For Sokov, being able to restrain the five most elite German military advisors was a great victory.
In real history, the Soviet army defended Kharkov gave up its meaningless resistance on March 15 and carried out a breakthrough eastward. After losing a large number of troops and discarding countless technical equipment, the Soviet army retreated to the left bank of the North Donets River on March 17 and was incorporated into the Southwest Front on the spot. On March 18, the German Defense Force's Great Germanic Division captured Belgorod.
It is March 21, and Kharkov and Belgorod, who should have fallen long ago, are still in the hands of the Soviet army. The three SS divisions who occupied Kharkov were huddled in Balvinkovo after being severely injured by Sokov's troops. The Great Germanic Division of the National Defense Force was attacked by the Southwest Front, which was more than 200 kilometers away from Belgorod. In short, with the emergence of Sokov's butterfly, the original battlefield situation had already been completely in chaos.
Sokov knew very well that the longer he had with the Germans, the more beneficial it would be for the Soviet army. Wait for a while, the ice and snow began to melt on a large scale, and the road would become more muddy. In addition, the German army lacked military strength, the front line might stabilize at its current position.
"Comrade Commander," Witkov saw Sokov stopping in front of the map for a long time, and couldn't help but ask curiously: "What do you think the Germans will do next?"
"Chief of Staff, look," Sokov pointed to the map and said to Vetkov. "Now our left wing is General Krelov's 21st Army; and General Shumilov's 64th Army is now on our right wing. If the Germans continue to attack our defense zone, their wings are at risk of attack."
Witkov stared at the map and felt that Sokov's words were very reasonable. Due to the active defense some time ago, the Red Army village, which was originally just a prominent Red Army village, has now become part of a parallel front. If the German army continues to attack the Red Army village, it means that their left and right wings will be attacked by friendly forces. Originally, a dangerous move, under Sokov's operation, made the military more and more beneficial to him.
"You are right, Comrade Commander." Seeing the situation that will be more and more beneficial to the Soviet army, Vitkov also smiled on the face. He slapped the map with his hand and said excitedly: "As long as the Voronezh Front can defend Kharkov-Bergorod, then the enemies in Ijum and Balvinkovo will be in our arc-shaped encirclement."
Lunev, who had only a slight understanding of military affairs, heard the two of them talking so much, and came over to watch the fun. He listened for a while, pointed his finger at the left bank of the North Donnie River and said to the two: "You don't know yet. General Katukov's First Guard Tank Army will be stationed in Oboyan today. In this way, the German army will not be able to break through our army's defense line in the North Donnie River."
"Oh, General Katukov's First Guard Tank Army is about to enter Oboyan?" Sokov was overjoyed when he heard that Katukov's troops were coming. Although there were so many tank generals and tank marshals in the Soviet Union, in Sokov's mind, Katukov was the most powerful tank commander in the Soviet army.
But as soon as his idea came out, he immediately crushed it. Although General Katukov's First Guard Tank Army was a powerful force in the Soviet army, the attack at this time would lead to a failure of the offensive due to insufficient material preparation. If this elite force was lost at this moment, then in the Battle of Kursk a few months later, the army would probably have to stand by and watch the fun.
Weitkov knew that Sokov had many wonderful ideas. When he heard that General Katukov's tank army mentioned, he was looking forward to him telling him a bold attack plan. But after waiting for a long time, he saw that Sokov still didn't say a word, so he asked in confusion: "Comrade Commander, do you think General Katukov's troops can help us carry out an attack on Ijium?"
"No." Sokov shook his head and refused: "We cannot win when we launch an attack at this moment."
"Why?"
"The reason is very simple," Sokov pointed to Oboyan's position and said: "As soon as General Katukov's troops arrived here, many tanks had problems. If they were not repaired, they would not be able to enter the battle. Moreover, their ammunition and fuel would not be too much. If they launched an attack in a hurry without any preparation, it would be difficult to achieve ideal results. In addition, it is the season when ice and snow melt, and the muddy roads will make our tanks inconvenient to move. At that time, the German artillery that holds on the position will destroy them all like a target."
Sokov convinced Vitkov, but Lunev, who was beside him, had another idea in his mind. He thought that he had just arrived at the Sixth Army and was not familiar with the commanders below. If he advocated an attack against the Germans, he would soon become famous within the Sixth Army.
Thinking of this, he slipped out of the command center, returned to his residence, and said to a radio operator sitting in the corner, "Contact Comrade Belia immediately, I have important situations to report to him."
Five or six minutes later, a telegram drafted by Lunev was placed on Belia's desktop. After reading the telegram sent by Lunev, Belia walked to the map, carefully checked the situation charts between the enemy and us, returned to his desk, picked up the phone, dialed a number, and said, "Hello, Poskrebeshev! Is Comrade Stalin here?"
Although Poskrebeshev was Stalin's secretary, he was still a little scared of Belia. After hearing the other party's questions, he quickly stood up and replied respectfully: "Yes, Comrade Belia, the Supreme Commander himself is in his office."
"Comrade Poskrebeshev, please tell him that I have important reports and hope he can take time to meet me."
