The two regiments that arrived before dark relied on simple positions and used new rockets and rocket launchers to launch a tenacious block against the troops of the Skeleton Division. After more than four hours of fierce fighting, they successfully smashed the German troops along the Prussian route.
The Shor River's intention to advance eastward ensured the safety of Prokhorovka's flanks.
Sokov's troops stabilized the defense line, and Klitschko also got in touch with the commanders of the defeated troops. In order to stabilize the defense line, he ordered the remaining troops to gather towards the Guards Division's defense area to strengthen the defense there.
Seeing the critical situation, Zhukov and Vasilevsky, who hurriedly flew from Moscow, came to Vatutin's headquarters and asked him about the current situation on the battlefield.
"Comrade Vatutin," Zhukov asked in a reproachful tone as soon as he saw Vatutin: "The base camp has mobilized so many troops for you. I didn't expect that the situation in the Prokhorovka area would treat our army like this."
Unfavorable, what on earth is going on?"
"Comrade Marshal," Vatutin replied with some embarrassment after hearing Zhukov's criticism: "The enemy's offensive is too fierce. Although our commanders and combatants are very tenacious, they cannot compare with the enemy because their equipment and combat experience are not as good as those of the enemy."
I didn’t choose to retreat..."
Seeing Zhukov's angry face, Vasilevsky quickly came out to smooth things over: "Comrade Vatutin, judging from the current situation, the enemy's goal is to capture the city of Prokhorovka. How are your defense arrangements going?
"
Vatutin knew that Vasilevsky was rescuing him, and after looking at him with gratitude, he began to report on the defense situation: "After the 33rd Guards Infantry Corps under the Fifth Guards Army arrived, I ordered the army to
The 9th Guards Paratrooper Division defended the city of Prokhorovka, and the 95th and 97th Guards Infantry Divisions were deployed along the Pursel River behind the 51st and 52nd Guards Infantry Divisions to form a new line of defense.
The 42nd Guards Rifle Division remained in the city as a reserve force, ready to be dispatched to critical situations at any time."
"Do you have the confidence to defend the city?" Vasilevsky continued to ask.
"I think it should be possible." Vatutin replied.
"It's not that we should be able to, but that we must defend the city of Prokhorovka." Zhukov, still angry, pointed to the map on the table and said to Vatutin: "Judging from the current situation, Sokov can use three
The infantry division and a tank corps were engaged in a tenacious battle with the German Totenkopf Division, the 6th Armored Division and part of the 19th Armored Division on a defensive front that was 25 kilometers wide."
Vasilevsky continued: "Yes, it was precisely because of the tenacious fighting of Sokov's troops that it ensured that Malankin's 81st Guards Infantry Division could still hold its position and prevented the enemy from moving unscrupulously towards Prokhoro.
Fuka City advances."
Zhukov snorted softly and continued: "According to the intelligence I have, Sokov is moving his troops deployed in the direction of Shumakovo and Oboyan towards the Pushol River. It seems that he is
We want to consolidate the existing defense lines and prevent the enemy from advancing towards the city of Prokhorovka."
"I know that Sokov's troops are good at defensive warfare," Vasilevsky said thoughtfully: "But there are no decent fortifications in this area. If they want to block the German offensive, they must
You will pay a heavy price." After saying these words, he asked Vatutin, "Do you have any counterattack plan?"
"Two Comrade Marshals, we have formulated a detailed counterattack plan." Vatutin smiled and said to the two of them: "You must be tired and thirsty after traveling for so long, right? Why don't you sit down and have a rest?
eat something."
Seeing that Zhukov and Vasilevsky did not object and sat down at the table, Vatutin breathed a sigh of relief. He ordered someone to bring a lot of food and even a bottle of vodka. He opened the wine
He opened the bottle cap and said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, can you drink a little? Not much, just a small cup, which can relieve fatigue."
Faced with Vatutin's enthusiasm, Zhukov couldn't refuse. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "Okay, just have a small drink."
