Without the assistance of the 5th Guards Tank Army, Sokov decided to go it alone. He only hoped that his troops could approach Kharkov as soon as possible after launching the attack. It would be great if they could rush into the city.
Facing Sokov's troops, they launched attacks from the two landing sites on the left and right at the same time. This completely disrupted the German defense deployment. The defense lines were broken through one after another. The defenders holding these positions had to move toward the urban area of Kharkov.
retreat.
In order to curb the Soviet attack, Weller personally called Manstein and asked the other party to dispatch the air force to bomb the attacking troops.
After receiving a call from Wheeler, Manstein asked with a serious expression: "General Wheeler, are you really sure that the troops attacking you are commanded by Sokov?"
"That's right, Marshal." Wheeler, who once served as Manstein's chief of staff, still maintains enough respect for his old superior: "According to the forward commander's report, the Russians who launched an attack on our army
, it is indeed the 27th Army commanded by Sokov. As our defense line was breached, the Russian leading troops were less than one kilometer away from the main road in Kharkov. The mortars they carried were
They can directly bombard vehicles traveling on the road."
"Ah, are the Russians so close to the city?" Manstein was very surprised by Wheeler's report: "General Wheeler, please explain to me why the Russians were able to reach the city in such a short period of time.
Break through your layers of defense and reach the approach to Kharkov?"
Facing Manstein's question, Weller replied with some embarrassment: "Marshal, I didn't expect that Sokov's troops were so capable that they couldn't rely on the existing defense lines to stop him."
"General Wheeler, as my former chief of staff, don't you know the strength of Sokov?" Regarding Wheeler who shirks his responsibility, Manstein criticized him mercilessly: "You know that this is a difficult person to deal with.
an opponent, yet in fighting him you forgot something so important that your troops suffered such losses."
"You are right, Marshal." After hearing Manstein's reprimand, Weller did not dare to refute, and could only say in a low voice: "Because the Russian tanks and artillery were too powerful, the first counterattack we organized was
It has ended in failure. Now the 11th Army and the 42nd Army are regrouping their troops and preparing to launch another attack."
"General Weller," Manstein said in a stern tone: "You must move quickly. Once the main Russian force enters the battlefield through the gap opened by Sokov, you may not be able to prevent the Russians from entering the city.
"
"Understood, Your Majesty Marshal." Only then did Weller reveal the real purpose of his call: "I would like to ask you to dispatch the air force to provide necessary air cover for our counterattack force."
When Manstein heard what Weller said, he immediately understood that the offensive of Sokov's troops was fierce. Whether it was the 11th Army or the 42nd Army, the current resistance was very difficult. If the air force was dispatched, the Russians attacking the position would be attacked.
The gap may be able to reverse the unfavorable situation on the battlefield.
After understanding this truth, Manstein said into the microphone: "General Wheeler, I will immediately send the air force to assist you in counterattacking the Russians. I hope your counterattack this time will not disappoint me again."
"Don't worry, Marshal." When he learned that Manstein planned to send the air force to support him, Weller couldn't help but be overjoyed. He quickly said gratefully: "As long as we can get the air force support, we will definitely be able to drive the Russians down the Oude River.
"
After hanging up the phone, Manstein ordered his adjutant: "Get me through the 4th Air Force immediately and ask for their commander, General Otto Deslohe."
The adjutant did not dare to neglect and quickly called the headquarters of the 4th Air Force. Not long after, he said to Manstein respectfully: "Marshal, the call has been connected. General Otto Deslohe is online.
I'm waiting for you to speak."
"General Otto Deslohe," Manstein took the phone and asked straight to the point: "How many aircraft do you have available for use?"
Otto Deslohe didn't know the purpose of Manstein's question, but he still answered truthfully: "The number of aircraft I can use now is no more than fifty, and many of them are reconnaissance aircraft."
Knowing that the 4th Air Force Air Force had less than fifty aircraft left, many of which were reconnaissance aircraft, Manstein asked angrily: "Why are there only so few aircraft?"
