"Great, Comrade General, this is really great." Although Sokov kept saying that he wanted to cover the 19th Armored Division's positions with firepower, in fact, his strength was still lacking. The enemy's positions are very scattered. It is obviously unrealistic to cover the German positions with hundreds of new rockets. Now that his superiors have given him two artillery divisions, he can conduct area-by-area bombardments to destroy the enemy's defenses and create favorable conditions for the tank troops' assault.
His superiors gave him such a big gift, so Sokov naturally had to show something. He quickly said: "Comrade general, please rest assured that with the assistance of these two artillery divisions, we will definitely be able to seize the 19th Armored Division." position."
If Sokov had said this a day or two ago, Vatutin would still have expressed doubts. But the performance of the 254th Division last night made Vatutin change his view. He felt that since Sokov said such words, it should not be much difficult to capture the position of the 19th Armored Division. So he smiled and said: "General Sokov, I am waiting for good news from you. I wish you good luck!"
After Vatutin put down the phone, he immediately reported to Zhukov on the side: "Comrade Marshal, General Sokov said that with the assistance of these two artillery divisions, he has great confidence in capturing the German 19th Armored Division. position."
After listening to Vatutin's report, Zhukov just nodded slightly. He took Sokov's statement for granted. He pointed to the map on the wall and said to Vasilevsky: "Comrade Vasilevsky, look, if Sokov's troops destroy the 19th Armored Division, then he can fight with the 81st Guards Division, and Trufanov's tank troops, completely cutting off the retreat route of the Flag Guard Division and Kef Combat Group. In this way, the 69th Army and the 5th Guards Tank Army not only did not have to retreat, but could even take advantage of the enemy's logistical supplies When problems arise, decisively launch a full-scale counterattack and completely crush the enemy outside Prokhorovka.”
Vatutin, who was standing aside, felt relieved after listening to Zhukov's analysis of the situation. He did not expect that as soon as Sokov's troops appeared on the battlefield, the battlefield situation would change drastically, and the balance of victory would be tilted toward a certain goal. It is beneficial to the development of one side of the Soviet army. It seemed that the tragedy that I was worried about when my troops were surrounded and annihilated by the Germans would never happen again.
After Zhukov finished speaking, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Marshal, when do you think we can launch a full-scale counterattack?"
Unexpectedly, Zhukov unexpectedly fell silent when he heard Vatutin's question. Zhukov was thinking that if Vatutin had not been so anxious to organize a counterattack when the battle first broke out, but had followed Rokossovsky's example on the northern front and relied on solid fortifications and a complete defense system, he would have launched a counterattack by now. I didn’t know that after receiving reinforcements from several group armies, I was still beaten by the German army in a panic.
Seeing Zhukov's delay in speaking, Vatutin realized that his question was a bit too reckless. He asked awkwardly: "Comrade Marshal, so we don't have the conditions for counterattack here."
"Comrade Vatutin, a counterattack must be carried out." Zhukov looked at Vatutin and said seriously: "But when the counterattack can be carried out, it depends on whether Mischa's troops can destroy the 19th Armored Division, and Can we cut off the logistical supplies of the enemies outside Prokhorovka? Only by accomplishing these two points can we have the conditions for a counterattack."
"So that's it." Vatutin said thoughtfully: "But General Katukov's tank army and several other units were entangled by the Germans. Otherwise, they could have helped General Sokov. Well, that way we will be more confident in annihilating the 19th Armored Division."
The muscles on Zhukov's face twitched a few times, and he thought to himself: If the troops from the direction of Oboyan could be mobilized, would the situation outside Prokhorovka be as bad as it is now? I thought so in my heart, but said in my mouth: "I think the attack by Mischa's troops on the 19th Armored Division will be the key to turning the tide of the battle on the southern front in Kursk."
