"Let's move forward according to the original plan and not give the Germans any chance to breathe!" Before Sidorin could speak, Sokov said first: "Don't forget, our attack tomorrow will be supported by the air force. , if the Germans want to hit us from the flank, they will definitely pay huge casualties."
"Misha, now that you say that, I feel more relieved." Lunev said: "I believe in your vision."
Just when they had agreed to continue to advance deeper into the German defenses according to the original plan, Sokov suddenly saw the director of the reconnaissance department running in crawling on the ground. He couldn't help but frowned slightly and asked: "Comrade director, what?" What makes you so panicked?"
"Report to Comrade Commander," the head of the reconnaissance department came to Sokov and raised his hand in salute. He replied in a panic: "My scouts have just sent back the latest information. They have figured out the number of the German army that ambushed them."
Sokov asked casually: "Oh, which German unit is it that makes you lose your temper like this?"
"The Grossdeutschland Panzer Corps!" the head of the reconnaissance department replied hurriedly: "It's the Grossdeutschland Panzer Corps!"
Everyone present could not help but change their faces when they heard what the Director of the Reconnaissance Department said. Only Lunev, who had just arrived, asked with a confused expression: "What is the background of the Grossdeutschland Panzer Army? Is it very powerful?"
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, this unit is indeed very powerful." Ponejelin said with a solemn expression: "Although it belongs to the Wehrmacht, its combat effectiveness is the same as that of the most powerful German Army's Flag Guard Division, Skeleton Division, Imperial Division and Maintenance Division. The combat effectiveness of the capital is comparable, and it belongs to the top ace elite. When the strength of the troops is equal, no unit in our army can be its opponent."
But Runev obviously didn't know about this unit. He continued to ask: "I have only heard of the Grossdeutschland Division. I wonder what it has to do with this unit?"
"Comrade Military Commissar, let me explain it to you." Sokov said: "In November 1944, the Grossdeutschland Division withdrew to East Prussia for rest and recuperation. Some new troops were assigned to the division. The units directly under the original division was enlarged enough to form another division. Due to the excess number of troops, the division was expanded into the Grossdeutschland Panzer Corps, which included the Grossdeutschland Panzergrenadier Division and the Brandenburg Panzergrenadier Division."
"I really didn't expect that the troops that wanted to ambush our army turned out to be the armored troops of the Grossdeutschland Division." Runev said with a clear conscience: "If our scouts hadn't discovered their whereabouts in advance, when the battle started during the day, , this armored force carries out an assault from the flank, and it is entirely possible to defeat our offensive force."
"But there is no need to worry now." Sokov said: "Comrade Marshal promised that before the attack begins, the air force will be dispatched to carry out intensive bombing of the area where the armored forces are buried. Even if all the German armored forces are equipped with Tigers Even tanks cannot escape the fate of being wiped out."
He said he was not worried, but Sokov still had a headache when he thought of the heavy armor battalion under the Grossdeutschland Division. The Tiger tanks equipped by this battalion were the nemesis of T-34 and JS-2 tanks. If the bombing is not thorough and a few fish escape the net and encounter their own tank brigade on the battlefield, they may cause considerable losses to themselves.
Thinking of this, he felt that he should call Rokossovsky, report the matter to him, and request the air force to carry out more intense bombing of the ambush area of the German armored forces to completely destroy the German heavy armored battalions.
But when Sokov mentioned the matter, Lunev said disapprovingly: "Misha, a heavy armored battalion only has a few dozen tanks. After being bombed by our army, I am afraid there will be only a few tanks left. Wait for them to escape." On the battlefield, our tank brigade just picked them up."
"Comrade Military Commissar, you must not take it lightly." Sokov said to Lunev: "As far as I know, during yesterday's battle, a tank unit of the 2nd Assault Army encountered the German 507th Heavy Armored Battalion. After a fierce battle, our army lost more than twenty JS-2 heavy tanks, but the Germans did not lose any."
"Ah, we lost more than 20 heavy tanks, but the enemy didn't lose any?" Lunev asked in surprise: "Is this true?"