After Vatutin poured wine into the wine glass in front of Zhukov, he asked Vasilevsky: "How about you, Comrade Marshal, would you like a drink too?"
Vasilevsky nodded with a smile and said, "Then give me a drink."
After Vatutin poured the wine for Vasilevsky, he did not immediately pick up the glass, but began to introduce his counterattack plan to the two men: "Two comrades, my plan is this: bring the 2nd Tank Army and the
The 2nd Guards Tank Army, the 1529th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment, the 522nd and 148th Howitzer Regiments, the 148th and 93rd Cannon Regiments, and the 16th and 80th Guards Rocket Artillery Regiments were all transferred to the 5th Tank Army, and the unit was ordered to accelerate
Complete the concentration of troops, and on the day after tomorrow, that is, July 12, together with General Katukov's 1st Tank Army, launch a powerful counterattack against the German army."
After listening to Vatutin's counterattack plan, Zhukov nodded slightly, then raised the wine glass in his hand and said: "Cheers to victory!"
Seeing that Zhukov approved his plan, Vatutin couldn't help feeling ecstatic. He quickly picked up the wine glass and said: "For victory!" After gently clinking the glasses with the two of them, he poured out the vodka in the glass.
Drink it all in one gulp.
After Vasilevsky put down his glass, he asked Vatutin: "Comrade Vatutin, your plan is good, but Lieutenant General Rotmistrov's troops can reach the offensive position on time and launch a counterattack against the Germans."
?"
"Comrades Marshals," Vatutin replied respectfully: "Before you came here, I had a conversation with Lieutenant General Rotmistrov, and he assured me that his troops would be here at the latest.
By noon tomorrow, we will all arrive at the attack position and launch a powerful offensive against the Germans within the time specified the day after tomorrow."
"Marshal Zhukov," Vasilevskiy asked Zhukov politely after waiting for Vatutin to finish speaking: "Do you have anything else to add?"
"I'm thinking about whether the defense line established by Sokov can last until the day after tomorrow?" Zhukov turned the empty wine glass in his hand, stared at the map on the table, and said solemnly: "You know, we will launch an attack on their defense line today.
The attacking enemy was only part of the Totenkopf Division, the 6th Armored Division and the 19th Armored Division, and they suffered huge casualties. If the Germans put more troops into battle tomorrow, can they stop it?"
"Comrade Marshal," Vatutin said cautiously: "Didn't you say that General Sokov is gradually transferring all the troops deployed in the direction of Shumakovo and Oboyan? I think as long as he has
With enough troops, there shouldn't be any problem if we can hold off the enemy for another day."
"Comrade Vatutin, have you forgotten that there are no decent fortifications there?" Zhukov gently tapped the map on the table with the wine glass in his hand: "None of your fortifications that were broken through by the enemy has mines.
Districts, barbed wire fences, and solid defense fortifications. However, in the face of the powerful German offensive, these defensive arrangements were in vain. Now where Sokov is holding on, there are only some simple fortifications. If he wants to block the German attack,
What a difficult thing it is.”
Vasilevsky asked tentatively: "Then we need to give Sokov a break and tell him that he only needs to block the enemy at the current position for one day, and the battlefield situation will develop in a direction that is beneficial to us?"
"I don't think it's necessary." Zhukov considered Vasilevsky's suggestion, then shook his head and said: "If he knew that he only had to hold on for one day, he would inevitably be mentally relaxed, but it might affect the morale of the troops.
.I think it’s better not to tell him.”
Sokov didn't know what was happening in Vatutin's headquarters. He was discussing with Koida how to defend tomorrow. Koida said with a worried face: "Comrade Commander, as of dark,
Our division only has one-third of its strength left, and the two newly reinforced regiments have suffered nearly half of their casualties. You said you must hold on for 48 hours. Without reinforcements, this will be an impossible task."
"Don't worry, Comrade Colonel." Seeing that Koida was timid, Sokov quickly encouraged him and said: "Before dawn tomorrow, our reinforcements will arrive one after another, and by then we will have enough troops to carry out defensive operations.
