Red Moscow

After dark, the fighting outside Prokhorovka continued.

The situation on the battlefield is not as rumored, the German army has already entered the city of Prokhorovka. In fact, after the troops of the Banner Guard Division occupied the 252.2 Heights, they could no longer move forward. The commanders and fighters of the Ninth Guards Paratrooper Division who defended the city continued to carry out counter-assaults against the enemy, preventing them from expanding the results of the battle.

October Farm, which was occupied by the Skeleton Division on the north side of the highland, was also counterattacked by troops reinforced by tanks. If Simon hadn't sent the reserve team in time, it is estimated that the German army would have been driven out of the farm by the Soviet army.

Around two o'clock in the morning, the sky suddenly began to rain cats and dogs. In the torrential rain, the officers and soldiers of both sides were so beaten by the rain that they couldn't open their eyes at all, and the fighting lasted for a day before they managed to reach a level.

Standing in front of the window of the headquarters of the Voronezh Front, Zhukov looked at the torrential rain falling like a waterfall through the window glass, and said worriedly: "If the rain is still falling by dawn, then our offensive will be affected."

"Comrade Marshal," Vatutin, who was standing beside him, had to raise his voice when the rain was so loud, "If it keeps raining, our air force will not be able to take off after dawn, and our ground will not be able to take off." Attacking troops can only rely on the support of artillery fire to launch a counterattack against the enemy."

"Comrade Marshal," after Vatutin finished speaking, Vasilevsky continued: "If the heavy rain continues, the road will become muddy and Rotmistrov's tank troops will not be able to deploy. Look, is it reported to the High Command to request a postponement of the attack?"

"No." Zhukov rejected Vasilevsky's proposal without hesitation: "We will drive the Germans away from here when they are not stable. If it is raining, the offensive will be postponed." Time, when they gain a firm foothold here, this battle may turn into a protracted positional battle."

"But, Comrade Marshal, look how heavy the rain is outside." Vasilevsky said with a wry smile: "If we don't stop, let alone the air force can't be dispatched, even our tanks will become muddy because of the road." We cannot move forward. At that time, we can only attack with infantry."

…………

Just when Zhukov and others were worried about the weather, German Marshal Manstein was also unable to sleep because of the heavy rain. He stood at the door of the command cabin, looking at the heavy rain outside, and sighed secretly in his heart. He knew very well that such heavy rain would definitely make many areas impassable. He wanted to capture the city of Prokhorovka after dawn. , I am afraid it can only be postponed.

"Your Excellency the Marshal," the adjutant Colonel Burke appeared behind Manstein, and said cautiously, "I just received a report from the reconnaissance force."

Manstein closed the hatch, blocked the sound of the rain, and asked casually, "Is it valuable information?"

"Yes, Your Excellency the Marshal, it is very valuable information." Colonel Burke replied cautiously: "According to the report of the reconnaissance team, the Russians have assembled a large number of troops near Prokhorovka, and are preparing to attack at ten o'clock in the morning." , to implement a comprehensive counterattack against our army."

Knowing that the Soviet army would launch a counterattack at ten o'clock in the morning, Manstein couldn't help being taken aback, and then asked: "Do you know who is in command of these assembled troops?"

"I figured it out." Burke nodded and replied, "It's General Rotmistrov's tank army."

"Rotmistrov's troops?" Manstein couldn't help frowning, he looked at the map on the table, and said thoughtfully: "Isn't his troops east of Moscow? Arrived outside Prokhorovka so soon?"

"Your Excellency Marshal, I think the Russians couldn't stand it anymore, so they hurriedly transferred this army for reinforcements." Burke said: "Now the Russians' strength in the Prokhorovka area has far exceeded that of the Russians. They are indeed capable of counterattacking us, and it seems that we have to prepare early."

"Rotmistrov is commanding the Guards Tank Army, that is to say, their combat effectiveness is stronger than that of ordinary Russian troops, and we must take corresponding measures." After Manstein finished speaking , So he ordered Burke to say: "You immediately send a telegram to the Banner Guard Division and the Skeleton Division, asking them to rush to repair the fortifications overnight to prevent possible counterattacks by the Russians."

