Chapter 1244 A Long Day (Part 1)

  The two regiments that arrived before dark, relying on simple positions, and using new rockets and rocket launchers, launched a tenacious resistance to the Skeleton Division's troops. After more than four hours of fierce fighting, the German army's intention to advance eastward along the Pusol River was successfully shattered, ensuring the safety of Prokhorovka's flank.

  Sokov's troops stabilized the line of defense, and Klitschko also made contact with the defeated commander of the troops. In order to stabilize the line of defense, he ordered the remnants of the troops to gather in the defense area of ​​​​the Guards Division to strengthen the defense there.

   Seeing the critical situation, Zhukov and Vasilevsky, who hurried over from Moscow by plane, came to Vatutin's headquarters and asked him about the current situation on the battlefield.

"Comrade Vatutin," Zhukov asked in a reproachful tone as soon as he saw Vatutin: "The headquarters has mobilized so many troops for you. I didn't expect that the situation in the Prokhorovka area would treat our army like this." Unfavorable, what is going on here?"

"Comrade Marshal," Vatutin replied with embarrassment after hearing Zhukov's criticism, "the enemy's offensive is too fierce. Although our commanders and fighters are very tenacious, because their equipment and combat experience are not as good as the enemy's, they have no choice but to attack." Did not choose to retreat..."

Seeing Zhukov's angry face, Vasilevsky hurried out to smooth things over: "Comrade Vatutin, judging from the current situation, the enemy's goal is to capture the city of Prokhorovka, how is your defense arrangement? "

Vatutin knew that Vasilevsky was saving the siege for himself, and after giving him a grateful look, he began to report on the deployment: "After the 33rd Guards Infantry Army under the Fifth Guards Army arrived, I ordered the army to The 9th Guards Paratrooper Division guarded the city of Prokhorovka, and deployed the 95th and 97th Guards Rifle Divisions along the Purcell River behind the 51st and 52nd Guards Rifle Divisions to form a new line of defense. The 42nd Guards Rifle Division remained in the city as a reserve, ready to be dispatched to critical situations."

   "Are you confident in defending the city?" Vasilevsky continued to ask.

   "I think it should be possible." Vatutin replied.

"It's not that it should be possible, but that the city of Prokhorovka must be defended." Zhukov, still angry, pointed to the map on the table and said to Vatutin: "From the current situation, Sokov uses three The infantry division and a tank corps fought tenaciously with the German Skeleton Division, the 6th Armored Division, and part of the 19th Armored Division on a 25-kilometer-wide defensive front.”

Vasilevsky went on to say: "Yes, it is precisely because of the tenacious fighting of Sokov's troops that it has been ensured that the 81st Guards Infantry Division of Marankin can still hold its ground, preventing the enemy from moving unscrupulously towards Prokhoro. Fuka City advances."

Zhukov snorted softly, and continued: "According to the information I have, Sokov is deploying his troops in the direction of Shumakovo and Oboyan, moving towards the Pusel River. It seems that he is I want to strengthen the existing defense line and prevent the enemy from advancing towards the city of Prokhorovka."

"I know that Sokov's troops are good at defensive warfare," Vasilevsky said thoughtfully, "but in this area, there are no decent fortifications. If they want to stop the German offensive, they must There will be a heavy price to pay." After saying this, he asked Vatutin, "Do you have any counterattack plans?"

"Two marshal comrades, we have formulated a detailed counterattack plan." Vatutin said to the two with a smile: "You must be tired and thirsty after driving for so long? Why don't you sit down and take a rest? eat something."

  Seeing that Zhukov and Vasilevsky sat down at the table without objecting, Vatutin breathed a sigh of relief. He ordered people to bring a lot of food, and even a bottle of vodka. He opened the lid of the wine bottle and said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, can you drink a little? It's not much, just a small glass, which can relieve fatigue."

   Faced with Vatutin's enthusiasm, Zhukov couldn't refuse. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Okay, just have a small cup."

