"Dear commanders, comrades," Sokov saw that everyone was focusing on him and knew that if he didn't say a reason that convinced everyone, he would probably keep asking the bottom line, so he said tactfully: "Based on my experience in fighting with the German army, the enemy likes to choose the time of large-scale combat in the end of June and early July. In these two months, there is little rain in our country, which will not cause the road to become muddy, and it is more convenient for the use of mechanized troops.
Since they have not made any noise throughout June, there will definitely be military action in early July. It is with this in mind that I will distribute ammunition to the troops two days ago and prepare everyone for combat."
After listening to Sokov's explanation, the commanders present felt that it was still very reasonable. From the year when the war broke out, June and July were the days when the German army launched a battle-level attack. It seemed that based on this point, Sokov inferred that the enemy would launch an attack in early July and issued a combat alarm to the troops early.
"Comrades, although the enemy launched a large-scale attack on our defense line," said a general present: "But after several months of construction of our defense line in the direction of Kursk, a complete defense system has been formed. It is basically impossible for the enemy to break through it."
"I also feel that the enemy cannot break through our defense line." Zakharov echoed: "I have followed General Konev to Kursk, the direction of Oboyan, the situation of the Central Front and Voronezh Front, and all the measures they have taken to strengthen their defense, I am very clear about it."
However, when he said this, he paused and looked at Konev, as if asking him whether he could say what he knew. Seeing Konev nodding slightly, he walked to the wall, picked up the explanation stick placed by the wall, pointed to the map and introduced the situation to the commander present:
"First of all, we are going to talk about General Rokosovsky's central front. The most threat to them was the enemy of Orel's outcrop, and the German heavy army group seriously threatened the right wing of the front from the north.
On the opposite side of the enemy Orel group, our troops deployed on the 132-kilometer front from Gorodiesey to Brancev are the 48th, 13th and 70th armies. The 174-kilometer front on the left are the 65th and 60th armies."
"Let's look at the defensive zone of General Vatutin's Voronezh Front. According to the analysis of the Supreme Command, the enemy may carry out a major assault from the Belgorod area to Korocha. The direction of the auxiliary assault may be to rush toward the Nova Oskor from the area west of Vorchansk.
According to the analysis of the superiors, the troops deployed their main forces in the center and left wing of the Front Army Defense Zone. The 114-kilometer zone serves as defense are the 6th Guards and the 7th Guards. The 38th and 40th Guards defend the other 130 kilometers of frontal areas."
After hearing Zaharov introduce the deployment of friendly forces, the army leaders present felt relaxed. According to their ideas, it was basically impossible for the German army to break through the friendly forces to such strict defenses. Maybe by the end of the battle, our troops would not have the chance to participate in the war.
A commander of the army even said proudly: "According to the introduction of Comrade Chief of Staff, we not only have enough strength to defend, but we can even counterattack the enemy at any time and completely crush their attack."
But Konev was obviously not as optimistic as everyone else. He saw Sokov frowning and realized that the other party might have different ideas. He raised his hands and pressed down twice. After the room returned to quiet, he looked at Sokov and asked, "General Sokov, I think you seem to have something to worry about. Tell me, can we block the enemy's attack?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Seeing that Konev called out his name again, Sokov quickly stood up and replied: "I have dealt with General Rokosovsky and am very familiar with his combat characteristics. With him in Orel's direction, the enemy may not be able to make breakthroughs. But the defensive zone that General Vatujing is responsible for..."
"Why don't you say it?" Seeing that Sokov's words came to an abrupt end, Konev couldn't help but feel itchy, and urged Sokov to continue saying: "Please continue to say it, say whatever you think, and don't have any scruples."
Hearing Konev say this, Sokov simply left his seat and walked to the wall. After taking the explanation stick from Zakharov, he pointed to the map and said to everyone: "Although I have never been a subordinate of General Vatujing, I still know a little about the tactics he used. If I was not wrong, he would definitely think that the shelling in the early morning not only disrupted the German offensive steps, but also gave the enemy a lot of damage. He would next order the troops to launch an attack on the enemy in different areas."
"Isn't it good to take the initiative to launch an attack on the enemy?" an elderly general frowned and said, "Isn't this a firm grasp of the initiative on the battlefield firmly in the hands of our army?"
"I think it is inappropriate for our army to act first and immediately turn on the offensive." Sokov glanced at the strange old general and continued to follow his own ideas: "The best way is to rely on the existing defense system to consume a large amount of the enemy's vitality, and then destroy their tanks, and then invest in the new reserve team and turn on to a full-scale attack to completely smash the enemy's main group."
Zaharov asked, "What consequences will it bring if General Vatujing takes the initiative to launch an attack?"
"Once the Voronezh Front launches an attack on the enemy in a short period of time, the consequences will be very serious." Sokov pointed to the map with an explanation stick and said to the commanders present: "They cannot crush the enemy's offensive, but the enemy can concentrate superior forces and technical equipment and attack their defense line. According to my inference, the Oboyan area will be first broken by the German army. The enemy who broke through the defense line will not rush to expand the breakthrough, but will continue to rush towards the hinterland of the friendly defense line. At that time, the base camp will have to use our troops to resolutely block the enemy who broke through the defense line."
After Sokov finished speaking, the entire conference room fell into silence. The leaders of the army attended the meeting looked at each other, and they were all stunned by Sokov's bold analysis.
After a long time, Konev slowly said: "Comrades Commanders, the original idea of the superiors to allocate our front army behind the Central Front and Voronezh Front was to allow us to attack decisively when the enemy's breakthrough succeeded, and to repel its assault, so as not to allow the enemy to break through in Orel or Belgorod to the east. This is very consistent with Comrade Sokov's speculation."
