After daybreak, the German troops on the southern front of Kursk, under Manstein's strict orders, launched a fierce attack on the Soviet defense area again.
General Knobelsdorf's 48th Army once again launched an attack on Oboyan, which was held by Katukov's 1st Tank Army. Since Katukov's troops were divided and used by Vatutin in the battle, the strength of the troops in many important areas appeared to be extremely weak.
Facing the superior enemy, Katukov had to transfer some troops in non-important areas to the areas with the most intense fighting to prevent the defense line in the Oboyan area from being broken through by the German army again.
In the records of later generations, the battle in the Prokhorovka area was described in great detail, while the battle fought by Katukov and his friendly forces in the direction of Oboyan was understated in the Spring and Autumn Period. As everyone knows, the scale of tanks carried out there far exceeds that in the Prokhorovka area.
At the beginning of the battle, Katukov's First Tank Army and Chistyakov's Sixth Guards Army were attacked by nearly 700 tanks. Although in the battle, both tank soldiers and infantry performed extremely tenaciously. They destroyed a large number of German tanks and slowed down the enemy's advance into the depth of the defense.
However, as the troops suffered huge losses during the battle, the defense lines in the Oboyan area were still broken through by the Germans. If Sokov's troops had not appeared in time, the situation would have become even worse.
With the Imperial Division annihilated and the remaining Totenkopf and SS divisions turning in the direction of Prokhorovka, the situation at Oboyan seemed to be improving. It was under this circumstance that the Soviet high command turned all its attention to the Prokhorovka area, which they felt was the area for the decisive battle.
When the Totenkopf and Flag Guard divisions turned to the direction of Prokhorovka, Katukov felt that the time had come to counterattack. After discussing with Chistyakov, commander of the Sixth Guards Army, he decided to organize a counterattack on July 11. A comprehensive counterattack to destroy or drive away the enemies in the areas of Rakovo and Berezovka.
In order to complete the planned attack plan, he mobilized the 10th Guards Tank Army and the 5th Guards Tank Army to assist the 6th Guards Army. The offensive battle was originally scheduled to start at nine o'clock in the morning. Unexpectedly, before eight o'clock, the artillery of the Sixth Guards Army launched artillery preparations towards the enemy's position.
After an hour-long artillery preparation, the Guards infantry launched the attack before Katukov's tanks arrived. As the signal flare indicating the start of the attack took off, tens of thousands of Soviet commanders and fighters jumped out from their hiding places, holding weapons and shouting "Ula", and rushed towards the enemy's position.
The enemy troops who occupied the Rakovo and Berezovka areas never dreamed that the Soviet army would suddenly launch a full-scale counterattack against them. But the troops stationed here were all well-trained troops. After a brief period of chaos, they immediately adopted the tactics they had used before. Except for a few who stayed to monitor the movements of the Soviet army, the rest retreated to the rear positions through the communication trenches. , so that all the artillery shells fired by the Soviet army hit uninhabited open space.
When the Soviet artillery bombardment ended and the infantry began to attack, the German troops who had retreated to the second line of defense re-passed the trenches and returned to their original positions in an orderly manner, preparing to launch a fierce sniper attack on the Soviet troops.
The infantry without tank cover was blocked by the barbed wire fence in front of the German position. Just as they began to clear the road, the machine gun fire on the German position began to fire. Dozens of MG42 machine guns fired simultaneously. The dense firepower network formed immediately knocked down the commanders and soldiers who were clearing the barbed wire fence.
Seeing the enemy start shooting, most of the commanders and fighters lay down on the spot, hiding in bomb craters or other hidden positions, and fired back at the enemy's position. However, a small number of commanders and fighters tried to rush towards the enemy's position through the barbed wire fence in front. As a result, they were constantly shot and fell under the intensive firepower.
The Germans used machine gun fire to suppress the attacking Soviet troops near the barbed wire fence. Then, they brought in mortars to carry out fierce shelling at the places where the Soviet troops gathered. Suppressed by machine gun fire and killed by mortar shells, the Soviet troops held on for half an hour along the barbed wire fence. Seeing that they could not effectively break through the enemy's position, they had no choice but to retreat.