   After Vatutin poured wine into the glass in front of Zhukov, he asked Vasilevsky again: "How about you, Comrade Marshal, would you like a drink too?"

  Vasilevsky nodded with a smile and said, "Then give me a drink too."

After Vatutin poured the wine for Vasilevsky, he did not immediately pick up the glass, but began to introduce his counterattack plan to the two: "Comrade two marshals, my plan is this: put the 2nd Tank Army and The 2nd Guards Tank Corps, the 1529th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment, the 522nd and 148th Howitzer Regiments, the 148th and 93rd Cannon Regiments, and the 16th and 80th Guards Rocket Artillery Regiments were all transferred to the 5th Tank Army and ordered to speed up Complete the build-up of troops, and launch a powerful counter-offensive against the Germans on the day after tomorrow, July 12, together with General Katukov's 1st Tank Army."

  After listening to Vatutin's counterattack plan, Zhukov nodded slightly, then raised the wine glass in his hand and said, "Cheers to victory!"

Seeing that Zhukov approved his plan, Vatutin couldn't help feeling ecstatic. He quickly picked up his glass and said, "For victory!" Drank it down.

After putting down his glass, Vasilevsky asked Vatutin: "Comrade Vatutin, your plan is good, but Lieutenant General Rotmistrov's troops can reach the offensive position on time and launch a counterattack against the Germans." ?"

"Comrades Field Marshal," replied Vatutin respectfully, "before you came here I spoke to Lieutenant General Rotmistrov and he assured me that his troops would be At noon tomorrow, all of them can reach the attack position, and within the time specified the day after tomorrow, they can launch a powerful offensive against the Germans."

   "Marshal Zhukov," Vasilevsky waited for Vatutin to finish speaking, and asked Zhukov politely: "Do you have anything to add?"

"I'm thinking, can the defense line established by Sokov last until the day after tomorrow?" Zhukov turned the empty wine glass in his hand, stared at the map on the table, and said with a solemn expression: "You know, today we will attack their defense line." The enemy attacking was only part of the Skull Division, the 6th Panzer Division, and the 19th Panzer Division, and they paid huge casualties. If the Germans put more troops into battle tomorrow, will they be able to hold back?"

"Comrade Marshal," Vatutin said cautiously, "didn't you say that General Sokov is transferring all the troops deployed in the direction of Shumakovo and Oboyan? I think as long as he has With enough troops, it should be no problem to block the enemy for another day."

"Comrade Vatutin, have you forgotten that there are no decent fortifications there." Zhukov tapped the map on the table lightly with the wine glass in his hand: "Which of the fortifications you have been breached by the enemy has no mine?" Areas, barbed wire, and strong fortifications, but in the face of the powerful German offensive, these defensive deployments are useless. Now where Sukov is standing, there are only some simple fortifications. If you want to block the German attack, What a difficult thing."

  Vasilevsky asked tentatively: "Then we need to give Sokov a breath and tell him that we only need to keep the enemy in the current position for a day, and the situation on the battlefield will develop in a direction that is beneficial to us?"

"I don't think it's necessary." Zhukov considered Vasilevsky's suggestion for a while, then shook his head and said, "If he knows that he only needs to stick to it for one day, he will inevitably relax his thinking, which may affect the morale of the troops. I think it's better not to tell him."

  Sokov didn't know what happened in Vatutin's headquarters. He was discussing with Koida how to defend tomorrow. Koyda said with a worried face: "Comrade commander, by the time of dark, only one-third of our division's strength remained, and the two newly added regiments also suffered nearly half of the casualties. You said you would hold on for 48 hours." , it would be an impossible task without reinforcements."

"Don't worry, Comrade Colonel." Seeing that Koida was timid, Sokov quickly cheered him up and said, "Our reinforcements will arrive one after another before dawn tomorrow, and by then we will have enough troops to carry out defensive operations." gone."

