landing site ensures that the main force of the front army can successfully break through the German Dnieper River defense line."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Shamrih asked curiously: "As far as I know, the troops of the 7th Guards Army and other friendly forces are attacking Poltava at the moment. This city is blocking our way to Croatia. On the road to Kleminchug, if we don’t capture the city, I’m afraid we won’t be able to reach Kleminchug.”
"Major Shamrih, you don't have to worry about this." After Uzakov accepted the combat mission from the headquarters, he received instructions from Samyko and knew what to do next. In order to reassure all the commanders, he readily told the truth: "There is a railway line that bypasses the Poltava area. We will rush directly to Kremenchug from this line and take advantage of the enemy. When you notice it, take Klementchuk quickly."
After Uzhakov detailed the combat missions to the commanders present, he asked: "Are there any questions?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Shamrih stood up again and asked, "I would like to ask, do we have artillery preparations before attacking?"
"No, Comrade Major." Uzakov shook his head and replied: "Not to mention artillery preparations, there are no tanks. In other words, we can only rely on pure infantry to capture this city."
Hearing what Uzakov said, the expression on Shamrih's face became solemn: "So that's it, that is to say, when fighting in the city and encountering enemy firepower, we can only use new rockets or A rocket launcher to destroy it instead of counting on our artillery or tanks?”
"Yes, that's exactly what it is, Comrade Major."
Seeing the expression on Shamrih's face, Chuvashov and Uzakov looked at each other and smiled, and then said: "Comrade Major, don't worry, this time we attack Kremenchug, we will mainly use sneak attacks. , there may not be a fierce battle.”
When Shamrih heard what Chuvasov said, his eyes suddenly lit up and he asked repeatedly: "Comrade Commander, I wonder what your plan is?"
"Comrade commanders," Chuvashov stood up and said to everyone: "After the train bypasses Poltava, everyone will put on German military uniforms and pretend to be German troops retreating from the front. I hope they can Deceive the defenders in Kremenchug."
Chuvashov's words seemed to be a reassurance to all commanders. Yes, the current situation is so chaotic. If our troops disguise themselves as Germans, they might actually be able to sneak into the German defense zone, and then it will be easy to capture Klementchug.
The train carrying more than 6,000 commanders and combatants went smoothly along the way and encountered no damage to the railway. As a result, they bypassed Poltava half an hour in advance and officially entered the German defense zone.
At this time, the commanders and fighters on the train all changed into German uniforms, and even the flags on the train were changed to German ones. As long as the train was not stopped for questioning, the Germans who saw the train along the railway line would think that the train was full of troops who had just withdrawn from the front line.
The train was seen smoothly bypassing Poltava and heading towards Kremenchug. Deputy division commander Dobrushin said to Chuvashov: "Comrade division commander, it seems that we are very lucky. We have entered the German defense line so easily without being noticed by them."
Although Chuvashov was secretly happy when he saw that the troops had successfully entered the German defense lines without encountering any trouble, when he heard what Dobrushin said, he still said with a straight face: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, Before our troops reach Klemenkoug, any accident may happen, and we must not take it lightly just because we passed Poltava smoothly, otherwise we will suffer big losses."
Dobrushin realized that he had underestimated the enemy because he saw the troops were moving smoothly. He quickly admitted his mistake to Chuvashov: "Comrade division commander, I was wrong. I should not have underestimated the enemy at this time. Fortunately, you reminded me In time, otherwise it may lead to a big mistake." Dobrushin realized that he had underestimated the enemy because he saw the troops were moving smoothly, and quickly admitted his mistake to Chuvashov: "Comrade division commander, I was wrong, I shouldn't have At this time, the thought of underestimating the enemy arises. Fortunately, you reminded me in time, otherwise it may lead to a big mistake."