A tank brigade from the 10th Guards Tank Corps rushed to the battlefield. Seeing that his own troops were attacking the enemy's position, the brigade commander ordered the tanks of the entire brigade to advance at full speed and catch up to support the infantry. Unexpectedly, they had just walked halfway when they saw the infantry who were still attacking retreating with a roar. This gave the tank brigade commander a headache. Attack, the infantry has retreated. If a tank without infantry cover rushes forward, it will be wiped out by the German anti-tank fighters; retreat, it is not easy for tanks to turn around on a battlefield full of people.
The tank brigade commander hesitated for a long time, and finally issued an order that was not wrong: "All tanks obey my order, aim at the enemy's position and shoot to cover the retreat of our infantry brothers."
More than fifty tanks fired at the same time, immediately suppressing the firepower of machine guns and mortars on the German positions in the distance. Many Soviet commanders and soldiers who were suppressed by the firepower and could not move, saw that the firepower on the enemy positions was mute, so they started to Climb up and scramble to retreat towards your own position.
Seeing that the infantry had withdrawn from their positions, the tank brigade commander ordered all tanks to withdraw from the Soviet defensive positions. After returning to his own position, the tank brigade commander immediately reported everything that happened on the battlefield to Katukov through the radio.
After Katukov heard this, he immediately got angry: "What's going on with Chistyakov? We clearly agreed on a joint operation, why didn't we wait for our tanks to arrive before attacking the enemy?"
"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff said cautiously after Katukov finished speaking: "Perhaps General Chistyakov feels that the enemies in the area of Rakovo and Berezovka, after a long battle, It has been severely weakened, and even without the assistance of our tanks, the infantry alone can destroy the enemies here."
"Nonsense, this is simply nonsense." Katukov said angrily: "When the German army launched an attack on our position, tanks and armored vehicles rushed to the front to destroy our army's defenses and provide cover for those who followed. The infantry at the rear can quickly seize our army's position.
And what about our friendly forces? Actually using infantry without any cover to attack the enemy's well-defended positions? If Chistyakov waits until our tanks arrive on the battlefield before ordering the troops to attack, then the infantry following the tanks will not have to worry about the barbed wire fence in front of the enemy's position blocking their way. We will open the way in front. Tanks will open up several paths for infantry to pass through these obstacle areas formed by barbed wire fences. "
Katukov threw the half-smoked cigarette butt on the ground, crushed it with his toes, and continued: "I think the Germans should be invited to teach our infantry commanders a lesson so that they know what offensive means." Infantry and tank coordination in battle.”
"Comrade Commander," the military commissar on the side heard this and quickly reminded Katukov: "How can you say that you invite Germans to teach us? If outsiders find out, you will make a mistake. "
Katukov also spoke angrily. He did not expect that today's attack would have unexpected variables due to Chistyakov's adeptness in making decisions. Although the first wave of attacks on the German positions only resulted in hundreds or thousands of casualties, it was a huge blow to morale. Under such circumstances, if we launch an attack on the enemy's position, we may have little hope of victory.
He walked back and forth in the headquarters with his hands behind his back, thinking in his mind how to deal with the enemy occupying the area of Rakovo and Berezovka. After walking for an unknown amount of time, he finally stopped and said to his chief of staff: "Chief of staff, immediately transfer General Krivoshein's Mechanized 3rd Army over and ask them to take over the attack of the 6th Guards Army. We must find a way to capture Rakovo and Berezovka.”
After hearing this, the chief of staff carefully reminded Katukov: "Our 3rd Mechanized Army is still in contact with the German army. Will temporarily mobilizing them have an adverse impact on our overall defense?"
"I can't worry about so much now." Katukov waved his hand and said: "Judging from the battle that just ended, the quality level of the infantry is still a bit low. I am not at all reassured that they will cooperate with us in the battle. Still. Take advantage of your own mechanized army, Chief of Staff, don’t be stunned, quickly call General Krivoshein and order him to move the troops to the designated offensive position as soon as possible."
