After accepting Zhukov's order, Sokov began to consider how to deploy defenses to block the retreat of the 4th Armored Group Army. He stared down at the map and began to issue orders: "Chief of Staff, send a telegram to Major General Malankin and order their division to withdraw immediately.
We should go out to fight and establish a defensive line in the middle of the Oboyan-Belgorod road to prevent the German army from retreating."
"Comrade Commander," Samyko reminded Sokov carefully: "The 81st Guards Division only assists us in our operations and is not actually under our command."
"From now on, the 81st Guards Division is officially under the command of our group army." Although Zhukov did not mention anything about the 81st Guards Division, Sokov felt that if he wanted to block Huot's Armored Group Army, he must
Utilize all available troops, so he took it upon himself to say: "Not only Major General Malankin's Guards Division must obey my command, but also General Trufanov's tank unit must obey my command."
"Understood." After hearing what Sokov said so domineeringly, Samyko immediately replied loudly: "Comrade Commander, I immediately sent a telegram to Generals Malankin and Trufanov.
Let them formally obey your command from now on and carry out defense according to your deployment."
Less than a quarter of an hour after the telegram was sent, Sokov received a call from the commander of the 5th Guards Tank Army, Rotmistrov. The tank general asked angrily on the phone: "General Sokov, I
I would like to ask, who gave you the right to directly place General Trufanov’s tank troops under your command?”
"General Rotmistrov," Sokov put the Guards Division and the tank troops under his own command. He made his own decisions. However, in order to win the defensive battle, he faced Rotmistrov.
When questioned, he still said confidently: "My superiors ordered me to prevent Hott's armored group from withdrawing to Belgorod. The troops in my hands are limited. Without the help of your troops, it is impossible to block the enemy's offensive."
"General Sokov," Rotmistrov learned that Sokov planned to use his own troops to help him block Hoth's armored group. He suddenly lost confidence, but he still said bravely: "
Even if you want to put General Trufanov's tank troops under your command, you should follow the procedures and apply to the front army headquarters, and then get permission..."
"The Germans didn't leave me any time to ask for instructions." Sokov knew that the reason why Rotmistrov called so quickly was that Trufanov must have called him, since the other party already knew
Sokov no longer kept secret about his actions, but said straight to the point: "General Rotmistrov, please call General Trufanov and formally inform him.
.”
Rotmistrov was silent for a long time, and then he asked tentatively: "General Sokov, please tell me truthfully, if Trufanov's tank troops participate in the defense, you can stop Hott's armored group."
?"
"General Rotmistrov, don't worry." In order to reassure Rotmistrov, Sokov organized some vocabulary in his mind and said: "Today's 4th Armored Group Army is already
Things are different now. In the early days of the battle, Huote could still use a density of 100 tanks per kilometer to launch assaults on our army's positions. However, today, the number of tanks they carry out assault missions per kilometer has been reduced to two.
Thirty cars are simply incomparable.
If we don't fight them, but rely on fortifications to defend and block them on the Oboyan-Belgorod road, there won't be much of a problem."
Hearing Sokov speak so confidently, Rotmistrov felt more at ease. He acquiesced in Sokov's overstepping of authority, and even kindly reminded him: "General Sokov, since
You put the 81st Guards Division and General Trufanov's tank troops under the command of your army group. No matter what the original starting point was, I think it is necessary to report this matter to the superiors to avoid it happening in the future.
It's hard for you and me to explain any mistakes."
"I understand, General Rotmistrov." Seeing that the other party no longer held him accountable for commanding his troops without permission, Sokov couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "I will report to Vato as soon as possible.
Reported by Commander Beijing."
With the two friendly troops in hand, Sokov's next formation will be much easier. "Chief of Staff," Sokov pointed to the Oboyan-Belgorod road on the map and directed Samy
Co said: "Order the 81st Guards Division and Trufanov's tank troops to set up a defense line here.
Since this defense mission came very suddenly, I thought it would be impossible to lay minefields and pull up barbed wire in front of the temporary positions. Therefore, I ordered General Trufanov's tanks to be placed behind the positions as fixed forts.
use."
