He was only thinking about picking up ready-made Sokov, but he never dreamed that his troops would have the opportunity to go to the battlefield so soon.
After receiving Konev's notice, Sokov hesitated for a moment and then asked: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I would like to ask, can you add an artillery unit to us?"
Konev had long guessed that Sokov would definitely put forward conditions to him after receiving the order. He originally thought that the other party would let him replenish soldiers and tanks, but unexpectedly what he needed was artillery. He asked with some confusion.
: "Comrade Sokov, why do you need artillery?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, as far as I know, the most intense fighting area right now is outside Prokhorovka." Sokov explained to Konev: "If we are placed under the command of the Voronezh Front Army, I think the area where the most intense fighting is now is outside Prokhorovka."
The first order issued by General Tutin was to order our troops to move in the direction of Prokhorovka to assist the friendly forces to repel the enemies attacking outside Prokhorovka. Since we are going to attack, if there is no artillery cover, simply
If we rely on infantry to attack the fortress, we will pay a huge price."
Regarding Sokov's request, Konev fell silent, because shortly after Vasilevsky called him, he received a call from Antonov on behalf of the Supreme Command, ordering Major General Ryzhov
The 47th Group Army, Major General Obukhov's 3rd Guards Mechanized Corps, and Lieutenant General Solomatin's 1st Mechanized Tank Corps carried out a joint assault from the north, destroying them in the direction of Korocha, and then toward Oskol
The enemy group emerged from the river.
The battles faced by these three troops will be extremely cruel, so Konev plans to assign all the artillery units directly under the front army to them for use. Unexpectedly, Sokov also asked for artillery, which put him in a bit of a dilemma.
If you give it, it will inevitably weaken the offensive power in the north; if you don't, Sokov's troops will be mainly infantry, but they will definitely pay a heavy price against the German mechanized troops.
"Comrade Sokov," Konev felt that this matter needed careful consideration and that he could never make a hasty decision, so he said with some hesitation: "As for the artillery matter, I will discuss it with other front army chiefs before I give it to you.
A resounding answer."
"Okay, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Sokov knew that Konev's life was not easy now. If he wanted to get the artillery from him, it would probably not be an easy task. Since the other party offered to consider it, he
, which proved that there was still a glimmer of hope, so he nodded and said, "I'm waiting for your answer."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he ordered Sameko: "Chief of Staff, call several division commanders and order them to rush to the headquarters immediately for a meeting. We have a big battle to fight."
Now the 27th Group Army controls a large area south of the Pushor River. Except for the 188th Division, where the situation is relatively worse, the commanders and fighters in the rest of the area are basically idle. The commanders of each division received the news from Samay
After receiving the notice from Ke, he immediately rushed to the headquarters as quickly as possible.
"Comrade commanders," Seeing all the division commanders arriving, Samek said to everyone: "We are having a meeting now."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Colonel Shechtman, commander of the 254th Division, who had hardly fought since the beginning of the campaign, asked impatiently: "Are we calling for a meeting today to prepare for a big war?"
"You guessed it right, Comrade Colonel." Samek said to Shechtman with a smile: "The army does have a big move. We must take the initiative to attack the German army."
"Initiate an attack on the enemy?" Hearing this news, the happiest person was Colonel Koida, the commander of the 188th Division. His troops had been stationed in the south for several days and had been engaged in defensive warfare, which made him feel particularly special.
Frustrated. At this moment, when I heard Sameko talking about launching an attack, I immediately rushed to say: "This is really great. The Sixth Armored Division in front of us has been disabled. As long as we turn from defense to offense, we will destroy them."
It’s just a matter of time.”
"Colonel Koida," unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Sokov interrupted: "We will not attack the German 6th and 18th Armored Divisions for the time being, so as not to stimulate the German 48th Armored Division in the northwest.
Corps and the 52nd Infantry Corps. Once they turn around and attack us, we will have to fight in two directions at the same time."
The division commanders who came to the meeting fell silent and listened quietly to what Sokov said: "Colonel Koida's 188th Division, Colonel Khokhlov's 182nd Division, as well as an infantry brigade and two naval forces
The Marine Brigade continues to hold its current position. Major General Fomenko's 84th Brigade and Major General Gritsenko's 384th Brigade are responsible for the defense tasks from the Pushor River to the southern positions..."
Koida felt a little disappointed when he learned that his troops had to stick to their current positions. But then he thought about it, if Sokov really commanded the troops to launch an attack outside Prokhorovka, the enemies in the northwest would
They will definitely swoop over, and then they will need to rely on themselves and Colonel Khokhlov's troops to block the enemy's attack and ensure that the offensive in the east proceeds smoothly.
After explaining which troops should hold their positions, Sokov said to Shechtman: "Comrade Colonel, this time I plan to have your troops, under the cover of a tank brigade, attack the enemy outside Prokhorovka.
Launch an attack. How about it? Do you have the confidence to complete the mission?"
Schechtman knew that the German troops west of Prokhorovka were the Skeleton and Flag Guard divisions that had suffered losses under Sokov, so he stood up and patted his chest and said: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander.
, dealing with two defeated generals is not a problem at all."
"Comrade Colonel," it is good to have confidence, but if you underestimate the enemy, you will easily suffer big losses. Sokov specifically reminded the opponent: "Although we annihilated the Imperial Division and severely damaged the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division,
If you let your guard down because of this, you may suffer big losses."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Shechtman said with some disapproval: "We will definitely remain vigilant enough when fighting these enemies."
From the opponent's expression, Sokov discovered that he did not take the troops of the 2nd SS Panzer Army seriously. Regarding his behavior of underestimating the enemy, Sokov understood that no matter how much he said, the opponent probably would not.
