The mobilization of the Soviet army at the left landing site on the Oude River attracted the attention of the German army, and this information was immediately fed back to General Wheeler, commander of the 8th Army.
Weller stood in front of the map and looked at it for a long time, then turned around and asked his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, tell me, the Russians have frequently increased their troops at the bridgehead on the right bank of the Oude River. Are they planning to implement a breakthrough in that direction?"
"Your Excellency, Commander, it's hard to say." The Chief of Staff replied with some hesitation: "The Russian troops facing us are Sokov's 27th Army. Sokov is different from other Russian generals. He uses cunning to He said that the use of troops is often unexpected. Although their right wing mobilizes troops frequently, no one can guarantee that the actions of the left wing are just to confuse us. Their real intention is to attack from the bridgehead on the left wing."
"I think it is extremely likely that the Russians will attack from the right-wing bridgehead." Weller said thoughtfully: "Order the troops of the 42nd Army to strengthen their counterattack in the area and be sure to throw the Russians into the Oude River."
"Your Excellency, Commander," seeing Weller's firm attitude that the Soviet army would attack from the right wing, the Chief of Staff quickly reminded him: "The Russians have established a left-wing bridgehead for two days, and they also occupy the bridge over the Oude River. , which can quickly transport soldiers and a large number of heavy weapons across the river. As for the right wing, it was built by the Russians last night. There is no bridge on the river, and according to our air force's reconnaissance, the Russians have no signs of erecting a pontoon bridge."
When talking about pontoon bridges, the chief of staff thought of the Air Force's reconnaissance report, which also mentioned that the Soviet army had erected two pontoon bridges behind the bridgehead on the left wing, which could cooperate with the original bridges on the Oude River to quickly mobilize troops. He based on various signs Judging that the possibility of a Soviet attack from the left wing was extremely high, he continued to persuade: "The Russians built two pontoon bridges behind the bridgehead on the left wing overnight. This was obviously to allow their large troops to cross the river quickly. Therefore, I judge that the Russians are most likely to launch an attack from this direction, and we should strengthen the defense of this line of defense."
"Chief of Staff, what's wrong with you?" Seeing his Chief of Staff nagging at him, Weller seemed a little impatient: "I know that the Russians have built two pontoon bridges behind the bridgehead on the left wing. But have you ever thought about it? , several divisions of General Wilhelm Stemermann established an arc defensive position in front of the bridgehead. The Russians wanted to expand their landing site because they used fewer troops and could not break through our defense lines; if the troops were There are too many and they cannot be used here. We only need to carry out fierce shelling to consume a large amount of their effective forces gathered in this area.
As for the right wing, although the 42nd Army is deployed, they not only have to deal with Sokov's troops, but also defend other Russian troops. Once the defense line is breached, it will have catastrophic consequences for us."
Weller's stubborn attitude silenced the chief of staff.
After a long time, the chief of staff spoke again: "Your Excellency, Commander, the 3rd Armored Division from Berlin abandoned its original position and retreated to the rear. In order to prevent the Russians from outflanking our army, the newly arrived Viking Division A new line of defense was built on the high ground to the west of the Fisky collective farm."
Speaking of the Viking Division's defense line, Weller frowned again: "Chief of Staff, before the Viking Division's defense line was completely completed, it was attacked wildly by the Russians. Now the highlands have fallen into the hands of the Russians again.
.”
"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." said the Chief of Staff: "But the newly arrived troops of the Viking Division are constantly counterattacking, preparing to take back the position from the Russians."
"Do you know the numbers of the Russian troops blocking the Viking division?"
"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." The chief of staff nodded and replied affirmatively: "The division's designation is the 300th Infantry Division, the division commander is Colonel Atakuz, and it belongs to the Russian 5th Assault Group Army."
"The 5th Assault Army?!" Weller continued to ask: "What is the name of their commander?"
"Lieutenant General Tsvetaev," the chief of staff said quickly: "Before the war broke out, he was a lecturer at the Frunze Military Academy. Many Russian generals we fought against were once his students."
