Red Moscow

After dawn, the German army on the southern Kursk line, under the strict order of Manstein, launched a fierce attack on the Soviet defense area again.

General Knobelsdorf's 48th Army once again attacked Oboyan, where Katukov's 1st Tank Army was standing. Since Katukov's troops were divided and used by Vatutin in the battle, their strength in many important areas was extremely weak.

Facing the dominant enemy, Katukov had to transfer some troops in non-important areas to the most intense fighting areas to prevent the Oboyan area's defense line from being broken by the Germans again.

In the records of later generations, the battle in the Prokhorovka area was highlighted in a big book, while the battle fought by Katukov and his friendly forces in the direction of Oboyan was understated by Chunqiu. As everyone knows, the scale of the tanks carried out there far exceeds the Prokhorovka area.

At the beginning of the battle, Katukov's First Tank Army and Chistyakov's Sixth Guards Army were attacked by nearly 700 tanks. Although in the battle, both tank soldiers and infantry were extremely tenacious. They destroyed a large number of German tanks and delayed the enemy's advance to the depth of the defense.

However, due to the huge losses suffered by the troops in the battle, the defense line in the Oboyan area was still broken by the Germans. If Sokov's troops hadn't appeared in time, the situation would have gotten even worse.

With the Imperial Division annihilated and the remaining Skull and Banner Guard divisions turned in the direction of Prokhorovka, the situation at Oboyan seemed to be improving. It was under such circumstances that the Soviet High Command turned all its attention to the Prokhorovka area, which they felt was the decisive battle area.

When the Skeleton Division and the Banner Guard Division turned to the direction of Prokhorovka, Katukov felt that it was time for a counterattack. After discussing with Kistyakov, commander of the Sixth Guards Army, he decided to organize a counterattack on July 11. An all-out counterattack, destroying or driving away the enemies in the Lakovo and Belezovka areas.

In order to complete this scheduled offensive plan, he mobilized the 10th Guards Tank Army and the 5th Tank Army to assist the Sixth Guards Army. The offensive battle was originally scheduled to start at nine o'clock in the morning, but before eight o'clock, the artillery of the Sixth Guards Army made artillery preparations towards the enemy's position.

After an hour of artillery preparation, the infantry of the Guards launched an attack before Katukov's tank arrived. As the signal flare representing the start of the offensive was lifted into the air, tens of thousands of Soviet commanders and fighters jumped out of their hiding places, holding weapons, shouting "Ula", and rushed towards the enemy's position.

The enemy troops occupying Lakovo and Belezovka never dreamed that the Soviet army would suddenly launch a full-scale counterattack against them. But the troops stationed here are all well-trained troops. After a short period of confusion, they immediately adopted the previous tactics. Except for a few people who stayed to monitor the movement of the Soviet army, the rest retreated to the rear position through the traffic trench , so that all the shells fired by the Soviet army hit the open space where there was no one.

When the shelling of the Soviet army ended and the infantry began to attack, the German army retreated to the second line of defense, passed through the trenches again, and returned to the original position in an orderly manner, preparing for a fierce sniper attack on the Soviet army.

The infantry without tank cover was blocked by the barbed wire in front of the German position. Just as they started to clear the road, the machine guns on the German positions began to fire. Dozens of MG42 machine guns fired at the same time, and the dense fire network formed immediately knocked down the commanders and fighters who were clearing the barbed wire.

Seeing that the enemy started shooting, most commanders and fighters lay down on the spot, hid in bullet craters or other hidden positions, and fired back at the enemy's position. However, a small number of commanders and fighters tried to rush to the enemy's position through the barbed wire fence in front of them. As a result, under the intensive firepower, they were repeatedly shot and fell down.

The German machine gun fire suppressed the attacking Soviet troops around the barbed wire fence, and then they deployed mortars to bombard the places where the Soviet troops gathered. The Soviet army, which was suppressed by machine gun fire and killed by mortar shells, persisted in the barbed wire area for half an hour. Seeing that they could not effectively break through the enemy's position, they could only choose to retreat.

