The decisive battle of tanks outside Prokholovka took longer than Sokov expected. In fact, this is easy to understand. I only wrote a few words in history books in an understatement, but did not say how long the battlefield lasted. As for how many tanks both sides used, it is still a debated issue.
Although Sokov did not witness the battle with his own eyes, according to the information he had, there were more than 400 Soviet tanks outside Prokholovka City, and more than 100 German tanks and self-propelled artillery combined. Except here, both the Soviet and German sides in other directions had hundreds of tanks. If these numbers were added up, even if they were less than 1,000, they were not far from this number.
Since the battle outside Prokholovka City has not ended for a long time, General Poluboyarov's tank army basically was in a state of nothing after reaching the designated position. Seeing his tank soldiers sitting on the tanks and watching the infantry building fortifications bored, Poluboyarov felt that it was better to let Sokov arrange some work for him than to be bored now.
"Comrade Commander, I am Poluboyarov." As soon as the phone was connected, General Poluboyarov said straight to the point: "It has been two hours since our army entered the designated position. Except for two small-scale transport teams, we have never seen the shadow of the German again."
"It is a good thing for you to not see the shadow of the Germans." Sokov replied with a smile: "That will you have enough time to maintain the tanks, and after the battle begins, you can enter the battle in the best condition."
"But when will we get into the battle?" Poluboyarov muttered: "Now, whether it is east or west, friendly forces are fighting fiercely with the enemy. Our soldiers are staying in place to watch the fun, so that everyone will be emotional."
Since the enemy has not appeared for a long time, it is indeed inappropriate to let General Poluboyarov's tank army stay in place and do nothing. But for a moment, he could not find a suitable combat mission to be assigned to the tank army. Sokov could only say helplessly: "Comrade General, don't be in a hurry. There are many opportunities to fight. Your current mission is to rest well. But at the same time, you have to send a tank team to intercept the enemy's transport convoy, so that they cannot transport ammunition and fuel to the direction of Prokholovka. As long as you cut off the enemy's supply line, the enemy will not be far from failure."
"Well, Comrade Commander." Since Sokov said so, Poluboyarov could only reply with a gritty bullet: "I will send a tank team to intercept the enemy's transport convoy and cut off the enemy's supply line."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he saw Colonel Mashkov, the political commissar of the 188th Division, appearing in the command center. Since the 188th Division entered this place, Mashkov has been staying at the grassroots troops and his political workers and his subordinates have done propaganda and agitation for the soldiers to inspire morale.
Seeing him appear in the command center at this moment, Sokov raised his eyebrows and asked casually: "Col. Mashkov, why are you free to return to the command center today?"
"Comrade Political Commissar." Koida also saw his political commissar for the first time after coming here. He asked curiously: "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, something is wrong," Mashkov nodded, picked up a cup of tea on the table, raised his head and drank it all, and then said: "After a series of battles, there are only more than 300 people left. If the German army chooses the area they defend next time the Germans attack, I am worried that the position may be lost."
"What, there are only more than 300 people left in the 568th Regiment?" Koida was shocked by the number Mashkov said. You know, when the troops just entered here, there were more than 1,800 people in the 568th Regiment. Now less than two days have passed, the regiment has only a fraction of the original one left.
Koida picked up the phone and ordered the communications troop to connect to the 568th Regiment's regiment headquarters and asked the leader who answered the phone directly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I heard that there are only more than 300 people left in your regiment. Is this true?"
The Lieutenant Colonel's regiment commander quickly replied: "Yes, Comrade Commander. There are only more than 300 people left in our regiment..."
"Why don't you report?" Before the other party finished speaking, Koida started to attack: "Do you know that if the defense line of the entire division is broken due to the insufficient troops of your regiment, can you afford this responsibility?"
"Comrade Commander, even if we are left with only one person, we will never let the Germans pass through our position." The Lieutenant Colonel assured Koida: "Please believe me, we will do our best to defend the position."
