Red Moscow

For Sokov, being able to contain the five most elite German divisions was a great victory.

In the real history, the Soviet army who stood firm in Kharkov gave up unnecessary resistance on March 15 and carried out a breakout operation eastward. After losing a large number of soldiers and discarding countless technical equipment, the Soviet army withdrew to the left bank of the North Donets River on March 17, and incorporated it into the Southwest Front Army on the spot. On March 18, the Great Germanic Division of the Wehrmacht captured Belgorod.

It is now March 21, and Kharkov and Belgorod, which should have fallen long ago, are still in the hands of the Soviet army. The three SS divisions occupying Kharkov were huddled in Barvinkovo ​​to lick their wounds after being severely damaged by Sokov's troops. The Great Germanic Division of the Wehrmacht was more than 200 kilometers away from Belgorod because it was attacked by the Southwest Front Army. In a word, with the appearance of the butterfly Sokov, the original battlefield situation has been completely messed up.

Sokov knew very well that the longer the delay with the Germans, the more beneficial it would be for the Soviet army. Wait for a while, the ice and snow will start to melt on a large scale, and the road will become more muddy. Coupled with the lack of German troops, the front may stabilize at its current position.

"Comrade Commander," Witkov saw Sokov standing still in front of the map, and couldn't help asking curiously, "What do you think the Germans will do next?"

"Chief of staff, look at it." Sokov pointed to the map and said to Vitkov: "Our left flank is now the 21st Army of General Krylov; and the 64th Army of General Shumilov is now Appearing on our right flank. If the Germans continue to attack our sector, their flanks are in danger of being attacked."

Witkov stared at the map and felt that what Sokov said was very reasonable. Due to the active defense some time ago, the Red Army village that was just a salient part - the Donetsk line, has now become part of the parallel front. . If the German army continues to attack the Red Army Village, it means that their left and right wings will be attacked by friendly forces. It was originally a risky move, but under Sokov's operation, the military became more beneficial to him.

"You're right, Comrade Commander." Seeing that the next situation would be more and more beneficial to the Soviet army, Witkov also showed a smile on his face. He slapped the map with his hand and said excitedly: "As long as the Voronezh Front Army can defend Kharkov-Belgorod, then the enemies in Igyum and Barvinkovo ​​will be in our arc." within the encirclement."

Lunev, who knew little about military affairs, also came over to watch the excitement when he heard the two talk so lively. He listened for a while, pointed to the left bank of the North Donne River, and said to the two: "You don't know yet, the First Guards Tank Army of General Katukov will be stationed in Oboyan today. In this way , The German army is unable to break through our army's defense line on the North Donne River."

"Oh, General Katukov's First Guards Tank Army is about to enter Oboyan?" Sokov was overjoyed when he heard that Katukov's troops had arrived. Although there are so many tank generals and tank marshals in the Soviet Union, in Sokov's mind, the most powerful tank commander in the Soviet army is none other than Katukov.

A thought suddenly popped up in his mind, begging Zhukov to let Katukov's troops carry out an assault in the direction of Izyum, defeat the German 48th and 57th Panzer Corps there, and completely eliminate the enemy's attack on Kharkov, Bel Gorod and the danger in the direction of the Red Army Village.

But as soon as his idea came up, he was crushed immediately. Although General Katukov's First Guards Tank Army is a powerful unit in the Soviet army, launching an attack at this time will lead to the failure of the attack due to insufficient material preparation. If this elite force is lost at this moment, then in the Battle of Kursk a few months later, this force will probably only be able to stand by and watch the excitement.

Witkov knew that Sokov had many wonderful ideas, and when he heard that he mentioned General Katukov's tank army, he expected him to say a bold attack plan. But after waiting for a long time, seeing that Sokov still didn't say a word, he asked a little puzzled: "Comrade Commander, do you think it is possible for General Katukov's troops to assist us in launching an attack on Izyum? "

"No." Regarding Witkov's proposal, Sokov shook his head and rejected: "We cannot win if we launch an attack at this moment."

"Why?"

"The reason is very simple." Sokov pointed to Oboyan's position and said, "General Katukov's troops just arrived here, and I am afraid that many tanks have problems. If they are not repaired, they cannot be put into battle. And they don't have too much ammunition and fuel. If they rush to attack without any preparation, it will be difficult to achieve the desired results. In addition, it is the season of melting ice and snow, and the muddy The road will make it difficult for our tanks to move, and the German artillery standing on the ground will be able to destroy them all like shooting targets."

Sokov persuaded Witkov, but Lunev on the side had another idea in his mind. He thought that he had just arrived in the Sixth Army and was not yet familiar with the commanders below. If he advocates launching an offensive against the Germans, he will soon become famous within the Sixth Army.

Thinking of this, he slipped out of the headquarters, returned to his residence, and said to a radio operator sitting in the corner: "Contact me immediately with Comrade Beria, I have something important to report to him."

Five or six minutes later, a telegram drafted by Lunev was placed on Beria's desk. After reading the telegram sent by Lunev, Beria walked to the map, carefully checked the situation map of both the enemy and us, returned to his desk, picked up the phone, dialed a number, and said: "Hello, Poskrebyshev! Is Comrade Stalin there?"

Although Poskrebyshev was Stalin's secretary, he was still a little apprehensive towards Beria. After hearing the other party's question, he quickly stood up and replied respectfully: "Yes, Comrade Beria, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief I'm in his office."

