When Vatutin received my call, he asked with some surprise: "Comrade Oshanina, you are calling at this time, is there anything wrong?" ”

"That's right, Comrade General." Business matters, and I didn't care that I was still angry with him not long ago, and said straight to the point: "Our scouts have spotted German armored units heading towards Prokhorovka. ”

"What, the German armored forces?" After listening to my report, Vatutin immediately nervously asked, "Have you figured out what kind of size of troops it is?" ”

"It's a pity, Comrade General." I lamented: "The information sent back by our reconnaissance group is incomplete, and it has lost contact with us, probably in the process of sending the report, there was an exchange of fire with the Germans, resulting in the death of all of them." ”

"Then what are you still doing in a daze, why don't you send someone to find out the situation." "Only when you understand the strength of the German army can you deploy defenses in a targeted manner." ”

I couldn't laugh when I heard him say that, if the scouts I sent out at this time could have been in time, would I still have to call you? Seeing that he had not thought about sending planes to reconnoiter at all, I had to remind him stubbornly: "Comrade commander, I would like to ask you to send the air force to reconnoiter the march route of the German armored forces and find out their approximate strength, so that we can make corresponding arrangements." ”

Vatutin didn't make things difficult for me as I imagined, but just sighed and said: "Well, in the current situation, I can only turn to the reconnaissance of the Air Force for help." I then called the Air Force and asked them to send reconnaissance planes to reconnoiter the German units that were heading towards the Prokhorovka area. ”

As soon as I put down the phone, Danilov immediately nervously asked: "Comrade commander, what should we do during this time?" ”

I glanced at him. Then he said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, immediately send a battle alert to the 5th Guards Tank Army, saying that a large number of German armored units are rushing towards them, and tell them to immediately prepare for all battles. ”

Danilov asked with some hesitation about my order: "But we have not yet figured out the actual strength of the German army, so we rashly ordered the Guards Tank Army to be ready for battle." Is this appropriate? If the Germans did not rush to our defense area, but tried to turn halfway in the direction of Oboyan, wouldn't it have thrown our deployment into chaos? ”

When I saw that Danilov was still indecisive, he said unceremoniously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, no matter what the ultimate goal of the German army is, there is absolutely nothing wrong with putting Lieutenant General Kravchenko's troops in combat readiness." Even if the Germans do not attack today, it does not mean that they will not attack tomorrow. Preparedness is the best way to avoid trouble. Do you understand? ”

Danilov, seeing that I was showing signs of anger, had to helplessly say: "Well, comrade commander, since this is the case, then I will immediately send a combat alert to the tank corps and make them ready for battle." With that, he picked up the microphone from the telephone and put it to his ear. The operator said, "Give me access to the Fifth Tank Army." Look for General Kravchenko. ”

Taking advantage of Danilov's call, Bezikov quietly asked me: "Comrade commander, do you need to transfer our reserves?" ”

I shook my head and rejected his proposal: "No, the reserves are all infantry divisions, let them deal with the German tanks." That's about the same as sending you to death. I turned to Povsky and said to him, "Comrade Artillery Commander, how many artillery regiments are there in our second line of defense?" ”

Povsky immediately got up from his seat. "The artillery units currently available in the second line of defense consist of two cannon regiments, one howitzer, one anti-tank artillery regiment and two Guards rocket artillery battalions," he reported. ”

"Although the number of troops is a little less, it is barely enough to deal with the armored forces of the German army." Povsky reported more data than I had, probably because my superiors sent us a new artillery unit while I was at the front. However, at such times, even one more gun would increase the odds of victory, so I said to Povsky: "Give the artillery combat readiness as well, and let the artillery regiments send artillery observers to indicate the direction of the artillery shelling." ”

After raising the battle alert to the 5th Guards Tank Corps and artillery units, I was still unsure, so I dialed Katukov's phone. When I heard his voice, I asked directly: "Comrade General, how is your situation there?" ”

"General Krivoshein's mechanized Third Army has already exchanged fire with the vanguard of the German army." Katukov's voice sounded a little hoarse, "At the moment the Germans are desperately rushing forward. It seemed that they wanted to break through our direction and rush towards Oboyan. ”

"Comrade General, I soon received information from the reconnaissance group we sent that the Germans had a large armored force rushing towards the Prokhorovka area." When I mentioned this to him, I also made a point of emphasizing: "Since our scouts have cut off contact before they can return complete information, we have no idea what the size of the German armored forces is and where the final assault direction is." ”

"I see, Leda." As soon as my words fell, Katukov guessed what I was trying to say, "You are worried that the German armored forces will suddenly turn to the west and attack the flank of the mechanized Third Army to achieve the goal of capturing Oboyan." ”

"That's right, Comrade General, that's what I think." As for Katukov's intention to ignore me so quickly, the stone hanging in my heart fell to the ground, and the next words were easy to say: "In order to destroy the German armored forces, I think so. If they continue to pounce on the Prokhorovka area, I would like to ask you to send the 6th Army of tanks and strike hard at their flanks; If, before reaching Prokhorovka, they suddenly turn west and pounce on Oboyan, I will also send tank units to attack from the rear of the German armored forces. What do you think of my proposal? ”

Katukov thought for a moment, then readily agreed: "Okay, Leda, just do as you say." We are friendly forces, we cannot fight alone, and only by working together can we defeat the enemy who rushes into our defensive zone. ”

During the time of waiting for Vatutin's reply. My mind was constantly thinking about whether there was anything missing. And the battle reports from all over the place came in like a stream, and Bezikov took them, and when he read them, sometimes with a smile on his face, sometimes with a frown. I knew that the situation at the front was mixed.

