Chapter 1270 Self-assessment

  Not long after departure, a motorcycle caught up from behind. When overtaking from the side, the staff officer sitting in the sidecar desperately waved at the jeep in which Sokov was riding, indicating that there was an emergency.

  Sokov recognized the other party as the communications staff officer of the 354th Division, guessing that there might be some important telegram, and quickly ordered the driver to stop. As soon as the car stopped, Samoilov, who was sitting in the passenger seat, opened the door and got out of the car, walking towards the staff officer who had just jumped out of the sidecar.

   Sokov, who was sitting in the car, saw the two talking in a low voice, the staff officer handed a telegram to Samoilov, then turned and left after saluting.

   "Comrade Commander," Samoilov returned to the car and handed the telegram he had just received to Sokov: "It's a telegram from the Voronezh Front Army Command."

   Knowing that it was the telegram from the Voronezh Front Army Command, Sokov was not surprised at all. After all, his troops had been temporarily assigned to Vatutin's command, and it was only a matter of time before he received his order.

  He took the telegram and leaned over to read the content carefully. The order is very simple. The 69th Army was attacked by the German Banner Guard Division and the 7th Armored Division. Now the Kenf Combat Group is also moving closer to the above-mentioned two German armies, causing the Army to face the danger of being encircled. Two infantry divisions and a tank brigade attacked the rear flanks of the German Banner Guard divisions in order to attract the attention of the Germans and ensure that the 69th Army could safely move to the next line of defense.

   "Samoylov," Sokov told Samoilov after reading the telegram: "Go and call Colonel Shechtman over."

After Samoilov left, Sokov opened the door and got out of the car. Standing by the side of the car, he looked over the roof and thought about the marching infantry. Do you want to attack the Banner Guard Division first?

   After receiving the notification, Shechtman quickly drove over from the front, and the one who appeared with him was Colonel Billing, the political commissar of the division. After the two stood still in front of him, Sokov handed over the telegram in his hand and asked, "Colonel Shechtman, after reading this telegram, please tell me your thoughts!"

  Before the troops set off, Sokov once told Shechtman that the next attack target was Simon's Skeleton Division. After he read the telegram, he couldn't help becoming hesitant. He tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, what should we do next? Is it to attack the Banner Guard Division according to the order of the superior?"

"We only have the strength of one division, and it is definitely not enough to attack the flag guard division." Colonel Billing echoed: "Or, we temporarily stop advancing, and continue to advance after other troops arrive. .”

   "What, Comrade Political Commissar." Sokov looked at Billing and said with some surprise: "Do you think we can't deal with the German Banner Guard Division with the strength of one division?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Billing replied in a panic: "Comrade Commander, you should know that the combat effectiveness of the German SS divisions is very strong. One division is enough to fight against our army group. Now we only have one division." The strength of the troops, but also to take the initiative to attack the enemy, I am worried that I will suffer..."

  Sokov noticed that when Bilin spoke, Shechtman remained silent. It seemed that he agreed with Bilin's opinion and hoped that Sokov could transfer more troops to participate in the attack on the Banner Guard Division. After seeing through each other's thoughts, Sokov poured cold water on the two of them: "I'm sorry, two colonels. In the battle outside Prokhorovka, the only force I can use is your division. Plus two tank battalions directly under the group army, there will be no more reinforcements."

Sokov's words shocked the two of them, and Shechtman quickly reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, with this little force, to attack the enemy's strong and powerful Banner Guard Division, I am afraid that the entire army will danger of destruction."

"Why, do you have so little confidence in your fighters?" Sokov looked at the two men with a half-smile and said, "Don't you want to create a miracle and use one division to defeat one of the enemy's SS divisions? After he finished speaking, seeing that the two of them still looked sad, he added in time, "You know, this is a good opportunity that can be recorded in the annals of history. Are you really going to miss it?"

   Originally, the two were still pondering how to persuade Sokov to send more troops to attack the German Banner Guard Division. But at this moment when he heard that his troops had a chance to make history, his attitude immediately took a 180-degree turn. Billy said a little excitedly: "Comrade Commander, if we defeat the Banner Guard Division, we can really go down in history." ?"

