Christopher's reconnaissance team sent back their reconnaissance situation to Sokov five hours after setting off, saying that a large number of traces of German troops were found in the forest area near Korenevo.
After Potukin saw the telegram, he showed a shocked expression on his face. He looked at Sokov and said: "Comrade division commander, it seems that your judgment is correct. The enemy indeed has an ambush in the forest area. If our division
If we really follow the instructions from our superiors and launch an attack in the direction of Bryansk, we will fall into the enemy's trap and risk being encircled or even annihilated."
Sokov took the telegram and quickly read the contents, but frowned: "What the hell, what did this Christopher do? He only said that traces of the German army were found in the forest area. What kind of enemy are they?
What kind of military strength and technical equipment does it have? Why haven't they been reported?"
"It may be that it was too dark, which caused certain difficulties for their reconnaissance." After Botu King said this, he saw Sokov's face was as dark as water, and he quickly added: "Comrade Commander, I will go to Chris right away."
Second Lieutenant Dove sent a telegram asking them to provide more detailed information immediately."
After sending the telegram, Potukin returned to Sokov and asked him for instructions: "Comrade division commander, do you think we need to report this matter to our superiors immediately?"
"Wait a minute, Comrade Chief of Staff, wait a minute." Sokov knew that this matter was of great importance. If he reported it rashly without knowing the specific strength of the German army, it might affect the judgment of his superiors. Therefore, he was cautious.
Said: "Let's wait until Christopher and the others figure out the details of the German army before reporting it."
After a long wait, Christopher's second report finally came at two o'clock in the morning. Potugin, who first saw the contents of the telegram, had a confused expression on his face: "Comrade Commander, Christopher
The husband came to report that the German armored divisions were withdrawing from the forest area, and a large number of tanks were driving to the train station for loading, but their whereabouts were unknown."
"This information is very important and needs to be reported to the headquarters immediately." Although Sokov did not understand why the German army would withdraw the troops hiding in the forest at this time, he felt that the matter was not trivial and he must report it to his superiors immediately.
So he picked up the phone and asked the communications soldier to call the army headquarters.
As soon as he heard someone speaking, he hurriedly identified himself: "Hello, I am Major Sokov. I have important information to report to comrade commander."
The person who answered the phone was stunned for a moment, and then Ma Lining's voice came out: "It turns out to be Misha. Comrade Commander was about to call you, so you called first."
Then, Rokossovsky's voice came from the receiver: "Misha, I just received the reconnaissance report. The German army has ambushed a large number of troops in the forest area. It seems that the clear telegram we received said that
It’s all true.”
Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov couldn't help but be startled and secretly said: What's going on? Didn't the scouts sent by the Army Group Headquarters discover that the enemy was withdrawing from the forest area? Thinking of this
, he quickly said into the microphone: "Comrade Commander, I have just received intelligence from the reconnaissance personnel. The German troops are withdrawing from the forest, and their tanks are driving to the nearby train station one after another for boarding operations.
”
Sokov's words startled Rokossovsky, and he quickly asked cautiously: "What, Major Sokov, you said that the enemy is withdrawing from the forest, is this news reliable?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sokov believed the reconnaissance results obtained by Christopher, so he said decisively: "The scouts I sent sent a telegram a few minutes ago, saying that the enemy is withdrawing from the forest area.
Out."
"I understand. I will immediately send someone to verify this information." After Rokossovsky finished speaking, before Sokov could speak again, he hung up the phone and arranged for someone to verify the news of the German retreat.
The reconnaissance team sent by the group army was in retreat after completing the preliminary reconnaissance. After receiving an emergency telegram from Chief of Staff Ma Lining, it had to stop the retreat and return to the original reconnaissance location. Originally, individual reconnaissance personnel
, and some of them complained about the order from their superiors. When they saw clearly the German troops evacuating the forest area in the distance, this complaint turned into happiness. If their superiors had not ordered them to conduct reconnaissance again, then they would have provided it in the future.
Wrong reconnaissance information and be severely punished.
After receiving the new information from the reconnaissance team, Rokossovsky summoned several heads of the headquarters and said to them: "Comrade commanders, according to our latest reconnaissance report, the Germans are withdrawing
They ambushed their troops in the Korenevo Forest area, tell me what is going on?"
