After accepting Zhukov's order, Sokov began to consider how to deploy defenses to block the retreat of the 4th Armored Group Army. He stared down at the map and began to issue orders: "Chief of Staff, send a telegram to Major General Malankin, ordering their division to withdraw from the battle immediately and establish a defensive line in the middle of the Oboyan-Belgorod highway to prevent the German army from retreating. "
"Comrade Commander," Samyko reminded Sokov carefully: "The 81st Guards Division only assists us in our operations and is not actually under our command."
"From now on, the 81st Guards Division is officially under the command of our army." Although Zhukov did not mention anything about the 81st Guards Division, Sokov felt that if he wanted to block Huot's Armored Group Army, he must Utilize all available troops, so he took it upon himself to say: "Not only Major General Malankin's Guards Division must obey my command, but also General Trufanov's tank unit must obey my command."
"Understood." After hearing what Sokov said so domineeringly, Samyko immediately replied loudly: "Comrade Commander, I immediately sent a telegram to Generals Malankin and Trufanov. Let them formally obey your command from now on and conduct defense according to your deployment."
Less than a quarter of an hour after the telegram was sent, Sokov received a call from the commander of the 5th Guards Tank Army, Rotmistrov. The tank general asked angrily on the phone: "General Sokov, I I would like to ask, who gave you the right to directly place General Trufanov’s tank force under your command?”
"General Rotmistrov," Sokov put the Guards Division and the tank troops under his own command. He made his own decisions. However, in order to win the defensive battle, he faced Rotmistrov. When questioned, he still said confidently: "My superiors ordered me to prevent Hott's armored group from retreating to Belgorod. The troops in my hands are limited. Without the help of your troops, I will not be able to block the enemy's offensive."
"General Sokov," Rotmistrov learned that Sokov planned to use his own troops to help him block Hoth's armored group. He suddenly lost confidence, but he still said bravely: " Even if you want to place General Trufanov's tank troops under your command, you should follow the procedures and apply to the front army headquarters, and then get permission..."
"The Germans didn't leave me any time to ask for instructions." Sokov knew that the reason why Rotmistrov called so quickly was that Trufanov must have called him, since the other party already knew Sokov no longer kept secret about his actions, but said straight to the point: "General Rotmistrov, please call General Trufanov and formally inform him. .”
Rotmistrov was silent for a long time, and then he asked tentatively: "General Sokov, please tell me truthfully, if Trufanov's tank troops participate in the defense, you can stop Hott's armored group." ?"
"General Rotmistrov, don't worry." In order to reassure Rotmistrov, Sokov organized some words in his mind and said: "Today's 4th Armored Group Army is already Things are different now. In the early days of the battle, Huote could still use a density of 100 tanks per kilometer to launch assaults on our army's positions. However, today, the number of tanks they carry out assault missions per kilometer has been reduced to two. Thirty vehicles are simply incomparable.
If we do not fight against them, but rely on fortifications for defense and block them on the Oboyan-Belgorod highway, there will still be no big problem. "
Hearing Sokov speak so confidently, Rotmistrov felt more at ease. He acquiesced in Sokov's overstepping of authority, and even kindly reminded him: "General Sokov, since You put the 81st Guards Division and General Trufanov's tank troops under the command of your army group. No matter what the original starting point was, I think it is necessary to report this matter to the superiors to avoid it happening in the future. It’s hard for you and me to explain any mistakes.”
"I understand, General Rotmistrov." Seeing that the other party no longer held him accountable for commanding his troops without permission, Sokov couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "I will report to Vato as soon as possible. Reported by Commander Beijing.”
With the two friendly troops in hand, Sokov's next formation will be much easier. "Chief of Staff," Sokov pointed to the Oboyan-Belgorod road on the map and said to Samyko: "Order the 81st Guards Division and Trufanov's tank unit to set up here. Line of defense.
