In the next two days, the 73rd, 78th, and 81st Guards Divisions of the 25th Guards Rifle Corps crossed the Dnieper River one after another, giving the 7th Guards Army enough space to land on the right bank. The military strength can stand up to the frantically attacking German army. The 27th Group Army troops, having completed their mission, began to quietly withdraw along the road to their original landing site.
Even though this area has become the defense area of the 7th Guards Army, Sokov ordered the troops to retreat in order to prevent the troops from being congested during the retreat. The first to retreat was the 1st Artillery Division, followed by Major General Gritsenko's 384th Division, then Major General Fomenko's 84th Division, and Colonel Koida's 188th Division was responsible for the post-breakup mission.
Although there is no need to worry about being attacked by German ground troops when retreating from a friendly defense zone, the possibility of being attacked by enemy air attacks during the retreat cannot be ruled out. To this end, Sokov also specifically called General Goryunov and asked him to dispatch the air force to provide air cover for the retreating troops.
Colonel Koida set up the temporary division headquarters in a village southeast of Chigilin. He planned to wait until all troops began to retreat before leaving here. But what he didn't expect was that before the troops had finished withdrawing, Sokov unexpectedly appeared at his division headquarters.
Seeing Sokov suddenly appearing, Koida quickly stood up and came forward to meet him, and asked in surprise: "Comrade Commander, why are you still here and haven't retreated with the large army?"
"Your division hasn't withdrawn yet. How can I leave here with peace of mind." After shaking hands with Koida, Sokov walked to the table and looked at the political commissar Mashkov who was standing with the division chief of staff. He was a little surprised. He asked: "Comrade Colonel, two regiments of your division have withdrawn, why are you still here?"
The reason why Sokov asked this was because when deploying the retreat mission, he once emphasized to the division commanders that when the troops retreat, they must be accompanied by a division-level leader. The purpose of his doing this is to prevent the division-level leaders from coming forward to solve any problems that arise during the retreat of the troops. But the three division leaders of the 188th Division were present at this moment, and it was obvious that they did not comply with Sokov's order.
"Comrade Commander," Mashkov quickly explained after hearing Sokov asked about this matter: "We have studied that because the retreat routes of the troops are all in our army's defense zone, they will not be attacked by the German army. Therefore, it doesn’t matter at all whether there are division-level leaders accompanying us.”
Fortunately, Sokov is not a stubborn person and knows how to adapt very well. Judging from the retreat situation in the past two days, since the troops received air cover, it can be said that the journey was calm and there was no situation at all. So whether the 188th Division It is not that important to send division-level leaders to accompany the vanguard.
Sokov sat down at the table and asked casually: "Then when do you plan to retreat?"
Koida came over and said with a smile: "Comrade Commander, you haven't withdrawn yet, how can we withdraw? Even if we want to withdraw, we have to wait until you leave before withdrawing."
"That's right, that's right." Mashkov said: "Since our division is a rearguard unit, of course we cannot let others walk behind us. Comrade Commander, don't you think so?"
After Sokov laughed dryly twice, he changed the subject: "Colonel Koida, according to the orders from superiors, after the troops have withdrawn to the original landing site, they may not wait long before launching an attack on the enemy. Be mentally prepared. Yet?"
"Comrade Commander," Koida did not show any excitement when he heard what Sokov said. Instead, he asked with a normal expression: "Where do you plan to put our division?" He was worried about Sokov. Not understanding what he meant, he emphasized, "If we are still placed on the left bank of the Dnieper River, we will have no chance to participate in the attack."
"Colonel Koida, I plan to place your division on the far left flank of the landing site to take over the defense of the 1st Mechanized Corps."
"Take over the defense of the 1st Mechanized Army?" Sokov's words surprised Koida. He asked: "After General Solomatin knows about this, won't he have any objections?"
