Time soon entered July. Since they did not see any movement from the Germans, the commanders of each division could not help but relax. They even complained privately that Sokov was making a fuss out of a molehill.
Sokov clearly remembered that the Battle of Kursk kicked off in the early morning of July 5, so he notified each division as early as the 3rd to distribute ammunition to the commanders and fighters and make all battle preparations.
The order he issued quickly reached Konev's ears. Konev didn't know what Sokov was doing, so he called him and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Sokov, what are you doing? Why are you distributing ammunition to the troops and issuing a battle alert?"
Sokov would definitely not tell Konev that the German army would launch a surprise attack on the Soviet troops stationed in the Kursk area in the early morning of the 5th. He could only say vaguely: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I think After two months of rest, the Germans may launch another attack on our defense zone. As you know, my troops have been training for the past few months. I have put them into combat readiness solely to test their training results.”
"Nonsense, it's just nonsense." Konev waited for Sokov to finish and said unhappily: "Even if you want to test the training results of the troops, you can't just distribute ammunition to the troops? You know, the actions of your army group, This caused a series of bad chain reactions, and several other group army commanders called me one after another, asking why they were not informed of combat missions."
Konev's words made Sokov realize that his actions were a bit too reckless. He distributed ammunition to the troops on a large scale and put them into combat readiness. Such an action would definitely not be concealed from nearby friendly forces, thus creating a series of chain reactions and causing unnecessary panic.
While Sokov was thinking about how to explain to Konev, he heard Konev continue: "The day after tomorrow, that is, on the morning of July 5, we will hold a military meeting at the level of the group army commander. You must make a profound examination of this matter at the meeting."
Knowing that the meeting was held on the morning of July 5th, Sokov couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If the meeting was held tomorrow, he would definitely not be able to escape the fate of the examination; but if it was postponed to the morning of the day after tomorrow, then the library would The battle of Ersk has already begun. Maybe Konev will secretly lament that he has foresight, and the inspection will naturally not be left undisturbed.
After knowing what was going on, Sokov quickly said with a correct attitude: "I understand, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I will make a profound reflection on my reckless behavior at the military meeting the day after tomorrow."
Lunev, who was standing nearby, looked at Sokov who was on the phone with a worried expression. As soon as the other party put down the phone, he said anxiously: "Comrade Commander, do you think it is necessary for me to talk to my superiors so that you don't have to undergo an examination?"
Sokov knew in his heart that what Lunev said about communicating with his superiors was to prepare to contact Beria, so that he could mediate through Beria to avoid any punishment. But Sokov, who has a deep understanding of history, knew the specific time when the Battle of Kursk began. Not only would he not be punished for the meeting, but he might also be praised by Konev, so he declined Runev's offer. Good intentions: "Comrade Military Commissioner, thank you for your kindness. Since this matter is an order issued by me, no matter what kind of punishment the superiors give us, I will accept it calmly."
Hearing what Sokov said, Lunev could only sigh softly, not knowing what to say. Sameko asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, do you need to take back all the ammunition that has been distributed?"
"No, there is no need to take back the ammunition that has been issued." Sokov said seriously: "On the contrary, we have to tell the commanders of each division to be ready for combat. Maybe we will be thrown into battle soon."
"Comrade Commander," when Sokov said this, Samyko couldn't help but shook his head secretly. He felt that Sokov seemed to be a little obsessed. Now the German army showed no sign of attacking at all. Even if there was a fight, the Steppe Front Army would It seems that the chance of this reserve team going to the battlefield is still unknown, but recently the commander has been mentioning the possibility of fighting every now and then like an obsession. "Do you really think there will be a fight?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said in a positive tone: "According to my judgment, since the Germans did not launch an attack in June, they will postpone the attack to early July, maybe later. In a few days, an unexpected battle will break out.”
"It's over, it's over. Comrade Commander's nerves are a little abnormal." Sameko thought sadly in his heart: "If he leaves the army, who will his superiors send to take over his position?"
Sokov didn't know that in Samek's mind, he already regarded himself as a lunatic. He was still thinking secretly in his heart. Once the Grassland Front wanted to join the battle, his troops would definitely bear the brunt. Which division should be allowed to enter the battlefield first?
On July 4th, Sokov spent the whole day in a state of anxiety. He knew the exact time of the German attack, but he could not let the Southwestern Front Army and the Central Front Army warn others, lest he be regarded as a magic stick.
After dark, Sokov did not leave the headquarters. He sat at the table, stared at the map spread out on it, and muttered to himself: "History will not be biased because of his own appearance, right? If the German army did not By launching an attack in the early morning, I would have to make a public review at the military meeting in the morning, and it might even affect my image in Konev's mind."
However, the night passed, and the phone on the table never rang.
Looking at the bright sky outside, Sokov's mood couldn't help but sink to the bottom. Could it be that his appearance really caused a deviation in history, so that the Germans did not report to the Soviet Union in Kursk in the early morning of the 5th? The army launched an attack?
Samek came in from the outside and was startled when he saw Sokov sitting at the table, looking a little haggard. He quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, have you been sitting in the headquarters all night?" ?"
"Yes." Sokov picked up the cigarette case on the table, took out a cigarette from it, lit it in his mouth and said: "I don't know why, but I always have an ominous premonition in my heart, feeling that Germany People might launch an attack on our defense zone?”
"What, the enemy will launch an attack on our defense zone?" Sameko said nervously: "Comrade Commander, there are no decent defenses in our defense zone at all. If the enemy really launches an attack on us, how can we How about blocking them?"
