Chapter 1470

The news of the recovery of terebovli was reported to Zhukov by me instead of katukov. After hearing this, Zhukov gave a hum, and then said a routine: "katukov's men are all good, Rita. Please convey my thanks to the commanders and fighters for their excellent performance."

Since Zhukov is saying the same thing, I can only politely say: "serve the Soviet motherland!"

Zhukov was silent for a moment, and suddenly asked, "Rita, what do you think is the reason why katukov's troops can capture the city occupied by the German army in such a short time?"

I didn't expect Zhukov to ask this question suddenly. After a short period of confusion, some stuttered and said, "marshal, I think there are three main reasons why we are able to liberate jieliebovli so quickly. First, our commanders have become more mature after a long period of fighting. They can adjust their tactics according to the situation; Second, our technical equipment has been strengthened. Compared with the enemy, we occupy a larger proportion; Third, our soldiers are very brave in the battle. I think these are the reasons why our army can win quickly. "

Zhukov did not comment on what I analyzed. Instead, he asked, "according to what I know about katukov, his troops must be attacking jortkov at the moment, right? So, when can you take the city? "

I silently calculated the number of remaining German troops in the city and the number of our troops participating in the street battle. Then I decisively replied, "if there is no accident, marshal, I think that at about two o'clock tomorrow afternoon, the troops will be able to solve the battle and eliminate the remaining enemies in the city."

As soon as I put down the phone, katukov asked me nervously, "Rita, although there are only a few hundred German soldiers left in the city, they are scattered in the residential buildings in the city, cooperating with those fixed fire points to prevent our army from advancing towards the south of the city. I think if we want to win the city completely, it will take at least one day and one day, and the battle will be solved at two o'clock in the afternoon. I think it's a bit unrealistic. "

This battle of proskurov chernovitzer has no impression in the history I know. But just because I don't know doesn't mean I can't guess the outcome of the campaign. After all, it's 1944 now. After the Kursk war, the German army won't have any decent victory in the Soviet battlefield. As for katukov's worries, I comforted him with a smile and said, "general katukov, there is nothing to worry about. You should have confidence in your subordinates. It is believed that there will be no problem to completely capture jortkov in more than ten hours. "

"But, Rita," katukov said with an embarrassed look on his face, "although the number of German troops in the city is limited, we can't be blindly optimistic and prepare for the worst. In case of any accident, it's not easy to explain it to Marshal Zhukov. "

"Don't worry, general katukov." I pointed to the red arrow representing our army on the map and said to him, "we are three front armies attacking from several directions at the same time. The German army had to allocate their limited forces to several battlefields to fight against our army's attack. In our battle area, the 11th army of general Guttmann's close guard tank has rushed to the Dniester River rapidly, which has restrained a large number of German troops. They are unable to send troops to reinforce the city of jortkov. In this way, the German army in the city has become an isolated army. Under the attack of several times our strength, they will not last long

My words strengthened katukov's confidence. He nodded and said, "well, Rita, since you say so, I'll call general deliomov immediately and ask him to strengthen the offensive at night and try to completely solve the enemy in the city by tomorrow afternoon."

Seeing that katukov was going to make a phone call, I suddenly remembered what Khrushchev had told me some time ago, and quickly asked: "Comrade General, I once heard that when our army attacked a city built in the middle ages, as long as we put the red flag on the top of the municipal building, it was equivalent to occupying this kind of city. Have you heard of that? "

"Yes, it is." As soon as I finished, the military commissar next to me took the lead and said to katukov, "Comrade commander, this is a good way. If, at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon, our troops have not been able to wipe out the enemy in the city, they will plant a red flag on the top of the municipal building, which will also announce that we have occupied the city. "

Seeing that the military commissar agreed with me, I kept my eyes on katukov and saw what kind of decision he would make. Unexpectedly, after thinking for a while, he shook his head and said firmly, "no, I can't cheat like this. As long as there is a German in the city, I will never report the occupation of jortkov to my superiors. "

Katukov's attitude made me feel a little embarrassed. After all, I boasted to Zhukov without consulting him. If I really couldn't capture the city before two o'clock tomorrow afternoon, it would cause him to be blamed by Zhukov.

