Red Moscow

"Misha, don't you know that all the troops are understrength?" Zhukov said with some displeasure when he heard the conditions put forward by Sokov: "At this time, where can I replenish you?" troops?"

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov knew very well in his heart that the German army, which was still maintaining an offensive posture after the war, was at the end of its strength, and they might be defeated by the counterattacking Soviet army at any time. If his troops are not replenished, they will not be able to become the main force on the battlefield in the next series of battles, so he said to Zhukov with a cheeky face: "Please think of a way, if you can give me another Ten thousand people, I can lead the troops all the way to Belgorod."

If Sokov had only said in general terms what would happen in the ensuing battle, Zhukov would have ignored his request. But when the other party mentioned the place name of Belgorod, Zhukov couldn't help hesitating. As the new campaign planner, he naturally knew that the focus of the Soviet army's next offensive was to regain Kharkov. To successfully control Kharkov, Belgorod must first be captured.

During the defense of Stalingrad, Sokov used his actual actions to prove that his troops are very good at defensive warfare, and can achieve the greatest victory with the least casualties. In this battle of Kursk, Sokov once again used a series of victories to prove to everyone that he is not only a general who is good at defense, but also a commander who knows how to attack.

It is precisely because of this that after Zhukov learned that the 19th Armored Division was annihilated, he began to consider whether he should send Sokov's troops as the main offensive task when the attack on Belgorod was launched. The reason why he asked Sokov to transfer two divisions outside the city of Prokhorovka to participate in the final attack on the German army was to see with his own eyes whether Sokov's troops could take on this important task.

"Misha." Fortunately, Zhukov didn't hesitate for long before making his own decision: "I can add a batch of soldiers to you before tomorrow. But these are recruits without any experience, and maybe many of them When people heard gunshots, they would be so frightened that they would lie down in the trenches and dare not move. Are you sure that you can train them into an army capable of fighting the enemy within a few days?"

In just a few days, the difficulty of training a group of recruits without any combat experience into fighters capable of fighting is simply S-level. However, considering that the army has been seriously downsized recently and urgently needed to recruit new soldiers, Sokov could only bite the bullet and agreed to Zhukov's proposal: "Okay, Comrade Marshal, I will do my best to train these recruits to be able to fight. warrior."

Zhukov was very satisfied with Sokov's answer. He nodded with a smile, and then said: "Now that we have negotiated the terms of exchange, when can your two divisions arrive in Prokhorovka?" outside?"

"Comrade Marshal, my 254th Infantry Division is now in the southwest of Prokhorovka, launching an attack on the position of the Banner Guard Division." Since Zhukov agreed to replenish himself, two divisions will be transferred to participate in the Prokhorovka battle. The battle outside the city of Lovka is a matter of course: "I will send Major General Fomenko's 84th Infantry to rush there later."

As soon as Sokov put down the phone, Sameko next to him asked Sokov excitedly: "Comrade Commander, did Marshal Zhukov say how many additional troops will be added to us?"

"The Comrade Marshal didn't say how many additional soldiers will be added to us." Sokov felt that it was necessary to vaccinate Sameko so that Sameko would not be disappointed when the additional soldiers arrived: "But these recruits Freshly recruited, without any combat experience. If a shell lands nearby, they'll run away in fright."

Unexpectedly, Sameko didn't care. He said carelessly, "Comrade Commander, it doesn't matter. No one is born to fight. After we have fought two battles, these recruits will become veterans."

Seeing that Sameko was so open-minded, Sokov stopped nagging. He began to think about how to return to Konev's Steppe Front Army after the Battle of Kursk.

In all fairness, among the several front commanders in the late period of the Great Patriotic War, Sokov looked down on Vatutin the most. After the battle of Kursk began, this big guy couldn't figure out the main direction of the German assault. , can only use troops on an average basis in all defensive areas, which leads to the over-dispersion of the forces of the subordinate armies. When they are attacked by the German army, it is difficult for the defensive troops to effectively stop the advance of the German army.

"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov sent Sameko to contact Major General Fomenko and urgently transferred the 84th Infantry Division to the outside of Prokhorovka. After Sameko walked away, he poured a cup of tea for Lunev who was sitting at the table, and asked politely, "I want to ask you, if you had a choice, would you rather stay in the Voronezh Front Army or the Steppe Front Army?" ?”

"If I had to choose, I would definitely choose the Voronezh Front Army." Lunev said without hesitation: "Judging from this battle, this Front Army will become the main force of our army. If we continue to stay in the Steppe Front Army, we will only Can always be used as a reserve team."

"Comrade Military Commissar, can I understand it this way? Once the battle is over and the base camp asks for our opinion and asks which front army we would like to stay in, you will most likely choose General Vatutin's Voronezh Front Army?"

"It goes without saying, it must be a choice..." Before Lunev finished speaking, he immediately realized that Sokov must have a purpose in asking, so he quickly changed his words and asked: "Comrade commander, don't you want to stay?" Army on the grassland, right?"

Sokov didn't speak, but fell into deep thought.

On October 20 after the Battle of Kursk, the Voronezh Front Army was reorganized into the First Ukrainian Front Army; while the Steppe Front Army was reorganized into the Ukrainian Second Front Army. The commander, Admiral Konev, because of his outstanding performance in the battle, Was promoted to general.

In February 1944, Vatutin was unable to continue to perform his duties as the commander of the Ukrainian First Front Army due to his injuries, and was temporarily replaced by Marshal Zhukov. Soon, the First and Second Fronts merged, and Konev, who had just been promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, served as the new commander. Since the new Ukrainian Second Front was re-formed shortly after the merger of the two fronts, this merger was only briefly mentioned in the history books, and not many people know about it in later generations.

