"Comrade Sokov, you have thought very carefully." After listening to Sokov's report, Konev said approvingly: "The detour direction has been chosen well. By detouring from the enemy's left wing, we will definitely achieve good results."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov felt that it was obviously impossible for him to carry out such a large-scale operation in the Shumakovo area without the support of the air force, so he asked Konev tentatively: "When we carry out tactical detours
At that time, I wonder if you can send the air force to cooperate with our actions?"
"What, you need the cooperation of the air force?" Sokov's suggestion made Konev feel very embarrassed, because he had just received an order from the Supreme Command not long ago, asking him to immediately move the 5th Guards Army to the nearest
The 5th Guards Tank Army was transferred to Prokhorovka to assist the 6th Guards Army in the defense there. The recent mission of the 5th Air Force Army, which belongs to the front army, is to compete with the German Air Force for air supremacy there: "According to superiors
According to the order, the mission of the 5th Air Force Army is to compete with the enemy for air supremacy over Prokhorovka. I’m afraid I won’t be able to spare the power to provide you with air cover.”
Konev's words made Sokov's heart sink suddenly. Are you kidding me? Fighting in a large corps without tanks and artillery is enough to give him a headache. Now there is not even air support! If fighting in the daytime,
Your own troops originally had the upper hand, but if the enemy deployed its air force and launched a massive bombing campaign, your own attack might be disrupted.
Thinking of this, he said cautiously: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, if there is no air support, I am worried that we will become very passive in the next battle."
"Comrade Sokov, you are right. An army-scale attack without air support will surely suffer huge losses." Konev did not want Sokov's troops to suffer unnecessary losses.
After some consideration, he said to him: "During this period, Marshals Zhukov and Vasilevsky, as representatives of the base camp, have been staying at the Central Front and Voronezh Front. If you can make your request to them in person,
, I think there is still a certain chance of getting air support."
Hearing what Konev said, Sokov began to think in his mind: He has achieved huge results on the battlefield in the past two years, and his father and Zhukov are old comrades, so he can get a lot of resources.
Inclined. For example, the new rockets, rocket launchers and assault rifles that are now equipped to the troops are all given priority to their own troops. Also, when he served as the commander of the Sixth Army, he even assigned himself two aviation divisions.
If he really made a request to Zhukov, as long as it was not too excessive, Zhukov would definitely agree. Thinking of this, he nodded and continued: "I understand, I will find a way to get in touch with Marshal Zhukov."
After Sokov put down the phone, he began to think about how to get in touch with Zhukov. Although Zhukov was accompanied by telegraph operators and communications staff when he traveled, it was simply impossible to contact him by telegram. In order to ensure that Zhukov
To ensure his personal safety and ensure that his whereabouts are not leaked, except for a few designated departments, other departments cannot contact his radio station.
Since Zhukov could not be contacted, Sokov also considered Vasilevsky. After all, as a representative of the base camp, he had been sitting at the headquarters of the Voronezh Front. But he quickly gave up this tempting idea, and Vasilevsky
What Vski was thinking about most at the moment was how to ensure the security of the Voronezh Front Army's defense area and to order the air force to dispatch to support friendly forces. It was unlikely that he would agree.
After going in a circle, the problem has returned to its original point. It seems that only by contacting Zhukov, his troops will have a chance to obtain air support from the Air Force when they attack.
Seeing that Sokov was at a loss after making the call, Lunev asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, what is it that worries you so much?"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov said with a sad face: "When I just talked with the commander of the front army, he told me that the air force directly under the front army will focus on the Prokhorovka area to fight with the enemy in the next few days.
Air supremacy. In other words, the battle we will launch soon will not receive any support from the air force at all."
After hearing what Sokov said, Lunev finally understood what was going on, and he quickly asked: "Then what are you going to do?"
"The commander of the front army said that I cannot disobey the orders of my superiors. If I want to get air support during the battle, I can only contact Marshal Zhukov." Sokov was worried that Lunev did not know Zhukov's current identity, and specifically added: "
Marshal Zhukov, as the representative of the base camp, is responsible for liaison between the Central Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army."
