Chapter 1469

As the pioneer of the 1st group army of tanks, the 1st Brigade of close guard tanks led by Col. gorelov, just like a chicken's blood, rushed directly to the city of jortkov along the road after crossing the highlands.

Only four hours later, deliomov called us again and excitedly reported to katukov, "Comrade commander, I have good news for you. The tank brigade under the command of Colonel golerov has broken through the German defensive position outside the city of jortkov and rushed into the city."

"What, Colonel golerov's forces have already rushed into jortkov?" After listening to the report of deliomov, katukov asked in an unbelievable voice: "this is incredible. Their attack speed is too fast."

When I heard that the tank troops had rushed into the city, I patted katukov on the shoulder in a hurry. When he turned to look at me, he sped up and said to him, "general katukov, if there is no infantry cooperation, the combat effectiveness of our tanks in the city will be greatly reduced."

Katukov nodded, then turned to the microphone and asked, "general dlyomov, where is your mechanized brigade?"

"The mechanized 1st and 3rd brigades, which have just passed the Highlands, are advancing towards jortkov." I heard deliomov on the other end of the phone report: "the mechanized 10th brigade is following the tank brigade of Col. golerov. I believe they are close to the city now."

"Let Col. golerov slow down his attack and wait for the mechanized 10th brigade to enter the city for coordinated operations." Katukov told deliomov: "in addition, he ordered the mechanized 1st and 3rd brigades to speed up the March and get to jortkov as soon as possible to cooperate with the leading forces to seize the city."

When katukov put down the phone, before I had time to speak, the military commissar with a happy face beside him said to him with emotion: "Comrade commander, this is the first big city our group army has invaded since the beginning of the offensive campaign. I think we should report this good news immediately."

Katukov turned his eyes to me and asked seriously, "Comrade deputy commander, do you want to report to the headquarters of the front army now, or do you want to report to the higher authorities after you have completely occupied the city?"

After thinking about it, I feel that although the troops have just rushed into the city, it is only a matter of time before they capture jortkov. Early report has the advantage of early report, which can make Zhukov happy. Thinking of this, I nodded to katukov and said, "general katukov, you can tell the marshal the good news that the troops have rushed into jortkov, and say that we will be able to liberate the city from the enemy in 30 hours."

Katukov nodded casually, picked up the phone and was ready to call Zhukov. As he was about to dial, he shivered, looked up and asked nervously, "Rita, what did you just say, report to Marshal Zhukov that we can solve jortkov in 30 hours?"

"Yes, general katukov, that's what I said." I nodded with a smile and said, "don't you have confidence in your men?"

"There must be some confidence," katukov said hesitantly. "But if something happens and you can't capture jortkov within this hour, won't it make Marshal Zhukov angry?"

"As long as you have confidence." I've been staying with katukov these two days to understand his operational deployment and the combat effectiveness of various troops. One day or so is enough to capture a city guarded by only one regiment of German troops. "Now the fighting in the rest of the area has fallen into a stalemate, and the 48th armored army is breaking through. I think the marshal is in a mess at the moment, If he can hear good news, he may be in a better mood. "

Katukov obviously agreed with what I said. As soon as I finished, he grabbed the crank of the phone and shook it a few times. Then he put the phone to his ear and said, "connect me with the headquarters of the front army and find Marshal Zhukov!"

After the telephone was put through, katukov reported to Zhukov with some trepidation: "marshal, the troops of the 8th mechanized army of my guards have rushed into jortkov and are engaged in fierce battle with the defenders in the city?"

"What, your troops have rushed into jortkov? That's great Zhukov was very relaxed when he heard katukov's report. After a moment, he asked, "the Eighth Army of the guards has entered jortkov, so where is the 11th army of Gutman's guards?"

After katukov reported the position of the 11th army of the close guard tank, Zhukov immediately said, "Comrade katukov, let the 11th army of the close guard tank move forward to the south at full speed. As for your exposed flanks, you will be covered by friendly forces. "

After katukov finished his communication with Zhukov, he called the chief of staff to himself and said, "chief of staff, give an order to general Guttman of the 11th army of the close guard tank immediately. Let him take action immediately and push southward at full speed. In order to strengthen the army, the 24th Infantry Division was assigned to them

After the order was given, katukov turned to me and said, "Rita, now the distance between us and the leading forces has exceeded 100 kilometers. I plan to move the headquarters forward. What do you think?"

"It should be, general katukov." It was obviously inappropriate to think that all the troops of the first group army of tanks were about to move forward and that the headquarters would be left alone in the last place. So I nodded and echoed katukov's opinion. "Let your chief of staff stay behind and take care of the aftermath. Let's go to the front line first."

Although I made up my mind not long ago that I would never take risks in the forefront. However, this time I put forward to go to the front with katukov, mainly considering two points. First, katukov is the commander of the tank group army. Even if we go to the front with a light car, at least we are equipped with armored vehicles or command shelter, so we don't have to worry about the attack of scattered soldiers on the road; Second, even if he was lucky, he hardly encountered any danger in the later stage of the war. If he acted with him, his safety could be guaranteed.

…………

Our armored car slowed down after a short time driving along the road over the high ground. Katukov asked curiously, "why slow down?"