   "This is natural." Sokov knows the Russians very well, and knows that they are a nation that values ​​honor. In order to obtain honor, they will even sacrifice their precious lives without hesitation. "I assure you that when the battle outside Prokhorovka ends, you and your troops will receive great honor, and the results achieved will also be recorded in the annals of history."

   Shechtman straightened his back and said with a solemn expression: "Comrade commander, please give an order. Even if our division is wiped out, we must defeat the German flag guard division."

   "Wait a minute." Seeing that Shechtman regained confidence in defeating the enemy, Sokov was not in a hurry: "We will not fight the Banner Guard Division for the time being."

   "What, don't fight the flag guard division?" After Shechtman and Billing looked at each other, they saw shock in each other's eyes. He turned to Sokov and asked, "Then which army of the enemy shall we fight?"

"According to the original plan, attack the German Skeleton Division first." Sokov has been thinking in his heart. Among the enemies outside Prokhorovka, the weakest enemy is Simon's Skeleton Division. If we annihilate them first After getting rid of them, and then turning around to attack the Banner Guard Division, his troops will no longer be fighting alone. Rotmistrov can help him attack the Banner Guard Division with the troops used to deal with the Skeleton Division. "After defeating the Skeleton Division, turn around and deal with the Banner Guard Division."

"Deal with the Skeleton Division first, and then deal with the Banner Guard Division?" Sokov's words made Shechtman's heart suddenly cold. He originally wanted to use the sacrifice of the entire division in exchange for the victory of canceling the Banner Guard Division, but now But when he heard that he was going to fight the Skeleton Division first, and then deal with the Banner Guard Division, his mind went blank.

   Seeing Shechtman's stunned look, Sokov smiled lightly, and then said: "Comrade Colonel, do you hear that we are going to deal with two SS divisions and think this is an impossible task?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Billing took a step forward and said to Sokov in front of Shechtman: "Please forgive me, we are already struggling to deal with an SS division of the German army. If you have to deal with two at the same time, even if you wipe out all the troops, you may not be able to complete this task."

"Don't worry, comrade colonels." In order not to burden the two of them, Sokov reached out and asked Samoilov for the map, spread it on the hood of the jeep, and then said to the two colonels : "Look, the Skeleton Division confronted General Rotmistrov's 18th Tank Army near the October Farm in the northwest of Prokhorovka. After a fierce battle, their troops have been severely weakened. With just such a small amount of troops, they are still scattered in several scattered locations.

  My plan is to concentrate all forces and carry out an assault on Simon's division headquarters. It would be a good thing if he could be captured alive again; even if he could not be captured alive, but the division headquarters of the Skeleton Division was destroyed, the enemy would fall into chaos because of the loss of unified command. At this time, we can carry out individual breakthroughs against the scattered enemies. "

Pointing at the map, Sokov told the two of his battle plans: "...After defeating the German Skeleton Division, we nodded and went south to attack the Banner Guard Division. When we launched an attack on the Banner Guard Division, those who originally The troops confronting the Skeleton Division will be able to free up their hands to assist us in our attack."

  After Sokov explained, the frowns of the two people suddenly relaxed. They found that they had fallen into a misunderstanding, thinking that if they attacked the Skeleton Division first and then the Banner Guard Division, there would be a shortage of troops. Completely forget that once the Skeleton Master is defeated, those troops that were originally entangled by the Skeleton Master will be able to free up their hands to assist themselves in the next battle.

  Looking at the backs of the two colonels leaving, Sokov felt that his plan still had some risks. If the troops confronting the Skeleton Division choose to sit on the sidelines when your own troops launch an attack, then after a scuffle, the 354th Division's combat attrition will be very terrifying, so you must communicate with General Rotmistrov in advance , let him know his next move, and take timely cooperation measures.

   Sokov quickly lay down on the hood, drafted a telegram, and then told Samoilov: "Comrade Lieutenant, immediately ask the radio operator to send this telegram to General Rotmistrov."

