If there were only ordinary Soviet troops stationed in Shumakovo at this moment, Hausser would definitely order the Imperial Division to continue attacking northward without hesitation. After all, in his eyes, one Imperial Division was enough to deal with five or six Russian divisions. . But now that he learned that Shumakovo actually had his enemy stationed there, he had to become cautious.
Hausser was silent for a long time and asked the division chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, are you sure that the Russian troops stationed in the Shumakovo area are Sokov's 27th Army?"
"Yes, your Excellency, Corps Commander." The division chief of staff replied: "This is basically certain. But we don't know exactly how many troops they have assembled in the Shumakovo area."
"Send effective scouts immediately to conduct reconnaissance in this area." Hausser felt that if his troops wanted to continue advancing north, they must understand the Soviet defense situation in the Shumakovo area. If we move forward rashly, the tragedy of the past few months may happen again.
"Understood, Your Excellency, Army Commander." The division chief of staff replied respectfully: "I will send out scouts as soon as possible to conduct reconnaissance in the Shumakovo area."
"Chief of Staff, not as soon as possible, but immediately, immediately." Hausser said to the division chief of staff in a stern tone: "On the battlefield, every minute is precious. If you understand the enemy's troop deployment a minute earlier, then We have a better chance of winning. Do you understand?"
"Understood." The division chief of staff replied resoundingly: "I immediately sent a capable reconnaissance force to conduct reconnaissance in the Shumakovo area to find out the Russian defense situation there."
At this time, the number of Soviet troops arriving in the Shumakovo area has increased to four divisions, namely Colonel Khokhlov's 182nd Division, Major General Fomenko's 84th Division, Colonel Koida's 188th Division and Major General Gritsenko's 384th Division.
Sokov summoned four division commanders to his temporary headquarters for a meeting. He pointed to the map spread out on the table and said to everyone: "There are now three lines of defense in the Shumakovo area, which are held by the 182nd Division. The first line of defense, the second line of defense defended by the 84th Division, and the third line of defense controlled by the 188th Division. Our entry into this area must have been noticed by the Germans, but in order to confuse the enemy, they misjudged , the regiment of each of your divisions that is holding on to the position can set up more false positions to make the enemy think that each of our defense lines has a division of troops. In this way, they will not be able to take the initiative to attack us before they gather enough troops. "
"Comrade Commander," Lunev asked curiously after Sokov finished speaking: "Are we just passively waiting for the enemy to launch an attack?"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov said to Lunev with a smile: "Passive defense has never been my characteristic. All I ordered the troops on the defense line to make false moves to confuse the enemy was to cover actions in other directions. .General Gritsenko!"
"Here!" Major General Gritsenko straightened his back when his name was called and quietly waited for Sokov's order.
"According to my judgment," Sokov pointed at the map with red and blue pencils and said to Gritsenko: "The enemy will not dare to easily launch an attack on the Shumakovo area until he has figured out our deployment. The mission of your division is to sneak back to the enemy's flank, launch a surprise attack, and disrupt their offensive deployment."
"Comrade Commander," after Gritsenko heard Sokov's order, he glanced at Lunev beside him, and then replied with some embarrassment: "The new rockets issued by our division, They are all handed over to Comrade Military Commissar. I wonder how many new rockets you can provide us for this roundabout mission?"
Sokov was very familiar with the power of new rockets and knew that Gritsenko's troops did not have any decent artillery. If they carried too few rockets, it would be very difficult to take the initiative to attack the German army. Out of this consideration, he said: "In order to better complete this roundabout mission, in addition to returning all of your original rockets, I will also replenish some of them for you."
"Great, Comrade Commander, this is really great." Not long after Gritsenko arrived here, he heard about the deeds of a small team that went deep behind enemy lines and wiped out almost a battalion of German troops with rockets. He couldn't help but feel itchy in his heart. At this moment, he learned that Sokov would provide him with a large number of rockets to carry out roundabout combat missions. He couldn't help but be overjoyed and said repeatedly: "We will never let you down."
