Sokov followed Khokhlov and others to the division headquarters. Seeing the busy scene here, he couldn't help but nodded secretly. It seemed that Colonel Khokhlov did not relax while leading people to greet him. work here.
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov took off his hat and put it on the table after sitting down at the table. He looked at Khokhlov and asked, "Comrade General, didn't he make things difficult for you?"
"At first, he tried his best to prevent us from building fortifications, but a communications staff officer accompanying him told him that he had just received the latest news that the leading troops of the German army had rushed into Oboyan." Khokhlov explained to Sokov Said: "Comrade General heard the news and stood here for a long time. Before leaving, let us improve the defenses here as soon as possible."
The division chief of staff continued: "If the German army hadn't rushed into Oboyan, I think General Apanashenko would still have stopped us from building fortifications."
"It makes sense for Comrade General to prevent us from building fortifications." Khokhlov continued: "According to the intelligence we have obtained, in order to prevent the German attack in the Kursk area, our friendly forces have carefully designed defenses. The plan built several lines of defense with a defense depth of more than 150 kilometers. The entire defense system consisted of a large number of closely coordinated trenches, barbed wire, anti-tank fire points, anti-tank ditches, and minefields. It was concentrated in the most likely direction of the German attack. A large amount of troops and firepower. Theoretically, it is basically impossible for the enemy to break through such defenses."
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov immediately refuted Khokhlov's point of view: "No matter how strong the fortification is, it has its weaknesses. As long as the attacking side pays more attention, it will definitely be able to break through. The French horse The Chino Line of Defense was considered impregnable, but it was of no use in the battle to defend France. The Germans knew that if they attacked this line of defense, the blitzkrieg might turn into a protracted tug-of-war, so they bypassed it. defense line, easily invaded France, and forced France to surrender to them."
When Sokov said this, everyone present fell silent. After a long time, Khokhlov asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, do you think that after the enemy breaks through the friendly defense line, the defense line we hastily built can stop the enemy?"
Sokov picked up the defense map on the table and pretended to read it. He knew very well that after the German army broke through the Oboyan defense line, it only advanced 35 kilometers into the depth of the Soviet defense and was unable to continue advancing. The defense area of the 182nd Division happened to be 35 kilometers away from Oboyan. By the time the German troops broke through the friendly positions and rushed here, they were already at the end of their efforts. Let alone a group army, even if there was only the 182nd Division, it would be enough for the Germans to drink. Of the pot.
After reading the defense map, Sokov put it on the table, nodded and said: "Colonel Khokhlov, your site selection is very correct. You cleverly combined the terrain with our fortifications so that our commanders and soldiers can Rely on the terrain and resolutely block the enemy who breaks through the friendly defense lines."
In order to understand the current situation, Sokov called his headquarters and asked Samyko, who was staying there: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask you if you can get in touch with the headquarters of the Voronezh Front. , I want to know the fighting situation there."
Although Sokov's location is less than 20 kilometers away from Vatutin's headquarters, which takes less than an hour by car, he still has to travel hundreds of kilometers in order to understand the opponent's situation. The headquarters outside came to contact Vatutin.
After Samyko waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he quickly replied: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I will contact the Voronezh Front Army Headquarters immediately and will report the situation on the battlefield to you as soon as possible."
Samyko said that he would reply to Sokov soon, but to get in touch with the headquarters of the Voronezh Front, he had to go through the headquarters of the Steppe Front. After several twists and turns, he finally sent the telegram inquiring about the battlefield situation. Sent to the headquarters of the Voronezh Front.
It took almost an hour before Sokov received a call from Samyko: "Comrade Commander, everything is clear. Yesterday afternoon, General Vatutin organized troops to launch a counterattack against the enemy and achieved some results. Stopped the German army's attempt to advance towards Kursk.
But during the day today, the friendly counterattack was frustrated and had to retreat to the starting point of the attack. Under this situation, the German army launched a fierce attack on our friendly forces. Although General Vatutin used all the front reserve forces, the German attack was more violent than expected. Unfortunately, after a series of fierce battles, the Germans broke through the second line of defense of the friendly forces and forced their way across. Pena River…”
When Samek introduced the battlefield situation, Sokov kept looking for the place names mentioned by the other party on the map and marked them one by one. After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Khokhlov and others with a serious expression: "Comrades, the situation is more serious than we imagined. The leading troops of the German army have forcibly crossed the Pena River. If they go well, at most In just two days, their tanks will be in front of our positions."
"What, the enemy will rush to our defense area in just two days?" Khoklov said in surprise: "Comrade Commander, you know, the friendly forces have deployed powerful forces in front of us, how can we not stop it?" Where are the enemies?”
"Is there anything impossible?" Sokov said with a straight face: "They are all new recruits who have joined the army. Many of them have not even received basic military training. Such an army can withstand the battle-hardened German army. Troops?"
Khokhlov was silent for a long time, and finally asked Sokov cautiously: "Comrade Commander, if the Germans really rush to us, do you think we can stop them? Otherwise, let the other divisions speed up their march. Speed, rush here to set up defenses?"
"Comrade Colonel, I have just said that your fortifications and the terrain are cleverly combined, allowing our commanders to rely on the fortifications to block the enemy's attack." Sokov said to Khokhlov: "Where we are The terrain is basically hilly, and the enemy cannot use armored forces on a large scale. As long as the Germans do not have the cover of tanks and artillery, their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced."
"Our fortifications were built in a hurry." Khokhlov waited for Sokov to finish and asked tentatively: "Do you think it is necessary to pull up barbed wire and lay minefields overnight?"
