Knowing that the lost No. 1 position had been recaptured, Sokov felt much more at ease. While Solomatin was arranging his troops, he secretly thought that the special company of the 254th Division was indispensable for retaking the position so quickly this time. However, the troops originally used for special operations were treated as ordinary troops to participate in the attack, which was a bit wasteful.
After Solomatin finished deploying his troops, Sokov stood up and said to him: "Comrade General, it's almost dawn, and I want to return to Kremenchug as soon as possible. If you have anything urgent, you can call the nearest The headquarters of the 98th Guards Division came to see me, and my temporary headquarters was located there."
But after hearing this, Solomatin said with concern: "Comrade Commander, if the temporary headquarters is located in the same division headquarters, will it have an adverse impact on each other?"
"No way, Comrade General." Sokov replied with a wry smile: "My chief of staff and members of the headquarters are still hundreds of kilometers away in Merefa Fortress. I'm afraid it will take several days to arrive. to here."
"Comrade Commander, since there are already a lot of troops assembled in the Kremenchug area," Solomatin suggested to Sokov: "Why don't you ask the headquarters to come here first? This will also be beneficial to you. Direct the next battle?"
"Comrade General, what you say makes sense." Regarding Solomatin's proposal, Sokov nodded thoughtfully and said: "When I return to the temporary headquarters, I will send a telegram to the Chief of Staff and ask him to do it as soon as possible. Rush over with members of the headquarters and establish a new forward headquarters in Kremenchug."
Under the protection of Samoilov, Sokov returned to the temporary headquarters in the church in the center of Kremenchug.
Seeing Sokov's return, Chuvasov, the commander of the 98th Guards Division, breathed a sigh of relief and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, you are finally back. You didn't come back all night, and I was worried. "
Before Sokov went to the Mechanized Army, he had greeted Chuvashov, and if Samyko had any urgent telegram, he would immediately call him to inform him. After staying at the headquarters of the Mechanized Army all night, he did not receive any calls, which proved that Sameko had not sent him a telegram. However, he still asked habitually: "Is there a telegram from the Army Headquarters?"
"No, Comrade Commander." Chuvashov quickly replied: "From the time you left until now, there has not been a single telegram."
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov felt that Solomatin's words made sense. Since there were already a large number of troops stationed in Kremenchug at this moment, it was entirely possible to move the headquarters here in advance, so he ordered Chuvashov: " Immediately, in my name, send a telegram to Chief of Staff Sameko and order him to move the headquarters here as soon as possible."
After Chuvashov ordered the radio operator to send the report, he tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, you asked the Army Group Headquarters to come over as soon as possible. Are you going to fight a big battle?"
"Yes," Sokov nodded and replied: "Based on various signs, the enemy will definitely launch a large-scale attack on the landing site. The headquarters will be moved here in advance to facilitate my command of the troops."
Chuvashov had no doubts about Sokov's statement. Although it was calm here in Kremenchug, it was not the same as the landing site on the right bank, where there was also no movement. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, is there any movement in the direction of the landing site?"
"A few hours ago, a small German army disguised itself as our army and captured the No. 1 outpost that originally belonged to the 254th Division." Sokov told Chuvashov and others what happened not long ago. , and finally said: "Since the German army has as many as two hundred troops for reconnaissance, it means that the enemy will launch a major offensive next."
As soon as Sokov finished speaking, a communications staff officer hurried over and reported to Chuvashov: "Comrade division commander, this is from the 1st Mechanized Corps. Please forward it to comrade commander."
"Give me the telegram," Sokov said to the communications staff officer.
The communications staff did not dare to neglect and quickly handed the telegram in his hand to Sokov.
After Sokov quickly read the above content, he laughed and said to Chuvashov: "Comrade Colonel, it seems that my prediction has been fulfilled. The enemy dispatched an infantry battalion to attack the mechanized machine under the cover of artillery fire." The 21st Brigade held the No. 1 outpost position and launched a fierce attack."
