It took less than a day for Trafkin to get acquainted with the reconnaissance battalion under his command. At noon the next day, he came to my headquarters and asked me for a mission. He might be afraid that I would disagree, and he specifically emphasized: "Comrade Commander, I have talked with all the company and platoon commanders in the reconnaissance battalion. Everyone feels that with the current situation of our battalion, we can immediately start confrontation German reconnaissance work. Please approve!"

I have been silently calculating the time when the Battle of Kursk broke out. Seeing the date of the start of the battle, there are only ten days left. If I don’t send people to conduct reconnaissance and learn about the German forces in a timely manner, then at the beginning of the battle. , We may suffer a big loss.

However, I did not make my own claim on this matter, but turned around and asked Danilov: "Comrade Deputy Commander, what is your opinion, do you agree that the Captain will go out for reconnaissance?"

"I have no opinion," Danilov replied bluntly, "We should have sent people to the German defense zone to conduct reconnaissance. It is difficult to understand the real German defense situation simply by relying on the intelligence reported by the troops below. So I think we should send a reconnaissance battalion under the group army to conduct detailed reconnaissance on the depth of the German defense."

Seeing that Danilov’s thoughts were the same as mine, I didn’t hesitate anymore. After asking if Trafkin wanted to personally lead the reconnaissance this time, I picked up the pencil on the table and wrote in the notebook:

"I order:

Captain Travkin, the group army reconnaissance battalion, immediately mobilized capable personnel to form a reconnaissance squad and went deep into Belgorod controlled by the German army—Kharkov, indeed, reconnaissance of the German army’s deployment and activity laws. The time limit is eight days without delay.

Commander of the Group Army: Oshanina

Political Commissar of Military Committee:

Deputy Commander:

chief of staff:

Date of Issue: June 25, 1943. "

After writing and signing, I pushed this order to Danilov and the others. After reading the order in turn, the three of them signed their names behind their positions.

After signing all the letters. I took this order and handed it to Trafkin, who had been waiting next to him, and told him: "Captain. The reconnaissance behind enemy lines this time is of great importance. You must promptly report the situation of the reconnaissance back to the commander of the group army. It can adjust the deployment of troops according to changes in the enemy's situation."

"Yes!" Telfkin replied loudly, "Please rest assured, Comrade Commander, we promise to complete the task."

Seeing him turning to leave, I stopped him again and told him: "You go deep behind enemy lines, and you will be in a very dangerous situation. You must remember to minimize the loss of the team as much as possible. Understand?"

"Understood, Comrade Commander."

Looking at the back of Trafkin leaving. Kirilov, who knew him quite well, suddenly asked, "Lida, why should Captain Trafkin go in this reconnaissance? You know that he is now the commander of the reconnaissance battalion, and he has so many people under him. The company commander, the platoon leader, and whoever sent on the horse can successfully complete this mission."

"Comrade Military Commissioner," I explained to Kirilov's doubts: "The reason why I let Travkin go out in person is because this reconnaissance mission is really important. Although the company commander platoon in the reconnaissance battalion It’s a lot, but unfortunately because my time in the group army is too short. I don’t know enough about them, so I rushed to send them out, and I felt uneasy."

My words aroused Danilov's vigilance. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, the Front Army Command issued an order a few days ago to strengthen our combat readiness to prevent possible German offensives. As a result, several days have passed since the superiors predicted. Do you think the Germans will continue? Launch an offense?"

"Yes, definitely." Seeing that it was only a few days since the battle of Kursk broke out, I didn't want my deputy to take the battle preparations lightly, so I said sternly: "Judging from the current signs, the Germans have Probably in early July. Attack on our defense zone."

"Early July?" After listening to my analysis, Danilov had an expression of disbelief on his face: "It is now the end of June. But on the front of our defense, there is no large-scale German mobilization. You know. If you want to launch an attack on our group defense zone, the German army must prepare at least 300,000 people. The transfer of so many soldiers and weapons and equipment will not be completed without more than one month. "

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you must not underestimate the enemy." Kirilov interrupted and said: "We must know that on the eve of the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, we did not notice that the German army entered the attack position, and even some early warning intelligence was ignored by us. We were caught off guard as soon as the war broke out. The more quiet the enemy in front of us, the less we can take it lightly, otherwise we will suffer a big loss if they attack."

