Red Moscow

After hanging up the phone, Rokossovsky stared at the map for a long time. The more he looked at it, the more he felt that Sokov's plan was a stroke of genius. If the troops deployed in Luhansk launched an attack on Donetsk by surprise, the German army, who was worried about being taken back, would completely disrupt the attack plan for the Kharkov region.

Thinking of this, he ordered the director of the communications corps to help him connect to Moscow. When he heard Boskrebyshev's voice coming from the receiver, he hurriedly said in a friendly manner: "Hello, Boskrebyshev, please help me pick up Comrade Stalin's office. I have important information to send." Report to him."

"General Rokossovsky, Comrade Stalin is listening to the report of Deputy Chief of Staff General Antonov." Boskrebyshev said coldly: "I'm afraid I can't answer your call for the time being."

Knowing that Stalin was approaching the deputy chief of staff at this moment, Rokossovsky must have something to do with the situation in Kharkov, so he hurriedly said: "Comrade Poskrebyshev, the work I want to report is also related to the situation in Kharkov. Relevant. Please help me get through to Comrade Stalin immediately, I believe he will be happy after listening to my report."

Now that Rokossovsky has already said this, it is obviously inappropriate not to help transfer the phone call. Poskrebyshev can only say a word into the microphone: "Please wait a moment, I will Go to Comrade Stalin for instructions."

Poskrebyshev carefully placed the microphone on the table, went to the door, knocked lightly twice, and before there was a sound from inside, he opened the door and walked in.

Stalin, who was reprimanding Antonov, heard someone walk in. He turned his head and saw that it was Poskrebyshev. He asked displeasedly, "Do you have anything to do?"

"Comrade Stalin, General Rokossovsky called," Poskrebyshev reported blankly, "He said he has something important to report to you immediately."

"Is there anything more important than the battle situation in the direction of Kharkov?" Stalin pointed at Poskrebyshev with his hand holding the pipe, and said, "I still have something to do now, let him Call back in half an hour."

"Comrade Stalin, General Rokossovsky said that he was going to report to you about Kharkov. He even said that you would feel better after listening to his report."

Antonov heard what Poskrebyshev said, and immediately realized that Rokossovsky might have found a way to reverse the unfavorable occupation of Kharkov, and quickly said to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, I request Listen to General Rokossovsky's report first, maybe he can surprise you."

Stalin, who was still a little hesitant, nodded when he heard what Antonov said, and said to Poskrebyshev, "Come in."

As soon as the phone on the desk rang, Stalin grabbed the receiver and stuck it to his ear: "I am Stalin, General Rokossovsky. I hope you tell me good news."

"Comrade Stalin, I spoke to Major General Sokov, the commander of the combat group in Lugansk, about ten minutes ago," Rokossovsky said bluntly, "He asked me developed a plan to reverse the unfavorable situation in the direction of Kharkov."

"Major General Sokov?" Stalin asked in confusion, "Who is he?"

"Comrade Stalin," Antonov quickly explained to him, "it is Misha, the son of your old comrade-in-arms. Just promoted him from colonel to major general."

"I really didn't expect that, if I didn't pay attention, this little Xiaosha would become a general." Stalin learned that Sokov was making a plan again, and guessed that the plan proposed by the other party might be helpful to reverse the war in Kharkov's direction. So he asked anxiously: "Konstantin Konstantinovich, tell me quickly, what suggestion did Misha give you?"

"Comrade Stalin, according to the information we have, the enemy has concentrated their main force in the direction of Kharkov and Belgorod, and is fighting fiercely with our Voronezh Front Army." Rokossovsky reported to Stalin Said: "Major General Sokov found that the enemy's garrison in Donetsk was greatly weakened, so he proposed a bold plan to attack Donetsk immediately and seize the city from the enemy. .As long as our offensive starts, the Germans who are attacking in the direction of Kharkov will definitely withdraw part of their troops to defend for fear that our army will steal their back. In this way, the enemy's strength in attacking Kharkov It will be weakened, thereby reducing the pressure on our army."

After hearing this, Stalin did not express his opinion immediately, but looked at Antonov who was standing in front of him: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, tell me, is this plan made by Misha feasible?"

"Comrade Stalin, please look at the map." Antonov pushed a map on the desk in front of Stalin and explained to him: "If Sukov's troops successfully occupy Donets K, then the rear of the German army, which controls the Red Army village-Pavlograd line, will be threatened. Moreover, they can move westward at any time and cut off the German army’s supplies from the direction of Zaporozhye.”

"So, as long as Misha's troops launch an attack on Donetsk and capture the city, will it be possible to disrupt the German army's attack on Kharkov and win a precious respite for our troops? "

"Exactly, Comrade Stalin."

Hearing Antonov speak in such an affirmative tone, Stalin brought the microphone close to his ear again, and said: "Konstantin Konstantin, I have discussed the proposal proposed by the deputy chief of staff with Misha, and I think it is still Give it a try. When is he going to attack the defenders of Donetsk?"

"There is a distance of nearly 100 kilometers from Lugansk to Donetsk. Even if the troops start marching overnight, they will have to wait until the day after tomorrow at the earliest to reach Donetsk." Rokossovsky calculated in his mind. After a while, he replied: "If all goes well, they will attack the enemy the night after tomorrow."

"What, wait until the night after tomorrow?" Hearing the time Rokossovsky said, Stalin became a little anxious. From the analysis of the information just obtained, some troops can last until tomorrow night, which is already the limit. He tentatively asked: "Can you advance the attack time? Also, why did they attack at night?"

"The reason is simple." Although Rokossovsky is willing to provide air support to Sokov's troops, today's air force, like the army's armored forces, lacks fuel and ammunition, so he said euphemistically: "Our air force Due to the lack of fuel and ammunition, they cannot provide them with air cover. If you want to reduce the casualties during the attack without air cover, you can only choose the time of attack at night."

"I will immediately notify the Logistics Department, so that they can replenish fuel and ammunition to your subordinate Air Force Group Army as soon as possible." After Stalin made a promise to Rokossovsky, he specially emphasized: "I hope that the troops of Misha, Be sure to attack Donetsk before dark tomorrow."