"Chief of Staff, you are mistaken." Seeing that Samyko had misunderstood what he meant, Sokov quickly waved his hand at him and explained: "I am talking about friendly defense areas. They may be attacked by the Germans in the near future. attack."
"Oh, that's it." Seeing that Sokov mentioned something that the German army might do again, Samyko couldn't help but feel a little impatient, and quickly changed the topic: "Comrade Commander, you have been sitting here all night , you must be sleepy and hungry, right? You lie down and rest for a while, and I'll have someone prepare breakfast for you."
I saw that it was already eight o'clock in the morning, but there was no news from the direction of Kursk. Sokov could not sleep. He simply ate something and, together with Lunev and under the protection of Samoilov, took a jeep to the front headquarters for a meeting.
When Sokov arrived at the front army headquarters, he found several generals sitting and chatting inside. When Sokov walked into the room, everyone stopped talking and focused their attention neatly on Sokov.
"Comrade Commander," Lunev reminded Sokov in a low voice: "Everyone is looking at you. It seems that they all know what you are going to inspect at the meeting today."
At Luniev's kind reminder, Sokov couldn't help but smile bitterly. If there was no news from the direction of Kursk, it would be inevitable for him to conduct an inspection at the meeting today, so he began to think about how to conduct a profound review to get the approval of his superiors and colleagues?
Time soon entered July. Since they did not see any movement from the Germans, the commanders of each division could not help but relax. They even complained privately that Sokov was making a fuss out of a molehill.
Sokov clearly remembered that the Battle of Kursk kicked off in the early morning of July 5, so he notified each division as early as the 3rd to distribute ammunition to the commanders and fighters and make all battle preparations.
The order he issued quickly reached Konev's ears. Konev didn't know what Sokov was doing, so he called him and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Sokov, what are you doing? Why are you distributing ammunition to the troops and issuing a battle alert?"
Sokov would definitely not tell Konev that the German army would launch a surprise attack on the Soviet troops stationed in the Kursk area in the early morning of the 5th. He could only say vaguely: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I think After two months of rest, the Germans may launch another attack on our defense zone. As you know, my troops have been training for the past few months. I have put them into combat readiness solely to test their training results.”
"Nonsense, it's just nonsense." Konev waited for Sokov to finish and said unhappily: "Even if you want to test the training results of the troops, you can't just distribute ammunition to the troops? You know, the actions of your army group, This caused a series of bad chain reactions, and several other group army commanders called me one after another, asking why they were not informed of combat missions."
Konev's words made Sokov realize that his actions were a bit too reckless. He distributed ammunition to the troops on a large scale and put them into combat readiness. Such an action would definitely not be concealed from nearby friendly forces, thus creating a series of chain reactions and causing unnecessary panic.
While Sokov was thinking about how to explain to Konev, he heard Konev continue: "The day after tomorrow, that is, on the morning of July 5, we will hold a military meeting at the level of the group army commander. You must make a profound examination of this matter at the meeting."
Knowing that the meeting was held on the morning of July 5th, Sokov couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If the meeting was held tomorrow, he would definitely not be able to escape the fate of the examination; but if it was postponed to the morning of the day after tomorrow, then the library would The battle of Ersk has already begun. Maybe Konev will secretly lament that he has foresight, and the inspection will naturally not be left undisturbed.
After knowing what was going on, Sokov quickly said with a correct attitude: "I understand, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I will make a profound reflection on my reckless behavior at the military meeting the day after tomorrow."
Lunev, who was standing nearby, looked at Sokov who was on the phone with a worried expression. As soon as the other party put down the phone, he said anxiously: "Comrade Commander, do you think it is necessary for me to talk to my superiors so that you don't have to undergo an examination?"
Sokov knew in his heart that what Lunev said about communicating with his superiors was to prepare to contact Beria, so that he could mediate through Beria to avoid any punishment. But Sokov, who has a deep understanding of history, knew the specific time when the Battle of Kursk began. Not only would he not be punished for the meeting, but he might also be praised by Konev, so he declined Runev's offer. Good intentions: "Comrade Military Commissioner, thank you for your kindness. Since this matter is an order issued by me, no matter what kind of punishment the superiors give us, I will accept it calmly."
Hearing what Sokov said, Lunev could only sigh softly, not knowing what to say. Sameko asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, do you need to take back all the ammunition that has been distributed?"
"No, there is no need to take back the ammunition that has been issued." Sokov said seriously: "On the contrary, we have to tell the commanders of each division to be ready for combat. Maybe we will be thrown into battle soon."
"Comrade Commander," when Sokov said this, Samyko couldn't help but shook his head secretly. He felt that Sokov seemed to be a little obsessed. Now the German army showed no sign of attacking at all. Even if there was a fight, the Steppe Front Army would It seems that the chance of this reserve team going to the battlefield is still unknown, but recently the commander has been mentioning the possibility of fighting every now and then like an obsession. "Do you really think there will be a fight?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said in a positive tone: "According to my judgment, since the Germans did not launch an attack in June, they will postpone the attack to early July, maybe later. In a few days, an unexpected battle will break out.”
"It's over, it's over. Comrade Commander's nerves are a little abnormal." Sameko thought sadly in his heart: "If he leaves the army, who will his superiors send to take over his position?"
Sokov didn't know that in Samek's heart, he already regarded himself as a lunatic. He was still thinking secretly in his heart. Once the Grassland Front wanted to join the battle, his troops would definitely bear the brunt. Which division should be allowed to enter the battlefield first?
On July 4th, Sokov spent the whole day in a state of anxiety. He knew the exact time of the German attack, but he could not let the Southwestern Front Army and the Central Front Army warn others, lest he be regarded as a magic stick.
