The Guards Division on the left had remained stationary since the battle started. Although Sokov felt a little uncomfortable, he did not think that he would not be able to win the battle without the support of friendly forces on the left.
Sokov stared at the map, secretly thinking that after this period of fighting, the German 19th Armored Division had suffered varying degrees of losses in both soldiers and equipment. Although he did not know the specific losses of the German army, Sokov knew very well that in the Battle of the Vistula River in 1944, a Panther tank battalion of the 19th Armored Division destroyed dozens of Soviet tanks like a shooting show. It is absolutely impossible for a tank corps to be disabled in today's battle.
Lunev saw that Sokov had been staring at the map, thinking that he was worried about the ongoing battle, so he comforted him and said: "Comrade Commander, don't worry, even if the friendly forces on the left do not dispatch, if the situation is critical, we will The troops near the Pushor River can be mobilized and thrown into battle."
"No need, Comrade Military Commissar." Sokov waved his hand and said confidently: "I believe that the troops that have already entered the battle are fully capable of defeating the German army." After saying these two sentences, he looked up at Samy Coe asked, "Chief of Staff, how are our units doing?"
"Comrade Commander," Samyko reported to Sokov with a newly received battle report in his hand: "The 188th Division attacking on the left wing encountered desperate resistance from the German armored forces, and its progress was relatively slow. The Germans are currently blocking the second line of defense, with an advancement distance of no more than one kilometer. The 384th Division on the right wing has advanced smoothly and is now wedged into the German defense zone for five kilometers to support."
"Oh, wedged five kilometers into the German defense zone?" After listening to Samyko's words, Lunev turned to look at Sokov and said in surprise: "Major General Gritsenko's troops advanced so fast."
Unexpectedly, Sokov shook his head and said: "It's too slow, it's simply too slow. Two hours after the attack started, General Gritsenko's 384th Division actually only advanced five kilometers. They Are you learning to crawl like a snail?"
Sokov's words confused Lunev. He did not understand that the 188th Division, which had only advanced one kilometer, Sokov did not say that their progress was slow; while the 384th Division, which had advanced five kilometers, was criticized for its speed. Too slow. With this question, Lunev asked in confusion: "Comrade Commander, I think Major General Gritsenko's troops advanced very quickly. How could you say that their actions were too slow?"
"Comrade Military Commissar, come and see." Sokov pointed to the map on the table and explained to Lunev: "The German army only has some infantry and a few armored units in front of the 384th Division. They can't stop it at all. The infantry covered by two tank brigades. If Major General Gritsenko's speed can be faster, they can circle back to the enemy's rear from the flank of the 19th Armored Division and cut off the enemy's retreat.
As long as we complete the encirclement of the enemy, our attack on the 19th Armored Division will no longer be a defeat, but a battle of annihilation. As long as the 19th Armored Division is annihilated, the German flank and rear that are attacking the Oboyan area will be completely exposed to us. "
Lunev stared at the map and was surprised to find that if the 19th Armored Division on the front was really wiped out as Sokov said, then the enemies attacking the Oboyan area would be in danger of being encircled by the Soviet army. If the enemy does not want the tragedy of Stalingrad to happen again, it will definitely stop the attack and withdraw its troops to a safe area in time.
As long as the German army stops attacking Oboyan and returns to the starting point of the attack, it means that the Battle of Kursk initiated by the enemy will end with their defeat. By then, the 27th Army, which contributed to the enemy's defeat, might even receive a direct commendation from the Supreme Command and receive an eye-catching honor.
Thinking of this, Lunev raised his head and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, it is necessary to call General Gritsenko and urge his troops to speed up the attack to cut off the retreat of the 19th Armored Division."
"That's what I thought too. We must urge Major General Gritsenko to speed up the attack. Otherwise, when the German commander comes to his senses, it will not be so easy to annihilate this force." After Sokov finished speaking, he ordered Sa Meko said: "Chief of Staff, immediately send a message to General Gritsenko, ordering him to speed up the attack, be sure to cut off the enemy's retreat before they react, and create favorable conditions for the complete annihilation of the 19th Armored Division."
