As more and more troops entered Uman City, the battle situation basically became one-sided. By four o'clock in the afternoon, most of the city fell into the hands of the 53rd Army.
Sokov and Shtemenko sat in the newly established army headquarters and began to discuss the next military action: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, if you are commanding the troops, what are you going to do next?"
Shtemenko said in a deep voice: "Comrade Sokov, since most of the city is occupied by your troops, shouldn't we do the thing that has been put on hold?"
Smirnov next to him was confused: "Why don't I understand what you are talking about?"
Sokov chuckled and said: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, you are right. The time is ripe for all units to take action."
After saying this, he faced Smirnov and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation is like this. During the battle in the morning, I asked the attacking troops not to put the red flag on the top of the municipal building for the time being, lest some attacking troops see it. When friendly forces occupied the municipal building, there was slack.
Now that most of the city is in our hands, it's time to plant a red flag on top of the municipal buildings. Comrade Chief of Staff, please immediately tell the division commanders that whichever unit first places the red flag on the upper floor of the municipal building will have the opportunity to receive the honorary title named after the city after the battle is over. "
When Smirnov conveyed Sokov's order to the divisions, Soviet commanders who valued honor took the initiative to ask for help. They all wanted to lead their troops to seize the municipal building and plant the flag representing victory on the roof. Of course, only four battalion-level units were finally allowed to participate in the offensive. They would launch the final attack on the municipal building occupied by the German troops from four directions, southeast, northwest, and at the same time.
The troops attacking the municipal building from the west were the battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Glushko, deputy commander of the 126th Regiment of the 41st Guards Division. Before the attack began, Glushko said to the commanders and fighters of the entire battalion: "Comrades, Comrade Commander not long ago issued an order for us to launch an attack on the municipal building occupied by the German army. Who is the first to put the red flag? On the top of the municipal building, that unit will receive the honorary title named after the city after the battle!
As far as I know, the troops ordered to attack the municipal building were four battalion-sized troops. We are going to be the first to rush into the municipal building. Do you have confidence? "
After listening to Glushko's words, the officers and soldiers couldn't help but get excited, and they all said: "Comrade deputy commander, please give the order, we will definitely capture the municipal building."
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander. Although there are several troops attacking from different directions at the same time, we must be the first troops to rush into the municipal building."
"Almost all the defeated enemies in the nearby blocks have gathered in the municipal building." Glushko was worried that the commanders and soldiers would underestimate the enemy and emphasized: "Therefore, the offensive battle to come will be extremely cruel. Everyone must remember, Although we have to be the first to rush into the building, it does not mean that when facing the tenacious German defense, we have to charge regardless of the enemy's bullets, which will only increase unnecessary casualties."
"Comrade deputy commander," the first battalion commander asked on behalf of the commanders and fighters of the entire battalion: "Then how should we fight?"
"When troops attack along the street, they must not crowd in the middle of the street. That will make everyone a target of intensive German firepower." Glushko said: "Therefore, everyone should spread out when attacking and stick to both sides of the street. wall, using short leaps to quickly approach the municipal building occupied by the enemy.
If you encounter German firepower, don't rush forward blindly, as that will only increase unnecessary casualties. Instead, you should use a rocket launcher to destroy them one by one, and then rush forward after the fire points are removed. "
When assigning tasks, the three company commanders all rushed to request tasks, hoping that their companies could be the first to rush into the municipal building.
After learning that four troops were attacking the municipal building at the same time, Sokov nodded slightly, and then asked Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there any news about the Uman open-pit mine?"
"No." Smirnov shook his head and said, "We have not obtained any information related to this matter." He even asked with some suspicion, "Comrade Commander, is this open-pit mine a rumor? In fact, it is not true at all. Doesn’t it exist?”
Hearing what Smirnov said, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little in his heart, thinking to himself that if there really were no so-called open-pit mines where tens of thousands of Soviet prisoners of war were held, his happiness would have been in vain.
