The time soon entered July. Since they saw no movement from the Germans, the commanders of each division could not help but relax their tension. They even complained privately that Sokov was making a fuss out of a molehill.
Sokov clearly remembered that the Battle of Kursk kicked off in the early morning of July 5, so he notified each division as early as the 3rd, distributed ammunition to commanders and fighters, and made all battle preparations.
The order he gave quickly reached Konev's ears. Konev didn't know what Sokov was doing, so he called him and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Sokov, are you there?"
What kind of tricks are you using, why are you distributing ammunition to the troops and issuing a battle alert?"
Sokov would definitely not tell Konev that the German army would launch a surprise attack on the Soviet troops stationed in the Kursk area in the early morning of the 5th. He could only say vaguely: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I think
After two months of rest, the Germans may launch another attack on our defense zone. As you know, my troops have been training for the past few months. I have put them into combat readiness solely to test their capabilities.
Training results.”
"Nonsense, it's just nonsense." Konev waited for Sokov to finish and said unhappily: "Even if you want to test the training results of the troops, you can't just distribute ammunition to the troops? You know, the actions of your group army,
This caused a series of bad chain reactions, and several other group army commanders called me one after another, asking why they were not notified of combat missions."
Konev's words made Sokov realize that his actions were a bit too reckless. He distributed ammunition to the troops on a large scale and put them into combat readiness. Such an action would definitely not be hidden from nearby friendly forces, thus creating a
The chain reaction of the series of outbreaks caused unnecessary panic.
While Sokov was thinking about how to explain to Konev, he heard Konev continue: "The day after tomorrow, that is, on the morning of July 5, we will hold a military meeting at the level of the group army commander.
You must make a thorough examination of this matter at the meeting."
Knowing that the meeting was held on the morning of July 5th, Sokov couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If the meeting was held tomorrow, he would definitely not be able to escape the fate of the examination; but if it was postponed to the morning of the day after tomorrow, then the library would
The battle of Ersk has already begun. Maybe Konev will secretly lament that he has foresight, and the inspection will naturally not be left undisturbed.
After knowing what was going on in his mind, Sokov quickly said with a correct attitude: "I understand, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I will make a profound reflection on my reckless behavior at the military meeting the day after tomorrow."
Lunev, who was standing nearby, looked at Sokov who was on the phone with worry. As soon as the other party put down the phone, he said anxiously: "Comrade Commander, you see I need to talk to my superiors to talk to each other."
Don’t you need a checkup?”
Sokov knew in his heart that what Lunev said about communicating with his superiors was to prepare to contact Beria, so that he could mediate through Beria to avoid any punishment. But he had a deep understanding of history.
Sokov, who knew well, knew the specific time when the Battle of Kursk would begin. Not only would he not be punished for holding the meeting, but he might also be praised by Konev, so he declined Lunev's kindness: "Comrade Military Commissar
, thank you for your kindness. Since this matter is an order issued by me, no matter what kind of punishment the superiors give us, I will accept it calmly. "
Hearing what Sokov said, Lunev could only sigh softly, not knowing what to say. Samyko asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, do you need to recollect all the ammunition that has been distributed?"
come back?"
"No, there is no need to take back the ammunition that has been issued." Sokov said seriously: "On the contrary, we have to tell the commanders of each division to be ready for combat. Maybe we will be thrown into battle soon."
"Comrade Commander," Hearing Sokov say this, Samyko couldn't help but secretly shake his head. He felt that Sokov seemed to be a little obsessed. Now the German army showed no sign of attacking at all. Even if there was a fight, the Steppe Front Army
It seems that this reserve team will have the opportunity to go to the battlefield, but it is still unknown. However, recently, the commander has been mentioning the possibility of fighting every now and then like an obsession. "Do you really think there will be a war?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said in a positive tone: "According to my judgment, since the Germans did not launch an attack in June, they will postpone the attack to early July, maybe later.
In a few days, an unexpected battle will break out."
"It's over, it's over. Comrade Commander's nerves are a little abnormal." Sameko thought sadly in his heart: "If he leaves the army, who will his superiors send to take over his position?"
