When Sokov received the call from Chuvashov, he thought that the other party was preparing to report to him about the capture of Novoselica, so he said first: "Comrade Chuvashov, your division successfully captured Novoselica. General Bogdanov has already reported to me about the incident. He complained that I sent other troops to attack Novoselica without even saying hello in advance, and captured the city before them. "
Having said this, Sokov couldn't help but glance at Trofimenko and continued: "Well done, no wonder your division has become the elite of the 27th Group Army."
"Comrade Commander," Chuvashov finally waited for Sokov's words to come to an end and said quickly: "I have something very important that I want to report to you immediately."
"Speak, Comrade Chuvashov."
"The Shamrich regiment of our division has arrived near Chernivtsi. Not long ago, the commander of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Shamrich, reported to me." Chuvashov reported: "They found We found a stone monument, and after careful identification, we can confirm that it is the boundary monument of our national border."
Chuvashov's words stunned Sokov. After a while, he raised his voice and said: "Comrade Chuvashov, what did you just say? Please repeat it again."
Chuvashov thought that the effect of the phone call was not good, so he raised his voice and repeated what he had just said: "Lieutenant Colonel Shamrih reported to me that his troops found a stone tablet on the bank of the Prut River. After repeated inspections, It can be confirmed that that stone monument is our country’s boundary monument on the national border.”
Sokov's voice became hoarse with excitement: "Comrade Chuvashov, can you really confirm this?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I can guarantee that." Chuvashov replied in a positive tone: "It is indeed a boundary marker on the border."
"Comrade Chuvashov, I congratulate you." After confirming the authenticity of the news, Sokov raised his voice and said: "Congratulations on becoming the first unit to return to the old border. Congratulations on everything you have done today. , will be recorded in history.”
After ending the call, Sokov said to several deputies around him: "Comrades, commanders, let me tell you some good news. The Shamrich Regiment of the 98th Guards Division has successfully arrived in Pudong, south of Chernivtsi. On the banks of the Root River, a boundary monument was found on the edge of the national border. In other words, the regiment became the first unit in the army to reach the old national border."
"They are really amazing." After expressing his opinion, Gorokhov proposed to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, for such important good news, I suggest reporting it to the front headquarters immediately."
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissioner is right." His words immediately aroused everyone's response: "We should report this news to the front army headquarters immediately."
Naturally, Sokov accepted everyone's suggestions and immediately said to Gorokhov: "Comrade Military Commissar, it is up to you to report this good news to the front army headquarters."
While Gorokhov was on the phone to the front army headquarters, Sokov said to several others: "Now the troops on the right are making good progress. If nothing goes wrong, they will be able to enter Romania tomorrow. This is the great defense force. This is the first time our troops have set foot on another country’s soil since the war broke out.”
"Does there need to be any ceremony?" Smirnov asked tentatively: "After all, this is a very important historical event. Should we set up a pontoon bridge on the river and arrange a military band on the shore to see him off? Our troops cross the river?"
"I don't think it's necessary." Trofimenko shook his head and said, "If we cross the river with great fanfare, we may be shelled or bombed by the enemy. If this causes huge casualties to the troops and affects the morale and morale of the troops, Then the gain outweighs the loss.”
Sokov felt that what Trofimenko said was reasonable, so he agreed: "I agree with the deputy commander's opinion. When crossing the river and entering Romania, we should not do any face-saving projects to avoid unnecessary losses to the troops. .”
While they were still chatting here, Gorokhov, who had just finished calling the front army headquarters, hurried over and said to Sokov excitedly: "Comrade Commander, good news, good news."
Sokov was stunned: "What good news?"
"I just brought the Shamrih Regiment to the old border and discovered our boundary marker, and gave a detailed report to Marshal Konev." Gorokhov said with some excitement: "After hearing this, Comrade Marshal I was very happy and made the decision on the spot to announce that in recognition of the merits of the Shamrih regiment, I was going to award the regiment the Order of the Red Flag. At the same time, the regiment commander Shamrih was officially promoted to colonel."