"Comrade Military Commissioner is right." As soon as I finished talking with Kirilov, I immediately expressed support for him and explained to Danilov: "Manstein is not a simple figure. In a few months Earlier, he had defeated two front armies that were several times more numerous than him. Now his troops are deployed on the front of our defense. It's not enough if you don't be more vigilant."

"But how can you be sure that the Germans will launch an offensive in early July?" Although Kirilov and I have said a lot, Danilov still looked disbelieving. Intelligence supports this statement."

Seeing him so stubborn, I smiled bitterly and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, if I said it was just my instinct, I felt that the German army would attack our defense zone in early July, would you believe it?"

Almost at the same time Danilov shook his head, Kirilov nodded vigorously and said loudly: "I believe in the judgment of Comrade Commander. Based on my previous experience with her partner, I believe her prediction is very good. It will soon become a reality."

Before we could thoroughly persuade Danilov, the new head of the regiment Sergeikov walked into the headquarters. As soon as he saw his face, Kirilov smiled and asked him: "How about it, comrade colonel, are your troops completed?"

Sergeikov waved his hand and said with a wry smile: "Comrade Military Commissioner, how fast can it be. Now I only set up the framework of the battalions and appointed some commanders. As for the soldiers, it may take more than two. Genius is in place one after another."

When I heard Sergeikov say this, the first thing I thought was that he ran to me at this time. Wouldn't it be that he wanted some commander to enrich his troops? So when he finished speaking, I frowned and asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov, what are you going to do when you come to the headquarters today?"

"That's it, Comrade Commander." Sergeikov didn't notice my dissatisfaction, but said truthfully: "I want to ask what is the first task that the regiment must perform after its reconstruction?"

Unexpectedly, he didn't come to me to ask for a commander, but to request a mission, so that my dissatisfaction with him just disappeared. I smiled and asked, "Then do you have any good ideas?"

Sergeikov walked to the table, pointed to the map on the table, and asked respectfully: "Comrade Commander, allow me to explain to you on the map?" After getting my permission, he moved from Kursk drew a straight line to Yakovlevo, and then said, "Comrade Commander, please see, the total length of the line of communication from Kursk to Yakovlevo where our first line of defense is located It is 120 kilometers or a little longer. The supply of the entire group army depends on this line of communication. Am I right?"

"That's right, this highway is our only transportation line." Bezikov said, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, can you tell me, do you have any plans?"

"We should strengthen the defense of this highway." When Sergeikov said, pointing to one of the points, he said: "We entered from here at the time. Our troops walked on the road for nearly an hour and didn't watch. At any checkpoint, I didn’t see any fortifications. If it is not us but the Germans who enter this area, what consequences will be brought, I just don’t say, you can think of it.”

Sergeikov’s words shocked me in a cold sweat. I always thought that this highway was defended by special troops, but I didn’t expect it to become a place that was ignored by us. Had it not been for Sergeikov’s reminder, once the Kursk battle broke out, as long as the German army sent an armored unit to cut off our transportation line, the first and second lines of defense would become precarious due to insufficient ammunition and supplies.

However, since Xiejielikov discovered this defensive loophole in our army~lightnovelpub.net~, he must have a good countermeasure, so I secretly wiped the cold sweat on my forehead and asked: "Xiejieli Lieutenant Colonel Cove, what are your plans?"

"I think so, Comrade Commander." Sederikov apparently did his homework before coming here, so he answered my question without hesitation: "I plan to combine two The battalion is deployed between the first and second lines of defense, because once the fighting breaks out, this will become the focus of the German offensive. The remaining battalion and regiment directly under the line will be placed behind the second line of defense and used as a reserve team. Once the Germans broke through our first line of defense, the two previous battalions withdrew behind the second line of defense, joined the regiment headquarters, and continued to protect the line of communication from Kursk to the second line of defense."

I am very satisfied with Sederikov’s arrangement. After nodding my head in agreement, I also took the initiative to say to him: “In order to strengthen your regiment’s combat effectiveness, I will ask the Chief of Staff to equip you with 20 mortars. And five armored vehicles. In a word, even if you sacrifice your own life, you must ensure the safety of the group army transportation line. Understand?"

"Understood," Sergeikov replied loudly, repeating what I said just now: "Even if you sacrifice your own life, you must resolutely ensure the safety of the group army transportation line." (To be continued.)