"Equip the troops in late May?" When I heard this time, I couldn't help frowning slightly, thinking that Katukov's subordinates would be able to skillfully use the new tank in a month's time.

Katukov noticed the subtle movement of my frowning, leaned over to get closer to me, and asked in a low voice, "Lida, I see you frowning, are you worried about something?" ”

I first glanced at the two tank generals sitting next to Katukov, and also lowered my voice and said: "Comrade General, please tell me truthfully, if you are equipped with the new tanks displayed at the military parade, how long will it take for your subordinates to become familiar with and skillfully operate these technical equipment?" ”

My words silenced Katukov, and looking at his painstaking thoughts, I did not disturb him, but patiently waited for him to give me a satisfactory answer.

At this moment, a middle-aged major hurriedly walked in from outside. When he entered, he looked left and right, and then walked quickly to Danilov's side, leaned down and whispered something in his ear.

I saw the major standing next to Danilov whispering and asked with dissatisfaction: "Comrade Deputy Commander, who is he?" ”

The major who was speaking was taken aback by me, and he jerked up straight, standing beside us in a state of confusion.

Without waiting for Danilov to speak, I asked again: "Major, I ask you, who are you, don't you see that we are in a meeting?" Why didn't you report it and trespass. "Since I was on my first day on the job, I couldn't give my subordinates the impression of being weak and bulliful, so I spoke in a very stern tone.

The major straightened up, put his hands on the seams of his trousers, and replied in a loud voice: "Report to Comrade Commander, I am Major Lopukhov of the communications office of the command. And then. He took a step forward and said in a soft voice: "Comrade Commander, I have just received an important telegram from my superiors, and I think it is necessary to come in and report it immediately. ”

After listening to him, I still looked at him in my original posture and asked dissatisfiedly, "Major." Don't know what important telegram is? ”

"Report to Comrade Commander," Major Lopukhov replied in a somewhat panicked manner, "it is a transfer order just issued by the higher authorities to prepare for the transfer of the 326th Infantry Division, that is, from now on, this division will no longer belong to the battle sequence of our 6th Guards Army......"

His words startled everyone in the room, and even Katukov, who was frowning and thinking, opened his mouth in surprise. I was also surprised by the suddenness of the order. But in order not to cause panic among everyone, I tried to keep my composure.

I squeezed a smile on my face and said to my subordinates who were currently staying in the room: "Comrade commander, there is nothing to worry about, you know, this is just a normal transfer......

"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." Major Lopukhov, who had returned to normal, suddenly interjected: "I haven't finished paraphrasing the whole thing on the telegram. ”

I couldn't help but chuckle when I heard the major say that the telegram was not finished. Secretly said that in addition to the 326th Infantry Division, the superiors also planned to transfer other troops to leave. Zhukov: Isn't this dismantling my platform? In order to find out what was going on, I interrupted Lopukhov and instructed: "Then tell me the contents of this order in front of everyone." ”

"Comrade commander," Lopukhov, who had calmed down, replied clearly, "the order says that the 326th Infantry Division is from now on, due to the needs of the war situation. It was transferred from the 6th Guards Army and placed under the command of the Central Front. At the same time, in order to strengthen the defense forces in the Prokhorovka area, it was decided to transfer the 89th and 90th Guards Infantry Divisions to your command. ”

"Great, this is amazing!" As soon as Lopukhov's words were finished. Danilov exclaimed excitedly, "Two more Guards Divisions will be added at once, and in this way, the defense of our army group will be greatly strengthened." ”

And after listening to Lopukhov's words, I also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to myself that I said that Zhukov could not give me a salary from the bottom of the kettle, in that case, he still wanted us to hold Prokhorovka. I looked at Lopukhov, who had just been mistaken by me, and said to him with a smile: "Alright, Comrade Major, thank you for the good news you have brought us. There's nothing going on here, go back to your job. ”

"Yes!" Lopukhov agreed, turned and walked out of the room.

