"Lieutenant colonel, before the shelling began, you were still a few kilometers away from Kanifu, how did you enter the city so quickly?" Puzzled, I asked Shedelikov: "What's going on, what the hell is going on?" ”

"Comrade Commander, this is the case." Sederikov reported to me about the capture of Kanivo: "Before the battle began, I remembered that in previous battles, you often took advantage of the fact that the enemy was under artillery fire from our troops and could not observe the situation, let your troops quietly approach the enemy's positions, and as soon as the shelling was over, you decisively charged. This usually catches the enemy by surprise and at the same time greatly reduces the casualties of our troops. ”

"That's right, while the enemy is being suppressed by our artillery fire, sending troops to quietly approach the enemy's position is indeed my usual tactic." I nodded and said, "At such times, the Germans often leave only a few soldiers to observe, and the rest either hide in the artillery holes or retreat to the second line of defense. Why, did you quietly rush into the city today, taking advantage of the enemy's shelling and not being able to observe? ”

"You guessed it right, after our shelling began, the scouts I sent reported to me that the enemy in the city was moving to defensive positions along the river." Shederikov continued: "I thought that since the enemy in the city was moving towards the river, the forces in the city would definitely become empty, and if we launched an attack on the city at such a time, we would definitely be able to contain a lot of the enemy's forces and cover the friendly army's crossing of the river, so I led the troops to quietly approach the city."

As a result, when I arrived on the outskirts of the city, I sent people into the city to reconnoitre, but I was surprised to find that the defenders in the city were pitifully few, and there were less than a company of troops. Seeing that the defenders of the city were so empty, I knew that the opportunity was rare, so I immediately organized my troops to attack the city.

Our attack overwhelmed the defenders of the city. After only ten minutes of fighting, we settled the battle, and except for a few enemies who were killed, the rest laid down their arms and surrendered to us. ”

"What, after only ten minutes of fighting, the battle was resolved?" If Sederikov was not a subordinate I was familiar with, then I would definitely think that he was talking nonsense and lying about the military situation, and the Germans were not paper paste, even if a company faced an attack by a regiment, it would not have resisted for only ten minutes before surrendering. So I asked in an accentuated tone: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, is what you said true?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Shedelikov obviously heard the suspicion in my tone, and quickly explained: "Although the German army has a company of troops in the city, there are actually as many as a dozen numbers, so in the face of our sudden attack, it is impossible to organize effective resistance. ”

"I see." Listening to Sederikov explain the reason, I couldn't help but secretly sigh in my heart that his luck was really good, I thought that the capture of Kanifu would go through a fierce battle, but I didn't expect that he encountered a group of rabble, and ended the battle in just ten minutes, and successfully occupied Kanivo. However, in order to prevent this unlucky regiment commander from underestimating the enemy, I specially told him on the phone: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, at present the 52nd Guards Division has not completely occupied the positions of the German troops, and the battle continues. You immediately draw your troops and send them to the river to support the 52nd Guards Division, trying to destroy the enemy as quickly as possible. ”

After I gave this order, I was afraid that he would be hot-headed for a moment, so I sent all my troops out, and hurriedly added: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, let me remind you that although I have ordered you to send troops to the river to support friendly forces, they must not affect the defense of the city. I don't want to see the enemy by the river be wiped out and the city retaken by the enemy. ”

"Comrade Commander, don't worry." Sederikov confidently said to me: "I will immediately send two battalions to the river to support the friendly forces, and leave the most combat-ready battalion in the city, and the enemy will never enter Kaniv again." ”

I put down the phone and remembered that Baksov had sent two regiments of troops to assist the 52nd Guards Division in the capture of Kanivo. But now that the Shederikov regiment has captured the city, it doesn't matter much whether the other regiment comes or not, on the contrary, it can be used in a more important position.

Thinking of this, I picked up the phone and contacted Baksov, who was staying at the landing site. As soon as I heard Baksov's voice, I asked straight to the point: "Comrade division commander, how many troops do you still have in your hands?" ”

After hesitating for a moment, Baksov replied: "Comrade commander, I still have an infantry regiment in my hands, and some divisions directly under the troops, about 3,000 people. ”

"Can you go into battle right away?" I asked briefly.

My question silenced Baksov for a long time, and then he asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, I would like to know how the fighting is going in Kanivo?" The two regiments I sent, were they routed by the Germans? ”

"Crushed?" Hearing Baksov's concern, I couldn't help but smile and say: "Comrade division commander, where do you want to go." Do you know that Kanivo is now occupied by the Sederikov regiment, and the other regiment has not yet entered the battle? ”

"What, Kanifu is occupied by our troops?" Baksov's voice of surprise came from the earpiece, and after a moment he asked me in a puzzled tone: "Comrade commander, since Kanivo has been occupied by our troops, why do you still ask me if my troops can immediately enter the battle?" ”

"Kanivo has been captured, but we will attack Cherkasy next." I looked at the flaming river in the distance, and said: "You immediately lead your troops down the river, and lurk near Cherkasy, ready to cooperate with the attacking force I have sent to retake the city from the Germans. ”

Baksov then asked: "Comrade commander, what will happen to the landing ground after the departure of our division?" ”

"Hand over the landing field to General Kravchenko's motorized regiment," I said somewhat disapprerovingly, "and we've taken Kanivo anyway, and that landing field is of little use." ”

After Baksov's call, I walked to the lookout and asked Nekrasov, who was standing there observing the battle: "Comrade division commander, how is the situation, has your division not completely occupied the positions by the river?" ”

"It's coming soon," said Nekrasov with some excitement: "Comrade commander, almost all of our river-crossing troops have landed on the opposite bank, and I think that in another half an hour at most, or even less, we will be able to seize all the positions along the river." ”