Several other division commanders were a little jealous when they heard that Sokov had entrusted such a difficult task to Division Gritsenko. Khokhlov took a step forward and said: "Comrade Commander, our division has been stationed here for the longest time and is the most familiar with the environment. I hope you can assign similar tasks to us."
"Don't be anxious, Comrade Colonel." Sokov comforted Khokhlov and said: "After the enemy is confused by us, I will ask the main forces of your divisions to circle back to the enemy's flanks and give them a severe lesson. ." He drew a circle around Oboyan's position with his finger, "Even if we cannot completely annihilate the Imperial Division, we must drive them south from here."
"Comrade Commander," the commanders present were all puzzled by Sokov's statement. Colonel Koida asked on behalf of everyone the question in everyone's mind: "Why are we driving the enemy south?"
"Everyone should know that Oboyan is an important gathering place for our army. Once a large number of German armor stays in this area, it will pose a huge threat to our army." Sokov continued: "But we must They rush south, forcing them to turn towards Prokhorovka, and then the threat to Oboyan can be greatly reduced."
"Comrade Commander, I don't understand why the enemy is driven to Prokhorovka?" Koida said puzzledly: "The terrain in that direction is flat, which is conducive to the deployment of large-scale German armored forces. Once they move from If they launch an attack in that direction, our defensive positions will not be able to stop them from making a detour to the rear of our army. I am worried that if this happens, all our troops may be encircled."
When the encirclement was mentioned, the expressions of several commanders present changed. Some of them participated in the defense of Kiev and were lucky enough to be the lucky ones to successfully break through; others participated in the offensive of Kharkov and experienced what it was like to be surrounded by the German army. At this moment, I learned that once the German army reached Prokhorovka, my troops would be in danger of being encircled, and I couldn't help but feel anxious. However, everyone understood that Sokov would not talk about Prokhorovka without reason, so they were ready to listen to what he had to say and then decide whether they should persuade him.
"From Oboyan to us, there are a lot of hills, swamps and rivers." Sokov said to everyone: "Such a terrain is not only unfavorable for the deployment of the enemy's armored forces, but also affects our ability to invest enough in this area. number of tanks. But if we switch to Prokhorovka, the situation will change. Not only the tank army of the Voronezh Front can fight to the death with the enemy's armored forces here, but even the Fifth Guards Tank Army of our front army can also We can enter the battle. Then we can rely on our numerical advantage to defeat the enemy trying to rush towards Kursk."
After everyone listened to Sokov's explanation, they stared at the map for a long time, and felt that what Sokov said made sense. Both sides can take advantage of the wide terrain of Prokhorovka and invest as many tanks as possible to engage in a massive decisive battle.
But if the large-scale decisive battle with the enemy is concentrated in Prokhorovka, then our troops staying in Shumakovo will seem a bit idle. Therefore, after a pause, Koida asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, if the enemy and we really launched a large-scale decisive battle in Prokhorovka, wouldn't it be difficult for us to achieve meritorious service here? "
"Don't worry, Comrade Colonel." Seeing Koida's worried look, Sokov comforted him and said: "As long as we severely damage the Imperial Division, it will be a great victory. As long as we disrupt the enemy's offensive deployment, then We can choose to launch a surprise attack on the enemy at the right time."
If another commander said this, the commanders present would definitely murmur in their hearts, thinking that the other commander was bragging. But when these words came out of Sokov's mouth, they were particularly convincing. Everyone felt that it was only natural for their troops to attack the German army.
"General Gritsenko," Sokov named Gritsenko's name again after assigning tasks to each division, and said to him: "I know that after the long march, all the commanders and fighters of your division have changed. You are exhausted. I wanted you to take a good rest for a while, but that’s not possible, Comrade General." Sokov sighed and said, "Today is a rare opportunity to fight. If we miss it like this, we will have to destroy these enemies in the future. We will pay a higher price.”
