After reading Rotmistrov's battle plan, Konev raised his head and asked Zakharov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what do you think of General Rotmistrov's plan?"
"I think it's feasible." Zaharov said plausibly: "Using two hundred tanks to form a powerful assault group and advance deep into the German defenses along the railway can destroy all resistance along the way..."
Before he could finish speaking, Konev interrupted him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, General Rotmistrov also organized an armored assault today, but his troops were defeated in less than an hour. He suffered a devastating blow from the Germans and lost nearly two hundred tanks. Why do you think that the armored assault he is planning to organize tomorrow will be successful?"
Hearing Konev's question, Zakharov analyzed to him the reason why the 5th Guards Tank Army failed in today's offensive: "I think the failure of today's offensive is probably due to General Rotmistrov's tactics. Related. He divided more than two hundred tanks into three wedge-shaped formations and spread them flat on the wide battlefield. He was unable to form a firepower advantage at a certain point. On the contrary, they were defeated by the German troops who had already ambushed them..."
Konev patiently listened to Zakharov's analysis and asked rhetorically: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you considered that once the enemy discovers General Rotmistrov's attempt, concentrate their armored forces and anti-tank forces?" Firepower, interception along the railroad, will our attack still be successful?”
Facing Konev's doubts, Zakharov seemed very embarrassed. According to his idea, Rotmistrov concentrated so many tanks to carry out the assault, even if there were German tanks and anti-tank firepower blocking the way, he could still Break through enemy defenses with ease. If someone else had said this, Zakharov would have definitely regarded the other person as a panicked person. After all, walking around is a defeatist argument and should be severely punished.
But it was Konev who said this, and his mind had another idea. He did not want this plan, which seemed to have a high success rate, to be so easily denied by Konev, and said quickly: "Comrade Commander, according to my judgment, the Germans never imagined that we would adopt such an assault method. The troops along the railway cannot stop the attack of General Rotmistrov’s troops.”
This time after Konev listened to Zakharov's analysis, he did not deny his analysis. Instead, he stared at him for a long time and finally said: "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, since you are interested in Rotmistro, General Hu is so confident, then you can tell him that after our research and decision, we agree that he will use this tactic to attack the enemy tomorrow."
Zakharov did not expect that Konev would actually agree to Rotmistrov's battle plan, and he couldn't help but have a look of astonishment on his face. Seeing Zakharov standing there without moving, Konev couldn't help but frowned: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what's wrong with you? Why haven't you called General Rotmistrov and told him that we His battle plan has been approved.”
"Okay, okay." Zakharov, who was still dazed, replied in a panic after listening to Konev's words: "I'll call General Rotmistrov right now and get this done." Notify him of the news.”
While Zakharov was on the phone, Konev sat at the table, staring closely at the map in front of him, lost in thought.
After Zakharov finished the call, he saw Konev still staring at the map in a daze, and couldn't help but ask: "Comrade Commander, what are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking, what exactly is Sokov planning to do?" Konev was awakened by Zakharov's shout. He raised his head and glanced at the other party, but his mind couldn't help but return to Sokov again. He pointed Looking at the map, he said to Zakharov: "The troops on the left are supported by the assault group army and are fully capable of breaking through the enemy's defenses and rushing into the city to join the troops on the right. In this way, they will have enough power to control Kharkov western urban area."
"Comrade Commander," Zakharov, as the Chief of Staff of the Front Army, naturally understood the distribution of German troops in Kharkov. He waited for Konev to finish and immediately expressed his opinion, "In any case, Soko The husband faced the German 11th Army and the 42nd Army, plus several armored divisions. If his troops really occupied the west of the city, they would inevitably trigger a crazy counterattack by the Germans, and then his troops would be in danger of being encircled. "
"You are right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Even though Konev is dissatisfied with Sokov's current conservative style of play, he knows very well that if he forcibly orders Sokov to expand the results, it will This army group brought disaster. "If Sokov's troops really control the west of the city, I'm afraid not only the 11th Army and the 42nd Army will launch an attack on them, I'm afraid Huot's armored forces will also be thrown into battle."
Seeing that Konev understood this truth, Zakharov's face showed a smile, "Fortunately, General Rotmistrov's tank troops will be able to rush into the city tomorrow. With such a large support army, we can I think Isokov will definitely take the opportunity to expand the results, and then the main force of the front army will be able to quickly approach the outskirts of Kharkov and start a decisive battle with the enemy's main force."
The topic turned around and returned to Rotmistrov. No matter how you look at it, the 5th Guards Tank Army plays a decisive role in whether Kharkov can be captured in a short time. Konev pointed at Zakharov with his hand and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please tell Sokov again that tomorrow General Rotmistrov's troops will launch an attack from the northwest of the city. Once The tank troops broke into the city, and his troops must take active action to cooperate with friendly forces to achieve greater results."
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Zakharov said smoothly: "I will tell Comrade Sokov the news immediately."
A few minutes later, after answering the phone, Sokov put down the phone and stared at the map on the table in a daze.
Tsvetayev asked curiously: "Comrade Sokov, I wonder what General Zakharov said on the phone?"
Since Tsvetaev was his friendly army, Sokov had nothing to hide from him. He pointed to the northwest of Kharkov and said: "The chief of staff of the front told me that General Rotmistrov The tank group army will launch an offensive along the railway line from the northwest tomorrow morning. Let us take active actions after the friendly forces enter the city to expand the results."
Hearing what Sokov said, Tsvetayev seemed a little excited. He quickly asked: "So, the troops at the left landing site will also enter the city tomorrow? Do you think we should do it before dark today?" Transport all the artillery divisions to the east bank of the Oude River to establish new artillery positions?"
"It's not necessary." Unexpectedly, Sokov shook his head and said, "I don't think General Rotmistrov's troops will be able to enter the city tomorrow."
"Why?" Tsvetayev asked in surprise.
Sokov pointed his hand to the west of Kharkov and said with a wry smile: "It's still this damn sunflower field. The Germans will definitely deploy strong defenses here to make Rotmistrov The general's tank group suffered heavy losses."
"It's not that serious, right?" Tsvetayev said dubiously: "Anyway, General Rotmistrov's tank army has nearly a thousand tanks. How many tanks do the Germans have left now? They How is it possible to block our armored assault? General Sokov, I think you are worrying too much."
Sokov understood that facts speak louder than words, so he did not argue with Tsvetayev, but smiled and said: "Comrade General, we will wait and see. Tomorrow, you will know whether my analysis is correct." Still wrong.”