Seeing that it was only a matter of time before the enemy was eliminated by the river, I began to think about the next step in my plan of action. After staring at the map in front of me for a while, I looked up and asked Guttman: "Comrade General, do you have troops in your tank corps who can build pontoon bridges?" ”

Guttman walked over from the lookout, nodded and said, "Yes, our army has a boat bridge battalion. After General Nekrasov's troops have eliminated the defenders on the river, I can transfer the boat bridge battalion to erect the pontoon bridge. ”

"Comrade General, come and see." I pointed to the map and said, "I want your boat battalion to erect a pontoon bridge here as soon as possible, the kind where tanks can pass." ”

"Isn't Canifu already occupied by us?" Hearing me say this, Guttman asked, somewhat puzzled, "Even without my tank troops, you can enter the city without any problems?" ”

"We took Canivo, but it wasn't enough. Next, we have to attack Cherkasy. I told him about my next plan of action: "You see, after crossing the river from here, your tank brigade can go south along the road and go straight to Cherkasy, thirty kilometers away, and take advantage of the enemy's unfortunate moment, and cooperate with the 67th Guards Division, which is hiding there, to quickly seize the city. ”

After looking at the map for a while, Guttman said with some embarrassment: "Comrade commander, with all due respect, your plan may be difficult to implement. ”

"Why?" I asked, frowning.

"Think about it, even if we seize the position on the other side of the river, let the Boat Bridge Battalion drive over and build a bridge. Even if the bridge was built as fast as possible, it would take at least two hours to complete a pontoon bridge that would allow tanks to pass through. Guttman pointed to me with possible difficulties: "It will take at least an hour for the tank brigade to complete the assembly on the opposite bank through the pontoon bridge. Then add in the build-up of infantry and the trucks that are ready to carry the troops, which will also have to be delayed for an hour or two. By the time we arrived at Cherkasy after a long journey, it was estimated that the Germans had already prepared for defense. ”

Hearing that he was worried that we would be delayed too long, so that the Germans would perceive our actions and prepare for defense accordingly, my furrowed brow furrowed, "Don't worry, Comrade General. I intend to wait for your tanks to cross the river, and then immediately rush along the road to Cherkasy. ”

"What, let our tanks rush directly at Cherkasy?" Guttman was taken aback when he heard me say this, and he asked, "Don't you need the cover of the infantry?" ”

I shook my head and replied: "Comrade General, at present the enemy's defense system is full of holes, and they could not have imagined that we would immediately turn south and attack Cherkasy after we had just captured Kanivo. So even without the cover of the infantry, you were able to rush to the city of Cherkasy without any problems. ”

Guttman stared at me intently, as if trying to see if I was joking with him. In the face of his preoccupied gaze, I didn't turn my eyes elsewhere, because that would be considered a sign of weakness of heart.

After staring at me for a while, he let out a long sigh, nodded heavily, and replied, "Okay, Comrade Commander, since you said so, then I will inform the Funaqiao battalion to come over as soon as possible." ”

While Gottman was communicating with his Boatbridge Battalion on the intercom, I received a call from Chistyakov from the headquarters: "Comrade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lukin's 375th Infantry Division has arrived, do you need me to send them to Kanifu to support you?" ”

"No, Comrade Deputy Commander." Only then did I remember that I had not yet had time to inform Chistyakov of the capture of Kanivo, and hurriedly added: "Kanivo has been occupied by our troops, and the next target of the troops is Cherkasy downstream. So let's cross the river with Lukin's troops from the landing ground occupied by General Kravchenko and go down the river to take part in the battle for the capture of Cherkasy. ”

"What, Kanifu has been captured by our army?" Hearing this, Chistyakov could not help but exclaim: "My God, you have only been to the river for a few hours, and you have brought us such amazing news. Is it true, did our army really occupy Kanivo? ”

Hearing Chistyakov's incredulous tone, I replied with a smile: "Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sederykov originally wanted to lead his regiment to harass the defenders of the city and relieve the pressure on our river-crossing troops. Unexpectedly, there was only one company of defenders in the city, and it was cobbled together by several units that were not subordinate to each other, and such troops had no combat effectiveness, so they only took ten minutes to successfully occupy the city. ”

"Have we occupied all the positions of the German army on the river?" Chistyakov asked tentatively.

"It's a pity, Comrade Deputy Commander, the fighting by the river continues." I glanced again at the battlefield where the battle was still raging in the distance, and then said: "But I have ordered Sederikov to send troops to attack from behind the enemy, and I believe that it will not be long before the enemy on the banks of the Kanifu River will be completely destroyed. ”

"By the way, Comrade Commander, there is one more thing I forgot to report to you." Chistyakov continued: "The commanders of the divisions, who were marching on the road, sent a telegram saying that it was possible for them to arrive at us before twelve o'clock in the afternoon. Not sure how you plan to arrange them? ”

"The troops must have been very tired after marching overnight and walking such a long way." Considering that even if these troops were dragged directly to the river, they might not be able to participate in the battle for the time being, and on the contrary, it would make the place chaotic, so I resolutely ordered: "Let you rest in the city, and wait until after four o'clock in the afternoon, and then decide where to deploy them according to the situation." ”

As time passed, the gunfire along the river gradually stopped. I saw through the binoculars that some of the surviving German soldiers, seeing that there was no point in resisting any longer, came out of their hiding places with their hands raised and surrendered to our fighters.

At this moment, the commander of the 100th tank brigade, Colonel Villadelle, hurriedly ran in, and after raising his hand to salute me and Gutman, he excitedly reported: "Comrade commander, comrade commander, under the cover of our brigade's artillery fire, friendly troops have managed to land on the opposite bank and destroy all the enemy. I have come here to ask, what is the next combat mission of our 100th tank brigade? (To be continued.) )