Red Moscow

The person who feels the most depressed today is none other than General Vatutin, the commander of the Voronezh Front Army. The Germans attacked both north and south of Kursk, holding Rokossovsky in the north, successfully blocking Model's Ninth Army. However, the southern line was opened by the German army, breaking through three lines of defense in the Oboyan area in succession.

Seeing that Sokov's troops appeared in the sky, they successfully blocked the enemy's detour to Kursk, and the two army groups assigned to him by his superiors also successively reached the Prokhorovka area, fully capable of Here the Germans were dealt a devastating blow.

But as soon as the two sides fought, the 2nd Tank Army under the 5th Guards Tank Army confronted the German tanks, which were far inferior to their own, but suffered huge casualties. If it hadn't been for the 678th Heavy Artillery Regiment deployed nearby to fire in time, I am afraid that the loss of the tank army would be even greater.

During the discussion at the headquarters, Deputy Commander Apanashenko pointed to the map and said to Vatutin: "Comrade Commander, I think there are many reasons for the failure of the tank battle today, but if deployed in Pusho If Erhe’s 27th Army can enter the position one day earlier, they can suddenly break out from the enemy’s side when the tanks of the enemy and us are engaged in battle, inflicting heavy damage on the enemy, thereby reducing the loss of our army.”

Hearing Apanashenko criticizing Sokov, Vatutin showed an embarrassing expression on his face. He knew very well that if Sokov's troops hadn't appeared in the Shumakovo area in time, blocking the German army Step forward. Presumably at this time, the forward of the German army has reached the city of Kursk, but the troops sticking to the Oboyan area have also fallen into the encirclement of the German army. At that time, the troops on the southern front may collapse.

"General Apanashenko," as soon as Apanashenko finished speaking, Military Commissar Khrushchev frowned and said: "As far as I know, after receiving the order, Major General Sokov's troops Immediately advance to the Pushol River at the fastest speed. One of the troops entered the left bank of the Pushol River that night and built a simple defensive position there.

Last night, some German troops seized the bridge over the Pushol River. After tenacious fighting, Sokov's troops have wiped out this group of enemies and completely smashed the enemy's plot to cross the Pushol River. "

"Comrade Military Commissar is right." Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ivanov also had a good impression of Sokov. After hearing what Khrushchev said, he immediately echoed: "Think about it, everyone, if it wasn't for the first The troops of the 27th Army appeared in the Shumakovo area in time to block the enemy's northward advance. I think the troops of the Front Army have been divided into several pieces at this moment. Today's defeat against German tanks, I find this statement completely irresponsible."

Apanashenko never dreamed that he just criticized Sokov tactfully, and Khrushchev and Ivanov would help him speak well. He smiled bitterly, and then asked Vatutin: "Comrade commander, what do you think? Don't you think that if the 27th Army can reach the designated position earlier, the situation in the Prokhorovka area will become more powerful. Our army?"

"Comrade Deputy Commander, what you said makes sense." Vatutin stood in a neutral position and said impartially: "However, they received the order relatively late, and they arrived in such a short time. , it’s already very difficult, we can’t be too demanding of them.”

Seeing that all the chiefs of the front army were speaking for Sokov, Apanashenko felt that he was isolated. He didn't have much affection for Sokov at first, but at this moment, he felt even more disgusted.

Seeing Apanashenko's pensive look, Vatutin asked curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, what are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking about Sokov?" Apanashenko said with a sneer, "I don't deny that he has some abilities, but he didn't do well in observing discipline. For example, his troops Before entering Shumakovo, he didn't say hello to us at all, and just drove a division of troops over. As a commander, doesn't he know that he can't make his own decisions without getting orders from his superiors? ?"

