The bloody battle that was imagined did not happen at all.
This plan involved four infantry divisions, one artillery division, and three tank brigades. In the end, Sokov only used one regiment of troops to conduct several battalion-level attacks and wiped out the defenders in the city. Successfully liberated the city.
After learning that the 124th Guards Regiment commanded by Sokov had successfully captured Donetsk, Vitkov was excited. While reporting the victory to the front army headquarters, he ordered the divisions to speed up and advance to Donetsk as soon as possible. Come closer.
When Rokossovsky received the telegram from Vitkov, his first reaction was that the operator must have made a mistake in his translation. According to his idea, it would be a difficult task for Sokov's troops to launch an attack before dark today. But the telegram said that Sokov commanded a Guards regiment and had successfully captured Donetsk. This is simply a fantasy.
In order to verify the authenticity of this matter, Rokossovsky personally called Vitkov: "Colonel Vitkov, please tell me what was written in the telegram you just sent me?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Vitkov didn't know the reason for Rokossovsky's question, but he still answered truthfully: "Major General Sokov personally commanded the 124th Guards Regiment not long ago and successfully Donetsk, which was occupied by the German army, was liberated. Now, all the troops of the combat group are heading towards Donetsk, preparing to strengthen the defense there and meet possible enemy counterattacks."
After hearing Vitkov's answer, Rokossovsky was silent for a long time and then murmured: "So, is everything about the liberation of Donetsk true?"
"Of course it is true, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Vitkov explained to Rokossovsky: "The battle report was sent through the radio of the 124th Guards Regiment. I think there should be no mistake."
"Thank you, Colonel Vitkov." After confirming the news of victory, Rokossovsky's expression became relaxed: "Thank you for bringing us such good news."
As soon as he put down the phone, Malinin walked over, handed the telegram in his hand to Rokossovsky, and said: "Comrade Commander, the German telegram just intercepted said that Donetsk has been lost."
Through the comparison of intelligence from both sides, Rokossovsky felt that it was an ironclad fact that Donetsk was liberated by Sokov's troops. He quickly picked up the high-frequency phone on the table and contacted Moscow.
After answering Stalin's call, Rokossovsky said excitedly: "Comrade Stalin, I have good news to report to you."
"Is this good news, Konstantin Konstantinovich?" Stalin said in surprise: "The current situation on the battlefield is not good for our army. We just need exciting good news."
"This is indeed exciting good news." Rokossovsky said: "According to the battle report just obtained, the troops commanded by Major General Sokov have successfully captured Donetsk."
"What, our army has captured Donetsk?" After listening to the report, Stalin's instinctive reaction was that Rokossovsky had made a mistake. According to the original plan, it would take at least two days for the troops of the combat group to , can we rush to Donetsk, take a short rest, and then launch an attack on the city. Yesterday, he proposed to launch an attack before dark today, but Rokossovsky repeatedly contradicted him, saying that the journey was far away and it was impossible for the troops to enter the designated attack position in such a short period of time. Now, just over ten hours later, he told himself that Donetsk had been liberated by his own army. How could this be possible? So he asked seriously: "What on earth is going on?"
Rokossovsky heard the implication of Stalin's words and quickly explained to him: "Comrade Stalin, the situation is like this. According to the normal walking speed, I'm afraid Sokov's combat group is still marching now. They The reason why Donetsk was captured so quickly was because Sokov personally led a Guards regiment to the town of Khartisk in a truck, and launched a surprise attack on the enemy from there.”
"So that's what happened." Stalin nodded, picked up the cigarette case on the table, took out a cigarette from it, crushed it with his fingers, and stuffed the tobacco into the pipe. He held the pipe in his mouth but did not light it: "I wonder what Xiao Misha's next plan is?"
"The troops belonging to the combat group are now heading towards Donetsk." Rokossovsky reported to Stalin: "It seems that he wants to build a line of defense there to block the German army's eastward advance."
What Stalin is most concerned about at the moment is whether Sokov's troops can divert the attention of the German top brass after occupying Donetsk and enable them to divert some troops from the direction of Kharkov. In that case, they can stick to Kharkov and Kharkov. Belgorod's troops will have a few days of breathing space.
"Konstantin Konstantinovich." Stalin asked Rokossovsky tentatively: "Do you think the Germans' attention will be attracted by Xiao Misha's actions? Even if they only start from Kharko If my husband mobilizes a division of troops, our troops will have a chance to breathe."
"It's hard to say, Comrade Stalin." Regarding Stalin's statement, Rokossovsky said with some embarrassment: "If I were Manstein, even if I knew that my rear was being attacked, I would probably find a way to attack first. Only after the enemies in the direction of Kharkov are eliminated will we turn around and deal with the enemies who capture Donetsk."
Stalin struck a match, lit the tobacco in his pipe, took a puff and said: "If Xiao Misha's troops are really unable to mobilize the enemy, then what is the point of us capturing Donetsk."
"Of course it makes sense, Comrade Stalin." Seeing that Stalin was a little frustrated, Rokossovsky quickly comforted him and said: "If our army stays in Donetsk and cannot mobilize the enemy, then we can consider attacking Zapo Rozhe. Manstein has moved his headquarters back to Zaporozhye. If he is attacked again this time, he will definitely order the frontline troops to return to support, and then he will be able to provide support to the Kharkov direction. Troops take the pressure off.”
"Well, you have a point." Stalin said thoughtfully: "If the troops can attack from the direction of Donetsk and threaten the security of Zaporozhye, Manstein will definitely send troops back to support. Then our troops can take a breather."
During the phone call, Rokossovsky reached a consensus with Stalin that after all combat groups arrived in Donetsk, they needed to actively move westward and assume a posture of threatening Zaporozhye, forcing Manstein to Due to the deployment of troops from the direction of Kharkov to return reinforcements.
After receiving the telegram from Rokossovsky, Sokov discovered that the other party's order coincided with his planned next move. Although it would take two or three days for the main force to arrive in Donetsk, he could not do nothing while waiting for the arrival of the troops, so he ordered Starcha: "Comrade Colonel, head west immediately Scouts were sent out to detect the enemy's movements. In addition, a separate reconnaissance team was sent to the direction of Zaporozhye to find out the defense situation in the city."
