After Zhukov inspected all the troops of the 27th Group Army, he agreed to Sokov's proposal. He no longer needed to spend a lot of manpower and material resources to build defenses that were not at all intended for purpose, but instead concentrated on training troops to improve them in a short time. The combat effectiveness of the troops.
In the days that followed, Sokov concentrated on training troops and imparted all the tactics and training methods he knew to the commanders of each division without reservation. Sokov knew that it was very difficult for commanders and fighters to master these technical and tactical levels in such a short period of time, but in order to prevent his troops from being beaten all over the ground by the Germans in the next Battle of Kursk Looking for teeth, this is the limit of what he can do.
Just as the troop training work in the Koski area was in full swing, the German army began to use the railway to gather troops toward Kharkov. One of the troops was the newly rebuilt Imperial Division, headed by flag captain Tansen. Due to the tight confidentiality of the German army, the Soviet army only knew that a large number of German troops had gathered, but they did not know that among these German troops there would be their own enemies.
After Sokov was transferred from the Sixth Army, the Supreme Command appointed Lieutenant General Shlemin to take over the position of commander. However, after Shremin received his appointment, he suddenly contracted a cold and had been receiving treatment in a military hospital in Moscow. The internal work of the group army was temporarily handled by Vitkov.
While Vitkov was acting as the commander of the group army, he also received another order from the Supreme Command: to build complete and solid fortifications in the existing defense zones to prevent possible German attacks.
After receiving this order, Vitkov ordered each division to repair fortifications on the existing positions to prevent possible German attacks. Emergency repairs of fortifications naturally require a large amount of manpower and material resources. Therefore, Vitkov ordered each division to invest in the construction of fortifications except for a few troops to serve as guards.
Knowing that his troops were going to start building fortifications, Merkulov, the commander of the 67th Guards Division, specifically asked him for instructions: "Comrade Chief of Staff, our superiors ordered us to build fortifications in the existing defense area. Then we need to send a small team to the enemy's rear." Reconnaissance and sabotage?"
"Comrade General," Vitkov immediately replied after hearing Merkulov's question: "Since the three German SS divisions suffered a heavy blow from us, the remaining German troops have been hiding in the Barvinkovo area. If we dare to move, even if we send a small team deep into the enemy's rear, it may be difficult to achieve any results, so I think we'd better forget it. Your division's top priority right now is to seize the time to repair the fortifications to prevent possible German attacks."
"Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff." Merkulov also felt that the victory some time ago had broken the Germans. I am afraid that they would not dare to act rashly before summer comes. "I will immediately start arranging the construction of fortifications." Work."
Since then, both Vitkov and Merkulov regretted their hasty decision. If the 67th Guards Division still follows Sokov's original orders and sends people to the enemy's rear for reconnaissance and sabotage at any time, it will definitely find the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division stationed in Barvinkovo, quietly heading towards Kharkov transfer.
Although the Soviet troops stationed in Kharkov added a lot of soldiers from the rear, they were all new recruits without any military training, and after arriving in the army, quite a few of them did not even have weapons. But the commanders in the army didn't care about this. They thought that the German army had suffered heavy losses not long ago, and it was impossible to launch another attack in a short period of time. As for many soldiers without weapons, this just allowed them to concentrate on repairing fortifications.
But what the Soviet army never dreamed of was that in the early morning of April 28, the German troops stationed south and west of Kharkov suddenly bombarded the Soviet positions with fierce artillery fire. For a time, all forward positions were destroyed. Shrouded in smoke.
After the Soviet commanders and fighters who were still sleeping were awakened, their shortcomings in lack of training were immediately exposed. If you are a veteran and find that your position is under enemy artillery fire, you will definitely hide in the shelter and not come out; the soldiers on duty outside will definitely hide in a nearby anti-bomb hole. But now the soldiers on the position were all new recruits without any training. As soon as they heard the sound of the cannon, they immediately panicked. They rushed out of the shelter and ran around in the trench like headless flies until they were captured. Falling shells were thrown away, or shrapnel was cut down by flying shrapnel.
