Red Moscow

  Chapter 1182 The battle is imminent

"Commanders, commanders," Sokov saw that everyone's eyes were focused on him, knowing that if he didn't give a convincing reason, everyone would probably keep asking the bottom line, so he said tactfully: "According to my The experience of fighting the German army, the enemy likes to choose the time for large-scale battles at the end of June and the beginning of July. During these two months in our country, there is very little rain, which will not cause the roads to become muddy, and it is more convenient for mechanized troops to use.

  Since they have been quiet all June, military action will definitely be taken in the first half of July. It was with this in mind that I spent the first two days distributing ammunition to the troops and getting everyone ready for battle. "

After listening to Sokov's explanation, the commanders present felt that it made sense. From the year the war broke out, June and July were the days when the German army launched a campaign-level offensive. It seems that Sokov just based on this At one point, it was deduced that the enemy would launch an offensive in early July, and the troops were issued a combat warning early.

"Comrades, although the enemy has launched a large-scale attack on our army's defense line." A general present said: "But our army's defense line in the direction of Kursk has been formed after several months of construction. With a perfect defense system, it is basically impossible for the enemy to break through it.”

"I also think it is impossible for the enemy to break through our army's defense line." Zakharov echoed: "I have followed General Konev to Kursk and Oboyan many times, the situation of the Central Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army, and I am very aware of all the measures they have taken to strengthen their defenses."

   But when he said this, he paused and looked towards Konev, as if he was asking the other party if he could tell what he knew. Seeing Konev nod his head slightly, he strolled to the wall, picked up the explaining stick placed by the wall, and pointed to the map to introduce the situation to the commanders present:

   "First of all, we want to talk about General Rokossovsky's Central Front. The greatest threat to them is the enemy in the Orel salient. The heavy German army group seriously threatens the right wing of the Front from the north.

   On the opposite side of the enemy Orel Group, our troops deployed on the 132-kilometer front from Gorodisheh to Bryantsev are the 48th, 13th and 70th Army Groups. The 174 kilometers on the left are defended by the 65th and 60th armies. "

"Let's take a look at the defensive zone of General Vatutin's Voronezh Front. According to the analysis of the Supreme Command, the enemy may carry out the main assault from the Belgorod area to Korocha. The direction of the auxiliary assault may be It is rushing to Novoskol from the area west of Volchansk.

  Based on the analysis of the superior, the unit deployed its main force in the center and left wing of the front defense area. The defense within the 114-kilometer zone here is the 6th and 7th Guards Army. The 38th and 40th armies defended the remaining 130 kilometers of frontal sections. "

After hearing Zakharov's introduction of the deployment of friendly forces, the group army chiefs present felt relieved for a while. According to their thinking, it is basically impossible for the German army to break through such a tight defense of the friendly forces. When the battle was over, his troops had no chance to participate in the battle.

  A group army commander even said triumphantly: "According to the introduction of Comrade Chief of Staff, we not only have enough strength to defend, we can even launch counterattacks against the enemy at any time, completely crushing their attacks."

But Konev was obviously not as optimistic as everyone else. Seeing Sokov frowning all the time, he realized that the other party might have different ideas. He raised his hands and pressed down twice. After the room became quiet again, he Looking at Sokov, he asked, "General Sokov, I think you have something on your mind. Tell me, can we stop the enemy's attack?"

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," seeing Konev calling his name again, Sokov quickly stood up and replied, "I have dealt with General Rokossovsky before, and I know his combat characteristics very well. With him in the direction of Orel, the enemy may not be able to break through. But the defense zone in charge of General Vatutin..."

"Why didn't you say it?" Seeing that Sokov's words stopped abruptly in the middle, Konev couldn't help but feel a little itchy, so he urged Sokov to continue: "Please continue talking, and just say whatever comes to your mind. What, don't have any scruples."

Hearing what Konev said, Sokov simply left his seat and walked to the wall. After he took the explaining stick from Zakharov's hand, he pointed to the map and said to everyone: "Although I didn't I have seen General Vatutin's subordinates, but he still knows a little bit about the tactics he used. If I guessed correctly, he must have thought that the shelling in the early hours of this morning not only disrupted the German army's offensive steps, but also gave the enemy a lot of kill, he will then order the troops to attack the enemy in different areas."

   "Isn't it good to take the initiative to attack the enemy?" An elderly general frowned and said, "Isn't it possible to firmly hold the initiative on the battlefield in our army's hands?"

"I don't think it is appropriate for our army to immediately switch to the offensive in order to act first." Sokov glanced at the strange old general, and continued to follow his own train of thought: "The best way is to rely on The existing defense system consumes a large amount of the enemy's vital forces and destroys their tanks, and then puts into the new cutting-edge reserve team and turns to a full-scale offensive to completely crush the enemy's main group."

  Zakharov asked: "If General Vatutin wants to take the initiative to launch an offensive, what consequences will it bring?"

"Once the Voronezh Front launches an attack on the enemy in a short period of time, the consequences will be very serious." Sokov pointed to the map with a stick and said to the commanders present: "They cannot smash the enemy's offensive, but the enemy can. Concentrate superior forces and technical equipment, and storm towards their defense line. According to my inference, the Oboyan area will be the first to be broken through by the German army. Come on, when the time comes, the base camp will have to use our troops to resolutely block the enemy who breaks through the line of defense."

  After Sokov finished speaking, the entire conference room fell into silence. The participating army chiefs all looked at each other in blank dismay. They were all stunned by Sokov's bold analysis.

