When the artillery bombarded the German second line of defense with heavy artillery fire, konev suddenly said to sokolovsky: "chief of staff, after our artillery fire preparation is over, we will immediately put the tank troops deployed in the front into battle, and let them guide the infantry to break through the German defense."
"Marshal," after listening to the order given by konev, sokolovsky could not help but be surprised, and then euphemistically said: "according to the order of the supreme command, the mechanized cluster of tank group army and cavalry should not be used to implement the breakthrough, but should be used to expand the results after breaking through the German defense."
What has the final say of Comrade Sokolovski? "I saw the fact that when he saw his refutation of his proposal, Konev's face showed a displeased expression. He waved at the other side and said with dissatisfaction," I am the commander of the front army. What time and in what area do I use the tank forces? Do you understand? "
"Yes, comrade marshal." As chief of staff, although sokolovsky was very clear that konev's deployment was in conflict with the order issued by the supreme command, he replied decisively after a short hesitation: "I'll call general katukov and order him to send tank troops to cooperate with our new round of attack."
Although I haven't expressed my opinion, I don't think much of the order given by konev. You know, according to the war report just now, I know that in front of the German second line of defense, there are not only concrete piers, tripods and insurmountable anti tank trenches specially used to block the advance of tanks, but also the 72nd and 88th infantry divisions which are retreating from the first line of defense. The obstacles everywhere and the infantry division that didn't receive any loss made our attack more difficult.
After the shelling, the infantry of the 76th infantry army, under the cover of a tank brigade sent by katukov, launched an attack on the second German line of defense where the smoke of gunfire had not yet dispersed.
Seeing our offensive troops charging towards their positions under the cover of 78 or 80 tanks, the German commander immediately called the artillery deployed in the rear and ordered them to block and shoot our tanks.
After receiving the order, the German artillery immediately intercepted and fired on our attacking troops. After several rounds of shelling, many galloping tanks were immediately hit by bullets and caught fire. After driving a hard distance, they stopped burning on the battlefield. However, the tank soldiers who escaped from the smoky tanks spread their feet and ran back. Although many tanks were destroyed by the German artillery fire, the remaining tanks were still moving at full speed, stopping for a short time to fight back.
But the tanks soon found that their way forward was blocked by dense concrete piers and tripods. In this case, they can only stop and fire at the enemy's position to provide fire support for the following infantry.
The infantry charging behind the tanks were also intercepted by German artillery. From time to time, the air waves of explosion lifted our commanders and fighters into the air, and the human body in the air was torn to pieces by the flying shrapnel, and then scattered from the air. Although the artillery fire caused great casualties to our army's commanders and fighters, they just went through the artillery area in the fierce bombardment of the enemy, crossed the tanks in front of the obstacles, and rushed to the German defensive positions.
Seeing our officers and men pass the barrier, the German soldiers hiding in the fortification began to shoot. In the dense rain of bullets, the impact of the formation burst out all over the sky of blood fog. The whirring bullets and flying fragments pierce their bodies and tear their flesh and blood. The blood spills on the bodies and faces of the people nearby. The wounded flesh and blood shakes in the rain of bullets. The corpse is like a broken pocket thrown out and overturned under the impact of bullets, but the living commanders and fighters are still howling to launch the impact.
Although the commanders and fighters of our army were brave and tenacious, an hour later, general gordov, commander of the third group army of the close guard, reported to konev: "Comrade marshal, the attack of our 76th infantry army on the second line of defense of the German army ended in failure."
I saw konev's hand shaking slightly and his face muscles twitching violently after listening to gordov's report. I don't think he expected that the second attack he launched would get such a result. However, he soon regained his composure and said in his usual voice, "Comrade General, first withdraw our troops, let them have a good night's rest, and then attack tomorrow."
As soon as konev put down the phone, he immediately called sokolovsky in front of him and asked him anxiously, "chief of staff, when will our successor troops enter the attack position?"
Sokolovsky looked at him and replied with a bitter smile: "Comrade marshal, if we didn't launch the attack one day in advance, all the attacking troops would arrive at the attack position at ten o'clock tonight. But because we consumed all the shells in the early morning shelling today, in order to replenish the shells as soon as possible, our logistics department had to change the trains and cars originally prepared to transport the troops to transport shells, and the troops could only take the way of walking to the designated position. "
"No, comrade chief of staff, it is impossible to do so." Listening to sokolovsky's words, konev said angrily: "many of the troops participating in the attack are stationed at a distance of 1200 kilometers. If they take the way of walking, it will take them at least three to four days to get to the designated position, which will cause trouble. You see, it's going to be a mistake! "
Facing konev's reproach, sokolovsky replied with a bitter smile: "marshal, I understand what you mean. However, there is no way now. The advance attack disrupts our advance deployment. If all means of transport are used to transport troops, then weapons and ammunition will not be transported to the front line in time. "
After listening to sokolovsky's explanation, konev looked at me and asked tentatively, "Rita, do you have any good idea?"
"Marshal," the problem that makes konev and sokolovsky headache is nothing to me. Since konev is asking me for advice at the moment, I naturally know everything and say everything: "I don't think it's necessary to transport artillery shells with the transport tools that are ready to transport troops."
"But, comrade oshanina," sokolovsky interrupted me before I finished. He said unconvinced, "what kind of transportation should we use to transport artillery shells?"
