"Comrade Sokov, you are very thoughtful." After listening to Sokov's report, Konev said approvingly: "The detour direction has been chosen well. By detouring from the enemy's left wing, we will definitely achieve good results."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov felt that it was obviously impossible for him to carry out such a large-scale operation in the Shumakovo area without the support of the air force, so he tentatively asked Konev: "When we carry out tactical detours, At that time, I wonder if you can send the air force to cooperate with our actions?"
"What, you need the cooperation of the Air Force?" Sokov's suggestion made Konev feel very embarrassed, because he had just received an order from the Supreme Command not long ago, asking him to immediately move the 5th Guards Army, the Guards Army, and the Air Force. The 5th Guards Tank Army was transferred to Prokhorovka to assist the 6th Guards Army in the defense there. The recent mission of the 5th Air Force Army, which belongs to the front army, is to compete with the German Air Force for air supremacy there: "According to orders from superiors, the mission of the 5th Air Force Army is to compete with the enemy for air supremacy in Prokhorovka. I am afraid that We will provide you with air cover without any effort."
Konev's words made Sokov's heart sink suddenly. Are you kidding me? The lack of tanks and artillery in a large corps battle is enough to give him a headache. Now there is not even air support! If they fought during the day, their own troops would have the upper hand, but if the enemy deployed their air force and launched an indiscriminate bombing campaign, their attack might be disrupted.
Thinking of this, he said cautiously: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, if there is no air support, I am worried that we will become very passive in the next battle."
"Comrade Sokov, you are right. An army-scale attack without air support will surely suffer huge losses." Konev did not want Sokov's troops to suffer unnecessary losses. After some consideration, he said to him: "During this period, Marshals Zhukov and Vasilevsky, as representatives of the base camp, have been staying at the Central Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army. If you can make your request to them in person, , I think there is still a certain chance of getting air support."
Hearing what Konev said, Sokov began to think in his mind: He has achieved huge results on the battlefield in the past two years, and his father and Zhukov are old comrades, so he can get a lot of resources. tilt. For example, the new rockets, rocket launchers and assault rifles currently equipped to the troops are given priority to their own troops. Also, when he served as the commander of the Sixth Army, he even assigned himself two aviation divisions.
If I really make a request to Zhukov, as long as it is not too excessive, Zhukov will definitely agree. Thinking of this, he nodded and continued: "I understand, I will find a way to get in touch with Marshal Zhukov."
After Sokov put down the phone, he began to think about how to get in touch with Zhukov. Even though Zhukov was accompanied by telegraph operators and communications staff when he traveled, it was simply impossible to contact him via telegraph. In order to ensure Zhukov's personal safety and ensure that his whereabouts are not leaked, except for a few designated departments, other departments are unable to contact his radio station.
Since Zhukov could not be contacted, Sokov had also considered Vasilevsky. After all, as a representative of the base camp, he had been sitting at the headquarters of the Voronezh Front. But he quickly gave up this tempting idea. What Vasilevskiy was thinking about most at the moment was how to ensure the security of the Voronezh Front Army's defense zone and ask him to order the air force to dispatch to support friendly forces. It was unlikely that he would agree.
After going in a circle, the problem is back to the original point. It seems that only by contacting Zhukov, his troops will have a chance to receive air support from the Air Force when they attack.
Seeing that Sokov was at a loss after making the call, Lunev asked curiously: "Comrade Commander, what is it that worries you so much?"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov said with a sad face: "When I just talked with the commander of the front army, he told me that the air force directly under the front army will focus on the Prokhorovka area to fight with the enemy in the next few days. Air supremacy. In other words, the battle we will launch soon will not receive any support from the air force at all."
After hearing what Sokov said, Lunev finally understood what was going on, and he quickly asked: "Then what are you going to do?"
"The commander of the front army said that I cannot disobey the orders of my superiors. If I want to get air support during the battle, I can only contact Marshal Zhukov." Sokov was worried that Lunev did not know Zhukov's current identity, and specifically added: " Marshal Zhukov, as the representative of the base camp, is responsible for liaison between the Central Front Army and the Voronezh Front Army."
"Then you can contact him." Lunev said: "Wouldn't this solve the problem of air support?"
"Comrade Military Commissar, the problem is not that simple." Sokov said with a grimace: "I don't know where Marshal Zhukov is now. How can I get in touch with him?"
"You can contact him through the radio..." Lunev was just halfway through his words when he immediately realized that for a person of Zhukov's level, where he went must be kept strictly confidential. Sokov could not figure out his whereabouts and could not contact him. His radio station is also perfectly normal. He rolled his eyes twice and suddenly came up with a good idea: "Comrade Commander, why don't I send a telegram to Comrade Beria and ask him to inform Marshal Zhukov that you have something important to see him."
Sokov was unable to contact Zhukov directly, but as Beria, he should be qualified to contact Zhukov at any time. If he is allowed to connect people, he will surely be able to contact Zhukov soon. However, he still pretended to hesitate for a long time before asking Lunev: "Is this appropriate?"
Lunev was indeed deceived by Sokov's illusion, and he replied without hesitation: "There is nothing inappropriate, Comrade Commander, leave this matter to me."
Runev acted as he wished and immediately asked the communications troops to connect him to the Kremlin, and then found Beria through the switchboard. When Runev made his request, Beria asked hesitantly: "Do you have anything important to do with Zhukov?"
"Comrade Beria," Luniev knew that if he didn't explain the matter clearly, he was afraid that Beria would not agree to help, so he briefly introduced the ins and outs of the matter to him, and finally said: "Can you contact me? Marshal Zhukov, this is related to the results that our unit can achieve in the next battle, please do us this favor."
