Red Moscow

After reading Rotmistrov's battle plan, Konev looked up and asked Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think of General Rotmistrov's plan?"

"I think it's feasible." Zakharov said eloquently: "Using two hundred tanks to form a powerful assault group, advancing along the railway to the German defense, can destroy all resistance along the way..."

Before he could finish speaking, Konev interrupted him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, General Rotmistrov also organized an armored assault today, but in less than an hour, his troops, He suffered a devastating blow from the German army and lost nearly 200 tanks. Why do you think that the armored assault he plans to organize tomorrow will be successful?"

Hearing Konev's question, Zakharov analyzed to him the reason why the 5th Guards Tank Army's attack failed today: "I think today's attack failed, I am afraid it is still the same as General Rotmistrov's tactics. Related. He divided more than 200 tanks into three wedge-shaped formations and laid them out on the wide battlefield, unable to form a firepower advantage at a certain point. On the contrary, they were defeated one by one by the German troops who had already ambushed..."

Konev patiently listened to Zakharov's analysis, and asked back: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you considered that once the enemy discovers General Rotmistrov's attempt, concentrate their armored forces and anti-tank forces?" Firepower, interception along the railway line, can our offensive still be successful?"

In the face of Konev's questioning, Zakharov seemed very embarrassed. According to his thinking, Rotmistrov concentrated so many tanks to carry out the assault, even if there were German tanks and anti-tank firepower blocking the way, he would still be able to attack. Break through enemy defenses with ease. If someone else said that, Zakharov would definitely regard the other party as a panicked person. After all, walking is a defeatist argument and should be severely punished.

But it was Konev who said this, and his mind is another way of thinking. He didn't want this plan with a seemingly high success rate to be so easily rejected by Konev, and quickly said: "Comrade Commander, according to my judgment, the Germans never thought that we would adopt such an assault method. The forces along the railway line cannot stop the attack of General Rotmistrov's troops at all."

After listening to Zakharov's analysis this time, Konev did not deny his analysis, but stared at him for a long time, and finally said: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, since you are interested in Rotmistro General Husband is so confident, then you tell him, after our research, we agree that he will use this tactic to attack the enemy tomorrow."

Zakharov didn't expect Konev to agree to Rotmistrov's battle plan, and he couldn't help showing a stunned expression on his face. Seeing Zakharov standing still, Konev couldn't help but frowned: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what's wrong with you? Why didn't you call General Rotmistrov and tell him that we His battle plan has been passed."

"Okay, okay." Zakharov, who was still in a daze, replied in a panic when he heard what Konev said: "I'll call General Rotmistrov right away and get this good Inform him."

When Zakharov called, Konev sat at the table, staring at the map in front of him, lost in thought.

After Zakharov finished the call, he saw that Konev was still staring at the map in a daze, so he couldn't help asking, "Comrade Commander, what are you thinking about?"

"I was thinking, what exactly is Sokov going to do?" Konev was awakened by Zakharov's shout, he looked up at the other party, and couldn't help but return to Sokov again, he pointed Looking at the map to Zakharov: "The troops on the left are supported by the Assault Army, and they are fully capable of breaking through the enemy's defenses and rushing into the city to join the troops on the right. In this way, they will have enough strength to control Kharkov. Western District."

"Comrade Commander," Zakharov, as the chief of staff of the front army, naturally understood the distribution of German troops in Kharkov. He waited for Konev to finish speaking, and immediately expressed his opinion, "Anyway, Soko He was facing the German 11th Army and 42nd Army, plus several armored divisions. If his troops really occupied the west of the city, it would inevitably provoke a crazy German counterattack, and his troops would be in danger of being encircled. "

"You're right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Although Konev is dissatisfied with Sokov's conservative style of play, he knows very well in his heart that if he forcibly orders Sokov to expand his victories, it will give The army group brought disaster. "If Sokov's troops really control the west of the city, I'm afraid not only the 11th Army and 42nd Army will launch an attack on them, I'm afraid Huot's armored troops will also be thrown into battle."

Seeing that Konev understood this truth, Zakharov showed a smile on his face, "Fortunately, General Rotmistrov's tank troops will be able to rush into the city tomorrow. With such a large support army, we will I think Sokov will definitely take the opportunity to expand the results of the battle, and then the main force of the front army will be able to quickly approach the outskirts of Kharkov and start a decisive battle with the enemy's main force."

The topic turned around, and then returned to Rotmistrov. No matter how you look at it, the 5th Guards Tank Army plays a pivotal role in whether or not Kharkov can be captured in a short period of time. Konev pointed at Zakharov with his hand and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, please tell Sokov again that General Rotmistrov's troops will launch an attack from the northwest of the city tomorrow. Once The tank troops broke into the city, and his troops must take active actions to cooperate with the friendly forces to achieve greater results."

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Zakharov said smoothly: "I will tell Comrade Sokov the news immediately."

A few minutes later, Sokov, who answered the phone, put down the receiver and stared at the map on the table in a daze.

Tsvetayev asked curiously: "Comrade Sokov, I wonder what General Zakharov said on the phone?"

Since Tsvetayev is his ally, Sokov did not hide anything from him. He pointed to the northwest direction of Kharkov and said: "The chief of staff of the Front Army told me that General Rotmistrov The tank group army will launch an offensive from the northwest along the railway line tomorrow morning, let us take active actions after the friendly forces enter the city to expand the results of the battle."

Hearing what Sokov said, Tsvetayev seemed a little agitated, and he quickly asked: "So, the troops on the left-wing landing field will also enter the city tomorrow? Do you want to go to the city before dark today?" Send the artillery divisions to the east bank of the Oude to build new artillery positions?"

"It's not necessary." Unexpectedly, Sokov shook his head and said, "I don't think General Rotmistrov's troops will be able to enter the city tomorrow."

"Why?" asked Tsvetaev in surprise.

Sokov pointed at the position west of Kharkov with his hand, and said with a wry smile: "It's still this damn sunflower field, the Germans will definitely deploy a strong defense here, making Rotmistrov The general's tank group took heavy losses."

"It's not that serious, is it?" Tsvetayev said dubiously: "In any case, General Rotmistrov's tank army has nearly a thousand tanks. How many tanks can the Germans have left now? How could it be possible to stop our army's armored assault? General Sokov, I think you are over-concerned."

Sokov understood the truth that facts speak louder than words, so he did not argue with Tsvetayev, but smiled and said: "Comrade General, we will wait and see, until tomorrow, you will know whether my analysis is correct or not." Still wrong."