After dark, the fighting outside Prokhorovka continued.
The situation on the battlefield was not as rumored. The German army had already invaded the city of Prokhorovka. In fact, after the troops of the Flag Guard Division occupied Hill 252.2, they could no longer move forward. The commanders and fighters of the 9th Guards Paratroopers Division guarding the city continued to carry out counterattacks against the enemy, preventing them from expanding their results.
The October Farm occupied by the Skeleton Division on the north side of the highland was also counterattacked by troops reinforced by tanks. If Simon hadn't dispatched the reserve team in time, the German army would have been driven out of the farm by the Soviet army.
At about two o'clock in the morning, it suddenly started pouring rain. In the heavy rain, the officers and soldiers on both sides were so beaten by the rain that they could not open their eyes at all. The battle lasted for a day and they were barely able to get higher.
Zhukov stood in front of the window of the headquarters of the Voronezh Front, looking at the heavy rain falling like a waterfall outside through the window glass, and said worriedly: "If the rain is still falling by dawn, then our offensive will be affected."
"Comrade Marshal," the rain was so loud that Vatutin, who was standing next to him, had to raise his voice and said to him: "If it keeps raining, our air force will not be able to take off after dawn. The offensive troops can only rely on the support of artillery fire to launch a counterattack against the enemy."
"Comrade Marshal," after Vatutin finished speaking, Vasilevsky continued: "If the heavy rain continues, the roads will become muddy, and Rotmistrov's tank troops will not be able to deploy. You Look, do you want to report to the high command and request to postpone the attack?"
"No." Zhukov rejected Vasilevskiy's proposal without hesitation: "We have to drive the Germans away from here while they are still on their feet. If it rains, the attack will be postponed. Time, when they gain a foothold here, this battle may turn into a protracted positional battle."
"But, Comrade Marshal, look at how heavy the rain is outside." Vasilevsky said with a wry smile: "If we don't stop, let alone the air force, even our tanks will become muddy because of the road. And cannot move forward. At that time, we will have to use infantry to attack."
…………
While Zhukov and others were worried about the weather, German Field Marshal Manstein was also unable to sleep because of heavy rain. He stood at the door of the command cabin, looking at the heavy rain outside, sighing secretly in his heart. He knew very well that such heavy rain would definitely make many areas impassable, and he planned to seize the city of Prokhorovka after dawn. , I’m afraid it can only be postponed.
"Your Excellency, Marshal," the adjutant, Colonel Burke, appeared behind Manstein and said cautiously, "I just received the report from the reconnaissance force."
Manstein closed the cabin door, blocking out the sound of rain, and asked casually: "Is it valuable information?"
"Yes, Your Majesty Marshal, it is very valuable information." Colonel Burke replied cautiously: "According to the report of the reconnaissance team, the Russians have assembled a large number of troops near Prokhorovka, preparing to attack at ten o'clock in the morning. , carry out a comprehensive counterattack against our army."
Knowing that the Soviet army would launch a counterattack at ten o'clock in the morning, Manstein couldn't help but be stunned, and then asked: "Do you know who is commanding these assembled troops?"
"I figured it out." Burke nodded and replied, "It's General Rotmistrov's tank army."
"Rotmistrov's troops?" Manstein couldn't help but frowned. He looked at the map on the table and said thoughtfully: "Isn't his troops east of Moscow? Why? Arriving outside Prokhorovka so soon?”
"Your Majesty Marshal, I think the Russians couldn't stand it any longer, so they hurriedly transferred this force for reinforcements." Burke said: "Now the Russian troops in the Prokhorovka area have far exceeded They are indeed capable of counterattacking us, so it seems we need to prepare early.”
"Rotmistrov is commanding the Guards Tank Army, which means that their combat effectiveness is stronger than that of ordinary Russian troops. We must take corresponding measures." Manstein finished these words , and ordered Burke to say: "You immediately send a telegram to the Flag Guard Division and the Skeleton Division and ask them to repair the fortifications overnight to prevent possible Russian counterattacks."
