Chapter 1281

As soon as the conversation with Zhukov was over, I asked bezikov to call the three division commanders who participated in the attack plan, as well as general Kravchenko, to the headquarters.

Seeing the four commanders standing in front of me, I nodded and announced to them, "comrades commanders, Marshal Zhukov and the commander of the front army have agreed to our sneak attack plan and asked us to implement it as soon as possible."

When I said that, the four commanders looked at each other, and their faces were filled with joy. Colonel babahin, commander of the 71st division of Jinwei, said excitedly: "Comrade commander, when we hear that the friendly forces in the north are attacking Kiev, our commanders and fighters have long been eager to try. They all wish they could rush up to compete with the Germans. Our division is ready to go now. We can start at any time. Please give us your order

After babashin finished, I turned my eyes to the other commanders and asked in a smooth tone, "are you all ready?"

Hearing my question, the other three said with one voice: "our troops have been assembled and ready to fight at any time. Please give the commander an order."

"Well, now that everyone is ready, I'll give you a formal order to fight!" First of all, I said to babashin, "Colonel, as the vanguard, the 71st division of the guards will leave as soon as it gets dark. We have to travel day and night to our destination and get to korostev within 48 hours. "

"What, in two days to korostev?" After I finished, babashin opened his mouth in surprise. It took quite a long time for him to say, "Comrade commander, I didn't mean four... Four days. How could it be changed to two days?"

"Why, comrade colonel." As for babashin's answer, chisjakov, standing behind me, asked discontentedly, "can't you complete this task?"

"Well, comrade commander." Babahin nervously explained to us: "although it's only more than 100 kilometers away from korostwev, in addition to personal equipment, the commanders and fighters have to carry light machine guns, heavy machine guns, 50 mm and 82 mm mortars and ammunition. Moreover, the road is still so difficult, they can only walk 20 or 30 kilometers a day at most. According to the original plan, it's almost our limit to arrive in four days. "

"That's right, comrade commander," Kravchenko said to babashin, "if it's on a flat road, the more than 100 kilometers is nothing. Our tank army can let the infantry take the tank to advance, so that they can reach their destination in four hours at most. But in areas full of forests, swamps and many rivers, I think it's almost the limit of our army's officers and men to travel 20 or 30 kilometers a day. It is not impossible to increase the speed of the March by force, but in that case, when the soldiers arrive at their destination, they will become exhausted and unable to form effective combat effectiveness in a short time. "

Kravchenko's words, let the whole room into a silence.

While I was thinking about how to reply to Kravchenko, kirilov came over with a smile and broke the silence in the room: "general Kravchenko, you have a good point, but you seem to forget that our commanders and fighters have a tough and hard-working character, and the spirit of self sacrifice that other soldiers don't have, as long as you are before you leave, Let the political workers at all levels do a good job of encouraging the commanders and fighters to fight. I believe you can still accomplish this task well. "

Kirilov's words made the other two teachers who wanted to talk shut up. At this time, chisjakov lost no time to add: "comrades commander, the troops we used in this sneak attack on korostev are three close guard divisions and a tank army. Even if our tracks are hidden, as long as the Germans are not blind or deaf, our troops will not be found by them. In this way, a well planned sneak attack will turn into a battle of fortification and positional warfare that we do not want to see, which will lead to the failure of our plan to cut off the traffic line between Kiev and Zhitomir. "

Chisgakov's words made the room silent again.

After a moment's hesitation, Kravchenko asked carefully, "Comrade commander, what should my tank troops do? You know, on that road, tanks are slower than infantry

"Comrade General," although I have racked my brains for a long time to think about the problems existing in the tank army, I haven't come up with any good solutions. At the moment, I heard Kravchenko raise this problem, and I can only harden my head and say, "fortunately, tanks can't be of any great use in the early fighting, and your army can advance to korostwev according to the original plan."

"I have a suggestion, comrade commander." After I finished, Kravchenko suddenly asked, "can I ask you something?"

I didn't know what he would say, so I nodded and said politely, "Comrade General, if you have any good suggestions, just let me know."

"I don't think it's necessary for all three tank brigades to take part in this battle!" Kravchenko said unexpectedly: "and you have just said that if the troops move slowly, they will be found by the Germans. If our tank troops were attacked by the German army in the process of moving, the crowded tanks would suffer huge losses. So I suggest that in this battle, we only need to put a tank brigade into the battle. "

"What, just one tank brigade?" Hearing Kravchenko say that, not only I was stunned, but also they were stunned. Finally, bezikov first asked: "in this way, our tank troops have no advantage over the enemy's armored division?"

"No, comrade chief of staff." Kravchenko said to bzikov with a smile: "I will send the 21st tank brigade equipped with new tanks. Although they have only 50 tanks, they can also keep a complete victory record against the most elite Tiger tanks of the German army."

Since the end of the battle of Kursk, I haven't heard anyone mention that new type of tank in front of me for a long time, so that I thought that the surpassing t-5455 tank had completely withdrawn from the stage of history after a flash in the pan because of insufficient ammunition production capacity. I didn't expect to hear Kravchenko mention it today. I immediately asked him excitedly: "Comrade General, as far as I know, the shells of this new type of tank can not be supplied to the army because of its production capacity. Are the new tanks of the 21st tank brigade equipped with sufficient ammunition? "

"Don't worry, comrade commander." Kravchenko nodded his head hard and replied: "in addition to the base ammunition of the tank, the accompanying logistics convoy also transports a base ammunition and fuel, which is enough to cope with a medium-sized battle."