Sokov didn't know that Samyko already regarded himself as a lunatic. He was still secretly thinking that once the Steppe Front Army wanted to join the war, his own troops would definitely bear the brunt. Which division should be allowed to enter the battlefield first?
?
On July 4th, Sokov spent the whole day in a state of uneasiness. He knew the exact time of the German attack, but he could not let the Southwestern Front Army and the Central Front Army warn others, lest he be regarded as a magician.
After dark, Sokov did not leave the headquarters. He sat at the table, stared at the map spread out on it, and muttered to himself: "History will not be biased because of his own appearance, right? If the German army did not
By launching an attack in the early morning, I would have to make a self-examination in public at the military meeting in the morning, and it might even affect my image in Konev's mind."
However, the night passed, and the phone on the table never rang.
Looking at the bright sky outside, Sokov's mood couldn't help but sink to the bottom. Could it be that his appearance really caused a deviation in history, so that the Germans did not report to the Soviet Union in Kursk in the early morning of the 5th?
Army launches an attack?
Samyko walked in from the outside and was startled when he saw Sokov sitting at the table, looking a little haggard. He quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, have you been sitting in the headquarters all night?"
?"
"Yes." Sokov picked up the cigarette case on the table, took out a cigarette from it, lit it in his mouth and said: "I don't know why, but I always have an ominous premonition in my heart, feeling that Germany
People may launch an attack on our defense zone?"
"What, the enemy will launch an attack on our defense zone?" Sameko said nervously: "Comrade Commander, there are no decent fortifications in our defense zone at all. If the enemy really launches an attack on us, what can we do?
How about blocking them?"
"Chief of Staff, you are mistaken." Seeing that Samyko had misunderstood what he meant, Sokov quickly waved his hand to him and explained: "I am talking about the friendly defense areas. They may be attacked by the Germans in the near future.
attack."
"Oh, that's it." Seeing that Sokov mentioned something that the German army might do, Samyko couldn't help but feel a little impatient, and quickly changed the topic: "Comrade Commander, you have been sitting here all night
, you must be sleepy and hungry, right? You lie down and rest for a while, and I'll have someone prepare breakfast for you."
Seeing that the time was already eight o'clock in the morning, but there was no news from the direction of Kursk, Sokov could not sleep. He simply ate something, and together with Lunev, Samoylov
Under the protection of the police, we took a jeep to the front army headquarters for a meeting.
When Sokov arrived at the front army headquarters, he found several generals sitting and chatting inside. When Sokov walked into the room, everyone stopped talking and focused their attention neatly on Sokov.
"Comrade Commander," Lunev reminded Sokov in a low voice: "Everyone is looking at you. It seems that they all know what you are going to inspect at the meeting today."
In response to Lunev's kind reminder, Sokov couldn't help but smile bitterly. If there was no news from the direction of Kursk, it would be inevitable for him to do an inspection at the meeting today, so he began to think about how to profoundly
Only through self-criticism can we gain approval from superiors and colleagues?
It was almost time for people to arrive before Konev and members of the headquarters appeared in the conference room. When Chief of Staff Zakharov passed by Sokov, he cast a worried glance at him, worried that the inspection at today's meeting would happen.
It left a shadow in the heart of the young army commander.
After the meeting began, Zakharov first, on behalf of the Front Army Headquarters, made a detailed summary of the fortification construction and training of each group army in the past few months. After he finished speaking, it was the Front Army's Military Commissar's turn to speak.
.
Although Mehlis has been transferred, the Lieutenant General Susaikov who succeeded him is also a difficult person to deal with. He stood up, first glanced at where Sokov was sitting, and then said: "Everyone
Comrade generals, the day before yesterday, a very bad incident occurred here. The commander of a certain group army distributed weapons and ammunition to the troops without asking for instructions, and also ordered the troops to enter a state of combat readiness. I am thinking here
Let me ask: Are you a member of the German command? Otherwise, how can you know the enemy's attack time, distribute ammunition to the troops in advance, and prepare for battle?"
