"Comrade Commander, if all those who participated in the war were our troops, we could accurately identify the enemy and me without changing the paint and covering the red flag." General Poluboyarov said confidently: "This is our secret skill."
Sokov was hard to believe in General Poluboyarov's statement: "If you don't change the paint and don't cover the red flag, can you identify the enemy and me?"
"Of course." General Poluboyarov said proudly: "We tank soldiers have a complete way to complete the identification of the enemy and me without making any changes."
General Poluboyarov's words gave Sokov a new idea. He knew that friendly forces were carrying out counterattacks in the Oboyan area and trying to drive the enemy across the Pena River. If Poluboyarov's troops could really complete the identification of the enemy and me without changing any marks, then they could make full use of this to achieve the goal of driving the enemy across the Pena River.
Thinking of this, he said to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately contact General Katukov and said I had something important to discuss with him."
The phone was quickly connected, and Katukov's kind voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Sokov, do you have any important matters? Do you want to discuss with me?"
"Comrade General," Sokov was still very impressed by the tank general with great military achievements. He said respectfully: "I heard that you are still attacking the German army entrenched along the Pena River?"
"Yes, the enemy's defense is very strong and the fighting is very tenacious. None of the attacks we launched can achieve ideal results." After briefly speaking, Katukov asked back: "Comrade Sokov, what are you asking about this?"
"Comrade General, I have a way to eliminate the enemies by the Pena River as soon as possible, but it requires your cooperation."
If others say this, Katukov might think he is bragging, but Sokov is a man who has repeatedly created miracles. Since he said that there is a way to break through the enemy's defense and eliminate the enemies entrenched by the Pena River, he will definitely be able to do it. He took a deep breath and tried his best to ask in a steady tone: "Comrade Sokov, do you have any good solutions?"
"Yes, Comrade General, I do have a good idea, but for safety reasons, I cannot talk to you on the phone." Sokov asked cautiously: "Can I go to your headquarters to interview you?"
"Yes." Katukov felt that Sokov did this, probably because it was a big deal. He didn't say it on the phone, because he was worried about leaking the secret, so he nodded and replied: "My command is on the east side of Oboyan, and I will send someone to pick you up."
After Sokov put down the phone, he said to Poluboyarov: "Comrade General, call your chief of staff immediately and order him to draw a group of skilled tank soldiers, but receive the captured tanks. Also, bring your mechanized brigade and whether you can destroy the enemies entrenched by the Pena River depends entirely on you."
Although General Poluboyarov did not understand why Sokov issued such an order, he still followed his order and called his chief of staff, ordering the other party to draw personnel, but took over the seized tanks, and then transferred the mechanized brigade to the south and prepare for combat.
On the way to Katukov Command, General Poluboyarov couldn't help but ask curiously: "Comrade Commander, what are you going to destroy the enemies entrenched by the Pena River?"
Seeing that he was the only one in the car, General Poluboyarov, Samoilov and the driver, and believed that what he said would not be leaked, Sokov was relieved and boldly explained his plan to General Poluboyarov in detail.
After listening to Sokov's story, General Poluboyarov widened his eyes in surprise. He looked at Sokov and murmured: "Comrade Commander, your plan is so bold. I think no one except you can come up with such a bold battle plan."
"Comrade General," Sokov asked with a smile, "Do you think my plan can break through the enemy's defense?"
"No problem, no problem." General Poluboyarov shook his head first, then nodded vigorously and said, "If General Katukov can agree to let his troops cooperate, then the chance of success is at least 80%.
"Comrade General, I can come up with a good combat plan, but the person who implements the plan is your army." Sokov asked cautiously: "Can you complete this task?"
"Don't worry, comrade Commander." General Poluboyarov patted his chest and assured Sokov: "We will never let you down."
When Sokov was riding in the car, he arrived at Major General Grizenko's original division headquarters, a soldier in a uniform of a tank soldier came forward. He raised his hand to salute Sokov and said, "General Sokov, I am here to welcome you on the commander's order."
After nodding to him, Sokov asked with a smile: "Comrade Commander, how far is this place from your Army Command?"
"Not less than eight kilometers." The tank soldier replied expressionlessly: "You can arrive in more than twenty minutes by car."
When Sokov learned that Katukov's army command was only eight kilometers away, he was still secretly surprised. Katukov placed his command so close to the front, so why didn't he worry about danger? He politely said to the tank soldier: "Comrade Commander, please lead us quickly. I have an urgent matter and need to see General Katukov immediately."
Half an hour later, Sokov appeared in Katukov's command center. Here, in addition to Katukov, there were many commanders carrying the star on their shoulders. When he saw Sokov enter the door, Katukov immediately stepped forward and gave him a warm hug: "Comrade Sokov, welcome the command center you are here."
After Sokov introduced him to General Poluboyarov, he also introduced the generals standing by the table to Sokov one by one. Through his introduction, Sokov realized that these people were the commanders of the 6th Tank Army, the 31st Tank Army and the 3rd Mechanized Army.
"Comrade Sokov," after each other's introduction and exchanged a few more greetings, Katukov went straight to the topic: "You just said on the phone that there is a way to break through the enemy's defense and let them all go across the Pena River. Are you saying true?"
"Yes, Comrade General. I have a way to drive the enemy across the Pena River, but you need your cooperation."
Katukov knew that Sokov would definitely involve cooperation between the two armies when he ran to him, so he nodded and said, "Tell me your plan first. If it works, I will definitely let my troops cooperate with you."