"Your Excellency, Marshal," Otto Desloch replied aggrievedly when Manstein asked this question in a reproachful tone: "There are fightings everywhere in Kharkov, and I sent most of the planes to these areas.
We have gone to the fighting area, and I hope they can cooperate with the army to eliminate more of the Russians' effective forces."
"General Otto Deslohe," Manstein said after waiting for the other party to finish: "Now Sokov's troops launched an attack from two bridgeheads on the east bank of the Oude River at the same time, and successively broke through the 11th and 11th
Several defense lines of the 42nd Army approached Kharkov's main communication line."
Otto Desloch realized the seriousness of the problem and quickly assured Manstein: "Marshal, please rest assured that I will dispatch planes from other directions as soon as possible and rush to the area you mentioned to stop Russia.
The push of people into cities.”
Half an hour later, one hundred and twenty planes improvised by Otto Desloch flew to the two offensive lines of Sokov's troops, trying to crush the Soviet advance towards the city through violent bombing.
plan.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the German aircraft entered these areas, they were attacked head-on by the Soviet Air Force. Within a quarter of an hour of fighting between the two sides, more than 20 German aircraft were shot down, and a dozen more were forced to withdraw from the battlefield due to injuries.
The Soviet army only lost two fighters and five attack aircraft.
This one-sided air combat performance made everyone who saw the battle report rejoice. Tsvetayev said to Sokov emotionally: "General Sokov, since our army is progressing so smoothly and the air force is firmly
Now that we have firmly grasped the initiative on the battlefield, why not order the troops to continue to advance."
"No, Comrade General, we can't move forward any further." The troops were progressing smoothly, and Sokov was naturally happy. However, he clearly realized that his troops were limited. Now that he has advanced so far into the enemy, he has already
Completely decoupled from the main force. If Hott or Weller join forces to deal with themselves, I am afraid that the entire 27th Group Army may be encircled. Therefore, the safest way is to consolidate the occupied area and wait for the main force of the front army.
When reaching the outskirts of the city, it is not too late to launch a new attack.
"Why?" Seeing that victory was in sight, Sokov chose to let the troops switch to defense on the spot. This made Tsvetayev very puzzled: "General Sokov, the enemy has been beaten by us in a panic. If
Wouldn't we choose to stop the attack at this time to give the Germans a chance to breathe? Once they complete regrouping, we may suffer even greater losses if we want to launch another attack."
"General Tsvetaev," Sokov said solemnly, looking at Tsvetaev: "Since the launch of the attack, our troops at the two landing sites have wedged eight to twelve kilometers into the German defense line.
The furthest troops were even less than one kilometer away from the main traffic artery in Kharkov, and could even use mortars to bombard vehicles traveling on the road.
In order to defend such a wide area, I had to deploy troops for defense. Now the troops used for offense have been greatly reduced. If we continue to advance, it may be difficult to achieve results. Rather than letting the troops make unnecessary sacrifices, it is better to
Let them stop first and consolidate the occupied area..."
Before Sokov finished speaking, the phone on the table rang.
What Sokov didn't expect was that the call was actually from Zhukov.
When he heard Zhukov's voice coming from the receiver, he thought the other party was asking about the results of the battle, and quickly gave Zhukov a detailed report on the current progress of the troops.
After Zhukov patiently listened to Sokov's report, he asked coldly: "Misha, what do you think? Let the troops with strong offensive momentum stop to defend and give the enemy enough time to complete their assembly and rest.
What’s going on in your head?”
Sokov did not expect that Zhukov would criticize him so much, and for a moment he did not know how to answer. He only heard Zhukov continue: "Misha, I am not ordering you as a marshal, but as an elder, I am asking you to let you
The troops continue to attack, and if possible, it is best to rush into the city and plant a red flag on a higher building."
Zhukov's words confused Sokov. This was the first time he heard Zhukov give an order like this, so he asked in confusion: "Comrade Marshal, I don't quite understand what you mean. Can you explain it to me?"
After a brief silence in the receiver, Zhukov's voice came again: "Misha, are there any outsiders around you?"
