Red Moscow

  Chapter 1582

  Konev learned that the attack of the 7th Guards Army had achieved results under the guidance of Sokov, and he couldn't help feeling secretly that the tactics provided by Sokov were applicable. He held the microphone and thought for a while, then ordered the messenger to connect to Sokov's command post.

  When a voice came from the receiver, Konev was afraid that the other party would waste his precious time, so he said bluntly: "I am General Konev, the commander of the front army. Let your commander Sokov answer the phone."

  The staff officer who answered the phone heard that it was Konev's call, and he didn't dare to neglect at all, and immediately reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the Commander of the Front Army wants to talk to you."

Hearing that Konev called him, Sokov had a stunned expression on his face, but he still got up and walked over to take the microphone in the staff officer's hand: "Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army! This is Soko Husband, what instructions do you have?"

   "I heard that General Shumilov once called you?"

Sokov trembled all over, wondering whether the tactics he taught to Shumilov were not useful or there was some mistake, cold sweat suddenly broke out on his head, and he replied tremblingly: "Yes, the commander of the front army Comrade Comrade, General Shumilov did call me not long ago to discuss how to attack the breakthrough position, I just expressed some personal opinions. Could something be wrong?"

Konev could hear the apprehension and panic in Sokov's tone, and he couldn't help laughing, and then said: "Comrade Sokov, don't worry, I'm calling you, not to ask questions, but to Let me tell you, your tactics are very effective. The 36th Guards Division under the 7th Guards Army has successfully rushed into the city and is developing into the depths of the city to destroy the stubborn enemies."

Knowing that Shumilov's troops had broken through the city, Sokov felt relieved, and he said with a smile: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, in this way, it won't be long before our army can completely capture Poltava. .”

"Although the 36th Guards Division has rushed into the city, the enemy's resistance continues." Regarding the capture of Poltava, Konev was still very cautious, "If we want to completely capture the city, we still need to go through Brutal battle."

"As long as Poltava is captured, our army's road to the Dnieper River will be completely opened." It is a crucial thing for Sukov that the friendly forces can capture Poltava as soon as possible, which means As the supplies from the rear can be multiplied, more friendly troops can go to the Dnieper River, thus changing the current passive situation where we can only defend but not attack: "Maybe we can launch an offensive on the right bank of the Dnieper River. "

"You are right." Konev agreed with Sokov very much: "Poltava blocked our army's road to the Dnieper River. As long as this nail is pulled out, the battle will quickly move towards development in a direction that is beneficial to our army.”

Although the situation of Sokov's troops had to be reported to the front army headquarters every three to five times, Konev still asked about Sokov's recent situation: "How is the situation there recently? If the main force reaches the Dnieper River, can you take the lead in launching Attack?"

   "We still have enough reserves on the left bank," Sokov replied: "If the superior needs to launch an attack on the enemy, these reserves can be put into battle first."

Hearing Sokov's statement, Konev did not immediately express his position. He knew very well that even though the two army groups are now deployed on both sides of the Dnieper River, it may not be a problem to rely on them to seize more land on the right bank. Easy thing, since they lack sufficient number of tanks and artillery.

  Considering these problems, Konev said solemnly: "Comrade Sokov, if you need my help, you can just ask, and I will definitely help you with all my strength."

Hearing what Konev said, Sokov's heart moved, thinking that he planned to let the troops use a large number of bicycles in the next offensive, but now the bicycle factory in Kremenchug city is not enough to satisfy the troops even if they work at full capacity. If you ask Konev for help, it may be able to get twice the result with half the effort.

  Thinking of this, Sokov immediately said: "Comrade Front Army Commander, we need bicycles, a lot of bicycles."

   "Bicycle?!" This time it was Konev's turn to be puzzled, and he asked curiously, "What do you want bicycles for?"

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I think you can see from the map that many areas on the right bank of the Dnieper River are forests, lakes and swamps, and our tanks and various combat vehicles cannot be deployed." Sokov explained to Konev Said: "I intend to provide soldiers with bicycles for them to use while marching or chasing the enemy, thereby increasing the mobility of the troops."

Konev was taken aback for a moment, and then his eyes lit up. He didn't expect Sokov to come up with such a good idea, and quickly said: "Comrade Sokov, your idea is good. If you can really let the soldiers Equipping a large number of bicycles can indeed provide the mobility of troops."

   But as soon as the words came out, Konev realized something was wrong. If it was in peacetime, it would not be difficult to produce thousands or even tens of thousands of bicycles. But now during the war, all kinds of materials are scarce, and a large number of skilled workers are either on the battlefield or have been transferred to the rear. It is not easy to maintain normal production.

When Sokov heard that Konev agreed with his opinion, he couldn't help feeling ecstatic, but when he found that the other party was silent suddenly, he immediately realized something was wrong, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, is there any difficulty in this matter? "

"You are right, Comrade Sokov." Konev did not hide the real situation from Sokov, but said truthfully: "Since the war method, many original factories and enterprises have turned to produce war materials. The bicycle factory is no exception. Even if there are bicycle factories that have not changed production, I am afraid that they will not be able to start operations due to lack of raw materials and skilled workers. It may not be an easy task to equip the troops with a large number of bicycles."

  Although Konev said that it was not an easy task to equip the troops with bicycles, he did not say that it was impossible, which gave Sokov a glimmer of hope. He asked cautiously: "Comrade commander of the front army, can you please contact your superiors, and can you send us a batch of bicycles from somewhere to equip the troops?"

Regarding Sokov's request, Konev did not simply refuse, but after careful consideration, he said to him: "Comrade Sokov, I can't give you an accurate answer immediately, I need to contact Call the relevant department and let you know if there is any news.”

