The 19th Armored Division was annihilated and the division commander General Schmidt was captured. This was not only exciting news, but also a brilliant result.
After Samek learned that Schmidt had officially become a prisoner of the Marine Corps Brigade, he specifically asked Sokov for instructions: "Comrade Commander, what should we do with this German general? Should we keep him or send him to the front army?"
headquarters?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov frowned at Samyko's proposal: "Send it to the Front Army Headquarters. Which Front Army Headquarters should I send it to? Is it General Konev's Steppe Front Army Headquarters or General Vatutin?
Where is the headquarters of the Voronezh Front?"
Samyko didn't expect Sokov to ask this question, and for a moment, he didn't know how to answer.
Seeing that Sameko didn't speak, Sokov continued: "And the roads today are not safe. What should we do if someone comes to rescue us during the escort?"
Sokov's words reminded Samyko that at the beginning of the year, Simon, the acting commander of the Skull Division, had been captured. However, on the way to Moscow, the escorting unit was attacked by the remnants of the Skull Division, resulting in Simon being kidnapped by the Germans. Although this
The matter doesn't have much to do with you, but you can't take it lightly.
Samek frowned and thought for a while, and finally came up with a plan: "Comrade Commander, let's lock both Schmidt and Simon in the headquarters, and wait until the battle is over before considering how to deal with them.
"
"Whose hands is Simon?" Sokov couldn't help but ask when Samek mentioned Simon, the commander of the Skull Division, "Is it us or is it in the hands of the 5th Guards Tank Army?"
"In our hands." Sameko replied in a positive tone: "Not long after you came back from the front line, the commanders and fighters of the 254th Division captured General Simon."
Seeing Sokov's confused look, Samek quickly added: "Comrade Asiya was kidnapped by the enemy at that time, which may have affected your mood. I have reported this to you, but you don't seem to have any problem.
reaction."
After Samek's reminder, Sokov immediately realized that this seemed to be the case, nodded and said: "Listening to what you said, I seem to have an impression that it is indeed Colonel Shechtman's unit.
Catch him. Now that General Simon is in our hands, things will be easier to handle. Let them immediately send someone to escort Simon to the headquarters."
"Do you want to meet Generals Simon and Schmidt when they arrive?"
"No, I don't want to see them." Even though the two prisoners were German generals, Sokov was still not interested in seeing them. He waved his hand to Samyko and said: "Find a suitable place to imprison them and let Xie
Liao Sha personally led the security company to take charge of their care. As for their requests, as long as they are not excessive, they can be met."
After Sokov finished speaking, he turned his attention to the map again. He knew very well that not long after he annihilated the Skull Division, he also annihilated the 19th Armored Division. Manstein must hate him deeply and will definitely send troops to attack.
In order not to be caught off guard by the Germans, Sokov began to think about how to deploy his troops.
"Comrade Commander," just as Sokov was looking at the map, he suddenly heard Lunev asking from the side: "Since we have annihilated the 19th Armored Division, should we report this good news to the front army headquarters?
Woolen cloth?"
"Ah, haven't we reported to our superiors about the annihilation of the 19th Armored Division?" Sokov asked in surprise.
"No." Lunev shook his head and replied simply, "After receiving the news that the 19th Armored Division was annihilated, you and the chief of staff were studying how to deal with the prisoners, and you did not report the situation to your superiors at all.
"
"Comrade Commander," after hearing what Luniev said, Samyko came over and asked Sokov for instructions: "Which front headquarters should we report this good news to?"
Sokov began to have difficulties again. At this moment, he was simply a servant with two masters. It seemed inappropriate to which front army headquarters he reported to first. After weighing the relationship, he ordered Samyko: "Chief of Staff, order the radio operator
At the same time, send a message to the two front army headquarters to report to them the news of our annihilation of the 19th Armored Division."
"This is a good idea." Sameko nodded and said, "Send a report to the two front army headquarters at the same time, so that no one can find anything to say. I will make arrangements immediately."
"Comrade Commander, with the destruction of the 19th Armored Division, the German troops on the southern front have been separated by us into two groups, the east and west." Lunev took advantage of Samyko's call and humbly asked Sokov for advice.