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Ivanov retorted as soon as Apanashenko had finished speaking: "If you have to wait for an order from your superiors before ordering troops to enter Shumakovo, then this person is not Sokov. He has a keen observation ability, can judge the next move of the Germans based on some clues, and deploy troops according to the actual situation. In the past two years, every time he deploys, it is very important. It can be said that he predicts things like a god. And our enemies basically implement their combat plans according to his analysis."

"Comrade Chief of Staff is right." Khrushchev said with a smile: "I once joked with him, saying that he must have installed bugs in the enemy's high command to be able to grasp the movements of the German army so accurately... ..."

It was originally a post-war summary meeting, but somehow the topic came to Sokov. Both Khrushchev and Ivanov have always praised him, while Aparnashchenko was nitpicking on some minor issues because Sokov had offended him.

As for Vatutin, he has been talking with each other: "I think Sukov is a great commander even though he is young. But since he is young, it is inevitable that there will be shortcomings of one kind or another. We senior The commanders can neither focus on some of his shortcomings, nor can they only see his advantages and applaud him unanimously."

"Well, comrades, no matter what kind of person Major General Sokov is, we shouldn't focus on him now." Vatutin tapped the map on the table with his fist and said: "It's time to discuss how to hit the enemy hard in the Prokhorovka area tomorrow."

Hearing what Vatutin said, Ivanov remembered his responsibility, and quickly pointed to the map and began to explain: "Because our army's 7th Guards Army is constantly attacking the German flanks, the enemy has to withdraw troops. Come to fight our army. Now the German army can continue to advance northward, only the 6th Panzer Division is left, and our army's 69th Army is standing in front of them. If they want to continue to advance, they must go through An uphill battle."

Apanashenko spent the whole day wandering around the various units at the front, and he didn't understand the overall battle. After listening to what Ivanov said, he asked tentatively: "Then can we stop them?"

Seeing that Apanashenko asked such unlevel words, Ivanov gave him a strange look, and then continued, so Khrushchev who was present had just returned from Moscow not long ago, and he was very concerned about what happened here. If he doesn't understand something, it is necessary to explain it in detail so that he can report it to Moscow accurately.

"In today's fighting, the 94th and 92nd Guards Divisions of the 69th Army and the 305th Rifle Division severely damaged the German 6th Armored Division. 47. Obviously, due to the active actions of the 7th Guards Army, the enemy had to send the 7th and 19th Armored Divisions to deal with our attack. Once the help of these two armored divisions was lost, the German 1st The 6 Armored Division was unable to move on.

At present, the 7th Armored Division of the German Army on the right is busy coping with the continuous attacks of our army; while the 81st Guards Infantry Division and the 375th Infantry Division on the left flank of the German Army chose to take the initiative to avoid being encircled by the German army. The retreat, which is what makes the German 19th Panzer Division, may be used tomorrow to attack north. "

"The situation is very serious, comrades commanders." After listening to Ivanov's explanation, Khrushchev sighed heavily, looked around and asked, "What should we do to completely smash the German army's northward attack?" What about the advancing conspiracy?"

"Comrade Khrushchev, the situation is worse than you can imagine." Vatutin interjected, "According to the information we have, the German Second Panzer Army is moving towards Prokhorovka on a large scale. Don't It can be seen that the Imperial Division has been hit hard by the 27th Army, but the remaining Banner Guard Division and Skeleton Division are still our strong enemies."

As soon as Vatutin finished speaking, the telephone on the desk rang. Ivanov picked up the microphone and pressed it to his ear, and said loudly: "I am Lieutenant General Ivanov, the chief of staff. Where are you? ... What, do you need a reserve team? ... I understand, I will immediately put Report this matter to Comrade Commander!"

Speaking of this, Ivanov covered the microphone with his hand, and said to Vatutin who was standing aside: "It's Major General Kryuchenkin, commander of the 69th Army, who said that he wanted to block the German attack today." , has put the only reserve infantry division, the 375th Infantry Division, into battle, and I hope you can replenish them with reserves."

