Red Moscow

  Chapter 2119

  After listening to Rokossovsky, Sokov couldn't help laughing.

  Hearing Sokov's laughter, Rokossovsky couldn't help but frowned, and asked displeasedly, "Misha, what are you laughing at? What's so funny?"

   "Comrade Marshal, you have misunderstood." Sokov explained: "I just said that I have one thing to report to you, which is to send troops to the Pultusk area to reinforce friendly forces."

   "So that's what happened." After figuring out what was going on, Rokossovsky smiled a little embarrassedly, and then asked, "What are you going to do?"

"Now our group army has three Guards divisions deployed at the Luran landing site, but no matter which unit is deployed, it will weaken the overall defensive strength of the landing site." Sokov expressed his intention: "So I plan to deploy from the right bank area An infantry division and a tank brigade, after crossing the river, rushed to the Puutusk area to reinforce friendly forces."

   Regarding Sokov's deployment, Rokossovsky did not raise objections, but asked politely: "Misha, I wonder how long it will take for your troops to go into battle?"

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov said confidently, "I have long expected that the German army may take large-scale operations in the Narew River area, so Ismailo has long been deployed on the right bank near the river. The 284th Infantry Division and the 202nd Tank Brigade. It will only take an hour at most before they can start to cross the river in a big way."

Rokossovsky originally thought that even if Sokov was willing to send troops, he would at least have to wait until noon to cross the river. Unexpectedly, he could start the operation within an hour, which made him overjoyed: "Misha, then you should act as soon as possible. Puwu Whether or not the Tusk landing site can be defended depends entirely on whether your troops move quickly."

   After Sokov finished talking with Rokossovsky, he connected to Ismailov's division headquarters.

As early as two days ago, when Sokov transferred the 284th Infantry Division and the 202nd Tank Brigade to their current positions, he announced that the two units would be under the command of Ismailov, and explained to them their march once the battle started. routes and targets to attack.

   It was precisely because of prior arrangements that when Ismailov heard Sokov's voice, he immediately asked tentatively, "Comrade Commander, is it time to act?"

   "That's right." Sokov nodded and continued: "Colonel Ismailov, the enemy has launched an attack in the Pultusk area, and now it's your turn to play."

"Comrade Commander, our troops are already ready and ready to go at any time." Knowing that his troops are about to go into battle, Ismailov suddenly became excited: "The commanders and fighters are all suffocating. I believe that on the battlefield, they will definitely be able to exert their strongest combat effectiveness. When shall we set off?"

   "Of course, the sooner the better." Sokov said: "Whether the 65th Army's Pultusk landing site can be kept or not depends entirely on you."

"I'll gather the troops immediately and set off to the designated place." Ismailov assured Sokov on the phone: "Comrade commander, don't worry, we will never let you down. Defeat the enemies attacking the friendly landing field within the time limit."

  Sokov called Ismailov not only to inform the other party to send troops, but also to explain more important things, otherwise there is no need to call himself, just ask Sidolin to notify them to set off.

  Hearing what Ismailov said at this moment, he quickly raised his voice and said, "Colonel Ismailov, I'm calling you, and I have something more important to tell you."

   Knowing that Sokov had more important matters to explain to himself, Ismailov hurriedly and respectfully said: "Comrade Commander, if you need anything, just order it."

   "After you arrive at the designated location, don't rush to attack the enemy, but stay at the starting point and stay still." Sokov said: "It is not too late for you to launch an attack after the enemy has driven the friendly troops to the river."

Ismailov was confused by Sokov's words, and he asked inexplicably: "Comrade commander, isn't our mission to reinforce friendly troops? Why can't we send troops immediately when we see them being attacked by the enemy?" Support, do we have to wait for them to retreat to the river before attacking?"

"The reason is very simple." Sokov sent troops to reinforce his friendly forces. Naturally, he wanted to achieve the greatest results with the least casualties. He was definitely unwilling to fight a war of attrition, so he explained to Ismailov: "If the enemy just started If you go into battle, the enemy will allocate part of its troops to deal with you. At that time, the battle may become stalemate. If you want to get close to the friendly army, you may need to pay huge casualties.

