"Two comrades, marshals," Apanashenko waited for Vatutin to finish, turned to Zhukov and Vasilevsky, and said to them: "I think you should know very well that after the battle begins, once the 19th The commander of the armored division, finding that the enemy on his right wing has not made any movement, will definitely leave only a small number of troops for surveillance and allocate the main force to reinforce the right wing that is under attack."
"Yes, it is indeed like this." Vasilevsky nodded and asked the question in his heart again: "Then why not let the troops on the left wing of our army assist Sokov's troops in launching the attack?"
"Comrade Marshal, this is what I think about." Apanashenko replied: "Once the troops on the left attack at the same time as Sokov's troops after the battle starts, the enemy will definitely put up a desperate resistance. By then The battle in this area will fall into a stalemate.
But if only Sokov's troops were allowed to attack and the troops on the left remained stationary, the enemy would be able to relax their vigilance. When the enemy transfers their right wing troops to the left wing, which is the right wing of our attacker, the Guards Division can launch a sudden attack on the enemy's empty defense area. In this way, our army can easily break through the enemy's defense line. "
After listening to Apanashenko's proposal, Zhukov began to think. If the left-wing troops remain stationary in the early stages of the battle, it will give the German army the illusion that this attack was launched by Sokov's troops alone. The left-wing troops should not be affiliated with him, so there is a high probability that they will not cooperate. his actions. In this case, the German commander will make a misjudgment. In order to block the offensive of Sokov's troops, he will transfer his right-wing troops to support the left-wing. At that time, the Guards Division, which is stationary, will be able to find suitable positions. fighter planes to decisively break through the enemy's defenses.
When Zhukov was considering whether Apanashenko's plan was feasible, Vatutin said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I am worried that if the Guards Division on the left remains stationary, the enemy may attack Sokov's flank. Once the attacking troops If it is cut off by the enemy, then the attack may fail.”
In response to Vatutin's concerns, Zhukov waved his hand and said confidently: "If you can't even protect your flanks, then you are not the Misha I know. This matter has been decided, Comrade Vatutin, You immediately inform Generals Trufanov and Malankin that when Sokov's troops attack the 19th Armored Division, they must hold on and are not allowed to attack the enemy until they receive new combat orders. .”
"Do I need to inform General Sokov?" Vatutin asked cautiously: "After all, our arrangement will disrupt his original deployment."
"No need." Zhukov still shook his head and said, "I want to take this opportunity to see how well he can adapt to circumstances."
…………
After the bombardment, commanders and fighters of the 188th and 384th Infantry Divisions took tanks from two tank brigades and launched an attack on the German positions in the front.
Sokov, who stayed in the command post, could only understand the progress of the battle through reports from his subordinates because he could not see the attack with his own eyes. He personally called Koida, the commander of the 188th Division, and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Colonel, has the 81st Guards Division on your left wing launched an attack on the enemy?"
The other party was silent for a moment, and then replied: "No, Comrade Commander. My observation post just reported to me that there was no movement at all from the friendly forces on the left."
Samyko, who was standing next to Sokov, couldn't help but panic when he heard Koida's words: "Comrade Commander, if the friendly forces on the left don't take cooperative actions, there will be enemy troops on the flanks of the 188th Division that are charging forward. could be exposed to the enemy, at which point they would be in danger of being cut off.”
Sokov didn't seem to hear what Samyko said, but continued to ask Koida: "Comrade Colonel, are you really sure that the 81st Guards Division on the left has no signs of action?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I can assure you." Koida said conclusively: "There is no movement at all from the troops on the left."
"Damn it," Sokov muttered softly after hearing this: "Didn't they receive orders to coordinate operations?"
"Comrade Commander," Sokov spoke in a low voice, but Koida could hear him clearly. He quickly asked tentatively: "Do you need me to contact General Malankin?"
"I don't think contact is necessary." Sokov felt in his heart that since Zhukov promised to let the left-wing troops cooperate with him, he would definitely not go back on his word. Maybe there was some reason that caused the original plan to change. Thinking of this, he said to Koida: "Comrade Colonel, in order to prevent your flanks from being attacked by the Germans, I now order the 46th Infantry Brigade to connect to your original position; while the 62nd Marine Brigade is responsible for covering it. Protect your left wing from German attack."
After listening to Sokov's arrangements, Koida felt much relieved. With troops to take over his original defense area and troops to cover his flanks, he could confidently and boldly advance deeper into the enemy's defenses. But thinking of the friendly forces on the left that were standing still, he still asked unconvinced: "Comrade Commander, don't you really want to know why the friendly forces on the left don't cooperate with our actions?"
"Comrade Colonel, if you could cooperate with us in fighting, I think General Malankin's troops would have been dispatched long ago. Since they have been holding back for so long, they must have received some order from their superiors." Sokov said into the microphone: "Your division Your mission is to continue to advance deeper into the enemy's defenses. Taking offensive actions at the same time as your division, there is also Major General Gritsenko's 384th Infantry Division. You can compete in the battle to see who achieves more glorious results. "
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, Samyko said anxiously: "Comrade Commander, I think we should ask the front army headquarters, what is going on? How to fight if we don't agree that the left wing troops will cooperate with us? As soon as the fight started, there was no movement from them?”
Although Sokov also wanted to call Zhukov and ask him what was going on. It was a joint operation that was agreed in advance. Why didn't he even say hello to save Huang? But then he thought about it. Since Zhukov didn't communicate with him, it seemed that he had higher-level considerations. Fortunately, there was only one armored division on the opposite side that was severely consumed. If he used two infantry divisions and a tank corps, he could bring out If the two artillery divisions can't deal with each other, then I might as well take the initiative and let the capable person take over his position.