A tank brigade of the 10th Guards Tank Army rushed to the battlefield. The brigade leader saw that his troops were attacking the enemy's position, so he ordered the tanks of the whole brigade to advance at full speed to catch up with the infantry. Unexpectedly, they had just walked halfway, when they saw the infantry who were still attacking, they all retreated back, which gave the tank brigade commander a headache. Attack, the infantry has retreated, and tanks without infantry cover will be wiped out by the German anti-tank fighters; retreat, it is not easy for tanks to turn around on a battlefield full of people.

The tank brigade commander hesitated for a long time, and finally issued an order that was not wrong: "All tanks obey my orders, aim at the enemy's position and shoot, and cover our infantry brothers to retreat."

More than 50 tanks fired at the same time, immediately suppressing the firepower of machine guns and mortars on the German positions in the distance. Many Soviet commanders and fighters who were suppressed by the firepower and could not move saw that the firepower on the enemy's positions was dumb, so they rushed to the ground. Climb up, scrambling to retreat towards your own position.

Seeing that the infantry had withdrawn to their positions, the tank brigade commander ordered all the tanks to withdraw from the Soviet defensive positions. After returning to his own position, the tank brigade commander immediately reported everything that happened on the battlefield to Katukov through the radio.

After listening to Katukov, he immediately became angry: "What's the matter with Chistyakov? We clearly agreed on joint operations, why didn't we wait for our tanks to arrive before launching an attack on the enemy?"

"Comrade Commander," said the chief of staff cautiously after Katukov had finished speaking, "perhaps General Chistyakov felt that the enemies in the area around Rakovo and Belezovka, after a long battle, It has been severely weakened, and even without the assistance of our tanks, infantry alone can destroy the enemy here."

"Nonsense, this is simply nonsense." Katukov said angrily: "When the German army launched an attack on our position, tanks and armored vehicles rushed to the forefront to destroy our army's defenses. The rear infantry can quickly seize the position of our army.

And what about our allies? Actually use infantry without any cover to attack the enemy's solidly defended position? If Chistyakov waited for our tanks to arrive on the battlefield before ordering the troops to attack, then the infantry following the tanks would not have to worry about the barbed wire fence in front of the enemy's position blocking their way. We opened the way ahead. Tanks will open up several paths for infantry to pass through these obstacle areas formed by barbed wire. "

Katukov threw the half-smoked cigarette butt in his hand on the ground, crushed it with his toes, and continued: "In my opinion, the Germans should be invited to teach our infantry commanders and let them know what an offensive is. Infantry and tank coordination in battle."

"Comrade Commander," the military commissar on the side heard this and quickly reminded Katukov: "How can you say that you invited the Germans to teach us? If outsiders know about it, you will make mistakes. "

Katukov was also speaking in anger. He did not expect that today's attack would have an unexpected change because of Chistyakov's arbitrary assertion. Although the first attack on the German positions caused hundreds of thousands of casualties, it dealt a severe blow to morale. Under such circumstances, if we launch an attack on the enemy's position, I am afraid that there is little hope of victory.

He walked back and forth in the headquarters with his hands behind his back, thinking about how to deal with the enemy occupying Rakovo and Belezovka. After walking for an unknown amount of time, he finally stopped and said to his chief of staff: "Chief of staff, immediately transfer the 3rd Mechanized Army of General Krivoshein to take over the attack of the Sixth Guards Army. We must find a way to take Rakovo and Belezovka."

After hearing this, the chief of staff cautiously reminded Katukov: "Our 3rd Mechanized Army is still in contact with the Germans. Temporarily mobilizing them will not have an adverse effect on our overall defense?"

"I can't care so much now." Katukov waved his hand and said, "Judging from the battle that just ended, the infantry's quality level is still a bit low. I don't feel at ease if they cooperate with us in fighting. Or Your own mechanized army is at your fingertips, chief of staff, don't be dazed, hurry up and call General Krivoshein, and order him to move the troops to the designated attack position as soon as possible."

