Chapter 1477

After katukov finished his call with Zhukov, he put down the phone and asked Guttman, "Comrade Guttman, are you sure the troops can clear the German peripheral positions outside chernovitzer before dark?"

Guttman thought for a moment, then replied in an uncertain tone, "Comrade commander, I think our troops should be able to do this."

Katukov was obviously dissatisfied with Guttmann's answer. He frowned and said sternly, "Guttmann, if you think your troops can't arrive at chernovitzer before dark, I'll give this glorious task to the 8th Army of the mechanized guards of deliomov, and your army's task will be to help them clean up the periphery."

As soon as katukov's voice fell, the whole headquarters became silent. Except for the sound of guns from outside, there was no sound in the room. Everyone's eyes were focused on gertman.

I saw gertman's face flushed with excitement, and quickly came out to fight for him: "general katukov, since we have decided to let gertman's tank Army take charge of the main attack in the battle plan made in advance, I think it's better not to adjust it casually."

Guttman, who had been in despair, immediately regained his hope. After looking at me with gratitude, he said to katukov, "don't worry, comrade commander, since our troops have already crossed the Prut River, there should be no problem in clearing the German peripheral positions in chernovitzer before dark."

After Guttman finished, katukov did not speak, but snorted coldly.

"Comrade commander," seeing that katukov was still expressionless after hearing what he said, gertman was a little worried. He said in a hurry, "I promise you in the honor of a soldier that if the troops can't clear the German positions outside chernovitzer before dark, you will remove me."

"Comrade commander, we assure you with the honor of our soldiers," said the rest of the commanders in the headquarters, as soon as Guttmann finished saying, "we must clear the German positions outside chernovitzer before dark."

"It's no use just saying it," he said coldly, though everyone expressed his attitude to katukov. "I want to see your actions."

Hearing what katukov said, gertman immediately turned around and yelled at the commanders, "what are you all doing? Don't you continue to work! Chief of staff, after calling Colonel Boyko and ordering his tank brigade to cross the river, he quickly turned southeast to seize the German airfield. "

The chief of Staff promised, grabbed the phone and was ready to give an order directly. At this time, katukov added: "remember, I want a complete airport, not an airport beaten by your tanks. As long as the runway of the airport can be completely preserved, our fighters can immediately enter chernovitzer and provide the necessary air support for the troops. "

After listening to this, Guttman immediately replied loudly, "don't worry, comrade commander, we can take the airport completely from the German army."

When Guttman is busy, I just want to ask katukov why he behaves so abnormally today and even stimulates Guttman by changing his main attack force. Before I could speak, I saw katukov wink at me, and then turn his mouth to Guttman's position.

Katukov's eyes and movements made me suddenly realize that the reason why he said these words to Guttman was that he used the method of provocation. I turned my head and looked at the busy Guttman, and said in my heart: Guttman, Guttman, I hope your troops can give full play to the strongest fighting capacity in the next battle. Don't let katukov down on your expectations.

At this time, a staff officer who came with us from the headquarters came in from the door, handed a telegram just received to katukov, and said: "Comrade commander, general dlyomov reports that the 1st Brigade of the close guard tank of Col. golerov and the 20th brigade of the motorized infantry of Col. babajanian have successfully crossed the Prut river, Moving in the direction of chernovitzer. "

After reading the contents of the telegram at a glance, katukov handed it to me and said, "it seems that the operation of this dlyomov is very fast. Next, it depends on the troops of him and gertman. Who can clear the German positions outside the city first and launch the attack on the city."

I turned and looked at the place on the table behind me. I saw the distance between the two armies and chernovitzer. Then I said to katukov, "although general dlyomov is a little farther from the city, the flat terrain on his side is very conducive to the deployment of the tank troops. Maybe they can clear the obstacles first, Take the lead in attacking the city. "

After listening to me, katukov did not express any opinions. Instead, he asked an irrelevant question: "Rita, it is reasonable to say that the German airport is very close to our army, and they can arrive at the battlefield a few minutes after taking off. But when our army carried out the forced crossing of the Prut River, why did they not have their plane?"

If katukov doesn't mention this issue, I haven't noticed that the air is very calm today. There are neither German bombers nor our fighters. I thought about it carefully for a while, and then said slowly, "general katukov, maybe it's not that the German army doesn't want to send out the air force, but after a long battle, they are seriously short of fuel and ammunition, so they can't take off to fight."

"It makes sense." After listening to my analysis, katukov nodded and said, "your analysis is very reasonable. If the German air force is not short of ammunition and fuel, it is estimated that the positions occupied by our army will be bombed continuously these days. But since yesterday, there have been no German planes in the sky. I think their strength is almost exhausted. "

Katukov and I stood in front of the lookout, watching the distant troops crossing the river orderly from the pontoon, chatting about the current situation.

Just as we were engaged in the conversation, we suddenly heard a cheer from the headquarters. Katukov and I turned our heads at the same time, looked at the cheering commanders and asked in one voice, "what's the matter?"

Guttman walked up to us quickly and reported excitedly, "comrades commander, we have just received a report from the 64th tank brigade."

