Chapter 1262 The Lost Victory (Part 1)

   Neither Colonel Chuvashov who said this nor Major Bunche knew that the repelled attack of the 6th Armored Division was the division's last battle before the Battle of Kursk.

  The reason for this situation is very simple. The commander of the division was killed in battle, and in order to get his body back, he was blackmailed by Sokov. Morale was already low, but now that another regiment-level officer was killed, the morale of the division suddenly fell to the bottom. After Manstein learned of the situation of the division, he immediately issued an order to switch to the defense on the spot, lest this unit add to Sukov's credit book.

At the same time, the 19th Armored Division, which was fighting on the right wing, also received an order from the commander: temporarily stop attacking the frontal Russians, and after dark, send troops to take over the defense of the 6th Armored Division and cover their retreat to the rear Make up.

   Although the commander of the 19th Armored Division was puzzled by this inexplicable order, he still faithfully carried it out. After he asked the troops to stop attacking the Guards Division's position, he transferred an armored battalion and an infantry battalion to receive the 6th Armored Division's defense zone.

  As night fell, not only did the fighting in the west come to a halt, but even the tank battle outside Prokhorovka gradually came to an end. After that day of fierce fighting, the Soviet army lost more than 180 tanks and self-propelled artillery, while the German army lost more than 80 tanks and self-propelled artillery.

  Although judging from the number of losses on both sides, the German army has achieved a tactical victory, but their elite armored soldiers lost most of them in the battle.

   After counting the results of the battle and his own losses, Rotmistrov personally rushed to the Front Army Command to report the situation to Vatutin. After listening to the report, Vatutin frowned and said: "General Rotmistrov, you lost so many tanks in the daytime battle, so how should we fight the next battle?"

"Comrade General," said Rotmistrov respectfully: "After today's battle, I found that although the German army is exhausted, their combat effectiveness is still strong. Therefore, I suggest that the 18th and 29th Tank Corps temporarily Go on the defensive, and after replenishment, go back into the fight."

As soon as he finished speaking, Vasilevsky, who was sitting next to him, interrupted and asked: "General Rotmistrov, I remember that the headquarters did not send any tank troops in the direction of Prokhorovka. Can you Where do you get supplements?"

"Comrade Marshal," Rotmistrov quickly turned to Vasilevsky and said, "We have our own maintenance personnel, who can repair the tanks and self-propelled artillery that were destroyed in the battle overnight. After repairs, These tanks and self-propelled guns can take part in new battles tomorrow."

Hearing what Rotmistrov said, Vasilevsky showed a surprised expression on his face. After he and Zhukov looked at each other, he asked a little excitedly: "Comrade General, your maintenance personnel made a mistake overnight. Time, how many tanks can be repaired?"

"I asked the workers at the maintenance station," Rotmistrov had specifically asked professionals before he went to the headquarters of the Front Army, so when he heard Vasilevsky's question, he immediately replied with confidence: "They We are sure to repair 30-50 tanks overnight."

"Comrade Marshal," Vasilevsky said to Zhukov with a sideways face after listening to Rotmistrov's reply, "our maintenance workers are amazing. They can repair so many tanks and tanks overnight. Self-propelled artillery."

Unexpectedly, after Zhukov heard this, he shook his head and said with a frosty face: "No, too few. You know, in the daytime battle, our army lost nearly 200 tanks, while the enemy lost more than 200 tanks." Less than half of us. Comrade Vatutin, please contact the logistics department to see if they can organize professional maintenance personnel to help General Rotmistrov and the others, and strive to double the number of tanks repaired .”

"Comrade Marshal, it's very difficult." After hearing Zhukov's order, Vatutin immediately cried out: "Don't say we can't dispatch so many maintenance personnel, even if we have, I'm afraid we can't guarantee enough maintenance personnel." Spare parts, to restore those tanks that were destroyed."

  Since Zhukov has issued an order, there is naturally no room for bargaining. He ignored Vatutin's complaints at all, but said to himself: "At least for half a month, we will not be able to get new tanks, so we can only speed up the repair speed to ensure that the tank brigade is fully equipped. The number of tanks will not drop too fast. In this way, in the next battle, our troops will not suffer a big loss when they face the enemy's armored forces."

   "Comrade Marshal," a clever woman can't cook without rice. Although Vatutin wished that all the destroyed tanks could be repaired overnight at the maintenance station, this is impossible. Facing Zhukov's strict order, he could only say euphemistically: "Actually, we can transfer the tanks in the hands of General Trufanov to outside the city of Prokhorovka."

   "Huh?!" Zhukov couldn't help frowning after hearing Vatutin's proposal: "Bring back General Trufanov's tank troops, what about the defensive positions in the west?"

Seeing that Zhukov was not happy, Vatutin quickly explained: "Comrade Marshal, this is how I think about it. Since the troops holding the western position can block the enemy's attack without tanks, now even if all the tanks Called back, I think they still have the ability to block the enemy."

  After Vatutin finished speaking, he winked at Vasilievsky and motioned him to help him speak well in front of Zhukov. Vasilevsky, who understood, nodded slightly, and then said to Zhukov with a smile: "Comrade Marshal, with the capabilities of our maintenance station, it is simply impossible for them to complete the repair of 60-100 tanks overnight. I I think what General Vatutin said is very reasonable, we can definitely transfer General Trufanov's troops from the west."

"No, General Trufanov's tank unit cannot be brought back." Zhukov shook his head, and replied firmly: "Once we repel the enemy outside Prokhorovka, Manstein will rescue the retreating troops." The enemy will definitely order the two armored divisions to the west to step up their attack. If Marankin's Guards Division does not have the assistance of tank troops, it will be difficult to hold their positions."