Watching Lopkhov's back disappear from the door, Katukov said thoughtfully: "Lida, it seems that Marshal Zhukov is very serious about you, in addition to sending you the 77th Guards Division, today you have added two more combat-effective Guards Divisions, so that the strength of your group army will be raised to a higher level." ”

After saying this, he seemed to remember the question I had just asked him, so he changed the topic and said: "By the way, after receiving the new equipment, my tank crews can completely master the operation of the new weapons within two weeks if they hurry up a little time." And if you want to ensure combat effectiveness, it will take at least a month and a half or more. ”

As Katukov and I spoke, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Danilov standing up, walking to the door, and waving outside. An officer quickly walked up to him, bowed his head and listened to his command.

Before I could see what was going on, Major General Gottman, commander of the 6th Tank Corps, who came to my headquarters with Katukov, suddenly asked, "General Oshanina, allow me to ask a question. ”

"Please, Comrade General." I didn't know what he would ask, but I said politely.

"When do you think the Germans will attack us?" Guttman cautiously asked, "Or, should I put it another way, when should our troops be ready for battle when they are equipped with new weapons?" ”

"General Gottmann," I politely replied to his question, "I don't know when the Germans will attack our defenses, but I believe they will not give us much time to prepare." I think that the troops equipped with the new equipment should have a strong combat strength by the end of June. ”

"But, Comrade General," asked General Gottmann, "from all indications which we have before us, the most likely area for the German attack is the area under the jurisdiction of the Central Front. I think the base camp deployed us in the Oboyan area. It was to serve as a strategic reserve for General Rokossovsky's troops. ”

"General Gottman, you may have dealt with the Germans more than once or twice, haven't you?" After saying this, I deliberately paused for a moment, and only after seeing him nod, did I continue: "We and the hundreds of thousands of troops of the German army. Gathered in the Kursk salient, if the Germans want to defeat us, do you think they will attack from only one direction? ”

"Leda, from what direction do you think the Germans will attack?" Katukov was intrigued by my words, and as soon as I finished speaking, he could not wait to ask: "Or is it that the Germans simultaneously carried out assault operations against our defenders from two directions?" ”

"That's right, General Katukov." Wait for Katukov to finish. I immediately agreed, adding: "If the German Army Group Center were attacking General Rokossovsky and were holding its ground in other directions, it would be possible for our troops to replenish the Voronezh Front with a steady stream of troops." According to my estimates, in order to ensure the success of the German army, it will definitely attack from two directions at the same time, so as to achieve the goal of making it impossible for our troops to support each other. In order to break our troops individually. ”

"You're very reasonable." Katukov also nodded and said: "If Manstein's troops really attack our defensive zone from the Belgorod-Kharkov line." Then our 1st Guards Tank Army will become the main force in resisting the German offensive. ”

"General Katukov," I said to him politely, "so I can't command your troops, but I strongly advise you that once your troops are equipped with new tanks, then in the shortest possible time, let the tankmen master the use of new technology and equipment." And in the shortest possible time, combat effectiveness is formed. ”

After a few words of conversation with Katukov, I stood up again and assigned to the division commanders who were attending the meeting the task of speeding up the construction of fortifications and improving the defense system. When I felt that everything was almost explained, I bluntly announced the adjournment of the meeting. Let's go back to their respective teams.

When there were only three people left in the room, me, Danilov and Katukov. I asked Danilov curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I just saw you come to the door and call an officer in front of you, as if to order something?" ”

"That's right, Leda." Danilov politely replied: "The officer you see is Lieutenant Colonel Rasmikhin, the chief of intelligence of the army group. I instructed him to check on the 89th and 90th Guards Divisions. ”

"You did a great job, Comrade Deputy Commander." Seeing that Danilov thought things through so thoughtfully, I couldn't help but be grateful to him: "Since these two troops were personally sent to us by Marshal Zhukov, then I believe that their combat effectiveness must not be weak. Let's just do this, and deploy these two divisions as the reserve of the army group and deploy them near the headquarters of the army group, so that it will be very convenient for us to command. ”