"Then you can contact him." Lunev said: "Wouldn't this solve the problem of air support?"
"Comrade Military Commissar, the problem is not that simple." Sokov said with a grimace: "I don't know where Marshal Zhukov is now. How can I get in touch with him?"
"You can contact him through the radio..." Lunev was just halfway through his words when he immediately realized that for a person of Zhukov's level, where he went must be kept strictly confidential. Sokov could not figure out his whereabouts and could not contact him.
His radio station was perfectly normal. He rolled his eyes twice and suddenly came up with a good idea: "Comrade Commander, why don't I send a telegram to Comrade Beria and ask him to inform Marshal Zhukov, just say
If you have anything important to do, come to him."
Sokov could not contact Zhukov directly, but as Beria, he should be qualified to contact Zhukov at any time. If he was allowed to connect with him, he would be able to contact Zhukov soon. However, he still pretended to hesitate for a long time.
Then he asked Lunev: "Is this appropriate?"
Lunev was indeed deceived by Sokov's illusion, and he replied without hesitation: "There is nothing inappropriate, Comrade Commander, leave this matter to me."
Runev acted immediately and immediately asked the communications troops to connect him to the Kremlin, and then found Beria through the switchboard. When Runev made his request, Beria asked hesitantly: "What are you looking for?"
Is there anything important Zhukov?"
"Comrade Beria," Luniev knew that if he didn't explain the matter clearly, he was afraid that Beria would not agree to help, so he briefly introduced the ins and outs of the matter to him, and finally said: "Can you contact me?
Marshal Zhukov, this is related to the results that our unit can achieve in the next battle, please do us this favor."
Regarding Lunev's request, Beria hesitated for a long time, and finally nodded and said: "Okay, I will contact Marshal Zhukov as soon as possible. Just wait for my good news."
After Lunev got Beria's promise, he immediately beamed. As soon as he put down the phone, he said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, have you heard it? Comrade Beria is willing to help us contact Marshal Zhukov. I think
It won't be long before we receive a call or a telegram from him."
"I hope so." Although Lunev said so, Sokov was still unsure. After all, Zhukov's whereabouts were uncertain at this time, and whether he could receive Beria's telegram in time was also unknown. But in the face of this
The enthusiastic Lunev still tried his best to put a smile on his face: "As long as Marshal Zhukov is willing to help, then our next battle will be much easier to fight."
"Comrade Commander," Lunev felt that before our own air force gained air supremacy, the troops that were detouring towards the German left wing should still adopt a concealed march to avoid being launched by German reconnaissance planes. First, they would expose their whereabouts and let the enemy advance in advance.
Be prepared; secondly, you will be attacked by German air attacks, causing the troops to suffer huge losses.
"Yes, General Gritsenko's troops should choose night operations when implementing a roundabout. Even if they have to march during the day, they should choose forest areas so that they will not be discovered by enemy reconnaissance planes," Sokov said.
: "I will call General Gritsenko later to explain this specifically."
While having lunch at noon, Lunev received a call from Beria: "Comrade Lunev, I have sent your demands to Marshal Zhukov via telegram. I believe he will contact you soon.
Get in touch.”
"That's great." Seeing that Beria really helped him contact Zhukov, Lunev quickly expressed his gratitude to him: "Thank you, thank you very much. On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 27th Group Army, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you
Thanks."
According to Sokov's idea, since Beria has sent a telegram to Zhukov, it will not take long before Zhukov will send him a telegram or make a phone call, and then he will be able to explain his request to him in detail.
report.
But soon Sokov discovered that he was wrong. Until the evening, he did not receive a telegram from Zhukov, let alone a phone call. Although Sokov was disappointed in his heart, he tried his best to pretend that nothing had happened.
