After Zhukov learned that Manstein and others had gone to Berlin, he called Sokov. After briefly introducing the situation, he asked cautiously: "Misha, what do you think about Kruger and Manstein?"
If people go to Berlin, what impact will it have on the war in the Kursk region?"
When Sokov heard Zhukov's question, he immediately understood that the reason why the other party told him such a confidential matter was because he wanted to hear his own judgment and use it as a reference to make corresponding adjustments to the subsequent combat deployment.
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov tried hard to recall the historical knowledge he remembered, and then said: "According to the analysis of what you just said, since General Rokossovsky launched an offensive on the northern front, threatening the
If the retreat route of the 9th Army is determined, then the enemies on the northern front will definitely shrink their forces to prevent our army from seizing the Orel salient."
"Your analysis coincides with my thoughts." After Zhukov praised Sokov, he continued: "What I am interested in now is the southern line. After all, the situation here is the most critical. What do you think of Manchuria?"
What will Stein do next?”
"If I were Manstein, I would order Hauser's 2nd SS Panzer Corps to join forces with Combat Group Kef, continue to attack the city of Prokhorovka, and look for suitable opportunities to annihilate the 69th Army and the Guards Tank Division.
5th Army. As for Oboyan, General Knobelsdorff’s 48th Panzer Corps entangled General Katukov’s 1st Tank Army, leaving them overwhelmed.”
"Finished?" Zhukov asked strangely after listening to Sokov's words: "Is there nothing to add?"
"No, Comrade Marshal." Sokov couldn't say too much, lest he be regarded as a magician by others, so he could only say euphemistically: "Based on the information you provided, I can only analyze so much."
"What about the 24th Panzer Corps?" Zhukov then asked: "Will Manstein let them be used as decorations there?"
"Comrade Marshal, the German 24th Armored Corps is composed of the 23rd Armored Division and the Viking Division. Their combat effectiveness is not weaker than that of the Kef Combat Group." Sokov replied: "If Manstein puts them on the battlefield, I will
The army's defense line in Prokhorovka will become precarious. But now that Manstein has gone to Berlin, I estimate that this army will not only not be put into the battlefield by him, but will be transferred from the Kursk area."
The German 24th Armored Corps has always been a thorn in Zhukov's heart. As the battle progresses, there are no troops that can be transferred to Prokhorovka. If the enemy puts this reserve team into the battlefield again, it will be difficult to stabilize it.
If the defense line fails, there is a possibility of collapse.
When he heard Sokov say that Manstein would not put this unit into battle and would even move it away, his tone suddenly became stern: "Major General Sokov, you know what you are talking about? You still have
Do you have any brains? As long as the enemy puts this armored corps into battle, the balance of victory will completely tip to them. But you told me that the enemy will not put the troops into battle at all, and will even transfer them away."
Sokov fell silent and thought aggrievedly: If I were Manstein, under the current situation, I would definitely put the reserve team into battle without hesitation and completely crush the Soviet defense line. But Manstein could not even dream of it.
Unexpectedly, he would encounter a superior like Xiao Hu and make a wrong decision, taking away the victory he was about to win.
After Zhukov on the other end of the phone had a fit, he noticed that Sokov was silent and asked again: "Why are you silent? Do you feel that your judgment is biased?"
"No, Comrade Marshal, I trust my own judgment." Sokov believed that it was true history that Manstein's reserve team was transferred by Mustache to reinforce the Italian front. Judging from the current situation, the deviation occurred.
Probably not, so he decided to stick to his principle: "If you don't believe it, you can send scouts to monitor the movements of this army. I believe that in less than two days, you will know whether my judgment is accurate."
"I didn't expect you to be quite stubborn." Although Zhukov was unwilling to believe Sokov's analysis, he still tried his best to control his emotions and said in a calm tone: "I will ask Vatutin to arrange reconnaissance as soon as possible.
Soldier, monitor the German 24th Armored Corps to see if the situation is as you said."