After the intensive shelling ended, the German troops, under the cover of tanks, launched an attack on the Soviet positions. At the forefront were the three German SS divisions. The Imperial Division first broke through the Soviet defenses in the west of the city and followed the broken troops towards the city.
The Flag Guard Division and the Skeleton Division attacking from the south encountered stubborn resistance from the Soviet army, and the battle fell into a stalemate for a while. If it were a month ago, the Soviet troops standing south of Kharkov would definitely not be able to withstand the attack of two German SS divisions. However, because the Skeleton Division suffered heavy losses not long ago, Hausser reduced the original officers and soldiers of the division into a regiment, and added two additional infantry regiments of the Wehrmacht to the army, creating a nondescript Skeleton Division.
Although the Flag Guard Division did not suffer a heavy blow from Sokov's troops, they also suffered serious attrition after a long battle, which affected the combat effectiveness of the troops. It was precisely because of various reasons that the troops stationed in the south of the city were able to barely withstand the German attack.
Of course, Sokov, who was far away in the Kosky area east of Moscow, could not know about the German army's renewed attack in the direction of Kharkov. At this moment, he was chatting with Chief of Staff Samyko.
"Comrade Commander," Samyko asked Sokov with a smile: "Have you ever seen the military parade in Red Square?"
"No." Sokov shook his head and said with regret: "During the military parade on Red Square on November 7, 1941, I was still a corporal, and I was stationed in the town of Khimki with a squad of soldiers. I am not qualified to participate in the military parade; during the military parade in 1942, I was commanding the troops to fight Paulus' troops at Mamayev Heights, and it was even more impossible to participate in the military parade. In half a year, a new round of military parade will begin. I don't know Will I have the opportunity to participate in the military parade then?"
"You don't have to wait another half a year," Sameko said: "In two days, it will be May Day. There are two military parades on Red Square every year, one is the 'May Day Parade' on May 1st, and the other is on November 7th. 'October Day Military Parade'. I heard that some commanders from our front army may be transferred to watch the military parade from the viewing platform."
Hearing what Samek said, Sokov showed a surprised expression on his face: "Really?"
"Of course it's true." Sameko nodded and said, "This is what I heard secretly from a friend when I went to the front army headquarters for a meeting yesterday."
Sokov had some expectations at first, wondering whether he would be invited to the viewing platform to watch the ceremony, but then he thought about it. There was a military parade the day after tomorrow, but he had no news at all. It seemed that there was no hope.
Sokov had no hope of participating in the military parade, but Samyko did not give up. He tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, do you think it is necessary to call General Konev and ask about this time?" Will those people be dispatched to participate in the military parade on Red Square the day after tomorrow?"
Sokov seemed very hesitant about Samek's proposal. He felt that if his superiors really planned to let him go to the Red Square to watch the ceremony, they would have called him to inform him long ago. How can he be sure that there has been no movement until now? Thinking of this, he retracted his hand that had already held the microphone.
Just when Sokov was hesitant, the phone on the table rang. He grabbed the microphone, put it to his ear, and said nervously: "I'm Sokov."
"Major General Sokov, this is Konev." Konev's serious voice came from the receiver: "I have something urgent to tell you."
When Sokov heard this, his heart beat faster than expected. He thought to himself: Could it be that Konev notified him to attend the Red Square ceremony later to prepare himself in advance? Thinking of this, he pretended to be calm and asked: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, what instructions do you have?"
"I just received the battle report from the General Staff." Konev said sternly: "The German army suddenly launched an attack on Kharkov. After more than five hours of fighting, the German army attacking from the west, They have broken through our army's defense zone and rushed into the city to start a battle with our army. The troops holding on to the south are now struggling to hold on, and I believe they will not be able to hold on for much longer."
Sokov, who was still smiling at first, suddenly became furious after hearing the bad news. She kicked up a chair in front of her and kicked it to the ground. She cursed: "Idiots, they are all a bunch of idiots." , I fought for them for so long, but the fortifications I built couldn’t even stop the enemy’s attack.”