"Okay, Comrade Belia, please wait, I will ask him for advice immediately." After saying that, Poskrebeshev put the microphone on the table, walked into Stalin's office, and asked him for advice: "Comrade Stalin, Comrade Belia said that there are important things and I need to report to you immediately."
"Beria is asking me for something?" Stalin, who was looking at the document, heard Poskrebeshev's voice, raised his head and asked in surprise: "What's the matter?"
"He didn't say it."
Stalin knew that if Beria had nothing important, he would not call him to see him specifically, so he ordered Poskrebeshev: "Let him come here."
Poskerebeshe returned to his desk and picked up the microphone on the table: "Comrade Belia, the Supreme Commander, please come and see him."
A few minutes later, Belia appeared in Stalin's office.
"It's Comrade Belia here," Stalin saw Belia's appearance and hurriedly called him down and asked, "How about it, when are you going to send Paulus to Moscow?"
"Comrade Stalin, this may have to wait for a while." Beria replied: "The place where he and those captured German generals are still under construction, and it may take half a month before it can be officially put into use."
"We need to find a way to bring him to Moscow as soon as possible." Stalin lowered his head and looked at a document in front of him and said: "According to Rokosovsky's report, German airborne troops have appeared near the place where he is imprisoned. It seems that the Germans want to save their marshal."
"I understand, Comrade Stalin, I will urge the following to speed up."
"Tell me," after Stalin and Belia finished explaining, they asked each other's origin: "You came here to find me, is there anything?"
"That's right, Comrade Stalin, I received a telegram from Lunev."
"Lonev?" Stalin repeated the name and asked tentatively: "Is it Lunev, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who was sent to Xiaomisha as a military committee member?"
"Yes, it's him." Stalin confirmed Lunev's identity and said unhappily: "Have he made any small report to you?"
"No." Beria quickly replied: "It is an offensive plan formulated by Major General Sokov."
When he heard that it was Sokov's offensive plan, Stalin couldn't help but lit up and asked quickly: "Where is he going to attack the German army?" The battle that Sokov commanded some time ago that defeated the three SSs divisions was left a deep impression on Stalin. He even felt that as long as there were more people like Sokov in his army, the Germans would have been driven out of the Soviet land long ago.
Belia came to the map, pointed at Oboyan's location, and said to Stalin: "According to the information, General Katukov's First Guard Tank Army has settled in Oboyan. General Krelov's 21st Army and General Shumilov's 64th Army have all reached the two wings of Sokov's Sixth Army, which means that they have formed parallel fronts in this area."
Major General Sokov made this bold battle plan under this situation. He wanted General Katukov's First Guard Tank Army to attack from east to west to capture Ijum, while his troops seized Balvinkovo to the north. As long as this strategic goal can be achieved, there will be no established troops on the left bank of the Dnieper River. In the following days, they can only retreat to the right bank of the Dnieper River and confront our army."
After listening to Belia's story, Stalin nodded slightly. He felt that although this offensive plan was bold, it was not without hope of success. He could try it. However, this matter was of great importance. He did not make a decision immediately, but said to Belia: "I understand. However, it is a big deal to launch an attack on the enemy. You cannot make a decision in a hasty way. After I and the comrades in the General Staff have studied this plan, we will make a decision."
After sending Belia away, Stalin called Antonov: "Comrade Deputy Chief of Staff, please come to my office. I have something to talk to you."
While Antonov had not arrived, he called Rokosovsky again. After a brief greeting, he asked bluntly: "General Rokosovsky, what do you think of the combat plan formulated by Xiaomia?"
"The combat plan formulated by Xiaomisha?" Rokosovsky was stunned when he heard Stalin's question, and then replied in confusion: "I'm sorry, Comrade Stalin, I don't know what the offensive plan is, because Major General Sokov did not report to me."
"What, Xiaomia didn't report his offensive plan to you?" Stalin felt very strange when he heard Rokosovsky's answer. He said with some wonder: "What the hell is going on?"
"Comrade Stalin," Rokosovsky, although he had not received any report from Sokov, he knew very well that Stalin would not ask for this for no reason. There must be some reason. He asked quickly: "I want to ask, where did you get this news?"
"It was Lunev, a military commissioner of the Sixth Army, who sent a telegram to Belia and told him about Xiaomisha's offensive plan. Then Belia reported to me again. Why, did you really not get the report?"
"No." After giving the other party a negative answer, Rokosovsky asked tentatively: "Comrade Stalin, can you tell me what kind of offensive plan it is?"
"Xiaomisha's offensive plan was to allow General Katukov's First Guard Tank Army to attack Ijium from the east, while Xiaomisha's troops launched an attack from the south to attack Ijium's enemies."
When he learned that it was the combat plan reported by Lunev, Rokosovsky immediately guessed what was going on. He quickly covered the microphone, called Malinin, and told him: "Chief of Staff, please send a call to Major General Sokov immediately and ask if he had any combat plan."
After Malining left, Rokosovsky removed his hand covering the microphone and continued, "Comrade Stalin, I think it must be Comrade Lunev who made a mistake. If Sokov had any offensive plan, he would definitely report to me as soon as possible. At that time, I have not received any reports from him so far. Therefore, I think the information you have received is probably wrong."