"According to orders from superiors, the 1st Mechanized Army will return to the left bank of the Dnieper River in two days and rejoin the 53rd Army." Sokov said with some helplessness: "With the retreat of the 1st Mechanized Army, our landing site will There will be a huge gap on the left wing, and I intend to send you to fill that defensive gap.”
"Comrade Commander," Mashkov asked puzzledly: "Why did the superiors transfer the 1st Mechanized Army away at this time? If they are left, they will play a vital role in our battle to expand the landing site. Huge effect.”
Sokov was not a roundworm in Konev's belly. Who knows how he could have suddenly called himself on a whim and said that he planned to return Solomatin's 1st Mechanized Army to the establishment. Therefore, he could only smile bitterly and shake his head in response to Mashkov's question.
But at this time, he heard Koida say: "Comrade Political Commissar, I feel that if we want to expand the landing site, the role that the 1st Mechanized Army can play is limited."
Koida's words aroused everyone's curiosity, and Mashkov couldn't help but ask: "Comrade division commander, why do you say that?"
"My Comrade Political Commissar," Koida said with some laughter and tears: "From the performance of the 1st Mechanized Army some time ago, I found that not only are their equipment and morale inferior to ours, but the commander's tactics are also too outdated."
"Tell me more details," Mashkov said.
"As far as I know, in order to hold on to the No. 1 outpost of the landing site, they lost two battalions of troops." Koida said with some hatred: "Knowing that there are no solid defenses on the highlands, When the enemy was shelling the high ground, he kept the officers and soldiers in simple fortifications, wasn't he asking them to die?"
The division chief of staff also heard some inside information at that time. Hearing Koida take the initiative to mention it, he looked at Sokov with some worry. Seeing that the commander's expression was as normal, with no intention of blaming him at all, he became bolder and echoed some of what he knew.
Sokov did not speak, but quietly listened to what the division chief of staff said, thinking in his mind from which direction he should launch an offensive operation after consolidating the defense of the landing site.
"Comrade Commander," Koida saw Sokov looking distracted. When the division chief of staff finished speaking, he asked tentatively: "I would like to ask, after we take over the defense of the 1st Mechanized Corps, what will happen? Should we prepare for defense, or should we prepare for attack?"
Koida asked very wisely. If it is to prepare for defense, after taking over the defense, it is necessary to carry out large-scale construction in the defense area and build fortifications that can withstand the German attack; if it is mainly to attack, then it only needs to simply repair the fortifications. .
"Comrade Colonel, if I asked you to take over the defense of the 1st Mechanized Army a week ago, your task would definitely be defense-based, and you would inevitably build a large number of fortifications to improve the defense system of the landing site." Sokov Said: "But with the liberation of Poltava, the main forces of the Front Army have gradually arrived on the banks of the Dnieper River. At this time, what we have to do is no longer defense, but offense, constantly attacking the German army. Defend against attacks in depth until their defenses are completely shredded."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." After Koida understood what Sokov meant, he immediately straightened up and replied: "After our division takes over the defense of the 1st Mechanized Army, we will do our best to do everything before the attack. Prepare."
Sokov was very satisfied with Koida's answer. He nodded and said: "Comrade Colonel, before the attack begins, I will replenish you with a batch of weapons and ammunition, especially new rockets, to reduce your risk during the attack. resistance."
"Comrade Commander," it stands to reason that Koida should be satisfied if he can get a replenishment of weapons and ammunition, especially new rockets, but after he waited for Sokov to finish, he hesitated for a while, and then said He made his request: "My troops suffered a lot of casualties while blocking the German reinforcements. Do you think you can give us some additional troops?"
"It's very difficult, Comrade Colonel." Sokov is now a skilled man who can't make a living without rice. He doesn't have any reserve troops. How can he replenish troops that have been reduced in number during the battle? Facing Koida's request, he could only shake his head and smile bitterly and said: "In this battle to help the 7th Guards Army open a landing site on the right bank, among the three infantry divisions, your division had the smallest reduction in personnel. Don't blame me. Now that we don’t have a reserve team, even if we have a reserve team, we won’t be able to give priority to replenishing you. Otherwise, other division commanders will come to me to ask for replenishment. How should I reply to them?”
