After waiting for me to finish, Bezkov politely asked Kravchenko: "Comrade General, I wonder if your troops will be able to deploy in the Prokhorov region before dawn tomorrow?" ”

I had expected Kravchenko to reply cheerfully yes, and then explain to Bezikov the positions of the tank brigades. Unexpectedly, he hesitated and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, although I would love to immediately put the troops into the designated combat positions and make all preparations for battle. However, judging from the current situation, it is impossible to get the troops to deploy before dawn tomorrow. ”

"Why?" I, Danilov, and Bezikov asked in unison, because Kravchenko's answer was a great surprise to us.

"There is no rail connection from our station." Seeing that several of us were asking this, Kravchenko hurriedly explained: "After receiving the order to drive to Prokhorovka, all the tanks were driven by tank crews. After a continuous march of more than two hundred kilometers, our repair team had to carry out maintenance on the tank, which took a certain amount of time. I estimate that it will be until tomorrow evening at the earliest, when several tank brigades will be able to enter operational positions one after another. ”

Kravchenko's words reminded me of the 10th Tank Army I saw on the way back to the headquarters, and I believe that they were in the same situation, and the tanks had to be maintained before they could go into battle. In this way, any attempt to block the German breakthrough was unrealistic, and they could only serve the effect of slowing down the German advance to Kursk.

I was thinking about the 10th Tank Army when a phone rang next to the wall. The chief of operations, Akhromeyev, got up and walked to the telephone, raised the microphone and listened. Then he turned to me and reported: "Comrade Commander. It was a call from the command of the Front. Comrade General wants to speak to you. ”

I walked over and took the microphone, and after hearing Vatutin's voice coming from inside close to my ear, I hurriedly and politely said: "Hello, Comrade Commander of the Front Army. ”

"Oshanina, have I sent you two tank corps, have they all arrived at the designated position?" Vatutin did not go around in circles, but asked bluntly: "With their support, can you wipe out or drive away the German troops that rushed into the breach?" ”

For the question of Vatutin. I thought for a moment and then replied, "I'm sorry, Comrade General, I can't do it. ”

Hearing my answer, Vatutin surprisingly did not get angry, but asked in a steady tone: "Comrade Oshanina, can you tell me your reasons?" ”

After repeating what Kravchenko had just said, I added: "Comrade commander, even if the tanks do not need to be maintained, let two tank armies that have just arrived on the battlefield engage German troops in an unfamiliar territory and familiar with the terrain. It is very unwise. I think we should still use the original battle plan and deliberately let go of a few lots. Let the Germans go behind our first line of defense, use the depth of the existing defense, carry out a series of counterattacks, deplete a large number of the enemy's living forces, and when they are exhausted, organize forces to give them a thunderous blow. ”

After waiting for me to finish, Vatutin let out a long sigh and said: "Comrade Oshanina, I originally wanted to use these two tank corps, together with several other infantry divisions, to form an assault group to give the Germans a head-on attack and prevent them from advancing towards Kursk. But you have a point, so I'll think about it again. ”

As soon as I put down the phone, Danilov walked quickly to my side and asked in a low voice: "What did Comrade General say on the phone, did he order us to fight back?" ”

I looked at Danilov and nodded, and said: "That's right, Comrade General intends to use the two newly transferred tank corps, plus several infantry divisions, to form a powerful assault group to meet the German troops that broke through our direction and prevent them from advancing towards Kursk. ”

Danilov turned his head to look at Kravchenko, who was sitting at the table, and whispered to me with a wry smile: "Comrade commander, we can't count on tank troops at all now, how can we fight against the torrent of steel of the German army?" ”

"That's right," I replied in the same whisper, "today when I was at the headquarters of the 52nd Guards Division, I encountered a sneak attack from the Skeleton Division, and the Germans, although they only had one tank, also made Nekrasov and them very embarrassed. If it weren't for the timely arrival of the tanks of the 96th Tank Brigade, it is estimated that the divisional command of the division would have been wiped out by such a small force of the Germans. ”

When I returned to the table, Kravchenko, apparently having guessed something, stood up and asked a little nervously: "General Oshanina, I wonder what the commander of the front said on the phone?" ”

I raised my hand and pressed down on him, motioning for him to sit down first, before I continued: "Comrade General, the Front Command originally intended that your army and the 10th Tank Army, plus a number of infantry divisions, form a powerful assault group to meet the German troops that broke through our defensive line and prevent them from advancing towards Kursk. ”

Kravchenko, who had just sat down, heard me say this, immediately got up from his seat again, and said to me respectfully: "General Oshanina, I have just reported to you the difficulties faced by our army, and I hope that you will truthfully report this matter to your superiors." ”

"Don't worry, Comrade General." Seeing that he looked sincerely frightened, I hurriedly comforted him and said: "On the phone, I have reported the current situation to the commander of the front army in detail, and he will not blame you." However, in my estimation, the original plan may change. ”

"Comrade commander," Danilov interjected, "for almost a day, both tank armies will not be able to take part in the battle, and probably our situation will become very bad." ”

I also thought about Danilov's concerns. After a short period of thought, I said to Kravchenko: "Comrade General, I have an idea, do you think it will work?" ”

Kravchenko's face was flushed by Danilov's words, but when he heard me say this, he hurriedly urged: "General Oshanina, I don't know if you have any good ideas, hurry up and listen to it." ”

"Comrade General, can the maintenance of tanks by the maintenance team be carried out separately from brigade to brigade?" Although Vatutin said on the phone that he had sent two tank corps, he did not say that they were under my command. Or cooperate with the battle. So when I spoke to Kravchenko. It was not in the tone of superiors and subordinates, but in the tone of discussion among colleagues: "After completing the maintenance of a tank brigade, you can immediately send them to the designated defensive positions." What do you think? ”

Kravchenko frowned and thought for a moment after listening to me, then his eyes lit up and he said excitedly: "Great, General Oshanina, this proposal of yours is really good. Do so. It will ensure the normal maintenance of the tank, and it will not delay our time to enter the position. That's it, and I immediately arranged for someone to do it. ”

As he spoke, he lowered his head and whispered a few words to a tank brigade commander next to him. After listening to his words, the other party got up and saluted us, then turned around and walked out of the headquarters, which should have arranged the maintenance of the tank.