Seeing that Zhukov admired Sokov so much, Vatutin wanted to retort, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt that what he said made sense. Without Sokov's troops, the situation outside Prokhorovka would be worse than it is today. Even worse. Not to mention anything else, the Skeleton Division and the Flag Guard Division alone would have beaten him to a pulp. If the Imperial Division had not been annihilated in the direction of Oboyan, and three SS divisions appeared outside Prokhorovka at the same time, his troops Can you still defend the city?
Understanding this, he could only nod in agreement, praying secretly for Sokov, hoping that his troops could achieve greater success in the following battles and successfully eliminate Schmidt's 19th Armored Division.
…………
While various parties were discussing the elimination of the 19th Armored Division, the division commander Schmidt was sitting in his headquarters, listening to a major below reporting to him on the sneak attack on the 182nd Division's garrison.
After listening to the major's report, Schmidt said slowly: "Major, since your sneak attack on the Russian division headquarters was unsuccessful, you should withdraw immediately. Why did you enter the Russian field hospital and massacre so many people?" Many wounded."
"Your Excellency, Division Commander," the German Major did not expect that his actions would be questioned by Schmidt, so he could only explain: "At that time, we originally wanted to pass through the Russian field hospital, get rid of the pursuing troops, and quietly retreat to our defense zone. Unexpectedly, the sentry found out before entering the field hospital."
"Major," Schmidt's face turned livid when he learned that the sneak attack troops disguised as Soviet troops were actually spotted by the sentries guarding the field hospital: "Didn't you say that there are absolutely no flaws in your disguise? Why? Can even a Russian sentry see through your disguise easily?"
"Mr. Commander, I don't know what's going on." The major raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, and explained to Schmidt in fear: "I think our disguise was very successful. You know, after leaving If we had not greeted the defenders before entering our defense zone, we would have almost started a fight."
"Since your disguise was so successful, why were you still seen through by the Russians?" After raising this question, Schmidt said with a straight face: "Also, we are soldiers of the Wehrmacht, not the SS. Butcher, how can you attack the wounded who are defenseless and have lost their ability to resist?"
"Mr. Commander, this is a complete accident." Schmidt's question made the major sweat even more. He argued desperately: "The scene at that time was chaotic. We couldn't tell which were Russians with combat effectiveness and which were Russians." They are wounded who have lost their combat effectiveness, so some accidental injuries are inevitable."
Schmidt did not delve into the major's explanation. After all, it was during the war. Once the battle started, there was no time to distinguish which targets were a threat to him and which were not. If anyone really did this, he would probably not survive until the end of the battle and would be shot to death randomly.
"Where are the prisoners you captured now being held?" Schmidt then asked.
"In a wooden house not far from the division headquarters, there were six people in total, all female health workers." The German soldiers who captured Asiya and the others were shot to death randomly in the subsequent battle. The major saw six people They all wore similar clothes, so they were all regarded as female health workers.
"Since they are all medical personnel, there is no threat to us." Schmidt ordered the major, "Send someone to a nearby village to find a few villagers and ask them to send these medical personnel back."
Upon hearing Schmidt's order, the major was dumbfounded. After a while, he asked tentatively: "Your Excellency, division commander, why do you want to send the prisoners back to the Russians? Since they are all medical personnel, we can not harm them, and we can also send them to the prisoner of war camp behind. Let them treat prisoners of war."
"If these prisoners of war were captured from other troops, I would not care about what you do with them." Schmidt said with a serious expression: "But you captured them from Sokov's troops. Sokov Don’t you know what kind of person he is? If a few prisoners lead to his crazy revenge, I think it is totally unnecessary.”
"Your Excellency, division commander," the division chief of staff came in from outside and reported to Schmidt: "There are several Russians who want to see you."
"Are there any Russians who want to see me?" Schmidt heard the chief of staff say this, with a look of astonishment on his face: "Where are they?"
"It's just outside the division headquarters." The chief of staff asked Schmidt: "Do we need to let them in?"
"What, they are outside?" Schmidt asked in surprise: "How did they get through our defense area and get outside the headquarters?"
