Sokov's "prophecy" was verified a few days later. Rokossovsky called him personally and said with emotion: "Misha, your analysis is right. The Voronezh Front Army took the form of three armies.
With our strength, we defeated the German Army’s Lanz Battle Group and recaptured the Ukrainian industrial town of Kharkiv.”
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, this is really exciting good news." After reorganizing the vocabulary in his mind, Sokov said cautiously: "But the Germans may launch a crazy counterattack next."
"Misha, you can rest assured on this." Rokossovsky said with a smile: "I have already spoken to General Golikov on the phone and conveyed your advice to him. He has already made all countermeasures.
, even if the Germans launch a crazy counterattack, he can handle it calmly."
"Actually, what I'm worried about is not General Golikov, but General Vatutin on the other side." Sokov knew very well that Manstein didn't care at all about the Soviet occupation of Kharkov.
, he focused his attention on the south, preparing to concentrate his efforts on dealing with Vatutin's Southwest Front. "I think they will be the Germans' primary attack target."
"I don't think so." Rokossovsky was skeptical about Sokov's "analysis": "As far as I know, the German defense line was under the fierce attack of our two fronts.
It was already in pieces. Moreover, General Vatutin’s troops also approached Manstein’s headquarters, the important town of Zaporozhye located at the bend of the Dnieper River. As long as the friendly forces can capture this city, the enemy will not be able to
Do not abandon the existing defensive areas and withdraw to the other side of the Dnieper River."
He paused for a moment and then continued: "I think the next focus of defense should be in the direction of Kharkov. After all, the liberation of Kharkov will be of great help to the restoration of our army's military production.
The Germans definitely don’t want to see this happen, so they will concentrate all their forces to launch a counterattack against Kharkov.”
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov was silent for a moment, feeling that he should still report to Rokossovsky the problems faced by the Southwest Front Army: "While General Vatutin's Southwest Front Army penetrates deep into the enemy,
Both flanks have been exposed to the German army. Moreover, our troops have advanced too fast, and the logistics supply line has been damaged by the German army due to the roads and bridges along the way and cannot be put into use normally. Once the flanks and supply lines are attacked, they will
What we are facing is catastrophe."
If it were another commander, hearing Sokov say this, he would definitely criticize him severely. After all, the Soviet offensive is raging, but you are here to sing the opposite, saying that the attacking troops are facing danger.
This is simply a defeatist argument and should be severely criticized.
Rokossovsky covered the microphone with one hand and lightly tapped the table with the other. His eyes stayed on the map on the opposite wall, and his mind repeatedly considered Sokov's statement.
Sokov heard the sound suddenly go silent in the receiver, but there was no blind tone after hanging up. After waiting for two minutes, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, are you still listening?"
"I'm still here." Sokov's voice woke Rokossovsky out of his thoughts, and he quickly said: "Misha, I just thought about what you said carefully, and I think it is very possible.
, I need to report this matter immediately. Help me take care of Ada." After saying that, he hung up the phone without explanation.
After Rokossovsky ended his call with Sokov, he realized the seriousness of the problem and immediately contacted the Kremlin through the high-frequency phone in the headquarters. Hearing Boskrebekinv's voice from
From the receiver, Rokossovsky asked politely: "Hello, Poskrebekinov! Is Comrade Stalin in the office?"
"Yes, he is in his office." Poskrebekinf knew that Rokossovsky was calling, and there must be something important. He quickly said into the phone: "General Rokossovsky."
, please wait a moment, I will inform Comrade Stalin." He pressed the button of the intercom on the table, and when he heard the voice, he immediately said respectfully, "Comrade Stalin, Rokossovsky
The call from the general is on the front line."
"Put in." After Stalin said this, he picked up the phone on the table and said, "I'm Stalin."
"Hello, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky said respectfully, "I have important information to report to you."
"Speak, Konstantin Konstantinovich." Stalin smiled when he heard Rokossovsky's voice, affectionately called him by his birth name and father's name, and asked: "You
Call me, is there anything important?"
"Comrade Stalin, I think you should have received the battle report from the front. The Voronezh Front commanded by General Golikov has taken over the defense of Kharkov from the Germans."
