After dark, Vanya led the commanders and fighters of the first battalion to set off. Before setting off, he made a special phone call to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, we are about to set off. Do you have anything else to ask?"
Of?"
Hearing Vanya's question, Sokov was silent for a long time. He thought to himself that he had already explained everything he should explain, and there was no need to repeat it again. Thinking of this, he said into the microphone:
"Comrade Captain, I'm here waiting for the good news of your victory. I wish you good luck!"
Although after entering July, the days began to become longer and the nights became shorter, it still had to wait until after nine o'clock for the sky to get dark, and it would be dawn at five o'clock in the morning. In other words, Vanya's troops had to find him within eight hours.
They crossed the Tenebra River at a suitable location and arrived near the German camp before dawn.
In order to ensure that the troops did not attract the attention of the Germans when they were in action, the first battalion implemented radio silence, so that before the battle started, Sokov had no way of knowing where they were, whether they were ready for battle, etc.
Belkin saw Sokov walking back and forth in the headquarters restlessly with his hands behind his back. He raised his hand and looked at his watch. Seeing that it was already one o'clock in the morning, he said to him: "Comrade Brigadier, listen.
Listen, it's so quiet outside. This means that the first battalion was not discovered by the enemy when it crossed the river and approached the enemy's camp. You must be hungry after walking in the house for such a long time. I'll ask someone to give it to you.
Get some food." After saying that, Belkin called a staff officer, leaned close to his ear and whispered a few instructions. After Belkin finished speaking, the staff officer nodded, turned around and walked out.
Headquarters.
Sokov walked in the room for a long time, and he was really tired and hungry. After he sat down at the table, he looked at Belkin and said: "Comrade Political Commissar, although Vanya's counterattack this time is completely
It was beyond the expectations of the Germans, but before the battle started, I still felt a little uneasy."
The staff officer who was ordered to find food returned to the house not long after. Looking at the food placed on the table by the staff officer, Sokov asked curiously: "Why, Comrade Political Commissar, it's still July, and there is corn.
"?" Sokov has lived in Russia for so many years and naturally knows that due to climate and latitude reasons, corn needs to wait until at least September to mature.
"When I went out for inspection today, I saw a corn field next to the forest in the north of the city, so I asked someone to pick a few and come back to try it." Belgin picked up a piece of corn and handed it to Sokov, saying with a smile.
: "Comrade Brigadier, let's have a taste."
Sokov took the corn and was about to start chewing it when Belkin handed over a small plate with salt and said, "Sprinkle some salt." Sprinkling salt on food has always been a Russian tradition: bread should be sprinkled with salt.
Salt is a gift for entertaining distinguished guests; salting tomatoes is the best dish to go with wine. As for corns, Sokov understands that the taste is too bad and must be covered with salt.
Belkin looked at Sokov who was eating corn and asked curiously: "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you think our superiors will order us to launch a large-scale counterattack after the main force arrives?"
Counterattack?! Hearing what Belkin said, Sokov quickly stopped and looked at Belkin dumbfounded. He said to himself, brother, please stop joking. If you want to launch a counterattack from the Kursk area, don't say
Several infantry divisions, even several army groups, are of no avail. You must know that in the Battle of Kursk a year later, the Soviet army was able to achieve the final victory not only because they used four front armies one after another, but also because
The Allied forces launched a landing operation in Sicily, forcing the German army to transfer part of its main force.
Sokov took a deep breath, and then said to Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, despite the reinforcements sent from the base camp, they will be able to reach Kursk very quickly, but with the strength of our army, we can only barely hold on to the city.
, and was simply unable to launch a large-scale counterattack. The reason why I decided to launch a counterattack in the south of the city was simply because the enemy there was weak and unprepared, so our surprise attack could achieve results."
While the two were talking, Maxim, the communications company commander, suddenly hurried in and handed a telegram in his hand to Sokov: "Comrade Brigadier, this is an urgent telegram from the first battalion."
When Sokov received the telegram, he glanced at the watch on his wrist and found that it was not yet two o'clock, and there were still three hours before the launch of the attack. And Vanya actually broke the radio silence. Something unexpected must have happened.
After he read the contents of the telegram, he couldn't help showing a shocked expression on his face. He really didn't expect that the enemy's situation had unexpectedly changed.
"Look at this telegram," Sokov handed the telegram to Belkin and said hurriedly: "Vanya reported that the scouts found a convoy heading towards the German camp. According to them
According to analysis, this may be a German reinforcement. Many of the trucks are towing artillery behind them..."
After reading the contents of the telegram, Belkin's expression became serious. He said solemnly: "Comrade Brigade Commander, if Captain Vanya's information is correct, the enemy's reinforcements consist of almost two battalions.
And there are artillery. Do you think we should cancel this counterattack mission?"
"No," Sokov rejected Belkin's proposal without hesitation: "After our troops finally crossed the Tenebra River, they approached the enemy's camp. If we retreat at this time, everything will be ruined.
All previous efforts have been wasted.”
"But, Comrade Brigadier." Although the weather was cold in the early morning, Belkin broke out in a cold sweat: "There are only more than 1,300 people in one battalion, and after the German army received reinforcements, the total strength exceeded them twice.
There are so many, plus there are so many artillery, I'm worried that our troops will suffer a loss!"
"Before the departure of the First Battalion, I sent a telegram to the Front Army Headquarters, asking my superiors to send air force to support us." Sokov lightly tapped the table with his fingers, frowned and said: "Rokossovs
General Key agreed to send us two flying groups, but if the German army increases its troops, this air power will seem insufficient."
After Maxim waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he asked cautiously: "Comrade Brigadier, do you think it is necessary to immediately send a report to the front army headquarters and report our intelligence here to them?"
