Chapter 1291

"Comrades, I believe our soldiers have the spirit of tenacity, hard work and self sacrifice. I'm very relieved to have them stick to korostvev." After I said these two words to the two commanders, I raised my hand and pressed it down, indicating that they would sit down. After they sat down again, I continued: "since we can't contact korostvev's troops for the time being, let's put their affairs aside and discuss how to deal with the German troops from Alexandria. They have just severely damaged general konev's troops and their morale is high. If they rush towards us, they want to stop them, Our army is bound to pay a heavy price. "

After hearing what I said, sivakov, who had just sat down, stood up again, frowned and said, "Comrade commander, I think you are too worried. Our troops have been at war with the Germans these days, and I know their strength very well. Now the road is muddy, the German tanks can't fight, the infantry without tank cover, the combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced. "

"Comrade commander," as soon as sivakov's words were finished, chisgakov retorted solemnly: "even in the next battle, if the German tanks can't fight because of road problems, we can't take it lightly. They can't use tanks, they can use airplanes to bomb. "

Sivakov opened his mouth, just wanted to refute, but was interrupted by chisgakov: "you may want to say that we also have airplanes, but I don't know if you have found that our air force has appeared several times since it began to rain? If the Germans had not taken control of the air, I think general konev's troops would not have been so easily defeated. "

"But, comrade deputy commander, why is that?" "Do you know that we have several air force groups along the Dnieper River, and one or two thousand planes can't control the air supremacy of the battlefield?" sivakov asked

"General sivakov, you don't know." I broke in to explain to sivakov and the other commanders, "the Germans use concrete runways, so they can take off even in rainy days. The runways used in our field airports are damaged by rain blisters, and pilots risk their lives every time they take off. That's why we often see German planes in the recent sky, but seldom see our military planes. "

After my words, the expressions on the two commanders' faces became serious. After a long time, tavartkilaze began to say: "in this way, we have to stick to the existing defense, air defense is very necessary."

"Yes, comrade commander. Air defense is very important if you want to keep the present defense area. "I looked at tavartkiraze and said," general povsky has two conventional anti-aircraft artillery regiments and two anti-aircraft machine gun battalions, as well as a self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery regiment. After the meeting, you and sivakov will go to his place and work out an air defense plan. "

When I finished, chisgakov stood up and just wanted to say a few words to the two captains, but he was interrupted by lophov who came in a hurry. He handed me a telegram and said in a panic, "Comrade commander, I have just got in touch with the communication group sent to korostwev. This is a telegram from them."

"You must have read this telegram, major." After I said this, I swept the whole room with my eyes. Seeing that everyone's eyes were focused on me, I went on to say, "now everyone is eager to know the news of the troops in korostvev city. Please give us a brief introduction."

Lophov immediately faced everyone and said: "in the report sent back by the communication group, it is said that the German army sent out more than 50 bombers yesterday afternoon and bombed korostev for an hour. During the bombing, general Kravchenko's headquarters were unfortunately hit by the bomb. "

"What, general Kravchenko's command was blown up and hit?" On hearing the bad news, chisgakov jumped up from his seat. He asked with a flustered look, "what's the matter with him? Is he alive or... Sacrificed?" By the time he said the last word, his voice had become inaudible.

Seeing that chisjakov was so impolite, lophov quickly explained: "no, general krasovsky was only injured. After the first aid of military doctors, he was out of danger."

I know that there are three close guard divisions and a commander of a tank brigade in korostwev, just three colonels and a general. Although askarepov, commander of the 77th division of the guards, is the only major general, his command ability is limited. He can barely manage to command one division. If he is allowed to command three divisions, he may be in a mess. In order to find out who is in command of the army, I waited for the end of lophoff's speech, and immediately asked, "major, who is in command of the army at present?"

"It's general askarepov, commander of the 77th division of the guards." Lophoff replied truthfully.

Askarepov was not the right person, and the other two division commanders and a tank brigade commander lacked the ability to be independent. If we want the troops to form a unified command, we must send someone else from the headquarters to command the troops.

I scanned the people present with my eyes: the first was chisjakov, who was the deputy commander of the group army. When I was not in the headquarters, he could take over my command; Second, zikov is not suitable. No matter whether I or chisgakov is directing the battle in the headquarters, he needs the cooperation of his chief of staff. The third akhromeyev is also impossible to go to korostev to command the joint forces. First, his rank is too low. Second, he has no experience in commanding such a large regiment

My eyes turned around the room and finally fell on tavartkiraze and sivakov. I coughed softly, and then said, "because of general Kravchenko's injury, korostevev's troops are now leaderless. I need a military commander to command the troops. Which one of you would like to go?"

"Comrade commander," said bezikov before the two commanders answered, "we don't need to send any more people to take over the command of the army. General askarepov will take over the command automatically."

"I know, chief of staff. I know that general askarepov will automatically take over command. " After bidzikov finished, I immediately said in a discontented tone: "but his ability is limited, and he has no experience in commanding large regiments. If he is fully responsible for the defense of korostev, I am afraid that the army will fall into the encirclement of the German army."