"I understand, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sokov trusted him so much and actually told him what was in his heart, Gritsenko was very moved. He assured Sokov: "When I return to the army, I will We will ask Lieutenant Colonel Jaynego, the political commissar, to carry out propaganda and agitation work for the commanders and fighters. I believe that the commanders and fighters will always maintain the highest morale to complete this glorious task you have entrusted to us."
Just when Sokov was about to announce the breakup of the meeting, Lunev interrupted and asked: "Comrade Commander, since you want to order the 384th Division to attack the enemy from the flank, should you add more anti-tank weapons to them? After all, the enemy still has A tank regiment equipped with Tiger tanks?”
If Lunev hadn't said anything, Gritsenko would have forgotten that he still needed to deal with the enemy's tanks. At this moment, when he heard that Lunev made a request for him, he stared at Sokov intently, wanting to hear what he had to say.
But Sokov waved his hand and said: "I don't think this is necessary. I have just said that in our direction, due to terrain restrictions, it is impossible for the enemy to invest a large number of armored troops, so even if they are making a roundabout way, During the process, we encountered the enemy's tank troops, which were only small units and could be dealt with with their existing anti-tank weapons."
"Okay." Hearing what Sokov said, Lunev felt that he seemed to have a match. If the 384th Division carried out roundabout operations, it was possible to encounter a large-scale German armored force, even if he didn't say it, With Sokov's character, he will definitely arrange a large number of anti-tank weapons for the opponent. He replied with some embarrassment: "Then follow your orders."
Gritsenko was somewhat disappointed when he saw that Sokov was unwilling to give him more anti-tank weapons. But after listening to Sokov's explanation, I felt that with the existing anti-tank forces in his division, there should be no problem in dealing with the enemy's armored forces. After understanding this truth, he untied the knot in his mind, raised his hand and gave a ring salute to Sokov and Lunev, then turned and walked out of the temporary headquarters.
"I understand, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Sokov trusted him so much and actually told him what was in his heart, Gritsenko was very moved. He assured Sokov: "When I return to the army, I will We will ask Lieutenant Colonel Jaynego, the political commissar, to carry out propaganda and agitation work for the commanders and fighters. I believe that the commanders and fighters will always maintain the highest morale to complete this glorious task you have entrusted to us."
Just when Sokov was about to announce the breakup of the meeting, Lunev interrupted and asked: "Comrade Commander, since you want to order the 384th Division to attack the enemy from the flank, should you add more anti-tank weapons to them? After all, the enemy still has A tank regiment equipped with Tiger tanks?”
If Lunev hadn't said anything, Gritsenko would have forgotten that he still needed to deal with the enemy's tanks. At this moment, when he heard that Lunev made a request for him, he stared at Sokov intently, wanting to hear what he had to say.
But Sokov waved his hand and said: "I don't think this is necessary. I have just said that in our direction, due to terrain restrictions, it is impossible for the enemy to invest a large number of armored troops, so even if they are making a roundabout way, During the process, we encountered the enemy's tank troops, which were only small units and could be dealt with with their existing anti-tank weapons."
"Okay." Hearing what Sokov said, Lunev felt that he seemed to have a match. If the 384th Division carried out roundabout operations, it was possible to encounter a large-scale German armored force, even if he didn't say it, With Sokov's character, he will definitely arrange a large number of anti-tank weapons for the opponent. He replied with some embarrassment: "Then follow your orders."
Gritsenko was somewhat disappointed when he saw that Sokov was unwilling to give him more anti-tank weapons. But after listening to Sokov's explanation, I felt that with the existing anti-tank forces in his division, there should be no problem in dealing with the enemy's armored forces. After understanding this truth, he untied the knot in his mind, raised his hand to salute Sokov and Lunev, then turned and walked out of the temporary headquarters.
