"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov unexpectedly called out to Konev: "Please wait a moment."
Konev, who had just taken two steps, stopped and looked at Sokov with a strange look: "Comrade Sokov, what can I do for you?"
"That's it, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov felt in his heart that in order to break through the German defense, he must put all his troops into battle. If he needs to leave part or even close to half of his troops for defense, he will inevitably Reduce the power of the attack. "I feel that in order to break through the German defenses and fulfill the superior's operational intentions, all the troops of the group army must be put into battle. Therefore, the defense of the landing site on the right bank needs to be left to friendly forces."
"Comrade Sokov," Konev said with a smile after hearing Sokov's request: "You are posing a problem for me. Where can I find troops to take over your defense at the landing site? You know , the area of the landing site is so large, if only one or two divisions are sent over, it will have no effect at all."
Since Sokov was commanding the battle in the Chigirin area during this period, he had no idea about the mobilization of friendly forces. Hearing what Konev said, he was speechless for a moment.
"Comrade Commander," at this moment, Samyko stood up and said to Konev: "As far as I know, General Gagan's 57th Army entered the Potoki area yesterday, and is only a short distance away from Kremenchug. At a distance of 25 kilometers, even if they march on foot, they can reach us in half a day."
When Sokov heard what Samyko said, he suddenly felt confident and quickly said: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, since General Gagan's troops are nearby, they can take over the defense of the landing site on the right bank." He was deeply moved. Fearing that Konev would find reasons to shirk, he also specifically emphasized, "As long as we launch a full-scale attack on the enemy, the enemy will not be able to take action at all and pose any threat to the 57th Group Army."
After listening to Sokov's words, Konev couldn't help but smiled bitterly and shook his head and said: "Comrade Sokov, you have to know that the 57th Army is the reserve force of the front army. I plan to put them into battle when things don't go well. Yes. I didn’t expect you to actually take advantage of them.”
When Sokov saw that Konev did not immediately deny his proposal, he knew that there was something wrong with the matter. He quickly said with a playful smile: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I just said that as long as the 57th Army takes over our defense, We will immediately launch an attack on the enemy in the south. They will have no chance to engage in combat at that time, which means that your reserve team has not been used at all, but has just been put on standby in another place."
"Yes, yes, General Konev." Lunev would definitely not remain silent at this time, but took the initiative to help: "If there are not enough troops to take over the defense of the landing site on the right bank, when we attack, we will They will be worried that there will be danger to their sides and rear, and then the intensity of the attack may be greatly reduced."
After Konev's eyes swept over the three of them one by one, he said with a smile: "It seems that if I don't agree to let the 57th Army take over your defense today, you are not going to let me go."
"How is that possible? Comrade Commander of the Front Army, how do we have the right to detain you?" Sokov said with a smile: "Actually, I have some connection with the 57th Group Army. During the Battle of Stalingrad, I used to He fought alongside some units of the army.
It is a great honor for us to be able to fight with this heroic force again in the battle to liberate the right bank of the Dnieper River. So I hope you can agree to our request and let General Gagan's 57th Army take over the defense of the landing site on the right bank. "
Since Sokov has already said this, it is obviously inappropriate for Konev to refuse again. He lowered his head and thought for a long time, and finally nodded slowly and said: "Okay, Comrade Sokov, since you made such a request, I don't think I can find any reason to refuse. So, I'll go back and talk to the Chief of Staff General Zakharov will discuss it and see when it would be more appropriate to send the 57th Army to take over your defense."
Sokov originally wanted Konev to send troops overnight, but then he thought about it. General Solomatin's 1st Mechanized Army was retreating. If a large force came from the left bank, it would definitely cause a jam at the bridge. and chaos, which would be counterproductive.
After thinking about this, he nodded and said: "This is as it should be, Comrade Commander of the Front Army. After all, the 57th Group Army is your reserve. If you want to dispatch them to other places, you will naturally need to communicate with other members of the headquarters. Let’s discuss it.”
After sending Konev away, Samyko asked Sokov with some confusion: "Comrade Commander, why don't you ask Commander Konev to send the 57th Army over overnight? You know, they entered the landing site on the right bank. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can move south of the landing site."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, have you forgotten that General Solomatin's troops are withdrawing from their positions in an orderly manner and retreating to the left bank of the Dnieper River?" Sokov saw that Samyko had not considered the retreating 1st Mechanized Troops. The army reminded him: "Although there are currently three bridges and pontoons on the Dnieper River, they are still far from enough to accommodate two troops marching in opposite directions at the same time.
If the troops of the 57th Group Army are allowed to rush over, they may wait until dawn and when they arrive at the river and prepare to cross the river, they will just meet the mechanized army preparing to return to the left bank. If both sides were jammed on the bridge, things would be delayed. "
"Yes, Comrade Commander is right." Lunev agreed with Sokov's statement. He said to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if tens of thousands of troops are congested on the banks of the Dnieper River and cannot move, they will inevitably cause huge losses once they are attacked by enemy planes. At that time, it will have a great impact on the morale and morale of our army. , will have a serious impact.”
Samyko hummed, expressing his approval of the two men's statements, and then asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, since we are going to attack to the south of the landing site, should we summon the commanders of each unit? How about assigning them the next combat mission so that they know it well?"
"This is what it should be, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov nodded and said: "We will hold such a meeting again after the departure of the 57th Group Army is confirmed. Before that, we still stay on the sidelines to avoid any unforeseen events. factors, disrupting our entire combat plan."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov unexpectedly called out to Konev: "Please wait a moment."
