What Rokossovsky was thinking about was how and whether Kursk should be held on. This was a later story. The top priority at the moment was to immediately report the news that the Istrian Battalion had occupied Kursk to the highest authority.
The commander himself reports.
Because the war in the south of Moscow was unfavorable, and the German 6th Army of Paulus and the 4th Armored Army of Huth were also rushing towards the Caucasus and Stalingrad, Stalin was in his office talking to the new Chief of General Staff Vasile.
General Vski was furious.
Hearing the phone ringing on the table, Stalin walked over, picked up the receiver, put it to his ear and asked, "What's the matter?"
Poskrebyshev's dry voice came from the receiver: "Comrade Stalin, General Rokossovsky called from the front. He said that he has an urgent situation to report to you."
Is there an emergency that needs to be reported to him? When Stalin heard Poskrebyshev say this, he guessed that what Rokossovsky was going to report to him must be bad news. After all, a few days ago, due to the
The death of General Lidyukov, the commander of the Tank Army, caused an attack that seemed to have a chance of success to end in failure. So he coldly ordered: "Pick up his phone."
As soon as the phone call came through, Stalin suppressed the anger in his heart and raised his voice and asked: "Comrade Rokossovsky, if you call me at this time, do you have any bad news to tell me?"
Rokossovsky, who was hit with a soft spot, hesitated for a moment and said: "Comrade Stalin, I'm calling you because I have some good news to tell you. We have successfully occupied Kursk.
."
Stalin's mind was obviously still stuck on the fact that all fronts of the Soviet army were not going well, so when he heard what Rokossovsky said, he said without thinking: "Comrade Rokossovsky, the attack you launched in the direction of Voronezh"
The offensive did not make any decent progress. We only captured a small Kursk, what is there to show off to me?"
Vasilevsky, who was standing aside, couldn't help but exclaimed when he heard Stalin mentioning Kursk in a disdainful tone, and then rushed to the large map hanging on the wall. As the chief of general staff of the Red Army,
Vasilevsky understood the importance of Kursk better than anyone else. Once the Soviet army occupied it, it would be equivalent to wedged into the German defense area and a salient that could be used for offensive attacks was established.
Seeing Vasilevsky's gloomy performance, Stalin covered the microphone with his hand and asked him displeasedly: "Comrade Vasilevsky, what is it that makes you so glum?"
"Comrade Stalin, Kursk, Kursk!" Vasilevsky was so excited that his voice changed and emphasized: "Rokossovsky's troops captured Kursk. This is an amazing victory. It is equal to
This allows us to establish a salient in the existing German defense line, and our army will be able to use this as a starting point in the future to launch attacks deep into the German defense."
Stalin was well aware of the importance of Kursk. He was just absent-minded and failed to connect the place name mentioned by Rokossovsky with such an important strategic point. At this moment, he heard
Vasilevsky said this. He quickly released his hand covering the microphone and asked Rokossovsky in a slower tone: "Comrade Rokossovsky, what did you just say? Your troops occupied Kurdistan."
Sk?”
"That's right, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Stalin's tone became so calm. He felt that the decision he made to report the victory news to Stalin was very correct.
After taking a deep breath, he continued: "Major Sokov sent me a telegram, saying that the Istrian battalion under his command has successfully occupied Kursk."
"Amazing, this is really an amazing victory. Please convey my gratitude to Major Sokov on my behalf." After saying these words, Stalin suddenly remembered something, and then asked: "Isn't he
The acting division commander of the 31st Guards Division? Why did he become the battalion commander of the Istria Battalion again?"
"Comrade Stalin, the situation is like this." When Rokossovsky heard Stalin asking about Sokov, he felt it was necessary to explain to him, otherwise he would still feel that a division commander suddenly became a battalion commander.
What mistake did the other party make and was demoted: "When I transferred from the 16th Army to the Bryansk Front, I brought several commanders with me, one of whom was Major Sokov. Because there was no suitable position for him for the time being.
, so I let him continue to command the Istrian battalion."
After listening to Rokossovsky's explanation, Stalin chuckled and said: "So that's it. I thought he made some mistake and was demoted by you." After a moment of pause, he spoke into the microphone again.
