Although there were no tanks involved in the night battle, Sokov's troops still achieved good results. After a fierce battle, the 254th Division occupied the family area of the machinery processing plant and a nearby street before dawn.
.
After learning about the results achieved by the right-wing troops, Sokov decisively gave Sameko an order: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please tell Colonel Shechtman that what they will do next is to try every means,
Hold the occupied area. Do not actively attack the enemy without further orders from me."
After listening to the inexplicable order issued by Sokov, Samyko asked puzzledly: "Comrade Commander, I have transferred the 188th Division into the city. With the combat power of the two divisions, it is completely possible to
Continue to expand the results during the day."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, if we blindly expand our results and occupy more areas, we will have to divide our forces to guard them." Sokov explained to Samyko: "The enemy's strength in Kharkov is far greater than
Before the main force of the front army reaches the outside of Kharkov, they are fully capable of concentrating their superior forces to carry out a counterattack. However, due to our scattered forces, facing the crazy counterattack of the German army, it may not be easy to stop them.
matter."
"I understand, Comrade Commander." Samyko saw that Sokov had considered all the issues that should be considered, and quickly expressed his position: "I will faithfully convey your instructions to Colonel Shechtman.
"
"General Sokov," Sokov just put down the phone, he heard Tsvetayev sitting next to him say: "After getting along with each other these days, I found that the issues you are considering are indeed relevant to us.
Older commanders are different. If my troops entered the city and occupied such a large area, I would definitely order them to continue to expand their results and continuously attack the enemy to gain a larger territory."
"Comrade General," Sokov said with a smile: "The results our army achieved yesterday have made us the target of the enemy. After dawn, the enemy will definitely launch a crazy attack in an attempt to restore their lost positions. If we
If we continue to maintain the offensive posture, it will be an egg against a rock."
"Your metaphor is very vivid." Tsvetayev gave Sokov a thumbs up: "After getting along with you these days, listening to the various orders you gave, and the results achieved by the troops,
I think if I want to win the war, I must learn from you."
Sokov couldn't help but blush when he heard Tsvetayev's praise, and said with some embarrassment: "Comrade General, actually I didn't go to any military academy. The tactics I usually use in battle are all
I was just trying to figure it out."
"You can achieve such brilliant results by just guessing. If you really make a few battle plans seriously, you might be able to drive the enemy across the Dnieper River."
"Comrade General, your wish will come true soon." Sokov stood up straight, looked at Tsvetayev and said: "After we liberate Kharkov, the next battle will be launched.
It will drive all the Germans to the other side of the Dnieper River."
"But, General Sokov." But Tsvetaev was obviously not as optimistic as Sokov. He frowned and said, "Have you forgotten that at the beginning of the year, our Southwest Front Army and Voronezh Front Army occupied Kharkov?"
, and fought a fierce battle with the Germans on the Dnieper River. But unfortunately, it was the Germans who were at a disadvantage in terms of strength and equipment who won the victory in the end, and even took Kazakhstan from our hands again.
Erkov and Belgorod.”
Seeing Tsvetayev's expression of gritted teeth and blue veins popping out on his forehead, Sokov understood the other party's feelings very well. At the beginning of the year, the Soviet army took advantage of the residual power of the victory in Stalingrad and used troops and technical equipment that far exceeded the enemy to attack Manstein.
Because the troops launched an offensive. Although the early progress was smooth, as the battle line lengthened, the Soviet army's logistical supplies gradually failed to keep up. So during the battle, many tanks and artillery were lost due to lack of ammunition.
All were captured by the Germans.
"Although our offensive battle in the Dnieper River Basin at the beginning of the year ended in failure." Sokov comforted the other party and said: "But the situation today is different from that at the beginning of the year. In the Battle of Kursk that ended not long ago, the German army lost
There are a large number of elite troops, and the combat effectiveness of their temporary supplementary troops is obviously much weaker. I believe that if the two sides fight again on the banks of the Dnieper River, we will definitely be the ones to win in the end."
