After the latent German forces in Lugansk were eradicated, the city became calm again.
There is no danger of war here in Luhansk, but in other areas, the situation of the Soviet army has become difficult. On the evening of March 4, Zhukov received a battle report from the base camp and learned that the Voronezh Front sent two tank corps
, three infantry divisions were already trapped in the encirclement of the German Skeleton Division, Reich Division and Flag Guard Division to the west of the Beleka River.
Seeing Sokov eager to try, Zhukov handed him the battle report he had just received and asked at the same time: "Misha, tell me how our troops can get out of the current predicament."
After reading the battle report, Sokov did not speak. Instead, he walked to the wall, looked up at the map above and carefully studied the situation between the enemy and ourselves. After a long time, he turned around and said to Zhukov: "Comrade General, from this
Judging from the situation reported in the battle report, let alone blocking Paul Hausser's troops, it is basically impossible for the besieged troops to even form an organized retreat."
Zhukov knew very well that Sokov's words were hard to hear, but the other party's judgment coincided with his own. He smiled bitterly and asked: "So, we can only watch these troops being destroyed by the enemy."
Destroy it?"
"I have a way to give our army a chance of survival." Sokov looked at Zhukov and said, "But first we need to get in touch with General Rybulk."
"Why do you want to get in touch with Rybalko?" Zhukov asked.
"I discovered that the 9th and 15th Tank Corps, which were surrounded by German troops, were both General Rybalko's troops."
"Misha, you observed very carefully." Zhukov showed a pleased smile on his face: "Not only are these two tank corps under the command of Rybalko, but also the other three infantry divisions are commanded by him."
"That's great." After Sokov blurted out, he realized that his words might be ambiguous, and quickly explained: "Comrade General, what I mean is that all the troops in the encirclement circle are under the command of General Rybalko.
Then the next thing will be easier to handle.”
"Tell me what you plan to do."
Sokov pushed the map on the table in front of Zhukov and said to him: "Comrade General, I discovered an interesting phenomenon. Near the town of Varki in the defense zone of the German Imperial Division, there were divisions of the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division.
The number of individual units.”
"But what does this mean?" Zhukov's adjutant said disdainfully: "Maybe the town of Varki is the junction of several German divisions."
"Don't interrupt, listen to Misha continue." After Zhukov stopped his adjutant, he said to Sokov kindly: "Hurry up and tell your thoughts."
"In the town of Varki, there are only one or two battalion-level numbers of the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division, which proves that this is not the junction of the three divisions." Sokov analyzed to Zhukov: "The reason why this happened
The situation is that the headquarters of the German commander Paul Hausser is located in the town of Varkey."
"Misha, what do you think are the chances that Paul Hausser will set up his headquarters in Valkyrie?"
Although Sokov had already learned from later generations that Paul Hausser's headquarters was located in the town of Valki, when faced with Zhukov's question, he did not dare to speak too slowly and could only answer cautiously.
Said: "I'm only 50% sure."
"A 50% certainty is pretty good." Zhukov is convinced of Sokov's so-called "analysis". After all, so many facts have proven that Sokov's analysis is basically correct every time. And every time
If you don't listen to his advice, you will definitely suffer a big loss. "I will contact Rybalko immediately and let him prepare for an attack."
"Comrade General, the current location of the 15th Tank Army is closest to the town of Varki. I suggest that this army launch an assault on the town before dawn." Sokov recalled that in the official history, the 15th Tank Army's army
The commander died less than 200 meters away from Paul Hausser's headquarters. If the assault force could be increased, even if the German command headquarters could not be taken away, their command system could be disrupted, thus changing the situation on the battlefield.
Unfavorable situation. "However, the strength of the tank army's assault is still a little weak. At least two infantry regiments should be sent to coordinate the operation."
When Sokov said this, he sighed helplessly and said: "It's a pity that we are too far away from the battlefield. Otherwise, I could have ordered Colonel Bely's tank brigade to attack Varki Town and remove the trapped troops from
Rescued from danger."
Regarding the plan proposed by Sokov, Zhukov did not speak, but stared at the map and thought quietly. In order not to affect Zhukov's work, no one in the headquarters dared to speak loudly, lest he would be scolded by the adjutant.
"Misha." After an unknown amount of time, Zhukov finally raised his head and said to Sokov: "The plan you proposed is too risky. After all, we have not obtained similar intelligence. I wonder if Paul Hausser's command is...
Located in the town of Varki, if the wrong direction of attack is chosen, the troops in the encirclement will fall into an irreversible situation."
"Comrade General, I understand what you mean." Sokov could not tell Zhukov that the fact that Paul Hausser's headquarters was located in the town of Valki was something he saw in later generations' information, and he could only smile bitterly.
He said: "I just made a judgment based on some clues. I can't guarantee whether it is accurate or not."
"You can't guarantee it, so what are you talking about?" Seeing that Zhukov didn't say anything, the adjutant started to get angry again: "If you mislead Comrade General to make a wrong decision, resulting in huge casualties in our army, what consequences will you have?
Can you afford it?”
Sokov directly chose to ignore the adjutant's doubts. He just wanted to hear what decision Zhukov would make. The life and death of the two besieged tank corps and three infantry divisions were all in Zhukov's hands.
"Misha, I choose to believe you." Zhukov stood up and said to the anxious Sokov: "I will convey your intention to Rybalko immediately and ask him to order the 15th Tank Corps to go to Val before dawn.
We will launch an attack in the town of Valki. Regardless of whether the enemy’s headquarters is in the town of Valki, at least the first attack we launch will disrupt the original deployment of the German army.”
Half an hour later, Rybalko, who was trapped on the west side of the Bereka River, received a telegram from Zhukov. Taking the telegram, he asked his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, tell me, General Zhukov is far away in Leiba."
Balko, how did he determine that Paul Hausser's headquarters would be located in the town of Varkey?"
"Comrade Commander," the Chief of Staff looked at the call code on the telegram and said to Rybalko: "According to the code on the telegram, Comrade General is currently in Lugansk. It is said that the person in charge of the defense in that area is Colonel Sokov.
Commanding the combat group, I think this judgment should be made by Colonel Sokov."
If Rybalko heard that this judgment was made by someone else, he might sneer at it, but when he heard that it might be Sokov's analysis, he had to take it seriously. He said to the Chief of Staff: "Chief of Staff, I have heard from the Front Army more than once
The commander, General Golikov, mentioned Sokov and said that he was a great commander. In the battle to defend Stalingrad, the 41st Guards Division under his command was like a gate, blocking the
On Mamayev Hill, even if the enemy launched countless attacks, they could not cross this hill.
If it is his judgment, I will choose to believe it. Now, you immediately call the two tank commanders and three infantry division commanders and ask them to rush to the headquarters immediately. We must hold an emergency meeting as soon as possible."
Two hours before dawn, the 15th Tank Corps, which was only five kilometers away from the town of Varki, launched a surprise attack on the town.
This chapter has been completed!