Chapter 1475 Advance towards the border (18)
phone-reading
Although the flood receded two days later, the road was already more difficult to navigate. ?? It took a full day for the 11th Army of General Guttmann’s Guards Tank to arrive at Mosha Station, merge with the 64th Brigade of Tanks that had been here for three days, and made a strong crossing over the Prut River. , Ready to attack Chernowitz.
The 8th Army of the Guards Mechanized by General Dlymov, after successfully capturing Kitzman, reached the north bank of the Prut River from the northwest of Chernivtsi.
For Katukov, who has always had an adventurous spirit, since Kitzman, who is only tens of kilometers away from Chernivtsi, has fallen into the hands of our army, as the commander of the group army, there is no reason to stay away. A hundred kilometers away on the front line, so the day after he captured Kitzman, he couldn’t wait to move the headquarters here.
Thinking of the German airfield to the north of Chernivtsi, the location of Katukov’s new command is just within the radius of activity of the German bombers. Since the distance is only tens of kilometers, the enemy’s aircraft can fly above us in just a few minutes, and there is no time for warning.
I tried to persuade Katukov to set up the headquarters away from the enemy’s airfield, but he retorted me and said: “Lida, have you forgotten what General Rokosovsky said? A commander must stay with his troops at all times, rather than hiding far away, so that he can be recognized by the soldiers.”
Seeing Katukov’s stubborn opinion, I can only turn to Zhukov for help and ask him to send more planes to patrol over Kitzman to prevent possible German air strikes.
But soon the facts proved that I was unreasonably worried. During the two days when the command was stationed in Kitzman, no German aircraft appeared at all. I guess the reason for this situation is that the German army does not have our group army-level command here; the other is that the ammunition and fuel of the German aircraft are insufficient, so that they have to reduce the number of lift-off operations.
On the afternoon of the 27th, two commanders, Gertmann and Dremov, who had reached the bank of the Prut River, commanded their troops and attacked the German forces on the opposite bank.
After the battle started, Katukov didn’t want to stay in his headquarters anymore, so he asked me tentatively: “Lida, I’m going to the front to see with my own eyes how our troops cross the Prut River, you Should you stay here or go to the river with me?”
To be honest, for personal safety reasons, I am very happy to stay in the command post. I don’t want to be killed by a bullet coming from nowhere when the war is nearing its end. But at this moment Katukov is going to the front, if I still sit in the command post swaggeringly, maybe it will leave a bad impression on Zhukov. Based on this consideration, I hesitated for a moment, and then nodded and said, “General Katukov, is this still necessary? Of course I am going to the river with you to see with my own eyes how our brave commanders are doing. Breaking through the German defense and crossing the Prut River.”
Hearing that I was going to follow Katukov to supervise the battle by the river, his military commissioner was a little anxious. He grabbed my arm and said anxiously: “The deputy commander of the front army, the river is too dangerous. You can’t go. .”
I saw him with a worried expression, knowing that he was worried about my safety, and I couldn’t help saying with some gratitude: “Thank you, Comrade Military Commissioner. But since General Katukov is not afraid of danger, what’s so scary about me? “As I said, I gently freed my arms from his hands, grabbed his hands, and added with a smile, “Don’t worry, I will pay attention to safety, and it’s not the first time I have The battlefield.”
Seeing his military commissar hesitating and stopping, Katukov added: “My comrade military comrade, don’t worry about it. Lida has grown from an ordinary soldier to a general. Yes, she has experienced a lot of dangers at all. I will take care of her safety, so don’t worry.”
Seeing what Katukov said, the military commissioner couldn’t say anything, so he grabbed my hand and shook it vigorously for a few times, and said: “Pay more attention to your own safety.”
…………
When Katukov and I rushed to the command of the Gertmann Army by the river, the forced crossing operation had already begun.
I saw our army’s tanks lined up by the river, shelling directly across the river. Behind them is our artillery, also bombarding the German positions on the opposite shore. There are countless boats and kayaks on the river, rowing quickly to the opposite bank.
Facing the forced crossing of our army, the German army would naturally not sit back and die. Those firepower spots on the south bank that were not destroyed by artillery fire were shooting frantically at our ships on the river. At the same time, their long-range artillery fire is constantly bombarding the river surface, and water jets rise from time to time on the river surface.
Our soldiers clung to the boat sideways and paddled the oars in their hands, avoiding the bullets shot from the opposite shore. From time to time, shells hit the boats full of soldiers. How can the wooden boats withstand the steel shells? The human body and the boat fragments are mixed and blown into the sky.
The ship that rushed to the forefront was blown to pieces, and still on the turbulent water, the burning ship wreck was floating with billowing black smoke, and the overturned ship was sinking on the blood-stained river surface. , Has been filled with fragments of ships and the bodies of soldiers. In the cold river, the soldiers who fell into the water were thumping desperately, like boiling dumplings. Part of the boats behind continued to row bravely towards the opposite side, and some slowed down, rescued the fallen comrades on the river.
“General Guttman,” Katukov put down his binoculars when he saw this scene, turned his head and said angrily at Guttman, who was standing next to him: “What the **** is going on? Our crossing the river. When did the commando become a rescue team? Don’t you know that if our ship does not approach the south bank quickly, but squeezes into a group in the river, it will become a target for the German artillery? Do you think the blood and flesh of the commanders? Can the body block the bullets and shrapnel of the German army?”
When I heard Katukoff scolding Guttman, I was shocked, and then I understood why he said so. Our army is forcibly crossing the Prut River. If the assault ship does not rush to the opposite bank quickly, but stays in the river to save people, it will not only cause chaos in the offensive formation, but also become crowded together. The target of the German attack. At this moment, I suddenly had a better understanding of the idiom of being merciful not in command of soldiers.