If someone else said this, Tsvetayev must have said it because the other person was drunk. No matter how drunk he was, he wouldn't be so drunk. But when Sokov said this, it increased out of thin air.
There was some credibility. He nodded slowly: "General Sokov, if your 27th Army is among the troops participating in the attack, I believe we can achieve the final victory. You are a nightmare for the Germans.
Just by hearing your order, their soldiers will be frightened and their ranks will be reduced, and their morale will be low."
Seeing that Tsvetayev gave himself such a high evaluation, Sokov seemed a little embarrassed: "Comrade General, you praise me. I am not as capable as you said."
"I'm telling the truth, General Sokov." Tsvetaev said seriously: "If there were more capable group army commanders like you, we would achieve greater results on the battlefield and establish a
A greater feat."
After dawn, General Rotmistrov's tank troops, arranged in three attack wedges, crossed the ravine in front of the starting position and rushed into the sunflower fields. According to the order, they were to rush directly to Akhter.
The main road to Kharkov.
The German army discovered the Soviet attempt and immediately launched artillery fire interception. The shells landed in the tank formation and exploded. Pillars of mud rose into the sky, and the mud crackled on the bodies of the tanks that were speeding past.
Although some unlucky tanks were directly destroyed by German artillery fire and burned in the sunflower fields, the tanks that were not injured continued to advance despite the enemy's artillery fire.
The torrent of Soviet steel passed through the sunflower fields and reached an open area. Here, they were unexpectedly intercepted by German anti-tank guns and anti-aircraft guns.
Although the German anti-tank gun has a chance to penetrate the frontal armor of the Soviet T-34 tank at a distance of two to three hundred meters, the 88mm anti-aircraft gun deployed on the position is a nightmare for the Soviet tank. It is just a
After rounds of shooting, the tank battalion at the front was wiped out in an instant. Twenty or so tanks were parked in the open ground and burning. The tank soldiers who escaped from the tanks were also sniped by German snipers, often without them.
No matter how far they ran, they were all killed by bullets.
The tank in front was destroyed, and the tanks in the back continued to swarm in. The Soviet tank commander confidently believed that although the enemy had deployed anti-tank positions in the front, it could not resist his own force of more than 200 tanks.
The torrent of steel. As long as you continue to charge forward, you can use the crawlers to crush all the German anti-tank guns or anti-aircraft guns.
But there is a difference between ideal and reality after all. The tank group that continued to advance forward, although a tank column broke through the first defensive position of the German 3rd Armored Division, was attacked by the Panther tanks and Tiger tanks that were ambushing here.
In the head-on attack between tanks and assault troops, the Soviet tanks were either destroyed on the spot or retreated hastily.
Rotmistrov learned that the tank army was ambushed by German anti-tank weapons and tank troops during the attack, and after suffering heavy casualties, he issued an order to the commander of the army to quickly withdraw to the starting position.
.
The tank commander who received Rotmistrov's order immediately ordered his tanks to use alternate cover, retreated from the battlefield, and returned to the starting point of the attack as quickly as possible.
After learning that the tank corps had returned to the starting point of the attack, Rotmistrov couldn't wait to ask the corps commander: "Comrade corps commander, have your casualty data come out?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." The tank corps commander replied bitterly: "According to incomplete statistics, the tanks we lost during the attack were probably between 160 and 200."
Hearing the data on lost tanks, Rotmistrov couldn't help but gasped: "What, your army actually paid such a heavy lesson in today's attack?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." The tank commander quickly explained to Rotmistrov: "I didn't expect that the enemy would actually deploy anti-tank guns and 88mm anti-aircraft guns behind the sunflower fields.
In addition to the Panther tanks, Tiger tanks and assault guns, our tanks suffered heavy casualties at the cost of these firepower."
After the tank commander said this, he saw that Rotmistrov's face was as dark as water, and he couldn't help but panic. He quickly expressed his position: "Comrade Commander, I will immediately reorganize the troops and attack the enemy again. I will
I don’t believe that I can’t break through the enemy’s defense line.”