After hearing this, Chuvashov couldn't help but gasp, and then asked Sokov nervously: "Comrade Commander, can they hold their position?"
When Sokov left the mechanized army headquarters, he heard Solomatin deploying defenses and roughly knew the deployment of troops near the No. 1 outpost. He nodded and replied: "General Solomatin is deploying the No. 1 outpost. A large number of troops were deployed near the position, and it was basically impossible for the Germans to capture the No. 1 outpost with just one infantry battalion."
Sokov secretly thought that the German attack on the defense area of the 21st Mechanized Brigade was just the beginning. It would not be long before they would launch a full-scale attack. He came to the map and carefully checked the terrain of the landing site on the right bank. He found that once the German attack was unfavorable, they could completely bypass the flanks and bypass the defense zone of the 21st Mechanized Brigade to attack new targets and isolate the outpost positions. stand up.
After figuring this out, Sokov called the communications staff officer and told him: "Comrade staff officer, please immediately send a telegram to the 73rd Infantry Brigade, saying that the enemy has launched an attack on the position adjacent to his left..."
Before Sokov could finish his analysis, Chuvashov came over and said to Sokov with a smile: "Comrade Commander, the communications corps has laid the telephone line with the 73rd Brigade overnight. What can I do? , you can call directly without sending a telegram."
Knowing that the telephone line between here and the 73rd Infantry Brigade had been connected, Sokov couldn't help feeling ecstatic, and quickly ordered the communications staff officer: "Comrade Staff, please help me get through to the 73rd Infantry Brigade headquarters."
After only a few minutes, Sokov heard Guchakov's voice. Because the battle in the direction of the landing field had already broken out, he ignored the small talk and asked straight to the point: "The German army has begun to attack the 21st Mechanized Brigade on your left wing. Are you ready for battle?"
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Guchakov replied confidently: "When the first artillery shell was left in the friendly position on the left, all my troops entered the first level of combat readiness and were ready to respond to the Germans at any time. Possible attack."
"Are there any signs of enemy activity on the defensive front of your brigade?"
"That's not true."
"Since there is no sign of enemy activity, is it appropriate for you to put the troops into the first level of combat readiness at this time?" Sokov said this because he considered the front position of the 73rd Infantry Brigade. Since there was no sign of enemy activity, , there is no need to put the troops into combat status prematurely, so as to avoid the situation of being as powerful as a tiger in one go and then weakening in three. Therefore, he said to Guchakov: "Comrade Major, you immediately send out scouts to conduct reconnaissance. In addition, except for a few troops left on the position for warning, the rest of the commanders and soldiers went back to rest and take advantage of the weather. Liang, sleep a little longer."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Guchakov understood Sokov's character. Since the other party ordered him like this, there must be a certain reason. He quickly replied: "I will immediately send out scouts to conduct reconnaissance, and then order most of them to do so." The commanders and fighters should go back to rest, and it will not be too late to enter the position after the enemy's attack begins."
Before attacking the No. 1 outpost position, the German army plowed the hill with artillery fire, causing many casualties to the defenders on the hill. From the point of view of responding to the enemy's artillery fire, there is a big gap between the mechanized army and Sokov's troops. When Sokov's troops were holding on to the high ground, once they were shelled by the Germans, except for a few observation posts left to monitor the enemy, the rest of the commanders and fighters withdrew to the reverse slope where the artillery fire could not reach them, and only returned to their positions after the artillery fire stopped. . In this way, the damage suffered by the troops in the artillery attack can be reduced to the minimum level.
But Solomatin's mechanized army obviously had no training in this area. After the enemy's shelling began, all the commanders and fighters hid in the trenches on the hillside. As a result, the trenches in many areas were destroyed by enemy artillery fire, and the commanders and fighters hiding in these places suffered heavy casualties. Knowing that the lost No. 1 position had been recaptured, Sokov felt much more at ease. While Solomatin was arranging his troops, he secretly thought that the special company of the 254th Division was indispensable for retaking the position so quickly this time. However, the troops originally used for special operations were treated as ordinary troops to participate in the attack, which was a bit wasteful.