"Well, that's a good idea." Danilov was indeed very cooperative with me, and as soon as my words fell, he immediately said: "I have no opinion, just do what you say." ”

After waiting for Danilov to finish, Katukov took out a folded map from his briefcase, opened it and spread it out in front of us, then looked up and said to me: "Leda, General Danilov, now we should study how the two sides should cooperate." ”

Seeing that both of us nodded in approval, he pointed to the map and said, "Leda, you see, starting from Kirovsky in the north and going all the way to Yakovlevo, which is only a dozen kilometers from Belgorod in the south, is the defense zone of the 6th Guards Army. I think that in order to stop the German attack, you must build at least three lines of defense:

The first is Yakovlevo-Severodonets, and on this line you have to have at least two divisions on it......

The second was Kostroma-Prokhorovka, which was open and hilly, which was very conducive to the deployment of German armored forces. In order to hold this place, in addition to deploying two or three infantry divisions, at least one tank brigade and two or three artillery regiments must be placed. ……

The third line of defense is Pristian-Kirovsky, which will be the last line of defense of your army group, and if it is broken through by the Germans, then the German forces can rush directly to the city of Kursk......"

When Katukov gave the briefing, I did not say a word, but listened quietly, while my mind was thinking about how to arrange the defenses of the divisions. Only Danilov interjected from time to time to exchange his thoughts with Katukov.

After Katukov gave an account of our defensive line, he spoke about the deployment of his 1st Guards Tank Army: "...... My headquarters were in Oboyan, and the troops were mainly located in the southern areas of Ivnia, Penne, and Bogatoye, and as soon as the German troops rushed into this area, we would engage them in a large-scale tank showdown. ……”

Before Katukov could finish speaking, another officer walked in, came to us, raised his hand in salute, and then stood still in place. I looked at him carefully, recognized it as Lieutenant Colonel Rasmikhin, the chief of intelligence, and asked him with a smile: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you have anything to do?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander," replied Lieutenant Colonel Rasmikhin respectfully, "Comrade Deputy Commander has just ordered me to look for information on the 89th and 90th Guards Infantry Divisions, and after inquiry, the situation of the 89th Guards Division has been basically clarified......

"General Katukov, please wait a moment," I said to Katukov apologetically, "we will wait for you to talk about the current situation of the enemy and us, and now let us listen to Comrade Lieutenant Colonel introduce the situation of the 89th Guards Division." After saying that, without waiting for Katukov to make any indications, I instructed Rasmikhin, "Lieutenant Colonel, you can start reporting." ”

Rasmikhin agreed, and began to report...... The 89th Guards Infantry Division was formed in Gorky Oblast in July 1940 under the name of the 160th Infantry Division. There are the 443rd, 537th, 636th Infantry Regiment and the 566th Artillery Regiment.

During the war, the division was formed within the formation of the 13th Army of the Western Front, and on July 13, 1941, it took part in the first battle in the area of Krichev and Chaser. After fierce fighting, the advance of the German troops was temporarily stopped. However, the Germans then attacked with superior forces, and the division fought and retreated, forcing it to retreat to the Gomel area.

From September 1941 to July 1942, the division fought stubborn defensive battles against the Germans in the Nyodzybkov, Kursk, Voronezh and Valuiki-Rososh directions, within the formation of the Bryansk Front and the Southwestern Front.

In August 1942, together with other corps of the 6th Army of the Voronezh Front, he participated in the battle to seize the landing ground on the west bank of the Don River in the Korotyak area, recover Voronezh and clear the German landing field on the west bank of the Don River.

In August 1942, a desperate struggle was waged against the Germans on both sides of the Don River.

From January to March 1943, fighting was fought in the Ostrogozhsk-Rososh and Kharkov directions in the formation of the 6th Army of the Southwestern Front, the 3rd Tank Army and the 69th Army of the Voronezh Front. ……”

After listening to what Rasmikhin said, I immediately praised him: "Yes, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, your information is very comprehensive, thank you!" (To be continued.) )

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