Chapter 1294 Retreat (Part 2)

  In the evening, after a fierce battle, the Soviet army finally drove the German army away from Prokhorovka. The repelled German army retreated in the direction of Belgorod.

  Sokov received a call from Zhukov, and the marshal asked straightforwardly on the phone: "Misha, where is your main force now?"

  Sokov replied without hesitation: "My main force is distributed in the Pusol River-Gleznoye area, forming a relatively loose defense zone."

  Zhukov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, looked at the map in front of him and said, "So, the west of the Prokhorovka area is under your control."

   "Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokov replied: "After the annihilation of the 19th Armored Division, the area west of the Prokhorovka area is under my control."

"Very good!" After Zhukov praised Sokov, he continued: "Misha, the enemy outside Prokhorovka has been repulsed by our army and is retreating in the direction of Belgorod. The troops on the right wing of the line have already retreated, and the troops on the left wing must not last long, and they will also choose to retreat."

Sokov heard the string song and understood the elegant meaning. Before Zhukov finished speaking, he guessed the other party's intention: "Comrade Marshal, what you mean is that you want my troops to go to Kochetovka and threaten the retreat of the German army. ?"

"That's right, Misha, you're right." Seeing that Sokov had guessed his intentions, Zhukov said happily: "Kochetovka is in the northwest of Gleznoye, about 100 meters away from Oboyan-Don't." The Kyrgorod Highway is very close, and if your troops can occupy it, it will seriously threaten the enemy's rear."

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov thought to himself. After these few days of fighting, his troops suffered heavy casualties. Down came the Battle of Kharkov. Therefore, he euphemistically proposed: "In our defense zone, there are also General Marankin's 81st Guards Division and General Trufanov's tank unit. I think they can go out to the Kochetovka area." , threatening the rear of the German army and forcing Manstein to withdraw all his troops to the starting point of the attack."

   "Misha, what's the matter with you?" Seeing Sokov resisting his orders, Zhukov suddenly became angry: "Are you worried that your troops will be wiped out in the battle and you will become a poor commander?"

   Facing Zhukov's doubts, Sokov dared not defend himself, because what the other party said was correct, and Sokov was worried that his troops would be wiped out in the next battle. In that case, I am afraid that it will take a long time to make up for it, and I will miss many opportunities to make contributions in vain.

"Misha," Zhukov said in a slow tone when he saw that Sokov had been silent for a long time and realized that his words were too harsh, "I know your situation is not very good. If you continue to fight the Germans, the troops will It will lose most of its combat effectiveness. But I have a way to restore your combat effectiveness in the shortest possible time."

After being scolded by Zhukov, Sokov was originally like an eggplant beaten by frost, but at this moment when Zhukov said that there was a way to replenish his troops, he immediately cheered up like chicken blood: "Comrade Marshal, you have Is there a way to replenish my troops?"

   "I can give you a suggestion, but how much troops can be replenished depends on your ability."

   "Comrade Marshal, if you have any suggestions, please speak quickly."

"Misha, as a commander, you should understand that in every such large-scale battle, a large number of officers and soldiers from both sides will be captured." Zhukov said on the phone: "Not only the Germans became our prisoners, but also There are also our commanders and fighters who have become prisoners of the enemy.

  I remember that your troops have liberated prisoner-of-war camps many times, rescued the commanders and fighters detained inside, and used a considerable number of personnel to supplement your troops. Am I right? "

"You are right, Comrade Marshal." Seeing that Zhukov had said what was on his mind, Sokov felt a little embarrassed about the summer vacation: "I do have this idea, but where can I find the German prisoner-of-war camps?" ?”

   "This is your business." Zhukov said on the phone: "I have already provided you with a plan for replenishing troops. As for how to implement it and whether it can be implemented, it is your business."

  After putting down the phone, Sokov glanced at the map, wondering where the Germans would detain the commanders and fighters captured on the southern Kursk front.

   "Comrade Commander," Lunev couldn't help asking curiously seeing that Sokov's eyes had not moved away from the map, "What did Marshal Zhukov say to you on the phone?"

"The marshal said that our army has completely defeated the enemy outside the city of Prokhorovka, and now the defeated enemy is retreating to Belgorod." Sokov said without raising his head: "The marshal ordered We immediately advanced to Kochetovka, threatening the retreat of the German left wing and forcing Manstein to withdraw all his troops to the original starting point of the attack."

