After daybreak, the German troops on the southern front of Kursk, under Manstein's strict orders, launched a fierce attack on the Soviet defense zone again.
General Knobelsdorf's 48th Army once again launched an attack on Oboyan, which was held by Katukov's 1st Tank Army. Since Katukov's troops were divided and used by Vatutin during the battle, so
The military strength in many important areas appears to be extremely weak.
Facing the superior enemy, Katukov had to transfer some troops in non-important areas to the areas with the most intense fighting to prevent the defense line in the Oboyan area from being broken through by the German army again.
In the records of later generations, the battle in the Prokhorovka area was highlighted in great detail, while the battle fought by Katukov and his allies in the direction of Oboyan was brushed aside in the Spring and Autumn Period. As everyone knows, the battles that took place there were
The scale of tanks far exceeds that of the Prokhorovka area.
At the beginning of the battle, Katukov's First Tank Army and Chistyakov's Sixth Guards Army were attacked by nearly 700 tanks. Although during the battle, both tank troops and infantry were attacked.
Showing extraordinary tenacity, they destroyed a large number of German tanks and slowed the enemy's advance deeper into the defenses.
However, because the troops suffered huge losses during the battle, the defense line in the Oboyan area was still broken through by the Germans. If Sokov's troops had not appeared in time, the situation would have become even worse.
With the Imperial Division annihilated and the remaining Totenkopf and Flag Guard divisions turning in the direction of Prokhorovka, the situation in Oboyan seemed to be improving. It was under this circumstance that the Soviet high command moved all the
Their attention turned to the Prokhorovka area, which they felt was the area where the decisive battle would take place.
When the Totenkopf and Flag Guard divisions turned to the direction of Prokhorovka, Katukov felt that the time had come to counterattack. After discussing with Chistyakov, commander of the Sixth Guards Army, Katukov decided to organize a counterattack on July 11.
A comprehensive counterattack to destroy or drive away the enemies in the areas of Rakovo and Berezovka.
In order to complete the planned attack plan, he mobilized the 10th Guards Tank Army and the 5th Guards Tank Army to assist the 6th Guards Army. The offensive battle was originally scheduled to start at nine o'clock in the morning, but it was not even eight o'clock.
The artillery of the Sixth Guards Army prepared artillery fire towards the enemy's position.
After an hour-long artillery preparation, the Guards infantry launched the attack first without waiting for Katukov's tanks to arrive. As the signal flare indicating the start of the attack was lifted into the sky, tens of thousands of Soviet commanders and fighters fired from their own
He jumped out of his hiding place, held his weapon, shouted "Ula" and rushed towards the enemy's position.
The enemy troops who occupied the Rakovo and Berezovka areas never dreamed that the Soviet army would suddenly launch a full-scale counterattack against them. However, the troops stationed here were all well-trained troops. After a brief period of chaos, they
Immediately adopt the tactics used before. Except for a few people who stayed to monitor the movements of the Soviet army, the rest retreated to the rear positions through the communication trenches, so that the artillery shells fired by the Soviet army hit uninhabited open space.
When the Soviet artillery bombardment ended and the infantry began to attack, the German troops who had retreated to the second line of defense re-passed the trenches and returned to their original positions in an orderly manner, preparing to launch a fierce sniper attack on the Soviet troops.
The infantry without tank cover was blocked by the barbed wire fence in front of the German position. Just as they began to clear the road, the machine gun fire on the German position began to fire. Dozens of MG42 machine guns fired at the same time. The dense firepower network formed immediately destroyed the infantry.
Knock down the commanders and soldiers who were cleaning the barbed wire fence.
Seeing the enemy starting to fire, most of the commanders and combatants lay down on the spot, hiding in bomb craters or other hidden positions, and fired back at the enemy's positions. However, a small number of commanders and combatants tried to rush towards the enemy through the barbed wire fence blocking the front.
As a result, the enemy's positions were constantly shot and fell under intensive firepower.
The German machine gun fire suppressed the attacking Soviet troops in the barbed wire area. Then, they brought in mortars and launched a violent bombardment at the places where the Soviet troops gathered. They were suppressed by machine gun fire and mortar shells.
The Soviet troops, who were killed and wounded, persisted in the barbed wire area for half an hour. Seeing that they could not effectively break through the enemy's position, they had no choice but to retreat.