"Comrade Commander, since we have tank troops, why don't we attack the enemy's tanks?" Samyko pointed to the line of defense Sokov was about to build and said: "When the enemy attacks the line of defense of the 81st Guards Division,
By deploying the attack division, Trufanov's tank troops attack from the front, while the 4th Guards Tank Corps attacks from the flanks, it is entirely possible to severely damage or even completely annihilate the German armored forces."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you think of the problem too simply." Regarding the plan proposed by Samyko, Sokov shook his head and denied it: "General Trufanov's tanks are basically old-fashioned.
The T-70, let alone the German Tiger tanks and Panther tanks, would not be able to do well even if it encountered the Panzer IV tank. I am afraid that the only Panzer III tank they can deal with. With such a tank, it will not be able to compete with the enemy's tanks.
If we start a confrontation, we will let them die."
Samyko gave up the idea of persuading Sokov and continued to ask: "Even if we add the 81st Guards Division and General Trufanov's tank troops, our forces are very weak. Can we really stop the enemy?
"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, under the current circumstances, we can only take risks." Sokov pointed to the map and said to Samek: "The 81st Guards Division builds the defense division, Colonel Koida's 188th Infantry Division
The commanders and fighters of the division and the 4th Guards Tank Corps should find ways to delay the enemy so that they cannot rush towards Belgorod quickly. After the fortifications are completed, Koida's troops and the tank corps will withdraw from the battlefield from the east side
.”
"Withdrawing from the battlefield?" Samek asked puzzledly: "Why did you withdraw from the battlefield?"
"Withdrawing from the battlefield is to allow Koida and the tank army to re-adjust their deployment." Sokov picked up a pencil and tapped on the map a few times: "After completing the regrouping, they can start from the 81st Guards Division.
The right wing entered the position, but took over the defense of the friendly forces."
"Although our attack on the 3rd Armored Division went smoothly, the 188th Division, which is responsible for the main attack, must have lost a lot of troops. Can they stop the enemy with their small strength?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right. With the few troops Colonel Koida has now, even with the assistance of the tank corps, it is very difficult to block the German attack." Since the top priority is the immediate task.
, was to block the retreat of Huot's troops and wait for friendly forces to circle up and encircle them. Sokov decided to readjust his forces: "Order the 182nd and 384th Divisions to shrink and assemble in preparation to reinforce the 188th Division."
"Ah, order the 182nd and 384th Divisions to shrink and assemble?" Sameko said in surprise: "The 182nd Division has just added a group of old and weak soldiers, and the combat effectiveness of the troops has been severely weakened. Is it appropriate to put them into the battlefield?"
"Chief of Staff, I understand what you mean. If possible, I am not willing to let the 182nd Division whose combat effectiveness has been diluted return to the battlefield." Sokov spread his hands and said helplessly: "But I don't do the same.
We have no choice but to risk using the 182nd Division."
"What about the 384th Division?" Sameko continued: "Now the division is spread over a wide area of hundreds of kilometers. It may not be an easy task to regroup them."
"Follow my orders." Sokov waved his hand at Samyko and said feebly: "If the war situation develops in a direction that is not conducive to our army, the few troops I have used will not be enough for the Germans.
Between the teeth."
"What about the infantry brigades near Yakovlevo?" Samyko asked: "Put them into battle too?"
"Not yet." Sokov shook his head and said: "Although the commanders and fighters rescued from the prisoner of war camps have rich combat experience, they do not have enough weapons. You can't let our commanders and fighters hold grenades.
Are you going to charge the Germans with a shovel?"
Samyko knew that Sokov was telling the truth. Of the more than 2,000 prisoners of war rescued from near Yakovlevo, less than 200 were armed, and most of the remaining ones were unarmed. If
Sending them to the battlefield like this is tantamount to sending them to die.
"Chief of Staff, notify Lieutenant Colonel Uzakov immediately and ask his troops to do concealment work." Sokov said expressionlessly: "No rash action is allowed without my order."