"It's too late," Sokov shook his head and said, "Fortunately, General Rotmistrov's headquarters has a dedicated telephone number that can be used to contact the front army headquarters. I think I should rush to him immediately.
Go call the commander."
"Captain Vanya, how should I reply to them?" Maxim asked briefly.
"There is no need to give them any reply for the time being. I will call them back after I report the situation here to the front army headquarters." After Sokov finished explaining Maxim, he faced Belkin and said: "Comrade Political Commissar, I
Now we must rush to General Rotmistrov’s headquarters immediately, and you will be responsible for everything here.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Brigadier." Belkin told Sokov: "If you make any decision, please call me immediately and I will convey it to Vanya via telegram."
Five or six minutes later, the jeep Sokov was riding in stopped at the door of the Tank Corps Headquarters. The officer on duty at the door knew Sokov, and although he felt strange when he saw him coming here late at night, he immediately trotted away
He came over to salute him and said politely: "Hello, comrade Lieutenant Colonel! May I ask if you have anything important to do when you come here at this time?"
Sokov nodded at the other party, and then asked: "Where is General Rotmistrov?"
"Comrade Commander is sleeping." The officer quickly replied: "Is there anything urgent you need to see him for?"
"Since Comrade General is resting, let him continue talking." Sokov politely asked the officer: "I have an important situation that needs to be reported to the front headquarters immediately. I wonder if I can borrow your dedicated phone?"
Faced with Sokov's question, the officer smiled bitterly and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I am just an officer on duty. I really can't help you with communications matters."
"Take me to the general's office," Sokov said to the other party: "I need to use his phone immediately to report to the front headquarters!"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please wait here for a while. I will report to the leader on duty immediately." After the officer finished speaking, he saw Sokov nodded in agreement before running to the duty room at the door and calling his superiors to report.
.
Not long after, the officer returned to Sokov and said politely: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the officer on duty has informed the general that he will go to his office soon. Please come with me."
." Sokov followed the officer into the building and went to General Rotmistrov's office.
When he came to the office door, the door was open. Sokov stood at the door and could see everything inside clearly. He saw General Rotmistrov sitting behind his desk, hurriedly getting dressed. Sokov raised his
He knocked twice on the open door, and then asked Rotmistrov, who looked up at him: "Comrade General, can I come in?"
"Come in, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Rotmistrov said with some displeasure: "I want to know what happened when you woke me up from my sleep in the middle of the night."
"Comrade General, can I borrow your phone?" Sokov asked politely: "There is important information that needs to be reported to the front army headquarters immediately. The telegram cannot explain it clearly, so I can only borrow your dedicated phone number.
."
General Rotmistrov muttered, picked up the microphone, and said: "I am General Rotmistrov, please call me to the front headquarters immediately. I have important information to report."
The staff officer on duty at the front army headquarters heard that the call was from General Rotmistrov. He thought something big had happened and quickly woke up Malinin, who had just fallen asleep. Malinin, who was sleepy, walked to the table and said,
He picked up the receiver and put it to his ear, and asked feebly: "I am Malinin, General Rotmistrov. Are you calling at this time? Do you have anything important to do?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I'm sorry to disturb your sleep." Rotmistrov glanced at Sokov standing in front of him and said dryly: "It's Lieutenant Colonel Sokov. He said there is something important."
I need to report to you immediately. Because the telegram didn’t explain it clearly, you can only come to me to borrow a dedicated phone number.”
"Give him the phone." Malinin knew very well that Sokov was definitely not the kind of person who would call his superiors just for trivial matters. He quickly ordered Rotmistrov to hand over the phone to Sokov.
When Sokov heard Sokov's voice coming from the receiver, he immediately asked straight to the point: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, is there anything important?"
When Sokov heard Malinin calling him by his surname and position, he replied businesslikely: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation is like this. The counterattack force I sent discovered a large number of German reinforcements during their march, and they were rushing to the south of the city.
Direction. The total strength is about two battalions, and there are also many artillery pieces."
After listening to Sokov's report, Malinin was shocked: the German army had more personnel than the Soviet army. Two battalions were more than 2,000 people. Plus the original garrison, the total strength of the German army was at least 4,000. He quickly asked
Kov: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, how many people are there in the infantry battalion where you carried out the counterattack, and what kind of equipment does it have?"
"The first battalion now has more than 1,300 people, equipped with more than 20 MG34 general-purpose machine guns and five 50mm mortars..." After briefly explaining the number of heavy equipment, Sokov specifically emphasized to Malinin.
: "Not only are we at a disadvantage in terms of numbers, but our equipment is not the enemy."
Malinin knew Sokov very well and knew that he must have his own thoughts when he said this to him, so he asked tentatively: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, do you need us to do anything for you?"
"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov waited for Malinin to finish and then quickly continued: "According to the original plan, the superiors will send two flying groups to provide air cover for our attack. But now it seems that
This air power is far from enough. Please see if you can provide us with more help."
"Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, I can't make the decision on this matter. I need to ask Comrade Commander for instructions." Malinin asked slowly: "Now that the enemy situation has changed, what are you going to do?"
"It's very simple. Order the troops to launch a sudden attack on the German reinforcements while they are still on their feet." Sokov said confidently: "The enemy's reinforcements have arrived and figured out the situation. Under the attack of our army, we will definitely defeat them."
They will fall into chaos. When they finally recover at dawn, the air force arriving on the battlefield will bomb them indiscriminately, thus completely throwing the enemy into chaos..."
After listening to Sokov's plan, Malinin nodded and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, now that you have a complete plan, go ahead and execute it. We will provide you with more air support by dawn.
