Long before the battle began, Rokossovsky realized that whether or not he could control the air supremacy on the battlefield would be the key to whether or not he could win the Battle of Kursk. Unfortunately, the Germans are also aware of this problem. The Soviets dispatched bomber and fighter groups in an attempt to seize air supremacy on the battlefield, while the Germans dispatched more bombers and fighters to firmly control air supremacy in their own hands on the first day of the battle.

Hearing that the Germans had mastered air supremacy on the battlefield, Zhukov became angry: "How did your air force do it, how did you let the Germans control the sky over the battlefield, so that our troops were bombed so that they couldn't raise their heads, how could they launch a counteroffensive?" ”

Rokossovsky was also dissatisfied with the performance of the Air Force, and when he heard Zhukov say the same, he called Rudenko directly and asked angrily: "General Rudenko, I need an explanation why our Air Force could not suppress the Luftwaffe in the skies over the battlefield, so much so that it lost air supremacy." ”

"Comrade Commander," seeing the unsatisfactory performance of the aviation division, Rudenko's heart was also anxious, and after listening to Rokossovsky's reproach, he quickly explained: "Our aircraft are not as numerous as the Germans, and in such a high-intensity operation, our ammunition and fuel will not be able to support it for long." ”

"It won't be for long, how long?" Rokossovsky said with a serious expression: "Tell me more details. ”

"If we continue to fight at the intensity of today's battle," Rudenko said thoughtfully, "it will last two days at most, and our air force will not be able to take to the air because of lack of fuel." ”

"Don't worry, General Rudenko. Fuel and ammunition, I'll help you out. Rokossovsky said solemnly: "But you have to promise me that in tomorrow's battle, you must take back air supremacy from the Germans." ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Hearing that Rokossovsky said that he would help them solve the problem of ammunition and fuel, Rudenko immediately swore an oath: "I promise you that tomorrow the skies over Kursk will be firmly in the hands of our army." ”

After Rokossovsky put down the phone, he said to Malinin: "Chief of Staff, call the Minister of Logistics, I have important matters to discuss with him." ”

The head of logistics of the Front, Major General Andypinkko, soon appeared in front of Rokossovsky, straightened up and asked: "Comrade commander, do you have anything to do with me?" ”

"That's right, General Antipiko." Rokossovsky did not talk nonsense, but said straight to the point: "In order to master the air supremacy on the battlefield, our air force makes more frequent sorties, and now they are facing a shortage of ammunition and fuel, do you see if there is any way to help them solve it?" ”

"Comrade commander," Hearing Rokossovsky say this, Andisenko's face suddenly showed a look of embarrassment: "In order to speed up the transport, we have used all means of transport. In addition to the paving of new roads, horses were used to pull carriages for transportation on railway spur lines that had been blown up by the Germans. Cars are running day and night on the highways, and horse-drawn carriages are hurrying along..."

"Alright, General Anjipiko, you don't have to say it." Rokossovsky didn't wait for him to finish before he raised his hand to interrupt his later words: "I understand what you're trying to say, but what I'm asking now is if you can transport the much-needed ammunition and fuel to the Air Force as soon as possible." ”

"I'm trying to figure it out." Antipinkko stubbornly said: "I will give priority to ensuring the transportation of ammunition and fuel for the Air Force." ”

Just as Rokossovsky was about to let Antipinkko leave, Zhukov, who was sitting on the side, spoke: "General Antipinkko, I also want to remind you that the railway facilities that were blown up by the Germans should be repaired as soon as possible, so as to improve the efficiency of transportation, understand?" ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal." Andipiko hurriedly replied: "The railway workers at the Kursk junction station behaved with special courage and tenacity, braving the bombardment of enemy aircraft to repair railway facilities. The inhabitants of Kursk helped us a lot in eliminating the consequences of the bombing, laying the ring railway and defense works. ”

After Antipinkko left, Zhukov asked: "Comrade Rokossovsky, do you think you will be able to hold back such a ferocious attack of the Germans?" ”

In response to Zhukov's question, Rokossovsky shook his head and said with some headaches: "The German offensive is so fierce, and it has mastered air supremacy on the battlefield, it is very difficult to completely block them from our defensive positions. Therefore, I think that the breakthrough of the defense line of the 13th Army is only a matter of time. ”

"And what are you going to do?" Zhukov asked without moving.