Tank 64th brigade, Colonel Boyko's unit! As soon as I heard the name, and combined with the excited expression on Gutman's face, I knew that it must be great news. "General Gutman, do you have any good news for us?" he asked

"Yes, yes, comrade deputy commander of the front army. It's really great news. " Gertman nodded his head and said, "when Colonel Boyko's tank brigade broke into the German airfield, it happened that the plane parked on the runway was trying to take off. When he met him, he ordered five tanks to drive to the runway and blocked the way of the enemy plane. After a fierce battle, they destroyed seven enemy aircraft and seized 41 aircraft of various types.... "

"Where is the war report?" When katukov heard this, he interrupted gertman, reached out his hand and asked eagerly, "show it to me quickly."

After reading the war report, katukov became excited. As he walked back and forth in the headquarters, he said excitedly: "great, this is really great. We need to report the result to the higher authorities immediately. General Gutman, get through to the front command immediately. I'll report the good news to Marshal Zhukov myself. "

While I was still on the phone, I suddenly remembered something and said to katukov in a low voice: "Comrade General, after you report the good news to the marshal later, you can ask him to send out the air force to air attack the German artillery position south of chernovitzer, so as to reduce the pressure of our troops in the attack."

"You're right, Rita." Katukov nodded and said, "if you don't mention it, I don't think about it at all. As long as our air force bombed the German artillery positions, the artillery attack on the infantry would be greatly reduced, and the casualties of our troops would also be greatly reduced. "

When katukov finished reporting to Zhukov, he put down the phone with a smile and said to me, "Rita, marshal has agreed to send a bombing pilot to assist our department in attacking chernovitzer." He raised his hand, looked at his watch, and continued, "since the German air force and artillery have lost their function, the frontier must not be too dangerous. How about going to the front with me? "

I know that katukov is telling the truth. Since the German airfield is occupied, the artillery position will soon be heavily attacked by our army, and there is no time to support the garrison in the city. Then katukov and I will go to the front to inspect, and the risk factor will be greatly reduced. Thinking of this, I nodded and happily replied, "well, general katukov, I'll follow you to the front."

Seeing that katukov and I were going to leave, gertman also volunteered to ask, "two comrades, I'll go with you. We can take care of each other."

Unexpectedly, after his words came out, katukov waved to him and said, "no, general Gutman, you'd better stay in your headquarters and continue to command the troops. I'll just go to the front with Rita. "

…………

Half an hour later, the armored vehicle in which katukov and I were travelling arrived at the division headquarters of the 24th infantry division. After hearing the news of our arrival, the division commander, an elderly Colonel, rushed to the gate of the headquarters to meet us and respectfully invited us into the headquarters.

After we sat down in the division headquarters, katukov looked up at the old colonel and asked kindly, "Comrade Colonel, are you ready to attack?"

"Yes, comrade commander." The old Colonel replied respectfully, "our artillery are building a firing position. When their artillery preparation is over, we will launch a full-scale attack."

As soon as his words were finished, a loud voice came from the door: "excuse me, is the commander here?"

"Come in, Colonel veradelle!" On hearing this, the old Colonel immediately turned to the door and said, "Comrade commander is here. Please come in."

As soon as his voice fell, a commander in a military coat and a cornice hat came in from the door. After entering the door, he looked around the room, then came quickly to us, raised his hand to his forehead, and said in a loud voice: "Comrade commander, the commander of the 200th brigade of tank, veradelle, reports to you that our brigade is preparing for the attack. Please give instructions! "

Katukov stood up, raised his hand to return the salute, reached out to hold the other party's hand, and asked in a friendly way: "Comrade Colonel, in the next battle, your tank brigade will serve as a sharp knife of the whole army and first insert it into the enemy's heart. Are you ready for battle?" When he heard katukov's question, veradelle almost roared and said, "report to the commander, all the commanders and fighters of the 200th tank brigade are ready to go, ready to fight at any time." Katukov nodded with a smile, and then said, "Comrade Colonel, I want to tell you another good news. Not long ago, Captain Boyko's 64th tank brigade successfully occupied chernovitzer airport and seized 41 aircraft of various types. In other words, you will not be attacked by the German air force during your attack on chernovitzer. " When veradelle heard that the friendly troops had occupied the airport, his face muscles twitched violently. Then he stabilized his mood and asked calmly, "Comrade commander, will you allow me to go back to the army?" Instead of agreeing to his request, katukov asked, "Colonel, if you take it here, can you direct your troops?"“ It should be possible, comrade commander. " Veradelle pointed to a telephone by the wall and said, "I can use that telephone and give orders directly to the troops."“ Good. Since you can give orders to the troops directly here, you should stay here first. " With these words, katukov turned to the old colonel and said, "as far as I know, general Guttman has assigned you two artillery regiments, right?" After the old Colonel nodded his approval, he continued, "now order the artillery to fire and bombard the German defensive positions." With the order of the old colonel, dozens of cannons of the two artillery regiments opened fire at the same time. In an instant, the German position was shrouded by the fire and smoke of the shells.