After we got back on the road, Terekin, who had received permission from Rokossovsky, in the violently bumpy jeep, began to tell me about the 60th Army: "The 60th Army was formed in November 1941 in the Moscow Military District, and at the end of December it was reorganized into the 3rd Assault Army. In July 1942, the 3rd Army of the Reserve Front was reorganized and incorporated into the Voronezh Front, which fought defensive battles north of Voronezh on the left bank of the Don River. At the beginning of this year, he took part in the Voronezh-Kastornoye campaign and the Kharkov offensive. A week ago, just incorporated into our Central Front. Chernyakhovsky was the third commander of the army, the first two being Pulkaev and Antonyuk. ”

I waited for Terekin to finish speaking, and then asked: "I don't know where the main forces of the group army are deployed?" ”

Telegin put a map in front of me, pointed to a position next to Kursk, and said: "At the moment the 60th Army is deployed in the Kurchatov and Ligov areas, facing the German Second Army. On their right flank were the 65th and 70th armies; On the left flank were the 38th and 40th armies. When he rolled up the map and put it back in the bag, he also deliberately added, "Except for half of the strength of the 60th Army, the strength of the other four armies is less than one-third." If the Germans don't attack, we can still hold our existing defensive line. In the event of an onslaught, we will be surrounded by the forces of the Kursk region. ”

Hearing what he was worried about, I smiled and said disapprehantly: "Comrade Military Commissar, you have overdone it, according to my judgment. In the short term, the Germans simply did not have the ability to attack our defensive zone. ”

As soon as my words came out, Rokossovsky's interest was immediately aroused, and he asked curiously: "Lida, if I'm not mistaken, last time in the Kremlin." You said the same thing to Comrade Stalin personally. I would like to ask, why do you have such self-confidence? ”

Of course, I would not tell him, saying that I knew this from the history books of later generations, and hurriedly pretended to be serious and said: "Comrade commander, after a long battle, the German army has not only suffered serious losses in troops, but also is extremely short of weapons and ammunition, and under such circumstances, it wants to launch a large-scale attack. It's not realistic. ”

"But, General Oshanina." After listening to my words, Terekin said unconvinced: "Just two days ago, many of our defensive areas were fiercely attacked by the Germans. You can't say that the enemy will attack again anytime soon. ”

"yes, Leda." Rokossovsky echoed Terekin: "I also think your reasons are too far-fetched. Manstein's troops were indeed weakened in battles with the Voronezh Front and the Southwestern Front. But the losses of Army Group Center, which they deployed near Moscow, were not significant. As soon as it is discovered that the strength of our army is weak, it is possible to launch a new attack on us at any time. ”

For Rokossovsky's question. It really gave me a headache, and I couldn't tell him that I had traveled back in time, and according to the history books, the Germans would not have launched a large-scale offensive before the Battle of Kursk in July. So to speak. I was either treated like a madman or sent into an experiment on one thing.

In the midst of a dilemma, I suddenly heard Terekin muttering, "Hell, we've come so far, and the road is still so muddy. It seems that before dark, it will not be possible to catch up with Kursk at all. ”

I heard the key word "muddy" from his words, and immediately had an idea, turned sideways to Rokossovsky and said: "Comrade commander, I say this with a basis. You don't have to look at the fierce offensive of the German army in the previous days, but because the roads are muddy and the transportation is inconvenient, and the Germans are far away from their supply bases, they have little ammunition left, and they are simply not capable of launching a new offensive. ”

"And when do you think they will attack us again?" As soon as I finished speaking, Rokossovsky immediately continued to ask.

I thought for a moment, and then said to Rokossovsky: "I estimate that the Germans will at present first consolidate the areas they occupy and replenish them with men, weapons and ammunition. Judging by their arithmetic capabilities, the Germans will not be able to launch a new offensive against us before mid-June. ”

"Comrade commander, if it is really as General Oshanina analyzed, I think the Germans will definitely choose a special day to launch an attack on us." Terekin listened to my analysis, then turned to Rokossovsky and expressed his judgment: "For the Germans, the most monumental June is the 22nd. Because on this day two years ago, they did not declare war on us, and for a time they took the initiative on the entire battlefield. ”

Terekin's words made Rokossovsky fall into deep thought, and for quite a long time he remained in a frowning posture, as if trying to think about something. After he stretched his brows and let out a sigh of relief, he said leisurely: "Comrade Military Commissar, what you and Lida said are reasonable, from the analysis of various signs, if the German army wants to launch a large-scale attack, it will take at least about three months to gather troops and hoard ammunition. The possibility of them launching an offensive at the end of June is entirely there. ”

"Then our main task now is to build fortifications near Kursk to defend against a possible large-scale German attack." After Terekin said this, he said with some embarrassment: "To start building so many fortifications in such a large area means that thousands of people are needed, where should I go to find so many people?" ”

"Regarding the construction of fortifications, when you return to the headquarters, you go and communicate with Major General Proshlyakov, the chief of the engineering troops of the Front, and ask him to prepare a specific schedule as soon as possible." Rokossovsky, perhaps in order to give me an idea of the situation at the front, assigned Terekin the task in front of me: "The fortifications of the main defensive zone are to be constructed by the troops, and the construction of the second and third defensive strips, as well as the defensive strips in the rear of the army groups and the front, is to involve not only the troops, but also the local population. In all orders and instructions issued by the Front Command, it was necessary to call for the construction of a solid multi-lane defensive zone in a deep echelon configuration. In addition, there are the most complete engineering facilities in the entire depth of the campaign of defense. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Terekin took a pen and paper in the bumpy car and carefully recorded Rokossovsky's orders, "When I return to the headquarters, I will go to General Proshlyakov." Compile a detailed construction schedule with him as soon as possible. ”

Then they began to study some trivial matters in the front army, and I listened to it for a while, and I was confused, so I simply leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes to recuperate. Although I closed my eyes, I didn't fall asleep, and my mind kept thinking: before the Battle of Kursk broke out, the focus of the Soviet army's defense was in the northwest direction of Kursk, which was far from the direction of defense deployed at this moment.