As soon as Manstein finished speaking, the hatch was opened from the outside, and the chief of staff in a raincoat walked in through the door. While taking off his raincoat, he said to Manstein: "Your Excellency, Marshal, the rain outside is too heavy, and it may have an adverse effect on our attack after dawn."

"Chief of Staff, you are here just in time." After Manstein greeted the Chief of Staff to come to him, he handed him the telegram in his hand: "This is a telegram from the reconnaissance troops. , launched a full-scale counterattack against our army."

After reading the telegram in Manstein's hand, the chief of staff couldn't help being surprised: "What, the Russians have assembled an army group near the city of Prokhorovka, or the Guards Tank Army." He scratched the back of his head and said sternly , "Our troops have no fortifications to rely on. If the Russians launch an attack, I think our defense line may be quickly broken through."

"I think so too." Manstein nodded, and continued: "So I just sent a telegram to the troops at the front, asking them to rush to repair the fortifications overnight. As long as there are fortifications, it is easy to block the Russian attack." A lot. Besides, didn’t the Russians launch an attack at ten o’clock in the morning? We can definitely launch an offensive half an hour in advance, ahead of them, and completely disrupt their offensive steps.”

"Your Excellency, Marshal, your plan is good." The chief of staff was still worrying about the upcoming attack of the Soviet army, but when he heard that Manstein had made a decision, he was secretly relieved. He said flatteringly: "I still remember that after you became the conqueror of Sevastopol, you once went to Petersburg, which is also known as Leningrad in the Russian population. At that time, you were keenly aware that the Russians were about to attack, so you decisively You ordered our troops to launch an attack three days in advance, which completely disrupted the deployment of the Russians and caused their attempt to break the siege to be completely crushed by you."

The chief of staff's flattery made Manstein feel complacent. He even thought that if he hadn't realized in time that the Russians would launch a counterattack and ordered the troops to launch an attack ahead of time, he might have been on the encirclement that besieged Petersburg. A gap will be opened by the Russians. Today, similar things will be repeated outside the city of Prokhorovka. He ordered the troops to attack in advance. While disrupting the Russians' offensive steps, they might be able to successfully break through their defenses.

Thinking of this, he smiled at the chief of staff, and then told the other party: "Chief of staff, then you should immediately draft an attack order, and it must be communicated to all troops before six o'clock tomorrow morning."

…………

At 3:30 in the morning, the rain outside began to weaken.

The headquarters of the 5th Guards Tank Army was full of commanders with stars on their shoulders. Their eyes were all on General Rotmistrov, the commander of the army, waiting for his upcoming order. .

"Comrades," Rotmistrov said in a slightly hoarse voice, "the superior ordered us to go out to the starting position of the attack at four o'clock in the morning. Now there are only 30 minutes left before the departure time. But the rain outside still shows no sign of stopping, I want to ask you, what do you think in your heart?"

"Comrade Commander," said Deputy Commander General Trufanov, who was the first to speak, looking at Rotmistrov, "since our superiors ordered us to start at four o'clock, don't say it's raining outside. The enemy's aerial bombs fell from the sky, and we must also set off on time."

Trufanov's words immediately aroused the response of some division commanders: "Comrade Deputy Commander is right. Since the superior has issued a clear order, we cannot just disobey the superior's order just because of the rain."

"I think it's better to leave on time."

However, Major General Baharov, commander of the 18th Tank Corps, raised objections: "I disagree with the speeches made by Comrade Deputy Commander and those commanders just now. You know, such heavy rain, for example, makes the road become It's muddy, how can our tank troops deploy?"

Rotmistrov saw that Major General Baharov's thoughts coincided with his own, so he nodded and said: "General Baharov is right. If the road becomes muddy due to heavy rain, our tanks will It is not suitable to participate in the upcoming battle, so the tanks in the quagmire will be destroyed one by one by the German anti-tank artillery fire like a target."

Seeing that Rotmistrov opposed his opinion, Trufanov couldn't help but blushed, and then asked embarrassingly: "Comrade Commander, what do you think we should do? Is it really necessary to postpone the offensive?" ?"

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Rotmistrov said, looking at Trufanov with a solemn expression, "to be honest, we drove hundreds of kilometers to the outside of Prokhorovka, It is to smash the German attack on the city. If the attack cannot be launched on time, I will be more anxious than any of you."