"Nonsense, you're simply nonsense." Koida continued to roar, "If it weren't for the political commissar's telling me, I wouldn't have known that your regiment's reduction was so serious. If you were silently eliminated by the German army, who would be responsible for losing the position at that time?"
"Comrade Colonel, give me the phone." Seeing Koida yelling at the microphone, Sokov walked up to him and reached out to him: "I'll say a few words to Comrade Lieutenant Colonel."
Koida dared not refute, so he could only hand the microphone in his hand to Sokov. Sokov put the microphone in his ear and said kindly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I am Sokov."
"Hello, Comrade Commander!" Lieutenant Colonel was nervous when he heard the person who spoke was changed to Sokov: "Do you have any instructions?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I admire your determination and courage to sacrifice your life to defend our great motherland. But..." Sokov felt that fighting positions with the enemy should not blindly confront head-on, and he had to pay attention to some strategies, so he said tactfully: "Sacrificing for the country is never a way to win war. The way to win war is to let your enemies sacrifice for their country!"
The lieutenant colonel never dreamed that Sokov would say such words, but he didn't know how to reply for a moment.
Seeing that the lieutenant colonel did not speak, Sokov continued: "At the same time, the war will end sooner or later. Those of us who live to the day of victory cannot become idle because the war is over. On the contrary, we have a lot of work to do to rebuild the cities and farms that were destroyed by the war. Not only should we build our cities and farms, but we have an obligation to help them rebuild them."
"Comrade Commander, I don't understand." The more I heard the lieutenant colonel, the more confused he became: "Why should we help the enemy build cities and farms?"
"The reason is very simple. When the enemy was defeated by us, their land was also occupied by us." Sokov explained to Lieutenant Colonel: "Since the war is over, we should devote our energy to building the occupied lands. Do you understand?"
After Sokov's simple and straightforward explanation, the Lieutenant Colonel finally understood what he meant: "Comrade Commander, I understand. This should be what you have often taught us before. In battle, we must know how to save ourselves, eliminate the enemy, and achieve the greatest victory at the lowest price."
"Yes, that's right, that's what it means." Sokov saw that the other party understood his intention, and a gratified smile appeared on his face: "How is it, can you still persevere?"
After hearing the question raised by Sokov, the lieutenant colonel hesitated for a long time before speaking: "Comrade Commander, I have limited troops now, and the wounded are a considerable proportion. If the enemy launches another attack on our regiment's position, we may be able to block it. But if the attacks are too many, we may not be able to defend the position."
Sokov noticed a little frustrated in his tone of lieutenant colonel, so he comforted him and said, "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, don't worry. I will send troops as soon as possible to take over your defense, but before that, you need to assure me that you will never throw the position to the enemy."
When the lieutenant colonel was overjoyed to learn that Sokov was about to send troops to take over his defense, he quickly replied, "Don't worry, Comrade Commander, as long as we have one person here, we will never hand over the position to the Germans."
"Ltd Colonel," Sokov felt that it was important to change defense, but if the new troops took over the defense, they would not have time to familiarize themselves with the environment of the position and were attacked by the enemy. In order to avoid this situation, he specifically said to the Lieutenant Colonel: "After handing over the defense, you must leave behind a few commanders and fighters familiar with the position, so that they can help friendly forces familiarize themselves with the environment as soon as possible. How about it, can it be done?"
"No problem, Comrade Commander." The lieutenant colonel said confidently: "I will personally lead people to stay and assist the commanders and fighters of friendly forces to familiarize themselves with the environment of the position."
As soon as Koida and Sokov put down the phone, they immediately said anxiously: "Comrade Commander, my three regiments are suffering heavy casualties now. Which army do you plan to send to take over their defense?"
Sokov glanced at Koida and then said, "The troops stationed in this area now, in addition to your 188th Division, there are two regiments of the 182nd Division, an infantry brigade and two marine brigades. From among them, any unit can be drawn to replace the defense of the 568th Regiment."
