"That's great, Comrade General, that's great." Despite Sokov's constant talk of covering the 19th Armored Division's positions with firepower, in fact his strength is still lacking. The enemy's positions are very scattered.
It is obviously unrealistic to expect to cover the German positions with hundreds of new rockets. Now that the superiors have given themselves two artillery divisions, they can carry out area-by-area bombardment to destroy the enemy's defenses and provide
The assault of tank troops creates favorable conditions.
His superiors gave him such a big gift, so Sokov naturally had to show something. He quickly said: "Comrade General, please rest assured that with the assistance of these two artillery divisions, we will definitely be able to seize the 19th Armored Division."
position."
If Sokov had said such words a day or two ago, Vatutin would still have expressed doubts. But the performance of the 254th Division last night made Vatutin change his view. He felt that since Sokov said such words,
Then there shouldn’t be much difficulty in seizing the position of the 19th Armored Division. So he smiled and said: "General Sokov, I am waiting for your good news. I wish you good luck!"
After Vatutin put down the phone, he immediately reported to Zhukov on the side: "Comrade Marshal, General Sokov said that with the assistance of these two artillery divisions, he has great confidence in capturing the German 19th Armored Division.
position."
After listening to Vatutin's report, Zhukov just nodded slightly. He took Sokov's statement as a matter of course. He pointed to the map on the wall and said to Vasilevsky: "Vasilev
Comrade Ski, look, if Sokov's troops destroy the 19th Armored Division, then he can, together with the 81st Guards Division and Trufanov's tank troops, completely cut off the Flag Guard Division and Kenko.
The retreat route of the combat group. In this way, the 69th Army and the 5th Guards Tank Army not only do not need to retreat, they can even take advantage of the enemy's logistical supply problems to decisively launch a comprehensive counterattack and completely crush Prokhorovka.
Enemies outside the city."
Vatutin, who was standing aside, felt relieved after listening to Zhukov's analysis of the situation. He did not expect that as soon as Sokov's troops appeared on the battlefield, the battlefield situation would change drastically, and the balance of victory would be tilted towards a certain goal.
It is conducive to the development of the Soviet army. It seems that the tragedy that I am worried that the army will be surrounded and annihilated by the German army will not happen again.
After Zhukov finished speaking, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, when do you think we can launch a full-scale counterattack?"
Unexpectedly, Zhukov was unexpectedly silent when he heard Vatutin's question. Zhukov was thinking, if when the battle first broke out, Vatutin was not so anxious to organize a counterattack, but instead learned from Rokossovs on the Northern Front.
Base, relying on solid fortifications and a complete defense system, they had already launched a counterattack at this moment. Who knows that after receiving reinforcements from several group armies, they were beaten into chaos by the German army.
Seeing Zhukov's delay in speaking, Vatutin realized that his question was a bit too reckless. He asked awkwardly: "Comrade Marshal, so we don't have the conditions for counterattack here."
"Comrade Vatutin, a counterattack must be carried out." Zhukov looked at Vatutin and said seriously: "But when the counterattack can be carried out, it depends on whether Mischa's troops can destroy the 19th Armored Division, and
Can we cut off the logistical supplies of the enemies outside Prokhorovka? Only by accomplishing these two points can we have the conditions for a counterattack."
"So that's it." Vatutin said thoughtfully: "But General Katukov's tank army and several other units were entangled by the Germans. Otherwise, they could have helped General Sokov.
Well, that way we will be more confident in annihilating the 19th Armored Division."
The muscles on Zhukov's face twitched a few times, and he thought to himself: If the troops from the direction of Oboyan could be mobilized, would the situation outside Prokhorovka be as bad as it is now? He thought so in his heart, but in his mouth
But he said: "I think the attack by Mischa's troops on the 19th Armored Division will be the key to reversing the situation on the southern front in Kursk."
Seeing that Zhukov admired Sokov so much, Vatutin wanted to retort, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt that what he said made sense. Without Sokov's troops, the situation outside Prokhorovka would be worse than it is today.