"But, Comrade Commander." Koyda pointed to the map and said to Sokov: "From our position to the defense line of the Pushol River, the defensive front is 25 kilometers wide. Evenly distributed, there will be pitifully few defenders everywhere. As long as the Germans break through concentratedly, our defense line will be torn open."

  Sokov didn't expect that in today's battle, his troops had an advantage in equipment, but still paid a heavy price, so he began to consider whether he should adjust the defense method. After listening to Koyda's words, he said slowly: "Comrade Colonel, our troops are limited. If we use our troops equally, it seems that we will fortify everywhere, but in the face of the enemy's attack, we cannot defend anywhere."

   "Is there any way?" Keida asked.

"Order the troops to give up some unimportant areas and concentrate on important areas for defense." Sokov pointed to the map and said to Koida: "For example, the terrain of these places is flat, which is not conducive to defense in the first place, and There are no decent fortifications yet, and it is a waste of our troops to defend here. Therefore, I decided to withdraw the troops from these positions and strengthen them to important areas."

   "Comrade Commander," Koida said in surprise when he heard Sokov say this, "but in this way, isn't it tantamount to handing over these positions directly to the Germans?"

"You're right." Sokov echoed: "Once the enemy occupies these positions, they will nod to the east and rush directly to the city of Prokhorovka, joining forces with German troops from other directions to jointly seize the city. "

  Koida originally wanted to persuade Sokov to prevent him from making mistakes. But at this moment, when he heard that he had already anticipated what might happen, he couldn't help showing a confused expression on his face: "Comrade Commander, since you understand the consequences of abandoning your position, why do you still do it?"

"If we stick to every position tenaciously like now, the final result will definitely be that all the defenders will be killed and the position will fall into the hands of the enemy." Sokov explained to Koida: "But if we properly We have given up some unimportant positions so that the enemy can advance to Prokhorovka according to their plan, then their attack on our positions will be slowed down, and even only some troops will be left for surveillance, and the main force will be Transfer to a new direction of attack."

  Koyda saw Sokov’s normal expression when he said these words, and immediately realized that Sokov might have some elaborate plans, so he didn’t interrupt him, but quietly listened to him.

"When the enemy reaches the vicinity of Prokhorovka and starts a firefight with friendly forces, I can order General Poluboyarov's tank army to attack the enemy from the flank. The main force of the enemy is held back by friendly forces , It is impossible to mobilize forces to come to support, and it will inevitably suffer heavy losses."

After Sokov finished explaining his thoughts to Koida, he immediately got in touch with Sameko by phone and began to deploy work to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, after the troops from the direction of Oboyan arrive, you send the infantry brigade It is enough to transfer over with two marine brigades, and the rest of the troops, let them stay on the defense line of the Pushol River and stand by."

Hearing Sokov's order, Sameko was very surprised. He quickly reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, our defensive front is 25 kilometers wide, and we will only send you three brigades to go there. I'm afraid it will be difficult to hold the line of defense."

"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff. I have already planned to abandon some unimportant positions and concentrate all my forces on important positions for defense." Sokov said what he had just said to Koida, and told Sameko repeated it.

   After listening to Sokov's narration, Sameko suddenly realized that Sokov's move was really brilliant. If the defense is really adjusted according to Sokov's order, then the Germans will definitely choose to pass through uninhabited areas instead of wasting troops and fighting brutal positional warfare with the Soviet army.

  Although this plan is good, it is unknown whether the superior will approve it. After a short period of happiness, Sameko became worried again: "Comrade Commander, do you think your superiors will agree with your plan?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, there is an old saying in the East that generals will not accept their orders." Sokov knew that if he submitted the plan, he would definitely be opposed by Konev, so he planned to cut it first and play it later, waiting for the raw rice to be cooked. Konev found that the situation was wrong, and it was too late to adjust the deployment: "This plan does not need to be reported for the time being. As long as we win the final victory, I believe no one will pursue this matter."

  (end of this chapter)