Sokov came to the map and looked at the enemy-we-stance map above. Then he picked up the explanation stick leaning against the wall and pointed at Katukov and said, "General Katukov, I hope you will continue to send troops to attack the enemy's positions..."
"Comrade Commander," Sokov just said this, and was interrupted by the commander of the 3rd Mechanized Army. He said to Katukov: "Our army has been attacking the enemy, but because the enemy has strong fortifications, our offense has never been able to make progress. If we still want to continue the attack, what will the friendly forces do?"
"Comrade General," Sokov said politely after he finished speaking: "Please listen to me and express your opinion, okay?"
"Listen to Comrade Sokov," Katukov was eager to understand Sokov's plan. After stopping his subordinates, he gestured to Sokov and said politely: "Please continue!"
Sokov nodded and continued to say, "When your troops attacked the enemy's positions, suddenly a German armored unit emerged from behind, and there were groups of infantry behind the armored units. Your attack on the enemy immediately collapsed..."
"How could Germans emerge from behind us?" The commander of the mechanized army was anxious when he heard Sokov say this: "Can the other troops watch the enemy trampling our way?"
Katukov raised his hand again to stop his subordinates from talking, and asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Sokov, if I was not wrong, you are planning to let your troops pretend to be Germans, right?"
"It's totally correct, Comrade General." Seeing that Katukov guessed his intentions at once, Sokov was very pleased. Talking to smart people was a relief. He continued: "After our fake German army appears, we will fire guns and artillery at your defeated troops, so as not to be seen by the enemy. After the enemy's suspicion is eliminated, they can enter the enemy's defense zone with great swagger and launch unexpected attacks to achieve the goal of seizing the enemy's position."
Seeing the expression of confusion in everyone's eyes, Sokov quickly smiled and added, "Don't worry, comrades in command, after our tank troops appeared, the targets of the attack were mainly those tanks that had been destroyed. For the still-intact tanks, high-explosive bombs were used to attack. Although it was shockingly bombed, it could not destroy our tanks. As for infantry, they would shoot at the sky and try not to hurt their own people by chance."
Katukov pondered for a long time about the combat plan proposed by Sokov, and then asked: "Comrade Sokov, I want to ask, where do you go to build so many German tanks. You must know that our tanks are different from those of the German tanks. Even if they are replaced with the same paint, they will be seen through at a glance."
"Comrade General, you don't have to worry about this." Sokov explained with a smile: "We seized 29 tanks in the battle to annihilate the Imperial Division. We can use these tanks to pretend to be the German armored forces. As for infantry, there is no need to worry about it. The military uniforms we seized are enough to arm one or two brigades."
"Your plan is good, but there are still many flaws," Katukov said cautiously: "If someone among the Germans observes carefully, they will definitely find the problem."
"What's the problem?" Sokov was stunned when he heard Katukov say this. He thought about this plan several times and took into account all the issues that should be considered. How could there be any problems? Thinking of this, he asked tentatively: "Comrade General, I don't know where there are flaws."
"You said that when infantry charge, they use shooting to the sky to avoid unnecessary casualties, which is the biggest flaw." Katukov explained to Sokov: "You have been fighting for a long time, and none of them fell down. If it were any, anyone would be suspicious."
Sokov felt that Katukov's words made sense, so he humbly asked him: "Comrade General, then what should we do to make up for this flaw."
"Since it's a war, there will definitely be casualties. Not only the enemy, but also the own people will also have great casualties." Katukov said: "When both sides meet, they can raise the muzzle one inch higher and shoot, so that they can avoid accidentally hurting their own people. The commanders and fighters who rushed to the front, after hearing the gunshots, would be best to fall down a group of people and hide in nearby bullet craters while they fell to the ground, so as not to be accidentally crushed by tanks."
As soon as Katukov finished speaking, Sokov immediately realized the scene of the battle: troops wearing German and Soviet uniforms fired fire at a distance of not far away, and people kept falling to the ground and rolling into nearby bullet craters.
"Also," Katukov continued: "I can order people to release smoke behind some faulty tanks. Your fake German armored troops can shoot at the smoked tanks. Whether you use armor-piercing bombs or don't understand it, in short, the more lively the better it is, the better it will make the Germans in the position completely believe that this is a force breaking out from the rear of our army."
"This plan is amazing." The commander of the 31st Tank Army said to Katukov: "Comrade Commander, I think you will hand over the feint attack mission to Colonel Inov's 100th Tank Brigade. After a series of battles, many of the tanks had malfunctions. In my opinion, these tanks can be driven onto the battlefield as targets for friendly tanks."
After discussing some details with Sokov, Katukov asked: "Comrade Sokov, when will your tank troops be put into the battlefield?"
Sokov turned to General Poluboyarov and asked, "Comrade General, when will your troops be put into battle?"
Poluboyarov raised his hand and looked at his watch, then straightened his body and reported to Sokov: "I think we can put ourselves in the battle in two hours at the latest."
"Very good." Sokov nodded with satisfaction to General Poluboyarov's reply, and then continued: "But when the troops march, it is best to have troops in our uniforms escorts in front and behind, so as not to cause unnecessary misunderstandings."
"Don't worry, comrade Commander." General Poluboyarov grinned: "I will never make such a low-level mistake, and I will ensure that all the troops will be safely brought to the starting point of the offensive."
"Also, before you set out, you must check whether the ammunition and fuel of those German tanks are sufficient." Sokov reminded with some concern: "If it is not enough, remember to replenish it in time."
"Comrade Sokov, since your troops will not arrive in two hours, I will postpone the upcoming attack time and wait until you arrive at the designated position before attacking the enemy."
Chapter completed!