Even worse. Not to mention anything else, the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division alone would have beaten me to a pulp. If the Imperial Division had not been annihilated in the direction of Oboyan, and three SS Divisions appeared outside Prokhorovka at the same time,
Can your own troops still defend the city?
Understanding this, he could only nod in agreement, praying secretly for Sokov, hoping that his troops could achieve greater success in the following battles and successfully eliminate Schmidt's 19th Armored Division.
…………
While various parties were discussing the elimination of the 19th Armored Division, the division commander Schmidt was sitting in his headquarters, listening to a major below reporting to him on the sneak attack on the 182nd Division's garrison.
After listening to the major's report, Schmidt said slowly: "Major, since your sneak attack on the Russian division headquarters was unsuccessful, you should withdraw immediately. Why did you enter the Russian field hospital and massacre so many people?"
Many wounded."
"Your Excellency, Division Commander," the German Major did not expect that his actions would be questioned by Schmidt, so he could only explain: "At that time, we originally wanted to pass through the Russian field hospital, get rid of the pursuing troops, and quietly retreat to our defense zone.
Unexpectedly, the sentry found out before entering the field hospital."
"Major," Schmidt's face turned livid when he learned that the sneak attack troops disguised as Soviet troops were actually spotted by the sentries guarding the field hospital: "Didn't you say that there are absolutely no flaws in your disguise? Why?
Can even a Russian sentry see through your disguise easily?"
"Mr. Commander, I don't know what's going on." The major raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, and explained to Schmidt in fear: "I think our disguise was very successful. You know, after leaving
If we had not greeted the defenders before entering our defense area, we would have almost started a fight."
"Since your disguise was so successful, why were you still seen through by the Russians?" After raising this question, Schmidt said with a straight face: "Also, we are soldiers of the Wehrmacht, not like the SS.
Butcher, how can you attack the wounded who are defenseless and have lost their ability to resist?"
"Mr. Commander, this is a complete accident." Schmidt's question made the major sweat even more. He argued desperately: "The scene at that time was chaotic. We couldn't tell which ones were Russians with fighting ability and which ones were.
They are wounded who have lost their combat effectiveness, so some accidental injuries are inevitable."
Schmidt did not delve into the major's explanation. After all, it was during the war. As soon as the battle started, there was no time to distinguish which targets were threats to him and which were not. If anyone really did this, he might not survive at all.
At the end of the battle, he was shot to death randomly.
"Where are the prisoners you captured now being held?" Schmidt then asked.
"In a wooden house not far from the division headquarters, there were six people in total, all female health workers." The German soldiers who captured Asiya and the others were shot to death randomly in the subsequent battle. The major saw six people
They all wore similar clothes, so they were all regarded as female health workers.
"Since they are all medical personnel, there is no threat to us." Schmidt told the major, "Send someone to a nearby village to find a few villagers and ask them to send these medical personnel back."
Upon hearing Schmidt's order, the major was dumbfounded. After a while, he tentatively asked: "Your Excellency, division commander, why do you want to send the prisoners back to the Russians? Since they are all medical personnel, we can
Without harming them, we can also send them to the prisoner-of-war camp behind and let them treat the prisoners of war."
"If these prisoners of war were captured from other troops, I would not care about what you do with them." Schmidt said with a serious expression: "But you captured them from Sokov's troops. Sokov
Don’t you know what kind of person he is? If a few prisoners lead to his crazy revenge, I think it is totally unnecessary.”
"Your Excellency, division commander," the division chief of staff came in from outside and reported to Schmidt: "There are several Russians who want to see you."
"Are there any Russians who want to see me?" Schmidt heard the chief of staff say this, with a look of astonishment on his face: "Where are they?"
"It's just outside the division headquarters." The chief of staff asked Schmidt: "Do we need to let them in?"
"What, they are outside?" Schmidt asked in surprise: "How did they get through our defense area and get outside the headquarters?"
"They should be scouts lurking near the division headquarters. They came here specifically to see you after receiving orders from their superiors."