Regarding Lunev's request, Beria hesitated for a long time, and finally nodded and said: "Okay, I will contact Marshal Zhukov as soon as possible. Just wait for my good news."
After Lunev got Beria's promise, he immediately beamed. As soon as he put down the phone, he said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, have you heard it? Comrade Beria is willing to help us contact Marshal Zhukov. I think It won't be long before we get a call or a telegram from him."
"I hope so." Although Lunev said so, Sokov was still unsure. After all, Zhukov's whereabouts were uncertain at this time, and it was unknown whether he could receive Beria's telegram in time. But facing such enthusiastic Lunev, he still tried his best to put a smile on his face: "As long as Marshal Zhukov is willing to help, then our next battle will be much easier to fight."
"Comrade Commander," Lunev felt that before our own air force gained air supremacy, the troops that were detouring towards the German left wing should still adopt a concealed march to avoid being launched by German reconnaissance planes. First, they would expose their whereabouts and let the enemy advance in advance. Be prepared; second, you will be attacked by German air attacks, causing the troops to suffer huge losses.
"Yes, General Gritsenko's troops should choose night operations when implementing roundabouts. Even if they have to march during the day, they should choose forest areas so that they will not be discovered by enemy reconnaissance planes." Sokov said : "I will call General Gritsenko later to explain this specifically."
While having lunch at noon, Lunev received a call from Beria: "Comrade Lunev, I have sent your demands to Marshal Zhukov in the form of a telegram. I believe he will talk to you soon. Make contact.”
"That's great." Seeing that Beria really helped him contact Zhukov, Lunev quickly expressed his gratitude to him: "Thank you, thank you very much. On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 27th Group Army, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you Thanks."
According to Sokov's idea, since Beria has already sent a telegram to Zhukov, it will not take long before Zhukov will send a telegram or call him, and then he will be able to explain his request to him in detail. report.
But Sokov soon discovered that he was wrong. Until the evening, he did not receive a telegram from Zhukov, let alone a phone call. Although Sokov was disappointed in his heart, he tried his best to pretend that nothing had happened. He called Gritsenko and gave him some instructions: "...Since the enemy's air force controls the air superiority in this area, in order to To prevent your division from suffering serious casualties from German air attacks during the roundabout process, you should choose to march at night. Even if you have to march during the day, you should try to march in forest areas to avoid enemy reconnaissance. machine……"
Before Sokov finished speaking, he saw Samoilov barging in from outside and said excitedly: "Comrade Commander, I have some good news for you. Zhukov, Marshal Zhukov has come to our headquarters. ”
"What, Marshal Zhukov is here?" Samoilov's news shocked Sokov. He thought Zhukov was at Rokossovsky's headquarters or on his way back to Moscow, but he I didn't expect that the other party would appear directly here. "where?"
"He's heading towards us." Samoilov said out of breath, "In a few minutes at most, he will enter our headquarters."
When he learned that Zhukov was coming, Sokov could not sit still. He quickly called Lunev who was sitting next to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, follow me out to meet Marshal Zhukov."
"I hope so." Although Lunev said so, Sokov was still unsure. After all, Zhukov's whereabouts were uncertain at this time, and it was unknown whether he could receive Beria's telegram in time. But facing such enthusiastic Lunev, he still tried his best to put a smile on his face: "As long as Marshal Zhukov is willing to help, then our next battle will be much easier to fight."
"Comrade Commander," Lunev felt that before our own air force gained air supremacy, the troops that were detouring towards the German left wing should still adopt a concealed march to avoid being launched by German reconnaissance planes. First, they would expose their whereabouts and let the enemy advance in advance. Be prepared; second, you will be attacked by German air attacks, causing the troops to suffer huge losses.
"Yes, General Gritsenko's troops should choose night operations when implementing roundabouts. Even if they have to march during the day, they should choose forest areas so that they will not be discovered by enemy reconnaissance planes." Sokov said : "I will call General Gritsenko later to explain this specifically."
While having lunch at noon, Lunev received a call from Beria: "Comrade Lunev, I have sent your demands to Marshal Zhukov in the form of a telegram. I believe he will talk to you soon. Make contact.”
"That's great." Seeing that Beria really helped him contact Zhukov, Lunev quickly expressed his gratitude to him: "Thank you, thank you very much. On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the 27th Group Army, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you Thanks."
According to Sokov's idea, since Beria has already sent a telegram to Zhukov, it will not take long before Zhukov will send a telegram or call him, and then he will be able to explain his request to him in detail. report.
But Sokov soon discovered that he was wrong. Until the evening, he did not receive a telegram from Zhukov, let alone a phone call. Although Sokov was disappointed in his heart, he tried his best to pretend that nothing had happened. He called Gritsenko and gave him some instructions: "...Since the enemy's air force controls the air superiority in this area, in order to To prevent your division from suffering serious casualties from German air attacks during the roundabout process, you should choose to march at night. Even if you have to march during the day, you should try to march in forest areas to avoid enemy reconnaissance. machine……"
Before Sokov finished speaking, he saw Samoilov barging in from outside and said excitedly: "Comrade Commander, I have some good news for you. Zhukov, Marshal Zhukov has come to our headquarters. ”
"What, Marshal Zhukov is here?" Samoilov's news shocked Sokov. He thought Zhukov was at Rokossovsky's headquarters or on his way back to Moscow, but he I didn't expect that the other party would appear directly here. "where?"
"He's heading towards us." Samoilov said out of breath, "In a few minutes at most, he will enter our headquarters."
When he learned that Zhukov was coming, Sokov could not sit still. He quickly called Lunev who was sitting next to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, follow me out to meet Marshal Zhukov."