A tank brigade from the 10th Guards Tank Corps rushed to the battlefield. Seeing that his own troops were attacking the enemy's position, the brigade commander ordered the tanks of the entire brigade to advance at full speed and catch up to support the infantry. Unexpectedly, they had just left.
Halfway through the journey, I saw that the infantry who were still attacking retreated with a roar. This gave the tank brigade commander a headache. Attack, the infantry retreated, and the tanks without infantry cover rushed forward.
It will be wiped out by German anti-tank fighters; retreat, it is not easy for tanks to turn around on a battlefield full of people.
The tank brigade commander hesitated for a long time, and finally issued an order that was not wrong: "All tanks obey my order, aim at the enemy's position and shoot to cover the retreat of our infantry brothers."
More than fifty tanks fired at the same time, immediately suppressing the machine gun and mortar firepower on the German positions in the distance. Many Soviet commanders and soldiers who were suppressed by the firepower and unable to move saw that the firepower on the enemy's position was mute, so they started to
Climb up and scramble to retreat towards your own position.
Seeing that the infantry had withdrawn from their positions, the tank brigade commander ordered all the tanks to withdraw from the Soviet defensive positions. After returning to his own position, the tank brigade commander immediately reported everything that happened on the battlefield to the Kaiser via the radio.
Tukov reported in detail.
After Katukov heard this, he immediately got angry: "What's going on with Chistyakov? We clearly agreed on a joint operation, why didn't we wait for our tanks to arrive before attacking the enemy?"
"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff said cautiously after Katukov finished speaking: "Perhaps General Chistyakov feels that the enemies in the area of Rakovo and Berezovka, after a long battle, will
It has been severely weakened, and even without the assistance of our tanks, the infantry alone can destroy the enemies here."
"Nonsense, this is simply nonsense." Katukov said angrily: "When the German army launched an attack on our position, tanks and armored vehicles rushed to the front to destroy our army's defenses and provide cover for those who followed.
The infantry at the rear can quickly seize our army's position.
And what about our friendly forces? They actually used infantry without any cover to attack the enemy's well-defended positions? If Chistyakov waited until our tanks arrived on the battlefield before ordering the troops to attack, then the infantry following the tanks would
, there is no need to worry that the barbed wire fence in front of the enemy's position will block their way. Our tanks opening the way in front will open up several roads for infantry to pass through the obstacle area formed by the barbed wire fence."
Katukov threw the half-smoked cigarette butt on the ground, crushed it with his toes, and continued: "I think the Germans should be invited to teach our infantry commanders a lesson so that they know what offensive means."
Infantry and tank coordination in battle.”
"Comrade Commander," the military commissar on the side heard this and quickly reminded Katukov: "How can you say that you invite Germans to teach us? If outsiders find out, you will make a mistake.
"
Katukov also spoke angrily. He did not expect that today's attack would have unexpected changes due to Chistyakov's arbitrary decisions. Although the first attack on the German positions was launched, there were only casualties.
There are hundreds or even thousands of people, but the blow to morale is huge. Under such circumstances, if we launch an attack on the enemy's position, there is little hope of victory.
He walked back and forth in the headquarters with his hands behind his back, thinking about how to deal with the enemies occupying Rakovo and Berezovka. After walking for an unknown amount of time, he finally stopped and said to his chief of staff
: "Chief of Staff, immediately transfer General Krivoshein's 3rd Mechanized Army and ask them to take over the attack of the 6th Guards Army. We must find a way to capture Rakovo and Berezovka."
After hearing this, the chief of staff carefully reminded Katukov: "Our 3rd Mechanized Army is still in contact with the German army. Will temporarily mobilizing them have an adverse impact on our overall defense?"
"I can't worry about so much now." Katukov waved his hand and said: "Judging from the battle that just ended, the quality level of the infantry is still a bit low. I am not at all reassured that they will cooperate with us in the battle. Still.
We have our own mechanized army at our disposal. Chief of Staff, don’t be stunned. Hurry up and call General Krivoshein and order him to move the troops to the designated offensive position as soon as possible.”