Konev, who had just taken two steps, stopped and looked at Sokov with a strange look: "Comrade Sokov, what can I do for you?"
"That's it, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov felt in his heart that in order to break through the German defense, he must put all his troops into battle. If he needs to leave part or even close to half of his troops for defense, he will inevitably Reduce the power of the attack. "I feel that in order to break through the German defenses and fulfill the superior's operational intentions, all the troops of the group army must be put into battle. Therefore, the defense of the landing site on the right bank needs to be left to friendly forces."
"Comrade Sokov," Konev said with a smile after hearing Sokov's request: "You are posing a problem for me. Where can I find troops to take over your defense at the landing site? You know , the area of the landing site is so large, if only one or two divisions are sent over, it will have no effect at all."
Since Sokov was commanding the battle in the Chigirin area during this period, he had no idea about the mobilization of friendly forces. Hearing what Konev said, he was speechless for a moment.
"Comrade Commander," at this moment, Samyko stood up and said to Konev: "As far as I know, General Gagan's 57th Army entered the Potoki area yesterday, and is only a short distance away from Kremenchug. At a distance of 25 kilometers, even if they march on foot, they can reach us in half a day."
When Sokov heard what Samyko said, he suddenly felt confident and quickly said: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, since General Gagan's troops are nearby, they can take over the defense of the landing site on the right bank." He was deeply moved. Fearing that Konev would find reasons to shirk, he also specifically emphasized, "As long as we launch a full-scale attack on the enemy, the enemy will not be able to take action at all and pose any threat to the 57th Group Army."
After listening to Sokov's words, Konev couldn't help but smiled bitterly and shook his head and said: "Comrade Sokov, you have to know that the 57th Army is the reserve force of the front army. I plan to put them into battle when things don't go well. Yes. I didn’t expect you to actually take advantage of them.”
When Sokov saw that Konev did not immediately deny his proposal, he knew that there was something wrong with the matter. He quickly said with a playful smile: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I just said that as long as the 57th Army takes over our defense, We will immediately launch an attack on the enemy in the south. They will have no chance to engage in combat at that time, which means that your reserve team has not been used at all, but has just been put on standby in another place."
"Yes, yes, General Konev." Lunev would definitely not remain silent at this time, but took the initiative to help: "If there are not enough troops to take over the defense of the landing site on the right bank, when we attack, we will They will be worried that there will be danger to their sides and rear, and then the intensity of the attack may be greatly reduced."
After Konev's eyes swept over the three of them one by one, he said with a smile: "It seems that if I don't agree to let the 57th Army take over your defense today, you are not going to let me go."
"How is that possible? Comrade Commander of the Front Army, how do we have the right to detain you?" Sokov said with a smile: "Actually, I have some connection with the 57th Group Army. During the Battle of Stalingrad, I used to He fought alongside some units of the army.
It is a great honor for us to be able to fight with this heroic force again in the battle to liberate the right bank of the Dnieper River. So I hope you can agree to our request and let General Gagan's 57th Army take over the defense of the landing site on the right bank. "
Since Sokov has already said this, it is obviously inappropriate for Konev to refuse again. He lowered his head and thought for a long time, and finally nodded slowly and said: "Okay, Comrade Sokov, since you made such a request, I don't think I can find any reason to refuse. So, I'll go back and talk to the Chief of Staff General Zakharov will discuss it and see when it would be more appropriate to send the 57th Army to take over your defense."
Sokov originally wanted Konev to send troops overnight, but then he thought about it. General Solomatin's 1st Mechanized Army was retreating. If a large force came from the left bank, it would definitely cause a jam at the bridge. and chaos, which would be counterproductive.
After thinking about this, he nodded and said: "This is as it should be, Comrade Commander of the Front Army. After all, the 57th Group Army is your reserve. If you want to dispatch them to other places, you will naturally need to communicate with other members of the headquarters. Let’s discuss it.”
After sending Konev away, Samyko asked Sokov with some confusion: "Comrade Commander, why don't you ask Commander Konev to send the 57th Army over overnight? You know, they entered the landing site on the right bank. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can move south of the landing site."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, have you forgotten that General Solomatin's troops are withdrawing from their positions in an orderly manner and retreating to the left bank of the Dnieper River?" Sokov saw that Samyko had not considered the retreating 1st Mechanized Troops. The army reminded him: "Although there are currently three bridges and pontoons on the Dnieper River, they are still far from enough to accommodate two troops marching in opposite directions at the same time.
If the troops of the 57th Group Army are allowed to rush over, they may wait until dawn and when they arrive at the river and prepare to cross the river, they will just meet the mechanized army preparing to return to the left bank. If both sides were jammed on the bridge, things would be delayed. "
"Yes, Comrade Commander is right." Lunev agreed with Sokov's statement. He said to Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if tens of thousands of troops are congested on the banks of the Dnieper River and cannot move, they will inevitably cause huge losses once they are attacked by enemy planes. At that time, it will have a great impact on the morale and morale of our army. , will have a serious impact.”
Samyko hummed, expressing his approval of the two men's statements, and then asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, since we are going to attack to the south of the landing site, should we summon the commanders of each unit? How about assigning them the next combat mission so that they know it well?"
"This is what it should be, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov nodded and said: "We will hold such a meeting again after the departure of the 57th Group Army is confirmed. Before that, we still stay on the sidelines to avoid any unforeseen events. factors, disrupting our entire combat plan."
