Once I had made my ambush plan, I personally called and reported to Vatutin.

When Vatutin heard my voice, he first asked angrily: "Comrade Oshanina, it is already the early morning of June 22, is your unit ready for battle?" ”

Although I knew that the Germans would not launch the Battle of Kursk on this day, I nevertheless ordered the troops at the front to be put into combat readiness. Therefore, at this moment, hearing Vatutin's question, I immediately answered unequivocally: "Report to Comrade Commander of the Front, the units of the 6th Guards Army have activated the procedure for combat readiness duty. ”

Unexpectedly, after listening to it, Vatutin asked in confusion: "Oshanina, what is the combat readiness duty procedure?" This is the first time I've heard this term. ”

Vatutin's words made me stunned, and I said in my heart, isn't there a combat readiness duty system at this time? However, since my immediate boss asked about the matter, I could only reply stubbornly: "Comrades, the so-called combat readiness duty is a system of commanders, command organs, and troops on duty established to prevent sudden enemy attacks and to deal with other emergencies.

Commanders are on duty, and commanders such as division commanders, deputy division commanders, and chiefs of staff of each division at the front are to take turns to take charge.

Officers of command organs at all levels take turns to be on duty and are responsible for handling daily combat readiness and other work affairs. For matters that cannot be handled, immediately report to the higher authorities ......"

"Alright, Comrade Oshanina, needless to say." Without waiting for me to finish, Vatujin interrupted my later words and praised: "This method of yours is not bad, and you can consider promoting it in the entire front army." In this way, the commanders and fighters can get enough rest. Avoid taking too long to prepare. And it makes everyone tired. ”

I waited for him to be afraid that he would not finish talking about it. Because as soon as he stopped, I immediately preemptively said: "Comrade General, I have important information that I want to report to you immediately." ”

When Vatutin heard me say this, he asked in confusion: "Why, Comrade Oshanina, didn't you call at this time to report on the preparations of your group army?" ”

Such speculation about Vatutin. I really couldn't laugh or cry, and I said in my heart that if it was to prepare for war, would I call you in the early morning? If there is anything, report it directly during the day. I coughed lightly, cleared my throat, and then reported to him: "Comrade General, the scouts of the 51st Guards Division, near Tomarovka, captured a German staff officer and seized a document from him. ”

"What documents?" What I said immediately aroused Vatutin's curiosity, and he asked, "Is there any mention of when the enemy will be?" Attacking our defensive zone? ”

"Well, not really." Vatutin's mind is really jumpy. As soon as I mentioned the seizure of a document, he immediately contacted that this information would be related to the German attack on Kursk, and I quickly defended it: "This document belongs to a regimental unit of the German army, and only about the order for the transfer of subordinate units of the regiment." ”

"So that's it." Hearing me that the document had nothing to do with the German attack on Kursk, Vatutin suddenly lost interest, and he lazily asked: "Comrade Oshanina, did you call me so late just for this insignificant document?" ”

I heard impatience and even a little dissatisfaction in his tone, and hurriedly defended: "Comrade General, please listen to my explanation. The Germans were to depart from Tomarovka in the early morning of the 24th, bypassing Yakovlevo and penetrating deep into the rear of our troops. ”

"What, what did you say, the Germans tried to send troops to wedge into the rear of our troops?" My words startled Vatutin, and his originally lazy voice immediately became nervous: "What the hell is going on, let's hear it!" ”

Seeing that my words had succeeded in attracting Vatutin's attention, I hurriedly reported to him in detail the ambush plan we had prepared. After the debriefing, I stood there quietly with the microphone in my hand, waiting for him to make a statement.

Vatutin was silent for a long time before he began to speak: "Comrade Oshanina, you see if this will work. According to the analysis of the Supreme High Command, it is possible that the German army will launch a surprise attack on our army's defensive positions today, that is, in the early morning of June 22, 1943. ”

Vatutin's remarks are tantamount to indirectly rejecting our plan. Under these circumstances, I could not help but be a little anxious, so I hurriedly said to him: "Comrade General, according to our current reconnaissance situation, the Germans have not yet shown signs of a large-scale build-up in front of our army, so I think it is completely impossible for them to launch an offensive today. ”

Hearing me say this, Vatutin sneered twice and asked rhetorically in a mocking tone: "Comrade Oshanina, you are Feng. Marshal Kruger or Marshal Manstein, said that if you don't attack today, the Germans won't attack? ”

The corners of my mouth twitched violently a few times when I heard Vatutin's questioning, and for a moment I really wanted to tell him in desperation that the date of the German attack on Kursk was not June 22 but July 5, and that our current first-class combat readiness in the entire defensive zone was meaningless.

But I finally managed to control my emotions, and when speaking to Vatutin, I tried to calm my tone: "Comrade General, I can't give you evidence for the time being that the Germans will not attack. But I know that if we do not take the initiative to deal with this German force, they will sneak into our rear and pose a threat to our entire defensive line. ”

"No, Comrade Oshanina, this will not work." In response to my request, Vatutin stubbornly said: "According to the plan you have just reported, you must use at least one artillery regiment, two tank companies, and two battalions or so of infantry to destroy this group of enemies. Have you ever wondered if so many troops broke away from their original defenses to ambush this small detachment of German troops, who did not know if they would appear. If the Germans do attack the defensive areas of your army group, then there will be weak forces in individual positions, and it is difficult for me to imagine how they can withstand the ferocious attack of the German army when they are not superior in strength and weaponry. ”

"Comrade General. Please listen to me......"