Sokov glanced at Tsvetaev standing opposite and replied: "General Tsvetaev, commander of the assault group army, is with me."
"Oh, General Tsvetaev is with you." Zhukov hesitated for a moment, and then said decisively: "Since you are not an outsider, then I will tell you a secret, the secret of why you continue to attack."
Something that even Zhukov could call a secret was definitely no small matter. Sokov couldn't help but hold his breath and waited patiently for the other party to reveal the secret.
"Misha, not long ago, the Supreme Commander himself officially announced to the outside world that our army had occupied Kharkov..."
When Sokov heard this, the corner of his mouth twitched violently, and he couldn't help but interjected: "But, Comrade Marshal, our main force has not even entered the suburbs of Kharkov, so how can we talk about seizing the city?"
Woolen cloth?"
Zhukov sighed and continued: "The Supreme Commander himself received a report. There were errors in certain words in the report, which led him to mistakenly believe that our army had liberated Kharkov. So he not long ago reported to the garrison
Military attachés from various countries in Moscow announced that our army has recaptured Kharkov."
Cold sweat suddenly fell from Sokov's forehead. He did not expect that the bearded man would make such a low-level mistake and report the error to the military attaches stationed in Moscow. After taking two deep breaths, he asked tentatively: "Marshal
Comrade, is there anything I can do for you?"
"I have just said: continue to attack Kharkov and try to rush into the city before dark." In order to prevent Sokov from not understanding his intention, Zhukov specially explained: "According to the tradition of the army,
In an ancient city like Kharkiv, as long as our flag is placed on a tall building, it means that we have occupied the city."
Sokov waited for Zhukov to speak, and said with a wry smile: "Comrade Marshal, I understand what you mean. I will order the troops to continue the attack, try to rush into Kharkov before dark, and find a way to attack somewhere.
The flag of our army was planted on the top of the building to announce to the world that this city has been occupied by us."
"Very good, very good." Zhukov was very satisfied with Sokov's answer. He continued to ask: "Then from which direction do you plan to rush into the city?"
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov said confidently: "There are only two infantry divisions and one tank brigade at the left landing site. It will be very difficult to continue to expand the results. Therefore, I plan to launch a fierce attack on the city from the right landing site troops to win the victory.
Rush into the city before dark."
Zhukov thought for a while and then pointed to Sokov: "Pokrovsky Cathedral is in the southwest of the city. You can order the troops to find ways to occupy the church and plant our flag on the bell tower."
Sokov was considering what kind of building the troops should occupy and then put the flag on the roof. After hearing Zhukov's proposal, he nodded vigorously and said in a positive tone: "Comrade Marshal, please rest assured, my
The troops will already plant the bright red flag on the bell tower of Pokrovsky Cathedral before dark."
Tsvetaev only heard part of the conversation between Sokov and Zhukov, so he did not understand the whole thing. Finally, he saw Sokov put down the microphone and quickly asked: "General Sokov,
I wonder what Marshal Zhukov said to you on the phone?"
The bearded man announced the wrong news to the military attachés of various countries in Moscow. It was originally top secret, but when he just talked to Zhukov, the other party indicated that he could tell Tsvetayev the news, so he did not hide it and told what he knew.
Everything was told in detail.
Tsvetaev was also surprised that the Supreme Commander himself had made a wrong statement. After a long time, he cautiously asked Sokov: "General Sokov, what do you think about it? Do you really want to continue the attack?"
?”
Sokov pointed to the map on the table and said: "Now the attack of our troops at the landing site on the left is somewhat overwhelmed and cannot continue to advance; while at the landing site on the right, at least four divisions have been assembled, and they are fully capable of continuing to defend against the enemy.
Push forward in depth.”
"If the troops are going to continue to develop deeper into the enemy, then shouldn't the artillery that provides them with artillery support also move forward?" In order to prevent Sokov from opposing his proposal, Tsvetayev continued: "
At least the artillery should be deployed on the east bank of the Oude River so that it can better provide artillery support to the infantry."