  After Samoilov received the telegram, he did not leave immediately, but stood still and asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, do I need to wait for his call back?"

   "No." Sokov waved his hand at Samoilov and said, "If General Rotmistrov calls back, the communications staff will send it to me."

   After Samoilov delivered the telegram to the operator, the jeep was on the road again. Samoilov knew the contents of the telegram. He turned halfway and asked Sokov with some concern: "Comrade Commander, if General Rotmistrov receives your telegram, don't let his troops cooperate." , what shall we do?"

"What else can I do?" Sokov knew that the possibility Samoilov said was entirely possible, he shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands: "If General Rotmistrov is not willing to let With the cooperation of his troops, we can only rely on our own strength to destroy the headquarters of the Skeleton Division, and we can only rely on ourselves in the next battle against the Banner Guard Division."

   Fortunately, what Sokov worried about did not happen. Just when his car was about to reach the offensive position, the communications staff came up from behind again on a motorcycle and sent him a reply from Rotmistrov.

Rotmistrov's reply was very simple, saying that once Sokov's troops launched an attack on the Skeleton Division, the 18th Army of Tanks deployed to the north of the 252.2 Heights would simultaneously launch an attack on the frontal enemy to contain the enemy To ensure the smooth attack of Sokov's troops.

  However, at the end of the telegram, Rotmistrov specifically asked Sokov: "Would you like to report this matter to General Vatutin?"

After seeing Rotmistrov's remarks, Sokov smiled lightly, then took out a pen and paper, and wrote briefly: "No need. All the reporting work should be done after the Skeleton Division is wiped out by us. It is not too late for General Vatutin to report."

  After finishing writing, he tore the paper on which the telegram was written from the notebook, handed it to the communications staff officer, and ordered him to say: "Send this reply to General Rotmistrov immediately."

  When Sokov's jeep arrived at Shechtman's temporary headquarters, most of the troops had already entered the attack position. Seeing Sokov's arrival, Shechtman asked nervously, "Comrade Commander, when will we start our offensive?"

   "How many units are in attack position?"

   "Two regiments have already entered the attack position." The chief of staff of the division quickly replied: "The remaining regiment and the artillery regiment will all enter the designated position within half an hour."

"So, your division still has half an hour before you can all be in position?" Sokov saw the division chief of staff nodding in recognition of his statement, and decisively issued an order: "To deal with the German army, one division headquarters, two The regiment is more than sufficient. Colonel Shechtman immediately ordered a battalion of infantry to take tanks and attack the division headquarters of the Skeleton Division. "

"What about the artillery preparation before the attack?" The 354th Division has a 76.2mm cannon regiment. According to Shechtman's idea, before the attack, the enemy's position must be bombarded with artillery fire for at least ten minutes. Cove ordered a direct attack, and quickly reminded him: "If artillery preparations are not carried out, the enemy's fortifications will become obstacles to our attack."

"Comrade Colonel," Sokov naturally understood what the other party was thinking. These old commanders who have been in the army for more than ten or twenty years, before each attack, if there is no artillery cover, they will feel uneasy. . He quickly explained to the other party: "You only have one cannon regiment. Even if you bombard the enemy's position, it may not be effective. Instead, you will warn the enemy and tell them that we are going to attack their position.

  If there is no shelling, the attack will be launched directly, and the enemy who thinks we will rest for a night and then attack will be caught off guard by us. While they have no time to organize effective resistance, we can break through their current defense in the shortest possible time.

   All right, Comrade Colonel, stop looking forward and backward, and immediately order the troops to board the vehicle and attack, and must completely wipe out the division headquarters of the Skeleton Division within an hour. "

"Understood, Comrade Commander." After listening to Sokov's explanation, Shechtman finally understood Sokov's intentions, and quickly straightened his body and replied, "I will immediately send one of the most elite battalions and let them take The tanks are attacking the enemy's division headquarters, and must rush to the vicinity of the German division headquarters in the shortest possible time."

  (end of this chapter)