Chapter 1206

There is no way to hide the large-scale mobilization of the grassland front army from anyone. As soon as I got back to the headquarters, bezikov reported to me, "Comrade commander, the commanders of the 89th and 90th divisions of the guards have called one after another to say that a large number of friendly troops are passing through our defense area. They asked if there is any big action?"

After he finished, I nodded, "yes, comrade chief of staff, the grassland front army will launch an all-round attack on Kharkov the day after tomorrow."

"What is the task of our group army?" Don't zikov, I said, immediately and excitedly.

"There are no specific tasks for the time being." I went back to the table, sat down, and said with a bitter smile, "at the meeting, I proposed to general konev that our group army should take the initiative, but he refused. He said that the 53rd, 57th and 69th group armies of the grassland front army are responsible for the main task this time, while our group army only needs to be responsible for defending the existing positions and ensuring the safety of bergorode. "

Hearing what I said, bzikov said reluctantly: "but, comrade commander, as far as I know, the seventh group army of general shumilov's guards is also being mobilized. It seems that they are also ready to take part in this attack."

"Yes, comrade chief of staff, the seventh group army of the guards will also take part in the attack the day after tomorrow." "But not long ago, they officially joined the grassland front army," chisjakov added

When he heard what chisgakov said, bzikov's face was disappointed. He murmured, "if we are now part of the grassland army, then we can take part in the battle the day after tomorrow."

Seeing his expression, I said to him with a smile: "chief of staff, don't worry. Kharkov's offensive will not end in a day or two. Sooner or later, it will be our turn to launch our group army."

Just as he was talking, the telephone on the desk rang again. Akhromeyev was closest to the phone. After listening to the phone for a while, he covered the phone and reported to me: "Comrade commander, commander of the 77th division of the guards, general askarepov, called and said that a large force of the 69th group army is passing through their defense area. Do you want to know what big action the army is taking?"

"No action," I said impatiently, waving my hand to akhromeyev. "Let them rest in their own defense area. As for when their division will fight, the superior will make overall arrangements."

Seeing that akhromeyev put down the phone, I suddenly remembered a more important thing, and then turned to ask bzikov: "by the way, comrade chief of staff, what's the current ammunition situation of the army, and when can the logistics deliver the weapons and ammunition we need?"

When bezikov heard my question, he frowned slightly and replied, "when our troops attacked Belgorod, they consumed a lot of ammunition. Now, except for the infantry, all the mortars and rocket launchers of each division are used up."

"Chief of staff, have you urged the logistics department?" It's said that the ammunition promised to be supplied to us the day before yesterday, but now it's not in place. I can't help worrying, "if it's really our turn to fight, how can we fight without ammunition?"

"No way, comrade commander." Bezikov said with some frustration: "I have called several times to urge, but the logistics department said that the ammunition consumption of each unit is very heavy. Due to the limited transportation capacity, they can't supply enough ammunition to all units immediately. Considering our current situation, they will supply us as soon as possible, but they can't give us an accurate supply time. "

In fact, I also know that when hundreds of thousands of troops take part in the war, the consumption of ammunition is a terrible astronomical number. Logistics can not supply all the troops for the moment, but can give priority to the troops with combat tasks, which is understandable. Anyway, in three or four days, our group army will not have any combat tasks for the time being. If the supply is late, it will be late. Anyway, as long as the commanders and fighters can have enough ammunition when we take part in the war.

When I finished speaking, I found that I didn't hear anything from chisgakov. I looked around and found that he was standing still in front of the huge map on the wall. I went up to him and asked curiously, "Comrade deputy commander, what are you looking at?"

"Comrade commander, please have a look." He picked up the stick leaning against the wall, pointed to the north of Kharkov and said: "according to general konev's introduction, the German army has built seven lines of defense in the north of the city, which is roughly consistent with your conjecture. If, according to our deduction on that day, they launch a strong attack from the north, they will surely pay a heavy price. "

"Yes," I said, staring at the position he pointed out, "in the north of the city, the German army has established seven lines of defense, with a defense depth of more than ten kilometers. If the troops of the grassland front want to bite down here, they will certainly pay a heavy price. However, such sacrifice is not totally meaningless, at least it can greatly consume the living strength of the German army. "

"When I was recovering in Moscow, I heard that our tank troops were equipped with a new type of tank." Looking at the map, chisgakov said thoughtfully: "it is said that this kind of tank, not only the 88 mm antiaircraft gun commonly used by the German army, can't penetrate its front armor at a distance of 500 meters, even the most advanced Tiger tank can't take it. If our assault forces can use these tanks extensively, it will be easier to break through the German defensive positions. "

"Comrade deputy commander, maybe you don't know." I don't know when it will come behind us. Bezikov said: "because the supporting shells of this new type of tank are always not available, this new type of tank was almost out of service in the later period of the battle of Kursk. Now, except for a few troops, most of them are still using T-34 tanks. "

"Damn it." I heard chisgakov murmur, "I have such good equipment, but I don't use it. Is it so difficult to improve the supporting shells for new tanks? "

"Comrade commander, I have just received a telegram from the reconnaissance force." The director of communications, lophov, came up to me and handed me a telegram he had just received.

I took the telegram, took it to my eyes and looked at it carefully. It read: "in the south of Kharkov, we found German cavalry. After our repeated verification, we learned that the number of the cavalry was SS 15th cavalry regiment, with about 1000 troops, carrying three 75mm anti tank guns and fourteen 81mm mortars."