"This is good news." Sokov did not expect Konev's reaction to be so fast, and quickly ordered Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, call General Chuvashov immediately and tell him the good news. .”
"Comrade Commander, just calling General Chuvashov is not enough." Samyko said with a smile: "This is a great happy event after all. I suggest that while calling, you should also call Shameko." Lieutenant Colonel Mlih, no, he is now a colonel, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to him."
When Samyko went to make arrangements for making phone calls and sending reports, Smirnov on the side said with emotion: "I thought General Kravchenko's Tank Army, or General Afunin's 18th Guards Army, was here. After crossing the river north of Wingene, they could become the first force to enter Romania, but judging from the current situation, no matter how quickly they move, they can only become the second force to enter. It is such a pity."
"Yes, it is indeed a pity." Sokov said: "But this is the case on the battlefield. There are always various uncertain factors that cannot be controlled by anyone."
Not long after, Shamrih received a telegram from the front army headquarters, telling him that in recognition of their being the first unit to reach the old border, the entire regiment would receive the Order of the Red Banner; at the same time, he himself also received the Order of the Red Flag. Was promoted to colonel.
After Shapovarenko saw the telegram, he immediately reached out to Shamrih and said with envy: "Comrade commander, I congratulate you. Congratulations on your obtaining a higher military rank."
"Comrade Political Commissar," Shamrih said with embarrassment after hearing Shapovarenko congratulating him: "I have been promoted, and as my deputy, you should also receive the same honor. I think my superiors may have been negligent. I will promptly report this to my superiors and ask them to promote you to your rank."
"No, no need." Shapovalenko waved his hands and said, "You deserve to be promoted to colonel. As your deputy, I usually don't play a big role at all and I didn't get promoted. It’s also reasonable.”
"Here comes someone!" Shamrih called a staff officer, handed him the telegram he had just received, and ordered: "Immediately convey the contents of this telegram to the entire regiment's commanders and fighters."
The staff officer agreed loudly, took the telegram from Shamrih's hand, turned around and walked out of the temporary headquarters.
After the staff left, Shamrih discussed with Shapovarenko: "Comrade Political Commissar, according to the original plan, our regiment will complete the mission when it reaches near Chernivtsi. But the superiors gave us such a great honor. , we can’t let down the trust of our superiors.”
Shamrih said this for a reason. Although everyone knows that based on the performance of the 98th Guards Division in the battle, the superiors will definitely reward them based on their merits after the battle. But he never dreamed that less than half an hour after his troops arrived at the old border and found the boundary marker, he would receive a commendation from his superiors. This made him a little flattered, and he naturally wanted to perform well. When Sokov received the call from Chuvashov, he thought that the other party was preparing to report to him about the capture of Novoselica, so he said first: "Comrade Chuvashov, your division successfully captured Novoselica. General Bogdanov has already reported to me about the incident. He complained that I sent other troops to attack Novoselica without even saying hello in advance, and captured the city before them. "
Having said this, Sokov couldn't help but glance at Trofimenko and continued: "Well done, no wonder your division has become the elite of the 27th Group Army."
"Comrade Commander," Chuvashov finally waited for Sokov's words to come to an end and said quickly: "I have something very important that I want to report to you immediately."
"Speak, Comrade Chuvashov."
"The Shamrich regiment of our division has arrived near Chernivtsi. Not long ago, the commander of the regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Shamrich, reported to me." Chuvashov reported: "They found We found a stone monument, and after careful identification, we can confirm that it is the boundary monument of our national border."
Chuvashov's words stunned Sokov. After a while, he raised his voice and said: "Comrade Chuvashov, what did you just say? Please repeat it again."