Koida knew that Sokov was telling the truth. They had been fighting almost every day for more than two months, and all the divisions of the group army had suffered a lot of casualties. Although many commanders and fighters rescued from prisoner-of-war camps were successively incorporated into the army by Sokov, each division still faced a shortage of soldiers.
"Then what should we do?" Koida murmured: "The number of soldiers in the army will become smaller and smaller, and the next battle will be more brutal. I am worried that once the number of troops is reduced too much, our division will be defeated. If you have an empty number, you may be sent to the rear to recuperate and have no chance to participate in the next battle."
Several people here were talking. The radio operator who followed Sokov to the division headquarters came over and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, your call is from Chief of Staff Samyko."
Hearing that the call was from Samyko, Sokov quickly took the microphone and earphone from the operator and spoke to Samyko who was far away in Kremenchug: "Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff, , I am Sokov."
"Hello, Comrade Commander." Samyko reported to Sokov: "The 1st Artillery Division and the 384th Division have arrived at the landing site one after another. I have placed them near the river to rest."
"Well, you have done a lot. After this period of fighting, the officers and soldiers have become exhausted. They should be given a good rest."
"Comrade Commander, there is one more thing I want to ask you for." Samyko didn't know that Sokov already knew about taking over the defense of the 1st Mechanized Army, and specifically reported to him: "I'm afraid that the 1st Mechanized Army will They will be back to work in two days, and I would like to ask, which troops do you plan to send to take over their defense?"
"I am going to let Colonel Koida's 188th Division take over the defense of the 1st Mechanized Corps." When Sokov said this, his eyes involuntarily glanced at Koida standing in front of him: "The two division's This regiment will arrive at the landing site at noon tomorrow. Send someone to guide them to the 1st Mechanized Army's defense area to take over the defense."
"Well, I also think it is very appropriate for the 188th Division to take over the defense of the 1st Mechanized Army." Sameko obviously hesitated for a long time before he said cautiously: "According to the information I have, whether it is Gerry Major General Ceenko's 384th Division and General Fomenko's 84th Division both suffered severe attrition in this battle to assist friendly forces in establishing landing sites, and are obviously unable to take over the defense of the mechanized army."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov knew that the supplies sent from the rear are not enough to meet the needs of all his troops, so he must first say hello to Samyko and give priority to providing supplies to Koida's troops: "Wait. After the troops of the 188th Division enter the designated position, you must give priority to replenishing them with weapons and ammunition, especially new rockets, the more the better."
"Ah, a new rocket?" After listening to Sokov's request, Samyko said with some embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, to tell you the truth, I received a call from Colonel Yakov yesterday. It said that due to some problems in production, the supply of our new rockets may be temporarily stopped.”
"What, supply is going to be suspended?" Sokov frowned: "Did Yakov give a specific reason?"
"The specific reason was not stated," Sameko replied: "I was just told that there were some problems in production, which caused a sharp reduction in production, so it could no longer be provided to us."
Sokov keenly captured a key word from Sameko's words: sharp decline in production! The decrease in output shows that the production of new rockets is still continuing, and products are still coming out every day. But the other party said they would no longer provide products to themselves, proving that they intended to supply these products to other troops.
For a moment, Sokov wanted to call Yakov immediately and ask what was going on. Just when he was about to call the communications troops and ask them to help him connect the phone to Moscow, he remembered that he was at the temporary headquarters in Koida, and there was no way to communicate with the weapons and equipment department in Moscow.
He sighed softly and decided to call Yakov after returning to the army headquarters to find out what happened and why the supply to him was suddenly interrupted. In order not to increase the psychological burden on Samek, he tried to control his emotions and said in a calm tone: "Chief of Staff, I know about this. When I go back, I will personally call Colonel Yakov , ask what’s going on.”
