When he learned that the German army was moving south in large numbers, Zhukov immediately ordered the troops of the 61st Army to launch a small-scale attack in the northeast of Ijum, some settlements or villages occupied by the German army. This action of the Soviet army made the German army confused.
After learning the news, Manstein immediately ordered the 57th and 48th Panzer Army who were heading south to stop advancing in the Ijum area. At the same time, he called General Hot, who was commanding the two troops: "General Hot, according to intelligence, the Russians are very active in the northeast of Ijum. You must prevent them from launching a sudden attack and attacking the left wing of your unit."
Hot's troops attacked Kharkov and Belgorod very smoothly, but suddenly received this call from Manstein. Hot was still very depressed. Knowing that his left wing might be attacked by the Russians, he suggested to Manstein: "Marson Marshal, in order to prevent the Russians from attacking Ijum, I suggest that my troops be temporarily staying in this state, and then decide how to mobilize them after the situation is clear."
"No, General Hort." Manstein said to Hort in an unquestionable tone: "Now the three SSs under Haussel have just been hit hard by the Russians. They are in a state of low morale and low morale. If you do not rush over to reinforce as soon as possible, I am worried that once they are attacked by the Russians, they will collapse immediately."
Hort felt that it was a bit too exaggerated to Manstein's statement. No matter what, how could these three SS soldiers defeated tens of thousands of Russian troops suddenly suffer huge losses? Thinking of this, he hurriedly asked Manstein: "Marson Marshal, do you think it was Hausser who lied about military information? In fact, he wanted to preserve his strength, so he asked you to send my troops to fight the Russians head-on?"
"General Hort, what you said does not exist at all." Manstein said unhappily: "Besides, for such a big thing, even if Hauser and his three division commanders want to hide anything, we can still learn the truth through fixed intelligence channels."
"So, General Hauser's three SS advisors were really defeated by the Russians?" At this time, Hot was still half-believing and half-doubted about what Manstein said: "But how did those damn Russians do this?"
The three most elite SS divisions under his command were actually defeated by a Soviet guard division, which was also a very shameless thing for Manstein. However, he felt that some of the important generals under his command should be told the truth, so as not to be blinded by victory: "To be ashamed, the troops that defeated Hauser's three SS divisions under his command were the 41st Guard Division commanded by Sokov."
"What, one division defeated our three divisions? And the three most elite divisions?" Hort was crazy when he heard Manstein say this: "This is simply incredible."
"Based on my research on Sokov, I found that he was very different from other Russian commanders." Manstein said with emotion: "His tactics are always emerging one after another. When we finally thought of a tactic to deal with him, he would soon launch new tactics to make us anxious.
When our three divisions faced him one of them this time, I would like to say that I think it was only a matter of time before I could destroy them. But what happened next was greatly beyond my expectations. Our troops not only did not annihilate him, but also suffered heavy losses under his attack."
When Hot felt a little sad when he heard Manstein praise Sokov. After all, his subordinates had suffered losses in Sokov's subordinates. He asked tentatively: "Is Sokov really that powerful?"
"Yes, it's quite amazing." Manstein said affirmatively: "I reviewed his battle process on the map today. I found that not only did it, it could cause heavy losses to the troops. But in fact, Sokov's troops were very small, with estimated two or three thousand casualties."
"What, he only suffered two or three thousand casualties?" Hort couldn't believe his ears: "Our army is in a defensive position, with more than 10,000 casualties. But as the side of the attack, he had such small casualties, which was simply incredible."
"He is an amazing commander," Manstein continued: "In time, I think even if he is not as good as Zhukov, he can at least be compared with Russian famous generals like Rokosovsky."
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Sokov didn't know that Manstein and Hort were talking about him, and he was studying the defense situation with his subordinates, and inexplicably sneezed more than a dozen times.
Witkov, who was standing beside him, quickly asked with concern: "Comrade Commander, are you feeling uncomfortable? Do you need me to call the military doctor over and help you get a check?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, thank you for your kindness." Sokov replied politely: "I am not sick, maybe I am a little allergic, and will be cured soon." He pointed to the map and said to Vitkov. "Chief of Staff, I think the artillery division should be deployed on this issue, so that it can provide enough artillery cover for the frontier infantry brothers."
"Comrade Commander, we have a large number of tanks and artillery today." After Vitkov and others were deployed, they raised their concerns: "However, there is a shortage of ammunition and fuel."
"What, ammunition and fuel shortage?" Sokov was shocked and sweated coldly when he heard Vitkov say this. If this problem is not solved, his troops would have to sit and wait for death at the beginning of the enemy's attack. He asked quickly: "Chief of Staff, has this incident been reported to the Front Command?"
"There has been reflected." Weitkov nodded and replied: "According to the original plan, a batch of supplies arrived in Lugansk in the past two days and then transferred from Lugansk to here. However, because General Shumilov's 64th Army was ordered to drive westward, many trains and supplies were temporarily requisitioned by them."
"Hell, it's really hell." When he learned that his urgently needed trains and supplies were recruited by other troops, Sokov was powerless and quickly ordered the radio operator: "Send a telegram to the Front Command to report the situation we are facing now to his superiors."
