"Also." Smirnov, as the chief of staff, continued to remind Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the troops you command now have doubled, and I am afraid that you can no longer use the same command method as before."
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right." Sokov was very grateful for Smirnov's reminder: "If the troops under my command only have one group army, in order not to delay the fighter plane, I will You can directly bypass the corps-level command organization and issue orders to the division-level commanders below. But now there are more than ten or twenty divisions, and if we continue to command in the previous way, the efficiency will become extremely inefficient."
"Today's 27th Group Army, like ours, has added three corps structures, and each corps has several divisions." Smirnov continued: "I think you can give orders to each army, and then The commanders of each army passed the orders to the commanders of each division."
"This is a good idea." Sokov nodded, and then told Smirnov: "Then you should find a way to first understand which corps are under the 27th Group Army and who are their commanders. I will tell you later I report."
After giving instructions to Smirnov, Sokov came to the communications area and asked the director of the communications corps: "Comrade director, can you get in touch with the 98th Guards Division?"
"Comrade Commander," the director of the communications corps asked after listening, "I wonder if you plan to send a telegram to the 98th Guards Division, or make a phone call directly?"
"Oh, can you still call them?"
"Yes," the director of the communications corps nodded and explained: "When the division was crossing the river, it found an abandoned communication line. After testing by the communications corps, it was found that this line was still usable, so we established a telephone call with us. connect."
"This is great." Sokov was originally worried that some things could not be explained clearly in the telegram. Since he can talk on the phone, it is naturally the best: "Comrade director, help me get through to the headquarters of the 98th Guards Division immediately. .”
The call was quickly connected, and Chuvashov's voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Commander, do you have anything to do with me?"
Sokov did not make pleasantries or talk in circles, but asked directly: "When can you launch an attack on the German river defense positions?"
"The troops have been deployed." Chuvashov replied: "I plan to attack the enemy after dark. The Germans cannot see how many troops we have at night, and they will definitely fall into chaos..."
"General Chuvashov, don't you know that your troops are now in a completely unfamiliar area. If you wait until dark before launching an attack, how can you guarantee that the commanders are leading the troops to attack in the correct direction? "After Sokov finished speaking, he said in a tone that left no doubt: "I now order you to immediately launch an attack on the German river defense positions."
Chuvashov did not expect that Sokov's attitude would change 180 degrees when they met. He could not help but say with some embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, but I have already reported the plan for the attack after dark to the commander of the group army. Department. You cannot change the attack time without permission from your superiors."
"General Chuvashov, I have something to announce to you now: According to the instructions of the Supreme Command, the 27th and 53rd armies were formed into new combat groups, and the commander of the group is me, and Trofimenko General, just my deputy. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Upon learning that Sokov was commanding him again, Chuvashov became as excited as if he had been given blood. He replied resoundingly: "I will resolutely obey your orders."
"Okay, since you said you want to obey my order, I will order you now to immediately launch an attack on the enemy's river defense positions." Sokov told the other party on the phone: "Don't just concentrate your forces to attack the positions along the river. , you can also deploy some of your troops to rush directly to the enemy's rear and completely disrupt their defense, which is very beneficial to our army's offensive."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Chuvashov said confidently: "I will order Shamrich's 296th Guards Regiment to rush into the depths of the enemy's defenses and completely disrupt the enemy's defense deployment."
Chuvashov's words reminded Sokov of the battalion commander who led the sailors to bayonet with the enemy at Mamayev Heights, and he casually asked: "Is Shamrih still a major now?"
"No, Comrade Commander." Chuvashov replied: "Due to his outstanding performance on the battlefield, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel not long ago, and several of his capable officers also received corresponding military ranks. Improvement." After introducing Shamrih's situation, he also specifically added, "I think he will be extremely happy to know that you are back to command us again."
"General Chuvashov, please tell him and his subordinates the good news that I have resumed command of the 27th Army." Sokov said: "I think this news will definitely be of great help at this moment. To boost morale.”
After assigning combat missions to the 98th Guards Division, Sokov felt that they could not be allowed to fight alone on the right bank, so he called Ponedelin again: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, how many troops do you have in Germany?" Right Bank of the Nistria?”
"Two regiments, Comrade Commander." Ponedelin was not sure why Sokov asked this question, but he still answered truthfully: "Colonel Papuchenko's 122nd Regiment, and Colonel Starcha's 122nd Regiment." 124th Regiment.”
"Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, the Romanian army is currently assisting in the defense of the city and the left bank. You can also transfer the remaining 126th Regiment to the right bank." Sokov told the other party on the phone: " General Chuvashov's 98th Guards Division is about to launch an attack on the German river defense positions. I am worried about his weak strength, so I plan to mobilize the 122nd and 124th regiments to support him. Do you have any objections? "
"No." Ponejelin has always been accustomed to obeying. Since it was Sokov's order, he naturally had to obey unconditionally: "I can personally lead these two regiments and assist friendly forces in attacking the German positions."
Two regiments were dispatched at the same time. If there was no unified command, Sokov was really worried that during the war, the two regiments would fight independently and not support each other. At this moment, when Ponejelin said that he planned to lead the attack in person, he felt much more at ease: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, your mission is to rush deep into the German defenses with the 98th Guards Division. , we must beat their defense to pieces, which will also be very beneficial to our next battle."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Ponejelin said respectfully: "I will pass on your order immediately."
After finishing the phone call, Smirnov came over and was about to report to Sokov, but he raised his hand to stop him. Then Sokov called Tsarev over: "Commander of artillery, can the artillery we deployed by the river hit the German river defense positions?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Tsarev nodded and replied in a positive tone: "Whether it is possible to hit the German army's upstream positions, even some of the defensive areas downstream are within the range of our artillery fire. .”