"After the Germans have effectively broken through the 13th Army's defensive line, I intend to have the 48th and 70th armies on the left and right flanks to threaten the German flanks so that they cannot concentrate their forces and continue to assault forward." Rokossovsky pointed to the map in front of him and explained his combat intentions to Zhukov: "At the same time, I will transfer the 17th Guards Infantry Corps and the 17th Tank Army from the reserves of the Front Army to move to the defense zone of the 13th Army, preparing for the German army to launch a counter-assault in time after breaking through the defense line of our army, destroying the German troops rushing in and sealing the breakthrough." ”

"That's a good idea." After listening to this, Zhukov nodded with a smile and said, "Then execute it as soon as possible." ”

Rokossovsky quickly wrote down his order on a piece of paper and handed it to Malinin, who came over: "Chief of staff, immediately order the two armies to assemble and be ready to fight at any time. ”

After looking down at the contents of the paper, Malinin said euphemistically: "Comrade commander, now that the German army has air supremacy, is it appropriate for our army to move at this time?" He said this because he was worried that the troops would suffer heavy losses due to German air raids in the process of mobilization.

"Chief of Staff, you don't have to worry." Rokossovsky explained to Malinin: "These two armies will not be thrown into battle until the Germans have broken through the lines of General Pukhov, and at this stage let them assemble first so that they can be ready to fight." ”

Rokossovsky's fears became a reality a few hours later. The German onslaught, at all costs, succeeded in cutting a two-kilometer-wide gap in the defense line of the 13th Army, and the German tanks, covering the infantry, poured into the depth of the Soviet defense like a tide.

After receiving this news, Rokossovsky calmly called the commanders of the 48th and 70th armies on the left and right flanks, ordering them to actively act on both flanks of the breakthrough to contain the main forces of the German army, so that they could not throw more troops into the breakthrough in a short time.

As soon as the call was over, Pukhov's guilty phone call came in, and he said in shame: "I'm sorry, Comrade Commander, I betrayed your trust and didn't hold my ground, and let the Germans rush in. ”

Although Rokossovsky was quite dissatisfied with him in his heart, in order not to affect the next battle, he did not blame Pukhov, but said with a pleasant face: "General Pukhov, don't worry, the German army has only broken through a small area, and most of the positions are still in my hands." I have just ordered your troops on the left and right flanks to attack the German flanks in order to relieve your pressure. You also put the army group reserves into battle as soon as possible, cut off the Germans who rushed into the line of defense from the main forces in the rear, make them a lone army, and then find a way to completely destroy them. ”

Pukhov, who turned out to be a little discouraged and disappointed, heard Rokossovsky say this, and suddenly had a fighting spirit again, and he immediately replied loudly: "Comrade commander, please rest assured, I will immediately organize the reserves to carry out a counter-assault, and I must re-plug the breakthrough opened by the German army." But ......"

Rokossovsky heard what he said, and hurriedly asked: "But what?" General Pukhov, if you have anything to say, just say it, don't talk like this. ”

"Comrade commander, this is the case," Pukhov said worriedly while making a phone call, looking at the sky outside from an open window, "the German army has air supremacy on the battlefield, and if our army rashly attacks, once it is attacked by the German army, it is bound to suffer heavy casualties." Do you think you can provide us with the necessary air cover? ”

Not long after the end of the call with Pukhov, the battle report from the front was conveyed to the command. After a quick glance at the above contents, Rokossovsky handed it to Zhukov and said: "Comrade Marshal, look, this is the battle report of the 13th Army, although the German army wedged into our defensive zone for a distance of five kilometers, but more than 70 German tanks were destroyed by our army. ”

After reading it, Zhukov casually put it on the table and said with some concern: "Comrade Rokossovsky, now it is not a question of how many tanks the German army has destroyed, but a question of whether our army can block the German attack and make it impossible for them to continue to develop in depth with our army. ”