  When the enemy attacks friendly forces, if you choose to stay still, the Germans will have an illusion that you are worried that our landing field will be attacked, so you send troops to guard. In this case, they will usually only leave a small number of troops to monitor you, and put the main force into the attack on the friendly landing field.

  After the Germans occupy most of the friendly landing field, they will divide their troops to guard, resulting in the dispersion of troops. If you attack at this time, you can easily break through the German defense line, completely disrupt their attack plan, and thus rescue our friendly forces from danger. "

  After listening to Sokov's explanation, Ismailov suddenly realized: "So that's the case. I understand, Comrade Commander, I will follow your instructions and wait until the time is right before attacking the enemy."

Seeing that Ismailov understood his intentions, Sokov nodded with a smile, and said with satisfaction: "Yes, Colonel Ismailov, that's what you should do. When you come back from completing the mission this time, I believe What is waiting for you is not only a medal, but you may also be promoted to a higher rank, and then you will change from Colonel Ismailov to General Ismailov."

When Ponedelin waited for Sokov to put down the microphone, he asked with some concern: "Comrade commander, after you let Colonel Ismailov arrive at the designated position, you temporarily hold back the troops. Will this delay the opportunity of the war? Strength, I'm afraid I can't hold the landing field at all."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, your guess is correct. With the strength of friendly forces on the left bank, it is very difficult to defend the landing site." Sokov did not hide his true opinion at all: "It is precisely because of this that if Ismailov If they went into battle as soon as they crossed the river, the enemy would send out a considerable number of troops to deal with them. At that time, let alone rescue the friendly troops, it was still unknown whether they could save them.

And if they stop at the designated place after crossing the river, firstly, it can give the soldiers a chance to breathe, and secondly, it will give the Germans an illusion that this army does not want to be their enemy and appears here. It's just to ensure that your landing field will not be attacked by the opponent. "

   Besides, on the side of the Front Army Command, although Rokossovsky received Sokov's assurance that he would send troops to rescue Batov's troops, he was still not at ease. As soon as he put down the phone, he began to roll his name at the headquarters: "Teretkin, Kazakov, Orel, and Comrade Proshlyakov, the engineer of the front army, come with me to Batov's headquarters later. , where we will direct the battle."

Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Ma Linin quickly reminded: "Comrade Commander, Batov's headquarters is on the right bank of the Narew River, too close to the front. I am worried that you will encounter danger in the past. I Look, you'd better stay in the headquarters and command the headquarters, and let someone else go to General Batov on your behalf."

Teretin agreed with Malinin's proposal very much, and echoed: "Yes, Comrade Marshal, I think what the chief of staff said is very reasonable. If you stay, I will go to Batov with Kazakov and Oliel. General's headquarters."

"Comrade Military Commissar, thank you for your kindness." After Rokossovsky thanked Terekin for his proposal, he said: "The situation in Batov is very bad now. If you don't see them repelling the German army I am not at ease." Seeing that Terekin seemed to want to say something, he quickly raised his hand to stop the other party, and continued, "Don't worry, we will only go to Batov's headquarters, not Frontier, there should be no danger."

   Seeing Rokossovsky's resolute attitude, Ma Linin knew that it would be useless to persuade him any more, so he could only defend himself against his plan of persuasion. He looked at Rokossovsky and asked: "Comrade Commander, is there anything we can do for General Batov at this time?"

"The weather is bad today, and the air force is unable to take off to fight." Rokossovsky said: "Immediately mobilize the anti-tank destroyer units directly under the headquarters of the Front Army, as well as the tank brigades to the 65th Army to participate in the battle. With their help, I believe that Batov's troops should be able to hold the left bank landing ground."

   "But hasn't General Sokov sent troops to reinforce it?" Malinin said, "I think his troops can disrupt the German offensive steps, and there is no need to draw troops from our defense depth for reinforcements."

