The advance actions of the Voronezh Front nullified Rokossovsky's efforts. The artillery of the Central Front, although ten minutes late in real history, added very limited casualties to the Germans.

In the course of the shelling, Stalin, who was not at ease, called Zhukov and asked straight to the point: "Comrade Zhukov, how is the situation there for you, have you started shelling the Germans?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Stalin." Zhukov replied in the affirmative: "The shelling has begun." ”

Hearing that the shelling of the Germans had begun, Stalin's breathing became rapid: "Did the Germans react in any way? ”

"In individual sections, German artillery returned fire, but was quickly suppressed by our artillery fire."

As soon as the rumbling of the artillery fire stopped, silence returned to the outside. Malinin immediately grabbed the phone on the table and called the 13th Army, which was closest to the German army, "Hey, General Pukhov, how is the situation in your place, is there any movement from the Germans?" ”

"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." Pukhov, who was observing the enemy situation in the observation post, heard Malinin's question, and immediately replied without hesitation: "The positions of the German troops are still shrouded in gunsmoke, and it is impossible to see what they are doing. ”

"Closely monitor and report to the front command as soon as there is any movement." After Malinin had called Pukhov, he called the 48th and 70th armies in turn, but the reply was the same: the German positions were still shrouded in smoke from artillery fire, and for the time being there was no movement of the enemy.

After hearing that the German troops in front of the various army groups did not make any movement, Ponomarenko was a little breathless, and he said anxiously: "What is going on with these Germans, why is there no movement at all, and whether they fight or not?" ”

"Comrade General," Zhukov turned his head to look at him, "one thing is clear, as soon as the war machine is activated, it is impossible to stop it. ”

Rokossovsky also said with a smile: "The fierce shelling of our army caught the German troops off guard. Perhaps the enemy concluded that our troops were about to move to the offensive. Our actions disrupted its plans and caused panic among their officers and men. They may adjust the defense of their troops while observing whether our army will make the next move. ”

After hearing this, Zhukov nodded, turned around and ordered Maksimenko, who was standing aside: "Comrade Chief of the Communications Corps, pick me up the Voronezh Front, I want to talk to Vasilevsky." ”

After the phone was connected, Zhukov first briefed the other party on the situation north of Kursk and asked: "Comrade Chief of the General Staff, how is the situation there for you?" ”

"Silence like death, Marshal Zhukov, there was not the slightest movement in the German positions." Vasilevsky replied with a smile: "Perhaps the Germans, blinded by the powerful artillery fire of our troops, are hiding in the trenches and watching to see if our troops will take the initiative to attack them." ”

When Vasilevsky put down the phone, Vatutin walked in with the new deputy commander of the Front, Senior General Apanashchenko, and just when he heard Vasilevsky's words, he couldn't help but ask: "Why, Comrade Marshal, the situation on the Northern Front is the same as ours, and the Germans are not moving?" ”

"yes, they're waiting, too." Vasilevsky stood up, walked up to the two and nodded, saying: "Wait and see what measures the Germans will take." ”

"Hell, there's no movement at all." Apanashchenko said with some anxiety: "The German offensive troops will not be wiped out by our artillery fire, right?" ”

While the three were talking, the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Ivanov, walked in, took off his military cap, scratched the back of his head, shook his head and said: "It's still the same, there is no movement at all on the German position." ”

Hearing Ivanov's report, Vatutin's face turned to Vasilevsky and said: "Comrade Marshal, it seems that our artillery bombardment has worked, the Germans have suffered heavy losses and are unable to attack us again. Do you see if a combat order was issued to the second echelon, so that they were ready to attack? ”

Although Vasilevsky tended to rely on defensive positions, he would greatly deplete the German army's vital forces before turning to a full-scale counteroffensive. However, seeing that the German position was bombarded by his own artillery fire, there was no movement at all, coupled with Vatutin's persuasion, he couldn't help but be a little moved.

Therefore, when Vatutin made the same request a second time, he did not hesitate to nod his head in agreement. Seeing that Vasilevsky agreed to the commander's request, Ivanov was overjoyed, he immediately ran to the telephone, picked it up and began to call the commander of the second echelon.

……

……

While the Soviet command was waiting for the German response, the commander of the German 9th Army, Colonel-General Moder, hurriedly rushed to the headquarters of Army Group Center after inspecting his own units that had been shelled by Soviet troops.

When Moder entered the office of Field Marshal von Knewg, he took off his military hat and tucked it under his arm, and gave him a Nazi military salute. After returning the salute, Vonkenneug got up and walked out from behind his desk and shook his hand.

Moder did not bother to greet him, and said bluntly to von Knewg: "Your Excellency, the intention of this campaign which we are preparing to launch is to strike a surprise blow to the Russians. But judging by the shelling that our troops have just received, our actions have already been detected by the Russians. Their artillery destroyed our communications, and the forward positions suffered significant losses. ”

Von Knewg walked a few steps back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, then stopped and asked, "General Modell, then what good advice do you have?" Let's talk about it. ”

"Your Excellency," Moder suggested with a serious expression, "I suggest that you cancel this battle plan immediately!" ”

"This can't be done." Hearing Moder say this, von Knewg suddenly jumped up like a cat that had been stepped on by its tail, "The attack on the Kursk arc is an order given by the Führer himself, and no one has the right to cancel it." ”

Modell pursed his lips and continued: "Your Excellency, did you report to the Führer about the heavy shelling of our army by the Russians an hour ago? ”

Von Kneuger walked back to his seat and sat down, took off the monocle he wore in his left eye, pinched it in his hand, and said lightly: "I am absolutely such a trifle, there is no need to report it to the Führer." ”

"However, it will be too late to delay any longer," Moder couldn't help but be a little anxious when he saw von Kniug's disapproving look: "Maybe the Russians will take the opportunity to attack us." ”

Von Knewg spread his hands and asked helplessly, "General Modell, what do you want to do?" ”

"Your Excellency Marshal, I would like to ask you to call the Führer at once." Moder pointed to the telephone in front of von Kneuger and said emotionally: "This time it is a decisive military operation, and the fate of Germany is at stake!" ”

Seeing that Moder was so emotional, von Kniug put the monocle back on his left eye and asked, "Since you said that the battle we are about to start now will determine the outcome of the war, when will you attack?" ”

Seeing that von Knewg had agreed to his request, Moder pondered for a moment and replied decisively: "We can begin the shelling of the Russian positions in half an hour; An hour and a half later, a full-scale assault on the Kursk arc was launched. ”

After receiving Moder's reply, von Kniug stared at him for a long time, and finally nodded and said, "General Moder, then you should act immediately." ”

After smacking on the spot, Moder put on his military hat and walked briskly out of von Kneuger's office.