"Misha, don't you know that all the troops are now short of soldiers?" Zhukov said with some displeasure when he heard the conditions proposed by Sokov: "At this time, where can I replenish you?
troops?"
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov knew very well that the German army that still maintained its offensive posture was at the end of its offensive despite the current battle. They might be defeated by the counterattacking Soviet army at any time. If his troops could not win,
If you can't replenish it, you will not be able to become the main force on the battlefield in the next series of battles, so he shamelessly said to Zhukov: "Please think of a way. If you can replenish me with 10,000 people, I can lead
The troops fought all the way to the city of Belgorod."
If Sokov had just talked in general about what would happen in the coming battle, Zhukov would have ignored his request. But when he heard the other party mentioned the name of Belgorod, Zhukov couldn't help but hesitate.
, as the new campaign planner, he naturally knew that the next focus of the Soviet offensive was to regain Kharkov. If he wanted to successfully control Kharkov, he must first occupy Belgorod.
During the Battle of Stalingrad, Sokov used his actual actions to prove that his troops were very good at fighting defensive battles and could achieve the greatest victory with minimal casualties. In this Battle of Kursk, Sokov
Kokov once again used a series of victories to prove to everyone that he was not only a general who was good at defense, but also a commander who knew how to attack.
It is precisely because of this that after Zhukov learned that the 19th Armored Division had been annihilated, he began to consider whether Sokov's troops should be sent as the main offensive task when the attack on Belgorod was launched. The reason why he asked Sokov
Sokov transferred two divisions to the outside of Prokhorovka to participate in the final attack on the German army. He just wanted to see with his own eyes whether Sokov's troops could take on this important task.
"Misha," fortunately, Zhukov didn't hesitate for long before he made his decision: "I can give you a new group of soldiers before tomorrow. But these are recruits without any experience, and there may be many of them.
When people hear the sound of gunfire, they will be so frightened that they lie down in the trench and dare not move. Are you sure that you can train them into a force capable of fighting the enemy within a few days?"
In just a few days, the difficulty of training a group of new recruits with no combat experience into warriors who can fight is simply S-level. However, Sokov considers that the army has recently suffered serious attrition, and there is an urgent need to recruit new soldiers.
, could only bite the bullet and agreed to Zhukov's proposal: "Okay, Comrade Marshal, I will do my best to train these new recruits into warriors who can fight."
Zhukov was very satisfied with Sokov's answer. He smiled and nodded, and then said: "Now that we have negotiated the terms of exchange, when can your two divisions arrive at Prokhorovka?"
outside?"
"Comrade Marshal, my 254th Infantry Division is now southwest of the city of Prokhorovka, launching an attack on the flag guard division's position." Since Zhukov agreed to replenish his troops, he transferred two divisions to join Prokhorovka.
The battle outside Lovka City was a matter of course: "I will send Major General Fomenko's 84th Infantry Group over later."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, Samyko next to him excitedly asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, did Marshal Zhukov tell us how many additional troops he would give us?"
"Comrade Marshal did not say exactly how many soldiers we will be supplemented with." Sokov felt it was necessary to inoculate Samyko, lest Samyko would be disappointed when the additional soldiers arrived: "But these new soldiers are all
They are just recruited and have no combat experience. Maybe if a shell falls nearby, they will be frightened and run away."
Unexpectedly, Sameko didn't care. He said carelessly: "Comrade Commander, it doesn't matter. No one is born to fight. After we fight two battles, these recruits will become veterans."
Seeing that Samyko was so open-minded, Sokov stopped nagging and began to think about how to return to Konev's Steppe Front after the Battle of Kursk.
Frankly speaking, among the front commanders in the late Patriotic War, the one Sokov despised most was Vatutin. After the Battle of Kursk began, this boss could not figure out the main direction of the German army's assault.
, the troops can only be used equally in all defensive areas, which results in the troops of the subordinate group armies being too dispersed. When they are attacked by the German army, it is difficult for the defensive troops to effectively prevent the German army from advancing.
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov sent Samyko to contact Major General Fomenko and urgently transferred the 84th Infantry Division outside Prokhorovka. After Samyko left, he sat at the table
Lunev poured a cup of tea and asked politely: "I want to ask you, if you could choose, would you rather stay in the Voronezh Front or the Steppe Front?"
"If I had to choose, I would definitely choose the Voronezh Front." Lunev said without hesitation: "Judging from this battle, this front will become the main force of our army. If we continue to stay in the steppe front, we will only
It can always be used as a reserve team."
"Comrade Military Commissar, may I understand this. Once the battle is over and the base camp asks for our opinions and asks us which front we would like to stay in, you will most likely choose the Voronezh Front of General Vatutin?"
"Needless to say, it must be a choice..." Before Lunev finished speaking, he immediately realized that Sokov must have a purpose in asking this, and quickly changed his words and asked: "Comrade Commander, you don't want to stay
In the grassland front, right?"
Sokov did not speak, but fell into deep thought.
On October 20, after the Battle of Kursk, the Voronezh Front was reorganized into the 1st Ukrainian Front; the Steppe Front was reorganized into the 2nd Ukrainian Front. The commander, General Konev, due to his outstanding performance in the battle,
Was promoted to general.
In February 1944, Vatutin was injured and unable to continue to perform his duties as commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front, and was temporarily replaced by Marshal Zhukov. Soon, the 1st and 2nd Fronts merged, and Konev, who had just been promoted to the rank of marshal,
Served as the new commander. Since the new Ukrainian Second Front was reorganized shortly after the merger of the two fronts, this merger was only mentioned lightly in the history books, and not many people in later generations knew about it.
