Chapter 1460

Zhukov waved his hand to me and said kindly, "Rita, don't worry. You are not familiar with many things and have a lot to learn. Our offensive campaign has just begun. You can learn from it slowly. When the campaign is half-way through, it is estimated that you will be able to command a front army independently. "

It's only a few days since I served as the deputy commander of the front army, but I have found that there is a big difference between being the commander of the group army and being the commander of the front army. Not only the overall situation but also more issues need to be considered. When Zhukov said that, I sat down and prepared to learn what he said.

When bogoleubov reported to Zhukov again with the war report, his face was full of joy. When he handed the war report to Zhukov, he said excitedly: "Comrade commander, our troops in the jortkov area have successfully broken through the German defense line and are rushing to the depth of the German defense."

After reading the war report briefly, Zhukov looked up at bogoleubov and asked, "is our air force out?"

Bogoliubov didn't expect Zhukov to ask this question suddenly. After a moment's hesitation, he replied, "marshal, because of the bad weather today, it snows in the morning and it rains at noon, our fighters can't take off at all."

"How can that work?" Zhukov frowned and said to bogoleubov, "if our offensive troops can't get air cover, what should we do once they are attacked by German air strikes?"

Bogoliubov's mouth twitched violently and said carefully, "marshal, I'll call air force commander General krasovsky now and ask him to send out fighters to provide air support for our attacking forces."

"I'll make this call." Zhukov picked up the phone on the desk, dialed a number and told the operator, "this is Zhukov. Connect me with the air force 2nd group army command."

The phone soon got through. Zhukov said frankly, "Hello, is that general krasovsky? I'm Zhukov. "

"Hello, comrade marshal." Krasovsky, who answered the phone, asked politely: "do you have any special instructions?"

Zhukov asked sternly, "Comrade General, I'll ask you why we don't send out fighters to provide air support for our offensive forces."

"Well, comrade marshal." Krasovsky replied in a flurry: "because the snow began to melt these days, the runway of the Field Airport became muddy, and our pilots risked their lives every time they took off..."

"I don't care what the runway is like, it can't be a reason why you don't provide air cover for the ground forces." "I'll give you half an hour," Zhukov said in an unquestionable voice. When the time comes, I hope that from the reports of commanders at all levels in the front line, we can see that they have obtained air support. "

Seeing what Zhukov wanted to say, he hung up the phone without hesitation, which made me feel a lot. I guess it's just too easy to talk, so sometimes after giving orders, the commanders under my command have to bargain with me. Look at Zhukov, how decisive he is. No matter what objective reasons are put forward by the other party, the orders he gives will be resolutely carried out by the other party. There is no room for maneuver.

Seeing Bogoliubov still standing in the same place, I couldn't help asking curiously: "Comrade chief of staff, I have something to ask you."

"Speak, comrade deputy commander." Bogoliubov heard that I was asking him a question. He quickly turned to me and said politely, "as long as I know, I will give you a satisfactory answer."

I am thinking of Romanov, who was appointed commander of the guerrilla group army. I haven't heard from him for almost a year, and I don't know how he is doing. So I asked Bogoliubov politely“ When our army launched a frontal attack, did the guerrillas active behind the enemy provide any help? "

Hearing my question, Bogoliubov frowned and hesitated: "Comrade deputy commander, in every large-scale campaign, there are guerrillas operating behind the enemy lines to provide us with necessary help. They attacked the German lines of communication and bombed the railways, so that the enemy's additional soldiers and materials could not be transported to the front line in time; Destroy communication lines, paralyze German communication, and so on.... "

I saw him talking for a long time without mentioning the guerrilla group army under Romanov's command, so I reminded him, "Comrade chief of staff, we still have a guerrilla group army in Ukraine, don't we? Why haven't we got their help until now? "

After I finished, Bogoliubov asked carefully, "you are talking about the guerrilla army under the command of general Romanov?" Seeing my nod of approval, he continued, "don't you know? In September last year, the headquarters of the guerrilla group army was encircled and suppressed by the superior forces of the German army, and the whole army was destroyed. "

"Ah, the whole army is destroyed?" Hearing the bad news, my heart seems to be pulled by someone. After a moment's hesitation, I summoned up my spirits and asked, "Comrade chief of staff, do you know the specific situation?"

"This, this..." my question made Bogoliubov become hesitant. It took him a long time to say: "I also listen to others, because I don't have much contact with him, so I don't care too much."

I can't refute his answer. After all, the guerrilla group army can be recognized by its name. It's not a regular organization, but a nominal command organization. I estimate that Romanov's commander can command only two or three hundred guerrillas. He may not be able to fight against the same number of German troops. If he is surrounded and suppressed by superior forces, That's even worse.

"Do you know the whereabouts of commander General Romanov?" In order to get more information from Bogoliubov, I also specially stated my relationship with him: "when I was the commander of the 79th infantry army, general Romanov was my deputy commander. We used to fight side by side in many areas, so I am very anxious to know his whereabouts."

"Rita, don't embarrass the chief of staff any more. He doesn't know a lot of things." Zhukov came out to relieve bogoleubov. He looked at the situation and said, "according to the information we have, comrade Romanov was seriously injured in the battle. After being captured by the German army, he showed bravery and unyielding, and was finally killed by the enemy."