   Lunev and Sameko were overjoyed to hear that the German army outside Prokhorovka had been defeated and was retreating towards Belgorod. Sameko even took the initiative to ask: "Comrade Commander, since Marshal Zhukov ordered us to go out to Kochetovka, did he say when the two divisions will be returned to construction?"

"No, he didn't mention it at all." As soon as he mentioned the two divisions transferred to Prokhorovka, Sukov's heart was bleeding. He felt that it was a meat bun beating a dog, no, it should be It was Liu Bei who borrowed Jingzhou, and once he borrowed it, he never paid it back. He said with a bitter face: "Comrade Marshal asked us to find a way to solve the problem of soldiers."

"Find a way to solve the problem of soldiers by yourself?" When Sokov answered the phone, Sameko was dealing with some work and did not hear the content of the conversation between the two. At this moment, he asked in surprise: "If the superior does not give us more soldiers, we will arrive Where can I find someone to replenish the troops?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, Marshal Zhukov said that in any such large-scale battle, many officers and soldiers on both sides will be captured." Sokov said dumbfoundedly: "He asked me to find a way to find the location of the prisoner-of-war camp. If the detained commanders and fighters are rescued, won’t there be enough troops to supplement the troops?”

"Prisoner-of-war camp?!" Lunev was taken aback when he heard this word, and then remembered that when he checked the information about Sokov in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it was mentioned many times that Sokov liked to be held in a prisoner-of-war camp. Commanders and fighters to enrich their troops. In the past, he was very disdainful of Sokov's approach, but since he served as Sokov's deputy, his thoughts began to change. He felt that those commanders and fighters who were rescued from the prisoner-of-war camp were far better than The newly recruited recruits have high loyalty and are completely reliable troops. "Although the battle only lasted for more than a week, I think there are at least tens of thousands of commanders and fighters captured on the southern front, but where will they be detained by the Germans?"

"Yes, so many commanders and fighters have been captured by the enemy. It is impossible for the enemy to take them with them. This will affect their advancing speed. I think the enemy will definitely detain them somewhere." Sokov scratched the back of his head and said: "But where will they be kept?"

   "Will it be near Belgorod?" Sameko put forward his own opinion: "After all, that is the starting point of the German army's offensive."

"I don't think so." Before Sokov could speak, Lunev shook his head and said, "The terrain near Belgorod is complicated, and there is no place suitable for building a prisoner-of-war camp. Elsewhere."

   "Other places?" Sameko asked back: "Comrade Military Commissioner, where do you think it will be?"

   "I don't know." Lunev answered very simply. He turned to look at Sokov and asked, "Comrade Commander, can you imagine where the enemy will set up the prisoner-of-war camp?"

Seeing that Lunev threw the question to himself, Sokov stared at the map and said thoughtfully: "If I want to set up a prisoner-of-war camp, I must first consider the location that is convenient for concealment, so that the enemy will not be easily found; secondly, , The prisoners of war and guards in the prison camp consume a lot of supplies every day, so supplies are very important.

   Judging from these two points, the German prisoner-of-war camp should be in the forest near a small city. This is not only good for concealment, but also convenient for getting supplies from the city. "

Regarding Sokov's analysis, after thinking for a while, Lunev and Sameko nodded in agreement: "Comrade Commander, you are right, it is indeed possible for the enemy to set up a prisoner-of-war camp near a certain small city." In the forest."

Seeing that both of them agreed with his views, Sokov pointed to the map and said to them: "Look, I think the area that best matches the two characteristics I just mentioned is here in Yakovlevo. This small city Located in the middle of Oboyan-Belgorod, it is an important supply transfer point, and the enemy can stockpile supplies in the city and set up a prisoner-of-war camp in the forest outside the city.”

After staring at the position for a while, Sameko nodded slowly and said, "Comrade Commander, what you said is very reasonable. There are many forest areas outside Yakovlevo. If the enemy takes prisoners of war The battalion was set up in the forest, and it was difficult for our scout planes to spot it."

   "Chief of Staff, immediately send five to eight reconnaissance teams in that direction to conduct intensive reconnaissance to find out whether the enemy has established a prisoner-of-war camp in the forest."

