Neither Colonel Chuvashov nor Major Bunch who said this knew that the repelled attack of the 6th Armored Division was the division's last battle before the end of the Battle of Kursk.
The reason for this situation is very simple. The commander of the division was killed in the battle. In order to get his body back, Sokov was blackmailed. Morale was already very low, but now another regimental-level officer was killed.
, the morale of the division suddenly fell to the bottom. After Manstein learned about the division's situation, he immediately issued an order to switch to defense on the spot, so as to prevent this unit from adding more achievements to Sokov's credit book.
At the same time, the 19th Armored Division operating on the right wing also received an order from the commander of the Corps: to temporarily stop the attack on the Russians on the front, and wait until dark before sending troops to take over the defense of the 6th Armored Division and cover their retreat to the rear.
Make corrections.
Although the commander of the 19th Armored Division was puzzled by this inexplicable order, he still faithfully carried it out. After he asked the troops to stop attacking the Guards Division positions, he deployed an armored battalion and an infantry battalion to receive the order.
Defense sector of the 6th Armored Division.
As night fell, not only did the fighting in the west come to a halt, but even the tank battle outside Prokhorovka gradually came to an end. After that day's fierce fighting, the Soviet army lost more than 180 tanks and
self-propelled artillery, and the German army lost more than 80 tanks and self-propelled artillery.
Although judging from the number of losses on both sides, the German army achieved a tactical victory, but most of their elite armored forces were lost in the battle.
After Rotmistrov counted the results of the battle and his own losses, he rushed to the front army headquarters in person and reported the situation to Vatutin. After listening to the report, Vatutin frowned and said: "Rotmistrov
General Husband, you lost so many tanks in the daytime battle, how should we fight the next battle?"
"Comrade General," Rotmistrov said respectfully: "After today's battle, I found that although the German army is exhausted, their combat effectiveness is still strong. Therefore, I suggest that the 18th and 29th Tank Corps temporarily
Switch to defense, replenish it, and then return to the battle."
As soon as he finished speaking, Vasilevsky sitting next to him interrupted and asked: "General Rotmistrov, I remember that the base camp did not send any tank troops to the direction of Prokhorovka. Can you
Where can I get supplements from?”
"Comrade Marshal," Rotmistrov quickly turned to Vasilevsky and said: "We have our own maintenance personnel, who can repair the tanks and self-propelled artillery that were destroyed in the battle overnight. After repair,
These tanks and self-propelled artillery are fully capable of participating in new battles tomorrow."
Hearing what Rotmistrov said, Vasilevsky showed an expression of surprise on his face. After he and Zhukov looked at each other, he asked excitedly: "Comrade General, your maintenance personnel have been working hard overnight."
How many tanks can be repaired in that time?”
"I asked the workers at the maintenance station." Before arriving at the front army headquarters, Rotmistrov had specifically asked the professionals. Therefore, when he heard Vasilevsky's question, he immediately answered confidently: "They
We are sure to repair 30-50 tanks overnight."
"Comrade Marshal," Vasilevsky said to Zhukov with a sideways look after hearing Rotmistrov's reply: "Our maintenance workers are amazing. They can actually repair so many tanks and tanks overnight.
Self-propelled artillery."
Unexpectedly, after Zhukov heard this, he shook his head and said with a frosty face: "No, it's too few. You know, during the day's battle, our army lost nearly two hundred tanks, while the enemy's losses were still
Less than half of ours. Comrade Vatutin, please contact the logistics department to see if they can organize professional maintenance personnel to help General Rotmistrov and the others, so as to double the number of repaired tanks.
.”
"Comrade Marshal, it's very difficult." After hearing Zhukov's order, Vatutin immediately cried out in pain: "Don't say that we can't mobilize so many maintenance personnel. Even if we do, I'm afraid we can't guarantee that there will be enough.
Spare parts to repair the destroyed tanks."