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said to Samyko: "You must know that we are commanded by the front army headquarters, not the other way around. Therefore, there is no need to explain to us not only what decisions the superiors make. We just need to do our part and that's it. Could it be that without the cooperation of the friendly forces on the left, we can't destroy the 19th Armored Division?"
"Comrade Commander, what are you talking about?" Before Samek could speak, Lunev's voice suddenly sounded at the door. As he walked towards the room, he asked curiously: "Can you tell me?"
When Sokov saw Lunev appearing in the headquarters, he couldn't help but panic. He did not comply with the other party's request, but couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade Military Commissar, why are you back? Asiya, how is she?"
"The review has ended. I saw that they were very tired, so I arranged for them to rest."
"The review was completed so quickly?" Sokov asked with some lack of confidence.
"Yes." Lunev walked to the table, put a cup of hot tea from the samovar, took a sip and continued: "Asya and the others were kidnapped by the enemy for less than 12 hours, so what's the problem? ?The so-called review is just going through the procedures in accordance with the regulations."
"Comrade Military Commissar," when he learned that the review of Asiya and others had ended successfully, Sokov finally felt relieved. He quickly stepped forward, held Lunev's hand, and said gratefully: "Thank you!"
"This is my responsibility, you're welcome." After Lunev said this, he curiously asked again: "By the way, how is our attack going?"
Sameko looked through the battle report in his hand and replied: "Judging from the current situation, our army is making very smooth progress. Both divisions have broken through the first line of defense of the German army and are advancing towards the second line of defense." .”
Seeing that Samyko did not mention the friendly forces on the left, Luniev asked curiously: "As for the troops of General Trufanov and General Malankin on the left, are they progressing smoothly?"
Unexpectedly, he was greeted by silence. Lunev asked in confusion: "What's going on? Haven't they broken through the enemy's defense yet?"
"It's not that they didn't break through the enemy's defenses, it's that they didn't take any action at all." Sameko said angrily: "Now we are fighting alone against the German 19th Armored Division."
"What on earth is going on?" Samyko's words confused Lunev: "Didn't they agree to jointly fight? How could they break their promises like this?"
Sokov was worried that if the two of them continued talking, they would say something that would affect unity. He quickly interrupted and said: "I think the reason why the friendly forces on the left did not take action may be that they received orders from the front army headquarters, so they could only hold on. out."
"An order from the Front Army Headquarters?" Lunev was even more puzzled: "If we can defeat the 19th Armored Division in a short time, then we can turn around and attack the enemy outside Prokhorovka."
"Comrade Military Commissar, I don't know the specific reason." Sokov said with a wry smile: "But I believe in my troops and our commanders and fighters, we will definitely be able to defeat the 19th Armored Division."
When Sokov's troops were fighting fiercely with the German 19th Armored Division, Zhukov, who was staying at the front army headquarters, also learned about the progress of the battle through special intelligence channels. After reading the battle report, he said to the people in front of him: "It seems that Misha's performance is stronger than I thought. Without the support of friendly forces, he defeated the enemies of the 19th Armored Division. According to my opinion, Before dark, the enemy may be annihilated or driven away from the existing area."
"Yes." Lunev walked to the table, put a cup of hot tea from the samovar, took a sip and continued: "Asya and the others were kidnapped by the enemy for less than 12 hours, so what's the problem? ?The so-called review is just going through the procedures in accordance with the regulations."
"Comrade Military Commissar," when he learned that the review of Asiya and others had ended successfully, Sokov finally felt relieved. He quickly stepped forward, held Lunev's hand, and said gratefully: "Thank you!"
"This is my responsibility, you're welcome." After Lunev said this, he curiously asked again: "By the way, how is our attack going?"
Sameko looked through the battle report in his hand and replied: "Judging from the current situation, our army is making very smooth progress. Both divisions have broken through the first line of defense of the German army and are advancing towards the second line of defense." .”
Seeing that Samyko did not mention the friendly forces on the left, Luniev asked curiously: "As for the troops of General Trufanov and General Malankin on the left, are they progressing smoothly?"
Unexpectedly, he was greeted by silence. Lunev asked in confusion: "What's going on? Haven't they broken through the enemy's defense yet?"
"It's not that they didn't break through the enemy's defenses, it's that they didn't take any action at all." Sameko said angrily: "Now we are fighting alone against the German 19th Armored Division."
"What on earth is going on?" Samyko's words confused Lunev: "Didn't they agree to jointly fight? How could they break their promises like this?"
Sokov was worried that if the two of them continued talking, they would say something that would affect unity. He quickly interrupted and said: "I think the reason why the friendly forces on the left did not take action may be that they received orders from the front army headquarters, so they could only hold on. out."
"An order from the Front Army Headquarters?" Lunev was even more puzzled: "If we can defeat the 19th Armored Division in a short time, then we can turn around and attack the enemy outside Prokhorovka."
"Comrade Military Commissar, I don't know the specific reason." Sokov said with a wry smile: "But I believe in my troops and our commanders and fighters, we will definitely be able to defeat the 19th Armored Division."
When Sokov's troops were fighting fiercely with the German 19th Armored Division, Zhukov, who was staying at the front army headquarters, also learned about the progress of the battle through special intelligence channels. After reading the battle report, he said to the people in front of him: "It seems that Misha's performance is stronger than I thought. He defeated the enemies of the 19th Armored Division steadily without the support of friendly forces. According to my opinion, Before dark, the enemy may be annihilated or driven away from the current area."
