The infantry brigade that entered the battlefield became the straw that broke the camel's back. The German defense line, which had been struggling to support itself under attacks from two sides, suddenly collapsed.
The defense line was breached, and the Soviet troops from the north and south directions merged into one division. The officers and soldiers of the Imperial Division were immediately beaten to pieces. Without the organic troops, they also completely lost their combat effectiveness. The sporadic resistance they organized soon fell into disrepair.
It was completely wiped out by the Soviet attack.
At this last moment, the gap between the SS and the Wehrmacht became apparent. Those areas controlled by fanatical and stubborn NC elements were still making their final resistance. Facing the rushing Soviet commanders and fighters, they fought desperately
Pull the trigger until the last bullet is fired, fight to the last person.
The situation in the area defended by the Wehrmacht was a different story. Seeing that there was no point in continuing to resist, the officer took the initiative to order the soldiers to stop shooting, hoist a white flag on the position, and surrender to the onrushing Soviet troops.
The two completely different performances of the German army confused the attacking Soviet commanders and soldiers. They thought they would have to go through a bloody battle to capture the position, but as soon as the troops rushed up, the enemies on the position raised white flags and surrendered. Some obviously did not.
Any position that held a meaningful position was met with stubborn resistance when the commanders and soldiers rushed over.
After discovering this situation, Colonel Chuvashov immediately reported to Sokov through the newly established telephone line: "Comrade Commander, we encountered a very strange situation during the attack."
"A very strange situation?" Sokov asked in confusion: "What situation?"
After Colonel Chuvashov introduced the confusion encountered by the troops to Sokov in detail, he said: "Because the enemy's reaction was so abnormal, we don't know whether we should accept the enemy's surrender."
After listening to Chuvashov's report, Sokov quickly understood the problem and said into the microphone: "Comrade Colonel, I know what's going on. After the Imperial Division was annihilated by me last time, another
It was reorganized because the number of SS troops was not enough, and a large number of Wehrmacht troops were transferred to fill it. I estimate that those troops who surrendered voluntarily should belong to the Wehrmacht, while the enemies who resisted to the end should be fanatical NC elements."
"Then what should we do?" Colonel Chuvashov asked.
"Treat differently." Sokov knew very well that if he ordered his troops to eliminate all enemies indiscriminately, the SS and the Wehrmacht would join forces to resist. The best way now is to divide and disintegrate them in order to achieve the goal.
The purpose of solving the battle in the shortest time. "You can order the political workers to shout to the enemy that as long as all the national defense officers and soldiers lay down their weapons and surrender, we will definitely treat the prisoners preferentially and give them the treatment they deserve as prisoners of war."
Seeing that Sokov only mentioned the Wehrmacht and not the SS, Colonel Chuvashov asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, I would like to ask, how should we treat the SS?"
"Are the SS still human beings?" Sokov said viciously through gritted teeth: "They are just two-legged beasts. Think about how many heinous crimes they have committed in our country, even if you kill them ten times, you will be killed twice."
Ten times, they are still at an advantage. Therefore, the order I give you is to resolutely and completely eliminate every SS officer and soldier. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Commander." After understanding Sokov's intention, Colonel Chuvashov quickly replied loudly: "I will immediately pass your order to all brigades."
After Chuvashov put down the phone, he immediately told the communications staff standing aside: "Immediately send someone to inform the friendly forces. According to the order of the commander, we can accept the surrender of the Wehrmacht, but all captured SS soldiers will be shot on the spot.
, we will never accept their surrender."
So one order after another, through the telephone line, the communication troops conveyed to the attacking troops. As a result, the situation on the battlefield changed greatly. After the commanders and soldiers discovered the traces of the enemy, they did not immediately launch an attack, but asked to understand German
The soldiers shouted to each other: "Brothers and officers of the National Defense Force, our commander has an order to accept your surrender. As long as you lay down your arms and surrender, you will be able to enjoy the treatment that prisoners of war deserve."
When the commanders and soldiers received such an order, they felt quite strange. It was already difficult for the enemy to organize an organized resistance. It was only a matter of time before they were eliminated. Is it necessary to do so much in one move?