Chuvashov thought that the effect of the phone call was not good, so he raised his voice and repeated what he had just said: "Lieutenant Colonel Shamrih reported to me that his troops found a stone tablet on the bank of the Prut River. After repeated inspections, It can be confirmed that that stone monument is our country’s boundary monument on the national border.”
Sokov's voice became hoarse with excitement: "Comrade Chuvashov, can you really confirm this?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I can guarantee that." Chuvashov replied in a positive tone: "It is indeed a boundary marker on the border."
"Comrade Chuvashov, I congratulate you." After confirming the authenticity of the news, Sokov raised his voice and said: "Congratulations on becoming the first unit to return to the old border. Congratulations on everything you have done today. , will be recorded in history.”
After ending the call, Sokov said to several deputies around him: "Comrades, commanders, let me tell you some good news. The Shamrich Regiment of the 98th Guards Division has successfully arrived in Pudong, south of Chernivtsi. On the banks of the Root River, a boundary monument was found on the edge of the national border. In other words, the regiment became the first unit in the army to reach the old national border."
"They are really amazing." After expressing his opinion, Gorokhov proposed to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, for such important good news, I suggest reporting it to the front headquarters immediately."
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissioner is right." His words immediately aroused everyone's response: "We should report this news to the front army headquarters immediately."
Naturally, Sokov accepted everyone's suggestions and immediately said to Gorokhov: "Comrade Military Commissar, it is up to you to report this good news to the front army headquarters."
While Gorokhov was on the phone to the front army headquarters, Sokov said to several others: "Now the troops on the right are making good progress. If nothing goes wrong, they will be able to enter Romania tomorrow. This is the great defense force. This is the first time our troops have set foot on another country’s soil since the war broke out.”
"Does there need to be any ceremony?" Smirnov asked tentatively: "After all, this is a very important historical event. Should we set up a pontoon bridge on the river and arrange a military band on the shore to see him off? Our troops cross the river?"
"I don't think it's necessary." Trofimenko shook his head and said, "If we cross the river with great fanfare, we may be shelled or bombed by the enemy. If this causes huge casualties to the troops and affects the morale and morale of the troops, Then the gain outweighs the loss.”
Sokov felt that what Trofimenko said was reasonable, so he agreed: "I agree with the deputy commander's opinion. When crossing the river and entering Romania, we should not do any face-saving projects to avoid unnecessary losses to the troops. .”
While they were still chatting here, Gorokhov, who had just finished calling the front army headquarters, hurried over and said to Sokov excitedly: "Comrade Commander, good news, good news."
Sokov was stunned: "What good news?"
"I just brought the Shamrih Regiment to the old border and discovered our boundary marker, and gave a detailed report to Marshal Konev." Gorokhov said with some excitement: "After hearing this, Comrade Marshal I was very happy and made the decision on the spot to announce that in recognition of the merits of the Shamrih regiment, I was going to award the regiment the Order of the Red Flag. At the same time, the regiment commander Shamrih was officially promoted to colonel."
"This is good news." Sokov did not expect Konev's reaction to be so fast, and quickly ordered Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, call General Chuvashov immediately and tell him the good news. .”
"Comrade Commander, just calling General Chuvashov is not enough." Samyko said with a smile: "This is a great happy event after all. I suggest that while calling, you should also call Shameko." Lieutenant Colonel Mlih, no, he is now a colonel, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to him."
When Samyko went to make arrangements for making phone calls and sending reports, Smirnov on the side said with emotion: "I thought General Kravchenko's Tank Army, or General Afunin's 18th Guards Army, was here. After crossing the river north of Wingene, they could become the first force to enter Romania, but judging from the current situation, no matter how quickly they move, they can only become the second force to enter. It is such a pity."
Not long after, Shamrih received a telegram from the front army headquarters, telling him that in recognition of their being the first unit to reach the old border, the entire regiment would receive the Order of the Red Banner; at the same time, he himself also received the Order of the Red Flag. Was promoted to colonel.