After a long time, Konev said slowly: "comrades commanders, the original idea of ​​the superiors to deploy our front army behind the central front army and the Voronezh front army is to allow us to attack decisively when the enemy succeeds in breaking through. Retreat their assault and prevent the enemy from developing breakthroughs in the direction of Orel or Belgorod to the east. This point is in line with Comrade Sokov's guess."

"Comrade Front Army Commander," Konev had just finished speaking, and Lieutenant General Managarov, Commander of the 52nd Army, asked, "If the situation on the battlefield really develops as General Sokov analyzed? ,what should we do?"

"I agree with Comrade Sokov that the enemy will launch a fierce attack on the Sixth Guards Army in the Oboyan area, but I think it is unlikely that they will break through the friendly defense line." Konev put his right hand under his left armpit , put his left elbow on his right arm, pinched his chin with his left hand, and said thoughtfully: "But for the sake of safety, I plan to transfer the 27th Army to this direction."

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," the group army chiefs present asked when they saw that Konev had handed over such a glorious and difficult task to Sokov's 27th Army. What about the combat mission, where do you plan to help us deploy?"

"If the enemy really broke through the defense line in the direction of Oboyan and rushed to the depths of the friendly defense line recklessly, it would be difficult for Comrade Sokov's 27th Army to stop them." Konev thought for a while. , announced loudly: "I plan to transfer the 5th Guards Army and the 5th Guards Tank Army to this direction, and resolutely crush the enemy who breaks through our army's defense line."

   Then Konev issued combat orders to the various armies of the Front Army. After arranging everything, he said again: "This is the end of today's meeting, everyone go back and make preparations. Comrade Sokov stays."

  Konev named Sokov to stay, Lunev naturally would not leave alone, he also stayed. After the chiefs of the group army who participated in the meeting had almost left, Konev asked Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, when do you think the troops should leave?"

"Report to Comrade Front Army Commander," Sokov heard Konev's inquiry, straightened his body and replied quickly: "The military situation is urgent, and every minute is extremely precious to us. I suggest starting at 5 p.m. , so that before dawn my troops can reach the north of Oboyan and form a line of defense there."

  "General Sokov!" Susaikov was still skeptical about Sokov's statement: "Do you really think that the enemy has the ability to break through the defense of our army at the Oboyan line of defense?"

"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar of the Front Army." Sokov said resolutely: "With the strong assault force of the German army, it may only take a day or two to break through the Oboyan line of defense. If we don't rush to the designated position as soon as possible to build a line of defense , I'm afraid it will be too late."

"Since the General Staff has notified us to prepare for battle, it proves that the battle in the direction of Kursk is going on fiercely. Maybe the existing defenders cannot repel the enemy's attack at all." Konev turned around and ordered Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you should immediately notify the logistics department and mobilize all transport vehicles to transport the 27th Army so that they can arrive at the designated location in the shortest possible time and build fortifications."

   While Zakharov mobilized vehicles for the 27th Army, Sokov returned to his headquarters.

   Seeing Sokov enter the door, Sameko greeted him and asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, did you conduct a self-criticism at the meeting?"

   "Review, what review?" Sokov ordered the other party: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately notify all commanders above the regiment to come to the headquarters for a meeting. I have important things to explain to them."

  Sameko didn't dare to neglect, and quickly called the commanders of the divisions and brigades, and informed all the commanders at the regimental level to rush to the headquarters for a meeting. After notifying everyone, Sameko asked Sokov worriedly: "Comrade Commander, you were not criticized by the commander of the Front Army at today's meeting, right?"

"No, how could this be?" Without waiting for Sokov to speak, Lunev on the side said first: "As soon as the meeting started, we received a notification from our superiors that the German army launched an attack on the Kursk region in the early hours of this morning. Onslaught, Comrade Commander's guess has been confirmed."

"What enemy really launched an attack on Kursk?" At this moment, even if a shell fell on Sameko's side and exploded, the shock brought by it was definitely not as shocking as this news: "So, Commander Comrade Communist Party members' analysis is completely correct?"

   "Of course it is true."

   "What's the situation in the Kursk region?"

   "Still fighting," Sokov didn't know the specific battle situation at the moment, so he could only say vaguely: "In order to block the enemy's attack, the commanders and fighters of the friendly army are fighting tenaciously."

   "Then you notified all regiment commanders to come to the meeting, is it related to the enemy's attack?"

"That's right." Sokov replied affirmatively: "Analysed from various signs, the enemy may successfully break through in the Oboyan area. Therefore, the troops of our army must rush to the north of Oboyan in the shortest possible time. Build fortifications there to resist the enemy's further advance."

  Sameko glanced at the map and said with some surprise: "Comrade Commander, from our defense zone to the north of Oboyan, it is almost 300 kilometers. If we march on foot, it will take at least a week."

"We can't wait that long. The enemy may break through the friendly defense line tomorrow. We must stop them resolutely before they go further." Sokov said here, seeing Sameko's face With a look of astonishment, he added: "The Front Army Command will mobilize enough transport vehicles to transport our troops. If there are no accidents, the vanguard troops will be able to arrive at the designated location before dawn tomorrow."

  After Sokov finished speaking, Sameko asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, which division do you plan to use as the vanguard of the entire army to enter the northern side of Oboyan first?"

"I think the 182nd Infantry Division of Colonel Khokhlov should be the vanguard of the whole army." Sokov didn't wait for Sameko to ask again, and said, "They were the first to be equipped with assault rifles in our army. , After one or two months of training, the commanders and fighters are already familiar with the use of this kind of firearm, and I believe that with their current combat power, they can completely block the enemy's attack."

"Comrade Commander, I agree with your opinion." Sameko nodded and said, "This division is now the most effective unit in our army. As the vanguard of the whole army, they should be able to successfully complete your task. tasks assigned to them."

  (end of this chapter)