Keep it in mind. After a short period of thinking, he made a decisive decision: "In order to ensure the victory of the offensive, I am prepared to act together with the 354th Division."
As soon as Sokov's words came out, Samek immediately panicked: "Comrade Commander, the fighting is fierce in the east. If you go there, you may encounter danger."
"It doesn't matter. It's not my first day on the battlefield. I know how to protect myself." Sokov waved his hands and said, "I believe that me personally acting can boost morale."
Samyko had long been accustomed to Sokov's character. Seeing that he had already made up his mind, he knew that his persuasion would be of no use. He could only nod his head and said helplessly: "Okay, Comrade Commander, since you have already
Now that you have made a decision, you must pay attention to protecting your own safety in the next battle."
"Comrade Commander," seeing Sokov's decision to personally command the troops to attack the enemy outside Prokhorovka, General Polubyarov, commander of the tank corps, stood up and said, "I think if you want to use tanks, you can completely mobilize the regiment."
The 85th and 483rd independent tank battalions directly under the army. If I remember correctly, they have not participated in any battles and are still at full strength."
The words woke him up from his dream. Sokov only considered attacking the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division and using tank troops, but he forgot that there were two independent tank battalions in his direct troops. Since at this moment Polubo
Yarov reminded him, and he followed suit and said: "General Polubyarov, you are right. This time to attack the enemy in the east, we can indeed use these two independent tank battalions. In this way, I
There is no need to disrupt the existing deployment of your army."
"Comrade Commander," Samyko reminded Sokov after hearing General Polubyarov's suggestion that Sokov use two independent tank battalions: "These two independent tank battalions only have fifty tanks in total.
Tanks. One-third of the old T-70 tanks will suffer heavy losses if they encounter a large number of German tanks."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you don't have to worry." Sokov secretly thought to himself. As for the one or two hundred tanks of the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division, it is estimated that most of them have been lost in the two days of fighting, and the rest are still there.
In the battle with Rotmistrov's troops, it is estimated that they will not be able to deal with themselves. Even if the old tanks in the two tank battalions account for a considerable proportion, they are still sure of victory: "The enemy's armor strength is all
He was dragged outside Prokhorovka and does not pose much of a threat to us."
Sokov raised his hand, looked at his watch, and said to Colonel Shechtman: "Comrade Colonel, please rush back to the unit immediately and let the commanders and soldiers make all preparations before departure. We will launch an attack on the enemy before dark.
attack."
"Carry out an attack before dark?" Sokov's words confused Shechtman: "Comrade Commander, if we attack before dark, the battle will not last long, and it will be dark. How can we fight then?
?”
"Comrade Colonel, don't forget that close combat and night combat are the strengths of our army." Sokov said proudly: "After dark, the enemy tanks, aircraft and artillery will be ineffective, and then our infantry will be able to fully
Use our strengths to make the enemy dizzy."
In fact, Sokov ordered the troops to conduct night battles, but there was nothing he could do. The air support promised by his superiors has not yet been fulfilled; and this time the enemy outside Prokhorovka did not even have artillery. If according to the conventional
In an offensive battle, the final casualties would be very heavy. In order to avoid this situation, Sokov could only choose night battles and close combat, which the Soviet army was best at.
After the meeting, while Shechtman went back to assemble his troops, Sokov sat at the table and waited for Konev's call. He thought to himself, if Konev could provide him with artillery, even an artillery division or
There are two self-propelled artillery regiments, so the attack on the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division can be carried out two or three hours in advance, and the battle can be resolved before dark.
Regardless of these two elite SS divisions, they could defeat one or two Soviet armies, but as soon as they encountered their nemesis, their combat effectiveness would be greatly reduced. Unexpectedly, as soon as their troops rushed, the German army established
The defense line will collapse in an instant.
After sitting for more than an hour, Konev's call did not come, but Shechtman's call came: "Comrade Commander, my troops have been assembled and ready to go at any time."
"I know." Sokov said calmly: "Wait, I will let you know when it's time to set off."
Seeing Sokov's sad look, Runev asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, are you still waiting for General Konev's call?"
"Yes." Sokov told his deputy, naturally not hiding his true thoughts: "With the assistance of artillery, our attack on the German army will be smoother."
"Comrade Commander, I have an idea, I don't know whether I should say it or not."
"Comrade Military Commissar, if you have any ideas, just say it."
"I look at the situation of the enemy and ourselves on the map. The enemies outside Prokhorovka include not only the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division, but also the Kef Combat Group. The enemy's strength is not weak." Runev pointed at the map.
Said to Sokov: "I think you should deploy the second echelon. Once you attack the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division and are attacked from the flank by the Kef Combat Group, our second echelon can rush up in time to help
You resolve the crisis."
"It's not necessary." Sokov shook his head and said, "If the enemy wants to destroy us, he must first have a good pair of teeth. Otherwise, not only will he not be able to eat us, he may even break his front teeth."
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. He felt that it was already getting late, and Konev's call was still delayed, which proved that the opponent's big concept could not provide him with artillery. He stood up and said to Samyko: "Staff
Commander, inform Colonel Shechtman and the two tank battalion commanders that it’s time for us to set off.”
As soon as the order was issued, the troops who had been waiting for a long time began to move eastward in the direction of Prokhorovka. Colonel Shechtman, who was traveling with Sokov, asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Commander, we are making such a big fanfare
If we advance to the east, won't we be discovered by the enemy?"
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov stared at Shechtman and asked strangely: "The roads leading to Prokhorovka are all exposed to the sight of German scouts. What do you think we should do?
, can we completely avoid the eyes and ears of the German army? Now that we are marching in the direction of Prokhorovka in such a arrogant manner, it may also disrupt the combat deployment of the German command headquarters, forcing them to have to mobilize some troops from the fighting area.