After the tank brigade commander left, Kravchenko cautiously asked: "General Oshanina, the higher authorities ordered our army to enter the Prokhorovka area, do you think the Germans will attack there?" To know. That's the depth of the defense of our Voronezh Front. ”

"Comrade General, according to my analysis. Although Prokhorovka was the depth of our defense, with the assault capabilities of the German armored forces, it was entirely possible for them to break through there. Although I knew in my heart that the largest tank decisive battle in the Battle of Kursk would break out in the Prokhorovka area, I could only say in an analytical tone at this moment: "Because of this, when the German armored forces suddenly arrive there, our tank army, which has long been in full position, can make a decisive attack and give them a hard blow, severely damage or even completely annihilate their armored forces." As long as the German armored forces were eliminated, Manstein's attack from the south side of Kursk would have been declared a complete failure. ”

My analysis made the faces of everyone present show a relaxed expression. Bezikov even said: "Our tank army is equipped with a large number of new tanks, so that compared with the German armored forces, we not only have a numerical advantage, but also a qualitative advantage, which is far superior to the German army." I believe that the Germans will not reach Prokhorovka, and once they get there, their end will follow. ”

After I had finished speaking, I instructed him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please make a telephone call or send a telegram to the commander of the 10th Tank Army, so that he can complete the tank maintenance work of one or two tank brigades in the shortest possible time, and let the troops quickly enter the designated positions and prepare for battle." ”

"Understood, I'm going to the telegraph room to send a telegram." Bezkov readily agreed, got up and walked outside, and went to the telegraph room next door to send a telegram.

After scanning the room for a glance at the commander, I stayed on the Chief of Intelligence, Rasmikhin, and I looked at him and asked, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, have you figured out the situation of the German troops in front of us?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander, it's all figured out." Rasmikhin replied as he stood up.

Hearing him say this, in order to understand the real situation of the German army, I ordered: "Now that we have figured it out, let us all tell it, so that everyone can know it." ”

Rasmikhin opened the folder on the table, took out a document from it, and read it aloud: "Our immediate enemy is the German Adolf Hitler Division, the commander of which is the SS brigade commander Theodor Wiesch; Waffen-SS Reich Panzergrenadier Division, commanded by SS Area Commander ****** Krugel; Waffen-SS Skeletal Panzergrenadier Division, commanded by SS Brigade Commander Max Simon......"

Hearing the series of numbers from Rasmikhin's mouth, my heart became heavy, and I could not imagine that we were facing the elite troops of the SS, and the next battle would not be easy. Even if we had well-established fortifications and brave commanders and fighters, the Germans were not vegetarians, and to defeat them would have to pay a heavy price.

While I was thinking about something, I suddenly heard Kravchenko say to me: "General Oshanina, as far as I know, in the Prokhorovka region, except for a few hilly areas, the rest of the area is plain, which is very conducive to the deployment of tank units. Rest assured, our 5th Guards Tank Army will be able to defeat the enemy here. ”

I know he is right, since in real history they were able to defeat the German Tiger tanks with the T-34, it should be much easier to achieve victory with the latest T-54/55 tanks.

I recalled the historical Battle of Kursk, and then said to Kravchenko: "Comrade General, although your tanks are more advanced than those of the Germans, after the start of the battle, your tanks should not be on the field......"

I was halfway through my sentence when I was interrupted by a confused Kravchenko: "General Oshanina, why? ”

"Let the Germans attack our defensive positions first, and let our infantry, with their strong fortifications, hold back their attack and consume their vital forces." I wasted no time in instilling in Kravchenko my operational ideas: "And you and your troops, hidden on the flanks of the German army. When their offensive strength weakens, you suddenly rush out from the side and strike hard at their flanks."

After listening to my words, Kravchenko's face immediately showed a look of joy again, and he said excitedly: "General Oshanina, this is very good. The Germans never dreamed that we would rush out of their flanks and be caught off guard by us. ”

As soon as Kravchenko's words were finished, Bezkov also came in from outside, and he reported to me: "Comrade commander, a telegram to the 10th tank army has been sent. The commander of the corps called back and said that he would follow your orders, deploy a part of the tank units in the designated positions as soon as possible, and make all preparations for battle. ”

I nodded, then leaned sideways to Danilov next to me and said, "Comrade Deputy Commander, next we will discuss the question of how the infantry should defend against tanks. ”

Danilov was stunned by my words, and he asked rhetorically in bewilderment: "Didn't our troops be allotted a large number of 40 rocket launchers?" That kind of weapon is perfect for dealing with German tanks. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, 40 rocket launchers alone are not enough." After Danilov finished speaking, I waved my hand and said: "The range of the bazooka is too close, and our commanders and fighters must be close to a distance of two or three hundred meters before they can fire, so it is easy to be used as a target by the machine guns of those armored vehicles trailing behind the tank." ”

My words made Danilov's expression become serious, he frowned and thought for a moment, and then asked me: "Comrade commander, then what should we do?" (To be continued.) )