Sokov was angry for a reason. In real history, Kharkov was lost in mid-March. However, due to Sokov's proactive attack, the German army's attempt to capture Kharkov was shattered, and even the three SS divisions that captured Kharkov were severely damaged. He originally thought that this new enemy-enemy situation could be maintained until the original Battle of Kursk broke out, but now it seems that he was too naive and thought of the problem too simply.
When Konev heard Sokov getting angry, he could only smile bitterly and said: "Yes, I also think that the troops staying in Kharkov are a bunch of idiots. In the past two months, the base camp has been constantly However, in the face of the powerful German offensive, their resistance was unsatisfactory. I am calling you just to ask if there is any way to remedy this?"
"What else can be done to remedy this?" The German troops are approaching the city. Even if reinforcements are sent out at this moment, water from afar cannot quench their thirst. He said angrily: "The only way is for the Sixth Army to attack decisively and assume a posture of attacking Barvinkovo to attract the attention of the German army."
Konev really listened to Sokov's suggestion: "Major General Sokov, what you said is a good idea. As long as the Sixth Army moves, the German troops attacking Kharkov will definitely be worried. If your rear is attacked, you will definitely temporarily stop the attack on Kharkov. I will immediately report your method to the General Staff."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov felt that it was very inappropriate to rashly let the Sixth Army launch an attack without knowing the enemy's strength, so he continued to ask: "I want to ask, what about attacking Kharko?" What is the number of my husband’s German unit?”
"It was the Imperial Division that attacked from the west..."
"What, what did you say?" Sokov was stunned when he heard the number of the Imperial Division: "Didn't the Imperial Division be completely wiped out by us? Now another Imperial Division appears from somewhere?"
"According to General Golikov's report, they interrogated the prisoners and learned that this was a new Imperial Division that had been reorganized not long ago. The division commander was flag captain Tansen. He was a former regimental commander of the Imperial Division and was sent to the hospital because of his injuries. Went to Berlin for treatment of injuries." In order to let Sokov figure out what was going on, Konev explained to him everything he knew about the situation: "Since you wiped out the Imperial Division, Germany has In order to save face, they appointed Tansen, who had just recovered from an injury, as the new division commander, and reorganized the Imperial Division by transferring manpower from the Berlin SS and some wounded soldiers from the original Imperial Division who had just recovered from an injury."
"So that's it," Sokov learned that the German army had rebuilt the Imperial Division, so the German troops attacking from the south must be the other two SS divisions that suffered heavy losses from him. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, if I am not mistaken, the enemies attacking Kharkov from the south should be the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division, right?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov felt that it was very inappropriate to rashly let the Sixth Army launch an attack without knowing the enemy's strength, so he continued to ask: "I want to ask, what about attacking Kharko?" What is the number of my husband’s German unit?”
"It was the Imperial Division that attacked from the west..."
"What, what did you say?" Sokov was stunned when he heard the number of the Imperial Division: "Didn't the Imperial Division be completely wiped out by us? Now another Imperial Division appears from somewhere?"
"According to General Golikov's report, they interrogated the prisoners and learned that this was a new Imperial Division that had been reorganized not long ago. The division commander was flag captain Tansen. He was a former regimental commander of the Imperial Division and was sent to the hospital because of his injuries. Went to Berlin for treatment of injuries." In order to let Sokov figure out what was going on, Konev explained to him everything he knew about the situation: "Since you wiped out the Imperial Division, Germany has In order to save face, they appointed Tansen, who had just recovered from an injury, as the new division commander, and reorganized the Imperial Division by transferring manpower from the Berlin SS and some wounded soldiers from the original Imperial Division who had just recovered from an injury."
"So that's it," Sokov learned that the German army had rebuilt the Imperial Division, so the German troops attacking from the south must be the other two SS divisions that suffered heavy losses from him. He asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, if I am not mistaken, the enemies attacking Kharkov from the south should be the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division, right?"
"Major General Sokov, you guessed it right." Konev nodded and said: "The enemies attacking Kharkov's southern defense line are indeed the Flag Guard Division and the newly replenished Skeleton Division, but they The attack has encountered strong resistance from the defenders, but so far, they have not yet broken through our defenses..."