He paused for a moment, and then continued: "But I can't ignore the actual situation and rush the troops into an attack that has no chance of winning because of anxiety. Therefore, I think this matter should be cautious, or wait a little longer. If it is four o'clock If the rain outside has not stopped, I will call General Vatutin and ask him to postpone the attack."

For Rotmistrov's statement, Trufanov thought for a moment and felt that it was quite reasonable. If the rain continues, not only will the air support that was originally scheduled be gone, but it will also be difficult for the tank troops to go into battle. At that time, only the infantry will be able to participate in the counterattack. Based on his understanding of the combat effectiveness of the troops, it is basically an impossible task to defeat the elite German SS in front of him.

With five minutes left before four o'clock, a staff officer who was observing the weather outside hurried in and reported to Rotmistrov excitedly: "Comrade Commander, the rain outside has stopped."

"Has the rain stopped outside?" Rotmistrov was overjoyed when he learned that the rain had stopped outside. He looked at the staff officer whose raincoat was still dripping in front of him, and asked cautiously: "Comrade staff officer, are you really sure?" , Has the rain stopped outside?"

"It's absolutely certain, Comrade Commander." The staff officer replied decisively, "I came in to report to you after repeated confirmations outside."

"Commanders, commanders," after confirming that the rain outside had stopped, Rotmistrov turned around and said to the many commanders in the room: "Since the rain has stopped, you all go back to your respective units, According to the original plan, set off to the designated starting position of the attack."

After the commanders agreed with a bang, they left the headquarters one after another.

When the hour hand pointed to four o'clock, the high-frequency phone on the table in front of Rotmistrov rang, and he quickly picked up the microphone and put it to his ear, and Vatutin's voice came from inside soon: "Rotmistrov General Mistrov, the rain outside has stopped!"

"Yes, Comrade General, I know that the rain outside has stopped." Rotmistrov knew the purpose of Vatutin's call and quickly reported to him: "My troops have moved to the designated attack point on time." The starting position is set off."

After Vatutin got the answer he wanted, a gratified smile appeared on his face: "Very well, General Rotmistrov, I believe that your troops will achieve good results in today's battle .By the way, have you made any adjustments to your deployment?"

"According to the information I have obtained from reconnaissance, I have made some adjustments to the deployment of the right wing." Rotmistrov said without waiting for Vatutin to ask, "The right wing is the 18th tank army of Major General Baharov. , They are divided into two echelons. The first echelon includes the 170th and 181st tank brigades, the second echelon is the 32nd motorized infantry brigade and the 36th guard tank regiment, and the reserve team is the 110th tank brigade, which is also equipped with self-propelled artillery The 1549th. They will attack the enemy along the ravine two kilometers north of October Farm."

Vatutin knew that after the October Farm was occupied by the Germans during the day, Rotmistrov's troops had repeatedly launched counterattacks, but they were all unsuccessful. Now that the attacking troops have bypassed the October Farm, which was fortified by the German army, they may be able to catch the enemy by surprise, so he nodded and said with a smile: "October Farm is a hard nut to crack, as long as you bypass it, from the enemy's side Launch an attack, and the enemy's defenses quickly crumble."

At 6:30 in the morning, as the rain had completely stopped, the Soviet Air Force fighter planes took off one after another to bomb the area where the German troops were stationed.

Just as many German positions were blown into a sea of ​​flames, a message that had just been intercepted was placed in front of Zhukov. The above content is very simple. Manstein ordered the Banner Guard Division and the Skeleton Division to attack the Soviet Army's position at the same time at 9:30 in the morning to disrupt the Soviet Army's offensive plan.

After reading the telegram with his head tilted, Vasilevsky sneered and said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, at the end of last year, when Manstein inspected Leningrad, he noticed our army's intention to carry out a breakout operation, so he ordered him The troops launched the attack three days in advance, which completely disrupted our offensive steps and ended the siege battle in failure. It seems that Manstein is repeating his old tricks and is preparing to disrupt our offensive plan again."

"Leningrad is Leningrad, and here is Kursk." Zhukov slapped the table vigorously and said sharply, "I will never let Manstein succeed. I will let him suffer a disastrous defeat here."