…………
The 81st Guards Division, which was attacking, suddenly received an order from Sokov, telling them to withdraw from the battle immediately and retreat five kilometers to build fortifications on the road.
Upon hearing this order, several regiment leaders were dumbfounded. The battle was going well, so how could they order themselves to switch from offense to defense? With questions, everyone went to Ma Lanjin to find out.
Fortunately, Malankin had learned about the situation from Samyko in detail. Faced with the doubts of several regiment commanders under his command, he was able to calmly say: "Comrade commanders, I have already asked General Samyko, Chief of Staff of the 27th Group Army.
, he said that according to the orders from our superiors, from now on, we will be officially placed under the command of the 27th Group Army."
It doesn't matter to the regimental commanders which group army the troops are assigned to. But when the attack is going well, it is a bit baffling to suddenly stop the attack and retreat to build defenses. Therefore, they are all talking about it.
Di asked: "What is the connection between the assignment of our division to the command of the 27th Group Army and the transition from offense to defense?"
"Of course there is a connection." Malanjin raised his voice and said to several regimental commanders: "The front army headquarters ordered that we must resolutely block the path of Huot's troops going south. That's why General Sokov gave us this order."
"Comrade division commander," a middle-aged regiment commander said loudly: "We are just infantry. We have to block the attack of the enemy's armored forces in areas without permanent fortifications. Can we block it?"
"Don't worry, comrade commander." Malankin said to the regiment leader: "We are not fighting alone. General Trufanov's tank troops will defend together with us. All tanks will be buried in the soil as
Using a fixed fort, with the cover of the fort, the chance of blocking the enemy is greatly increased."
"What a pity." When he learned that he was going to be on the defensive, the regiment commander said with a tearful face: "Friendly forces are sweeping through the remnants of the enemy, but we have to retreat. I'm worried that doing this will make the commanders and soldiers emotional."
"Comrade Colonel," Major General Malanjin stared at the regiment commander and said with a sneer: "I think the emotional person is not the commanders and soldiers, but you yourself? Okay, don't complain to me here, everyone should return immediately
Their respective troops rushed to the designated locations to carry out the construction of fortifications."
"Yes!" several group leaders replied weakly.
Seeing that his subordinates were so lethargic, Malanjin raised his hand and slapped the table hard and said: "Comrade commanders, let me remind you once again that the Germans will soon retreat southward in large numbers. If we
Without strong defenses, there is no way to stop them.
Once the enemy breaks through our defenses and escapes back to Belgorod, I will certainly not be able to escape the fate of being court-martialed, but I will personally shoot you before my superiors hold me accountable."
Hearing Major General Malanjin say these words in such a stern tone, all the regiment leaders were suddenly moved. They quickly faced Malanjin, straightened their chests and replied loudly: "Understood, comrade division commander, we will definitely do it."
Complete the construction of fortifications before the German offensive begins."
In response to the statements of the regiment leaders, Ma Lanjin finally showed a smile on his face: "Very good!" Then he waved his hands to everyone, "Time is running out, you all hurry back to your respective troops and seize the time to repair the fortifications."
After the regimental commanders left, the division chief of staff asked Malanjin with a worried look: "Comrade division commander, our division's current total strength does not exceed 2,000 people, and we do not have heavy weapons such as artillery. How can we block the enemy's armored forces?"
Woolen cloth?"
"Don't we still have General Trufanov's tank unit?" Malankin said: "They can provide us with the necessary artillery cover. With their assistance, it may not be that easy for the enemy's tanks to break through our defense line.
.”
"Comrade Division Commander, I think you need to find out from General Sokov how long we need to hold on to this position." The division chief of staff said cautiously: "With our current strength, holding on for an hour is enough.
It's the limit. If we can't get reinforcements in time, we will lose our position sooner or later."
"Don't worry, my comrade chief of staff." Malanjin said with a smile: "I know Sokov, he will not fail to consider this issue. We should just do our job with peace of mind. When the time comes, our superiors will