But on second thought, Rokossovsky, after all, they were only based on intelligence obtained from the battlefield. It is inevitable that the focus of defense will be deviated. Anyway, as long as the Battle of Kursk does not break out for a day, they will always have the possibility of adjusting the deployment of troops, and there is no need for me, an outsider, to worry about the sky.

By the time we arrived at the Central Front, it was already about seven o'clock in the evening. Thankfully, Chernyakhovsky, who was waiting for Rokossovsky here, had not yet left, giving me the opportunity to meet the legendary young commander-in-chief.

When he had finished saluting Rokossovsky, I ignored his rank and rank. He stepped forward and saluted him with his hand, and said politely, "Hello." General Chernyakhovsky! ”

Chernyakhovsky was startled by the sudden appearance of me, and just as he was looking me up and down with strange eyes, Rokossovsky was already next to us and introduced us: "Comrade Chernyakhovsky, you probably don't know her yet. Let me introduce you to Lieutenant General Oshanina. ”

"So it's you, Comrade Oshanina." Chernyakhovsky after hearing my name from Rokossovsky's mouth. An expression of surprise immediately appeared on his face, he stretched out his hands and said excitedly: "Hello, hello! I've heard a lot of legends about you before, but I didn't expect to see you here. I was so lucky. ”

Chernyakhovsky's praise for me aroused Rokossovsky's curiosity, and he asked Chernyakhovsky in surprise: "Comrade General, I don't know what kind of legends you have heard of Leda?" ”

Hearing Rokossovsky's question, Chernyakhovsky shrugged his shoulders and replied: "There are a lot of legends about this female general, the youngest in our army. The first, in the Battle of Stalingrad, she commanded a newly formed independent division, which held off the Germans at Mamayev for several months; The second is that not long ago, she commanded the troops behind enemy lines, not only inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, effectively contained Manstein's troops, but also successfully recovered Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, which greatly boosted the morale of our army. ”

Seeing that Chernyakhovsky still showed signs of continuing, Rokossovsky hurriedly raised his hand to stop him, and asked first: "General Chernyakhovsky, you can continue the compliment to Lida later." What I want to know now is that you rushed to the front headquarters and waited for me for hours, is there something important? ”

"This is the case, Comrade Commander." Hearing Rokossovsky's question, Chernyakhovsky immediately ignored me and reported to Rokossovsky with a serious expression: "When I was studying the map, I found a problem, so I came to you to discuss it and see if it is necessary to immediately adjust the deployment of our troops. ”

"Adjust the deployment of troops?" Rokossovsky couldn't help frowning again when he heard Chernyakhovsky say this, but instead of expressing his opinion, he asked rhetorically: "General Chernyakhovsky, I wonder why such a strange thought is coming to your head?" ”

"Comrade Commander." Although Rokossovsky's tone was a little unkind, Chernyakhovsky replied without humility or arrogance: "I think we have chosen the wrong direction of defense, and if we do not make large-scale adjustments, we will inevitably pay a heavy price when we are attacked by the Germans." ”

"Tell me, how should we adjust our forces?" After listening to this, Rokossovsky asked with a blank face.

"Comrade Commander, please look." After calling Rokossovsky to the table, Chernyakhovsky pointed to the map spread out on the table and said: "The focus of our current defense is on the German 2nd Army in the Sheim River valley west of Kursk. However, after the analysis of the intelligence I have, we should defend more north of Kursk, where the German 9th Army, the 2nd Tank Army, and their 6th Air Force are deployed in the Orel and Bryansk regions. ”

As I stood next to me and heard Chernyakhovsky's analysis, I couldn't help but nod my head secretly, saying in my heart that it was no wonder that he could become an excellent commander and indeed see things more comprehensively than other commanders. I know that the defense of the Battle of Kursk will be focused on the north and south because I know all this from the history books, and Chernyakhovsky has so accurately pointed out the wrong direction of our army's defense focus on the basis of the limited information he has.

After listening to Chernyakhovsky's explanation, Rokossovsky did not express his opinion, but turned his head and asked me: "Lida, what do you think of General Chernyakhovsky's judgment?" ”

I didn't expect Rokossovsky to suddenly ask for my opinion, and I couldn't help but be stunned. But after a moment, I came to my senses and replied decisively: "Comrade commander, I think that General Chernyakhovsky's judgment is quite accurate. In addition to the Manstein forces in Kharkov to the south and Belgorod, we are currently defending, and the only way we want to defend is the German Orel group north of Kursk. The enemy forces to the south were dealt with by the Voronezh Front of General Vatutin; And the main German force we have to deal with should be due north. ”

"Oryol Group!" Rokossovsky, after repeating this word, could not help but laugh dumbly: "Lida, you are a very accurate word, judging by the strength of the German troops gathered near Orel, it is quite accurate to call them a group. (To be continued......)