After reading the phone, I handed the telegram to chisgakov. Unexpectedly, I asked bzikov, "chief of staff, have you heard of the German cavalry?"

When he heard my question, bzikov thought for a moment, then nodded his head and said, "although there are very few German cavalry units, I have heard of one: the eighth cavalry division of the SS."

When I thought that the number of cavalry was mentioned in the telegram, there was indeed the SS symbol, so I nodded with approval, and then asked, "what is the combat effectiveness of this unit?"

"Although this Cavalry Division has long been engaged in the task of eliminating guerrillas in various places." After reading the telegram, chisgakov handed it to bezikov and then explained to me, "but their combat effectiveness is very strong. Our army and the troops that have had a bad fight with them have suffered a lot."

With these words, he focused on the map on the wall and said to himself, "although our scouts only found one cavalry regiment, I believe that in a short time, their other two cavalry regiments, as well as artillery regiment, armored reconnaissance battalion, tank battalion, assault gun battalion, anti-aircraft gun battalion and other troops, will arrive at Kharkov one after another."

When I heard chisgakov say that, my heart became heavy. As soon as he finished, I immediately asked, "Comrade deputy commander, are you worried that we will encounter them when we take part in the Kharkov offensive?"

"Well, comrade commander." Chisgakov said without expression: "although we have the advantage in troops, without the cooperation of tank troops, our charging infantry will be defeated by their cavalry."

As for what kisjakov said, I agree with him very much. Although cavalry can play a smaller and smaller role in the battlefield, cavalry is still a nightmare for infantry fighting in the plain. If the German Cavalry Division attacks from the side when our guard division charges against Kharkov, our attack will be easily defeated.

I pondered for a moment, and then said, "Comrade deputy commander, don't worry. In the short term, we will not take part in the attack against Kharkov. As for the tanks you mentioned, we will have at least two tank brigades when Colonel berey's tank army is built, so that we don't have to be afraid of German cavalry divisions any more. "

"Comrades, I think we should continue to strengthen our reconnaissance." After reading the telegram, bzikov broke in and said, "from the information we have, in order to keep Kharkov, the German army must mobilize more troops from other places to participate in the defense. The eighth Cavalry Division is only a small part of the reinforcements, and more reinforcements will continue to come

"Yes, chief of staff, you are quite right." As for bezikov's statement, chisgakov immediately expressed his support. He added: "although we didn't hear the name of the second SS Panzer Army from the defensive German army at the meeting, I think this army will appear in Kharkov sooner or later. Their combat effectiveness is not weak. If we don't take preventive measures in advance, we may lose a lot. "

"Comrade commander, comrade commander." I was listening to the conversation between chisjakov and bezikov when akhromeyev, who was standing in the other corner of the room, suddenly called me.

I turned to look at him and asked, "major, what's the matter?"

"Comrade commander," akhromeyev raised the earphone in his hand higher so that I could see more clearly, and politely reported, "the commander of the front army wants to speak to you."

I heard that it was watujing's phone. I quickly walked over and nodded at him with a smile. Then I took the earphone, stuck it to my ear and asked, "Hello, senior general, do you have any instructions?"

"Comrade oshanina," said vatukin with a smile, "did you go to konev's military conference tonight?"

"Yes, Comrade General." I politely replied, "I proposed to general konev at the meeting that our group army should take up the main offensive task, but he refused."

"That's why I'm calling you." Vatujing said to me in a smooth tone: "the task of attacking Kharkov is assigned by the supreme command to konev, while your group army is only assigned to the grassland front army temporarily, so it is not your turn to attack for the time being. It's not that general konev has any opinions on you, but he intentionally doesn't assign you tasks. Don't worry about it. " I thought watujing called me to inform me that he was going to let several divisions in tomarovka go back. But he just explained to me why he didn't let us be the main attack. I felt a little disappointed. After he finished, I immediately asked, "senior general, I want to ask when the troops of our group army in tomarovka can be built?"“ The army of tomarovka? " Vatukin obviously didn't expect that I would suddenly ask about it. After a long hesitation, he finally said, "Comrade oshanina, although the German army in tomarovka has been destroyed by our army, our troops there still seem to be a little weak. We still need your divisions to stay in tomarovka."“ When can we draw them back? " When I heard him say that, I asked reluctantly“ Don't worry, we can't wait a few days. " "Before the 13th of this month, the troops will be built one after another," watujing promised me. Well, I know that if you don't let the two troops go back, you won't be able to sleep well tonight. Tomorrow I will order general berey's tank army to move towards you“ Great, Comrade General. " I was overjoyed when watujing said that the tank army of berey could be built tomorrow. I quickly said to him, "thank you. Thank you very much. As soon as Colonel berey's troops come back, the ability of our troops to attack difficult positions will be greatly improved. " As soon as I said this, I suddenly remembered that when he mentioned bielei in his address, he used the rank of general instead of Colonel, so I was surprised and asked, "Comrade General, what rank did you just say bielei is?"“ Major general, from now on, comrade berei, commander of your 33rd tank army, is no longer a colonel, but a major general. " In order to let me know what happened, vatukin specially explained: "in order to commend him for his bravery, tenacity and excellent decisive command ability in the battle, Marshal Zhukov promoted him from a colonel to a major general."