The two regiments arrived before dark relying on simple positions and using new rockets and rocket launchers to launch a tenacious blockade against the Skeleton Division's troops. After more than four hours of fierce fighting, they successfully crushed the German intention of advancing east along the Pushore River, ensuring the safety of Prokholovka's flanks.
Sokov's troops stabilized the defense line, and Klitschko also contacted the defeated troops commander. In order to stabilize the defense line, he ordered the remaining troops to gather in the defense zone of the Guard Division to strengthen the defense there.
Seeing the critical situation, Zhukov and Huasilevsky, who were rushing to fly from Moscow, came to the command center of Vatutin and learned about the current situation on the battlefield.
"Comrade Vatujing," Zhukov asked in a reproachful tone as soon as he saw Vatujing: "The base camp has mobilized so many troops for you, but I didn't expect that the situation in the Prokholovka region is so unfavorable to our army. What's going on?"
"Comrade Marshal," Vatujing replied awkwardly when he heard Zhukov's criticism: "The enemy's offensive is too strong. Although our commanders and fighters are very tenacious, they have to choose to retreat because their equipment and combat experience are not as good as those of the enemy..."
Seeing Zhukov's face full of anger, Huasilevsky hurriedly came out to smooth things over: "Comrade Vatujing, judging from the current situation, the enemy's goal is to seize Prokholovka City. How are your defenses arranged?"
Watuting knew that Huasilevsky was helping him to save the siege, and after looking at him with gratitude, he began to report on the deployment: "After the arrival of the 33rd Guard Infantry Army of the Fifth Guards Army, I ordered the 9th Guard Parachute Division of the army to guard the city of Prokholovka, and deploy the 95th and 97th Guard Infantry Divisions along the Psier River to form a new line of defense. The 42nd Guard Infantry Division stayed in the city as a reserve force, ready to be sent to a critical place at any time."
"Do you have the confidence to defend the city?" Huasilevsky continued.
"I think it should be possible." Vatujing replied.
"It's not that it should be possible, but that it must be defended by Prokholovka City." Zhukov, who was still angry, pointed to the map on the table and said to Vatutin: "From the current situation, Sokov used three infantry divisions and a tank army to fight the German Skeleton Division, the 6th Armored Division and the 19th Armored Division on the defensive front, which is 25 kilometers wide, to fight tenaciously with the German Skeleton Division, the 6th Armored Division and the 19th Armored Division."
Huasilevsky continued: "Yes, it is precisely because of the tenacious battle of the Sokov troops that the 81st Guard Infantry Division of Malankin's Guards could still hold its position, making it impossible for the enemy to advance towards Prokholovka City without restraint."
Zhukov snorted softly and continued, "Based on the information I have, Sokov is deploying his troops in the direction of Shumakovo and Oboyan to move towards the Pshore River. It seems that he is trying to consolidate the existing line of defense and prevent the enemy from advancing towards Prokholovka City."
"I know Sokov's troops are good at fighting defensive wars," said Vasilevsky thoughtfully: "But there are no decent fortifications in this area. If they want to block the German offensive, they will inevitably pay a heavy price." After saying this, he asked Vatuting, "Do you have any counterattack plan?"
"Two marshals, we have formulated a detailed counterattack plan." Vatujing said to the two with a smile: "You must be tired and thirsty after you have been on the road for so long? Why not sit down and take a rest and eat something."
Seeing that Zhukov and Huasilevsky did not object, but sat down at the table, Vatuting felt relieved. He ordered people to bring a lot of food, even a bottle of vodka. He opened the lid of the bottle and said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, can you drink a little? Not much, just a small cup, which can relieve fatigue."
Faced with Vatujing's enthusiasm, Zhukov was not easy to refuse. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Okay, just have a small cup."
After Vatuting poured wine into the wine glass in front of Zhukov, he asked Wasseylevsky again: "Where are you, Comrade Marshal, can you also have a drink?"
Huasilevsky nodded with a smile and said, "Then give me a drink too."
After Vatuting poured wine for Huasilevsky, he did not immediately pick up the wine glass, but began to introduce his counterattack plan to the two: "Two marshals, my plan is as follows: transfer the 2nd Tank Army and the 2nd Guard Tank Army, the 1529th Self-propelled Artillery Regiment, the 522nd and 148th Howitzer Regiment, the 148th and 93rd Cannons, and the 16th and 80th Guards Rocket Array Regiment to the 5th Tank Army, and ordered the unit to accelerate the assembly of troops. The day after tomorrow, that is, on July 12, together with the 1st Tank Army of General Katukov, launched a powerful counterattack against the German army."
After listening to Vatujing's counterattack plan, Zhukov nodded slightly, then raised the wine glass in his hand and said, "Cheers for victory!"
Seeing that Zhukov had agreed to his plan, Vatukin couldn't help but feel ecstatic. He quickly picked up the wine glass and said, "For victory!" After touching the glass with the two gently, he drank the vodka in the glass in one go.
After putting down the wine glass, Huasilevsky asked Vatujing: "Comrade Vatujing, your plan is good. Can Lieutenant General Rotmistrov's troops arrive at the offensive position on time and launch a counterattack against the Germans?"
"Two marshals," Vatutin replied respectfully, "Before you come here, I have spoken to Lieutenant General Rotmistrov, who assured me that his troops could all reach the attack position at noon tomorrow at the latest and could launch a powerful offensive against the Germans within the prescribed time the day after tomorrow."
"Master Zhukov," after Wasseylevsky and Watukhin finished speaking, he asked Zhukov politely: "Do you have anything else to add?"