After Solomatin finished deploying his troops, Sokov stood up and said to him: "Comrade General, it's almost dawn, and I want to return to Kremenchug as soon as possible. If you have anything urgent, you can call the nearest The headquarters of the 98th Guards Division came to see me, and my temporary headquarters was located there."
But after hearing this, Solomatin said with concern: "Comrade Commander, if the temporary headquarters is located in the same division headquarters, will it have an adverse impact on each other?"
"No way, Comrade General." Sokov replied with a wry smile: "My chief of staff and members of the headquarters are still hundreds of kilometers away in Merefa Fortress. I'm afraid it will take several days to arrive. to here."
"Comrade Commander, since there are already a lot of troops assembled in the Kremenchug area," Solomatin suggested to Sokov: "Why don't you ask the headquarters to come here first? This will also benefit you. Direct the next battle?"
"Comrade General, what you say makes sense." Regarding Solomatin's proposal, Sokov nodded thoughtfully and said: "When I return to the temporary headquarters, I will send a telegram to the Chief of Staff and ask him to do it as soon as possible. Rush over with members of the headquarters and establish a new forward headquarters in Kremenchug."
Under the protection of Samoilov, Sokov returned to the temporary headquarters in the church in the center of Kremenchug.
Seeing Sokov's return, Chuvasov, the commander of the 98th Guards Division, breathed a sigh of relief and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, you are finally back. You didn't come back all night, and I was worried. "
Before Sokov went to the Mechanized Army, he had greeted Chuvashov, and if Samyko had any urgent telegram, he would immediately call him to inform him. After staying at the headquarters of the Mechanized Army all night, he did not receive any calls, which proved that Sameko had not sent him a telegram. However, he still asked habitually: "Is there a telegram from the Army Headquarters?"
"No, Comrade Commander." Chuvashov quickly replied: "From the time you left until now, there has not been a single telegram."
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov felt that Solomatin's words made sense. Since there were already a large number of troops stationed in Kremenchug at this moment, it was entirely possible to move the headquarters here in advance, so he ordered Chuvashov: " Immediately, in my name, send a telegram to Chief of Staff Sameko and order him to move the headquarters here as soon as possible."
After Chuvashov ordered the radio operator to send the report, he asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Commander, you asked the Army Group Headquarters to come over as soon as possible. Are you going to fight a big battle?"
"Yes," Sokov nodded and replied: "Based on various signs, the enemy will definitely launch a large-scale attack on the landing site. The headquarters will be moved here in advance to facilitate my command of the troops."
Chuvashov had no doubts about Sokov's statement. Although it was calm here in Kremenchug, it was not the same as the landing site on the right bank, where there was also no movement. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, is there any movement in the direction of the landing site?"
"A few hours ago, a small German army disguised itself as our army and captured the No. 1 outpost that originally belonged to the 254th Division." Sokov told Chuvashov and others what happened not long ago. , and finally said: "Since the German army has as many as two hundred troops for reconnaissance, it means that the enemy will launch a major offensive next."
As soon as Sokov finished speaking, a communications staff officer hurried over and reported to Chuvashov: "Comrade division commander, this is from the 1st Mechanized Corps. Please forward it to comrade commander."
"Give me the telegram," Sokov said to the communications staff officer.
The communications staff did not dare to neglect and quickly handed the telegram in his hand to Sokov.
After Sokov quickly read the above content, he laughed and said to Chuvashov: "Comrade Colonel, it seems that my prediction has been fulfilled. The enemy dispatched an infantry battalion to attack the mechanized machine under the cover of artillery fire." The 21st Brigade held the No. 1 outpost position and launched a fierce attack."
When Sokov left the mechanized army headquarters, he heard Solomatin arranging defenses and roughly knew the deployment of troops near the No. 1 outpost. He nodded and replied: "General Solomatin is laying out defenses at the No. 1 outpost." A large number of troops were deployed near the position, and it was basically impossible for the Germans to capture the No. 1 outpost with just one infantry battalion."