Katukov didn't know, what he said was overheard by a staff officer in the headquarters and transmitted to Chistyakov's headquarters through a telephone. The officer who answered the phone immediately reported what Katukov said to Chistyakov: "... Comrade Commander, the situation is like this. According to General Katukov, he is going to transfer mechanized The 3rd Army is here to complete the offensive mission."

The war was not going well, and Chistyakov was already angry, and now hearing the officer repeat what Katukov said was tantamount to adding fuel to the fire. He threw the red and blue pencils in his hand on the table, and said angrily: "Since Katukov has such abilities, let his troops deal with these Germans."

As he spoke, he called the chief of staff to the front and told the other party: "Stop the planned offensive, except for one regiment to stand firm, and the rest of the troops will return to their original station and leave this place for Katukov's troops. .”

"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff realized that Chistyakov was dizzy with anger, and now the main force of the army group has assumed an offensive posture. It is easy for the German army to take advantage of it. So he persuaded: "Maybe General Katukov's words are all out of anger. Don't take it to heart. No matter how strong the tank army is, it will be our infantry who finally occupy the enemy's position. If we really withdraw If the army is gone, and the mechanized army is not in place for a long time, then the counter-offensive we are talking about here will end in failure.”

After listening to the chief of staff's persuasion, Chistyakov stared at the map in front of him in a daze. After a while, his mood gradually stabilized. He thought to himself that he was indeed responsible for today's incident. It was originally planned to be a joint battle between the two armies, but he ordered it without waiting for the arrival of the tank troops. The infantry attacked first, resulting in losses for the troops.

After thinking about the cause and effect, he blushed slightly, and then said to the chief of staff: "Chief of staff, you are right, we did not do this right, it is understandable for General Katukov to complain. Yes. You immediately notify the troops, seize the time to assemble, and prepare to wait for more tank troops to arrive before launching a new attack."

Not only Katukov but also Chistyakov quickly forgot about the matter, but concentrated on mobilizing troops, preparing to launch a new attack on the enemy-controlled Lakovo and Belezovka areas. attack.

But neither of them expected that what Katukov said, and Kistyakov's reaction after hearing these words, were quietly reported to the intelligence department of the Front Army Command. After the intelligence director got the news, he immediately went to Vatutin's headquarters to report the matter to him.

After the chief of intelligence came in, he saw Vatutin sitting around the table with Zhukov and Vasilevsky, leaning over the map spread out on it. Seeing this, the chief of intelligence knew that the three were studying the situation outside Prokhorovka, where tanks from both sides were engaged in a scuffle.

Vatutin saw the director of intelligence who was standing at the door in a dilemma, so he stood up straight and asked, "Comrade director, what's the matter?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." The chief of intelligence, who was about to leave, heard Vatutin's question and hurried forward, handing over the telegram in his hand: "This is a telegram we just obtained, please You have a look."

Vatutin thought it was an enemy report, but when he opened the telegram, it turned out to be a report of discord between Katukov and Chistyakov. Is it reliable?"

"Totally reliable, Comrade Commander." The chief of intelligence quickly replied affirmatively: "The source of the intelligence is completely reliable, so there is no doubt about the authenticity of this telegram."

"I see." Vatutin nodded at the other party and said, "It's nothing for you here, you go back first."

Zhukov waited for the intelligence chief to leave before he asked Vatutin: "Comrade Vatutin, what happened?"

Vatutin put the telegram in front of Zhukov and Vasilevsky, and said with a smile: "It's nothing serious, it's just that the two generals Katukov and Chistyakov had different combat concepts. There was a little friction. But the matter has passed and will not affect our next combat operations."

After Zhukov read the contents of the telegram, he didn't say anything, and turned his attention to the map in front of him again. What he was thinking in his mind was how to defeat the German troops as soon as possible. Take it to heart. After Vasilevsky finished reading, he frowned slightly. Although he didn't say anything, he was thinking in his heart that after the Battle of Kursk, he should have a good talk with the two generals, so as not to What are the sequelae.