Already."
"But, Comrade Commander." Koida pointed to the map and said to Sokov: "From our position to the Pushor River defense line, the front of the defense is 25 kilometers wide. Even if we receive reinforcements, our strength
If distributed evenly, the number of defenders everywhere will be pitifully small. As long as the Germans concentrate on breaking through at one point, a hole will be ripped open in our defense line."
Sokov did not expect that in today's battle, his troops had the advantage in equipment, but they still paid a heavy price, so he began to consider whether he should adjust his defense methods. After listening to Koida's words, he slowly
Tun said: "Comrade Colonel, our troops are limited. If we use our troops evenly, it will appear that we are fortified everywhere, but in the face of the enemy's attack, no place can be defended."
"Is there any way?" Koida asked.
"Order the troops to abandon some unimportant areas and concentrate on important areas for defense." Sokov pointed to the map and said to Koida: "For example, in these places, the terrain is flat, which is not conducive to defense in the first place, and
There are no decent fortifications yet, so it would be a waste of our troops to defend here. Therefore, I decided to withdraw the troops from these positions and strengthen them in important areas."
"Comrade Commander," Koida said in surprise when Sokov said this: "But doesn't this mean that these positions are directly handed over to the Germans?"
"You are right." Sokov agreed: "Once the enemy captures these positions, they will nod eastward, rush directly to the city of Prokhorovka, join the German troops coming from other directions, and jointly seize the city.
"
Koida originally wanted to persuade Sokov to prevent him from making mistakes. But now that he heard that he had anticipated what might happen, a confused expression appeared on his face: "Comrade Commander, since you know how to give up the position
consequences, so why do you still do it?”
"If we tenaciously hold on to every position like now, the final result will be that all the defenders will be killed and the position will fall into the hands of the enemy." Sokov explained to Koida: "But if we properly
We have abandoned some unimportant positions so that the enemy can advance towards the city of Prokhorovka according to their plan. Then their attack on our positions will slow down, and even only some troops will be left for surveillance, while the main force will be
Move to a new direction of attack."
Koida saw Sokov's expression as normal when he said these words, and immediately realized that Sokov might have some detailed plan, so he did not interrupt him, but quietly listened.
"When the enemy arrives near the city of Prokhorovka and engages in a firefight with friendly forces, I can order General Polubyarov's tank army to attack and hit the enemy hard from the flank. The enemy's main force is held back by friendly forces.
, it is impossible to mobilize forces to come to support, and it will inevitably suffer heavy losses."
After Sokov told Koida his thoughts, he immediately contacted Samyko by phone and began to deploy work to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, after the troops from the direction of Oboyan arrive, you can move the infantry brigade
Just transfer them with the two Marine Brigades, and let the rest of the troops stay on standby at the defense line of the Pushor River."
Hearing Sokov's order, Samyko was very surprised. He quickly reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, our defense front is 25 kilometers wide, and we will only send you three brigades of troops there.
I’m afraid it will be difficult to hold the line of defense.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff. I have already planned to abandon some unimportant positions and concentrate all forces on important positions for defense." Sokov told Koida what he had just said.
Sameko repeated.
After listening to Sokov's story, Samyko suddenly realized that Sokov's move was really brilliant. If the defenses were really adjusted according to Sokov's order, then the Germans would definitely choose to pass through the uninhabited area.
, instead of wasting troops fighting brutal positional battles with the Soviet army.
Although this plan is good, it is still unknown whether the superiors will approve it. After a brief moment of happiness, Sameko became worried again: "Comrade Commander, do you think the superiors will agree to your plan?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, there is an old saying in the East that a foreigner will not accept his orders." Sokov knew that if he submitted the plan, he would definitely be opposed by Konev, so he planned to kill it first and then report it, waiting for the rice to be cooked.
Konev realized that something was wrong, and it was too late to adjust the deployment: "There is no need to report this plan for the time being. As long as we achieve the final victory, I believe no one will pursue this matter."