In front of the attack direction of the 84th Brigade and the 384th Division, there was a defensive zone with more than 200 German officers and soldiers inside. The Soviet army launched two attacks here, but no progress was made. The commander who led the team thought of Chuva
Following the order conveyed by Colonel Schoff, two soldiers who knew German were recruited to shout at each other using a simple loudspeaker.
The German officers and soldiers on the position stopped shooting after hearing the Soviet army's shouting. After a while, a broken Russian voice suddenly came from the position: "Who is your commander?"
After the soldiers heard each other's questions clearly, they immediately answered: "Sokov, Major General Sokov."
After listening to the soldiers' answers, there was a burst of chaos from the position, and then a soldier holding a white flag walked out of the trench. He slowly walked towards the position of the Soviet army, shouting loudly as he walked: "No
Shoot, I'm here to negotiate."
Soon, the German soldier was brought to Chuvashov.
Chuvashov looked at the German soldier in front of him and asked expressionlessly: "Private, which part do you belong to?"
"I am from the 5th Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Grenadier Regiment of the Imperial Division," the German soldier stopped and replied: "My company is holding the position that is besieged by you."
"How many people are left in your company?"
"There are more than 130 people, plus the troops who took in the scattered troops, the total strength of the entire position now exceeds 200."
After listening to the German soldiers' answers, Chuvashov thought to himself: If he wanted to eliminate so many enemies, he would probably have to pay a higher price. If they were willing to surrender, then the casualties of the troops could be minimized.
Thinking of this, he asked the German soldier: "What are you doing here with us?"
"Our captain heard that General Sokov allowed the Wehrmacht to surrender, so he sent me to negotiate with you. He wanted to know whether what you said can be fulfilled."
"whats the matter?"
"That is to give our prisoners of war the treatment they deserve."
"Absolutely." As long as it can reduce the casualties of the troops, Chuvashov is willing to pay any price, not to mention just to let some prisoners of war enjoy the treatment they deserve. He said readily: "Not only can your personal safety be guaranteed, but also
Food and water will also be provided, and those injured will receive the medical treatment we provide."
After receiving Chuvashov's promise, the German soldiers went back and reported to their company commander. The other party immediately ordered the white flag to be flown without hesitation, and everyone surrendered to the Soviet army at the foot of the hillside.
A few hundred meters away from this position, there is a position controlled by an SS platoon. After a night of fighting, their ammunition has been almost exhausted. If the Soviet army attacks them, they can only
Fighting with rifle butts and daggers.
But fortunately, the Soviet army stopped advancing 70 to 80 meters away from their position and began to shout. The soldiers listened for a while and found that the content of the Soviet army's shouting was to persuade the officers and soldiers of the National Defense Force to surrender.
The SS didn't mention a word at all. It was inevitable to start a discussion. Since there was no point in continuing to fight, it was better to lay down our weapons and surrender.
Just as the SS officers and soldiers were poking their heads in the position, the soldier who was shouting was discovered. When he saw the lightning logo on the opponent's collar badge, he stopped shouting, turned around and shouted to the commander behind him: "Comrade Captain, the position ahead
The Germans here are SS, and I saw the lightning bolt on their collar badges."
Knowing that the defenders in the forward position were SS troops, the commander leading the team had no interest in asking anyone to persuade them to surrender. Anyway, Sokov's order was very clear. As long as they were SS troops, no one would be spared.
Eliminate them all. He stood up and shouted to the soldiers lying on the ground on the left and right: "Brothers, the positions in front are full of SS troops. Follow me and kill them all without leaving any trace!"
After seeing the Soviet troops stop shouting, they rushed toward the position with guns in hand. The SS officers and soldiers in the position suddenly became confused. The officer shouted at the subordinates who were running around like headless flies: "Shoot."
, shoot quickly, we must not let the Russians rush into our position."
A soldier who had run out of bullets long ago ignored the officer's shouts. He threw the gun in his hand into the trench, crawled out of the trench on his hands and knees, and fled towards the distance without looking back.
There was one leader, and countless followers immediately followed. When they saw their companions dropped their guns and ran away, the other soldiers who had no bullets were not to be outdone. They also threw away their weapons and climbed out of the trench like their companions.