As if, he called Gritsenko and told him some precautions: "...Since the enemy's air force controls the air superiority in this area, in order to prevent your division from being attacked by German air attacks during the roundabout process,
If there are serious casualties, you should choose to march at night. Even if you have to march during the day, you should try to march in forest areas to avoid enemy reconnaissance planes..."
Before Sokov finished speaking, he saw Samoilov barging in from outside and said excitedly: "Comrade Commander, I have some good news for you. Zhukov, Marshal Zhukov has come to our headquarters.
Already."
"What, Marshal Zhukov is here?" Samoilov's news shocked Sokov. He thought Zhukov was at Rokossovsky's headquarters or on his way back to Moscow, but he
Unexpectedly, the other party would appear directly here. "Where?"
"He's heading towards us." Samoilov said out of breath, "In a few minutes at most, he will enter our headquarters."
When he learned that Zhukov was coming, Sokov could not sit still. He quickly called Lunev who was sitting next to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, come with me out to meet Marshal Zhukov."
Sokov walked out of the headquarters with Lunev and several staff officers from the headquarters. As soon as he went out, he saw two armored vehicles and several jeeps parked on the roadside not far from the headquarters.
Zhukov, with his hands behind his back, was saying something to a group of commanders and soldiers standing next to the car.
Sokov trotted to Zhukov, raised his hand in salute, and reported with some excitement: "Comrade Marshal of the Soviet Union, Major General Sokov, commander of the 27th Group Army, reports to you. On behalf of all the commanders and soldiers, I welcome your arrival!"
After shaking hands with Sokov, Zhukov said: "Misha, I heard that you are in some trouble here, so I came here specially to see if there is anything I can do to help you."
Sokov wanted to report the detailed combat plan to Zhukov, so he said politely: "Comrade Marshal, this is not the place to talk. Let's go in and talk."
Returning to the headquarters, Sokov moved the map on the table in front of Zhukov, told him his battle plan in detail, and finally said: "Comrade Marshal, if we are lucky, we can definitely do it."
Wipe out the Imperial Division once more and make the enemy tremble when they hear our numbers."
After Zhukov waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he grinned silently, and then said: "As far as I know, many Germans will tremble when they hear your name. If the Imperial Division is wiped out again, I am afraid that the enemy will
If you know where you will appear, you must be prepared to retreat in advance."
Seeing Zhukov praising him so much, Sokov tried his best to control his emotions, but the corners of his mouth still turned upward unconsciously.
Just when Sokov was getting carried away, he heard Zhukov's tone become stern: "Last time in the battle, you completely annihilated the Imperial Division and captured the division's commander, Major General Val. But why didn't you capture it?
The flag of this division? You know, once the flag of the Imperial Division is captured by you, it will be the true destruction of the entire army. Even if the Germans want to reorganize, they will have to because the flag of the division is captured by our army.
Give up this idea."
Zhukov's criticism made Sokov realize his negligence. In the battle to encircle and annihilate the Imperial Division, he only ordered the troops to eliminate as many enemies as possible, but forgot to organize the manpower to capture the enemy's flag. As a result, he wasted a lot of money.
However, due to the failure to capture the military flag, the Germans could reorganize this unit in a short period of time based on the wounded who were recuperating in the rear.
"Comrade Marshal, don't worry." Sokov assured Zhukov: "We will fight against the Imperial Division again this time, and we will definitely try our best to capture their flag."
"I hope so." After Zhukov said this, he continued to ask: "I would like to ask, how large a scale of air support will you need when you launch an attack on the German army?"
"At least one aviation division is needed." Sokov replied confidently: "Only an air force of this size can control the air superiority on the battlefield."
"Is one aviation division enough?" Just when Sokov thought Zhukov would think he was asking for too much, he unexpectedly heard the other party say: "Will this be able to gain air superiority on the battlefield?"
"Absolutely, Comrade Marshal." Sokov quickly replied: "An aviation division can control the air superiority on the battlefield, so that when our army launches an attack on the enemy, the attack will not fail due to the enemy's air attack."