I heard that the 21st tank brigade had enough ammunition and I had a lot of confidence. Then I asked, "Comrade General, I don't know when your two remaining tank brigades will leave for korostev?"

"At the earliest, it will be after our army has occupied korostwev." After Kravchenko said this, seeing my blank face, he quickly explained: "the terrain there is too complex to facilitate the deployment of large-scale armored forces. Since one tank brigade can't solve the enemy, no matter how many tanks we send to the past, we can only adopt the tactics of adding oil and put the tanks into battle in turn. "

"But with only one tank brigade, your army is too weak." Looking at Kravchenko's indifferent face, I said with some worry: "if you are attacked by German anti tank men on the way, you will suffer huge losses."

"Comrade commander, you don't have to worry about that." However, I was obviously worried. Kravchenko said confidently: "with the tank brigade, there is also the 6th motorized infantry regiment of the guards. Although they have only one regiment, their combat effectiveness is similar to that of an ordinary division. As long as they are there, the German sneak attack will not pose any threat to our moving tanks. "

"Well, since you are so confident, do as you say." After speaking with Kravchenko, I turned to the other two teachers and said, "Colonel chejerikov, major general askarepov!"

"Here it is They replied neatly.

"As the second echelon, the 51st division of the guards will leave one hour after the 71st division." I have considered that chejerikov has been with me for the longest time and knows a lot about my strategies and tactics. Let his troops walk in the middle. If there is anything, he can coordinate the two troops at the same time.

"I understand!" Chejerikov replied briefly.

"And you, major general askarepov." I then said to the commander of the 77th division, "your troops will leave one hour after the 51st division. Remember, a regiment must be left to cut down trees and pave the way for general Kravchenko's tanks. Do you understand? "

"I see, comrade commander." Major general askarepov replied flatly, "please rest assured that I will earnestly complete the task you have given me."

"Well, since the tasks are clear, let's go back and make preparations." I waved to the four commanders and said, "remember to keep in touch with us. If you have any information, please report it to the group army command in time."

After several people left, akhromeyev put a telegram he had just received on my desk. I skimmed through the above command quickly, then asked coldly, "major, who sent this telegram?"

"It's from captain travkin. Some of our reconnaissance teams are working near uman." Akhromeyev said clearly: "I believe the information they reported is accurate."

"What's the matter?" Seeing my serious face, chisgakov asked in a hurry, "Captain travkin, what did they find?"

"Look I pushed the telegram on the table to chisgakov, and then said, "Captain, they found the skeletons division's troops loading near uman. It's estimated that they are going east."

"To the east?" Chisgakov frowned and asked, "where are they going to drive to the east?" As soon as the words came out, he was stunned. A moment later, he suddenly exclaimed, "God, the Germans are going to drive to kilovgrad!"

"Yes, comrade deputy commander." I waited for him to finish, nodded bitterly, and said, "according to my judgment, the destination of the German army is to drive near kilovgrad and launch a fierce attack on the flank of the 53rd army which is attacking Alexandria."

"What shall we do?" Asked chisgakov nervously“ First of all, immediately report this information to general managarov and let them take necessary precautions. " Staring at the map, I said carefully, "at the same time, we should use no less than one division to launch a surprise attack on the rear side of the skull division, disrupt their attack steps, and ensure the safety of the friendly flanks."“ Although the "skeleton division" suffered heavy losses in the battle of Kursk, as the trump force of the German army, they must have been supplemented enough in the past two months. " "If we don't have enough tanks, it's almost impossible to hit them hard," chisgakov said anxiously“ Didn't Kravchenko leave the 20th and 22nd tank brigades behind? " "We will use these two tank brigades to carry out a surprise attack on the rear side of the" skull division ". I believe they will be severely damaged," bzikov interrupted I just wanted to say that these two tank brigades will be used in the direction of korostwev to cut off the traffic line between Kiev and Zhitomir. But on second thought, if the skull division really defeated the 53rd army, then we would have to face a strong German army, and then the whole defense deployment would be disrupted. In order to ensure the security of the defense area, the two tank brigades can only be called temporarily. Thinking of this, I immediately told bzikov: "chief of staff, you immediately call general Kravchenko and ask him to put the 20th and 22nd tank brigades under the command of the group army."“ Yes After hearing my order, bezikov did not express any different opinions, and immediately turned to carry out the order“ And you, comrade major. " I pointed to akhromeyev standing beside me with my hand: "you should immediately send a message to general managarov of the 53rd army, inform him of this information, and he should make the necessary defensive deployment." After the telegram to managarov was sent, it was not until an hour later that a reply was received. It says, "I see, thank you." After reading the telegram, my heart sank. My heart said that perhaps the attack of the 53rd army was too smooth, so that general managarov didn't think much of our warning. I handed the telegram to chisgakov and bezikov, and then decisively gave the order: "let the 375TH infantry division reinforce the fortifications facing the friendly forces at night, so as to prevent the German troops who defeated the friendly forces from rushing to cherkaser along the road."