But after hearing this, Weller laughed and said: "It turns out he is a teacher. When it comes to talking nonsense in class, he may do a pretty good job; but when it comes to fighting, I'm afraid he is no match for us."
"Immediately call the commander of the Viking Division, General Herbert Giller, and tell him that if the attack does not go well, I can order the 3rd Armored Division to cooperate with them."
"Okay, Commander, I will convey your wishes to General Herbert Giller."
Neither Weiler nor the Chief of Staff realized that their intelligence was outdated. The 300th Division no longer belonged to the Soviet 5th Shock Army, but to the 27th Army of Sokov, which made them fearful.
You have to pay a huge price for this wrong information.
…………
As the troops were continuously sent to the other side of the river by hovercraft and assembled at the newly established landing site, Sokov and Tsvetaev began to discuss the next combat plan.
"General Sokov," Tsvetayev saw that his artillery had been deployed, and the infantry divisions and tank brigades had also crossed the river one after another. With enough confidence in his heart, Tsvetayev said to Sokov: "Since our artillery
Already in position, I think before the official attack begins, we should carry out regular artillery preparations for the enemy's positions, right?"
"Comrade General," Sokov said with a bit of laughter and tears: "Didn't I just say that every time our shelling starts, the cunning enemy hides in the second line of defense to avoid our army's artillery fire, which makes our
The shelling did not achieve the desired effect."
"General Sokov, even if the artillery preparations cannot destroy many enemies." Tsvetayev seemed very stubborn about whether to implement artillery preparations: "But our artillery bombardment can still destroy a large number of fortifications and provide space for the attacking infantry.
Clear the way."
Just as the two were arguing over whether to use artillery preparations, the phone on the table rang. Sokov glanced at the ringing phone and found that it was the dedicated line that had just been set up, so he reached for it.
Get up: "Is it the chief of staff? I'm Sokov, what can I do?"
"Comrade Commander, I just received a notification from my superiors." Samyko said on the phone: "General Rotmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army has reached our left flank, which is the Hal
To the northwest of Cove, they plan to launch an attack on the enemy's defense line from there."
"General Rotmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army has arrived?!" Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard the news from friendly forces. Since this unit can shine on the Kursk battlefield, it must be
In the battle to liberate Kharkov, he will definitely perform well. He asked emotionally into the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, did your superiors say that General Rotmistrov's troops?
When will we attack the enemy?"
Sameko paused for a moment and replied: "Comrade Commander, according to the notification from superiors, they will launch an attack on the enemy from the Sunflower Field at nine o'clock in the morning."
"Sunflower field?" Sokov repeated the unfamiliar place name and asked Sameko in confusion: "Chief of Staff, where is the place you mentioned? Why didn't I see it on the map?"
"General Sokov, I know where it is." Tsvetaev pointed on the map with his hand and said: "Sunflowers are planted all over the mountains and plains here, so everyone is accustomed to calling it the sunflower field."
"Oh, so that's what happened." Sokov nodded casually at first, but after a moment, he couldn't help but trembled, and nervously asked Tsvetayev: "Comrade General, now is the season for sunflowers to bloom.
Bar?"
"Yes, this is the season when sunflowers bloom." Tsvetayev said with a smile: "The sunflowers are blooming all over the mountains and plains, and the scene is so beautiful. It's a pity that it is still occupied by the Germans.
, otherwise we can go enjoy the beautiful scenery."
After hearing this, Sokov stamped his feet anxiously: "It's broken, it's broken. If General Rotmistrov chooses that place as a breakthrough point, he will definitely pay a huge price."
"Why?"
Sokov did not immediately answer Tsvetayev's question, but said urgently into the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please immediately tell the front army headquarters to remind General Rotmistrov that if
If he wants to use the sunflower field as a breakthrough point, he must be careful of the Germans setting up an ambush in the sunflower field. This matter is extremely urgent, and you must report it immediately."
Hearing Sokov's urgent tone, Samyko realized the seriousness of the problem and quickly replied: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I will convey your intention to the front army headquarters immediately."
Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Tsvetaev quickly asked: "General Sokov, do you think the Germans will set up an ambush in the sunflower fields?"