: "In which direction do you think our superiors will order us to fight next?"
"I don't know." Sokov couldn't figure out the details of Vatutin. Naturally, he couldn't guess what the other party would do next. He could only answer truthfully: "After our group army has gone through successive battles, the strength of the troops has changed."
The casualties are not small. If the battle continues, not only will the physical strength of the commanders and soldiers be unable to keep up, but also greater casualties will be caused. The most ideal result is for us to rest in the existing area for three to five days and replenish some
Soldiers and technical equipment to ensure that the troops have the ability to cope with the next stage of the battle."
"Yes, after this period of fighting, our troops have indeed paid a heavy price." After hearing what Sokov said, Lunev immediately agreed: "It is indeed possible to make such a supply request to the superiors.
"
Seeing that Lunev agreed with his thoughts so readily, Sokov asked with some confusion: "Comrade Military Commissar, you should know that all the troops need to be replenished because of the battle. Do you think the superiors will agree with us?"
A supply request?"
"If other troops make such a request to their superiors, even if they are not rejected, they can only wait patiently for supplies in the order of supplies assigned by their superiors." Lunev said with some pride: "But what about us?
But it was a heroic force that saved the Oboyan defense line and annihilated the Skeleton Division and the 19th Armored Division. As long as we make a supply request, I think our superiors will give us priority in supplying soldiers and equipment."
When Sokov heard this, it seemed that this was really the case. His troops had really shined in the battle of Kursk. If he had not led his troops in time to block the enemy who broke through the Oboyan defense line, he might not have been able to do so at this moment.
The German troops have rushed outside Kursk.
Just when Sokov, Lunev, and Samyko were carefully calculating the number of troops and technical equipment that each division and brigade should add, Vatutin received the telegram from Sokov. He read the above
After reading the content, he quickly came to the small room where Zhukov and Vasilevsky were staying, and reported to them: "Two comrades, marshals, have just received a telegram from Major General Sokov that his troops have been successfully annihilated.
captured the 19th Armored Division and captured the division commander Schmidt."
Zhukov, who was talking to Vasilevsky, after listening to Vatutin's report, made a fist with his right hand and banged it on the palm of his left hand. He said excitedly: "Misha wiped out the 19th Armored Division so quickly.
, what a beautiful job.”
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Vasilevsky also said with a smile: "With the destruction of the 19th Armored Division, the German army on the southern front was divided into east and west by our army, making the situation favorable to our army.
direction of development.”
"Comrade Vatutin," Zhukov asked Vatutin with a smile on his face: "What are you going to do next?"
"Judging from the current situation, the northern front is basically stable. Even if the German army breaks through from the direction of Oboyan, it will not have much impact on the overall situation." Vatutin pointed to the map and told the two marshals his plan:
"So I think what we need to do now is to deal with the enemies outside Prokhorovka. As long as their attack on the city is completely crushed, we can confidently and boldly mobilize our troops and rush to Oboyan in the west.
Completely defeat the 48th Armored Corps active there."
"Comrade Marshal," Vasilevsky reminded Zhukov after waiting for Vatutin to finish speaking: "Since there are no organized German troops near Sokov's troops, can we mobilize them to participate in one of the directions?
attack?"
In response to the plan proposed by Vasilevsky, Zhukov stared at the map and thought for a while, and then said: "I agree with Comrade Vatutin's opinion. First, concentrate our forces to deal with the enemies outside Prokhorovka, so that we can
Only when we attack the 48th Armored Corps in the Oboyan area can we get rid of the disadvantageous situation of fighting on two fronts."
"Let me add one more thing," Vasilevsky saw that Vatutin seemed to have something else to say, so he got ahead of them and said: "No later than tomorrow at noon, the 53rd Army Group of the Steppe Front and more than two hundred vehicles
The mechanized 1st Army of Tanks can cross the Pushor River and reach the north of Prokhorovka. In this way, we will be greatly superior to the German army not only in terms of military strength but also in technical equipment."
