Zaharov added: "Poltava is originally a fortress city, and its city walls are extremely strong. If conventional shelling methods are used, even 152mm artillery will be difficult to blast a gap in the city wall. But direct aim is used instead. When it comes to shooting haute, even a 122mm artillery is far more effective than a 152mm artillery.”
"It's getting late, you should go back to the troops as soon as possible." Seeing that everything that needed to be explained was finished, Konev said to Zadov and Shumilov: "Work out a practical plan with your artillery commander as soon as possible." Feasible tactics must capture the city in the shortest possible time, there is not much time left for you."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." The two group army commanders replied respectfully: "As soon as we return, we will work with the artillery commander to formulate new tactics for artillery in siege warfare."
After Zadov and Shumilov left, Zaharov asked Konev: "Comrade Commander, do you think they will use new tactics to deal with the Germans' strong fortifications after they return?"
"I have already said what needs to be said." Konev said a little tiredly: "If there is no new progress in their siege operations in a short period of time, I may have to consider replacing them with other troops. attack."
"Other troops?" When Zakharov heard what Konev said, he first thought of Sokov: "Comrade Commander, do you plan to let Sokov's troops take over the siege operations?"
"No, no, no, I will not mobilize Sokov's troops." Konev waved his hands and said: "On the landing site on the right bank of the Dnieper River, I can rest assured only if Sokov is there."
After hearing what Konev said, Zakharov originally wanted to express a slightly different opinion. But after thinking about the several group army commanders in the front army in my mind, I felt that there was really no one who could beat Sokov. If the landing site on the right bank of the Dnieper River is really handed over to someone else, not only Konev will not be reassured, but he will also feel uneasy.
In the city of Kremenchug hundreds of kilometers away, Sokov was saying to Managarov and others: "...Whether it is a frontal attack on the landing site or a battle on the left bank, the Germans will It ended in failure. But the enemy who suffered a defeat will never give up so easily. They will definitely come up with new plots to retake the landing site..."
"General Sokov," Derevyanko heard this and couldn't help but interrupt and asked: "Tell me, what kind of plot will the enemy use to seize the landing site from us?"
"I don't know, General Derevyanko." Sokov looked at Derevyanko and said seriously: "I am not God, nor am I Manstein's chief of staff. I don't know what he will do next. Such an action. But one thing I know very well is that if the Germans attack on the frontal battlefield does not go well, they will definitely send small troops to penetrate into the direction of our army to cause damage."
"Then how should we deal with them?" Derevyanko continued to ask.
"We can only strengthen patrols in the defense zone, and at the same time prohibit soldiers from going out after dark, so as not to be taken advantage of by the Germans." Sokov said with some helplessness: "We must strengthen security work in important areas..."
Derevyanko heard Sokov mention that security work should be strengthened in important areas, thinking that the other party was worried about a small German team sneaking into the headquarters, and he said carelessly: "General Sokov, if you are worried about the security of the headquarters, I can tell you that there is no need to be afraid. The guard troops deployed near the church are not only from the 27th Army, but also from our 53rd Army. The Germans will not be able to fly in even if they have wings."
"General Derevyanko, you are wrong. It is precisely because there are two different troops near the church that the Germans have an opportunity." Sokov explained to Derevyanko: "For example, the Germans Dress up as our troops and infiltrate near the headquarters. When my subordinates see them, they will think they are your subordinates; and when your subordinates see them, they will also think these disguised enemies are my subordinates."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Managarov heard this and immediately realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly said to Derevyanko: "General Sokov is right. If the security of the headquarters is protected by two different The troops can easily be exploited by the enemy. Let's withdraw the security troops belonging to us to the periphery and hand over the security work here to the security troops of the 27th Group Army."
After Managarov finished instructing Derevyanko in one breath, he did not forget to ask Sokov for his opinion: "General Sokov, do you think this is okay?"