Although you can tell from my words that I don't trust askarepov, no one said anything. After a while, chisgakov said, "I think the commander is right. The troops of korostwev need a strong commander. Since the commanders there are not suitable, we should send one from here." After he finished, he asked me, "Comrade commander, do you have a suitable person?"

"Comrade commander, let me go." Before I could speak, sivakov said, "there are two divisions in korostvev's army that belong to the 22nd army of our guards. It is most appropriate for me to command the army."

Seeing sivakov's offer, I almost nodded my head and agreed. Unexpectedly, chisjakov said, "I think it's more appropriate for korostvev's troops to be under the command of general tavartkilaze. After all, he has been in the army for more than 20 years and has rich combat experience."

Looking at the two captains standing in front of me, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed. In a hurry, I didn't know who to give the task of going to korostev as commander.

When I was in a dilemma, I heard bzikov cough gently. Then he came close to me and said in a low voice, "Comrade commander, after our troops liberate Kiev, they will certainly attack Zhitomir next. At that time, our troops deployed in korostwev will certainly take part in the attack as the leading forces. Under the command of tavartkiraze, we will have a higher success rate in attacking Zhitomir. After all, he has much more combat experience than general sivakov. "

After listening to these words, I made a decision in my heart. The commanders in korostwev need to be able to take charge of their own affairs, and sivakov obviously lacks some in this respect. I turned my eyes to tavartkilaze and said to him, "Comrade General, go back and hand over the commander to the deputy commander or the military commissar, then rush to korostvev as soon as possible, take over the command from general Kravchenko, and stick to korostvev with all your strength. Do you understand? "

"I see, comrade commander." Tavartkiraze saw that I had given him the task, and his face immediately showed a sunny smile.

However, sivakov, who had the greatest hope but failed in the election, was a little worried: "Comrade commander, why don't you let me go to korostev? You know, there are two of the three guard divisions, which belong to the 22nd army of our guard infantry. "

"Comrade General, don't worry." I said to sivakov with a smile, "although you can't go to korostev, I'll give you full responsibility for the defense to the east of cherkaser." Although I know that his ability is limited, I still give him the heavy task of defense because I can take over his command at any time if I see his command is weak.

Sivakov didn't know what I really thought in my heart. Seeing that I entrusted him with such an important task, his mood immediately stabilized.

When sivakov commanded the troops to reinforce fortifications and deploy anti-aircraft gun positions, tavartkilaze, with a group of chief of staff, hurried to korostwev.

From the 26th, the German troops from Alexandria launched a fierce attack on the defensive positions of the 90th division of guards and the 375TH division of infantry. Although the road is still muddy, it is difficult for tanks to fight, but it does not affect the intensity of the battle.

While the German troops shelled our army, they also sent out a large number of bombers to bombard the ground. When they saw that the fortifications on the surface were almost destroyed, their infantry launched a battle formation and launched a comprehensive attack on our defensive positions.

I stood outside the headquarters and saw the enemy planes flying away. I immediately called povsky and said in a loud voice, "Hello, artillery commander, do you see the enemy planes flying?"

"Yes, comrade commander." Povsky replied in a loud voice, "I see. All the enemy planes over us are flying away."

"Although the German planes fly away, their infantry will soon join in the attack on our army." I told povsky, "Comrade General, immediately order the artillery to fire and intercept the enemy's infantry with artillery fire."

"Yes," povsky replied readily, "I immediately let the close guard rocket battalion open fire and use intensive artillery fire to destroy the enemy on the road of charge." When Katyusha opened fire and hurled hundreds of rockets into the German attack line, chisjakov sent akhromeyev out to call me, saying that he had received a telegram from general tavartkilaze from korostvev. I hurried back to the headquarters, and as soon as I entered the door, I asked, "Comrade deputy commander, what does general tavartkiraze's telegram say?" Chisgakov handed me a telegram and said solemnly: "according to general tavartkilaze's report, the three divisions in korostvev have been greatly reduced due to the continuous shelling and bombing by the German army. At present, only half of the troops are left in each division." I looked down at the telegram in my hand and said casually, "Comrade deputy commander, please tell me what you think."“ Although korostwev's position is important, the terrain there is peaceful and smooth, which can not prevent effective defense. " "If we keep on sticking to it, the three divisions will be finished soon," chisjakov said anxiously I raised my head, looked at chisgakov and asked, "Comrade deputy commander, don't you know that if we give up korostev, the enemy will resume the traffic line between Kiev and Zhitomir, which will greatly increase the pressure on our main front forces to attack Kiev?" Chisgakov shook his head and said, "I didn't think so far. I only know now that if we don't withdraw our troops from korostev as soon as possible, they will be in danger of being destroyed."“ No, comrade deputy commander. " I said firmly: "even if all three divisions are finished, we can't hand over korostwev to the Germans, because only by holding here can we cut off the German lines of communication and support our main front force's attack on Kiev."