"You came in a hurry and didn't bring much supplies." Sokov shook his head and said, "Even if you want to pull wires and lay minefields, I'm afraid the area you can control is limited. I think it's better to forget it and let the commanders and soldiers take care of themselves. Let’s have a night’s rest. Starting tomorrow, we might start a fierce battle.”
A night of silence.
Early on the first day, an uninvited guest came to the headquarters.
Seeing the four general stars on the opponent's shoulders, Sokov immediately guessed that the dark-haired, Chinese-character face, and short commander was General Apanashenko, known as the "Czar of the Far East."
Although Sokov was dissatisfied with him for obstructing the construction of his troops yesterday, the other party's military rank was much higher than his own, and he was one of the five generals before the war. He quickly stood up to salute him and reported in accordance with the order. : "Hello, Comrade General. I am Major General Sokov, commander of the 27th Group Army. On behalf of all the commanders and fighters, I welcome you."
"You are Major General Sokov." Apanashenko nodded to Sokov and said lightly: "You look very young. I want to ask, with your qualifications and level, can you command tens of thousands of people?" Troops?"
"Comrade General, I know that I am too young and have not yet entered a military academy. My commanding ability is indeed very poor. When my superiors appointed me as the commander of the group army, I was always uneasy." Sokov said with a smile: "I hope Comrade General, when you have free time, you must give me more advice."
Apanashenko originally thought that someone like Sokov, who was young and in a high position, must have a sense of arrogance and might start a fight with him without even saying a few words. That's what he did on the phone yesterday. But when they met, Apanashchenko found that the other party treated him respectfully and did not look domineering at all.
Sokov was respectful to himself, and Apanashenko couldn't get angry at him. He could only cough heavily, and then changed the subject and asked: "General Sokov, you must also know that the German army broke through our army. The second line of defense and the forced crossing of the Pena River, right?”
"Yes, Comrade General." Sokov nodded and replied, "I heard about it."
Sokov followed Khokhlov and others to the division headquarters. Seeing the busy scene here, he couldn't help but nodded secretly. It seemed that Colonel Khokhlov did not relax while leading people to greet him. work here.
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov took off his hat and put it on the table after sitting down at the table. He looked at Khokhlov and asked, "Comrade General, didn't he make things difficult for you?"
"At first, he tried his best to prevent us from building fortifications, but a communications staff officer accompanying him told him that he had just received the latest news that the leading troops of the German army had rushed into Oboyan." Khokhlov explained to Sokov Said: "Comrade General heard the news and stood here for a long time. Before leaving, let us improve the defenses here as soon as possible."
The division chief of staff continued: "If the German army hadn't rushed into Oboyan, I think General Apanashenko would still have stopped us from building fortifications."
"It makes sense for Comrade General to prevent us from building fortifications." Khokhlov continued: "According to the intelligence we have obtained, in order to prevent the German attack in the Kursk area, our friendly forces have carefully designed defenses. The plan built several lines of defense with a defense depth of more than 150 kilometers. The entire defense system consisted of a large number of closely coordinated trenches, barbed wire, anti-tank fire points, anti-tank ditches, and minefields. It was concentrated in the most likely direction of the German attack. A large amount of troops and firepower. Theoretically, it is basically impossible for the enemy to break through such defenses."
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov immediately refuted Khokhlov's point of view: "No matter how strong the fortification is, it has its weaknesses. As long as the attacking side pays more attention, it will definitely be able to break through. The French horse The Chino Line of Defense was considered impregnable, but it was of no use in the battle to defend France. The Germans knew that if they attacked this line of defense, the blitzkrieg might turn into a protracted tug-of-war, so they bypassed it. defense line, easily invaded France, and forced France to surrender to them."
When Sokov said this, everyone present fell silent. After a long time, Khokhlov asked cautiously: "Comrade Commander, do you think that after the enemy breaks through the friendly defense line, the defense line we hastily built can stop the enemy?"
Sokov picked up the defense map on the table and pretended to read it. He knew very well that after the German army broke through the Oboyan defense line, it only advanced 35 kilometers into the depth of the Soviet defense and was unable to continue advancing. The defense area of the 182nd Division happened to be 35 kilometers away from Oboyan. By the time the German troops broke through the friendly positions and rushed here, they were already at the end of their efforts. Let alone a group army, even if there was only the 182nd Division, it would be enough for the Germans to drink. Of the pot.
After reading the defense map, Sokov put it on the table, nodded and said: "Colonel Khokhlov, your site selection is very correct. You cleverly combined the terrain with our fortifications so that our commanders and soldiers can Rely on the terrain and resolutely block the enemy who breaks through the friendly defense lines."
In order to understand the current situation, Sokov called his headquarters and asked Samyko, who was staying there: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I would like to ask you if you can get in touch with the headquarters of the Voronezh Front. , I want to know the fighting situation there."
Although Sokov's location is less than 20 kilometers away from Vatutin's headquarters, which takes less than an hour by car, he still has to travel hundreds of kilometers in order to understand the opponent's situation. The headquarters outside came to contact Vatutin.
After Samyko waited for Sokov to finish speaking, he quickly replied: "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I will contact the Voronezh Front Army Headquarters immediately and will report the situation on the battlefield to you as soon as possible."
Samyko said that he would reply to Sokov soon, but to get in touch with the headquarters of the Voronezh Front, he had to go through the headquarters of the Steppe Front. After several twists and turns, he finally sent the telegram inquiring about the battlefield situation. Sent to the headquarters of the Voronezh Front.
It took almost an hour before Sokov received a call from Samyko: "Comrade Commander, everything is clear. Yesterday afternoon, General Vatutin organized troops to launch a counterattack against the enemy and achieved some results. Stopped the German army's attempt to advance towards Kursk.