Although Susaikov did not mention his name, the commanders present knew who he was talking about. After all, it was tens of thousands of people preparing for the war. It was basically impossible to hide it from others.
Lieutenant General Managarov, the commander of the 52nd Group Army, is a good old man. When he heard Susaikov say this, he quickly stood up to smooth things over for Sokov: "Comrade Military Commissar, I think this commander has a good intention.
, After all, this is a war, and we can only be alert enough at all times so that we will not be caught off guard by the enemy." Seeing Managarov come out to speak for him, Sokov smiled politely at him to express himself.
Gratitude in my heart.
"Comrade Commander," Susaikov ignored Managarov's words and asked Konev with a side face: "Are you not saying that you are going to let the commander who made the mistake face the public in today's meeting?
Do you want to make a review?"
Konev, who had been defeated by an army, twitched the muscles on his face violently twice, then turned his gaze to Sokov and said slowly: "General Sokov, do you have anything to add?
"
When Sokov heard Konev nodded in front of him, he quickly stood up and was about to make a profound self-examination in front of everyone according to the draft he had made in his heart. But at this moment, a colonel came in from outside.
came in and shouted: "Comrade Commander, telegram, telegram!"
"Colonel," Susaikov said with some displeasure when he saw the colonel breaking into the conference room, "don't you know that we are holding an important military meeting?"
The person who broke into the conference room was the Chief of the Front Army Intelligence Division. Knowing that if something important had not happened, he would never behave so recklessly. He raised his hand to stop Susaikov's words and asked tentatively.
: "Comrade Colonel, is there anything urgent?"
"Report to Comrade Commander," the intelligence director straightened his body and replied: "I have just received an urgent telegram from the General Staff Headquarters, ordering our department to prepare for combat immediately."
"Where is the telegram?" Konev's expression instantly became serious: "Read it quickly and listen!"
The head of the intelligence department quickly took out the telegram and read it in public: "...General Rokossovsky's Central Front troops captured a German engineer who was opening a road in a minefield at 1 o'clock this morning. After his confession,
, the German army will launch a powerful offensive against our defense area at three o'clock in the morning today..."
As soon as the Director of the Intelligence Division read this, a commander suddenly said "Ah" in surprise, but when he saw Konev's destructive eyes, he obediently closed his mouth and listened quietly to the Director of the Intelligence Division.
The telegram read: "...Our army took decisive countermeasures and launched a violent bombardment of the German positions at 1:30 in the morning. The shelling lasted for one hour and forty minutes...The German offensive time was disrupted.
, but they had to postpone the attack to 5:30... Now General Rokossovsky's Central Front and Vatutin's Voronezh Front are fighting fiercely with the enemy, and your department needs to distribute ammunition to the troops immediately
, and make all preparations for combat and go into battle at the necessary time. General Staff Headquarters, signed: Antonov."
After listening to the intelligence director read the telegram, everyone looked at Sokov with strange eyes: What's going on? Why did this guy know that the enemy was about to launch an attack, and distributed weapons and ammunition to the troops first, and prepared all battles?
Preparing? Susaikov, who had just tactfully criticized Sokov's miscalculation, was a little embarrassed. He didn't expect Sokov's prediction to be so accurate. He wanted to apologize in public, but he felt that he couldn't let it go.
But Konev's face showed a happy smile. He heard Zhukov and Rokossovsky mention Sokov more than once, saying that his prediction of the situation was unparalleled, which made him laugh at that time.
I still scoffed at the two people's statements and felt that they were exaggerating. But judging from today's situation, Sokov's prediction and the precautionary measures he had taken were undoubtedly correct.
Konev looked at Sokov and asked with a smile: "General Sokov, can you tell us why you can predict that the enemy will launch an attack in the near future and prepare in advance?"
Not only did Konev want to know the answer to the question raised by Konev, but every commander present also wanted to know the answer. Everyone focused their attention on Sokov, wanting to hear what kind of answer he would give.
.
This chapter has been completed!