Vasilevsky, who had just walked in from outside the house, saw Zhukov putting down the phone, with a trace of anger on his face, and asked curiously: "Comrade Marshal, who made you angry on the phone?"
"Who else could it be? It's that little Misha." Zhukov said angrily: "When I was communicating with him just now, he actually told me that it was impossible for Manstein to put the 24th Armored Corps into battle, and it was even possible.
Transfer this unit. Tell me, if you were Manstein, would you transfer the reserve unit to other areas at such a critical moment?"
"Comrade Marshal," Vasilevsky said with a smile after understanding the reason for Zhukov's anger: "I remember that you served as the commander of the Leningrad Front in 1941."
"Yes, that was in September 1941. At that time, the Northern Army Group commanded by von Leib stormed Leningrad. The city was in danger. The high command sent me there to take over the duties of Marshal Voroshilov and command the troops to stop the German army.
Capture the city." After Zhukov recognized this part of his resume, he asked puzzledly: "But what does this have to do with Xiao Misha's wrong judgment?"
After listening, Vasilevsky nodded slightly and continued: "Shortly after you took office, part of the German troops that were storming the city were suddenly transferred away. At that time, you were furious about this, thinking that it was the scouts who provided the headquarters with supplies.
They received wrong intelligence. But the actual situation is that in order to seize Moscow as soon as possible, the German army transferred troops from the northern cluster to strengthen the offensive in the center."
Zhukov was a smart man. When Vasilevsky mentioned this seemingly unrelated matter, he immediately understood what was going on: "Comrade Vasilevsky, when you mentioned this matter, did you want to
Are you suggesting to me that Xiao Misha’s analysis is completely possible?”
"That's right." Vasilevsky said with a smile: "Although I am not familiar with Major General Sokov, based on my observations in the past two years, his analysis of the battlefield situation is still very accurate. Last year our army launched
During the Battle of Kharkov, who would have thought that Stalingrad, thousands of miles away, would become the next attack target of the Germans? But Major General Sokov analyzed this based on the sporadic intelligence he had.
possible, and deployed defenses on Mamayev Heights in advance.
Comrade Zhukov, since the two of us are representatives of the base camp, we must be responsible for the safety of the Kursk defense line. I think it is better to send the necessary reconnaissance force to monitor the German armored corps. Once they make any movement, we can
Be informed as soon as possible.”
"Comrade Vatutin," Zhukov sat at the table and thought about Vasilevsky's words. He felt that what he said made sense, so he ordered Vatutin: "Immediately send out capable reconnaissance personnel to attack the 24th German Army.
The Armored Corps' station will be monitored and if any unusual movements are discovered, report to me immediately."
Sokov did not know what happened in the Voronezh Front Army Headquarters. As soon as he put down the phone, he said to Koida: "Comrade Colonel, I am going back to the headquarters tonight, and you will be responsible for the defense here.
"
"When will you come back?" Koida has become accustomed to Sokov commanding troops by his side. When he learned that he was leaving, he couldn't help but feel a little panicked: "I'm worried that my ability is limited and I won't be able to command so many troops."
"I don't think I will be back for a long time." Sokov plans to return to his headquarters and stay there to command the troops. After all, no matter how good this place is, it is only a division-level headquarters. Many orders must be issued.
It is easy to delay the fighter plane by forwarding it through Sameko in the headquarters: "You know, I have more important work to do in the headquarters."
Knowing that Sokov would not come back for the time being, Koida felt very disappointed, but he had no choice. Who made Sokov the commander of the group army? After he returned to the headquarters, he would definitely have endless work to do.
It is reasonable for me to know my job when time comes.
While feeling regretful, Koida asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, when do you plan to leave and how many people do you want to take with you?"
"I will take Samoilov's guard platoon with me."
"No, Comrade Commander, we can't go like this." Koida immediately raised objections.
"Why?" Sokov asked puzzled.
"Although the areas you want to pass are all under the control of our army." Koida explained: "But if you bring a guard platoon, you will need at least one truck and a few jeeps. Such a small convoy.