Katukov did not know that what he said was heard by a staff officer in the headquarters and was transmitted to Chistyakov's headquarters through a telephone. The officer who answered the phone immediately reported to Chistyakov what Katukov said: "... Comrade Commander, the situation is like this. According to General Katukov's wishes, he is preparing to deploy mechanization. The 3rd Army is here to complete its offensive mission."
The war was not going well, and Chistyakov was already angry. At this moment, hearing the officer repeat what Katukov said was tantamount to adding fuel to the fire. He threw the red and blue pencils in his hand on the table and said angrily: "Since Katukov has such ability, let his troops deal with these Germans."
As he spoke, he called the chief of staff to him and ordered the other party: "Stop the planned offensive operation. Except for leaving one regiment to hold on, the rest of the troops will return to their original positions and leave this place to Katukov's troops." .”
"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff realized that Chistyakov was dizzy with anger. Now the main force of the group army has assumed an offensive posture. If it is mobilized without authorization, it will not only easily cause chaos, but also cause chaos. It is easy for the German army to take advantage of it. So he persuaded: "General Katukov may be saying angry words, but you must not take it seriously. No matter how strong the tank troops are, it is our infantry who will occupy the enemy's position in the end. If we really withdraw If they leave, and the mechanized army is delayed in arriving, then the counterattack we are talking about here will end in failure."
After listening to the chief of staff's persuasion, Chistyakov stared at the map in front of him in a daze. After a while, his mood gradually stabilized. He thought to himself that he indeed had an unshirkable responsibility for what happened today. It was originally planned to be a joint battle between the two armies, but he gave the order without waiting for the tank troops to arrive. The infantry attacked first, resulting in losses to the troops.
After thinking about the cause and effect, he blushed slightly, and then said to the Chief of Staff: "Chief of Staff, you are right, we did not do this properly. It is understandable for General Katukov to complain. Yes. You immediately notify all units, seize the time to assemble, and prepare to wait for more tank units to arrive before launching a new attack."
Not only Katukov but also Chistyakov quickly forgot about this matter, but concentrated on mobilizing their troops and preparing to launch a new attack on the enemy-controlled areas of Rakovo and Berezovka again. attack.
But neither of them expected that what Katukov said and Chistyakov's reaction after hearing these words were quietly reported to the Intelligence Department of the Front Army Headquarters. After the intelligence director got the news, he immediately went to Vatutin's headquarters to report the matter to him.
After the intelligence chief entered the door, he saw Vatutin, Zhukov and Vasilevsky gathered around the table, leaning over the map spread out on it. Upon seeing this, the director of the intelligence department knew that the three were studying the situation outside Prokhorovka, where tanks from both sides were engaged in a melee.
When Vatutin saw the director of the intelligence department standing in a dilemma at the door, he stood up straight and asked: "Comrade director, what can I do?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." The Director of the Intelligence Division, who was about to leave, heard Vatutin ask, and quickly stepped forward and handed over the telegram in his hand: "This is a telegram we just obtained, please You take a look."
Vatutin originally thought it was a report of enemy information. Unexpectedly, when he opened the telegram, he found that it was a report of the discord between Katukov and Chistyakov. He frowned and asked the director of the intelligence department with a straight face: "This information Is it reliable?”
"Completely reliable, Comrade Commander." The director of the Intelligence Division quickly replied affirmatively: "The source of the intelligence is completely reliable, so there is no doubt about the authenticity of this telegram."
"I understand." Vatugin nodded at the other party and said, "You have nothing to do here. You can go back first."
After Zhukov waited for the intelligence director to leave, he asked Vatutin: "Comrade Vatutin, what happened?"
Vatutin placed the telegram in front of Zhukov and Vasilevsky, and said with a smile: "It's not a big deal. It's just that the two generals Katukov and Chistyakov had different combat concepts. There was a little friction. But the matter is over and will not affect our next combat operations."
After Zhukov read the contents of the telegram, he didn't say anything. He turned his attention to the map in front of him again. What he was thinking about was how to defeat the German troops as soon as possible. He had no idea what happened in the Oboyan area. Take it to your heart. After reading it, Vasilevsky frowned slightly. Although he didn't say anything, he was thinking in his heart that after the Battle of Kursk, he should have a good talk with the two generals, so as not to What sequelae are left behind?