Since this defense mission came so suddenly, I thought it would be impossible to lay minefields and pull up barbed wire in front of the temporary positions. Therefore, General Trufanov's tanks were ordered to be placed behind the position and used as fixed artillery batteries. "
"Comrade Commander, since we have tank troops, why don't we attack the enemy's tanks?" Samyko pointed to the line of defense Sokov was about to build and said: "When the enemy attacks the defense line of the 81st Guards Division, By deploying the attacking division, Trufanov's tank troops attack from the front, while the 4th Guards Tank Corps attacks from the flanks, it is entirely possible to severely damage or even completely annihilate the German armored forces."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you think of the problem too simply." Regarding the plan proposed by Samyko, Sokov shook his head and denied it: "General Trufanov's tanks are basically old-fashioned. T-70, let alone the German Tiger tanks and Panther tanks, even if it encounters the Panzer IV tank, it will not be able to do well. I am afraid that the only Panzer III tank they can deal with. With such a tank, it will not be able to compete with the enemy's tanks. If we start a confrontation, we will let them die."
Samyko gave up the idea of persuading Sokov and continued to ask: "Even if we add the 81st Guards Division and General Trufanov's tank troops, our forces are very weak. Can we really stop the enemy? "
"Comrade Chief of Staff, under the current circumstances, we can only take risks." Sokov pointed to the map and said to Sameko: "The 81st Guards Division builds the defense division, Colonel Koida's 188th Infantry Division The commanders and fighters of the division and the 4th Guards Tank Corps should find ways to delay the enemy so that they cannot rush towards Belgorod quickly. After the fortifications are completed, Koida's troops and the tank corps will withdraw from the battlefield from the east side .”
"Withdrawing from the battlefield?" Samek asked puzzledly: "Why did you withdraw from the battlefield?"
"Withdrawing from the battlefield is to allow Koida and the tank army to re-adjust their deployment." Sokov picked up a pencil and tapped on the map a few times: "After completing the regrouping, they can start from the 81st Guards Division. The right wing entered the position, but took over the defense of the friendly forces."
"Although our attack on the 3rd Armored Division went smoothly, the 188th Division, which was responsible for the main attack, must have lost a lot of troops. Can they stop the enemy with their small strength?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you are right. With the small amount of troops Colonel Koida has now, even with the assistance of the tank army, it is very difficult to block the German attack." Since the primary task at hand is , was to block the retreat of Huote's troops and wait for the friendly forces to circle up and encircle them. Sokov decided to readjust his forces: "Order the 182nd and 384th Divisions to shrink and assemble, preparing to reinforce the 188th Division."
"Ah, order the 182nd and 384th Divisions to shrink and assemble?" Sameko said in surprise: "The 182nd Division has just added a group of old and weak soldiers, and the combat effectiveness of the troops has been severely weakened. Is it appropriate to put them into the battlefield?" 61
"Chief of Staff, I understand what you mean. If possible, I am not willing to let the 182nd Division whose combat effectiveness has been diluted return to the battlefield." Sokov spread his hands and said helplessly: "But I don't do the same. We have no choice but to risk using the 182nd Division."
"What about the 384th Division?" Sameko continued: "Now the division is spread over a wide area of hundreds of kilometers. It may not be an easy task to regroup them."
"Follow my orders." Sokov waved his hand at Sameko and said feebly: "If the war situation develops in a direction that is not conducive to our army, the few troops I have used will not be enough for the Germans. Gap between teeth.”
"What about the infantry brigades near Yakovlevo?" Samyko asked: "Put them into battle too?"
"Not yet." Sokov shook his head and said: "Although the commanders and fighters rescued from the prisoner of war camps have rich combat experience, they do not have enough weapons. You can't let our commanders and fighters hold grenades. Charge the Germans with a shovel, right?”
Samyko knew that Sokov was telling the truth. Of the more than two thousand prisoners of war rescued from near Yakovlevo, less than two hundred were armed, and most of the remaining people were unarmed. If you let them go to the battlefield like this, it is equivalent to letting them die.
