When a German armored detachment accidentally rushed near the Guards Division headquarters, Malankin realized that the troops on his left wing had been defeated by the Germans and did not even greet him when they evacuated.
After discovering the enemy's traces, Malanjin immediately ordered his chief of staff: "Call the commander of the 238th Regiment and order him to command the troops to destroy the enemy who rushed near the division headquarters. At the same time, establish a defense on the left wing to prevent the enemy from attacking us." The defense line is broken."
While the chief of staff was in contact with the 238th Regiment, Malanjin dialed the number of the group army headquarters: "I am General Malanjin, commander of the Guards Division. Please help me find the commander to answer the phone."
When Klitschko learned that Malankin was looking for him, he quickly took the microphone from his staff: "I am Klitschko, General Malankin, how is the situation there?"
"Too bad, Comrade Commander." Malankin knew that the situation was critical at this moment and he needed to race against time, so he did not talk in circles with Klitschko, but said bluntly: "The 107th Division on our left was defeated by the Germans and is retreating. He didn’t even say hello to me. If the enemy tanks hadn’t rushed near my headquarters, I wouldn’t have known that the enemy’s defense line had been breached.”
"What, the defense line of the 107th Division was broken through by the Germans?" Klitschko was stunned when he heard the news. Not long ago, he was killing the 6th Armored Division Commander Huo Huo for Sokov's troops. Nadolph was complacent and felt that the German attack today was nothing more than this. Then within a few hours, the situation suddenly took a turn for the worse, and the left wing position was actually broken through by the Germans.
After a brief panic, he asked again: "What about your right wing? It's not occupied by the enemy, right?"
"No." Malankin answered simply, "General Sokov's troops still stubbornly held on to the right wing of our division and did not allow the German invaders to advance a step."
Knowing that Sokov's troops were still holding on to their position, Klitschko couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that Sokov's troops were good at defensive warfare. As long as they could hold their position, even if some areas were broken through by the Germans, they could still delay and hinder the German army's advance towards Prokhorovka.
After Klitschko put down the phone, he said to his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, immediately contact the 305th Division that General Sokov is interested in and find out what their current situation is."
The chief of staff agreed and immediately asked the director of the communications corps to get through to the 305th Division's headquarters. But the other party quickly told him with regret: "I'm sorry, Comrade Chief of Staff, I can't get through to the 305th Division headquarters."
"What's going on?" Klitschko heard what the communications director said and immediately asked with a straight face: "Is there a problem with the line?"
"Comrade Commander," the director of the communications corps quickly replied, "I have already sent people to check the line. It should not be a problem with the line."
"It's not a problem with the line?" The words of the communications director made Klitschko feel an ominous feeling in his heart: "What do you mean, was the 305th Division also repelled by the enemy?"
"It's hard to say." The director of the communications corps replied with some embarrassment: "Everything has to wait until the communications corps checks the lines before we can figure out what is going on."
"On the battlefield, every minute is precious." Klitschko waved his hand and said to the director of the communications corps: "Since the phone can't get through, then call them and ask them what's going on."
"Yes." Just as the director of the Communications Corps agreed and was about to leave, Klitschko stopped him again and said to him: "By the way, help me get through to General Sokov's headquarters. I want to talk to him. Sentence. The 305th Division is on his right wing, and we might be able to learn about the situation of the 305th Division from him."
When the director of the communications corps heard what Klitschko said, he asked tentatively: "Comrade commander, should we still use the radio to call the 305th Division?"
"The call continues," Klitschko said: "I'm just saying that it is possible to get intelligence about the 305th Division from General Sokov, or it is possible to get nothing, so the call to the 305th Division must continue."
At this time, Sokov was too overwhelmed to take care of himself. The 658th Regiment deployed on the right wing was defeated, and the pressure he endured suddenly increased. Koida asked in panic: "Comrade Commander, what should we do? The defense line on the right wing has been broken through by the enemy. Now we are attacked from both sides. If the Guards Division on the left wing cannot hold on, we may fall into the German of encirclement.”