"Comrade Commander," Ponedelin, who had never spoken, suddenly interjected: "My old friend Kharitoev was the first to talk about the open-pit mine. I believe he will not lie to me. Moreover, Comrade Chief of Staff also said that he has heard of this place before, and I think as long as we look more, we should be able to find that place."
"The open-pit mine in Uman does exist." The person who spoke this time was Shtemenko: "But the specific location is probably only known to the local person in charge and the miners who have been there. But I think it should be accelerated The speed of search, otherwise when the Germans notice our intentions and kill our soldiers in advance, our efforts will be in vain."
"But now we don't know the location of the open-pit mine at all." When talking about this open-pit mine where a large number of prisoners of war were held, Sokov became anxious. He knew very well that what Shtemenko said was very reasonable. If the Germans saw The situation is not good for him. Before retreating, he will definitely kill the unarmed prisoners of war: "If you don't even know where they are, where can you save them even if you want to?"
Seeing Sokov's face flushed with anxiety, Shtemenko couldn't help but fell silent. After a long time, he said: "I can contact Moscow immediately. I should be able to find someone with knowledge of the location of the open-pit mine."
"Then I'll trouble you, Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff." In order to find out the location of the open-pit mine as soon as possible and save the lives of the prisoners of war, Sokov called the director of the communications corps and told him: "Comrade director, help the deputy chief of staff." The Chief of General Staff is on the phone to Moscow. You have to act quickly, understand?"
Don't forget that the Army Headquarters has just moved into the city, but because the director of the Communications Corps cleverly used the existing telephone lines in the city when laying communication lines, the communications system of the Army Headquarters can communicate with multiple cities. call.
After the director of the communications corps helped Shtemenko connect to the General Staff Headquarters in Moscow, he then connected Sokov to the front army headquarters, so that he could report the progress of the troops to his superiors in a timely manner.
When Sokov heard Konev's voice from the earphones, he immediately told him happily: "Comrade Marshal, I am Sokov. I have important good news to tell you."
"Oh, tell me some good news?" Konev said with a smile: "Is it related to Uman?"
"That's right, Comrade Marshal, the good news I mentioned is indeed related to Uman." Sokov said: "After the hard battle of our group army, most of the city has now fallen into the hands of our army. The remaining enemies have retreated. To the north of the city, my troops are further expanding their victory."
"Well done, Comrade Sokov." After Konev praised Sokov, he asked tentatively: "Then when did you plant the flag on the top of the municipal building?"
"Comrade Marshal, we have not planted the flag on the municipal building yet."
"Why?" Konev asked in confusion: "After you captured the city center, you should have planted the flag on the roof of the municipal building. Why haven't you planted the flag yet?"
"The reason is very simple, Comrade Marshal." Sokov replied: "Today's municipal building is still occupied by German troops. Our troops are attacking from four directions, southeast, northwest, at the same time."
He guessed what Konev would ask, so he told Konev in detail the original intention of his arrangement before the other party spoke.
After listening, Konev nodded slightly and said approvingly: "Comrade Sokov, you are really thoughtful. To be honest, if I were commanding the troops to fight, but if I saw friendly troops rising from the top of the municipal building, It raised a red flag, which affected my mood to some extent, and it did have a certain negative impact on the next battle."
After saying this, he coughed heavily, and then said: "Then Comrade Sokov, please tell me, when can you take Uman?"
"If everything goes well and the entire city is liberated before seven o'clock in the evening, there shouldn't be a big problem." After Sokov finished his estimate, he continued: "But I would like to ask when the friendly forces on the right will arrive in Ukraine. Uman?" He specifically mentioned that his troops suffered too many casualties after a long battle. "My troops have suffered nearly half of their casualties. If no friendly forces arrive in Uman to take over the defense, I am afraid that we will lose our troops after liberating the city. , unable to continue to expand the results."