Although Vatutin knew that more and more troops were coming towards the outside of Prokhorovka, he couldn't help but feel ecstatic after receiving confirmation from Vasilevsky. He thought to himself: So
Kokov's troops destroyed the Skeleton Division in the west of Prokhorovka City and caused certain losses to the Flag Guard Division in the southwest of the city. Now the enemies outside the city are gradually beginning to be at a disadvantage in terms of strength and weapons and equipment.
Once the new troops arrive, they can launch a full-scale counterattack again, completely crushing the German troops outside the city and driving them far away from the city.
"Comrade Vatutin!" After Zhukov called Vatutin, he found that there was no response from the other party, so he shouted again with his voice. Only then did Vatutin wake up from his reverie and asked in a panic: "Comrade Marshal,
What's the matter with you?"
"I want to ask you, once new reinforcements arrive, how many days will it take you to drive the enemy away from Prokhorovka?"
Vatutin thought for a moment, stretched out three fingers, and said resolutely: "Comrade Marshal, three days, you give me three days, and I will drive away all the Germans outside Prokhorovka.
"
"No, three days is too long." Zhukov was very dissatisfied with the time proposed by Vatutin. He shook his head and said: "I hope that before it gets dark the day after tomorrow, no one will be found outside Prokhorovka."
An enemy."
Upon hearing the deadline given to him by Zhukov, the muscles on Vatutin's face twitched violently: "Comrade Marshal, the time is too tight, unless..."
Zhukov looked at Vatutin who had not finished speaking, and asked strangely: "Unless what?"
"Unless I can transfer Major General Sokov's troops, I can complete the tasks assigned by you within the specified time." Vatutin said decisively, "His troops have strong combat effectiveness.
It can be used as two of our divisions. If he is willing to deploy the troops of the two divisions to assist our attack, I think it is entirely possible to clear out the enemies outside the city by the evening of the day after tomorrow."
"Ask Sokov to dispatch two divisions to help you drive away the Flag Guard Division and the Kef Combat Group?" Zhukov asked rhetorically.
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Vatutin nodded vigorously and said, "I hope you can agree to my request."
Zhukov remained silent and tapped his fingers lightly on the table. The brutality of the Kursk battle was far beyond his imagination. The Soviet army had a complete defense system and solid fortifications, but they were still beaten by the Germans.
They were retreating steadily. If it were not for the numerical advantage of soldiers and weapons and equipment, it would be basically impossible to contain the German offensive.
Sokov, who shined in this battle, also went through several fierce battles with his troops. Even if they could fight again, they would definitely pay a huge price to eliminate the two elite German troops. At this moment, I
Ask Sokov to transfer two divisions to the outside of Prokhorovka to assist friendly forces in attacking the enemies here. Will Sokov agree?
After repeated weighings, Zhukov decided to call Sokov himself to see what the other party thought about it.
After the call was connected, Zhukov asked straight to the point: "Misha, this is Zhukov. Our next action is to concentrate our forces and drive away the German troops outside Prokhorovka. How many troops can you mobilize to participate in this attack?"
attack?"
When Sokov heard what Zhukov said, his heart suddenly thumped. He was worried about the lack of troops. If he really had to mobilize troops to go outside Prokhorovka, the existing defense forces would inevitably be weakened. Once Manstein
Because of the concentration of superior forces and a counterattack on the areas they are defending, whether they can hold their positions is a big problem.
Seeing Sokov's delay in speaking, Zhukov was not angry, but asked kindly: "Misha, does my proposal embarrass you?"
Now that Zhukov had asked such a question, Sokov stopped hiding it and told the truth: "Yes, Comrade Marshal, after many hard battles, the attrition of my troops has been very serious.
Now the front we defend is 40 to 50 kilometers wide. If Manstein deploys troops from the troops attacking Oboyan to attack us, I worry that it will be difficult for us to stop their attack."
"So, you won't be able to mobilize troops to participate in the decisive battle outside Prokhorovka?"
"Comrade Marshal, it is not impossible for me to send troops outside the city of Prokhorovka." Sokov realized that there was an opportunity to bargain with Zhukov, so he took the opportunity to say: "But if you can give us some additional information,
If we have a group of soldiers, weapons and ammunition, then I can still find a way to mobilize troops to participate in the battle outside Prokhorovka."