"Comrade Commander of the Front," Konev finished speaking, Lieutenant General Managarov, Commander of the 52nd Army, asked: "If the situation on the battlefield really develops as General Sokov analyzed, what should we do?"
"I agree with Comrade Sokov's point of view, the enemy will launch a fierce attack on the Sixth Army of the Guards who are stuck in the Oboyan area, but I think it is unlikely that they will break through the friendly defense line." Konev put his right hand under his left arm, his left elbow on his right arm, and his left hand pinched his chin, saying thoughtfully: "But for the sake of safety, I plan to transfer the 27th Army in this direction."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," the heads of the army present saw that Konev had handed over such a glorious and arduous task to Sokov's 27th Army, and they could not sit still, and asked one after another: "Then what about our army's combat mission, where are you going to help us deploy?"
"If the enemy really breaks through the defense line in the direction of Oboyang and rushes to the depth of the friendly defense line at all costs, it will be difficult to stop Comrade Sokov's 27th Army." After thinking for a while, Konev announced loudly: "I plan to transfer the 5th Guards Army and the 5th Guards Tank Army to this direction, and resolutely crush the enemies that broke through our defense line."
Then Konev issued combat orders to the various armies affiliated to the front army. After everything was arranged, he said again: "Today's meeting ends here. Everyone should go back and prepare. Comrade Sokov stay."
Konev named Sokov and asked Sokov to stay. Lunev naturally would not leave alone, so he stayed with him. After the army leaders who attended the meeting were almost gone, Konev asked Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, when do you think the troops should be departing?"
"Report to the commander of the front army," Sokov heard Konev's inquiry and quickly straightened his body and replied: "Military information is urgent, and every minute is extremely precious to us. I suggest leaving at 5 pm so that before dawn, my troops can reach the north of Oboyan and build a line of defense there."
"General Sokov!" Susaikov was still skeptical about Sokov's statement: "Do you really think that the enemy has the ability to break through our army's defense in the Oboyang line?"
"Yes, comrade of the military committee of the Front Army." Sokov said firmly: "With the strong assault power of the German army, it will probably only take one or two days to break through the Oboyan defense line. If we don't arrive at the designated location as soon as possible to build the defense line, it will probably be too late."
"Since the General Staff notified us to be prepared for combat, it proves that the battle in the direction of Kursk is going on very fiercely. Perhaps the existing defenders cannot repel the enemy's attack at all." Konev said this and turned around and ordered Zaharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you should immediately notify the logistics department and immediately mobilize all transport vehicles to transport the 27th Army, so that they can reach the designated location and build fortifications in the shortest time."
While Zakharov was mobilizing vehicles for the 27th Army, Sokov returned to his command.
Seeing Sokov enter the door, Sameko came up and asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, did you review at the meeting?"
"Check, what kind of review?" Sokov ordered the other party: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately notify all commanders above the regiment to come to the headquarters for a meeting. I have important matters and I want to explain them."
Sameko did not dare to neglect, so he quickly called the commanders of each division and brigade to notify all regiment-level commanders, and rushed to the command center to have a meeting. After notifying everyone, Sameko asked Sokov with concern: "Comrade Commander, you have not been criticized by the commander of the front army at today's meeting, right?"
"No, how could this happen?" Before Sokov could speak, Lunev, who was standing by, said first: "At the beginning of the meeting, we received a notice from our superiors that the German army launched a fierce attack on the Kursk area in the early morning of this morning, and the commander's speculation was confirmed."
"What enemy really launched an attack on Kursk?" Even if a shell landed beside Sameko's side and exploded, the shock brought by the news was definitely not as good as that: "So, the analysis of the commander is completely correct?"
"Of course it's right."
"What is the situation in the Kursk region?"
"It's still in fierce battle," Sokov didn't know the specific situation at this moment, so he could only say vaguely: "In order to block the enemy's attack, the commanders and fighters of friendly troops are fighting tenaciously."
"Then do you notify all regiment-level commanders to come for a meeting? Is it related to the enemy's attack?"
"That's right." Sokov replied affirmatively: "Analysis from all signs, the enemy may successfully implement breakthroughs in the Oboyang area, so our army's troops must reach the north of Oboyang in the shortest time, and build fortifications there to resist the enemy's continued advancement."
Samek looked at the map and said in surprise: "Comrade Commander, it is almost 300 kilometers from our defense zone to the north of Oboyan. If you marching on foot, it will take at least one week."
"We can't wait that long. The enemy may break through the friendly defense lines tomorrow. We must stop them firmly before they rush further." Sokov said this, seeing Sameko's shocked look, he added: "The Front Command will mobilize enough transportation to transport our troops. If nothing unexpected happens, the vanguard will reach the designated position before dawn tomorrow."
After Sokov finished speaking, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, which division do you plan to let as the vanguard of the entire army and enter the north side of Oboyang first?"
"I think Colonel Khokhlov's 182nd Infantry Division is the vanguard of the entire army." Sokov took the initiative to say without waiting for Sameko to ask: "They were the first to equip assault rifles in my army. After one or two months of training, the commanders and fighters are already familiar with the use of this kind of firearm. I believe that with their existing combat power, they can completely block the enemy's attack."
"Comrade Commander, I agree with you." Sameko nodded and said, "This division is now the most combat-capable force in my army. They are the vanguard of the entire army, and they should be able to successfully complete the tasks you have assigned to them."