As soon as Manstein finished speaking, the cabin door was opened from the outside, and the chief of staff in a raincoat walked in from the door. While taking off his raincoat, he said to Manstein: "Marshal, the rain outside is too heavy. I'm afraid it will have a negative impact on our attack after dawn."
"Chief of Staff, you came just in time." After Manstein called the Chief of Staff to come to him, he handed him the telegram in his hand: "This is the telegram sent back by the reconnaissance force. The Russians will arrive at ten o'clock this morning. , launch a comprehensive counterattack against our army."
After reading the telegram in Manstein's hand, the chief of staff was shocked: "What, the Russians have assembled a group army near the city of Prokhorovka, or a Guards Tank Army." He scratched the back of his head and said with a stern expression. , "Our troops have no fortifications to rely on. If the Russians launch an attack, I think our defense lines may be quickly broken through."
"I think so too." Manstein nodded and continued: "So I just sent a telegram to the frontline troops and asked them to repair the fortifications overnight. As long as there are fortifications, it will be easier to block the Russian attack. Many. In addition, didn't the Russians launch their attack at ten in the morning? We could have launched the offensive half an hour in advance, ahead of them, and completely disrupted their offensive steps."
"Marshal, your plan is good." The chief of staff was still worried about the Soviet army's upcoming attack, but when he heard that Manstein had made a decision, he felt relieved and said flatteringly: "I still remember that after you became the conqueror of Sevastopol, you once visited Petersburg, which is what the Russians call Leningrad. At that time, you were keenly aware that the Russians were about to launch an attack, and you decisively You ordered our troops to launch the attack three days in advance, which completely disrupted the Russian deployment, causing their attempt to break the siege to be completely shattered by you."
The flattery of the chief of staff made Manstein feel complacent. He even thought that if he had not noticed in time that the Russians would launch a counterattack and ordered the troops to launch an attack in advance, he might have been surrounded by Petersburg. A gap will be opened by the Russians. Today, a similar thing will happen again outside Prokhorovka. He ordered his troops to attack in advance. While disrupting the Russians' offensive steps, he might be able to successfully break through their defenses.
Thinking of this, he smiled at the chief of staff, and then told him: "Chief of staff, you should immediately draft an attack order and make sure it is communicated to all units before six o'clock tomorrow morning."
…………
At three-thirty in the morning, the rain outside began to subside.
The headquarters of the 5th Guards Tank Army was filled with commanders with generals on their shoulders. Their eyes were fixed on the commander of the army, General Rotmistrov, waiting for the order he was about to issue. .
"Comrades," Rotmistrov said in a slightly hoarse voice: "Our superiors ordered us to go to the offensive starting position before four o'clock in the morning. Now there are only thirty minutes left before departure. But the rain outside still shows no sign of stopping. I want to ask you, what are you thinking?"
"Comrade Commander," the first person to speak was Deputy Commander General Trufanov. He looked at Rotmistrov and said: "Since our superiors ordered us to set off at four o'clock, let alone it raining outside, even if Even if the enemy's aerial bombs fall from the sky, we must also set off on time."
Trufanov's words immediately aroused the response of some division commanders: "Comrade Deputy Commander is right. Since the superiors have issued clear instructions, we cannot just disobey the superiors' orders because of the rain."
"I think it's better to leave on time."
However, Major General Baharov, commander of the 18th Tank Corps, raised objections: "I disagree with the statements of Comrade Deputy Commander and the commanders just now. You know, such a heavy rain, for example, makes the road become How can our tank troops deploy in the mud?"
Rotmistrov saw that Major General Baharov's ideas coincided with his own, so he nodded and said: "General Baharov is right. If the road becomes muddy due to heavy rain, our tanks will They are not suitable for participating in the upcoming battle, so the tanks stuck in the quagmire will be destroyed one by one by the German anti-tank fire like a target."
Seeing that Rotmistrov opposed his opinion, Trufanov couldn't help but blush. Then he asked awkwardly: "Comrade Commander, what do you think we should do? Do we really need to postpone the attack?" ?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Rotmistrov looked at Trufanov and said solemnly: "To be honest, we traveled hundreds of kilometers to get outside Prokhorovka. It is to crush the German attack on the city. If the attack cannot be launched on time, I will be more anxious than any of you."
