Red Moscow

After eradicating the latent forces of the German army in Lugansk, the city became calm again.

There is no danger of war in Lugansk, but in other areas, the situation of the Soviet army has become more difficult. On the evening of March 4, Zhukov received a battle report from the base camp, and learned that two tank corps and three infantry divisions sent by the Voronezh Front Army had fallen into the German Skeleton Division, Imperial Division and Banner Guard west of the Bereka River. Teacher's encirclement.

Seeing Sokov eager to try, Zhukov handed him the battle report he had just received and asked at the same time, "Misha, tell me how our troops can get out of the current predicament."

After reading the battle report, Sokov did not speak. Instead, he walked to the wall and looked up at the map above to carefully study the situation of the enemy and ourselves. After a long time, he turned around and said to Zhukov: "Comrade General, judging from the situation reported in this battle report, the besieged troops, not to mention blocking Paul Hausser's troops, even retreated in an organized manner. It's impossible."

Zhukov knew very well in his heart that Sukov's words were ugly, but the other party's judgment happened to coincide with his own. He smiled bitterly and asked: "So, we can only watch these troops be wiped out by the enemy?"

"I do have a way to give our army a chance." Sokov looked at Zhukov and said, "But first, we need to get in touch with General Rebulk."

"Why contact Rybalko?" Zhukov asked.

"I found out that the 9th and 15th Tank Corps surrounded by the Germans were both General Rybalco's troops."

"Misha, you have observed very carefully." Zhukov showed a gratified smile on his face, "Not only are the two tank armies under Rybarko's command, but he is also commanding the other three infantry divisions."

"That's really great." After Sukov blurted out, realizing that his words might be ambiguous, he quickly explained: "Comrade General, what I mean is that all the troops in the encirclement are under the command of General Rybalko. Then the next thing will be easy.”

"Tell me what you plan to do."

Sokov pushed the map on the table in front of Zhukov, and said to him: "Comrade General, I found an interesting phenomenon. Near the town of Varki in the defense zone of the German Imperial Division, there appeared the Skeleton Division and the Banner Guard Division. Individual unit numbers."

"But, what does this mean?" Zhukov's adjutant said disdainfully, "Maybe Valki Town is the junction of several German divisions."

"Don't interrupt, listen to Misha continue." After Zhukov stopped his adjutant, he said to Sokov with a pleasant face: "Hurry up and speak your mind."

"In Valki Town, only one or two battalion-level numbers of the Skeleton Division and the Banner Guard Division appeared, which proves that this is not the joint of the three divisions." Sokov analyzed to Zhukov: "The reason for such a The situation is that the headquarters of the commander of the German army, Paul Hausser, is located in the town of Varki."

"Misha, what do you think is the chance that Paul Hausser will set up his headquarters in Valkyrie?"

Although Sokov had long learned from the materials of later generations that Paul Hausser's headquarters was located in the town of Varki, but when Zhukov asked him, he did not dare to speak too slowly and could only answer cautiously. Said: "I'm only 50% sure."

"50% certainty is also very good." Zhukov is convinced of Sokov's so-called "analysis". After all, so many facts have proved that Sokov's analysis is basically correct every time. And every time you don't listen to his advice, you will definitely suffer a big loss. "I will get in touch with Rebalco immediately and get him ready for the assault."

"Comrade General, the current location of the 15th Tank Army is the closest to the town of Varki. I suggest that this army carry out an assault on the town before dawn." Sokov recalled that in the official history, the 15th Tank Army's corps The commander died less than 200 meters away from Paul Hausser's headquarters. If the assault force can be increased, even if the German army's headquarters cannot be eliminated, their command system can be disrupted, thereby changing the situation on the battlefield. Bad situation. "However, the tank army's assault is still a little weak. At least two infantry regiments should be sent to fight together."

When Sokov said this, he sighed helplessly and said: "It's a pity that we are too far away from the battlefield, otherwise I could have ordered Colonel Bely's tank brigade to attack the town of Varki and remove the trapped troops from the battlefield." rescued from danger."

Regarding the plan proposed by Sokov, Zhukov did not speak, but stared at the map and thought quietly. In order not to affect Zhukov's work, no one in the headquarters dared to speak loudly, so as not to be scolded by the adjutant.

"Misha." After an unknown amount of time, Zhukov finally raised his head and said to Sokov, "The plan you proposed is too risky. After all, we have not obtained similar information. If it is located in the town of Valkyrie, if you choose the wrong direction to attack, the troops in the encirclement will fall into a situation beyond redemption."

"Comrade General, I understand what you mean." Sokov couldn't tell Zhukov that Paul Hausser's headquarters was located in the town of Varki, which he saw in the materials of later generations, so he could only smile wryly. Said: "I just made a judgment based on some clues. Whether it is accurate or not, I can't guarantee it."

"You can't guarantee it, so why are you talking nonsense?" Seeing that Zhukov didn't say a word, the adjutant started to get angry again: "If you mislead the comrade general to make a wrong decision, causing huge casualties to our army, such consequences, you Can you afford it?"

Regarding the adjutant's questioning, Sokov directly chose to ignore it. He just wanted to hear what kind of decision Zhukov would make. The life and death of the two tank armies and three infantry divisions that were besieged were in Zhukov's hands.

"Misha, I choose to believe you." Zhukov stood up and said to the uneasy Sokov: "I will immediately convey your meaning to Rybalko and ask him to order the 15th Tank Army to send troops to Varba before dawn." No matter whether the enemy's headquarters is in the town of Varki, at least our first attack will disrupt the original deployment of the German army."

Half an hour later, Rybalko, who was trapped west of the Bereka River, received a telegram from Zhukov. He took the telegram and asked his chief of staff: "Chief of staff, tell me, General Zhukov is far away in Rybalko. How did he judge that Paul Hausser's headquarters will be located in the town of Varki?"

"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff said to Rybalko after looking at the call code on the telegram, "according to the code on the telegram, Comrade General is in Lugansk at the moment. It is said that Colonel Sokov is in charge of the defense of that area." Commanding combat cluster, I think this judgment should be made by Colonel Sokov."

If Rybalko heard that this judgment was made by others, he would probably scoff at it, but when he heard that it might be Sokov's analysis, he had to pay attention. He said to the chief of staff: "Chief of staff, I have heard General Golikov, the commander of the front army, mention Sokov more than once, saying that he is a great commander. In the battle to defend Stalingrad, the nearly The 41st Guards Division, like a gate, firmly blocked Mamayev Hill, even if the enemy launched countless attacks, it would not be able to cross this hill.

If it was his judgment, I would choose to believe it. Now, you immediately call the two tank commanders and the three infantry division commanders and ask them to rush to the headquarters immediately. We need to hold an emergency meeting as soon as possible. "

Two hours before dawn, the 15th Tank Corps, which was only five kilometers away from Valki, launched a surprise attack on the town.