Marching at night is also very dangerous, and if you are discovered by enemy scouts, you may be in danger."
"Comrade Colonel, what you say makes sense." Sokov knew that Samoilov's guard platoon had a larger number of people. If he really left by car, he would need at least two trucks and five jeeps. Even a convoy of this size would be in
Driving at night may also encounter danger. So he made a decision after a short consideration: "Then I will take Lieutenant Samoilov and a few soldiers and take two jeeps back to the army headquarters."
When leaving the 188th Division Headquarters, Samoylov, who was in the same car with Sokov, asked: "Comrade Commander, do we really only need two jeeps when we return to the Army Headquarters?"
"Yes, Comrade Lieutenant." Sokov nodded and replied: "Too many cars can easily expose the target." Seeing the worried look on the other party's face, he comforted him and said, "Don't worry, this is only a short distance from the Army Group Headquarters.
It’s more than 20 kilometers. If you drive fast, you can get there in half an hour at most.”
On the way back, although everything went smoothly, the road was too damaged, with planes everywhere and large craters blown by cannons. Some of the craters were even filled with water, so the driver had to slow down and be careful.
Went around one crater after another of different sizes.
After almost two hours of tossing on the road, the jeep Sokov was riding in finally arrived at the entrance of the headquarters. The sentry standing guard at the door was stunned for a moment when he saw Sokov's appearance, and then he raised his hand and saluted in surprise.
Said: "Comrade Commander, you are back!"
"Yes, I'm back." Sokov saw that the sentry who greeted him looked familiar, but he couldn't remember his name in a hurry. He just nodded casually and asked: "Chief of Staff and Military
Comrade Comrade Commissioner, are you at the headquarters?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." The sentry quickly replied: "They have set up two camp beds in the headquarters, and they sleep in the headquarters at night. If anything happens, they can handle it in time."
Although Sokov had deliberately walked softly when he walked into the headquarters, when he entered the door, he still heard a familiar voice asking: "Is something wrong?"
Recognizing Samyko's voice, Sokov stopped and replied: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it's me!"
Samyko, who was lying on the cot with his eyes closed, suddenly sat up when he heard Sokov's voice. He didn't even bother to put on his boots, so he jumped out of bed and greeted him: "Comrade Commander,
Why are you back?"
Sokov caught a glimpse of someone lying on the cot not far away, who should be military commissar Lunev. He was about to ask Samyko to speak softer so as not to wake up Lunev's sweet dream. But he was still late.
In one step, Lunev, who was originally lying on the bed, sat up, rubbed his eyes, looked at Sokov and said politely: "Comrade Commander, why are you back at this time? It really surprises us."
"I'm really sorry for disturbing your rest." Sokov felt very sorry for disturbing their sleep: "I should say hello to you before I come back."
Samyko poured a cup of tea for Sokov and handed it to him and said: "Comrade Commander, you didn't disturb our rest. You know, I haven't slept well since we stationed at the Pushor River defense line.
Very few. When you came in just now, I happened to lie down shortly and heard footsteps. I thought it was some staff officer coming to report the situation."
Sokov sat at the table holding a tea cup, took a sip of tea, and asked: "Is there any movement at the Pushor River defense line?"
"No." Sameko replied simply: "Because your defensive battle was vigorous and vigorous, attracting the enemy's attention, they had no time to attack us. I am worried that if this continues, before the end of the battle, we
None of the troops stationed here can fight."
"It's not easy to fight a war," Sokov said with a smile: "When the enemy's attack on Prokhorovka City is completely defeated, all our troops can launch a full-scale counterattack. By then, every division will have a battle to fight.
.”
Lunev walked up to Sokov, stared into his eyes for a while, and said with concern: "Comrade Commander, it seems that you haven't had a good rest recently. While there is nothing to do tonight, you can lie down
Only by taking a good rest and replenishing your energy can you better command the troops in combat."