"Comrade Poskrebyshev, please tell him that I have something important to report, and I hope he can find time to meet me."

"Okay, Comrade Beria, please wait a moment, I will go to ask him for instructions." After finishing speaking, Poskrebyshev put the microphone on the table, walked into Stalin's office, and asked him for instructions: " Comrade Stalin, Comrade Beria said that there is something important and needs to be reported to you immediately."

"Beria has something to do with me?" Stalin, who was looking at the documents, raised his head when he heard Poskrebyshev's voice and asked in surprise, "What's the matter?"

"He didn't say."

Stalin knew that Beria would not call to see him if he had nothing important to do, so he told Poskrebyshev: "Let him come over."

Boskrebeshe returned to his desk and picked up the microphone on the table: "Comrade Beria, the Supreme Commander himself invites you to come and see him."

A few minutes later, Beria appeared in Stalin's office.

"It's Comrade Beria." Seeing Beria's appearance, Stalin quickly asked him to sit down and asked, "How about it? When are you going to send Paulus to Moscow?"

"Comrade Stalin, this may have to wait for a while." Beria replied: "The place where he and the captured German generals are held is still under construction, and it may take half a month before it can be officially put into use."

"We must find a way to bring him to Moscow as soon as possible." Stalin lowered his head, looked at a document in front of him and said, "According to Rokossovsky's report, there are now German airborne troops near the place where he is being held. , it appears that the Germans are trying to get their field marshal back."

"Understood, Comrade Stalin, I will urge the following to speed up."

"Tell me," Stalin and Beria asked about each other's background after they had finished explaining, "You came here to find me, what's the matter?"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin, I have received a telegram from Lunev."

"Lunev?" Stalin asked tentatively after repeating the name, "Is it the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Lunev who was sent to Misha as a military commissar?"

"That's right, it's him." After confirming Lunev's identity, Stalin said displeasedly, "Did he report something to you?"

"No." Beria quickly replied, "It's an attack plan formulated by Major General Sokov."

Hearing that Sokov made the attack plan, Stalin couldn't help but his eyes lit up, and he asked quickly, "Where is he planning to attack the German army?" Stalin was deeply impressed by the desperate battle. He even felt that as long as there were more people like Sokov in his troops, the Germans would have been driven out of the Soviet Union long ago.

Beria came to the map, pointed to Oboyan's position, and said to Stalin: "According to intelligence, General Katukov's First Guards Tank Army has entered Oboyan. And General Krylov's The 21st Army, General Shumilov's 64th Army, both reached the flanks of Sokov's Sixth Army, that is to say, they have formed parallel fronts in this area."

It was under such circumstances that Major General Sokov formulated this bold battle plan. He wanted General Katukov's First Guards Tank Army to attack from east to west to capture Izyum, while his troops moved north to capture Barvinkovo. As long as this strategic goal can be achieved, the enemy will have no organized troops on the left bank of the Dnieper River. In the following days, they could only retreat to the right bank of the Dnieper River and confront our army. "

After listening to Beria's narration, Stalin nodded slightly. He felt that although this offensive plan was bold, it was not without hope of success, and he could try it. However, this matter is of great importance. He did not make a decision immediately, but said to Beria: "I know. But it is a big matter to launch an attack on the enemy, and we cannot make a decision hastily. Wait for me and the general staff to After the comrades in the Ministry have studied the plan, they will make a decision."

After sending Beria away, Stalin called Antonov: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, please come to my office, I have something to talk to you about."

Taking advantage of Antonov's absence, he called Rokossovsky again. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he asked bluntly, "General Rokossovsky, what do you think of the battle plan drawn up by Misha?"

"Misha's battle plan?" Hearing Stalin's question, Rokossovsky couldn't help being taken aback, and then replied in a daze: "I'm sorry, Comrade Stalin, I don't know what the attack plan is, because Soko Major General Fu did not report to me."

"What, Misha didn't report his attack plan to you?" Hearing Rokossovsky's answer, Stalin also found it quite strange, and he said with some puzzlement, "What's going on?"

"Comrade Stalin," although Rokossovsky did not receive any report from Sokov, he knew very well that Stalin would not ask this question for no reason, and there must be some reason, so he asked quickly: "I want to ask Ask, where did you get this news?"

"It was Lunev, the military commissar of the Sixth Army, who sent a telegram to Beria, informing him of Misha's attack plan. Then Beria reported to me. Why, did you really not get the report? ?”

"No." After Rokossovsky gave the other party a negative answer, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Stalin, can you tell me what kind of offensive plan it is?"

"Misha's attack plan is to have General Katukov's 1st Guards Tank Army attack Igyum from the east from Oboyan, while Misha's troops will attack from the south, pinching the enemy in Izyum .”

Knowing that it was the battle plan reported by Lunev, Rokossovsky immediately guessed what was going on. He quickly covered the phone, called Ma Linin, and told him, "Chief of Staff, call Major General Sokov immediately and ask him if he has any combat plans."

After Malinin left, Rokossovsky removed his hand covering the microphone and continued: "Comrade Stalin, I think Comrade Lunev must have made a mistake. If Sokov had any offensive plan, he would definitely be there. Report to me as soon as possible. I have not received any report from him until now. Therefore, I think that the information you have obtained may be wrong."