"Don't worry, Comrade Sokov." The troops on the right wing advanced slowly, which greatly exceeded Konev's expectations. He only saw Sokov's troops advancing rapidly, and thought that the strength of the German army had weakened. But when other troops came into battle, the fight turned out to be extremely difficult. Thinking of continuing to expand the results after occupying Uman, he assured Sokov: "Before dark, I think the friendly forces on the right should be able to arrive."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, Shtemenko, who had finished talking to Moscow, came over and said excitedly: "Comrade Sokov, I have found out the location of the mine."
"Where?"
"Here!" Shtemenko pointed to the northwest of Uman and said to Sokov: "This is a forest, and the open-pit mine is in the forest."
Knowing the location of the open-pit mine was certainly a happy thing, but Sokov's heart was still full of questions: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, if the open-pit mine is really at this location, then why are our Air Force's After reconnaissance, this location was never found?"
After hearing this, Shtemenko shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, tilted his head and said, "I don't know the reason either."
After confirming the location of the open-pit mine, Ponejelin quickly took a ruler to measure the distance there. He quickly came up with the answer: "Comrade Commander, the distance from us to the open-pit mine is about 17 kilometers."
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov asked, "how do you plan to rescue them?"
"The only troops that can be mobilized now are the guard regiments of our group army headquarters." Sokov said: "I plan to mobilize a battalion and rush to the area to perform a rescue mission."
"If only one battalion is sent, will the number of people be too small?" Smirnov also reminded him specifically: "You know, there are tens of thousands of prisoners held in open-pit mines, so there should be a lot of people guarded by the German army."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I think exactly the opposite." Sokov said: "Faced with the two-pronged attack by our two front armies, the Germans must have mobilized all nearby troops to the areas with the most intense fighting. Open-pit mines The troops nearby should be unprecedentedly weak. At this moment, if we send an elite guard battalion to rush over to rescue, we will definitely succeed."
"To complete this task, a capable commander is needed." Smirnov reminded Sokov: "None of the several battalion commanders in the guard regiment has the ability of Zhehong to take charge of his own affairs. Whether they can complete the task is uncertain. , I have reservations."
"Comrade Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff." Ponejelin heard this and asked Sokov to take the initiative: "I am willing to lead the guard battalion to liberate all the commanders and fighters detained in the open-pit mines."
Sokov took the initiative and said: "Whoever you like among the staff in the headquarters can be your deputy."
Ponyjelin did not show any pretense. He directly named the three staff officers and asked them to join his unit. Finally, he said: "Comrade Commander, I want one more person."
"who?!"
"Kharitoyev!" After Ponedelin named the person, he quickly stated his reasons: "Anyway, Kharitoyev provided us with the situation in the open-pit mine. I think we should go To liberate his comrades in the mines, Kharitoev must go.”
"Okay, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Sokov replied readily: "Then let Kharitoyev follow you. But I still hope that in addition to successfully liberating those captured commanders and fighters, you still need to do more Pay attention to your own safety.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I will pay attention."
"Comrade Ponedelin, I have something else to say." Smirnov stopped Ponedelin and said to him: "We have many reconnaissance teams and sabotage teams outside Uman. If we can Containing them all will make you stronger."
"Well, I understand, this is what it should be." Ponejelin said: "The scouts are active nearby and are familiar with the terrain. They can also serve as guides for us, so that we can avoid unnecessary mistakes."
"After you drive away the German guards in the open-pit mine, remember to send us a telegram in time." Sokov told Ponedelin: "If this battle is won, I will apply to my superiors for a commendation for you."
"It's getting late, Comrade Ponedelin." Smirnov reminded from the side: "Hurry up and lead the troops."
Shortly after Ponedelin left with a guard battalion, Sokov received a call from Sidorin. The division chief of staff said excitedly on the phone: "Comrade Commander, good news, good news. Recently. A battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Glushko, deputy commander of the 126th Guards Regiment, has successfully captured the municipal building and planted our flag on the roof."