"They should be scouts lurking near the division headquarters. They came here specifically to see you after receiving orders from their superiors."
If it were normal times, Schmidt would definitely be furious when he heard that Soviet scouts were nearby, and he might even call in the officer in charge of the division's security and curse him. But what aroused his interest at this moment was the origin of the Soviet scouts: "What do these Russians want from me?"
"The leading officer said that he was authorized by Major General Sokov to come to negotiate with you."
"Negotiate with me?" Schmidt said confused: "What do I have to talk about with him?"
The chief of staff didn't have time to ask the scout commander, so he naturally didn't know what the other party was negotiating for. Hearing Schmidt's question at this moment, he couldn't answer and could only ask: "Let them in?"
"Let them come in." After Schmidt gave this order, he also specifically added: "Before they come in, remember to ask them to hand over their weapons."
A few minutes later, two Soviet soldiers appeared in front of Schmidt. An officer wearing a second lieutenant's collar badge came forward and said to Schmidt in a nonchalant manner: "General Schmidt, I am Second Lieutenant Rybin. I have been authorized by the commander, Major General Sokov, to come to negotiate with you."
The major standing next to Schmidt faithfully translated the second lieutenant's words to Schmidt. After Schmidt heard this, he asked puzzledly: "What is the content of the negotiation?"
"Your troops attacked our field hospital last night, killed hundreds of innocent wounded, and kidnapped six medical staff." Second Lieutenant Leibin said without humility: "I have been authorized to use the corpses of those German soldiers. , came to seize our six medical staff who were kidnapped."
Schmidt asked: "Second Lieutenant, are you saying that General Sokov is willing to use the bodies of those German soldiers who died in the battle to seize the six medical staff captured by us?"
"That's right." Lieutenant Lei Bin nodded and replied, "That's exactly it."
Dozens of corpses of German officers and soldiers were exchanged for six captured medical staff. The major, who worked as a translator, felt that such a transaction seemed very strange. After translating what Rebin said, he whispered to Schmidt: "Master, don't you think there is something wrong with this?"
"Is there a problem?" Schmidt turned to look at the major and asked, "What's the problem?"
"The Russians were actually willing to exchange dozens of corpses of German officers and soldiers in exchange for six medical staff." The major explained to Schmidt: "I think there must be important people among them."
"You are right, Mr. Major." When Rebin received the instructions from Colonel Khokhlov, he knew that in order to increase the bargaining chips, Assia's identity could be revealed to the Germans. I believe that after knowing Asiya's identity, the Germans felt that they did not dare to do anything excessive, otherwise they would have to bear Sokov's wrath. Therefore, Lei Bin said truthfully: "Among the six medical staff kidnapped by you, there is indeed an important person."
Seeing that Second Lieutenant Leibin could speak fluent German, Schmidt couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Second Lieutenant, since you can speak German, why do you still talk to me through an interpreter?"
"If you find out that I don't understand German, you can feel free to say a lot of things so that I can figure out whether you are telling the truth or not."
Schmidt ignored Lieutenant Leibin's words and asked directly: "Lieutenant, you said that among the six captured medical staff, there was an important person. I want to ask, who is the important person you mentioned? who is it?"
"Assistant military doctor Asiya." After Leibin said Asiya's name, he specifically added: "She is the wife of our commander, General Sokov."
"Wife?!" Schmidt, who was sitting in his seat, jumped up when he heard what Rebin said: "Second Lieutenant, what did you say? Among the six prisoners we captured, one of them was Soko General Husband’s wife?”
"That's right." Lei Bin nodded and replied affirmatively: "Comrade Asiya has been working as an assistant military doctor in the field hospital of the 182nd Division. During this time, she saved many lives with her superb skills. The lives of the wounded. If the commanders and fighters of the 182nd Division knew that she fell into your hands, even if the comrade commander did not issue any orders, they would probably not stay in the trenches and do nothing. If something happens then it is uncontrollable. The incident and all the consequences will be borne by you."