Escape into the distance.
Even if there were no officers and soldiers who escaped from the position, they did not have much ammunition and could not stop the incoming Soviet commanders and soldiers. Before they could fire two shots, they were shot to death by the Soviet soldiers who rushed to the edge of the trench condescendingly.
The Soviet soldiers who crossed the trenches aimed at the enemies who were fleeing far away, and used burst fire like target practice, knocking down the enemies one by one.
The same battles are happening everywhere.
Since the main force of the SS was basically exhausted after a night of fighting, most of the remaining ones were the Wehrmacht. Under the persuasion of the Soviet army to surrender, more and more Wehrmacht troops laid down their weapons and surrendered to the Soviet army.
At 7:40, the gunfire on the battlefield became sparse. Chuvashov called Sokov to report the good news: "Comrade Commander, the battle is coming to an end. According to incomplete statistics, we have captured a total of 100 soldiers."
More than 1,700 German officers and soldiers."
"Well done, Colonel Chuvashov." Sokov waited for the other party to finish and then said approvingly: "When the battle is over, you will get a medal."
Sokov knew that Zhukov had been paying attention to the battle here. Now that the dust has settled, he could call him and report: "Comrade Marshal, this is Sokov. After a night of fighting, our troops surrounded and annihilated the Imperial Division.
It's basically over, and more than 1,700 enemies have been captured..."
"Why are there still prisoners?" When Zhukov heard this, he couldn't help frowning and said, "Don't we always shoot the captured SS soldiers directly?"
"Comrade Marshal, you have misunderstood." Sokov quickly explained: "The ones captured were not the SS, but the Wehrmacht. After the Imperial Division was encircled and annihilated by us last time, the enemy did not have a sufficient number of SS troops when they rebuilt.
So a large number of the National Defense Forces were mobilized to fill it. The officers and soldiers captured now are all affiliated with the National Defense Forces."
"What are you going to do next?" Zhukov asked: "Are you going to move all the troops there?"
"Comrade Marshal, this is what I think about." Sokov replied: "In order to encircle and destroy the Imperial Division, I deployed an infantry division and three brigades. Now that the combat goal has been achieved, I plan to deploy them all here.
"
"What about the remaining troops?" Zhukov continued to ask: "Let them stay where they are?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, I intend to let them stay in the Shumakovo area." Sokov explained to Zhukov: "Once the enemy finds that an effective breakthrough cannot be achieved from the direction of Oboyan, they will adjust the direction of their attack.
Detour from the Prokhorovka area... As long as my main force is deployed in Shumakovo, then even if the enemy breaks through in the Prokhorovka area, we will have enough troops to stop them."
"Do you think our troops deployed in Prokhorovka can't stop the enemy's attack?" After listening to Sokov's words, Zhukov said with some dissatisfaction: "Do you know that what you said is
It has a great impact on unity.”
Hearing Zhukov's criticism of himself, Sokov immediately realized that he had been hasty. He knew that the focus of the Battle of Kursk was Prokhorovka, but Zhukov did not know that he believed that the troops standing there could stop the enemy.
Attack. Therefore, my statement is somewhat taboo.
Fortunately, Zhukov did not argue with him, but said to him: "After you deploy the defense mission, rush back to Shumakovo immediately. You can't let me, the representative of the base camp, act as your chief of staff for a long time.
."
"Comrade Marshal," Seeing that Zhukov did not pursue the matter, Sokov couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly replied: "I will rush back to the headquarters as soon as I finish setting up the defense here."
Half an hour later, Sokov met the four commanders of the participating troops. Looking at the ashamed-faced Major General Gritsenko, Sokov asked with some displeasure: "Comrade General, I want to clarify one thing.
, if I had not sent Colonel Chuvashov’s troops to support you, would you have been able to break through the enemy’s defenses?”
"No, Comrade Commander." Major General Gritsenko looked at Sokov and replied sincerely: "My troops have launched many attacks on the enemy's positions, but they have not achieved the desired results. If Chuvasa
Colonel Husband's troops did not arrive in time, so we are probably still engaged in a tug-of-war with the enemy there."
This chapter has been completed!