As soon as Sokov thought about it, he asked the 53rd Army's guard troops to withdraw from the square area and take charge of the peripheral defense. This would make it more difficult for the Germans to penetrate. He nodded in agreement: "Okay, Comrade General, as you please That's right. Your troops will be responsible for the outer defense, and my troops will be responsible for the security of the church and square area."
After speaking, Sokov turned to Samyko and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please make arrangements immediately."
When Samyko got up to make a phone call, Sokov smiled and said to Derevyanko: "General Derevyanko, you misunderstood one thing. The important location I mentioned did not refer to our headquarters. , although the importance of this place cannot be replaced, it is indeed not the location I want to talk about.”
"Then where is the important location you mentioned?"
"Here." Sokov stood up and walked to the table opposite, pointing to the map spread out on it: "In order to prevent the worst situation from happening, the enemy successfully broke through our defenses after crossing the river to the left bank. , met here in Kremenchug, cutting off the retreat route of the troops on the right bank, and deliberately dug a lot of caves on the cliffs beside the river on the right bank to store the weapons, ammunition and supplies needed by the troops. I am worried about the Germans The small teams that infiltrate into the rear of our army will destroy these caves where supplies are stored."
Listening to what Sokov said, Derevyanko knew in his heart that he had wrongly blamed Sokov. There was indeed a large amount of supplies stored in the newly dug caves on the right bank of the river. If they were destroyed by the German squad, the troops on the right bank would be destroyed. There will be material shortages. Once supplies are low, it becomes difficult to hold off the enemy.
After figuring out what was going on, Derevyanko quickly expressed his position and said: "General Sokov, the troops on the right bank are all your troops now. If you want to strengthen the management of these supplies, you can only be responsible. I Our troops can be sent to patrol the left bank and provide necessary fire support to friendly forces on the right bank when necessary."
"I think it's okay." Sokov felt that the plan proposed by Derevyanko was not bad. Now the two armies are on the right bank and the other on the left bank. If joint patrols across the strait are implemented, the possibility of successful German penetration can indeed be reduced. . "Our army is heavily guarding several bridges on the Dnieper River. If the Germans want to cross the river, they can only choose to swim. If both sides of the river are patrolled at the same time, it will be difficult for the enemy to succeed."
Zaharov added: "Poltava is originally a fortress city, and its city walls are extremely strong. If conventional shelling methods are used, even 152mm artillery will be difficult to blast a gap in the city wall. But direct aim is used instead. When it comes to shooting haute, even a 122mm artillery is far more effective than a 152mm artillery.”
"It's getting late, you should go back to the troops as soon as possible." Seeing that everything that needed to be explained was finished, Konev said to Zadov and Shumilov: "Work out a practical plan with your artillery commander as soon as possible." Feasible tactics must capture the city in the shortest possible time, there is not much time left for you."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." The two group army commanders replied respectfully: "As soon as we return, we will work with the artillery commander to formulate new tactics for artillery in siege warfare."
After Zadov and Shumilov left, Zaharov asked Konev: "Comrade Commander, do you think they will use new tactics to deal with the Germans' strong fortifications after they return?"
"I have already said what needs to be said." Konev said a little tiredly: "If there is no new progress in their siege operations in a short period of time, I may have to consider replacing them with other troops. attack."
"Other troops?" When Zakharov heard what Konev said, he first thought of Sokov: "Comrade Commander, do you plan to let Sokov's troops take over the siege operations?"
"No, no, no, I will not mobilize Sokov's troops." Konev waved his hands and said: "On the landing site on the right bank of the Dnieper River, I can rest assured only if Sokov is there."
After hearing what Konev said, Zakharov originally wanted to express a slightly different opinion. But after thinking about the several group army commanders in the front army in my mind, I felt that there was really no one who could beat Sokov. If the landing site on the right bank of the Dnieper River is really handed over to someone else, not only Konev will not be reassured, but he will also feel uneasy.
In the city of Kremenchug hundreds of kilometers away, Sokov was saying to Managarov and others: "...Whether it is a frontal attack on the landing site or a battle on the left bank, the Germans will It ended in failure. But the enemy who suffered a defeat will never give up so easily. They will definitely come up with new plots to retake the landing site..."