Since Zhukov issued the order, there was naturally no room for bargaining. He ignored Vatutin's complaints and said to himself: "We will not be able to get new tanks for at least half a month.
Therefore, we can only speed up the repair process to ensure that the number of tanks in the tank brigade does not drop too fast. In this way, in the next battle, our troops will not suffer heavy losses against the enemy's armored troops."
"Comrade Marshal," said a clever woman. Although Vatutin wished that the maintenance station could repair all the destroyed tanks overnight, this was impossible. Faced with Zhukov's strict order, he could only
He said euphemistically: "In fact, we can transfer the tanks in the hands of General Trufanov to outside Prokhorovka."
"Huh?!" Zhukov couldn't help but frowned after hearing Vatutin's proposal: "If General Trufanov's tank troops are transferred back, what about the defensive positions to the west?"
Seeing that Zhukov was unhappy, Vatutin quickly argued: "Comrade Marshal, I think about it this way. Since the troops holding the western position can block the enemy's attack without tanks, now even if all the tanks are
After being transferred back, I think they are still capable of blocking the enemy."
After Vatutin finished speaking, he winked at Vasilevsky and signaled him to help him put in a good word in front of Zhukov. Vasilevsky, who understood, nodded slightly, and then smiled and said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal
, with the capabilities of our repair station, it is simply an impossible task for them to complete the repair of 60-100 tanks overnight. I think what General Vatutin said is very reasonable. We can completely replace Trufanov
The general's troops will be transferred from the west."
"No, General Trufanov's tank troops cannot be transferred back." Zhukov shook his head and replied resolutely: "Once we repelled the enemy outside Prokhorovka, Manstein had to rescue the defeated troops.
The enemy will definitely order the two armored divisions to the west to increase their offensive intensity. If Malankin's Guards Division does not have the assistance of tank troops, it will be difficult to hold its position."
"If General Trufanov's tank troops are not brought back, what will happen to the enemies outside the city?" Vasilevsky said worriedly: "How can we have the strength to repel them?"
Zhukov did not answer the question immediately, but glanced at Rotmistrov, who was standing straight, and then said: "Comrade General, you commanded the battle outside Prokhorovka. Tell me,
What are your thoughts on tomorrow’s battle?”
"Comrade commanders," Rotmistrov quickly glanced at the three men and replied decisively: "Although the number of tanks lost by the German army in the daytime battle was only half of ours, they
However, a large number of well-trained tank crews were lost as a result. As for us, in addition to the destroyed tanks that can be repaired, there are also a large number of tank crews that can be replenished in a timely manner. Under the circumstances, in tomorrow's battle, the German army will
We will be at a disadvantage, and we are confident that we will drive the enemy away from Prokhorovka."
No one raised any objection to what Rotmistrov mentioned about the large number of tank crews who could replenish the troops in time. Therefore, in the collective farms of the Soviet Union, those drivers who had driven crawler tractors did not need training at all.
, can directly drive tanks. As for the Germans, due to the serious shortage of tank soldiers, they can only equip a large number of half-track armored vehicles, because the driving methods of these armored vehicles are similar to ordinary cars. Tank soldiers who can drive tanks can
If one person dies, one person will be missing, and it will be difficult to replenish them in time.
Before Zhukov could express his position, a staff officer came over from the side and reported to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, your call came from the Supreme Commander himself."
Upon learning that Stalin called Zhukov, the headquarters suddenly became quiet. Everyone's eyes were focused on Zhukov, watching him walk to the table aside and pick up the microphone on it: "Hello,
Comrade Stalin!"
"Comrade Zhukov, how is the situation at Vatutin's place?"
"The enemy and we fought fiercely outside the city of Prokhorovka during the day." Zhukov said respectfully into the microphone: "Our tank crews performed extremely bravely and tenaciously during the battle, destroying more than 80 enemy soldiers.
tanks and self-propelled artillery."