Even if he chooses to stay in the Voronezh Front, he will still become Konev's subordinate in February next year. However, in this case, the friendship between him and Konev may be weakened due to these few months of separation.
Becoming alienated will not be conducive to your future development in the army.
After some careful consideration, Sokov said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, my idea is exactly the opposite of yours. Although the Steppe Front Army is only a reserve front army, in this battle of Kursk, the Steppe Front Army belongs to
The troops have played a great role. I believe that after the battle is over, the Grassland Front Army will be able to get rid of the fate of serving as a strategic reserve and become a major combat force."
"I agree with Comrade Commander." Sameko, who had just finished the phone call, came over and said to the two of them: "Although the Steppe Front Army was only a reserve front army before the battle began, this unit played an important role in the battle.
The capabilities it has produced are obvious to all. I think that after the battle is over, it will be possible to upgrade the current reserve front army to a formal combat force."
Lunev was surprised to see that Sokov and Samyko had the same opinion: "Commander, Chief of Staff, the possibility you mentioned does exist. But I think for the sake of safety, it is better to just
Stay in the Voronezh Front. You know, General Vatutin is more valued than General Konev."
"Comrade Military Commissar, what is going on?" Samyko heard from Lunev's tone that there was something behind it, so he asked curiously: "Tell me about it."
"At the beginning of the year, the Voronezh Front Army and the Southwest Front Army suffered heavy losses from Manstein in the Kharkov area." Lunev, who came from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, naturally knew many inside stories that others did not know. Anyway, there were only three people present, so there would definitely be no one.
Leaking out what he said, he said confidently and boldly: "Although General Golikov and General Vatutin were dismissed after the incident, it didn't take long for General Vatutin to make a comeback and serve as the commander of the Voronezh Front.
Commander, tell me, how could you have resumed such an important position in such a short period of time if you had not received the attention of the Supreme Commander himself?"
When Samek heard this, it seemed that this was really the case, so he turned to Sokov and said: "Comrade Commander, I think what the military commissar said makes sense. Can you tell us which front we will go to in the future?
Think about it carefully?"
"No need to think about it." Sokov waved his hand and said resolutely: "We were originally affiliated with the Steppe Front Army, and now we are just cooperating with the Voronezh Front Army. After the war, we will definitely choose to return to the army and return to the army.
To the grassland front."
Now that Sokov had made the final decision, even if Lunev had other ideas, it would be hard to persuade him again. He sighed secretly and thought to himself, it would be better to wait for a while and choose a suitable opportunity before persuading him.
Sokov once asked him to change his mind and not stay in the Steppe Front Army, which had no future.
"Comrade Commander," Samek returned the topic to the current defense, "After we annihilated the 19th Armored Division, our defense area has almost doubled. Now we have transferred two more divisions, and we have to defend it.
In such a vast area, will the military strength become weak?"
"The 84th Division, which was originally responsible for the defense of the Pushor River, left the defensive positions left by the infantry brigade and two marine brigades." Sokov said confidently: "They will carry out the defense. I am
Very reassured.”
Samek understood what Sokov meant by this. In the entire army, except for the air force, the unit with the highest combat quality is the navy. The marine brigade formed by drawing troops from the navy also has very strong combat effectiveness.
Whether it is offensive or defensive, it is far superior to the same number of armies.
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Sameko quickly replied: "I will immediately dispatch vehicles and transport troops to take over the defense on the Pushor River."
When seeing Samyko arranging transportation work to the head of the logistics department, Sokov was thinking secretly: Since the 19th Armored Division has been annihilated, can he take advantage of this opportunity to remove Asiya from the 182nd Division?
Take it back?
"Comrade Commander," Luniev saw Sokov looking forward with no focus in his eyes. He guessed that he might be thinking about important things, so he cautiously called him twice and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Woolen cloth?"
Sokov was awakened by Luniev's cry. Naturally, he would not tell the other party that he was considering whether to bring his wife back from the front. Instead, he said perfunctorily: "Comrade Military Commissar, I am thinking about what Marshal Zhukov is planning to do for us."
What exactly will the new recruits look like?"
After listening to what Sokov said, Luniev did not bother to confirm whether what he said was true or false, so he took the initiative to help him think about it: "I think what Comrade Marshal said is very strange. If it was at the beginning of the war, the recruits recruited
It's fair to say that he doesn't have any combat experience. But the war has been going on for more than two years, and he says someone has no combat experience. I think this is unlikely."
"I think so too." Sokov nodded and said, "Even if these recruits have never been on the battlefield, before they joined the army, their homes were bombed by German planes and their relatives were killed by the Germans.
Experience, right? How could you not have any combat experience and still be frightened and panicked even when you heard the sound of gunfire? I think it is simply incredible."
"How do you plan to distribute these new recruits?" Lunev asked.
Sokov thought for a while and then replied: "I estimate that the recruits our superiors can give us this time are at most one or two thousand. If they are assigned to various units, they will not have much effect. Simply assign them all.
182nd Division, allowing Colonel Khokhlov’s troops to regain some strength.”
Lunev guessed that it might be because Asiya was in the 182nd Division that Sokov paid special attention to this division. He did not tell the truth, but followed Sokov's words and said: "This division is our army group
The first troops to enter the battle must have suffered considerable losses after such a long battle. I think it is completely necessary to give priority to supplying them."
"Since you have no objections, when the new recruits arrive, notify Colonel Khoklov to come here to pick them up." Sokov said: "They have many veterans and combat cadres, who can help the new recruits quickly master the technical and tactical skills.
, and learn how to protect yourself on the battlefield.”