"That's right, Comrade General." Sokov said in a positive tone: "If I were a German commander, I would definitely take advantage of the sunflowers blocking the view and arrange an ambush with anti-tank guns and tanks in the sunflower fields, waiting for Roth.
After General Mistrov's tank troops approached, they launched a surprise attack and inflicted heavy losses on them."
After listening to Sokov's words, Tsvetaev couldn't help but take a breath of air. He carefully recalled the sunflower fields he had seen and found that what Sokov said was very reasonable, even in the vast sunflower fields.
With hundreds of tanks in ambush and an equal number of anti-tank guns, it would be difficult to detect Soviet tanks approaching from a distance.
"So, General Rotmistrov's tank troops will suffer huge losses?"
"That's right, Comrade General." Sokov said with a frown, "I just don't know how the superiors will handle the matter after my chief of staff reports the situation?"
If the situation was reported by another commander, Konev might not pay attention to it. But after receiving the call from Samyko, he immediately studied Sokov carefully on the map with Zakharov.
It's possible.
After looking at it for a while, he turned his face sideways and said to Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it seems Sokov's view is correct. In such a vast sunflower field, even if the Germans deploy one or two armored divisions,
Rotmistrov's troops will not be discovered on the move."
"Then what should we do?" Zakharov asked.
Konev thought for a moment, and then said decisively: "Immediately send a message to General Rotmistrov, ordering him to postpone the attack and first complete the concentration of tank troops in nearby villages. At the same time, send out the air force,
Conduct reconnaissance on this area to find out whether the enemy has set up an ambush."
Although Zakharov didn't know whether the reconnaissance planes high above could clearly see the tanks or anti-tank guns hidden in the sunflower fields, he still replied unequivocally: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will report it to the Air Force immediately."
Call and ask them to send a reconnaissance plane to conduct reconnaissance of the area."
A few minutes later, two reconnaissance planes took off from the airport and flew towards the sunflower field.
But what is regrettable is that because sunflowers are blooming all over the mountains and plains, not to mention that the German tanks and anti-tank guns hidden among them cannot be found on the ground. Even the pilots on the reconnaissance plane can only see patches of yellow sunflowers.
It's unclear if there are any enemies hidden inside.
"What?" Konev asked in surprise after listening to the Air Force's report: "Our pilots did not detect any enemy movement in the sunflower fields? Tell me honestly, did the pilots carefully check the situation below?"
"Comrade Commander." Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Goryunov said aggrievedly: "The pilots I sent are all the best. They have rich experience in flight reconnaissance. They are also tested comrades and are very reliable.
"
Konev was silent. After a long time, he slowly asked: "Comrade Goryunov, I wonder if we can send another reconnaissance plane to conduct a careful reconnaissance of that area?"
"Comrade Commander," Goryunov replied cautiously: "There are too many sunflowers there, and they are in blooming season. They are so bright and yellow that they dazzle the pilots' eyes, causing them to simply
We can’t clearly see the situation on the ground. In this case, even if the enemy has thousands of troops hidden in the sunflower field, there is nothing we can do.”
Seeing that the Air Force reconnaissance plane did not obtain useful information, Zakharov had a lucky thought when he was disappointed: "Comrade Commander, maybe there is no enemy ambush in the sunflower field at all, it's just Sokov making a fuss."
.Look, how should we give orders to General Rotmistrov?"
Konev looked at Zakharov, and after a long time he said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you and I should know how big the Sunflower Field is. If the Germans really choose those as ambush locations, even if
No matter how many tanks we bring in, we will become targets for German tanks and anti-tank guns. I think we should continue to conduct reconnaissance."
"How can we conduct reconnaissance?" Zaharov said with some despair: "The Air Force's reconnaissance plane has been hovering over the sunflower field for so long and has not found any trace of the enemy. How else can we conduct reconnaissance?"
"Since aerial reconnaissance has no effect, the ground forces will send out reconnaissance troops to conduct reconnaissance." Konev told Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately send a telegram to General Rotmistrov and order him to send reconnaissance
When soldiers enter the Sunflower Field for reconnaissance, they must find out if there are any Germans ambushing them, so as not to cause huge losses to the troops."