"Of course it's true." Sokov gave him an affirmative answer: "The German 507th Heavy Armored Battalion is equipped with a large number of Tiger tanks and is a strong enemy of our army. We must not take it lightly. I don't want to be in today's meeting. In the battle report, it appeared that a large number of tanks of the 48th Army were destroyed by German Tiger tanks."
Sokov connected to the front army headquarters, and Rokossovsky, who was about to lie down and rest for a while, felt a little strange when he heard that Sokov was looking for him. He came to the table wearing a military coat and picked up the microphone on it: "Misha, what can I do for you?"
"Comrade Marshal, I have just received the latest information from the scouts behind enemy lines." Sokov did not want to delay Rokossovsky for too long, so he kept the story short: "The nearby German armored units that are preparing to attack our army are subordinate to Among the troops of the Grossdeutschland Panzer Corps, there are also many Tiger tanks."
"What, the troops of the Grossdeutschland Panzer Army are also equipped with a large number of Tiger tanks?" Rokossovsky asked in surprise: "Is the news you said reliable?"
"Completely reliable, Comrade Marshal." Sokov said: "This is the intelligence that the scouts just sent back not long ago. I think it is true and credible."
"The German Tiger tanks are too great a threat to our tanks. It seems that we need to increase the bombing of the area. We must destroy all the German tanks at the ambush site to avoid posing a threat to your attack."
"That's right, Comrade Marshal, that's what I mean." Seeing that Rokossovsky understood his intention, Sokov said happily: "As long as the German heavy armor battalion is destroyed, then we will be able to carry out the next attack Only by doing so can the operation go more smoothly and at the same time minimize the casualties of the troops.”
Rokossovsky raised his hand to look at the time, and then said into the microphone: "Misha, it's getting late, you should go to bed early. When daybreak, you will still be commanding the battle. Don't lose your energy by then. If something goes wrong, there will be serious consequences.”
"Okay, Comrade Marshal, I'll take a rest right away." Sokov said one last thing before putting down the phone: "I'm sorry to disturb your rest. You should also rest early."
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to everyone: "Comrades, commanders, there are still a few hours until dawn, everyone should seize the time to take a rest. Once the war starts during the day, even if you want to sleep, there will be no time."
Fortunately, the headquarters is relatively spacious. There are five or six camp beds placed near the wall, which were originally used for the staff members to rest. But since the main commanders of the group army are here, these camp beds are naturally used by them.
However, before daybreak, Sidorin got up, stood at the table and made a few calls to understand the situation of each unit and prepare for the upcoming attack.
Just as the hour hand pointed to eight o'clock, the Air Force's bomber formation launched an indiscriminate bombing of the woods where the Germans were ambushing, immediately turning the woods into a sea of flames. The German tank soldiers were all sleeping in the tanks. They never dreamed that at dawn, Soviet bombers would bomb the place where they were hiding. Many tank soldiers were burned alive in the tanks before they had time to escape.
This sudden bombing destroyed the German commander's battle plan. In a hurry, he had no way to mobilize troops from other places to attack the flanks of the 48th Group Army, so that after the start of a new round of offensive, the 48th Group Army With an overwhelming force, they broke through the German defense lines one after another.
However, before the official offensive began, the commanders of each division received a call from Sokov himself, asking them to slow down the attack speed today, occupy and consolidate one place, and be prepared to deal with the German counterattack. .
When Lunev heard Sokov's order, he couldn't help but said in surprise: "Misha, yesterday I said that the troops should slow down the attack speed so that the troops on the left and right wings could follow up in time, but you opposed it. You said this would give the Germans enough time to strengthen their defences."
"Yes, I did say that." Sokov explained: "What I said about slowing down the attack speed was for yesterday's battle. You know, yesterday, five infantry divisions and two infantry brigades used The method of alternating attacks quickly advanced deep into the German defenses, leaving no time to consolidate the occupied areas.
Yesterday, the enemy was deceived by us and lost its unified command. Many troops lost their organization and naturally had little combat effectiveness. But after a night's rest, they must have made some adjustments. If we continue to charge forward regardless of what we did yesterday, we are likely to be attacked from the flank by the Germans. Because of this, I ordered the commanders of each division to leave enough troops to consolidate the area every time they occupied a place. Even if we encounter a German counterattack, we can rely on the terrain to fight back to slow down the German advance. "
"Misha, you are still thoughtful." Lunev said with a smile: "Tell me, how far can our troops advance today?"