Faced with Katukov’s criticism, Guttman blushed and said: “Comrade Commander, I was wrong. I will immediately stop the rescue operation from the assault force tomorrow.”
After speaking, his general chief of staff called over and ordered: “Comrade chief of staff, call the 6th brigade commander of the motorized infantry and ask him to order the troops in the middle of the river to stop the rescue and continue to attack the south bank.”
After Gertman finished speaking, the chief of staff glanced at us with some guilty conscience, and then asked in a low voice, “Comrade Commander, what about those commanders who fell into the water? There are hundreds of them.”
Guttman sighed softly, and then said: “We are not not rescuing the commanders who fell into the water, but because we can’t rescue them and affect our forced crossing operation. So let’s send another fleet to specialize Go to rescue the commanders who fell into the water.”
Katukov’s order was quickly communicated to the fleet in the river via signal flags. The boats that were slowing down to rescue their comrades in the water immediately stopped the rescue operation after seeing the signal from the north bank. The commanders on board desperately waved the oars and rowed towards the opposite shore.
Ten minutes later, the boat of the assault force finally landed on the shore. The commanders scrambled to jump off the boat and rushed forward. The machine gunners seized favorable terrain, erected light and heavy machine guns, and provided fierce fire support for those comrades who were charging forward.
Seeing our troops boarded on the other side and was moving towards the depths, Gertman breathed a long sigh of relief and said to Katukov: “Comrade Commander, have you seen it? Our soldiers have already set foot. The land on the other side is moving in the direction of Chernivtsi.”
“I saw it.” After Katukov said this faintly, he put down the binoculars in his hand, turned around and said to the somewhat triumphant Gertman: “Since our commanders have boarded the South Bank, you immediately order the boat. The bridge camp came to erect the pontoon bridge so that our heavy equipment can pass in the shortest time.”
“But, Comrade Commander.” Hearing the order issued by Katukov, Gertman said hesitantly: “Our troops have just landed on the south bank and have not had time to establish a strong beachhead position. Erect a pontoon…”
Before Gertman finished speaking, Katukov said with a dissatisfied expression: “General Gertman, don’t you know the truth about the **** of war? If you have to wait for our army to gain a foothold on the other side, Do you know how much time will be lost if a pontoon bridge is erected on the river?”
Katukov’s series of questions caused Guttman to shut his mouth obediently. He came to his chief of staff and said: “Chief of staff, did you hear the command of Comrade Commander? Immediately order the Pontoon Bridge to erect a pontoon here. We must set up the heavy equipment in the shortest time possible. Floating bridge through.”
When the Pontoon Battalion erected a pontoon bridge on the river, although Guttmann repeatedly urged them to speed up, it took them about two hours to erect a pontoon bridge on the Prut River for tanks. At the same time, the commanders of the 7th Brigade of Motorized Infantry established a beachhead position three kilometers wide and two kilometers deep on the south bank.
As soon as the pontoon bridge was erected, the tanks stopped by the river stopped firing, shifted their positions one after another, lined up in a long snake formation, and passed the pontoon in one row, covering the infantry to rush toward the German defense.
Looking at the tank troops going away, Katukov asked me with interest: “Lida, do you think our troops can reach Chernowitz today?”
“No problem.” According to the information I have in the past few days, the Germans are heavily guarded by the Prut River. Since their southern bank defense line has been breached by us, then on the road to Chernowitz, It’s almost hard to meet large-scale resistance again, so I replied confidently: “I believe that General Guttmann’s troops will be able to arrive at Chernowitz today and carry out the final battle against the German forces in the city. attack.”
Standing aside, Gertmann gave me a grateful look, then patted his chest and assured Katukov: “Comrade Commander, don’t worry, our army has not only broken through the German Prut River defense line today. At the same time, it can also clear the outer positions of Chernovic and launch an attack on the city.”
Before Gertman finished speaking, Katukov said with a dissatisfied expression: “General Gertman, it is rare that you don’t understand the principle of the **** of war? If you have to wait for our army to gain a firm foothold on the other side, Do you know how long a pontoon bridge is erected on the river ?”
Katukov’s series of questions caused Guttman to shut his mouth obediently. He came to his chief of staff and said: “Chief of staff, did you hear the command of Comrade Commander? Immediately order the Pontoon Bridge to erect a pontoon here. We must set up the heavy equipment in the shortest time possible. Floating bridge through.”
When the Pontoon Battalion erected a pontoon bridge on the river, although Guttmann repeatedly urged them to speed up, it took them about two hours to erect a pontoon bridge on the Prut River for tanks. At the same time, the commanders of the 7th Brigade of Motorized Infantry established a beachhead position three kilometers wide and two kilometers deep on the south bank.
As soon as the pontoon bridge was erected, the tanks stopped by the river stopped firing, shifted their positions one after another, lined up in a long snake formation, and passed the pontoon in one row, covering the infantry to rush toward the German defense.
Looking at the tank troops going away, Katukov asked me with interest: “Lida, do you think our troops can reach Chernowitz today?”
“No problem.” According to the information I have in the past few days, the Germans are heavily guarded by the Prut River. Since their southern bank defense line has been breached by us, then on the road to Chernowitz, It’s almost hard to meet large-scale resistance again, so I replied confidently: “I believe that General Guttmann’s troops will be able to arrive at Chernowitz today and carry out the final battle against the German forces in the city. attack.”
Standing aside, Gertmann gave me a grateful look, then patted his chest and assured Katukov: “Comrade Commander, don’t worry, our army has not only broken through the German Prut River defense line today. At the same time, it can also clear the outer positions of Chernovitsi and launch an attack on the city.” 8～～7k～～
(Sikushu)