"I'm thinking about how to hold on to the defense line established by Sokov until the day after tomorrow?" Zhukov turned his empty wine glass in his hand, staring at the map on the table, and said with a serious expression: "You know, the enemies who attacked their defense line today are just part of the Skeleton Division, the 6th Armored Division and the 19th Armored Division, and they will suffer huge casualties. If the Germans put more troops into battle tomorrow, can they stop it?"
"Comrade Marshal," said Vatutin carefully: "Didn't you say that General Sokov is transferring the troops deployed in Shumakovo and Oboyan's direction one after another? I think as long as he has enough troops in his hands and blocks the enemy for another day, there should be no problem."
"Comrade Vatutin, have you forgotten that there are no decent fortifications there?" Zhukov gently tapped the map on the table with the wine glass in his hand: "The fortifications that you have broken through by the enemy have no minefields, barbed wire, and strong national defense fortifications. However, in the face of the powerful offensive of the Germans, these defense deployments are useless. Now Sokov is only a few simple fortifications, and it is so difficult to block the German attack."
Huasilevsky asked tentatively: "Then we need to give Sokov a hint and tell him that he only needs to block the enemy in his current position for one day, and the situation on the battlefield will develop in a direction that is beneficial to us?"
"I don't think this is necessary." Zhukov considered Vasilevsky's suggestion, then shook his head and said, "If he knew that he only needed to stick to it for one day, his thinking would inevitably be relaxed, which would probably affect the morale of the troops. I think it would be better not to tell him."
Sokov didn't know what was happening in the Vatujing command center. He was discussing with Koida how to defend tomorrow. Koida said with a worrying look: "Comrade Commander, as of darkness, only one-third of our division's troops were left, and the two newly added regiments also suffered nearly half of the casualties. You said you should hold on for 48 hours. If there were no reinforcements, this would be an unfinished task."
"Don't worry, comrade Colonel." Seeing Koida's timidity, Sokov quickly cheered him up and said, "Before dawn tomorrow, our reinforcements will arrive one after another. Then we will have enough troops to carry out defensive operations."
"But, Comrade Commander." Koida pointed to the map and said to Sokov: "From our location to the Pushore River defense line, the defense front is 25 kilometers wide. Even if we get reinforcements, our troops will be evenly distributed, and there will be very few defenders everywhere. As long as the Germans focus on a little breakthrough, our defense line will be torn apart."
Sokov did not expect that in today's battle, his troops had an advantage in equipment, but still paid a heavy price. Therefore, he began to consider whether to adjust the defense method. After listening to Koida's words, he said slowly: "Comrade Colonel, our troops are limited. If we use the average force, it seems that we are defending everywhere, but we cannot defend anywhere in the face of the enemy's attack."
"Is there any way?" Koida asked.
"Order the troops to give up some unimportant areas and concentrate on important areas for defense." Sokov pointed to the map and said to Koida: "For example, these places have a flat terrain, which is not conducive to defense, and there are no decent fortifications. We use the troops to defend here, which is a waste of troops. Therefore, I decided to withdraw the troops from these locations and strengthen them to important areas."
"Comrade Commander," Koida said in surprise when he heard Sokov say this: "But in this way, isn't it equivalent to handing over these positions directly to the Germans?"
"You are right." Sokov echoed: "Once the enemy occupied these positions, he would nod and rush eastward to Prokholovka City, join forces with the German troops from other directions to seize the city."
Koida originally wanted to persuade Sokov to avoid making a mistake. But when he heard that he had expected what might happen, he couldn't help but look confused on his face: "Comrade Commander, since you understand the consequences of giving up the position, why do you still have to do this?"
"If we stick to every position tenaciously as we do now, the final result will surely all the defenders will be killed and the positions will fall into the hands of the enemy." Sokov explained to Koida: "But if we appropriately give up some unimportant positions so that the enemy can advance towards Prokorovka City according to their plan, then their attack on our position will slow down, and even leave only some troops to monitor and transfer the main force to a new direction of attack."
Koida looked as usual when she saw Sokov saying this, and immediately realized that Sokov might have some careful plans, so she did not interrupt him, but quietly became a listener.
"When the enemy arrives near Prokholovka City and engages in fire with friendly forces, I can order General Poluboyarov's tank army to attack and attack the enemy from the flanks. The enemy's main forces are dragged by friendly forces and they cannot draw their forces to support them at all, and they will inevitably suffer major losses."
After Sokov explained his thoughts to Koida, he immediately contacted Sameko by phone and began to deploy his work: "Comrade Chief of Staff, after the troops from the direction of Oboyan arrived, you can just transfer the infantry brigade and two marine brigades over, and let the rest of the troops stay on the defense line of the Pushore River."
Sameko was very surprised when he heard Sokov's order. He quickly reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, our defense front is 25 kilometers wide. We only send you three brigades of troops. It may be difficult to defend the defense line."
"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff. I have planned to give up some unimportant positions and concentrate all my troops on important positions to defend." Sokov repeated what he had just said to Koida to Sameko.
After listening to Sokov's story, Sameko suddenly realized that Sokov's move was really clever. If he really adjusted his defense according to Sokov's orders, the Germans would definitely choose to pass through the unmanned area without wasting their troops and fighting a cruel positional battle with the Soviet army.
Although this plan is good, it is unknown whether the superior will approve it. After a brief period of happiness, Sameko was worried: "Comrade Commander, do you think the superior will agree with your plan?"
Chapter completed!