Even if he chooses to stay in the Voronezh Front, he will still be Konev's subordinate in February next year. But in this way, the friendship between himself and Konev may become estranged due to the separation of these few months, which is not conducive to his future development in the army.

After some deliberation, Sokov said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, my thoughts are exactly the opposite of yours. Although the Steppe Front Army is only a reserve front army, in this Battle of Kursk, the Steppe Front Army belongs to The troops played a great role. I believe that after the battle is over, the grassland front army can get rid of the fate of serving as a strategic reserve and become a major combat force."

"I agree with Comrade Commander's point of view." Sameko, who had just finished the phone call, came over and said to the two: "Although the Prairie Front Army was just a reserve front army before the battle began. However, the ability that has been shown is obvious to all. I think that after the battle is over, it will be possible to upgrade from the current reserve front army to a formal combat force."

Seeing that Sokov and Sameko had the same opinion, Lunev was very surprised: "Commander, Chief of Staff, the possibility you mentioned does exist. But I think to be on the safe side, it is better to Stay in the Voronezh Front. You know, General Vatutin is more important than General Konev."

"Comrade Military Commissioner, what's going on here?" Sameko could tell from Lunev's tone that there was something behind it, so he asked curiously, "Let's hear it."

"At the beginning of the year, the Voronezh Front Army and the Southwest Front Army were severely damaged by Manstein in the Kharkov area." Lunev from the Ministry of Internal Affairs naturally knew many inside stories that others did not know. Anyway, there were only three people present, and there must be no one. Leaking what he said, he said boldly: "Although General Golikov and General Vatutin were dismissed afterwards, General Vatutin made a comeback after a while and served as the commander of the Voronezh Front Army. Commander, tell me, if it wasn’t for being valued by the Supreme Commander himself, how could it be possible to take on an important post again in such a short period of time?”

When Sameko heard that it seemed to be the case, he turned to Sokov and said, "Comrade Commander, I think what the military commissioner said is somewhat reasonable. Are you sure about which front we will go to in the future?" Think about it again?"

"Don't think about it." Sokov waved his hand and said resolutely: "We were originally affiliated to the Steppe Front Army, but now we are just fighting with the Voronezh Front Army. After the big battle is over, we will definitely choose to return to the army and return to the army. To the grassland front army."

Now that Sokov has made the final decision, even if Lunev has an idea, it is difficult to persuade him. He secretly sighed, and thought to himself, it is better to wait for a while, choose a suitable opportunity, and persuade Sokov again, trying to make him change his mind, not to stay in the grassland front army that has no future for development.

"Comrade Commander," Sameko turned the topic back to the current defense, "after we annihilated the 19th Armored Division, the front of our defense area has almost doubled. Now two more divisions have been transferred. Will the troops become weaker in such a vast area?"

"The defensive position left by the 84th Division, which was in charge of the defense of the Pushol River, was taken over by the infantry brigade and two marine brigades." Sokov said confidently: "They will defend, I am Very relieved."

Sameko understood what Sokov said. In the entire army, apart from the air force, the navy has the highest combat quality. The marine brigade composed of troops drawn from the navy is also very powerful. Whether it is offense or defense, it is far better than the same number of troops.

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Sameko quickly replied, "I will immediately send vehicles and transport troops to take over the defense on the banks of the Pushol River."

Seeing Sameko arrange transportation work to the person in charge of the logistics department, Sokov wondered in his heart: Now that the 19th Armored Division has been wiped out, can he take this opportunity to remove Asiya from the 182nd Division? Take it back?

"Comrade Commander," Lunev saw that Sokov's eyes were looking ahead without focus, guessing that he might be thinking about something important, he called him twice cautiously, and asked, "What are you thinking about?" Woolen cloth?"

Sokov was woken up by Lunev's cry. Naturally, he would not tell the other party that he was considering whether to bring his wife back from the front. Instead, he said perfunctorily, "Comrade Military Commissioner, I'm wondering what the new recruits Marshal Zhukov is going to give us will look like."

Hearing what Sokov said, Lunev didn't bother to confirm whether what he said was true or not, so he took the initiative to help him ponder: "I think what Comrade Marshal said is very strange. If it was at the beginning of the war, the recruits recruited Without any combat experience, it’s justified. But after fighting for more than two years, it is said that some people have no combat experience, I think this is unlikely.”

"I think so too." Sokov nodded and said, "Even if these recruits have never been on the battlefield, before they joined the army, their homes were bombed by German planes and their relatives were killed by Germans." Experience? How can it be possible to have no combat experience at all, and even hear the sound of guns, and be frightened and panicked? I think it is simply incredible."

"How do you plan to distribute this batch of recruits?" Lunev asked.

Sokov thought for a while, and then replied: "I estimate that the superiors can give us recruits this time, at most one or two thousand recruits. If they are distributed to various units, it will not be of much use. Simply assign them to The 182nd Division, let Colonel Khokhlov's troops recover a little bit."

Lunev guessed that it might be because Asiya was in the 182nd division that Sokov took special care of this division. He didn't say anything, but followed Sukov's words and said: "This division is the first unit of our army to go into battle. After such a long battle, the loss of soldiers must be not small. Priority should be given to resupplying them. We I think it's absolutely necessary."

"Since you have no objection, after the recruits arrive, inform Colonel Khokhlov to come here to lead them." Sokov said: "They have many veterans and combat backbones, which can help recruits quickly master the technical and tactical level. , and learn how to protect yourself on the battlefield."