"Then what did you think about it?" Sokov did not expect that the situation on the battlefield would suddenly take a turn for the worse. He who was originally in a favorable position was now facing the danger of being surrounded on all sides. So after hearing what Koida said, he casually asked: "Are you planning to give up your position?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Koida did have the intention to retreat, and was worried that he didn't know how to speak. When he heard what Sokov said, he quickly agreed: "The German army mobilized three divisions to attack We launched a fierce attack. Now that the 305th Division on the right has been defeated, I think the Guards Division on the left may not be able to support it for long. Why don't we abandon our position and retreat. As long as we retreat to the Pushor River, we can fight with the 84th Division who stood there. Divisions and tank corps merged to re-establish new defenses."
It would be a lie to say that Sokov was not moved by Koida's words. In any case, there are two divisions on both sides of the river, plus a tank corps. Even if the German army uses the skeleton division and two armored divisions, their own troops can rely on the river bank fortifications to carry out orderly resistance. Waiting for more troops rushed to the battlefield.
But then I thought about it, the German offensive was fierce, and if they chose to retreat now, the retreat might turn into a rout. The troops who lost their organization fled to the Pushor River. Not only was it difficult to organize a decent resistance, but it also affected the morale of other troops. After thinking about this, Sokov shook his head and said: "No, Comrade Colonel, no matter how bad the situation is, we cannot retreat easily. Once we retreat, the Guards Division on the left wing, which is fighting a fierce battle with the enemy, will fall into The danger of German encirclement. Once the Guards Division is annihilated by the enemy, the entire defense line of the 69th Group Army will collapse."
"Comrade Commander, do you really think that the Guards Division can hold their position?"
Sokov thought that the current defense front of the Guards Division was only about two kilometers. No matter how small the number of troops was, it would not be too big a problem to block the German attack. However, to be on the safe side, he decided to call Malanjin to understand their situation so that he could make a correct judgment.
Just when he was about to pick up the phone, the phone rang first. When I picked it up and listened, Klitschko's voice came from inside: "Is it General Sokov? I'm Klitschko."
"Hello, General Klitschko." Sokov guessed that the other party's call at this moment must be related to the defeat of the 305th Division. "You called me, is it related to the retreat of the 305th Division?"
Although Klitschko had long thought that the 305th Division had been defeated by the Germans, he was still very surprised when he heard the news from Sokov: "General Sokov, do you have any news about the 305th Division?"
Klitschko's words stunned Sokov: "What, General Klitschko, don't you know the news that the 305th Division was defeated by the German army?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Klitschko replied with some embarrassment: "General Sokov, our headquarters has lost contact with the 305th Division for a long time. If you have any news about them, please tell me. "
"General Klitschko, according to the information I have, the German Skeleton Division successfully broke through the 305th Division's defense line and rushed to the second position." Sokov said in order to give Klitschko a clear mind. Knowing each other, he did not hide anything from him, but said truthfully: "The 658th Regiment I deployed there successfully repelled the enemy's first attack. But they did not block the enemy's subsequent second attack. They were forced to abandon the positions they held."
From Sokov's story, Klitschko realized the seriousness of the problem. Not only was his 305th Division defeated, but even the regiment Sokov sent to help failed to stop the enemy. He was silent for a long time before murmuring: "So, my troops on the right wing are also finished."
Sokov frowned: "General Klitschko, so the situation of the troops on the left is not good too?"
"Yes," Klitschko said without concealment: "The 107th Division on the left wing has also been defeated. Now the only troops holding the defense line are your 188th Division and General Malankin's Guards Division."
Knowing that the Guards Division on the left was still holding on to its position, Sokov felt much more at ease. Fortunately, there were friendly forces still fighting, and his troops were not left alone, so it only made sense to continue to hold on. When he was about to tell Klitschko that his troops would continue to hold on, he saw worry written on Koida's face beside him. He hesitated for a moment and asked tentatively: "General Klitschko, I don't know. How long can General Malanjin and the others hold on?"
"I really can't tell how long they can hold on." Klitschko did not criticize Sokov, but said truthfully and helplessly: "But they will definitely hold on to the last person and fight to the end. A bullet."
"Okay, General Klitschko." After hearing the other party's answer, Sokov immediately made his promise: "As long as General Malankin's troops do not give up their position, then my troops will stop them at all costs. Enemy attack."
Seeing Sokov put down the phone, Koida became a little anxious. He quickly said: "Comrade Division Commander, my 562nd Regiment has been destroyed, and more than half of the 564th and 568th Regiments have been lost. With this small amount of troops, we can stop three German troops." A forceful attack by the division?"
