"Comrade Marshal!" Seeing victory in sight, the German army counterattacked and caught his own troops off guard. This incident made Vatutin ashamed. After hearing Zhukov's order, he added: "I feel that it is not enough to just drive the enemy out of the logistics base in Bogodukhov. We must find ways to eliminate this enemy."
"Comrade Vatutin, how do you plan to destroy the German 11th Armored Division?" Vasilevsky asked curiously.
"Two Comrade Marshals, please look at the map." Vatutin pointed to the map hanging on the wall and introduced to Zhukov and Vasilevsky: "Now in the Oboyan area, except for the German 11th Armored Division, There will no longer be any German troops, and we can completely transfer General Katukov's First Tank Army over and launch a final general attack on them."
Vatutin said confidently: "I do not deny that the 11th Armored Division has strong combat effectiveness, but in any case, they only have one division, and after such a long battle, their strength has been greatly weakened. As long as we use it General Katukov’s troops are fully capable of destroying them.”
Vasilevsky was very moved by Vatutin's statement. He looked at Zhukov and asked eagerly: "Comrade Marshal, what do you think? Order General Katukov's troops to launch a final attack on the 11th Armored Division." Attack?"
After listening to the opinions of Vatutin and Vasilevsky, Zhukov began to think seriously. It is undeniable that the 11th Armored Division is the elite armored force of the German army. However, after such a long battle, the opponent's strength has been greatly weakened. Now it is estimated that it does not even have half of its strength. If it really invests in Katukov's tank group army , attack them, and annihilate them all is not impossible.
Thinking of this, Zhukov nodded slightly and said to Vatutin: "Comrade Vatutin, since you think that committing Katukov's tank army can completely wipe out the German 11th Armored Division, then go ahead and do it."
Seeing that his proposal was approved by Zhukov, Vatutin agreed excitedly, called Ivanov and told him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, you immediately contact General Katukov and order his troops to turn to Bo." Godukhov, assist the troops of the 6th Guards Army in destroying the German 11th Armored Division."
As Vatutin's chief of staff, Ivanov also feels that the enemies currently occupying the Bogodukhov Logistics Base are nothing great. As long as Katukov's tank army is used, they can be completely annihilated. Therefore, after hearing Vatutin's order, he agreed in a loud voice and turned around to send a telegram.
Shortly after Ivanov left, a staff officer came in and reported to Vatutin: "Comrade General, General Konev, commander of the Steppe Front, is asking for a meeting outside!"
"Oh, Konev is here?!" Zhukov, who was sitting next to him, had an expression of surprise on his face when he heard the staff report, and quickly told the staff: "Hurry up and invite him in!"
Shortly after the staff officer went out, he came in from the outside with Konev.
Zhukov quickly stood up to greet him, shook hands with him, and said with a smile: "Comrade Konev, why did you come here?"
"Hello, Comrade Marshal of the Soviet Union." Konev felt a little confused when he saw Zhukov now. He clearly remembered that when he handed over the post of commander of the Western Front to Zhukov in October 1941, he was a general and he was a general. Now two years have passed, and the other party has become Marshal of the Soviet Union, but his military rank is still the same. "I heard that you and Marshal Vasilevsky are here, so I came here specially."
After Konev shook hands with Vasilevsky, Vatutin and others, Zhukov invited him to sit down at the table, and then continued to ask: "Comrade Konev, if you have anything to say, just say it."
"That's it, Comrade Marshal." After the muscles on Konev's face twitched violently twice, he said with some embarrassment: "Not long ago, I received a notice from the General Staff to change the organization. Our front army belongs to The troops are the 9th Army, the 7th Guards Army, the 53rd Army, the 1st Mechanized Army, the 47th Army, the 3rd Guards Mechanized Army, the 4th Guards Army, and the 3rd Guards Tank Army. Moreover, only the highest-level The use of General Kulik's 4th Guards Army will be allowed only after the headquarters headquarters agrees."