At this moment, even if there is a shell falling on my side, it is not as big as Zhukov's words. In real history, general Romanov was wounded and captured at the beginning of the war. Later, he escaped from the enemy's prison camp with his men, fought guerrillas behind the enemy, and finally died because of the betrayal of the traitors. When I fought with him on the right bank of Ukraine last year, I thought his fate had changed because of his appearance. Who knows, in the end, he died on the battlefield.

I asked reluctantly, "Comrade marshal, do you know how he sacrificed?"

Zhukov put down his pen, leaned back on the back of his chair and said slowly, "the remnants of the 79th infantry led by Comrade Romanov have been active in the area of Pripyat and Chernobyl since he withdrew from Kiev last year. In order to eliminate the unstable factors in the rear, the German army dispatched a division to encircle and suppress the area.

After arduous fighting, Romanov led the remaining more than 100 officers and men to break through the encirclement eastward, trying to cross the Dnieper River and join our troops approaching the Dnieper River. But when they crossed the river, they were found and surrounded by the enemy. The commander of the German army was very cunning. He sent a pro German guerrilla group to join them, posing as an outstanding force. When Romanov's specific position was determined, the German army launched an attack and cooperated with Mali, the evil group that had been mixed in, leading to the destruction of their whole army. "

After Zhukov finished, he observed the expression on my face, and then added: "only after we intercepted the German war report did we know that general Romanov and his guerrilla army headquarters were destroyed."

Although Zhukov vowed that Romanov had died, I still asked with a little luck: "marshal, did everyone really die?"

Zhukov thought for a moment, then shook his head and said: "in the German intelligence, it is only said that the guerrilla group army of our army headed by Romanov was destroyed. It is not known whether all the commanders and fighters were sacrificed."

At this time, a telegram from the fourth tank army was placed in front of Zhukov by a staff officer. With the latest news on the frontier, the topic of Romanov came to an abrupt end. After reading the telegram in front of him, Zhukov raised his hand and asked bogoleubov: "chief of staff, general lelushenko called, saying that his tank assault force was blocked by an anti tank trench in front of the second German line of defense. You immediately contact Zhouqiao battalion and build a bridge on the anti tank trench so that our tanks can pass quickly. "

"Is there an antitank trench in front of the second line of defense?" Bogoliubov was also surprised by this information. He picked up the telegram and read it again. Then he said, "strange, when did the enemy dig the anti tank trench? Why didn't this point be mentioned in our reconnaissance report?"

"There's nothing strange about it. The German army may have done something to deceive our scouts. " Zhukov snorted, and then said with disdain, "but no matter how many anti tank trenches they dig, they can't stop us from moving forward. You should contact Zhouqiao battalion quickly and let them build more bridges on the anti tank trench for tanks and all kinds of technical equipment. "

"OK, I'll go right now." Bogoliubov said and turned away.

…………

Zhouqiao battalion built twelve bridges on the German anti tank trench. Our officers and men followed the tank, rushed through the trench and bravely rushed to the enemy's position. After half an hour of fierce fighting, he finally succeeded in seizing the second German position.

One after another, Zhukov's face showed a knowing smile. Seeing the battle report, he nodded his head and said, "yes, we spent a day today, breaking through the two German lines of defense, occupying more than 20 villages and residential areas, and wedging into the German defense, which was four to seven kilometers deep. If our troops can advance such a long distance every day, I believe that the so-called solid defense of the enemy will be completely smashed by us before long. "

After Zhukov finished, Bogoliubov asked cautiously, "marshal, when can our two group armies, which are carrying out auxiliary attacks, fight?" After listening to bogoleubov's words, Zhukov tapped lightly on the table with his fingers for a while, then raised his head and said, "order general zhulavrov's 18th army to attack hmelinik tomorrow and coordinate our main attack direction."“ What about general Moskalenko's 38th army? " Zhukov replied without thinking: "although our attack today is going smoothly, we still have to prepare for the worst and let the 38th army as a reserve team stay in its present position for the time being."“ But, comrade marshal. " After Zhukov finished, Bogoliubov carefully reminded him, "according to the combat plan made in advance, the troops of the 38th group army should fight with the 18th group army at the same time."“ Comrade chief of staff, plans are dead, people are alive. We should make necessary adjustments according to the actual situation on the battlefield. " With that, he waved to bogoleubov and said, "well, you can pass on my orders." In the face of such a strong Zhukov, Bogoliubov had no choice but to promise and turned to call the commanders of the 18th and 38th group army. Looking at bogoleubov's back, I think we should talk with Zhukov about the actions we should take after destroying the German defense. Thinking of this, I stood up and said to Zhukov, "marshal, I want to make a suggestion to you." Zhukov raised his head, looked at me strangely, and asked, "what do you think of, Rita?"“ It is only a matter of time before the German defense is crushed by our army. " My eyes were fixed on Zhukov and I said, "I think we should now consider how to pursue the escaped enemy."“ Do you have any good ideas? " Zhukov raised his chin to me and said with great interest, "let's hear it."“ When the enemy begins to retreat, we can use part of our troops to follow us. The aim is to slow down the retreat of the German army so that they can not get rid of us easily. At the same time, we used our main forces to carry out parallel pursuit from the two wings of the German army, preempting the defensive positions they were prepared to occupy, cutting off their back roads, and achieving the goal of encircling and annihilating the enemy. "