Koida knew what Sokov said and knew the combat effectiveness of each unit. So he asked again as soon as Sokov finished speaking, "Which unit do you plan to send?"
"I think, let Colonel Chuwashov's 84th Marine Brigade go there." The reason why Sokov chose this unit without hesitation was because it contained the positions he brought to Shamricht and others, and the positions led by these old subordinates were undoubtedly reassuring: "As we all know, the combat effectiveness of the navy has always been stronger than that of the army, and I think it is completely appropriate to replace the defense of the 568th Regiment."
"You are right, Comrade Commander." Koida agreed with Sokov's statement: "In our army, the quality of naval commanders and fighters is the highest. They are not only highly educated, but also undergo rigorous training. The combat effectiveness is definitely stronger than those troops who have only learned to fire guns and are sent to the battlefield. I have no objection to the defense being replaced by Colonel Chuwashov's troops."
Since Koida had no objection, Sokov still habitually solicited the opinions of the division political commissar Mashkov: "What about you, the division political commissar, do you think it is appropriate for the Marine Brigade to replace the 568th Regiment's position?"
"It's perfect, it's perfect." Mashkov confirmed that Sokov would send a Marine Brigade, but took over the defense of the 568th Regiment. He couldn't help but smile. He kept saying: "Our heroic sailors will defend themselves. No matter how fierce the enemy's offensive is, don't want to break through our army's defense."
Sokov personally called Colonel Chuwashov and asked with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, how do you feel today?"
"It's uncomfortable, Comrade Commander, I feel very uncomfortable."
"Why?" Sokov asked curiously.
"On the position four or five hundred meters away from us, friendly troops have been fighting with the Germans, and our sailors are all staying in the fortifications and doing nothing." Colonel Chuwashov said with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander, let's not hide it from you. When I heard the gunshots and explosions outside, I felt uncomfortable as if there were eighteen cats scratching their paws. If this continues, I will probably go crazy. Comrade Commander, I beg you, hurry up and assign combat missions to us."
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov felt relieved when he heard that Chuwashov was eager to fight. The military chiefs of the troops were anxious to fight, and his soldiers must have been unable to hold back. He said slowly: "I have an important task now, which I will give to you to complete."
When he learned that Sokov was going to explain his mission to him, Chuwashov suddenly felt enlightened: "Comrade Commander, please tell me."
"The 568th Regiment, which is on the far right, has been severely reduced after several days of fighting, and it is already difficult to withstand the enemy's fierce attack." Sokov suppressed the smile on his face and said seriously: "In order to ensure that the position is not lost, I decided to send your brigade to replace the regiment's defense."
"That's great, this is great." When he heard that there was a war, Chuwashof almost jumped up. He kept saying: "Comrade Commander, I will take the troops to replace the defense of friendly troops."
"Comrade Colonel, wait a moment." Sokov heard that the other party was in a hurry to leave, and remembered that he had something to remind the other party, so he stopped him: "After you take over the defense, the regiment commander will continue to stay on the position to help you get familiar with the environment. His military rank and position are lower than yours, and you will have the final say in everything on the position."
When Sokov just said that the commander of the 568th Regiment was going to stay, Chuwashov was quite worried. If there were two military chiefs, the problem would be responsible. If there were any emergency situation, who would have the final say? If the battle failed, who would have the responsibility? Fortunately, what Sokov said next gave Chuwashov a reassurance. As long as the position was decided by himself, there would be no problem.
The troops that replaced the defense were selected, but this was far from enough. After all, the ones who stood firm were infantry. Even with the assistance of equipment like the rocket launcher, it was still very difficult to block the enemy's armored troops' attack. I remembered that not long ago, General Poluboyarov felt that his troops seemed bored and volunteered to him. At that time, considering that they were not available for the time being, he refused Poluboyarov. To hold on to the position at this moment, it would definitely require the cooperation of the tank army, so Sokov ordered people to connect with the command of the tank army.
Chapter completed!