   "If General Trufanov's tank troops are not brought back, what will happen to the enemies outside the city?" Vasilevsky said worriedly: "Where do we have the strength to repel them?"

Zhukov did not immediately answer this question, but glanced at Rotmistrov who was standing upright, and then said: "Comrade General, you commanded the battle outside Prokhorovka. Tell me, What are your thoughts on tomorrow's fight?"

"Commanders, commanders," Rotmistrov replied decisively after scanning the three of them quickly, "Although the Germans lost only half as many tanks as we did in daytime battles, they still don't have to lose half of our tanks. But because of this, a large number of well-trained tank soldiers were lost. As for us, in addition to the destroyed tanks that can be repaired, there are also a large number of tankers who can be replenished in time. Under the balance, in tomorrow's battle, the German army will We will be at a disadvantage, and we are confident that we will drive the enemy away from Prokhorovka."

   No one raised any objection to Rotmistrov's mention that there are a large number of tankers who can replenish troops in time. Therefore, in the collective farms of the Soviet Union, those drivers who have driven crawler tractors can directly drive tanks without training at all. As for the Germans, due to the serious shortage of tank soldiers, they can only equip a large number of half-track armored vehicles, because these armored vehicles drive in the same way as ordinary cars. For tank soldiers who can drive tanks, every death means one less, and it is difficult to replenish them in time.

   Before Zhukov could express his opinion, a staff officer walked over from the side and reported to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, your call is from the Supreme Commander himself."

   Knowing that Stalin called Zhukov, the headquarters suddenly fell silent. All eyes were on Zhukov, watching him go to the side table and pick up the microphone on it: "Hello, Comrade Stalin!"

   "Comrade Zhukov, how is the situation at Vatutin's place?"

"The enemy and us fought fiercely outside the city of Prokhorovka during the day." Zhukov said respectfully into the microphone: "Our tank soldiers were extremely brave and tenacious in the battle, destroying more than 80 enemy troops. tanks and self-propelled guns."

   "This is really a very good result." After Stalin praised, he continued: "I called you because I have two things to tell you."

   "Please tell me."

"First, after some preparations, Rokossovsky's troops launched an offensive against the enemy in the Orel salient. This offensive put the 9th Army of the German Central Army Group in danger of being cut off. " Stalin said on the phone: "If the active attack of Rokossovsky's troops can force Model to order his troops to retreat, it means that the Germans are trying to encircle Kursk by outflanking the two wings. The attempt of our army in the salient failed completely. In the days that followed, the Germans in the north not only could no longer threaten our defense lines, but even had to fight for their survival."

"Comrade Stalin, this is really exciting news." Zhukov was very happy when he heard the news: "If Rokossovsky's offensive can really resolve Model's offensive, then the headquarters can Consider mobilizing some more forces to strengthen the south of Kursk."

"The second message." Regarding Zhukov's proposal, Stalin did not immediately express his position, but said directly: "According to the wiretapping of our intelligence forces, Marshal Kruger, commander of the German Army Group Central, and Marshal Manstein, commander of the Army Group South, will take over. After receiving the notification from the German High Command, I flew back to Berlin overnight."

   "Oh, both Marshal Kruger and Marshal Manstein have returned to Berlin?" Zhukov said with some surprise: "At such a critical moment, how could they leave the front line so easily?"

   "Comrade Zhukov," Stalin continued: "After Comrade Antonov's analysis, he felt that the sudden return of the two German field marshals to Berlin must have something to do with the landing of the British and American Allied forces in Sicily."

   Zhukov couldn’t help interjecting when he heard this: “Could it be that the German High Command plans to transfer troops from the Eastern Front to reinforce the defenders in Sicily to resolve the crisis there?”

"Comrade Antonov said the same thing." Stalin said in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Zhukov, please tell me the truth, what do you think? Do you really think that the Germans will fight at Kursk?" At such a critical moment, should we draw troops from here to reinforce Sicily?"

"Comrade Stalin, although this matter sounds very absurd, I think it is entirely possible to do this kind of thing with the character of a mustache." Zhukov said: "But if the German High Command really did this, the situation on the battlefield will be changed." It will become very beneficial to our army, not only can we smash the enemy's attack in the Kursk region, but we may also annihilate a large number of their effective forces, so as to reduce the pressure on our army's next battle."

Regarding Zhukov's analysis, Stalin did not comment, but said thoughtfully: "I have ordered the telecommunications monitoring department to closely monitor the German radio stations to see when Kruger and Manstein will return from Berlin." . . then we will know whether the enemy will actually draw troops from Kursk to reinforce Sicily."

  When Zhukov and Stalin were talking on the phone, Rotmistrov, who was standing aside, was extremely shocked. Don't look at him saying in front of Zhukov that he is sure to repel the enemies outside Prokhorovka tomorrow, but his heart is like fifteen buckets up and down. At this moment, when he learned that Manstein had gone to Berlin, and might even transfer troops from the Kursk region to the distant Sicily for reinforcements, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay, comrades commander." Zhukov put down the phone, glanced at everyone one by one, and said solemnly: "Although the British and American Allied forces landed in Sicily, it will cause mustaches to draw troops from Kursk. Thoughts, but we can't take it lightly, maybe Manstein will argue with Mustache and can't let go of the troops in his hands. At that time, the situation we face will still be very serious."

"Comrade Marshal," Rotmistrov said cautiously, "if the Germans continue to invest troops outside the city of Prokhorovka, with our current strength, we may not be able to repel the enemy's attack, but we must hold on to it." City, but there is no big problem."

"Comrade General, being able to defend the city is a great victory." Zhukov raised his hand and patted Rotmistrov on the shoulder twice, and said with a smile: "When our troops here are reassembled, we will You can launch a new attack on the enemy again, and I don't believe that they will be able to stop our thunderbolt by then."

  (end of this chapter)