In fact, the advancement speed of the 384th Division could not satisfy Sokov, not because of the strong resistance they encountered along the way. On the contrary, the resistance they encountered during the attack was negligible compared with that of the 188th Division on the left. Sometimes we see fierce firepower on the enemy's position, but as long as the tanks covering the infantry assault fire a few shots at the enemy's position and the infantry charges again, the enemy's resistance will soon collapse.
Gritsenko had never fought such a smooth battle before, so smooth that he wondered if he had fallen into the enemy's trap. Therefore, after capturing a German position, he would send troops to search nearby to confirm that there was no ambush set by the Germans, and then order the troops to attack the next German position.
After receiving the order forwarded by Samyko, Major General Gritsenko realized that his performance on the battlefield was too conservative. He quickly changed his mind and ordered his men to speed up the attack and destroy everything along the way in the shortest possible time. The German forces resisted and circled back to the rear of the 19th Armored Division, completely cutting off their retreat.
The German troops resisting the 384th Division's attack immediately withdrew to reserve positions as soon as their positions were lost, taking advantage of the 384th Division's hesitation to hurriedly adjust and deploy organizational defenses. According to Schmidt's idea, the Russian force attacking his left wing will gradually weaken in intensity as the front becomes longer. In the end, he only needed a small number of troops to easily block their attack.
Unexpectedly, the 384th Division changed its attack speed without warning. After seizing the position, it no longer stopped to search and eliminate the remaining enemies. Instead, it only left a small number of troops to hold on to the occupied position. Its main force was still following the tank troops. From behind, he rushed towards the depth of his defense.
Schmidt noticed that the Soviet army's fighting style had suddenly changed, and he quickly asked his chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, under the powerful Russian offensive, our left wing may not be able to hold on for long. Tell me, what can be done?" To save the defeat?"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander." The Chief of Staff replied: "From the moment the battle started, I have been observing the movements of the Russians. One thing is strange. Although Sokov's troops launched a fierce attack on us, their left wing was close to The guard divisions and tank troops remained stationary."
Schmidt had long noticed what the Chief of Staff said. When he heard him mention this matter, he asked hesitantly: "There is no movement among these Russian troops. Is there any conspiracy?"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, I think you are worrying too much." The Chief of Staff explained to Schmidt: "According to my observation, the cooperation between the Russian troops is very poor. Don't look at the troops on Sokov's left wing. They fight side by side, but after all, they belong to different units and accept the command of different commanders."
The chief of staff did not know that Sokov's troops had been temporarily assigned to Vatutin's command. He still thought that Sokov's troops were commanded by Konev. It was precisely because of the serious lag in intelligence that he made the wrong suggestion to Schmidt: "I think we can leave a small number of troops on the right wing to monitor the Russians opposite us, and then transfer the main force to the left wing to deal with the Russians. Cove’s troops.”
"Okay, Chief of Staff." Schmidt knew that if he did not reinforce the troops on his left wing, the defense line there would gradually fall, so he only thought for a moment before agreeing to the Chief of Staff's proposal: "Leave a guard on the right wing. The infantry battalion and a tank company were to monitor the Russian Guards division and tank troops, and the rest were immediately transferred to the left flank to strengthen the defense there."
The 188th Division, which was responsible for the left-wing attack, originally fought poorly. As Schmidt moved troops from areas without fighting to areas with fierce fighting, division commander Koida quickly realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly ordered the communications troops to connect the telegram from the headquarters and report the situation here. Report the situation to Sokov.
"Comrade Commander," Koida said anxiously on the phone: "During the attack, our division found signs that the enemy seemed to be increasing its troops."
Knowing that the enemy was mobilizing troops, Sokov was not worried at all. He said to Koida: "Comrade Colonel, don't worry about your flanks and rear. I will arrange other troops to cover you. All you have to do is Continue to attack forward. Once the 384th Division has completely cut off the retreat of the 19th Armored Division, you can begin encirclement and annihilation operations against the enemy."