"This is really a very good result." After Stalin praised it, he continued: "I called you because I have two things to tell you."
"Please tell me."
"First, after some preparations, Rokossovsky's troops launched an attack on the enemies in the Orel salient. This offensive put the 9th Army of the German Army Group Center in danger of being cut off from its retreat.
." Stalin said on the phone: "If the active attack of Rokossovsky's troops can force Model to order his troops to retreat, then it means that the Germans are trying to surround Kursk by outflanking them.
The attempt of our army in the salient completely failed. In the following days, the Germans in the north not only could no longer threaten our defense line, they even had to fight for their survival."
"Comrade Stalin, this is really exciting good news." Zhukov looked particularly happy after learning the news: "If Rokossovsky's offensive can really resolve Model's offensive, then the base camp can
Consider allocating some more strength to strengthen the south side of Kursk."
"Second news." Regarding Zhukov's proposal, Stalin did not immediately express his position, but said directly: "According to the eavesdropping of our intelligence unit, Marshal Kruger, commander of the German Army Group Center, and Marshal Manstein, commander of the German Army Group South, then
After receiving the notification from the German High Command, I took a flight back to Berlin overnight."
"Oh, Marshal Kruger and Marshal Manstein have returned to Berlin?" Zhukov said with some surprise: "How could they leave the front line so easily at such a critical moment?"
"Comrade Zhukov," Stalin continued: "After Comrade Antonov's analysis, he feels that the sudden return of the two German marshals to Berlin must be related to the landing of the British and American Allied Forces in Sicily."
When Zhukov heard this, he couldn't help but interjected: "Could it be that the German high command plans to transfer troops from the Eastern Front to reinforce the garrison in Sicily to resolve the crisis there?"
"Comrade Antonov said the same thing." Stalin said in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Zhukov, please tell me truthfully, what do you think? Do you really think that the Germans will fight in Kursk?
At such a critical moment, will we allocate troops from here to reinforce Sicily?"
"Comrade Stalin, although this matter sounds very ridiculous, I think with the character of Mustache, it is entirely possible to do such a thing." Zhukov said: "But if the German high command really does this, the situation on the battlefield will be
It will become very beneficial to our army. Not only can we crush the enemy's attack in the Kursk area, but we may also be able to annihilate a large number of their effective forces to reduce the pressure on our army in the next battle."
Regarding Zhukov's analysis, Stalin did not comment, but said thoughtfully: "I have ordered the telecommunications monitoring department to closely monitor the German radio stations to see when Kruger and Manstein will return from Berlin.
.We will know then whether the enemy will really withdraw troops from Kursk and reinforce Sicily."
When Zhukov was talking to Stalin on the phone, Rotmistrov who was standing aside felt extremely shocked. Even though he said in front of Zhukov that he would be sure to repel the enemy outside Prokhorovka tomorrow, but
But his heart was like fifteen buckets. At this moment, when he learned that Manstein had gone to Berlin, and might even transfer troops from the Kursk area to the distant Sicily for reinforcements, he actually relaxed with relief.
tone.
"Okay, comrades, commanders." After Zhukov put down the phone, he scanned everyone one by one and said with a solemn expression: "Although the landing of the British and American Allied Forces in Sicily will cause mustache, troops will be mobilized from Kursk.
This is an idea, but we cannot take it lightly. Manstein may argue with Mustache and cannot let go of his troops. By then, the situation we will face will still be very serious."
"Comrade Marshal," Rotmistrov said cautiously: "If the Germans continue to invest troops outside Prokhorovka, with our current strength, we may not be able to repel the enemy's attack, but we must defend
It’s a city, but it doesn’t have much of a problem.”
"Comrade General, if we can defend the city, it will be a great victory." Zhukov raised his hand and patted Rotmistrov twice on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "After our troops here have regrouped, we will
We can launch a new attack on the enemy again, but I don’t believe they can still block our thunderous strike at that time.”