   "Understood." Sameko nodded: "I will immediately notify the Director of Reconnaissance and the Director of Intelligence, and let them send out reconnaissance teams to carry out intensive reconnaissance on Yakovlevo."

   When Lunev waited for Sameko to call, he reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, there is one important thing, I think it is necessary to remind you."

"what's up?"

"Weapons." Lunev said emphatically: "If the enemy really set up a prisoner-of-war camp in Yakovlevo and we successfully rescued these captured commanders and fighters, then we will face a shortage of weapons in the next step. .”

   "Comrade Military Commissioner, you are right." If Lunev didn't remind him, Sokov would almost have forgotten that the troops lost not only soldiers, but also a considerable amount of weapons and ammunition, which had to be replenished from the rear. He nodded at Lunev, "Thank you for your reminder, I will get in touch with Colonel Yakov immediately and ask them to deliver enough weapons and ammunition to us."

"Comrade Commander," Sameko returned to Sokov after arranging reconnaissance missions for the Reconnaissance Division and the Intelligence Division, and asked him, "I have already conveyed your order. Next we will What to do?"

"Comrade Marshal ordered our troops to go forward to Kochetovka, threatening the retreat of the German troops on the left flank of the southern front and forcing them to withdraw from the Oboyan area." Sokov asked briefly after clarifying his next plan. Sameko: "Which division do you think will carry out this task?"

"Comrade Commander, our 84th and 254th Infantry Divisions cannot be rebuilt outside Prokhorovka. Only the 182nd, 188th and 384th Infantry Divisions, one infantry brigade and two The Marine Brigade…”

   "There are two artillery divisions and a tank army." Lunev added on the side.

"Comrade Military Commissar is right," Sokov continued: "As soon as we capture Kochetovka, we can deploy artillery and tank corps there. When the enemy's left flank begins to retreat, fire on them Bombardment and tank assaults. Chief of Staff, keep talking." He said the last sentence to Sameko.

Sameko nodded and continued: "Colonel Khokhlov's 182nd Division has just replenished more than 2,000 old and weak soldiers, and its combat effectiveness has been seriously sparse. It is obviously not suitable for this task; Major General Gritsenko's 384th Division , although it is the most well-organized unit, but because they are too scattered, they cannot complete the assembly in a short period of time, nor can they perform this task; the infantry brigade and the two marine brigades are not considered, their strength is too large not enough."

  Sokov has always been well aware of the troops in his group army. After listening to Sameko's crackling, he added: "Chief of Staff, so the only unit that can perform combat missions is Colonel Koida's 188th Division."

   "Yes, Comrade Commander." Sameko nodded vigorously and replied, "That's what I mean."

Sokov thought of the 188th Division in Koida, which resisted the attacks of the Skeleton Division and the 6th Armored Division in Gleznoye. The casualties of the troops were also very heavy. A little weak: "Chief of Staff, don't forget that Colonel Koyda's troops fought fiercely in Gleznoye for several days, and the troops suffered heavy casualties. Is it appropriate for them to carry out this task?"

"Comrade Commander, as far as I know, there are more than 2,000 troops left in the 188th Division, and they are fully capable of capturing Kochetovka." Although Sameko could see the displeasure on Sokov's face, he still He mustered up his courage and said: "If they cannot hold on, we can ask General Marankin's troops to support them."

One word awakened the dreamer. Sokov was always obsessed with the heavy casualties of his troops. It would be very difficult for any division to perform this task. He completely forgot that there was another idler in his defense zone. Although they and General Trufanov’s tank unit suffered certain casualties in the final battle, there were still three to four thousand men and fifty or sixty tanks. With their Assist, take Kochetovka, there shouldn't be much problem.

  At one o'clock in the morning, the 188th Division of Koida and the 81st Guards Division of Marankin launched an attack on Kochetovka at the same time. With the support of artillery fire and tanks, they managed to capture Kochetovka in just half an hour.

In his sleep, Manstein was woken up by his adjutant. After learning that Kochetovka was occupied by the Soviet army, he sat by the bed in a daze for a long time, and finally said to the adjutant weakly: "Colonel Burke, you Go and convey my order to let the troops staying in the Oboyan area break away from contact with the Russians after dawn and move along the road to Belgorod."

  (end of this chapter)