Red Moscow

After accepting Zhukov's order, Sokov began to consider how to arrange defenses to prevent the retreat of the 4th Panzer Army. He stared down at the map and began to issue orders: "Chief of Staff, send a telegram to Major General Marankin, ordering his division to immediately withdraw from the battle and establish a defensive line in the middle of the Oboyan-Belgorod highway to prevent the retreat of the German army. "

"Comrade Commander," Sameko carefully reminded Sokov: "The 81st Guards Division is only assisting us in combat, and is not actually under our command."

"From now on, the 81st Guards Division is officially placed under the command of our army." Although Zhukov did not mention anything about the 81st Guards Division, Sukov felt that if he wanted to stop Hoth's armored army, he had to Utilize all available troops, so he said on his own initiative: "Not only Major General Marankin's Guards Division must obey my command, but even General Trufanov's tank unit must obey my command."

"Understood." After hearing Sokov's domineering words, Sameko immediately replied loudly: "Comrade Commander, I will immediately send a telegram to Generals Malankin and Trufanov. Let them officially obey your command from now on, and defend according to your deployment."

Less than a quarter of an hour after the telegram was sent, Sokov received a call from Rotmistrov, commander of the 5th Guards Tank Army. The tank general asked angrily on the phone: "General Sokov, can I I want to ask, who gave you the right to put General Trufanov's tank unit directly under your command?"

"General Rotmistrov," Sukov put the Guards Division and tank units under his own command. It was his own initiative, but in order to win the defensive battle, facing Rotmistrov He still said confidently: "The superior ordered me to prevent Hoth's armored army from withdrawing to Belgorod. I have limited troops. If I don't rely on your troops, I can't stop the enemy's offensive."

"General Sokov," Rotmistrov learned that Sokov planned to let his own troops assist him in blocking Hoth's armored army. He suddenly lost his confidence, but he still bite the bullet and said: " Even if you want to put General Trufanov’s tank unit under your command, you should follow the procedures and apply to the Front Army Command, and after obtaining permission..."

"The Germans didn't leave me any time to ask for instructions." Sokov knew that the reason why Rotmistrov called so quickly must be Trufanov who called him, since the other party already knew What he did, Sokov no longer concealed it, but said straight to the point: "General Rotmistrov, please call General Trufanov and officially inform him .”

Rotmistrov was silent for a while, and then asked tentatively: "General Sokov, please tell me truthfully, if Trufanov's tank troops participate in the defense, you can stop Hoth's armored army. ?"

"General Rotmistrov, don't worry." In order to reassure Rotmistrov, Sokov organized some words in his mind, and said: "Today's Fourth Panzer Army is already It is not what it used to be. In the early days of the battle, Huot could still attack our army's positions with a density of 100 tanks per kilometer. However, today, the number of tanks they carry out assault missions per kilometer has been reduced to two Thirty vehicles are simply not the same.

If we don't fight against them, but rely on fortifications to defend and block them on the Oboyan-Belgorod highway, there is still no big problem. "

Hearing Sokov speak with such confidence, Rotmistrov felt more at ease. He acquiesced in Sokov's ultra vires, and even kindly reminded: "General Sokov, since You assigned the 81st Guards Division and General Trufanov's tank unit to your group army command. No matter what the original starting point is, I think it is still necessary to report this matter to the superior, so as to avoid future incidents. What is wrong, you and I can't explain it."

"I see, General Rotmistrov." Seeing that the other party no longer pursued him for commanding his troops without authorization, Sokov couldn't help but secretly heaved a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "I will report to Vatu as soon as possible." It was reported by Commander Beijing."

With the two friendly troops in hand, Sokov's next formation will be much easier. "Chief of Staff," Sokov said to Sameko, pointing to the Oboyan-Belgorod road on the map, "order the 81st Guards Division and Trufanov's tank units to set up here line of defense.