"Misha sent only an infantry division and a tank brigade this time. In the face of a powerful enemy, his strength is insignificant." After the conversation between Rokossovsky and Sokov, he pondered for a while. Fan felt that the troops sent by Sokov alone would not have much effect at all, so he decided to deploy anti-tank troops and tank brigades from the troops directly under him for reinforcements, so as to alleviate the unfavorable situation as soon as possible: "And with our From what we know about Misha, his troops will definitely not launch an attack immediately after arriving at the designated attack position."

   "What, General Sokov's troops won't launch an attack immediately after they arrive at the designated location?" Ma Linin asked in surprise after hearing this: "Why, Comrade Commander?"

"The reason is very simple." Rokossovsky, as a senior and excellent commander, can naturally guess Sokov's careful thoughts, and he said thoughtfully: "If the troops just cross the river, they will If you attack the enemy in a hurry, the enemy will definitely mobilize part of its troops to deal with them. Think about it, how much combat effectiveness can a troop that has just finished marching and has not had time to regroup rush into battle?"

   After speaking, he intentionally remained silent for a moment to observe everyone's reactions. Seeing that everyone was silent and just looked at him, he continued, "I believe that Misha's troops will support Batov, but he will wait until the best time to act."

   "The best time?" Terekin asked curiously: "Comrade Marshal, I don't know what you mean by the best time?"

"Come and see." Rokossovsky pointed to the map and said to everyone: "The area of ​​the Pultusk landing site is very large. If the Germans occupy most of the area of ​​​​the landing site, they will have to divide their forces to Guard. In this way, their local strength will become weak, and if Misha's troops launch an attack at this time, the results will be far greater than launching an attack as soon as they reach the left bank."

  Teretkin folded his hands on his chest, frowned and said: "But I don't understand, even if General Sokov's troops don't attack, wouldn't the Germans take the initiative to attack them?"

"Comrade Military Commissar, you have mentioned the key issue." Rokossovsky guessed that other people might have the same doubts as Terekin, so he explained to everyone: "The target of the German attack this time is Batov's. Puutusk landing site, when they are attacking, they will definitely send troops to monitor the Luran landing site. As long as Misha's troops remain stationary after crossing the river, the Germans will have an illusion that this army is coming To defend the Luran landing site, we will not divide our troops to attack them, but according to the original plan, small troops will monitor Misha's troops, while the main force will continue to attack Batov's landing site."

After listening to Rokossovsky's explanation, Terekin continued to ask: "Comrade Marshal, what if the troops on the left bank landing ground failed to stop the enemy and allowed the Germans to occupy the entire landing ground? "

"If Batov's troops lose the entire landing site," Rokossovsky said with anger on his face, "it will prove that the commander Batov is incompetent, and I will consider sending someone else to take his place." .”

   "Comrade Marshal," Terekin felt that the scene was a little awkward, and quickly changed the subject: "It's getting late, shall we rush to General Batov's headquarters immediately?"

   "Yes, it's getting late, we have to set off as soon as possible." Rokossovsky said to Malinin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, during our absence, you will be in charge of the internal affairs of the front army."

   "Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Ma Linin said, "I will take care of everything."

When Rokossovsky and others left the command post and went to the nearby airport to board the plane, Ma Linin picked up the phone on the table and called the units directly under the Front Army, asking them to rush to the designated location as soon as possible and prepare to participate in the The battle to defend the Pultusk landing site.

   After receiving the order, several anti-tank artillery regiments and tank brigades completed their assembly in the shortest possible time, and drove along the road towards the defense area of ​​the 65th Army, preparing to participate in the battle there.

Knowing that the notified troops had already set off, Ma Linin got up and went to the operator's position, and told the other party: "Send a report to the operator next to Comrade Commander, saying that the participating troops directly under the front army have set off, and they will arrive at the soonest." In two hours, reach the Narew River and join the battle there."

  (end of this chapter)