"The situation is indeed not ideal, Comrade Marshal." Rokossovsky said somewhat helplessly: "The recovery ability of the German army is far beyond the imagination of our army, and two and a half hours after they were shelled by our army, they launched a fierce attack on the defensive positions of our army at any cost. ”

"The reason why the Germans were able to achieve such results." Zhukov said with a straight face: "It is still related to the underestimation of the enemy by the commanders and fighters of our army. Seeing that there was no movement on the positions of the German army after the heavy artillery bombardment of our army ended, they thought that the German army had been defeated by us, so they relaxed their vigilance, and even some individual units actually began to do offensive mobilization. As a result, before our troops could attack, the German artillery bombardment began, inflicting considerable casualties on our troops. ”

"Comrade Marshal," Rokossovsky already knew in his heart the outcome of the Battle of Kursk, so in the face of the temporary setback of the Soviet army, he was not worried at all, because this was a normal imagination, and only after a large amount of the German army's living forces were consumed, the situation would develop in a direction completely favorable to the Soviet army, "Today's battle is over, although our army is temporarily at a disadvantage, it does not mean that we are not capable of defeating the German offensive." Just wait and see, our troops will surely teach the German army a lesson that will last a lifetime. ”

"When will you be able to launch a counteroffensive against the Germans?" Zhukov asked.

"Tomorrow, Comrade Marshal." Rokossovsky pointed to the map and explained to Zhukov: "When it dawns tomorrow, I plan to concentrate tank forces and carry out a counter-assault on the Germans in the direction of the breakthrough." If all goes well, we will be able to recover the lost positions and annihilate the enemy who has penetrated deep into our defensive zone. ”

Zhukov tilted his head and looked at it for a while, and finally nodded and said: "Well, the counterattack site is well chosen, here are all endless plains, which is very conducive to the deployment of tank troops, I believe you should be able to achieve the desired results." ”

Malinin came over and asked Rokossovsky for instructions: "Comrade commander, the 17th Guards Infantry Corps and the 17th Tank Corps have been assembled and are ready to go into battle at any time. ”

"Wait a minute, Comrade Chief of Staff, let them stay at the assembly site for the time being." Rokossovsky pointed to the map and said to Malinin: "Let them wait until dark, move here, and at dawn tomorrow launch a counterattack against the German troops who have broken through our lines, and be sure to annihilate this enemy force and regain our lost positions." ”

"Do you need to do anything to prepare before you counterattack?" Malinin was afraid that Rokossovsky would not understand what he wanted to express, and he made a special explanation: "I mean, before the attack, do we need to prepare for artillery fire or air strikes? ”

"That's for sure." Rokossovsky looked up at Malinin and said: "First of all, we must destroy the German fortifications with artillery fire, and then send out the air force to bombard the German armored units when our troops carry out a counterattack." In this way, the resistance to our troops in the course of a counterattack will be greatly reduced. ”

"Comrade Rokossovsky," said Zhukov again as Malinin was recording orders: "This area is conducive to the movement of tanks, and although I cannot give you orders directly, I suggest that you send more tank units to participate in this counterattack." I am confident that we will be able to achieve unexpected results. ”

"Understood, Comrade Marshal, I will do as you command." After nodding his head in agreement with Zhukov, Rokossovsky added to Malinin: "In addition to the 17th Tank Army, which participated in the battle, two more tank brigades will be transferred from other directions to participate in this counter-assault." If we don't fight, we will only do it, and if we do, we will beat the German army to pieces. ”

"Comrade commander, near the scheduled sortie position of the 17th Tank Army, there is also a Guards Tank Regiment." Malinin tapped at the map with a pencil and suggested to Rokossovsky: "I suggest that they be thrown into this counter-assault as well." ”

After looking at the map for a while, Rokossovsky said cheerfully: "Well, the stronger our counterattack forces, the faster the German army will collapse, then put this Guards tank regiment into battle." ”

Thailand's most breasted female anchor's new passionate love video is exposed, and the male protagonist is so hungry and thirsty!! Please pay attention to the WeChat public account to watch online: meinvxuan1 (long press for three seconds to copy)!!