If it were normal times, Schmidt would definitely be furious when he heard that Soviet scouts were nearby, and he might even call in the officer in charge of the division's security and scold him. But at this moment, it was the Soviet Union that aroused his interest.
The Origin of the Military Scout: "What do these Russians want from me?"
"One of the leading officers said that he was authorized by Major General Sokov to come to negotiate with you."
"Negotiate with me?" Schmidt said confused: "What do I have to talk about with him?"
The chief of staff did not have time to ask the commander of the scouts, so he naturally did not know what the other party was negotiating for. At this moment, when he heard Schmidt's question, he could not answer and could only ask: "Let them in?"
"Let them come in." After Schmidt gave this order, he also specifically added: "Before they come in, remember to ask them to hand over their weapons."
A few minutes later, two Soviet soldiers appeared in front of Schmidt. An officer wearing a second lieutenant's collar came forward and said to Schmidt in a humble and condescending manner: "General Schmidt, I am Second Lieutenant Leibin, and I have obtained the command of the commander.
I have come to negotiate with you with the authorization of Major General Sokov."
The major standing next to Schmidt faithfully translated the second lieutenant's words to Schmidt. After hearing this, Schmidt asked in confusion: "What is the content of the negotiation?"
"Your troops attacked our field hospital last night, killed hundreds of innocent wounded, and kidnapped six medical staff." Second Lieutenant Leibin said without being humble or overbearing: "I have been authorized to use the corpses of those German soldiers.
, to seize our six medical staff who were kidnapped."
Schmidt asked: "Second Lieutenant, are you saying that General Sokov is willing to use the bodies of the German soldiers who died in the battle to seize the six medical staff captured by us?"
"That's right." Second Lieutenant Lei Bin nodded and replied, "That's exactly it."
Dozens of corpses of German officers and soldiers were used in exchange for six captured medical staff. The major who was responsible for the translation felt that such a transaction seemed very strange. After he finished translating what Rebin said, he whispered to Schmidt
Te said: "Master, don't you think there is something wrong with this?"
"Any problem?" Schmidt turned to look at the major and asked, "What's the problem?"
"The Russians were actually willing to exchange dozens of corpses of German officers and soldiers in exchange for six medical staff." The major explained to Schmidt: "I think there must be important people among them."
"You are right, Mr. Major." When Rebin received the instructions from Colonel Khokhlov, he knew that in order to increase the bargaining chips, he could reveal Asiya's identity to the Germans. I believe the Germans knew it.
After Asiya's identity, they felt that they did not dare to do anything excessive, otherwise they would have to bear Sokov's wrath. Therefore, Rebin said truthfully: "Among the six medical staff who were kidnapped by you, indeed
There is an important person."
Seeing that Second Lieutenant Leibin could speak fluent German, Schmidt couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Second Lieutenant, since you can speak German, why do you still talk to me through an interpreter?"
"If you find out that I don't understand German, you can feel free to say a lot of things so that I can figure out whether you are telling the truth or a lie."
Schmidt ignored Lieutenant Leibin's words and asked directly: "Lieutenant, you said that among the six captured medical staff, there was an important person. I want to ask, who is the important person you mentioned?
who is it?"
"Assistant military doctor Asiya." After Leibin said Asiya's name, he specifically added: "She is the wife of our commander, General Sokov."
"Wife?!" Schmidt, who was sitting in his seat, jumped up when he heard what Rebin said: "Second Lieutenant, what did you say? Among the six prisoners we captured, one of them was Soko.
General Husband’s wife?”
"That's right." Lei Bin nodded and replied affirmatively: "Comrade Asiya has been working as an assistant military doctor in the field hospital of the 182nd Division. During this time, she relied on her superb skills to save many lives.
The lives of the wounded. If the commanders and fighters of the 182nd Division knew that she had fallen into your hands, even if the comrade commander did not issue any orders, they would probably not stay in the trenches and do nothing. If something happens then it is uncontrollable.
The incident and all the consequences will be borne by you."
This chapter has been completed!