Putting down the phone, Sokov felt that he could get in touch with Zhukov at this moment and inform him of the situation on the battlefield. Then he ordered the director of the communications corps: "Comrade director, please contact the front army headquarters for me immediately. I have important information and I want to report it to comrade marshal."
While the director of the communications corps was answering the phone, Samyko asked Sokov in a low voice: "Comrade Commander, what is the purpose of calling Comrade Marshal at this time?"
"The purpose is very simple." Sokov pointed to the map and said to Samyko: "The enemy is transferring the troops on their right wing to the left wing to strengthen the defense there. Now the enemy is facing the front of General Malankin and Trufanov. The defense is like a fake, as soon as they launch an attack, they can quickly advance into the depth of the enemy like a training exercise."
Samek stared at the map and thought for a while, feeling that what Sokov said made sense. He nodded and asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Commander, please tell me, the reason why the Front Army Headquarters did not let General Malankin's troops attack the enemy at the same time as us, is it waiting for something like this?" Where is the moment?”
Schmidt had long noticed what the Chief of Staff said. When he heard him mention this matter, he asked hesitantly: "There is no movement among these Russian troops. Is there any conspiracy?"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, I think you are worrying too much." The Chief of Staff explained to Schmidt: "According to my observation, the cooperation between the Russian troops is very poor. Don't look at the troops on Sokov's left wing. They fight side by side, but after all, they belong to different units and accept the command of different commanders."
The chief of staff did not know that Sokov's troops had been temporarily assigned to Vatutin's command. He still thought that Sokov's troops were commanded by Konev. It was precisely because of the serious lag in intelligence that he made the wrong suggestion to Schmidt: "I think we can leave a small number of troops on the right wing to monitor the Russians opposite us, and then transfer the main force to the left wing to deal with the Russians. Cove’s troops.”
"Okay, Chief of Staff." Schmidt knew that if he did not reinforce the troops on his left wing, the defense line there would gradually fall, so he only thought for a moment before agreeing to the Chief of Staff's proposal: "Leave a guard on the right wing. The infantry battalion and a tank company were to monitor the Russian Guards division and tank troops, and the rest were immediately transferred to the left flank to strengthen the defense there."
The 188th Division, which was responsible for the left-wing attack, originally fought poorly. As Schmidt moved troops from areas without fighting to areas with fierce fighting, division commander Koida quickly realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly ordered the communications troops to connect the telegram from the headquarters and report the situation here. Report the situation to Sokov.
"Comrade Commander," Koida said anxiously on the phone: "During the attack, our division found signs that the enemy seemed to be increasing its troops."
Knowing that the enemy was mobilizing troops, Sokov was not worried at all. He said to Koida: "Comrade Colonel, don't worry about your flanks and rear. I will arrange other troops to cover you. All you have to do is Continue to attack forward. Once the 384th Division has completely cut off the retreat of the 19th Armored Division, you can begin encirclement and annihilation operations against the enemy."
Putting down the phone, Sokov felt that he could get in touch with Zhukov at this moment and inform him of the situation on the battlefield. Then he ordered the director of the communications corps: "Comrade director, please contact the front army headquarters for me immediately. I have important information and I want to report it to comrade marshal."
While the director of the communications corps was answering the phone, Samyko asked Sokov in a low voice: "Comrade Commander, what is the purpose of calling Comrade Marshal at this time?"
"The purpose is very simple." Sokov pointed to the map and said to Samyko: "The enemy is transferring the troops on their right wing to the left wing to strengthen the defense there. Now the enemy is facing the front of General Malankin and Trufanov. Their defense is like a fake, as soon as they launch an attack, they can quickly advance into the depth of the enemy like a training exercise."
Samek stared at the map and thought for a while, feeling that what Sokov said made sense. He nodded and asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Commander, please tell me, the reason why the Front Army Headquarters did not let General Malankin's troops attack the enemy at the same time as us, is it waiting for something like this?" Where is the moment?”