"Conservatively, we should be able to advance about ten kilometers." Considering yesterday's fierce offensive, the troops advanced very quickly, but the German resistance today should be very strong. For the sake of safety, Sokov said cautiously: "This should This is the best result we can achieve today.”
"Comrade Commander, phone number." Sidorin said to Sokov: "It's the commander of the 6th Guards Division, General Onupriyenko."
"Hello, Comrade General." Sokov took the phone and asked, "What can I do for you?"
"Comrade Commander," Onupriyenko's voice was a little excited: "Yesterday, the main force of the group army charged deep into the German defenses, and only our division stood aside to watch the fun. Can you see if we can also participate in the battle today? ?”
"No, General Onupryenko, absolutely not." Sokov said sternly: "The defense of the town of Puutusk is also very important. If your division goes to the front to participate in the battle, who will protect the town? You know, apart from the troops directly under the group army, the only troops I can use now are only one infantry brigade. I can't let them take over your defense and be responsible for the defense of Puutusk Town."
"Comrade Commander, the friendly commanders and fighters are fighting bloody battles with the German troops at the front, but our division is staying in the town doing nothing." Onupriyenko continued: "I'm worried that if this continues, the commanders and fighters will have bad emotions. .”
"I think you are the one with the emotions, right?!" Sokov unceremoniously exposed Onupryenko's lie and said to him: "The task of your division now is to hold on to the town of Puutusk. Comrade General, this battle will not stop after today, we will have to fight the Germans for a long time, and there will be plenty of opportunities for your division to take the field, do you understand?"
Hearing Sokov say these words in such a stern tone, Onupriyenko had no choice but to bite the bullet and said: "Okay, Comrade Commander, our division will resolutely implement your order and stick to it." Good Puutusk town. But I also hope that you can keep your promise and don’t forget our division when there is an important combat mission next time.”
"Comrade General, I can guarantee you this." Sokov said: "Next time there is an important mission, your division will be prioritized as the main attack."
"Comrade Commander," when Sokov put down the phone, Ponedelin came over and said to him: "I think Asiya has been in the 6th Guards Division for a long time. Should she be allowed to return to the group army field field? Hospital?"
Lunev, who knew nothing about this matter, was a little surprised when he heard Ponedelin mention Asiya's name: "Isn't Asiya working as a military doctor in the weapons and equipment department? When did she go to the front line again? coming?"
"Not long ago." After Sokov said briefly, he said to Ponedelin: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I thank you for your kindness, but I think that at this moment, Asia should be allowed to return to the field at the group army headquarters. She is definitely not willing to go to the hospital. It is better to let her stay in the town of Puutusk and perform operations on the wounded. This way, there is no danger, and she can also do the job she loves. It can be said that it kills two birds with one stone."
Lunev was one of the insiders about Asia being captured by the Germans during the Battle of Kursk. If he hadn't come forward at that time, I'm afraid Asia would have gotten into trouble. At this moment, when he learned that Asia had appeared on the battlefield again, Lunev's heartbeat accelerated. Fortunately, he later heard that the location where Asia was staying at the moment was the relatively safe town of Puutusk, and he felt a little more at ease.
"Misha." Luniev said to Sokov earnestly: "I think if possible, let Asia stay in the rear. You know, her status is quite special. If something happens to her, the Germans will They will definitely make a fuss about this matter, which will have a negative impact on the morale and morale of our army."
"Comrade Military Commissar, I admit that it is inappropriate for Asia to stay at the dangerous front." Sokov said with a wry smile: "But I also have to respect her wishes. If she is unwilling to stay at the rear, I will say it again. She wouldn't listen at all. Since she wants to go to the front line to save lives and heal the wounded, let her go. Besides, isn't Marshal Rokossovsky's daughter Ala now also serving as a health worker on the front line?"
"Well, you are right." Lunev nodded and said: "I remember that when Marshal Rokossovsky heard the news that his daughter was injured, he was completely confused. Fortunately, it was good luck. Yes, he was out of danger quickly, and after lying in the hospital for two months, he returned to the battlefield and continued to work as a health worker."