"Chief of staff, don't interrupt. Listen to Rita." Konev may be afraid of sokolovsky disturbing my thinking, quickly stopped him, and then said to me: "you continue to talk."
I nodded to konev with a smile and continued: "in fact, we can use civilian vehicles to transport the shells urgently needed at the front line. As far as I know, with the resumption of factories in the city, there are a large number of civilian vehicles available to us. "
"Is it OK to transport shells in civilian vehicles?" Konev listened to me with a worried expression on his face: "it will take us a lot of time to organize so many civilian vehicles. If the organization is not good, it will even cause confusion. "
"Don't worry, comrade marshal." As for konev's worries, I said with a smile: "there is no need to send a special person to organize. We just need to inform the leaders of the local authorities and enterprises that we are in urgent need of shells on the front line, but there is a lack of transport vehicles, and they will provide help for us. Just tell them where to load the shells and where to send them
"Ridiculous. This is ridiculous." As soon as I finished speaking, sokolovsky began to refute me: "how can we let civilian vehicles into our ammunition depot? In case one or two saboteurs get into the ammunition depot, just throw a grenade, it will cause us huge losses."
"Yes, Rita." After listening patiently to sokolovsky's worries, konev looked at me with a worried face and asked, "what should we do if there are German spies sneaking into our arsenal to do damage?"
This method I put forward is not the product of my slapping my head, but a real thing happened in the early 1980s. In order to support the needs of artillery shells in the war of the Chinese army, military vehicles and various local vehicles gathered in the ammunition depot of Jianshui, and the army and the people worked together to transport artillery shells for Laoshan front. So I said confidently, "don't worry, marshal. I think it's extremely unlikely that the Germans will sneak into the armory and do damage. But to be on the safe side, it's up to you to decide whether to adopt my suggestion. "
Konev stood up and walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. For a long time, he did not express his opinion. Sokolovsky was a little worried when he saw that konev never made a statement: "Comrade marshal, what should we do? Most of the fighting forces are still marching on the road. It is estimated that they will not be able to enter the attack position at noon tomorrow if the means of transportation are not solved. "
After hearing sokolovsky's words, konev finally stopped, first looked at him, then turned his eyes to me, and asked in a stern tone, "Rita, do you really think it won't be a problem to do this?"
"Comrade marshal," to tell you the truth, although my proposal is inspired by the real events of later generations, I am not sure whether it is applicable in this era. However, since konev specifically asked me, I can only reply with a stiff head: "in the current situation, we can only take risks. Please call Comrade Khrushchev immediately, ask him to call the leaders of various cities, and ask local vehicles to help our army transport urgently needed shells. "
"What should I say to Comrade Khrushchev?" My words moved konev, but he hesitated and said, "what if he doesn't agree to cooperate with us?"
I struck while the iron was hot and said, "Comrade marshal, just say 'everything is for the front line'. Perhaps in this way, comrade Khrushchev will agree to our bold request."
"Well, Rita, since you say that, I'll call Khrushchev." Konev finally made up his mind, he said: "if anything goes wrong, if the superior wants to investigate, I will bear it independently." With that, he picked up the phone from his desk and dialed Kiev.
When Khrushchev heard konev's request, he was stunned and then asked, "marshal, if I am not wrong, is the idea of letting civilian vehicles transport shells for you put forward by Rita?"
Konev looked at me, then replied with a smile, "Comrade Khrushchev, you are right. It is Lida who put forward this plan. Well, would you like to help us? "
Perhaps Khrushchev knew that I had proposed this plan, so he readily agreed: "well, marshal konev, I will immediately call the leaders of the following cities and ask them to send enough civilian vehicles to fully cooperate with you in transporting the shells urgently needed at the front line."
"Thank you, thank you, comrade Khrushchev." Konev didn't expect that Khrushchev had so readily agreed to his request. He said excitedly: "on behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the first front army of Ukraine, thank you."“ You are welcome, marshal. " Khrushchev replied politely: "everything we do for the front line is to defeat the Communist aggressors." After konev and Khrushchev reached a consensus, they asked sokolovsky to inform the logistics department that the transportation of shells was completed by local civilian vehicles, and the original means of transportation were still used to transport our combat troops. Two hours later, the logistics department called and reported to konev that the vehicle originally intended to transport ammunition had carried our army officers and men to the front line. At the moment, at the door of the ammunition depot, there are endless civilian vehicles waiting to transfer the shells to the forward artillery positions. Konev's face broke into a smile when he heard the news reported by the logistics department. After he put down the phone, he said to me, "Rita, it seems that your method is very effective. At present, the troops on foot have successively boarded cars and rushed to the front line; The vehicles sent by the factories and mines have lined up at the gate of the ammunition depot, waiting for the shells to be loaded and transported to the front line. "“ My God After listening to konev's words, sokolovsky asked suspiciously: "those drivers who go to transport shells, won't they complain?"“ Chief of staff, you're worried. " Konev said to sokolovsky with a smile: "when the superior assigned the task of transporting shells to various factories and mines, the drivers not only didn't have any complaints, but also rushed to carry out this glorious task. It seems that before dawn, not only will our follow-up troops be able to enter the designated positions, but even the artillery will need a satisfactory number of shells. "