As the situation developed in a direction favorable to the Soviet army, Konev felt that all group army commanders should be summoned to hold a military meeting to deploy the next phase of tasks to everyone.
He called Zakharov and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately call the commanders of each group army and order them to rush to the front army headquarters for a meeting before 11 o'clock in the morning. I have important combat tasks to assign."
"Comrade Commander," Zaharov waited for Konev to finish and carefully reminded him: "The headquarters of the 27th and 53rd Army are more than 200 kilometers away from us. I'm afraid we won't be able to arrive at the stipulated time. Are you coming?"
After Zakharov reminded him, Konev immediately thought of the two commanders who were staying by the Dnieper River at the moment. They were indeed too far away from him. If he wanted them to be like other commanders, they would have to leave before eleven o'clock. It's simply impossible to get there. Thinking of this, he said to Zakharov: "Chief of Staff, then send a plane over and bring Sokov and Managarov over for the meeting."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." After listening to Konev's instructions, Zaharov thought to himself that he was an important commander of the two armies on this plane, so he must not make any mistakes. Send the best transport plane to pick them up: "I will arrange this immediately."
…………
Sokov received a call from Zakharov and learned that he had to rush to the headquarters of the Front Army at 11 a.m. for a meeting. He raised his hand and looked at his watch and said awkwardly: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, We are more than 200 kilometers away from the headquarters, and even by car it takes more than four hours, so there is no way we can get there on time."
"You don't have to worry about this, Comrade Sokov." After hearing Sokov's dilemma, Zakharov said with a smile: "I have arranged a transport plane for you in accordance with the commander's order. Wait for the transport plane to arrive Come, the main commanders of your two armies will fly over for a meeting."
Hearing that he was flying there, Sokov couldn't help but shudder. Ever since the crash of his superior's plane, he had a fear of airplanes. Especially the brutal driving style of Soviet pilots also frightened him. If the main commanders of the two group army headquarters take a plane to Konev's headquarters, if an accident occurs on the way, it will be the end of the group.
Considering this, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, I would like to ask, can the meeting be postponed for two hours?"
"Why delay, General Sokov?" After hearing what Sokov said, Zakharov asked in confusion: "Are you going to let all the army commanders waste two hours waiting for you?" Making Sokov aware of the seriousness of the problem, he also specifically emphasized, "Today, the troops of each group army are moving towards the Dnieper River. The commanders participating in the meeting cannot leave their troops for a long time. Do you understand?"
The reason why Sokov suggested that the meeting be postponed for two hours was to avoid a possible air crash. But since Zakharov made it so clear, it would be quite inappropriate for him to push back. In desperation, he could only bite the bullet and said: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army, as soon as the plane sent by the headquarters arrives, we will take the opportunity to rush there."
"Comrade General," Sokov put down the phone and said to Managarov sitting next to him: "I just received a call from the Chief of Staff of the Front Army, General Zakharov, saying that the headquarters plans to hold a military meeting to deploy the next step. For this phase of the operation, let’s rush over for the meeting before 11 o’clock in the morning.”
Managarov raised his hand and looked at his watch and frowned: "General Sokov, we are more than two hundred kilometers away from the headquarters. Even if the vehicle moves at full speed, it will probably take four hours. How can we do it before the meeting?" Are you here yet?"
"You don't have to worry about this." Sokov said: "The headquarters will send a plane to pick us up. We can arrive at the headquarters before the meeting starts."
"That's about right." Managarov then asked: "Are all the main members of the army headquarters going?"
"Yes," Sokov looked at the chief of staff and the two military commissars beside Managarov, nodded and said, "In addition to the commander and military commissar, the chief of staff must also participate."
"We've all left, what about the work here?"
"Don't worry, it seems that the German attack will not be too fierce today." Sameko interrupted: "We can go after we have arranged the work properly."
"Comrade General!" After Samyko finished speaking, Sokov added with a smile: "Now the German attack is not large-scale. Even if we are not at the headquarters, the commanders of each division can still perform their duties and deal with all the German forces. offensive launched."
An hour later, the roar of aircraft engines was heard outside. Then, a staff officer came in and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, a transport plane has landed in the square outside the church."
"What, a transport plane landed in the square outside the church?" Derevyanko said in surprise: "Isn't this incredible?"
But Sokov looked calm. He knew how big the square outside the church was. Since a young West German man would land in Red Square in a light plane decades later, there is nothing surprising about a transport plane landing in the square outside the headquarters today.
"Comrade General, I think the pilot who picked us up has arrived." After Sokov said this to Managarov, he turned to the staff and ordered: "Comrade staff, bring the pilot in."
After a while, a pilot wearing a black jacket, led by a staff officer, walked into the headquarters and came to Sokov.
Although the pilot did not know Sokov, the staff brought him to Sokov. He naturally knew that this was the person he was looking for. He quickly stood at attention and raised his hand in salute: "Hello, General Sokov, I have been ordered to pick you up and the commander of the 53rd Army to go to the front army headquarters for a meeting."
A few minutes later, Sokov and his team followed the pilot to the transport plane parked in the square. Before boarding the plane, Sokov asked with great interest: "Comrade pilot, are you not worried about something happening when you land the plane on the square?"
"General Sokov, when I was transporting supplies to the frontier, I have landed on many complex terrains." The pilot replied: "Compared to those places, the square here is simply the most ideal runway for me."