This was the first time Zhukov and Vasilevsky had heard about the new organization situation that Konev mentioned. After Zhukov waited for Konev to finish speaking, he asked with some surprise: "Comrade Konev, during the Battle of Kursk, the base camp transferred a lot of troops from your troops, and now they have replenished them. You Not only has the strength not weakened, but it has become stronger. Do you think there is something wrong?"
"Comrade Marshal," Konev said with a bitter look on his face: "General Rotmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army and Major General Sokov's 27th Army were originally only said to be temporarily placed under the command of the Voronezh Front. , after the battle is over, the organizational structure will be returned. But now, these two armies do not exist at all in the new organization list. "
"Comrade Konev," Vasilevsky heard this and immediately understood the reason for Konev's uninvited visit, so he interrupted and asked: "Are you here because of the affairs of these two armies?"
"Yes, Marshal Vasilevsky." Konev nodded and replied: "I am indeed here for these two troops."
After saying this, he paused briefly, and seeing that Zhukov and others looked thoughtful, he continued: "During the Battle of Kursk, the base camp deployed four of the most effective combatants from our front army. The group army, a mechanized corps and a tank corps were temporarily placed under the command of the Voronezh Front.
The two group armies that are now incorporated into our front army and originally belonged to the Voronezh Front suffered heavy losses in personnel, artillery and weapons in the July battle. Now our front army is facing the problem of insufficient number of tanks. The specific situation is: 60 vehicles from the 53rd Army, 88 vehicles from the 69th Army, 50 vehicles from the 7th Guards Army, and 200 vehicles from the 1st Mechanized Army. "
After Vasilevsky waited for Konev to finish a series of data, he said with some displeasure: "General Konev, with all due respect, your steppe front army is just a strategic reserve. The base camp will be based on the battlefield situation. It is absolutely correct for you to deploy troops to replenish the areas where fighting is taking place."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Konev retorted: "Marshal Vasilevsky, I think the method of using strategic reserves in the base camp is incorrect. I think the front troops should not be dispersed, but the grassland should be used The front was used as a whole and used us on the main battlefield.
It must be emphasized that deploying strategic reserves dispersedly into battle will never achieve a major purpose. The attack of the Southwest Front Army in the summer of 1916 is a lesson. At that time, the extremely favorable situation created by successfully breaking through the enemy's defense was not fully utilized. The reason was that the strategic reserves were dispersed and organized in the form of a single army. Used to develop offense and enter the battle too late. "
Zhukov secretly thought to himself that he felt that Konev's words still made some sense. In this battle of Kursk, in the defensive engagement, the strategic reserves were not used as a whole, but were only dispersed into the battle to ensure that the defenders in a crisis state could crush the enemy's attack.
"Comrade Konev, I have remembered what you said. I will convey your opinions to the Supreme Commander himself at the appropriate time." After Zhukov finished speaking, he took the initiative to propose to Konev: "Koniev Comrade Nev, I guess you really want the 27th Army to return to your front army organization, right? Otherwise, you would not send the air force to provide them with free air cover."
Seeing that Zhukov guessed what he was thinking, Konev smiled sheepishly. According to his idea, Rotmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army can be dispensed with, but Sokov's 27th Army must go back. It is the treasure of the Steppe Front Army, and Vatu cannot be taken advantage of in vain. Beijing.
The reason why Konev rushed to the headquarters of the Voronezh Front today was mainly because he wanted to complain to Zhukov and strive to reassign Sokov's troops to his command. Now that Zhukov expressed his willingness to help, he felt a little more at ease. After continuing to chat for a while, he stood up and left, heading to Sokov's army headquarters.
As soon as Konev left with his front foot, Vatutin became anxious with his back foot. In this battle of Kursk, he found that his two armies were inferior to Sokov's 27th Army. Once Zhukov put in a good word for Konev and asked the base camp to reassign the 27th Army to the Steppe Front, he would suffer a big loss.
Out of this consideration, he anxiously said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, we will soon launch Operation Rumyantsev to attack Kharkov and Belgorod where the enemy is entrenched. Transferring Sokov's 27th Army away at this time will greatly weaken our strength."