Katukov did not know that what he said was heard by a staff officer in the headquarters and was transmitted to Chistyakov's headquarters through a telephone. The officer who answered the phone immediately called Katukov
He reported what the husband said to Chistyakov: "...Comrade Commander, the situation is like this. According to General Katukov's wishes, he is ready to dispatch the 3rd Mechanized Army here to complete the offensive mission."
The war was not going well, and Chistyakov was already angry. At this moment, hearing the officer repeat what Katukov said was just adding fuel to the fire. He put the red and blue pencils in his hand on the table.
He threw it and said angrily: "Since Katukov has such ability, let his troops deal with these Germans."
With that, he called the chief of staff to him and ordered the other party: "Stop the planned offensive operation. Except for leaving one regiment to hold on, the rest of the troops will return to their original positions and leave this place to Katukov's troops."
.”
"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff realized that Chistyakov was dizzy with anger. Now the main force of the group army has assumed an offensive posture. If it is mobilized without authorization, it will not only easily cause chaos, but also cause chaos.
It is easy for the German army to take advantage of it. So he persuaded: "General Katukov may say angry words, but you must not take it to heart. No matter how strong the tank force is, it will still be the one who finally captures the enemy's position.
We infantry. If we really withdraw and the mechanized army is delayed in arriving, then the counterattack we mentioned here will end in failure."
After listening to the chief of staff's persuasion, Chistyakov stared at the map in front of him in a daze. After a while, his mood slowly stabilized. He thought to himself that he indeed had an unshirkable responsibility for today's events.
It was originally planned to be a joint battle between the two armies, but without waiting for the arrival of the tank troops, he ordered the infantry to attack first. As a result, the troops suffered losses.
After thinking about the cause and effect, he blushed slightly, and then said to the Chief of Staff: "Chief of Staff, you are right, we did not do this properly. It is understandable for General Katukov to complain.
. You immediately notify all units, seize the time to assemble, and prepare to wait for more tank units to arrive before launching a new attack."
Not only Katukov but also Chistyakov quickly forgot about the matter, but concentrated on mobilizing their troops and preparing to launch a new attack on the enemy-controlled Rakovo and Berezovka areas again.
attack.
But neither of them expected that what Katukov said and Chistyakov's reaction after hearing these words were quietly reported to the Intelligence Division of the Front Army Headquarters. The Director of the Intelligence Division got the news.
After that, he immediately went to Vatutin’s headquarters to report the matter to him.
After the director of the intelligence department entered the door, he saw Vatutin, Zhukov, and Vasilevsky gathered around the table, leaning over the map spread out on it. Seeing this, the director of the intelligence department knew that the three of them were studying Prokhorov.
The situation outside Calgary, where tanks from both sides are engaged in a melee.
When Vatutin saw the director of the intelligence department standing in a dilemma at the door, he stood up straight and asked: "Comrade director, what can I do?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." The head of the Intelligence Division, who was about to leave, heard Vatutin asking, and quickly stepped forward and handed over the telegram in his hand: "This is a telegram we just obtained. Please
You take a look."
Vatutin originally thought it was a report of enemy information. Unexpectedly, when he opened the telegram, he found that it was a report of the discord between Katukov and Chistyakov. He frowned and asked the director of the intelligence department with a straight face: "This information
Is it reliable?"
"Completely reliable, Comrade Commander." The director of the Intelligence Division quickly replied affirmatively: "The source of the intelligence is completely reliable, so there is no doubt about the authenticity of this telegram."
"I understand." Vatugin nodded at the other party and said, "You have nothing to do here. You can go back first."
Zhukov waited for the intelligence chief to leave before asking Vatutin: "Comrade Vatutin, what happened?"
Vatutin placed the telegram in front of Zhukov and Vasilevsky, and said with a smile: "It's not a big deal, it's just that the two generals Katukov and Chistyakov had different combat concepts.
There was a little friction. But the matter is over and will not affect our subsequent combat operations."
After Zhukov read the contents of the telegram, he didn't say anything. He turned his attention to the map in front of him again. What he was thinking about was how to defeat the German troops as soon as possible. He had no idea what happened in the Oboyan area.
Take it to heart. After reading it, Vasilevsky frowned slightly. Although he didn't say anything, he was thinking in his heart that after the Battle of Kursk, he should find a good discussion with the two generals.
Let's talk about it to avoid any sequelae.
This chapter has been completed!