Thinking of the defense area of the 52nd Guards Division, which was in the worst situation, I asked Bezikov: "Chief of Staff, what is the situation with Colonel Nekrasov?" ”

Bezikov handed me a stack of battle reports, and at the same time said: "The 52nd Guards Division repelled two German attacks, but the casualties of the troops were not small, and the regiments were reduced by more than a third. If they don't send more reserves, they may hold out for two more days at most, and the entire Guards Division should be gone. ”

I casually flipped through the battle report and handed it to Kirillov and Danilov in two stacks. Then he said to Bezikov: "Chief of staff, I also know that the front is fighting hard, but we don't know how long this battle will last, and if the reserves are thrown into battle too early, then we will be under even greater pressure in the next battle." ”

Betzikov said unwillingly: "Even if only one infantry regiment reinforced with artillery is sent to them." ”

"No, Comrade Chief of Staff." On the issue of the use of army group reserves, I resolutely said: "Don't talk about a group. Not even a battalion. Good steel should be used on the cutting edge, and the reserves will be used in more important areas in the future. It can't be consumed too soon. ”

Seeing that my attitude was so stubborn, Danilov shook his head slightly, and then looked down at the battle report in his hand, while Bezikov stood by with a dejected expression and did not speak. In order to divert his attention, I asked again: "Chief of Staff, do you have any news about the 67th Guards Division?" ”

"Yes." Bezikov said, pulling out two of the stacks of telegrams on the table and handing them to me, "Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov has sent a telegram saying that the division's troops have successfully withdrawn into the forest. He asked if he could make the troops temporarily hide during the day. After dark, launch a counterattack on the German-occupied area. ”

"No, resolutely not." Before I could speak, Danilov put down the battle report in his hand and said with a serious expression: "The troops should be ordered to counterattack immediately, so that they can drive the enemy away from the occupied positions." ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander," I interrupted Danilov unceremoniously without waiting for him to finish, and said to myself: "Now that the heavy weapons of the 67th Guards Division have been almost lost, if at this time they are ordered to attack the Germans, it will be almost the same as sending them to their deaths." ”

"But Comrade Commander, in order to defend the motherland, even if it costs a lot, it is worth it." Danilov retorted unconvinced: "I think that even if the 67th Guards Division does not have any heavy weapons, it can still defeat the Germans with the courage and tenacity of its commanders and fighters." ”

"Our commanders and fighters are very brave and tenacious, but we can't let them sacrifice their lives in vain in this kind of counterattack with no chance of victory." When I said this, I waved my hand at Bezikov and decisively ordered: "Chief of Staff, send a telegram back to Lieutenant Colonel Sedelikov and agree to his request." Tomorrow he will gather his forces as soon as it gets dark and launch a counterattack against the enemy who occupies our positions, making sure to regain the positions lost during the day. ”

After recording my order, Bezkov agreed, handed the note full of letters to the chief of communications next to him, Lopukhov, and asked him to send a telegram to the 67th Guards Division.

Danilov, seeing that I had not taken his offer and had given orders to himself, was so angry that his face was red and his neck was thick, and his breathing became rapid, and he felt that if he spoke again, he would quarrel with me. At this time, Kirillov, who was next to him, came out as a peacemaker and persuaded him: "Comrade Deputy Commander, don't worry. Listen to me, Shedelikov was one of the most effective commanders under Lida and had a wealth of combat experience, and I believe that he sent such a telegram in accordance with the actual situation on the battlefield. Trust him, he won't let us down in tonight's counterattack. ”

Kirillov persuaded for a long time before Danilov sat down in his seat in a huff, staring at the map in front of him and began to be in a daze.

After a long wait, Vatutin's call finally came. On the phone, he said worriedly: "Comrade Oshanina, according to the reconnaissance of the Air Force, the German armored forces consist of at least two hundred tanks, and at present they have turned to the northwest and attacked Oboyan in an attempt to assist their troops in breaking through the defense line of the Third Mechanized Army. ”

When I heard that there were more than 200 tanks, my heart became nervous, and I said that with the current strength, it would be very difficult to repel this German army, so I could only ask cheekily: "Comrade General, since the German army has many tanks, I wonder what kind of help the front army command can provide us?" ”

"Now you have to do two things," Vatutin said after a moment of silence, "One, it is to contact Katukov immediately and let their tank corps attack and block the advance of the German armored forces." Second, concentrate the artillery of your army group and bombard the tank units on the march, depleting as many enemy tanks as possible. ”

"Comrade General, I have a request." I thought of yesterday's unexpected air-ground coordinated operation, and I couldn't help but say to Vatutin: "I don't know whether to say it or not. ”

"At such times, there is nothing that can not be said." When Vatutin heard me say this, he looked a little impatient: "Whatever you want, just say it." If I can do it, I'll help you. ”

"Can I ask for support from the Air Force?" I said cautiously, "You know, in yesterday's battle, our air force did a great job. Without their support, we would not have been able to defeat the German 'Hitler Division' and the 'Reich Division' and achieve such great results. ”

"This," said Vatutin, hesitantly to my request, "I can't agree to you yet." Because it's not just your army group that's being attacked at this moment. The 40th Army and the Seventh Guards Army were also under attack by the Germans, and their limited air force needed to be reinforced. ”

When I heard Vatutin say that he could not send me an air force, I felt disappointed that my plan to use air-ground cooperation against the Germans once again had failed. After sighing in my heart, I said helplessly: "Comrade General, since you can't send us an air force to support us, can you provide us with other support?" ”

I originally thought that he would find another reason to shirk it, but I didn't expect him to say very cheerfully: "I have just discussed with Comrade Vasilevsky and decided to send three artillery regiments and an automated air defense regiment to strengthen you, and I believe that with their reinforcements, your defensive pressure can be greatly reduced." (To be continued.) )

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