Facing the impulsive subordinates, Rotmistrov quickly stopped him and said: "Comrade Colonel, your army suffered too many losses in the battle today. Even if we regroup and launch an attack again, I am afraid it will be difficult to achieve any results. I
You should go down with your troops, I will order other troops to complete this task."
Hearing what Rotmistrov said, the tank commander was unwilling but had no choice but to raise his hand in salute, turned around and walked out of the headquarters.
As soon as the tank commander left, Chief of Staff Solomatin said: "Comrade Commander, I think today's tactics are very problematic. The sunflower fields blocked the sight of our tank crews, preventing them from discovering the enemy's attack in the first place."
Anti-tank positions, as well as ambushed Panther tanks, Tiger tanks and assault guns.
Moreover, our tanks were divided into three wedge-shaped formations. When attacked by the Germans, they were unable to form a firepower advantage and were defeated one by one by the enemy."
Solomatin's words made Rotmistrov frown. He stared at the map in front of him for a long time, then raised his head and said to Solomatin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right. We
Today's attack surface was laid out too quickly, thus weakening the troops' offensive power. If we attack again tomorrow, it is necessary to concentrate all our forces and launch an assault on the enemy's positions."
"What are you going to do?"
"Chief of Staff, look here." Rotmistrov tapped the map twice with his hand and said: "There is a railway line here, which only leads directly to the main road of Kharkiv. Tomorrow
During the battle, we used a huge wedge of tanks to launch an attack along the railway line. After passing through the sunflower field, we quickly rushed into the depth of the enemy's defenses."
Solomatin stared at the map for a while, then nodded and said: "Comrade Commander, I agree with your suggestion to attack along the railway line. I don't believe that the enemy will deploy a large number of troops along the railway line. Even if
We were shelled and attacked by the enemy along the way, but we were able to successfully tear apart the enemy's defense lines and advance into the depth of their defenses."
After formulating the battle plan for the next day, Solomatin submitted the plan and today's battle report to the front army headquarters.
Seeing the battle report handed over by Solomatin, Konev was so angry that he threw a teapot on the table to the ground and cursed angrily: "What does this Rotmistrov do? A
The tank army attacked, and in less than an hour, nearly two hundred tanks were destroyed by the Germans. Will he know how to fight? If not, I can find someone who can fight to replace him."
"Comrade Commander, please calm down." Seeing Konev's rage, Zakharov quickly came out to smooth things over: "As early as two days ago, Comrade Sokov reminded us that the Germans might use sunflower fields to build defenses.
position to prevent our army's tanks from developing in depth."
"Yes, he did say that." Konev replied expressionlessly: "I even ordered the Air Force to conduct aerial reconnaissance, but unfortunately, the enemy was too hidden and our aerial reconnaissance found nothing.
."
When talking about Sokov, Konev became very angry. He said angrily: "This Sokov is really outrageous. His troops have already established a foothold in the southwest of the city, but he
Instead of allowing the troops to expand the results, they just stick to the existing area and fight positional warfare with the Germans."
"Comrade Commander," Zakharov saw that Konev was angry with Sokov and quickly came out to smooth things over: "I think Comrade Sokov must have his reasons for doing this."
"Reason, what reason?" Konev said dissatisfied: "He is passively avoiding the war. If it weren't for his previous achievements, I would have dismissed him long ago and investigated him."
Hearing Konev's sincere words, Zakharov couldn't help laughing: "Actually, you also understand in your heart that Sokov is right to do this. The enemies in the city are much stronger than him. If
If he continues to attack, his troops will inevitably be dispersed, and he may be encircled by the German army.
The main force of our army has not yet reached the city of Kharkov, and it will be very difficult for them to escape. Therefore, the best way is to consolidate the existing area, consume a large amount of the German army's effective forces, and wait until the main force of our army enters Kharkov.
After Cove, they launched an attack from the southwest and cooperated with the main force to eliminate the defenders in the city."
Konev's anger came and went quickly, and Zakharov's words just gave him a step to step down. He coughed lightly, and then asked Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, tell me, what's going on?"
What is General Temistrov’s plan for tomorrow’s attack?”
This chapter has been completed!