After Rokossovsky hung up the phone, he stared at the map for a long time. The more he looked at it, the more he felt that Sokov's plan was a stroke of genius. If the troops deployed in Luhansk unexpectedly launched an attack on Donetsk,
The German army, who was afraid of being attacked, would be completely disrupted in its plan to attack the Kharkov area.
Thinking of this, he ordered the director of the communications corps to help him connect to Moscow. When he heard Boskrebeshev's voice coming from the receiver, he quickly said friendly: "Hello, Boskrebeshev,
Please help me pick up Comrade Stalin's office, I have important information to report to him."
"General Rokossovsky, Comrade Stalin is listening to the work report from Deputy Chief of General Staff General Antonov." Poskrebyshev said coldly: "I'm afraid I won't be able to answer your call for the time being."
Rokossovsky knew that Stalin's approach to the Deputy Chief of Staff at this moment must be related to the war situation in Kharkov, and he quickly said: "Comrade Boskrebyshev, the work I want to report is also related to Kharkov."
Related. Please help me get through to Comrade Stalin immediately. I believe he will be happy after hearing my report."
Since Rokossovsky had already said this, it was obviously inappropriate not to help transfer the phone. Poskrebyshev could only say into the phone: "Please wait a moment, I will
Go and ask Comrade Stalin for instructions."
Poskrebyshev carefully placed the microphone on the table, walked to the door, knocked twice, and before any sound could be heard from inside, he opened the door and walked in.
Stalin, who was reprimanding Antonov, heard someone push open the door and come in. He turned around and saw that it was Poskrebyshev, and asked displeasedly: "What can I do for you?"
"Comrade Stalin, General Rokossovsky called," Boskrebyshev reported expressionlessly: "He said he had something important and wanted to report to you immediately."
"Is there anything more important than the war situation in Kharkov?" Stalin pointed at Poskrebyshev with the hand holding his pipe and said: "I still have things to do, let him
Call back in half an hour."
"Comrade Stalin, General Rokossovsky said that he is ready to report to you about Kharkov. He even said that as long as you listen to his report, you will feel better."
When Antonov heard what Boskrebyshev said, he immediately realized that Rokossovsky might have found a way to reverse the unfavorable occupation of Kharkov, and quickly said to Stalin: "Comrade Stalin, I beg you
You should listen to General Rokossovsky's report first, maybe he can give you a surprise."
Stalin, who was still hesitant at first, nodded when he heard what Antonov said and said to Boskrebyshev: "Put the phone in."
As soon as the phone on the table rang, Stalin grabbed the receiver and put it to his ear: "I am Stalin, General Rokossovsky. I hope what you are telling me is good news."
"Comrade Stalin, more than ten minutes ago, I had a conversation with Major General Sokov, commander of the combat group in Luhansk." After Rokossovsky briefly greeted him, he said bluntly: "He asked me
A plan was developed to reverse the unfavorable situation in the direction of Kharkov."
"Major General Sokov?" Stalin asked confusedly: "Who is he?"
"Comrade Stalin," Antonov quickly explained to him, "is the son of your old comrade, Xiao Misha. In order to commend him for his superb command skills and great achievements in the battle to defend Stalingrad, the base camp
He was just promoted from colonel to major general."
"I didn't expect that if I didn't pay attention, this little Misha would become a general." Stalin learned that Sokov was making suggestions again, and guessed that the plan proposed by the other party might be helpful in reversing the direction of the war in Kharkov.
He asked anxiously: "Konstantin Konstantinovich, please tell me quickly, what advice did little Misha give you?"
"Comrade Stalin, according to the information we have, the enemy has concentrated their main forces in the direction of Kharkov and Belgorod to start a fierce battle with our Voronezh Front." Rokossovsky reported to Stalin.
Said: "Major General Sokov discovered that the enemy's garrison in Donetsk was greatly weakened, so he proposed a bold plan to immediately attack Donetsk and seize the city from the enemy.
.As soon as our offensive begins, the German troops who are launching an attack in the direction of Kharkov will definitely send some of their troops back to defend for fear that our troops will steal their retreat. In this way, the strength of the enemy troops attacking Kharkov will be reduced.
It will be weakened, thereby reducing the pressure on our army."
After hearing this, Stalin did not immediately express his position. Instead, he looked at Antonov standing in front of him: "Comrade Deputy Chief of General Staff, tell me, is this plan proposed by Xiao Misha feasible?"
"Comrade Stalin, please look at the map." Antonov pushed a map on his desk in front of Stalin and explained to him: "If Sokov's troops successfully occupy Donets
Gram, then the German army's back route that controls the Red Army Village-Pavlograd line will be threatened. Moreover, they can also advance westward at any time and cut off the German army's supplies from the direction of Zaporozhye."
"So, as long as Xiao Misha's troops launch an attack on Donetsk and capture this city, will they be able to disrupt the German army's attack on Kharkov and win a precious breathing space for our troops?
"
"Exactly, Comrade Stalin."
Hearing Antonov speak in such a sure tone, Stalin brought the microphone closer to his ear and said: "Constantin Constantine, the Deputy Chief of General Staff and I have discussed the plan proposed by Xiao Misha, and we think it is still better."
Let’s give it a try. When does he plan to launch an attack on the defenders of Donetsk?”
"There is a distance of nearly 100 kilometers from Luhansk to Donetsk. Even if the troops start marching overnight, they will have to wait until the day after tomorrow at the earliest to reach Donetsk." Rokossovsky calculated in his mind.
After some time, he replied: "If everything goes well, they will attack the enemy the night after tomorrow."
"What, we have to wait until the night after tomorrow?" Hearing the time mentioned by Rokossovsky, Stalin became a little anxious. Based on the analysis of the intelligence just obtained, some troops can last until tomorrow night, which is already the limit. He tested
The ground asked: "Can the attack time be advanced? Also, why do they launch an attack at night?"
"The reason is simple." Although Rokossovsky is willing to provide air support to Sokov's troops, today's air force, like the army's armored forces, lacks fuel and ammunition, so he euphemistically said: "Our air force
The aircraft were unable to provide them with air cover due to lack of fuel and ammunition. If we wanted to reduce the casualties during the attack without air cover, we could only choose to attack at night."
"I will immediately notify the Logistics Department and ask them to replenish fuel and ammunition for your Air Force Group as soon as possible." After Stalin made the promise to Rokossovsky, he specifically emphasized: "I hope that Xiao Misha's troops will
We must launch an attack on Donetsk before dark tomorrow."