Since this defensive task came very suddenly, I think it is impossible to lay minefields and pull up barbed wire in front of the temporary position. Therefore, General Trufanov's tanks were ordered to be placed behind the position and used as stationary batteries. "

"Comrade Commander, since we have a tank force, why don't we attack the enemy's tanks?" Sameko pointed to the line of defense that Sokov was going to build: "When the enemy attacked the line of defense of the 81st Guards Division, Spread out the attacking division, Trufanov's tank units attack from the front, and the 4th Guards Tank Army attacks from the flanks, it is entirely possible to severely damage or even wipe out the German armored units."

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you think too simply." Regarding Sameko's proposal, Sokov shook his head after hearing it and denied it: "General Trufanov's tanks are basically old-fashioned. The T-70, not to mention the German Tiger and Leopard tanks, even if it encounters the Panzer IV, can’t please them. I’m afraid they can only deal with the Panzer III. With such tanks, the enemy’s tanks To launch a confrontation is to let them die."

Sameko gave up the idea of ​​persuading Sokov, and continued to ask: "Even if we add the 81st Guards Division and General Trufanov's tank troops, our strength is very weak, can we really stop the enemy? "

"Comrade Chief of Staff, under the current circumstances, we can only take risks." Sokov pointed to the map and said to Sameko: "The 81st Guards Division builds the line of defense, Colonel Koida's 188th Infantry Division The commanders and fighters of the division and the 4th Guards Tank Corps should find a way to hold the enemy so that they cannot rush to Belgorod quickly. After the fortifications are completed, the troops of Keda and the tank army will withdraw from the battlefield from the east. .”

"Exit the battlefield?" Sameko asked puzzledly, "Why didn't you withdraw from the battlefield?"

"Withdrawing from the battlefield is to allow Koida and the Tank Army to readjust their deployment." Sokov picked up a pencil and tapped a few times on the map: "After regrouping, they can start from the 81st Guards Division. His right flank entered the position, but took over the defense of the friendly army."

"Although our attack on the 3rd Armored Division went smoothly, the 188th Division, which is the main attacker, must have lost a lot of personnel. With their strength, can they stop the enemy?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are quite right. With the strength of Colonel Koida's current strength, even with the assistance of the tank army, it is very difficult to stop the German attack." Since the immediate priority task , is to block the retreat of Huot's troops, and wait for friendly forces to come up and encircle them. Sokov decided to readjust his forces: "Order the 182nd and 384th divisions to shrink and gather, and prepare to reinforce the 188th division."

"Ah, ordered the 182nd and 384th divisions to shrink and assemble?" Sameko said in surprise: "The 182nd division has just added a group of old and weak soldiers. The combat effectiveness of the troops has been severely weakened. Is it appropriate to send them into the battlefield?"

"Chief of Staff, I understand what you mean. If possible, I am not willing to let the 182nd Division whose combat effectiveness has been diluted go back to the battlefield." Sokov spread his hands and said helplessly: "But I am not the same There is no other way but to use the 182nd Division at risk."

"What about the 384th Division?" Sameko continued: "The division is now spread out over a range of hundreds of kilometers. It may not be an easy task to regroup them."

"Follow my order." Sokov waved his hand at Sameko, and said weakly: "If the situation of the battle develops in a direction that is not conducive to our army, the force I have used is simply not enough for the Germans to stop us." Gap."

"What about the infantry brigade near Yakovlevo?" Sameko asked. "Put them into battle too?"

"Not yet." Sokov shook his head and said, "Although the commanders and fighters rescued from the prisoner-of-war camps all have rich combat experience, they don't have enough weapons. You can't let our commanders and fighters hold grenades. Charge the Germans with a shovel?"

Sameko knew that Sokov was telling the truth. Of the more than 2,000 prisoners rescued from the prisoners near Yakovlevo, less than 200 were armed, and most of the rest were unarmed. If you let them go to the battlefield like this, it is tantamount to letting them die.