While I was blaming myself, katukov said to me with a smile, "Rita, you have a very right saying. I want to believe in my own soldiers and believe that they will be able to liberate this city enslaved by the Germans within the prescribed time. "

... in the next few hours, I felt like I was on pins and needles, just like when I was studying, waiting for the teacher to announce the exam results. Katukov asked me to rest several times, but I waved him down. I'm kidding. In the current situation, even if I go back, I can't sleep at all. I might as well stay here and at least know the progress of the battle at the first time. At three o'clock in the morning, deliomov called katukov. He reported: "Comrade commander, after fierce fighting, the remnants of the German army in the city have been compressed into the machinery factory in the south of the city by our army. They rely on those solid factory buildings to carry out the final resistance. " After listening, katukov was silent for a moment. Then he asked, "general dlyomov, can your troops solve the battle before dawn?" When I heard what katukov said, I was stunned. After March, it was early in the morning, usually around 4:30, and it was almost full. That is to say, he hoped that deliomov would solve the battle in an hour and a half. Eager to find out what deliomov's answer was, I leaned slightly towards katukov so that I could hear the conversation between him and deliomov. After a long silence in the microphone, I heard deliomov reply: "Comrade commander, the situation is not very optimistic. The production workshops occupied by the enemy were solid and surrounded by open fields. Our soldiers launched two charges and were repulsed by the enemy. "“ If the enemy were so easily destroyed, we would have driven them out of the border. " After muttering, katukov asked, "are there any tanks in the factory?"“ Yes, "he said immediately after hearing katukov's question," there are more than a dozen tanks of gorelov's tank brigade in the factory. "“ It's easy with tanks. " Katukov began to teach his subordinates how to attack: "Comrade General, you have three tanks in a group, followed by a platoon. After the tank fire destroyed the enemy's exposed fire points, the infantry crossed the tank and occupied those destroyed fire points. Do you understand? "“ I see, "deliomov promised casually, but still asked a little uneasily," Comrade commander, is this attack effective? "“ Do you know if it has any effect by trying? " Katukov said impatiently: "it's better to have tanks to guide the attack than to let our commanders and fighters rush to the open ground without any firepower cover and let the Germans be the target."“ I see, comrade commander. " Deliomov recognized the dissatisfaction in katukov's tone and quickly replied, "I immediately organized the troops to launch a new attack." I don't know whether katukov's tactics are good or whether there are few German troops left to resist the fierce attack of our army. Only forty minutes later, deliomov called katukov to report his good news: "Comrade commander, I have good news for you that my troops have successfully eliminated the enemy who is in the factory. So far, the whole city of jortkov has been destroyed by us. "“ Great, general dlyomov. That's great. " Katukovton beamed with joy when he heard the news reported by deliomov. He said repeatedly to the microphone, "please express my thanks to the commanders and fighters for liberating the city from the clutches of the German army." After they finished a lot of nutritious words, katukov also put down the phone. I looked at him and asked, "Comrade General, what are you going to do next?" After taking a look at the map, katukov turned and asked the chief of staff, "Comrade chief of staff, where is babajanian's motorized infantry brigade 20?" Hearing katukov's question, the chief of staff quickly picked up the red and blue pencils on the table, pointed to the map and said, "Comrade commander, after occupying jeribovli, after a short rest, babajanian's troops and captain Boyko's tank 64th brigade have moved along the road to the Dniester river. I believe they can reach the river before noon." After the chief of staff finished, katukov pointed at the map with his hand and added: "now that jortkov has won, let the 1st Brigade of the close guard tank rest until 8 a.m., and then drive along the road to zaleshiki area with the 10th mechanized brigade."