"I'm sorry, Comrade General." Unexpectedly, Sokov responded coldly to Apanashenko's order: "Please forgive me for not being able to carry out your order."
Sokov's words shocked everyone present. According to everyone's understanding, after hearing Apanashenko's order, shouldn't Sokov immediately start deploying troops and generals to launch an assault on the German troops who broke through the defense line?
"Comrade Sokov, do you know what you are doing?" Seeing that Sokov refused to carry out his orders, Apanashenko looked particularly angry: "Do you know that you are disobeying orders? I can kill you at any time. You court-martial."
If it were anyone else, hearing Apanashenko say this, they would have been frightened out of their wits and surrendered obediently. Even if they knew that Apanashenko's order was wrong, they would still have the courage to carry it out. But Sokov said without being humble or condescending: "Comrade General, now we don't know the strength of the enemy who broke through the defense line and what kind of weapons and equipment they have, so we rashly launch a counterattack, which is to let my soldiers die. And if the counterattack fails, , when the enemy rushes here, what kind of force should we use to stop them?"
The commanders of the 182nd Division were very moved when they heard Sokov explain the reasons for his disobedience. They knew very well that Sokov was using his own future to save their lives. However, everyone was immediately worried about Sokov's future fate. After all, he was disobeying orders.
Sokov saw everyone's worries and continued: "Comrade General, although your military rank is higher than mine, you are not my direct leader after all. I have the right not to execute the orders you gave me."
Everyone thought that Apanashenko would be furious after hearing Sokov's words. But Apanashenko did not speak. He picked up the cigarette case on the table, took out a cigarette from it, lit it, took a deep breath, and said to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, it seems that you have already Just consider all the consequences.”
"Yes, Comrade General, I have considered the consequences of disobedience." Sokov said seriously: "But if I carry out your order at this moment and let the troops rush into counterattack, in the final result, it is possible that The enemy was not repulsed, but our army suffered heavy losses. Once the enemy took the opportunity to advance, there would be no troops to stop them."
"Are you just going to watch the enemy break through our defense line?"
"We will resolutely block the enemy's advance in the Shumakovo area." Sokov replied resolutely: "We will never let them get close to Moscow again."
"If the enemy successfully breaks through our defense line in the direction of Oboyan and continues to increase the investment of troops, do you think you can block the enemy's attack with your small force?"
"I believe we can do this." After Sokov said this, seeing the confusion on Apanashenko's face, he invited him to come to the map and explained to him: "Comrade General, take a look. The terrain here is not conducive to the deployment of large-scale armored forces at all. The Germans are obviously aware of this, so they will not invest too many tanks in our direction. As long as the enemy invests a limited number of tanks, then I have Confidence keeps the enemy at bay.”
"Then tell me, in which direction will the Germans invest a large number of armored forces?"
Sokov thought that Vatutin might already know the direction of the German army's next attack. If he told the so-called analysis at this moment, even if he learned about it through Apanaschenko, it would not arouse any suspicion, so he He said confidently and boldly: "I think the Germans will invest all their armored forces in Prokhorovka. The terrain here is flat, and large-scale mechanized troops will be deployed immediately, and our army's defense force is not strong. If I were a German commander, I would put the main assault force here."
"Prokhorovka?!" Apanashenko stared at the direction Sokov said for a while, then turned and asked: "Comrade Sokov, are you really sure that the enemy will use the main assault force? Put it in this area?”
"Yes, Comrade General." Sokov replied: "The probability is very high."
"Major," Apanashenko immediately ordered his adjutant after receiving a definite answer from Sokov, "contact the headquarters immediately. I will report this important information to Comrade Vatutin immediately."
The major quickly ordered the accompanying soldiers to move a walkie-talkie into the division headquarters and began to speak in plain language. Sokov couldn't help but feel a thump in his heart when he heard the other party speaking in plain language, and quickly reminded Apanashenko: "Comrade General, you cannot speak in plain language, as this may be eavesdropped by the Germans."
But Apanashenko waved his hand and said disapprovingly: "The enemy will hear it as long as it takes now."
The radio station quickly contacted Vatutin. When he heard Vatutin's voice coming from the earphones, Apanashenko said into the transmitter: "Comrade Vatutin, I am now at the headquarters of the friendly forces. Here, I just got some information and want to inform you."
"What information?"
"According to Major General Sokov, commander of the 27th Army, the German forces that broke through our defense line at Oboyan may turn the main force of their armored forces to the Prokhorovka area..."
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Vatutin asked coldly, "I would like to ask, where did you hear this kind of information?"
Apanashenko glanced at Sokov who was standing next to him, and replied: "General Vatutin, I just said it, it was the analysis made by the commander of the 27th Army, Major General Sokov..."
"It seems that his analysis is correct. Judging from the direction of the concentration of German armored forces, an assault on the Prokhorovka area is inevitable." Vatutin may have noticed the use of plain language on the radio. , there is a possibility of leaking secrets, so at this point, I said euphemistically: "Comrade Deputy Commander, there are some things that are difficult to discuss on the phone. You should return to the headquarters as soon as possible. I will tell you the details."
Although Apanashenko was not willing to return to the headquarters at this time, in any case, Vatutin was his immediate boss now. He asked him to go back, but he really had to go back. After he ended the call with Vatutin, he said to Sokov: "Comrade Sokov, I am going back to the front army headquarters. I hope you can remember what you just said and must block the enemies who break through our defense lines." ."Yuyuan Book Bar
"Don't worry, Comrade General." Sokov looked at Apanashenko, who would die in a few days, and said seriously: "We will do our best to block the enemy's attack."