"Chief of staff, immediately inform Lieutenant Colonel Uzakov to let his troops do covert work." Sokov said blankly: "Without my order, you are not allowed to act rashly."

…………

The 81st Guards Division, which was attacking, suddenly received an order from Sokov to immediately withdraw from the battle and retreat five kilometers to build fortifications on the road.

Hearing this order, several regiment leaders were dumbfounded. The battle was well fought, how could they order themselves to switch from offense to defense? With doubts, everyone went to Ma Lanjin to ask what happened.

Fortunately, Marankin had inquired about the situation from Sameko in detail. Facing the doubts of several regimental leaders under his command, he could calmly say: "Comrades, regiment commanders, I have already asked the chief of staff of the 27th Army, General Sameko, , He said that according to the order of the superior, from now on, we will be officially placed under the command of the 27th Army Group."

It doesn't matter to the regiment leaders which group army the troops are allocated to. But when the attack went smoothly, it was a bit baffling to suddenly stop the attack and retreat to build a defense. So they asked in a hurry: "What is the relationship between our division being assigned to the 27th Army and the transition from offense to defense?"

"Of course there is a connection." Marankin raised his voice and said to several regiment leaders: "The command of the front army must resolutely block the way of Huot's troops going south. General Sokov gave us this order."

"Comrade Commander," a middle-aged regiment commander said loudly, "We are just infantry. If we want to block the enemy's armored attack in a section without permanent fortifications, can we stop it?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Marankin said to the commander: "We are not fighting alone. General Trufanov's tank unit will defend with us. All tanks will be buried in the soil as a The fixed turret is used, and with the cover of the turret, the chance of blocking the enemy is greatly improved."

"What a pity." Knowing that he was going to turn to defense, the regiment commander said with a teary face, "The friendly forces are sweeping the remnants of the enemy, but we have to retreat. I'm worried that if we do this, the commanders and fighters will get emotional."

"Comrade Colonel," Major General Malankin stared at the regiment commander and said with a sneer, "I don't think the person who is emotional is not the commander, but you, right? All right, don't complain to me here, everyone will return immediately Respective troops, rush to the designated location, and carry out the construction of the fortifications."

"Yes!" Several regiment leaders replied weakly.

Seeing that his subordinates were so spiritless, Marankin raised his hand and slapped the table heavily and said: "Comrades, commanders, let me remind you once again that the Germans will soon retreat to the south in a big way. If we Without strong fortifications, they cannot be stopped at all.

Once the enemy breaks through our defenses and flees back to Belgorod, I cannot escape being court-martialed, but I will shoot you with my own hands before my superiors hold me accountable. "

Hearing these words from Major General Marankin in such a stern tone, all the regimental leaders were shocked immediately, and they quickly faced Marankin, straightened their chests and replied loudly: "Understood, Comrade Commander, we will definitely Complete the fortifications before the German offensive begins."

Facing the attitude of the regiment leaders, Ma Lanjin finally showed a smile on his face: "Very good!" Then he waved his hand at the crowd, "Time is running out, you all hurry back to your respective units and hurry up to repair the fortifications."

After the regimental leaders left, the chief of staff of the division asked Marankin worriedly: "Comrade commander, the total strength of our division is no more than 2,000, and we don't have heavy weapons like artillery. How can we block the enemy's armored forces?" Woolen cloth?"

"Isn't there General Trufanov's tank unit?" Marankin said, "They can provide us with the necessary artillery cover. With their assistance, it may not be so easy for the enemy's tanks to break through our defense line." .”

"Comrade division commander, I think it is still necessary for you to ask General Sokov how long we need to hold on to this position." The division chief of staff said cautiously: "With our current strength, holding on to this position for an hour is already enough." The limit is reached. If reinforcements cannot be obtained in time, the position will be lost sooner or later."

"Don't worry, my Comrade Chief of Staff." Marankin said with a smile: "I know Sokov, he will not fail to consider this issue. Let's do our own work with peace of mind. When the time is right, the superior Reinforcements will be sent to us."