"What the hell, the Germans actually retreated?" Lobachev stared at the map on the table and said to himself: "Did they also intercept the clear telegram and know that their plan was exposed, so they had to withdraw?
Troops?"
"Since it is a clear telegram, if we can receive it, the Germans can also receive it." Maximenko waited for Lobachev to finish and then immediately continued: "I think their retreat may be related to the telegram.
Not big."
Maximenko's inference immediately attracted the attention of others. Rokossovsky looked at him and asked: "Comrade Director of the Communications Corps, tell me your reasons why their retreat has little to do with the telegram."
?"
"Does this need to be said?" Maximenko looked up at Rokossovsky and said: "It has been more than ten hours since we received the telegram. If the Germans felt that their plan was exposed, they would have withdrawn long ago.
, will never wait until dark before withdrawing. I guess something urgent must have happened, which forced the Germans to withdraw their troops here and move them in other directions."
After Rokossovsky finished listening, he turned to look at Malinin and asked: "Chief of Staff, what do you think?"
Malinin looked at Maximenko with some surprise, then faced Rokossovsky and said: "Comrade Commander, I agree with General Maximenko's analysis. If the German army withdraws at this time, something important must have happened."
So much so that they had to withdraw the troops used to ambush our army. I think we should report this matter to General Zhukov as soon as possible, and also know if there are any changes in the enemy situation there."
After Malinin called Zhukov, he listened for a moment, then turned to Rokossovsky and held the phone and said: "Commander, Comrade General wants to speak to you in person."
"Comrade Rokossovsky, the situation has changed. Our original combat plan needs to be modified accordingly." As soon as Zhukov heard Rokossovsky's voice, he immediately said without hesitation: "At present, you
The troops on the left and right wings are not progressing smoothly. If you continue to go deeper, you are likely to be surrounded by the German army. Therefore, I order you to immediately stop all operations, switch to defense on the spot, and find ways to hold on to the occupied areas."
p>
"Comrade General," Zhukov's words confused Rokossovsky. He asked in confusion: "What happened? Why did the attack suddenly stop?"
"Our troops encountered a little trouble in the direction of Kharkov." Zhukov waited for Rokossovsky to finish asking, then said slowly: "The German army assembled a large number of troops in the Barvinkovo protrusion and headed towards
The 9th and 57th Group Armies deployed in this area have launched a strong attack, and our army is in danger of being encircled. The reason why I ordered you to switch to defense on the spot is because I am worried that the Supreme Command will transfer troops from the Western Front to go to Timoshenko
The marshal's troops rescued the siege."
"Barvinkovo, Barvinkovo?" Rokossovsky repeated the place name several times and muttered: "I seem to have heard someone mention this place name before."
"Comrade Commander," Malinin, who was standing aside, heard Rokossovsky talking about Barvinkovo incessantly and reminded him in a low voice: "Did Misha ever mention this place to you?"
"That's right, that's him." After Malinin reminded him, Rokossovsky suddenly remembered what Sokov had said to him, nodded quickly and said: "He once told me that the German army was
After being attacked, it was possible to launch a counterattack against our army from the Barvinkovo salient, but he unexpectedly guessed it."
"Rokossovsky, what are you and Malinin talking about?" When Zhukov heard that Rokossovsky, who was on the phone with him, was actually chatting with Malinin, he said with some displeasure: "What the hell?
Who would have guessed that the Germans might launch a counterattack from the Barvinkovo salient?"
"Comrade General, who else could it be? Of course it's the son of our old comrade--Misha." Rokossovsky thought that talking to Zhukov about the Kharkov battle at this moment would not be considered a leak, so he said truthfully:
"While he was in Moscow, he attended a meeting chaired by Marshal Timoshenko. After hearing the battle deployment, he warned the marshal that after the battle was launched, the enemy might attack from the Barvinkovo protrusion.
Our army launched a counterattack, so it was suggested to give priority to seizing this area. Unexpectedly, Comrade Marshal did not pay the necessary attention to his proposal."
Knowing that Sokov had already discovered that the German army might launch a counterattack from the Barvinkovo protrusion, Zhukov couldn't help but be surprised. He thought that even a small major could find the problem, why did the senior commanders who made the plan actually
He would turn a blind eye. However, he did not reveal his thoughts, but said calmly: "I understand. Your army group will still follow my order and turn to defense on the spot. You are not allowed to act rashly until you get my order.
”
This chapter has been completed!