After sending Apanashenko away, Sokov began to assign tasks to Khokhlov and others: "... deploy anti-tank firepower on the hills on both sides of the road. After the enemy tanks enter the ambush circle, Just use rocket launchers to destroy it...The mission of your division is to use every possible means to slow down the German army's advance speed and consume their vitality."
"Comrade Commander, I have a question." As soon as Sokov finished speaking, the division chief of staff raised his hand and asked: "If you are not here and General Apanashenko comes here to give orders, what should we do? what to do?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov looked at the division chief of staff and said seriously: "I remind you to remember that I am the commander of the 27th Group Army, not General Apanashenko. The person commanding the troops is I, not him, therefore, not only do you not need to carry out any orders he gives you. If my superiors want to hold me accountable in the future, I will bear a series of consequences."
When Sokov said this, he thought to himself that Apanashenko only had less than a month left in his life. Even if he wanted to deal with him, he would have to wait until the Battle of Kursk was over, by which time he would have already lost his hair. , then it will naturally be settled at this time, and you don’t need to worry at all.
Seeing that Sokov was willing to take all responsibilities, Khokhlov and others felt much more at ease. To be honest, one was an old commander who was promoted to general before the war, and the other was his superior. They were caught in the middle. It’s also very difficult.
While the chief of staff was assigning defensive tasks to each regiment, Khokhlov asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Commander, after the follow-up troops arrive, how do you plan to arrange them? Let them continue to build defenses in the north. Fortifications?”
"There is no need." Sokov shook his head and said: "When the follow-up troops arrive, your division can hand over part of the defense area to them. After you reduce the defense front, you can mobilize troops to form a reserve team to play in the later stages of the battle. A bigger role.”
"Comrade Commander, how long do you think this battle will last?" When Khokhlov heard Sokov using the word battle, he immediately thought of the Battle of Stalingrad that had just ended half a year ago. He asked tentatively: "Three months or five months?"
Sokov thought that the duration of the entire battle was only more than fifty days, which was far from being compared with the 200 days of the battle to defend Stalingrad, so he said easily: "Don't worry, not only is this battle fierce, but also It will definitely be over before September.”
"What, it can end before September?" Khokhlov said with some surprise: "I thought it would last until next year."
"Don't look at the Kharkov offensive launched by our army, which ended in failure." Sokov said to Khokhlov: "But after the defense of Stalingrad, the German army lost a lot of elite troops. The newly added troops will be greatly reduced in terms of combat effectiveness. With their current strength, it is obviously impossible for them to engage in a battle with us that lasts for more than half a year. Therefore, it will take at most one or two months to end this battle. The battle ended with our army’s victory.”
"Judging from the current situation," Khokhlov seemed to be talking to himself, or to Sokov: "After the battle is over, both the enemy and us will be exhausted, and I am afraid that for a long time, both sides will be exhausted. No new campaign can be launched."
"Comrade Colonel, if you think so, you are wrong." Sokov said to Khokhlov: "Once our army achieves a decisive victory in the direction of Kursk, then we will gain the initiative on the battlefield. Originally, it was the Germans who had the final say when and where to launch the attack, but as long as we win this victory, we will have the initiative on the battlefield, and it will be up to us to decide when and where to launch the attack. That’s the last word.”
Sokov considered that the 182nd Division was equipped with a limited number of new rockets and rocket launchers, and that it might not be able to gain any advantage in the event of a firefight with the Germans, so he ordered Khokhlov to get through the phone call to the headquarters. Hearing Samyko's voice coming from the receiver, Sokov immediately ordered him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have an urgent task for you to complete now."
"Please tell me, Comrade Commander." Samek said respectfully, "I will resolutely obey your orders."
"The enemy has broken through the direction of friendly forces in the Oboyan area and is heading towards Shumakovo, where our troops are stationed." Sokov told Samyko on the phone: "Immediately take the divisions that have not yet set off. The new rockets were gathered together and sent to Shumakovo by truck as soon as possible.”
"Comrade Commander," Samyko said with some embarrassment after hearing Sokov's order: "If we use trucks to transport rockets, it will affect the transportation of troops."
"The effect of a truck of new rockets is at least more than that of a regiment." Sokov said forcefully: "The matter of troop transport can be put aside for the time being, but after dawn tomorrow, I hope to see more new rockets Rockets appeared in the defense area of the 182nd Division."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." When Samyko heard what Sokov said, he could only reply: "I immediately arranged for people to collect all the rockets and encounter the Shumakovo area as soon as possible."
Sokov considered that the 182nd Division was equipped with a limited number of new rockets and rocket launchers, and that it might not be able to gain any advantage in the event of a firefight with the Germans, so he ordered Khokhlov to get through the phone call to the headquarters. Hearing Samyko's voice coming from the receiver, Sokov immediately ordered him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I have an urgent task for you to complete now."
"Please tell me, Comrade Commander." Samek said respectfully, "I will resolutely obey your orders."
"The enemy has broken through the direction of friendly forces in the Oboyan area and is heading towards Shumakovo, where our troops are stationed." Sokov told Samyko on the phone: "Immediately take the divisions that have not yet set off. The new rockets were gathered together and sent to Shumakovo by truck as soon as possible.”
"Comrade Commander," Samyko said with some embarrassment after hearing Sokov's order: "If we use trucks to transport rockets, it will affect the transportation of troops."
"The effect of a truck of new rockets is at least more than that of a regiment." Sokov said forcefully: "The matter of troop transport can be put aside for the time being, but after dawn tomorrow, I hope to see more new rockets Rockets appeared in the defense area of the 182nd Division."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." When Samyko heard what Sokov said, he could only reply: "I immediately arranged for people to collect all the rockets and encounter the Shumakovo area as soon as possible."