The second lieutenant in the armored car turned and reported, "Comrade commander, the road ahead is too crowded for us to speed up."

Hearing what the driver said, I quickly opened the lookout and looked out. The road was full of stopped and destroyed vehicles. A convoy of our army was also blocked here. I saw many dead Germans lying on the road ahead. A large number of supplies, not only filled the road, but also spread all over the fields, so that our armored vehicles could not pass by the roadside, and could only follow the motorcade slowly.

Katukov also saw this scene. He pointed to the outside and said to me, "look, Rita, before our army broke through the highland line, the German army was in chaos. On the road and in the fields, there were many upside down vehicles, guns, supplies and hundreds of German soldiers and officers."

I really didn't expect that the German army would be defeated so quickly after being attacked by katukov's troops that the tank brigade of Col. golerov broke through the German defense line along the way in just a few hours and quickly pushed forward to the city of jortkov. From this situation, it is estimated that the German army in the city can't sustain for a day.

Our armored car had to stop because of the traffic jam ahead. As soon as I stopped, I heard the sound of the motorcycle motor coming from far and near, and soon stopped beside our car. Then I heard someone asking loudly, "is the commander in the car?"

At the sound of the inquiry, katukov got up, pushed the door open, then half popped up and asked, "isn't this comrade deliomov? Where did you come from?"

It's said that it's deliomov outside the door. I quickly look out the door. Standing upright under the car, deliomov replied with a smile: "report commander, my headquarters is located in the forest only a few hundred meters away from here. Some subordinates reported to me that I might be you only after several armored cars came. So I came to take a chance. I didn't expect it to be you."

Katukov asked deliomov to get on the bus and asked, "Comrade General, what's the situation there at present? When can our troops capture the city?"

"We have occupied one third of the cities and the fighting is still going on." "The first brigade of the close guard tank and the other three mechanized brigades all showed great bravery," he replied

"Why, in the city of jortkov, there is only one tank brigade and three mechanized brigades?" After listening to his reply, katukov frowned and asked discontentedly, "where are the rest of the troops?"

Seeing the dissatisfaction on katukov's face, deliomov quickly explained: "well, comrade commander, according to the reconnaissance, there is no defense in the southwest of jieliebovli, so I asked babajanian's motorized infantry 20th brigade and captain Boyko's tank 64th brigade to turn around and attack jieliebovli."

Katukov spread the map on his leg, bowed his head to find the position of terebovli, nodded and said with approval: "Comrade General, well done. If we can capture terebovli, then we are equal to establishing a starting point of attack that can rush to the Dniester river at any time."

"Comrades commander," heard that katukov agreed with his own practice, deliomov's face showed a proud expression: "I think the same way. Even if our army can't succeed in attacking jortkov for the time being, with the foothold of jieliebovli, we can launch a new offensive against the city again."

Katukov set up his new headquarters ten kilometers north of jortkov, where he could hear the roar coming from the front and see the smoke rising from the city.

When it was dark in the battle of jortkov, only half of the city was occupied by our army, and the remnants of the German army stuck to the south of the city, relying on the buildings and the fortifications they had built in advance, and were fighting tenaciously. Just as katukov and his deputies were discussing whether to suspend the attack or continue the night battle, the expected good news came from the 8th guards.

"Comrade commander, I'd like to tell you the good news that babajanian's troops have succeeded in seizing jieliebovli," he told katukov over the phone

When he heard about the liberation of terebovli, katukov, who had always been calm, also made some gaffes: "is this true, general deliomov?" After receiving the affirmative reply from the other side, he said in a slightly trembling voice, "well done, general dlyomov, your soldiers are all well done. Please convey my thanks to them for liberating terebol from the clutches of the German army." After katukov finished speaking, deliomov asked carefully, "Comrade commander, it's dark, and fierce fighting is still going on in the city of jortkov. Do you think we can stop the attack and wait until tomorrow morning?"“ No, general dlyomov, the attack cannot stop. " If katukov had been in a dilemma a few minutes ago about whether to continue or suspend the attack, he had made up his mind at the moment. He said to the microphone, "according to the information we have, there are only seven or eight hundred German troops left in the city, and our strength is several times that of them. The attack must not be stopped. The commanders and fighters must continue to carry out the attack and strive to annihilate the garrison in the city in the shortest time. "“ Well, comrade commander. " After listening to katukov's words, deliomov said frankly: "there is no unified command for the troops in the city. If we want to fight at night, I need to go to the city myself. Do you allow it? "“ I agree! " Deliomov spoke boldly, and katukov agreed very readily. However, he finally said, "but you should pay attention to your own safety!" As soon as we finished our conversation with deliomov, we got a call from Gutman. Hearing katukov's voice, he immediately reported: "Comrade commander, my tank army has broken through the German four lines of defense today, and the whole army has advanced 70 kilometers. If there is no accident, it will reach the Dniester River tomorrow afternoon at the latest." Katukov was also very satisfied to hear that Guttman's troops were advancing so fast. He said to the microphone, "well done, general Guttman. I hope you will continue to work hard tomorrow to get to the banks of the Dniester River as soon as possible."