"Chief of Staff, notify Lieutenant Colonel Uzakov immediately and ask his troops to do concealment work." Sokov said expressionlessly: "No rash action is allowed without my order."
…………
The 81st Guards Division, which was attacking, suddenly received an order from Sokov to immediately withdraw from the battle and retreat five kilometers to build fortifications on the road.
Upon hearing this order, several regiment leaders were dumbfounded. The battle was going well, how could they order themselves to switch from offense to defense? With questions, everyone went to find Malanjin to find out.
Fortunately, Malankin had learned about the situation from Samyko in detail. Faced with the doubts of several regiment commanders under his command, he was able to calmly say: "Comrade commanders, I have already asked General Samyko, Chief of Staff of the 27th Group Army. , he said that according to the orders from our superiors, from now on, we will be officially placed under the command of the 27th Group Army."
Which army group the troops are assigned to is indifferent to the group commanders. But when the attack goes smoothly, it is a bit strange to suddenly stop the attack and retreat to establish defense. Therefore, they all asked: "What is the connection between the assignment of our division to the command of the 27th Group Army and the transition from offense to defense?"
"Of course there is a connection." Malanjin raised his voice and said to several regiment commanders: "The front army headquarters ordered that we must resolutely block the path of Huote's troops going south. General Sokov gave us this order."
"Comrade division commander," a middle-aged regiment commander said loudly: "We are just infantry. We have to block the attack of the enemy's armored forces in areas without permanent fortifications. Can we block it?"
"Don't worry, comrade commander." Malankin said to the regiment leader: "We are not fighting alone. General Trufanov's tank troops will defend together with us. All tanks will be buried in the soil as When a fixed fort is used, with the cover of the fort, the chance of blocking the enemy is greatly increased."
"What a pity." When he learned that he was going to be on the defensive, the regiment commander said with a tearful face: "Friendly forces are sweeping away the remaining enemies, but we have to retreat. I'm worried that doing this will make the commanders and soldiers emotional."
"Comrade Colonel," Major General Malanjin stared at the regiment commander and said with a sneer: "I think the emotional person is not the commanders and soldiers, but you yourself? Okay, don't complain to me here, everyone should return immediately Their respective troops rushed to the designated locations to construct fortifications.”
Fortunately, Malankin had learned about the situation from Samyko in detail. Faced with the doubts of several regiment commanders under his command, he was able to calmly say: "Comrade commanders, I have already asked General Samyko, Chief of Staff of the 27th Group Army. , he said that according to the orders from our superiors, from now on, we will be officially placed under the command of the 27th Group Army."
Which army group the troops are assigned to is indifferent to the group commanders. But when the attack goes smoothly, it is a bit strange to suddenly stop the attack and retreat to establish defense. Therefore, they all asked: "What is the connection between the assignment of our division to the command of the 27th Group Army and the transition from offense to defense?"
"Of course there is a connection." Malanjin raised his voice and said to several regiment commanders: "The front army headquarters ordered that we must resolutely block the path of Huote's troops going south. General Sokov gave us this order."
"Comrade division commander," a middle-aged regiment commander said loudly: "We are just infantry. We have to block the attack of the enemy's armored forces in areas without permanent fortifications. Can we block it?"
"Don't worry, comrade commander." Malankin said to the regiment leader: "We are not fighting alone. General Trufanov's tank troops will defend together with us. All tanks will be buried in the soil as When a fixed fort is used, with the cover of the fort, the chance of blocking the enemy is greatly increased."
"What a pity." When he learned that he was going to be on the defensive, the regiment commander said with a tearful face: "Friendly forces are sweeping away the remaining enemies, but we have to retreat. I'm worried that doing this will make the commanders and soldiers emotional."
"Comrade Colonel," Major General Malanjin stared at the regiment commander and said with a sneer: "I think the emotional person is not the commanders and soldiers, but you yourself? Okay, don't complain to me here, everyone should return immediately Their respective troops rushed to the designated locations to construct fortifications.”