"General Sokov," Derevyanko heard this and couldn't help but interrupt and asked: "Tell me, what kind of plot will the enemy use to seize the landing site from us?"
"I don't know, General Derevyanko." Sokov looked at Derevyanko and said seriously: "I am not God, nor am I Manstein's chief of staff. I don't know what he will do next. Such an action. But one thing I know very well is that if the Germans attack on the frontal battlefield does not go well, they will definitely send small troops to penetrate into the direction of our army to cause damage."
"Then how should we deal with them?" Derevyanko continued to ask.
"We can only strengthen patrols in the defense zone, and at the same time prohibit soldiers from going out after dark, so as not to be taken advantage of by the Germans." Sokov said with some helplessness: "We must strengthen security work in important areas..."
Derevyanko heard Sokov mention that security work should be strengthened in important areas, thinking that the other party was worried about a small German team sneaking into the headquarters, and he said carelessly: "General Sokov, if you are worried about the security of the headquarters, I can tell you that there is no need to be afraid. The guard troops deployed near the church are not only from the 27th Army, but also from our 53rd Army. The Germans will not be able to fly in even if they have wings."
"General Derevyanko, you are wrong. It is precisely because there are two different troops near the church that the Germans have an opportunity." Sokov explained to Derevyanko: "For example, the Germans Dress up as our troops and infiltrate near the headquarters. When my subordinates see them, they will think they are your subordinates; and when your subordinates see them, they will also think these disguised enemies are my subordinates."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Managarov heard this and immediately realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly said to Derevyanko: "General Sokov is right. If the security of the headquarters is protected by two different The troops can easily be exploited by the enemy. Let's withdraw the security troops belonging to us to the periphery and hand over the security work here to the security troops of the 27th Group Army."
After Managarov finished instructing Derevyanko in one breath, he did not forget to ask Sokov for his opinion: "General Sokov, do you think this is okay?"
As soon as Sokov thought about it, he asked the 53rd Army's guard troops to withdraw from the square area and take charge of the peripheral defense. This would make it more difficult for the Germans to penetrate. He nodded in agreement: "Okay, Comrade General, as you please That's right. Your troops will be responsible for the outer defense, and my troops will be responsible for the security of the church and square area."
After speaking, Sokov turned to Samyko and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please make arrangements immediately."
When Samyko got up to make a phone call, Sokov smiled and said to Derevyanko: "General Derevyanko, you misunderstood one thing. The important location I mentioned did not refer to our headquarters. , although the importance of this place cannot be replaced, it is indeed not the location I want to talk about.”
"Then where is the important location you mentioned?"
"Here." Sokov stood up and walked to the table opposite, pointing to the map spread out on it: "In order to prevent the worst situation from happening, the enemy successfully broke through our defenses after crossing the river to the left bank. , met here in Kremenchug, cutting off the retreat route of the troops on the right bank, and deliberately dug a lot of caves on the cliffs beside the river on the right bank to store the weapons, ammunition and supplies needed by the troops. I am worried about the Germans The small teams that infiltrate into the rear of our army will destroy these caves where supplies are stored."
Listening to what Sokov said, Derevyanko knew in his heart that he had wrongly blamed Sokov. There was indeed a large amount of supplies stored in the newly dug caves on the right bank of the river. If they were destroyed by the German squad, the troops on the right bank would be destroyed. There will be material shortages. Once supplies are low, it becomes difficult to hold off the enemy.
"I think it's okay." Sokov felt that the plan proposed by Derevyanko was not bad. Now the two armies are on the right bank and the other on the left bank. If joint patrols across the strait are implemented, the possibility of successful German penetration can indeed be reduced. . "Our army is heavily guarding several bridges on the Dnieper River. If the Germans want to cross the river, they can only choose to swim. If both sides of the river are patrolled at the same time, it will be difficult for the enemy to succeed."