"Comrade Artillery Commander, what we have to deal with now is only the enemies upstream." Sokov said to Tsarev: "As for the enemies downstream, let the friendly forces deal with them. Wait until the 98th Guards Division attacks. From the beginning, your artillery fire will bombard the enemy's defensive positions, suppress their firepower, and cover friendly forces to capture the enemy's positions."
After Smirnov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he handed over a list he had recorded and said: "Comrade Commander, these generals are the three commanders of the 27th Group Army."
Sokov took it and looked at it. He didn't recognize any of the names on it. After he put the list on the table, he looked at Smirnov and asked: "Which troops on the left bank are preparing to participate in the cross-river operation?"
"I've already asked. It's Colonel Shechtman's 254th Infantry Division."
"Oh, it turned out to be Shechtman's army. I didn't expect that after such a long time, he was still a colonel."
When Smirnov heard what he said, the muscles on his face twitched violently. He thought to himself: Do you think everyone is as evil as you and became a general at a young age? Some people work in the army all their lives and may be nothing more than an ordinary corporal when they retire. Schechtman's ability to become a colonel and serve as commander of the 254th Infantry Division proved that he was still capable.
"Lieutenant Colonel Vanya, chief of staff of the 762nd Regiment of the division, was my subordinate when I was a platoon commander in Khimki." Sokov said to Smirnov: "Can you try to contact him directly? Go up to the division and I want to talk to Colonel Shechtman.”
"Director of the Communications Corps," Smirnov turned and shouted toward the communications area: "Come here."
The next moment, the director of the communications corps appeared in front of Smirnov. He straightened his back and asked: "Comrade chief of staff, what are your instructions?"
"Comrade Commander asked me to ask you, can you contact the 254th Infantry Division directly?"
The director of the communications corps did not immediately respond to Smirnov's question. He thought for a while and then said, "I'll have to try it to find out."
"Hurry up. Comrade Commander is anxious to speak to the division commander."
After struggling for more than ten minutes, the director of the communications corps finally got through to the division headquarters of the 254th Infantry Division.
The person who answered the phone might be a staff officer. He asked impatiently: "This is the headquarters of the 254th Infantry Division. Where did you call from?"
"This is General Sokov." Sokov simply said into the phone: "Please put Colonel Shechtman on the phone. I have important things to talk to him."
Soon, Shechtman's surprised voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Commander, is it you? I am Shechtman!"
"Hello, Colonel Shechtman, it's such a pleasure to hear your voice again."
"Comrade Commander," Shechtman said with some excitement: "I just received a call from the Army Group Headquarters, saying that our Army Group and your Army Group have been organized into a combat group, and you will serve as the Commander. I don't know. Is it true or false?”
"It's true, of course it's true." Sokov said into the phone: "I'm calling you just to confirm whether your division is preparing to forcefully cross the Dniester River?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, this is our division." When Sokov asked about the forced crossing of the Dniester River, Shechtman said shamefully: "The German army on the other side has solid defenses and perfect In order to improve the defense system, our division launched several river-crossing operations in succession, but failed to achieve success."
"Colonel Shechtman, have you ever considered the reason why you failed to cross the river?"
"The reason for the failure?" Hearing Sokov's question, Shechtman scratched the back of his head and said with some embarrassment: "Maybe it was because the German army on the other side had strong firepower and strong fortifications."
"Then before the attack, did you prepare artillery fire on the German defenses?" Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, and then immediately asked: "When the troops began to force the crossing, did you organize firepower to attack the right bank? What about the German firepower points to suppress it?”
"No." Shechtman replied awkwardly: "The artillery regiment in our division did not provide artillery cover to the troops crossing the river because it did not have enough artillery shells."
"Colonel Shechtman, look, our analysis has revealed the reason why you failed to cross the river." Sokov said: "Before the attack, if the German defenses were not destroyed with artillery fire, When you attack, the Germans can rely on these fortifications to use intensive firepower to kill the troops crossing the river. In this way, it is possible that your troops will suffer heavy casualties, but they will not be able to successfully cross the river."
"Comrade Commander, what should we do?"
Sokov knew very well in his heart that the Soviet army's offensive failures in many cases were not due to the lack of bravery of the soldiers in the battle, but because of problems with the tactics used by the commanders, which led to heavy casualties among the troops, but they still remained A situation where victory cannot be achieved occurs.
"Don't worry, Colonel Shechtman. A force has already arrived on the right bank and is advancing towards the right wing of the German river defense position. When their attack begins, the Germans' attention will definitely be attracted to them. You are in this situation If the time comes to launch another forceful crossing operation, we will definitely succeed."
"I'm worried that once our crossing operation begins, we will be discovered by the enemy on the other side, and they will use intensive firepower to block the river and prevent my troops from boarding the right bank."
"Colonel Shechtman, as long as the Germans are not blind or deaf, it is impossible for them to fail to detect the crossing of thousands of people." Sokov knew that Shechtman had many concerns at the moment, so he comforted him and said: " Don't worry, when the troops on the right bank launch an attack, I will order the artillery to destroy the exposed fortifications and firepower points on the German river defense positions to ensure that you can cross the river smoothly."
Just when Shechtman was about to hang up the phone, he heard Sokov say again: "Colonel Shechtman, I hope you can perform outstandingly in this battle so that you can get more success." A higher rank. Do you know what I mean?"
"I completely understand, Comrade Commander." Hearing that Sokov was thinking about his military rank, Shechtman was particularly excited. If he can achieve a good result in this crossing battle, then after the battle is over, he will have Opportunity to be promoted to general. Thinking of this, he replied loudly: "We will definitely live up to your expectations."