"Don't say anything. I don't want to hear it. My pestering annoyed Vatutin, and he said angrily: "Not a single soldier on the battlefield is allowed to move without my permission." Do you understand? ”

Vatutin was angry, and I was also angry, I finally found a fighter, but I didn't expect him to allow us to fight, and I wouldn't watch the enemy bypass in front of our position without taking the slightest countermeasure. Hear Vatutin's last words. I couldn't help but feel hopeless, and when I was thinking about whether I should agree to him, I heard a familiar voice faintly coming from the earpiece: "I said, Comrade Commander, who are you angry at?" ”

"Oh, it's Comrade Khrushchev, you and Comrade Deputy Commander have returned from Moscow?" Vatutin didn't hang up or cover the microphone, so I could hear what he was saying clearly.

Khrushchev's characteristic laughter came from the earpiece: "Comrade Vatutin, who are you angry at?" ”

"Who else could it be?" Vatutin replied: "Commander of the 6th Guards Army, Oshanina. She knew that I had ordered the units of the Front to be ready for all battles in case of a possible German attack, but she was fine. It is not good to hold the position, but to send troops to ambush a small German force trying to bypass Yakovlevo......"

"Comrade Commander. That can't be said. After hearing what Vatutin said, Khrushchev unexpectedly spoke good things for me: "I met Comrade Oshanina during the defense of Stalingrad, and although I did not have much contact with her, I knew very well that she was an excellent commander with a very strategic vision. It may be because of this that her superiors appointed her as the commander of the group army. ”

Vatutin, hearing that Khrushchev was saying good things for me, could not help but hesitate, and he asked tentatively: "Comrade Military Commissar, what do you mean?" ”

"Let me ask her." After I heard a rush of footsteps, Khrushchev's voice became louder: "Hey, is it Lida?" ”

Because he had just spoken well for me in front of Vatutin, my favorability towards him suddenly soared by two hundred percent, because when I answered him, I behaved respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Military Commissar. ”

"I have heard everything the comrade commander say," Khrushchev did not go around in circles, but asked straight to the point: "I want to hear what you can do to get the best of both worlds, to hold your position and send troops to ambush this small German army?" ”

After listening to Khrushchev's question, I pondered for a moment, and then replied: "Comrade Military Commissar, the reason why Commander Vatutin did not agree with my ambush plan was that he was worried that the individual defensive areas of our army group would become weak because of the transfer of troops participating in the battle. ”

"That's right, that's why." Khrushchev asked in a calm tone: "Do you have any good solutions?" ”

"Comrade Military Commissar, I think so." In order to convince Vatutin, I truthfully explained my considerations to Khrushchev, who had a good opinion of me: "According to the analysis of the Supreme High Command, it is possible that the German army will launch an offensive on our defensive zone today. On the basis of my analysis of the situation that I have recently detected, I believe that it is impossible for the Germans to launch an offensive today, because there is no sign of German troop movements in our wide defensive front. Therefore, I considered that the troops involved in the ambush would not move for the time being, and that this afternoon, if the Germans did not make any movement, I would arrange for the relevant troops to set up ambush preparations. ”

After listening to my plan, Khrushchev smiled and said: "Comrade Oshanina, I know that you have a lot of ideas, and you will definitely be able to come up with a good way to get the best of both worlds." Wait a minute, I'll talk to Comrade Commander and see if he agrees with your plan. Comrade Vatutin. He said the last thing to Vatutin, who was standing nearby.

"All right, Comrade Military Commissar." Vatutin, who probably heard my conversation with Khrushchev, said tolerantly: "Since General Oshanina has a comprehensive approach, then do as she says." If the Germans did not attack, her troops could enter the ambush site after 3 p.m. and dig fortifications. But," he said this, he suddenly accentuated his tone, "if the Germans attacked, she must hold her position firmly for me, and not allow me to retreat a single step." ”

After Vatutin's words were finished, Khrushchev picked up the microphone again and said to me with a smile: "Oshanina, Comrade Commander, I think you may have heard it, just follow what he said!" ”

I put down the phone and found that several of the commanders sitting at the table, whether Danilov or Beziakov, or Povsky and Tavartkiradze, were looking at me nervously, as if they were still worried about me.

I smiled at them and explained: "At the beginning, Comrade Commander was worried that the transfer of too many troops to the vicinity would weaken the defense of individual sections, so he did not hesitate to deny our request. Seeing the disappointed expressions on everyone's faces, I continued: "But fortunately, Comrade Khrushchev, the military commissar, helped me with a few kind words, and Commander Vatutin agreed to our fortification plan. However, his only condition was that only if the Germans did not attack us before three o'clock today, they could send troops into the ambush area to build fortifications. ”

When everyone heard me say this, the expressions on their faces became relaxed, and I hurriedly gave the order while the iron was hot: "After three o'clock tomorrow, General Tawart Kiradze will send a battalion of troops to the slope of the ambush to build the necessary fortifications, remember to be in good disguise, and go so as not to be discovered by the enemy's reconnaissance planes." ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Tawart Kiradze assured me: "The anti-aircraft warning method that our division uses today is still the one you created at the beginning, and I will send a guard post in the direction where the enemy planes are flying. As soon as an enemy plane is spotted, it will fire warning shots to conceal the commanders and fighters who are building fortifications. ”

I can only secretly smile bitterly at Tavart Kiradze's statement, if the German reconnaissance planes really flew over, even if all the fighters were hidden, the trenches they dug would still be discovered by the enemy, so that our ambush plan could face the possibility of bankruptcy. However, it is up to man to succeed, and whether we succeed or not, we can only resign ourselves to fate.

Then I exchanged views with Povsky and Bere on the heavy artillery and tank crews. Once a consensus was reached, I waved the meeting to adjourn and let them go back to their respective units. (To be continued.) )

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