   After putting down the phone, Konev said to Chief of Staff Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please call our Minister of Logistics, I have something to ask."

  Zakharov waited for Konev to finish speaking, and immediately made a phone call to the logistics department of the front army, notifying the logistics minister and his gang to go to the headquarters, saying that the commander had important matters to find them.

  After receiving the notification, the Minister of Logistics immediately rushed to Konev's headquarters with his quartermaster, supply chief and others, ready to accept new orders.

  Konev saw that the Minister of Logistics and a group of his men were all present, so he asked the Minister of Logistics: "Comrade Minister, can you get a bicycle?"

  "Bicycle?" The logistics minister asked without thinking: "What bicycle?"

   "Of course it is the kind of bicycle I ride." Konev said to him: "I need a lot of bicycles now to equip the combat troops on the front line."

When the Minister of Logistics received the notification from Zakharov, he thought that Konev was dissatisfied with the work of his logistics department, and was going to criticize himself severely. Unexpectedly, he actually asked about bicycles, and he planned to equip the troops with a large number of bicycles .

   This is obviously not professional.

  For a while, everyone in the logistics department looked at me and I looked at you, not knowing how to answer Konev's question.

  After a long time, the head of logistics mustered up his courage and asked with difficulty: "Comrade commander, may I ask, what are you going to do to equip the troops with bicycles?"

"How is the road situation in our country? Everyone knows, right?" Konev intentionally paused for a moment after asking this question. Seeing that everyone nodded in affirmation, he continued: "From the current situation, , whether it is railways or roads, our transportation capacity has basically reached its limit, and it is basically impossible to improve it."

Regarding Konev's statement, the Minister of Logistics expressed affirmation: "Yes, Comrade Commander. Our roads are originally dirt roads, and they are covered in dirt on sunny days and muddy on rainy days. In addition to the bombing and destruction of the German army, the road conditions got worse."

After Konev and other logistics ministers finished speaking, they continued: "Comrade Sokov, the commander of the 27th Army, told me that he planned to organize a force equipped with bicycles to march or chase the enemy on such a bad road. Thereby increasing the mobility of the troops. How about it, Comrade Minister, can you find a way to get enough bicycles?"

"Comrade Commander," the Minister of Logistics immediately complained after hearing Konev's words: "Before the war, there were indeed many bicycle manufacturers in our country, but with the outbreak of the war, these civilian factories were converted to production. All kinds of military supplies, I think the bicycle factory is no exception."

"Yes, Comrade Commander." As soon as the Minister of Logistics finished speaking, the Director of Military Supplies added: "As far as I know, the original bicycle factories in Moscow have now switched to producing motorcycle tires, which cannot provide us with any assistance at all. Bicycles provided."

The Director of Supplies also echoed and said: "That's right, the bicycle factories have basically switched production. Even if one or two have not switched production, I am afraid that they are still facing a shortage of raw materials and insufficient workers. Even if we let them resume work, the output that can be provided will not be enough. It's going to be ridiculously low."

Zakharov, who was standing behind Konev, realized that the problem was more serious than he had imagined after listening to the speeches of everyone in the logistics department, so he approached Konev and said in a low voice: "Comrade commander, it seems It’s really not easy to get a bicycle these days. Or we can call Sokov and tell him about it and let him figure out a way to solve the bicycle problem.”

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Konev shook his head and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if we cannot solve the problem of bicycles for Sokov's troops, then how can he get the bicycles he wants? "

   "So what should we do?"

  Konev thought for a while, and then said to the Minister of Logistics: "Comrade Minister, why don't you contact General Khrulev, the Minister of Logistics in Moscow, to see if he has a solution to this problem."

   "Okay, Comrade Commander." Hearing the task assigned by Konev, the Minister of Logistics said helplessly: "I will contact Minister Khrulev later to see if I can get help from him."

  While Konev was busy getting the bicycle that Sokov needed, Sokov and Lunev were walking on the streets of Klemenchug under the protection of a dozen soldiers.

  Sokov has been in the city for a long time, but he spends most of his time in the headquarters, and it is rare for him to take a walk outside. Walking on the street at this moment, apart from seeing one after another patrols and the hurried citizens, I also accidentally found that many places on the street have installed large speakers, which are playing non-stop. Military songs.

  When the song "Holy War" sounded, Sokov couldn't help but stop, looked up at the big horn hanging on the telegraph pole, his blood was boiling, and he wished to lead the soldiers to charge immediately.

   Lunev, who was standing beside him, saw that Sokov attached so much importance to these newly installed loudspeakers, a smile appeared on his face: "Comrade Commander, what do you think of these loudspeakers?"

   "Not bad, quite good." Sokov nodded and said, "Listening to these exciting military songs every day will help improve our morale and make soldiers more heroic on the battlefield."

   "I think so too." Lunev said with a smile: "When I was planning to install these speakers, some people raised objections, thinking that we don't need to waste energy on these things."

"But it turns out that you are right, Comrade Military Commissioner. I don't know about others, but when I hear these songs, my blood boils, and I can't wait to take up weapons and go to the battlefield to fight the enemy immediately." Sokov said with a smile Said: "It seems that every time we liberate a city in the future, we can install big speakers in the city. In addition to allowing the residents in the city to listen to these military songs more, it can also play an inspiring role."

   At this time, the "Holy War" on the loudspeaker had ended, and the "Katyusha" familiar to Sokov sounded. Listening to this familiar song, Sokov thought to himself: This song full of patriotic feelings was widely known because of the Great Patriotic War, and many people mistakenly thought that this song was composed during the Great Patriotic War. In fact, this song was born after the Zhang Gufeng incident in 1938. It seems more appropriate to say that it is an anti-Japanese song.

  (end of this chapter)