"Comrade Colonel, you are right." Sokov expressed support for Koida's statement: "With our current strength, plus the Guards Division on the left, if we want to block the three German troops A forceful attack by the division is almost impossible.”
After hearing Sokov's answer, Koida couldn't help but be stunned. He thought to himself: Since you understand this truth, why do you still make a promise to Klitschko and stick to this line with the Guards Division? Is it a defense line riddled with holes?
Sokov saw his doubts and said with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, you must be wondering why you agreed to General Klitschko to stay and hold the position with the Guards Division since you knew you couldn't hold the position. position?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Koida nodded and said, "I really don't understand your intention. After all, doing so may lead to the destruction of our entire army."
"If we immediately retreat to the Pushor River and join up with the troops there, we can indeed build a strong defense to block the German offensive." Seeing that Koida was still confused, Sokov explained to him : "But if we retreat, General Malankin's Guards Division will become a lone army and will soon be surrounded by the Germans. Once they are surrounded by the enemy, the enemy can advance forward unscrupulously. They can use part of their forces to monitor us in the direction of the Pushor River, and then devote the main forces to Prokhorovka. There is only one 9th Guards Paratroopers Division in the city now, and they have no central weapons to prevent the enemy from seizing In the city, it’s basically impossible.”
Seeing that Sokov chose to stick to his position and knew the situation in the rear so well, Koida must have already thought of countermeasures, so he tentatively asked: "Comrade Commander, do you have any plan to deal with the Germans?" attack?"
"I will call Chief of Staff Sameko later and ask him to mobilize two regiments from the right bank and come over overnight to strengthen your defense." In order to reassure Koida, Sokov gave him a meal. Reassurance: "Now the main force of our army is gathering towards the Prokhorovka area. As soon as they arrive, the situation on the battlefield will become favorable to our army."
If another commander had said this to Koida, he might still have doubts: The hundreds of thousands of troops in Kiev were surrounded and annihilated by the Germans; in the attack launched in March, the two fronts had dozens of troops. Wan's troops were defeated by Manstein's inferior force.
But since these words were said by Sokov, who has made many meritorious deeds, the weight is naturally different. Koida raised his head, straightened his back and asked: "Comrade Commander, how long do you think we need to hold on?"
"I think it will take up to 48 hours," Sokov knew very well in his heart that the main force of the 5th Guards Tank Army would arrive on the battlefield one after another at noon tomorrow and contain the German offensive. But in order not to let Koida relax, he estimated that the arrival time would be 48 hours: "How about, can you hold the position?"
"With the current strength alone, it might be a bit difficult to hold the position." Koida originally thought that Sokov would order his troops to hold on for ten days and a half. Now that he heard that they only need to hold on for 48 hours, he quickly replied: "But if we can send two regiments over, we will be more certain to hold our position. If we are asked to hold it for ten days and a half, I may not be able to do it, but if we only hold it for 48 hours, we will be able to hold it. Hitting the last person ensures the mission is completed."
After receiving Koida's assurance, Sokov called Samyko and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of Staff, how is the situation there? Have you found any traces of the enemy?"
"No, Comrade Commander. It's very peaceful here. Not a single German was seen." Samek replied: "But all the troops are ready for battle and can go into battle at any time."
"I believe you will be able to hold the position." Sokov said: "But I encountered a little trouble here. Under the fierce attack of the Germans, the friendly forces on the right were defeated by the enemy. We are now caught in the enemy's attack from both sides. Coupled with the serious attrition of the troops in the early battles, it became very difficult to hold the position."
When Sameko heard this, he immediately took the initiative and said: "Comrade Commander, do you need me to send you troops from the Pushor River defense line?"
"That's what I meant." Sokov said: "Deploy two regiments from the 182nd Division on the right bank, and rush over to support as soon as it gets dark." He knew very well that although the troops on the right bank were fighting with the enemy, The probability is not high, but don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of the worst. If the enemy really breaks through the left bank position and forcibly crosses the Pushor River, then the right bank position will have too few troops and cannot be defended at all. Therefore, he finally told Samyko: "Chief of Staff, I think the possibility of fighting in the Oboyan area is unlikely. You should call General Konev immediately and ask him if we can deploy all the troops there. Moved to the banks of the Pushor River for defense."
"Comrade Commander, you are very considerate." Sameko echoed: "Regardless of whether there will be a new battle in Oboyan, we must transfer the troops deployed there. It is not conducive for the troops to be too dispersed. Our command.”
Sokov wanted to concentrate his troops for two reasons. First, with enough troops, you can advance, attack, retreat or defend, and you can flexibly take the initiative on the battlefield. The second point is that the German army is about to be defeated. If it does not have enough troops, it will not be able to participate in the major counterattack. For a long time, what can be remembered by people are the troops who took the initiative to attack the enemy, rather than those who carried out arduous defense. He didn't want his troops to be wiped out and not get the honor they deserved.
"Chief of Staff, regardless of whether the superiors agree with our suggestion or not, the troops deployed in the direction of Oboyan must be mobilized overnight." Sokov stared at Samyko and said: "While you are sending a telegram to the front army headquarters, you are ordering the troops to do this." Good preparation for transfer.”
But what happened next was not as bad as Sokov imagined. Konev learned that Sokov's troops in the Prokhorovka area had suffered heavy losses, and he simply agreed to the troop transfer. Considering that the distance from Oboyan to the Pushor River is not close, Konev even ordered Samyko: "You don't have to wait until dark. As soon as the troops in the direction of Oboyan complete their assembly, they will immediately move towards the Pushor River and be sure to consolidate." The defense line there prevents the enemy from crossing the river." Before Sameko could speak, he added, "Don't worry, I will send planes to cover your actions."
Seeing that Konev was so reasonable, the stone hanging in Samyko's heart finally fell to the ground. He quickly informed the commander of the 182nd Division Khokhlov: "Comrade Colonel, the situation at the commander's place is very bad. You should immediately mobilize two regiments." The troops will rush to the Prokhorovka area as soon as it gets dark and join up with the 188th Division to consolidate the defense there and block the German attack."
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." After receiving Samyko's call, Colonel Khoklov quickly expressed his position and said: "My troops are ready to set off, and they can set off immediately just waiting for your word. "