The telegram sent by Sokov was soon placed in front of Rokosovsky. After seeing the telegram, he slapped hard on the table and asked Malining: "Chief of Staff, what's going on? Why don't you report to me and transfer the materials allocated to the combat cluster without authorization? Don't you know that if they don't have enough ammunition and fuel, they will not be able to fight against the Germans."
"Comrade Commander, the allocation of this batch of materials was made by the Moscow's logistics troops bypassing us and making a direct decision." Seeing Rokosovsky angry, Malining quickly explained to him: "I just learned about this shortly after."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, tell me what should we do?" Rokosovsky said angrily: "The main reason why the Southwest Front and Voronezh Front were beaten so embarrassing by the Germans was because of their insufficient logistics supply. Especially the rapid cluster of Popov, many tanks were not lost in combat due to insufficient fuel and ammunition, but were blown up by our commanders and soldiers in order not to let these equipment fall into the hands of the Germans. I don't want to see the Sokov combat cluster, and there are similar tragedies."
Hearing Rokosovsky say this, Malining said: "Comrade Commander, there are still some supplies in our logistics warehouse. I think we can send them to Sokov's troops first."
"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Rokosovsky nodded with satisfaction at Malining's arrangement and said, "As long as the troops commanded by Sokov have enough ammunition and fuel, no matter how many enemies there are, they cannot let him take a step back."
"Comrade Commander, I agree with your statement very much." Malining said to Rokosovsky with a smile: "A few days ago, we concentrated all the transport planes and sent them a batch of rockets. They used these batches of rockets to kill tens of thousands of Germans, so that the three most elite German SSs can only be huddled in the Balvinkovo ​​area and dare not move easily. We are afraid that once they move, they will be attacked by Sokov troops again."
"It seems that Misha was afraid of the Germans in the battle a few days ago." Rokosovsky said with a smile: "Maybe one day in the future, when the Germans hear Sokov's name, they will probably retreat without a fight."
"By the way, is there any movement in Zhukov?"
"According to the information I received, Marshal Zhukov ordered the troops of the 61st Army to launch a small-scale counterattack against some settlements and villages occupied by the German army in the northeast of Ijium." Malining reported to Rokosovsky and said: "Their attack was still very effective. The German army not only sent an armored division to the northeast of Ijium, but also drew the 57th and 48th Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Armored Ar
Malinin picked up the red and blue pencils on the table, drew a circle on each of the two place names Balvinkovo ​​and Ijum, and said to Rokosovsky: "But I estimate that the results achieved by the Sokov tribe greatly deterred the enemy, and the enemy's actions will become cautious. They may soon temporarily stop in the two areas of Balvinkovo ​​and Ijum, and re-deploy to decide whether to take an offensive or defensive against our army."
"Misha is so amazing." Looking at the enemy-to-me situation map on the map, Rokosovsky couldn't help but sigh: "You know, we used a task that hundreds of thousands of troops that had not been completed. He only used one division to tightly restrain more than 100,000 enemies in Balvinkovo ​​and Ijium."
"Comrade Commander," asked Malining cautiously: "Do you think the German army's attempt to retake Kharkov this time will be completely blocked, and will the superiors promote his rank again?"
Regarding Malining's question, Rokosovsky thought about it, then shook his head and said, "I don't think it's possible. Don't look at his great military achievements, but unfortunately he is still too young. The Supreme Commander himself must have to inspect him for a year or two before he can be promoted to his military rank."
"That's a pity." Hearing Rokosovsky's answer, Malining couldn't help but say disappointed: "I thought after this, my superiors would entrust him with important tasks while promoting him to command an army."
"I have already said that he is too young. Although he has many ideas during the war, he lacks the experience of commanding large corps operations." Rokosovsky shook his head and said, "If he is appointed rashly as the commander of the group army, I am worried that it will harm him."
"I heard that before the end of the Stalingrad defense war, he had suggested to Cuikov that he would go to Fulongzhi Military Academy to study as soon as the battle ended. But I don't know what happened later, but the matter of his going to the Military Academy to study was ruined."
"The main reason is the situation on the battlefield, which is very unfavorable to our army. The role he can play when he stays on the battlefield is much better than staying in a military academy."
Rokosovsky said this and ordered Malinin: "Chief of Staff, immediately send Message to Misou and tell him that we will distribute the materials in stock of the Front Army to him. If he has any difficulties, please give it to us."
After recording Rokosovsky's orders, Malinin compiled a telegram and immediately ordered the radio operator to send it to Sokov.
Sokov, who received the telegram, felt much more at ease when he saw Rokosovsky intending to use the front army's stock supplies. He said to Vetkov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, if the batch of supplies allocated by the Front Command can be transported to our defense zone in time, no matter how many enemies come, I will be sure to block their attack."
Vitkov said with some concern: "Comrade Commander, according to regulations, the materials in stock of the Front cannot be sent to the troops at will without permission from the Supreme Command. Tell me, will General Rokosovsky's telegram be intentionally comforting us?"
"No," Sokov shook his head and said, "I believe General Rokosovsky would not deceive us on such an important matter. You must know that we may be attacked by the German army at any time now. If there is not enough supplies, we will not be able to stop the enemy. Once we are broken through by the German army, then there will be no danger to defend within hundreds of kilometers behind us. The enemy may rush to Stalingrad again, and the city will face a new fierce battle."
Chapter completed!