Said, "Comrade Rokossovsky, even if I don't talk about the importance of Kursk, you should understand it in your heart. The strength of the Istria Battalion alone cannot defend Kursk at all. You
Troops must be sent immediately to reinforce them and consolidate the defense there. Do you understand?"
"Understood, Comrade Stalin." Rokossovsky replied quickly: "I will immediately send reinforcements to Major Sokov."
After Stalin put down the phone, he walked to the map, stared at the location of Kursk for a while, and then said to Vasilevsky: "Rokossovsky's troops are limited. If they are to hold Kursk
, will inevitably weaken the strength in other directions. Comrade Vasilevsky immediately transferred two infantry divisions and three tank brigades from the base camp reserve, as well as a sufficient number of artillery, and rushed to Kursk as quickly as possible
."
At this moment, Sokov, who was staying in Kursk, did not realize the importance of this city. He still wanted to get a vote here and leave. Therefore, he summoned the company commanders to discuss with them.
How to evacuate the German warehouses in the city.
When Sokov proposed this motion, Belkin smiled bitterly and said: "Major, although there are more than 400 people in the whole battalion, excluding the troops on guard and the wounded, we have less than a hundred soldiers who can carry supplies. We need to
It will take at least several months to move all these supplies, and it is impossible for the Germans to give us such a long time."
"Yes, Comrade Battalion Commander." As soon as Belkin finished speaking, Vasily added: "It is a warehouse that I personally led and occupied. The materials in it are enough to equip two divisions. Note, I am talking about the German division.
, instead of our division. There are also twenty tanks and a considerable number of artillery of various types. If we have enough soldiers, we can form an infantry corps in the shortest possible time."
"There are plenty of soldiers, but it is difficult to form combat effectiveness in a short period of time." The speaker was unintentional and the listener was intentional. Vasily's words reminded Sokov of an important thing. He quickly said to the first company commander Vanya: "Wanni
Captain Ya and the captured German garrison commander Kempka confessed that there was a prisoner-of-war camp in the forest south of the city that held nearly a thousand prisoners of war from our army. They were either captured in the Battle of Kharkov or in
They were captured in the recent battle. There are only about forty guards in the prisoner-of-war camp. You immediately lead a company to the prisoner-of-war camp. If you can successfully rescue them, our camp will be able to get enough troops to supplement them."
"Yes, Comrade Battalion Commander." After hearing Sokov's instructions, Vanya immediately stood up and replied: "I will lead the troops to the prisoner-of-war camp in the south of the city and try to occupy the prisoner-of-war camp before dawn."
After Vanya left, Sokov continued to arrange the transportation of supplies: "I think it's not possible for us to move all the supplies for so many years. We also need to mobilize all the residents in the city. First
Distribute the food hoarded by the German army in warehouses to them so that they can have the strength to help us empty the German army's warehouses."
"This is a good idea." Belkin immediately agreed with Sokov's statement: "It's too late now. Due to the German army's curfew policy, they still don't know that our army has occupied the city.
.As soon as it gets light, I will immediately arrange for political workers to go door-to-door to mobilize residents and ask them to help us."
As soon as Sokov and his commanders reached a resolution to evacuate Kursk, Second Lieutenant Maxim hurried in from outside and handed a telegram to Sokov: "Major, this is the group army headquarters.
of calls.”
Sokov took the telegram from Maxim with doubts on his face and lowered his head to read it. After seeing the telegram, he frowned and thought for a moment, and then said to Belkin and the other two company commanders: "Commander of the Army Group
The Ministry sent a telegram saying that the 7th Tank Corps, commanded by Major General Rotmistrov, will be sent to reinforce us and hopes that we will defend Kursk at all costs."
"Major Sokov," Belkin asked tentatively after Sokov finished speaking: "So, we don't have to empty the German warehouses anymore?"
"No need to move." Thinking that in the Battle of Kursk a year later, Rotmistrov, who would play an important role, would lead his troops to the city, Sokov gave up the idea of moving the German supplies and started
Issued an order: "Comrade Belgin, after daybreak, first organize people to distribute food to the residents in the city, and then try to mobilize workers in the factory to help us strengthen the city's defense until reinforcements arrive."
"Mobilize the workers in the factory?" Belkin asked hesitantly: "Major Sokov, can they do it?"
"No problem," Sokov said confidently: "There should be many workers in the factory who have participated in the militia. As long as they are mobilized, our defense power can be strengthened."