"Reserve team?" Hearing what Ivanov said, Vatutin couldn't help but wryly said with a smile: "Where can I find him a reserve team now? Order him to hold his ground firmly and not retreat a single step."

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Ivanov let go of his hand covering the microphone and said, "General Kryuchenkin, Comrade Commander said that now we are nothing more than providing you with a reserve team, and your task is to resolutely Hold your ground firmly, and you are not allowed to retreat a step."

Facing such useless and ambiguous orders, Kryuchenkin couldn't help but wryly smiled again and again, but he still bit the bullet and replied: "Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff, we will definitely hold our ground resolutely, and we will not take a step forward." Back off."

Seeing Kryuchenkin put down the phone, his chief of staff quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, how is the situation? How much reinforcement is the Front Army Command willing to give us?"

"Reinforcement?!" Kryuchenkin smiled uglier than crying: "There is not a single reinforcement, and the superior ordered us to hold the position resolutely, and we are not allowed to retreat a single step."

"Without reinforcements, how can we hold on?" After hearing this, the military committee member of the group army was also furious: "In order to block the enemy's attack today, we put the last reserve team into the battle. If the enemy intensifies the attack tomorrow What kind of strength do we use to block them?"

"Comrade Commander," seeing that the military commissioner was also dissatisfied with this approach of his superiors, the chief of staff felt that a plan he had in mind could be presented to everyone: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Military Commissioner, I have a plan." Bold idea, I don’t know if you want to hear it or not.”

"As long as we can hold our ground, no matter how bold the idea is, I think we should all listen to it." The military commissioner said to the chief of staff: "Comrade chief of staff, just say what you think, even if it is wrong, we will I won't blame you."

"Although we can't get any support from the Front Army Command, we can consider asking other troops for help!"

"Ask for help from other troops?" The military commissioner was immediately discouraged when he heard that it was such an idea: "The enemy is right in front of us, and everyone in the nearby troops is in danger, so how can we care about us?"

"Comrade Military Commissioner, I'm not talking about other troops in the Front Army." Seeing that the Military Commissioner had misunderstood his thoughts, the chief of staff quickly explained to him, "It's another miraculous unit."

"A miraculous army?" The military commissioner asked in surprise: "Comrade Chief of Staff, which army are you talking about? Why have I never heard of it?"

"It's the 27th Army Group stationed on the banks of the Pushol River." Pointing to the Pushol River on the map, the chief of staff said to the two of them quite proudly: "You know, a few days ago, they just annihilated the German Empire. Division. Today, during the day, the bridge over the Psel River was captured from the enemy, and the necessary fortifications were built on both banks of the river to resist a possible German attack. If we ask them for help, even if they only support us The division can also stabilize our army's line of defense."

"Ask for help from the 27th Army?" Regarding the chief of staff's proposal, Kryuchenkin fell into deep contemplation. He repeatedly weighed in his heart. If he really asked Sokov for help behind Vatutin's back, Would you feel embarrassed if you were rejected?

The chief of staff saw his hesitation, and quickly volunteered: "Comrade Commander, let me contact General Sokov. Even if he refuses, this is my own initiative and will not affect the 69th The image of the Army Group."

"Comrade Commander, I think the chief of staff's proposal is good. It doesn't matter if he comes forward, even if he is rejected." The military commissioner also echoed: "When our situation is more critical, you can personally report to Sokov The general asked for help. I thought General Sokov would not refuse you because of the overall situation."

Seeing that his chief of staff and military commissioner had the same opinion, Klitschko felt that he could give it a try. But on the issue of how to ask for help, he put forward a different view: "If you ask General Sokov directly for help, the chances of being rejected are too high. I know that he has a good friendship with General Golikov. If we can ask If General Golikov comes forward, there may still be hope of success."

"But, after General Golikov was dismissed as the commander of the front army, hasn't he been idle?" The chief of staff said cautiously: "Will General Sokov listen to what he said?"