He paused for a moment and then continued: "But I can't just ignore the actual situation and rush into an attack with little chance of winning just because I am anxious. Therefore, I think we should be cautious about this matter and wait a little longer. If it comes to four o'clock, , before the rain outside stops, I will call General Vatutin and ask him to postpone the attack."
Regarding Rotmistrov's statement, Trufanov thought for a moment and felt that it still made sense. If the rain continues to fall, not only will the planned air support be gone, but it will also be difficult for tank troops to enter the battle. Only infantry will be able to participate in the counterattack. Based on his understanding of the combat effectiveness of the troops, it is basically an impossible task to defeat the elite German SS troops in front of them.
With five minutes left before four o'clock, a staff officer who was observing the weather outside hurried in and reported excitedly to Rotmistrov: "Comrade Commander, the rain outside has stopped."
"The rain outside has stopped?" Rotmistrov was overjoyed when he learned that the rain outside had stopped. He looked at the staff officer whose raincoat was still dripping in front of him and asked cautiously: "Comrade staff officer, are you really sure? , Has the rain stopped outside?"
"It's absolutely certain, Comrade Commander." The staff officer replied decisively: "I personally made repeated confirmations outside before coming in to report to you."
"Comrade commanders," after confirming that the rain outside had stopped, Rotmistrov turned around and said to the many commanders in the room: "Since the rain has stopped, you all go back to your respective units. According to the original plan, proceed to the designated attack starting position."
However, Major General Baharov, commander of the 18th Tank Corps, raised objections: "I disagree with the statements of Comrade Deputy Commander and the commanders just now. You know, such a heavy rain, for example, makes the road become How can our tank troops deploy in the mud?"
Rotmistrov saw that Major General Baharov's ideas coincided with his own, so he nodded and said: "General Baharov is right. If the road becomes muddy due to heavy rain, our tanks will They are not suitable for participating in the upcoming battle, so the tanks stuck in the quagmire will be destroyed one by one by the German anti-tank fire like a target."
Seeing that Rotmistrov opposed his opinion, Trufanov couldn't help but blush. Then he asked awkwardly: "Comrade Commander, what do you think we should do? Do we really need to postpone the attack?" ?"
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Rotmistrov looked at Trufanov and said solemnly: "To be honest, we traveled hundreds of kilometers to get outside Prokhorovka. It is to crush the German attack on the city. If the attack cannot be launched on time, I will be more anxious than any of you."
He paused for a moment and then continued: "But I can't just be anxious and ignore the actual situation and rush into an attack with little chance of winning. Therefore, I think we should be cautious about this matter and wait a little longer. If it comes to four o'clock, , before the rain outside stops, I will call General Vatutin and ask him to postpone the attack."
Regarding Rotmistrov's statement, Trufanov thought for a moment and felt that it still made sense. If the rain continues to fall, not only will the planned air support be gone, but it will also be difficult for tank troops to enter the battle. Only infantry will be able to participate in the counterattack. Based on his understanding of the combat effectiveness of the troops, it is basically an impossible task to defeat the elite German SS troops in front of them.
With five minutes left before four o'clock, a staff officer who was observing the weather outside hurried in and reported excitedly to Rotmistrov: "Comrade Commander, the rain outside has stopped."
"The rain outside has stopped?" Rotmistrov was overjoyed when he learned that the rain outside had stopped. He looked at the staff officer whose raincoat was still dripping in front of him and asked cautiously: "Comrade staff officer, are you really sure? , Has the rain stopped outside?"
"It's absolutely certain, Comrade Commander." The staff officer replied decisively: "I personally made repeated confirmations outside before coming in to report to you."
"Comrade commanders," after confirming that the rain outside had stopped, Rotmistrov turned around and said to the many commanders in the room: "Since the rain has stopped, you all go back to your respective units. According to the original plan, proceed to the designated attack starting position."