Sokov chatted with the pilot just to divert the fear in his heart. After all, the last time he crashed was not long ago. From the other party, Sokov learned that the other party was an excellent pilot who had carried out many dangerous missions. Now it was too easy to take him and others to meetings.
After Sokov got on the plane, Lunev, who was sitting next to him, leaned into his ear and asked: "Comrade Commander, did you have a psychological shadow from the last crash, so you talked to the pilot for so long? ?”
Seeing that Luniev had guessed his true thoughts, Sokov did not deny it, nodded slightly, and replied: "If I want to find out how skilled this pilot is, I won't be afraid to fly on this plane."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Lunev comforted him and said: "Since this pilot can land the plane on the church square, it proves that his level is not bad. You can feel free to fly on the plane he flies. "
The plane flew in the air for almost forty minutes before landing at a field airport not far from the front army headquarters. As soon as the plane stopped, several jeeps drove in from outside the runway and parked next to the plane one after another.
As soon as Sokov got off the plane, a major came up to him, raised his hand and saluted him and said: "Hello, General Sokov, I am here to pick you up on the order of General Zakharov. Please. Get in the car!"
So everyone got into several jeeps parked next to the plane and headed towards the location of the headquarters.
Zakharov, who was presiding over the meeting, saw Sokov and his entourage coming in from the outside and immediately announced the start of the military meeting: "Comrades, commanders, everyone is here, we have a formal meeting. First, let me introduce to you, now The situation between ourselves and the enemy..."
After introducing the situation of the enemy and ourselves on the battlefield, Zakharov began to assign tasks to the commanders present according to the plan discussed in advance with Konev: "...the 69th Group Army moved to Belik and Breusovka direction to attack.
The mission of the 7th Guards Army is: to move forward to the Dnieper River in the Perevolochnaya, Borodayevka, and Stari Orlik areas and seize the landing sites on the right bank.
The 57th Group Army launches an offensive in the direction of Shuligovka. It should seize the ferry in the Pushkarevka-Soshnovka area on September 23 and occupy Shevchenkovo and Verkhov. Landing ground on the Cevo area.
The 5th Guards Army should pursue the enemy in the general direction of Koshubovka and Kobe. The advance detachment of the Army should occupy the Dnieper River crossing in the Sadka and Chkalovka areas on September 24. "
Every time Zakharov mentioned the number of an army group, the commander of the army group stood up and listened quietly to the tasks of his troops. After listening, he answered with a resounding "yes" and sat down again.
After Zakharov finished assigning the task, he turned to Konev and said: "Comrade Commander, the task has been assigned. Do you want to say a few words?"
Konev nodded, stood up, leaned forward slightly, put his hands on the edge of the table, and said to the commanders present: "Comrade commanders, although we successfully captured Poltava and tore apart the German army, We must not underestimate the enemy because of this, and advance deeply towards their defenses. You must know that the German army we have to face has 20 divisions..."
While Zakharov was talking, Sokov thought to himself: Once upon a time, a Soviet army group faced a German division. Not only could it not defeat the enemy, but it would even be beaten back by the opponent. Now that four army groups are used to deal with 20 German divisions, the next battle will be very cruel.
"Comrade Commander," while Sokov was deep in thought, he suddenly felt someone touching his arm, and then heard Sameko's familiar voice: "Why didn't our superiors assign us a task?"
Although Samyko's voice was not loud, at this moment Konev's speech happened to come to an end and the room fell into silence. Samyko's words seemed particularly clear, and almost everyone present heard them.
Konev, who was sitting on top, couldn't help laughing when he heard Samyko's question to Sokov. He then said to Sameko: "Chief of Staff Sameko, don't worry, I will never forget your army group. You know, the combat effectiveness of your army group is one of the best among the front armies, so the enemies you face It will be the most brutal."
Even though Konev praised Sokov's unit for being one of the best in combat effectiveness, no one of the commanders present refuted him because what he said was true. Not to mention the Steppe Front Army, even if the troops on all fronts were added up, no group army commander should pat his chest and say that the combat effectiveness of his troops could surpass Sokov's troops.
"General Konev," Samyko stood up and said with some excitement: "No matter how ferocious the enemy is, as long as they encounter our 27th Army, it will be the beginning of their nightmare. If they don't fight with us, Once they fight with us, it will mean their doom."
Sameko's speech was considered very arrogant, but the commanders present had such expressions that they were not surprised at all. Some commanders even thought sourly in their hearts: No matter which army group Sokov is the commander of, that unit will become a lingering nightmare for the Germans.
"Comrade Sokov," Konev turned his attention to Sokov and said in a kind tone, "I will assign you the task next."
Hearing that Konev was about to assign tasks to themselves, Sokov and Lunev quickly stood up from their seats, straightened their backs, and said in unison: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, please give the order."
After Konev stared at Sokov for a while, he nodded with a smile and began to assign tasks to them: "The task of your group army is still to stick to the current area with General Managarov's 53rd Army, and Be prepared to attack." Konev continued, "When other armies arrive at designated positions, you can launch an attack on the Germans on the right bank of the Dnieper River."
"Sure enough, after the main force of the front army reaches the designated position, it will launch a new attack on the enemy." Sokov thought secretly in his heart: "But before the attack begins, the troops must have sufficient supplies, otherwise they will wait until the battle After the start, even if you want to add more, I’m afraid it will be too late.”
After Konev assigned Sokov the task, he saw that Sokov was silent and asked specifically: "Comrade Sokov, are there any difficulties? If you have any difficulties, feel free to raise them with me. As long as I can If you do, I will do my best to fulfill your request.”