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." After Vatutin finished speaking, Vasilevsky also echoed: "Operation Rumyantsev is about to begin. If the 27th Army is transferred away at this time, it will weaken the strength of the Voronezh Front. , which is very detrimental to our future operations.”
Operation Rumyantsev was jointly formulated by Vasilevsky and Zhukov. If the transfer of the 27th Army caused any uncertainties in the operation, Vasilevsky did not want to see this, so he Only then would he agree with Vatutin's opinion and firmly oppose the transfer of the 27th Army.
After Zhukov listened to the two people's opinions, his eyes stayed on them for a long time, and finally sighed and said: "I feel that even if the 27th Army is re-assigned to the command of the Steppe Front, it will not have any influence on our Rumyantsev operation. What impact will there be? Konev is right, we should not disperse the huge strategic reserves, but should put them into the battlefield as a whole, maybe we can achieve greater results."
"Comrade Vatutin, I can tell you. Even if the 27th Army is reassigned to the command of the Steppe Front, they will also participate in the battle to liberate Kharkov and Belgorod."
Zhukov had already spoken to this extent, and Vatutin knew that no matter how much he objected, it would be of no use, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.
"Comrade Konev, I have remembered what you said. I will convey your opinions to the Supreme Commander himself at the appropriate time." After Zhukov finished speaking, he took the initiative to propose to Konev: "Koniev Comrade Nev, I guess you really want the 27th Army to return to your front army organization, right? Otherwise, you would not send the air force to provide them with free air cover."
Seeing that Zhukov guessed what he was thinking, Konev smiled sheepishly. According to his idea, Rotmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army can be dispensed with, but Sokov's 27th Army must go back. It is the treasure of the Steppe Front Army, and Vatu cannot be taken advantage of in vain. Beijing.
The reason why Konev rushed to the headquarters of the Voronezh Front today was mainly because he wanted to complain to Zhukov and strive to reassign Sokov's troops to his command. Now that Zhukov expressed his willingness to help, he felt a little more at ease. After continuing to chat for a while, he stood up and left, heading to Sokov's army headquarters.
As soon as Konev left with his front foot, Vatutin became anxious with his back foot. In this battle of Kursk, he found that his two armies were inferior to Sokov's 27th Army. Once Zhukov put in a good word for Konev and asked the base camp to reassign the 27th Army to the Steppe Front, he would suffer a big loss.
Out of this consideration, he anxiously said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, we will soon launch Operation Rumyantsev to attack Kharkov and Belgorod where the enemy is entrenched. Transferring Sokov's 27th Army away at this time will greatly weaken our strength."
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." After Vatutin finished speaking, Vasilevsky also echoed: "Operation Rumyantsev is about to begin. If the 27th Army is transferred away at this time, it will weaken the strength of the Voronezh Front. , which is very detrimental to our future operations.”
Operation Rumyantsev was jointly formulated by Vasilevsky and Zhukov. If the transfer of the 27th Army caused any uncertainties in the operation, Vasilevsky did not want to see this, so he Only then would he agree with Vatutin's opinion and firmly oppose the transfer of the 27th Army.
After Zhukov listened to the two people's opinions, his eyes stayed on them for a long time. Finally, he sighed and said: "I feel that even if the 27th Army is re-assigned to the command of the Steppe Front, it will not have any influence on our Rumyantsev operation. What impact will there be? Konev is right, we should not disperse the huge strategic reserves, but should put them into the battlefield as a whole, maybe we can achieve greater results."
"Comrade Vatutin, I can tell you. Even if the 27th Army is reassigned to the command of the Steppe Front, they will also participate in the battle to liberate Kharkov and Belgorod."
Zhukov had already spoken to this extent, and Vatutin knew that no matter how much he objected, it would be of no use, and a bitter smile appeared on his face. Zhukov had already spoken to this extent, and Vatutin knew that no matter how much he objected, it would be of no use, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.