"Yes, I have received such exciting battle reports." Stalin asked: "Did you call me to congratulate me?"
Rokossovsky hesitated for a moment and decided to tell the truth: "Comrade Stalin, I called you because I found that General Vatutin's Southwest Front is now in danger."
Stalin's smile froze on his face. He took several deep breaths before suppressing the anger in his heart: "Comrade Rokossovsky, don't you know that the troops of the Southwest Front have already approached Manstein?"
Because of our headquarters, it is possible to seize this city at any time. We were already in sight of victory, but you wanted to say something discouraging. Why didn't I see that Vatutin's troops were in danger? Tell me.
, who put such ridiculous ideas into your mind?"
"Comrade Stalin, when I first heard about this possibility, I thought it was very ridiculous." Rokossovsky decided not to tell Sokov, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble to him, so he took all responsibility for it.
On his own body: "After careful observation, I found that General Vatutin's troops penetrated hundreds of kilometers into the German defenses, and their two wings had long been exposed to the enemy. In addition, the supply lines were damaged by the enemy because of roads and bridges.
There are very few supplies that can be sent to the front in time, and they come very slowly. If the German army discovers the weakness of our army, attacks from the flanks, and cuts off their supply lines, then Vatutin's troops are in danger of being encircled."
"Comrade Rokossovsky, I think you are neurotic." Stalin did not investigate where this ridiculous statement came from, but retorted: "Don't you know that our army is in terms of strength and technical equipment?
How many times more than the Germans? Even if the current supply situation is not ideal, it would be impossible for the Germans to encircle us.
I just had a phone call with Vatutin, and he told me with great certainty that the enemy has suffered a heavy blow from our army after the demise of the Paulus Group. As long as our army continues to advance, they will never look back.
They escaped across the Dnieper River. As for counterattack, that is simply impossible."
"Okay, stop talking." Stalin heard that Rokossovsky seemed to want to defend something, so he interrupted him without explanation: "The Paulus Group has just been eliminated, and there are still many problems to be solved.
Just mind your own affairs, and don't worry about Vatutin and Golikov's affairs."
After Rokossovsky put down the phone, he asked Malinin who was standing aside: "Chief of Staff, if you want to replenish a unit, how long will it take to complete it?"
"Comrade Commander," although Malinin did not understand the purpose of Rokossovsky's question, he still answered truthfully: "It depends on the size of the replenishment of troops. If it is at the group army level, it will take two people at the fastest.
A month and a half..."
Before Malinin could finish speaking, Rokossovsky raised his hand and interrupted what he was saying: "It's not at the group army level, nor at the corps level, but at the division level. How long will it take to replenish the troops?"
"Replenishing troops at the division level is much simpler." Ma Lining calculated in his mind for a moment and replied: "If there are less than 2,000 people, it can be completed in one day; from 2,000 to 5,000 people, it will take two days; five
For more than a thousand people, it will take about three or four days."
"Then I'll give you three days." Rokossovsky waited for Malinin to finish and then immediately continued: "The number of additional troops for the 41st Guards Division must not be less than 6,000."
"Replenish troops for Sokov's 41st Guards Division?" Malinin asked in surprise: "Their division currently has nearly 7,000 troops. If another 6,000 troops are added, the total strength will reach 13,000.
The number of people is equivalent to two other people's divisions. I don't understand why they need to add so many troops when there is no war now."
"Chief of Staff, I have an ominous premonition that maybe what Misha said will become true." Rokossovsky pointed at the map and said to Malinin: "After the 41st Guards Division completes its reinforcements,
Just deploy them close to the Southwest Front, so that once the situation on the battlefield becomes unfavorable to our army, they can block the oncoming enemy."
"Comrade Commander, do you also think that General Vatutin's troops will fail?"
"The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly. No one can tell the outcome of the battle until the last moment. Misha has a very poisonous vision. He can see the things that we old guys have neglected. If you have more trust in him, you can always
It's not a bad thing." Rokossovsky continued: "I placed Mischa's troops on the side close to the friendly forces, just to prepare for emergencies. It doesn't matter even if the situation is always favorable to our army, we should let them
Rest there.”
This chapter has been completed!