Neither Colonel Chuwashov nor Major Bonchi said this, they knew that the attack of the 6th Armored Division was repelled, was the division's last battle before the end of the Battle of Kursk.
The reason for this situation is very simple. The division commander was killed in battle. In order to get his body back, he was blackmailed by Sokov. His morale was very low, but now another regiment-level officer was killed. The morale of the division suddenly fell to the bottom. After Manstein learned of the division's situation, he immediately issued an order to move to defense on the spot, so that the troops would not add any more results to Sokov's credit card.
At the same time, the 19th Armored Division, which was fighting on the right wing, also received an order from the commander: to temporarily stop the attack on the frontal Russians, and after dark, they would send troops to replace the defense of the 6th Armored Division and cover them to retreat to the rear for replenishment.
Although the commander of the 19th Armored Division was puzzled, he still faithfully executed this inexplicable order. After he asked the troops to stop attacking the Guards Division's positions, he transferred an armored battalion and an infantry battalion to receive the defense zone of the 6th Armored Division.
As night fell, not only the war in the west stopped, but even the tank battle outside Prokholovka was gradually coming to an end. After that day of fierce fighting, the Soviet army lost more than 180 tanks and self-propelled artillery, while the German army lost more than 80 tanks and self-propelled artillery.
Although the German army achieved tactical victory in terms of the number of losses of both sides, their elite armored soldiers lost most of the battle.
After Rotemistrov counted the results of the battle and his own losses, he personally rushed to the Front Command and reported to Vatujing. After listening to the report, Vatujing frowned and said, "General Rotemistrov, you have lost so many tanks in the daytime battle. How should we fight the next battle?"
"Comrade General," said Rotmistrov respectfully: "After today's battle, I found that although the Germans were exhausted, their combat effectiveness was still strong. Therefore, I suggest that the 18th and 29th tanks should be temporarily transferred to defense, and after supplementing, they should be put into battle again."
As soon as he finished speaking, Vasilevsky, who was sitting next to him, interrupted and asked: "General Rotmistrov, I remember that the base camp did not send any tank troops to Prokhorovka City. Where can you get supplements?"
"Marson," Rotmistrov quickly turned to face Vasilevsky and said: "We have our own maintenance personnel, who can repair tanks and self-propelled artillery that were destroyed in combat overnight. After repair, these tanks and self-propelled artillery can participate in new battles tomorrow."
When Vasilevsky heard Rotemistrov say this, a look of surprise appeared on his face. After he and Zhukov looked at each other, he asked excitedly: "Comrade General, how many tanks can your maintenance personnel repair overnight?"
"I asked the workers at the repair station," Rotemestrov had asked professionals specifically before he arrived at the Front Command, so when he heard this question in Huasilevsky, he immediately replied confidently: "They are sure to repair 30-50 tanks overnight."
"Comrade Marshal," Vasilevsky said to Zhukov with a side face after hearing Rotmstrov's reply: "Our maintenance workers are amazing. They can repair so many tanks and self-propelled artillery overnight."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Zhukov shook his head and said with a frosty face: "No, it's too few. You know, in the daytime battle, our army lost nearly 200 tanks, and the enemy's losses were less than half of us. Comrade Vatuting, please contact the logistics department to see if they can organize professional maintenance personnel to help General Rotemistrov and others, and strive to double the number of tanks to repair."
"Comrade Marshal, it's very difficult." After hearing Zhukov's order, Vatujing immediately cried out: "Don't say we can't draw so many maintenance personnel at all. Even if there are, I'm afraid there will be no guarantee that there will be enough spare parts to repair the destroyed tanks."
Since Zhukov issued the order, there was no room for bargaining. He ignored the problems that Watujing complained about and said to himself: "For at least half a month, we will not be able to get new tanks to supplement them. Therefore, we can only speed up the repair speed to ensure that the number of tanks in the tank brigade will not drop too quickly. In this way, in the next battle, our troops will not suffer a great loss against the enemy's armored forces."
"Comrade Marshal," a skilled woman could not cook without rice. Although Vatujing wanted to repair all the destroyed tanks at the repair station overnight, this was impossible. Faced with Zhukov's strict orders, he could only say tactfully: "In fact, we can transfer the tanks in General Trufanov's hand to the outside of Prokhorovka City."
"Hmm?!" Zhukov couldn't help frowning after hearing Vatutin's proposal: "Carry back all General Trufanov's tank troops, what should I do if the defensive position in the west?"
When he saw Zhukov unhappy, Vatujing quickly defended himself: "Comrade Marshal, this is what I think. Since the troops that hold the western position can block the enemy's attack without tanks, even if all the tanks are transferred back, I think they are still able to block the enemy."
After Vatuting finished speaking, he winked at Huasilevsky and signaled him to help him say good things in front of Zhukov. Huasilevsky, who understood him, nodded slightly, and then smiled and said to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, with the ability of our maintenance station, they must complete the restoration of 60-100 tanks overnight. This is an unfinished task. I think General Vatututing's words make sense. We can completely transfer General Trufanov's troops from the west."
"No, General Trufanov's tank troops cannot be transferred back." Zhukov shook his head and replied firmly: "Once we repel the enemy outside Prokholovka City, Manstein will definitely order the two armored divisions in the west to increase the attack. If Malankin's guard division does not have the assistance of the tank troops, it will be difficult to defend the position."
"What if the enemy outside the city is not transferred back from General Trufanov's tank troops?" Huasilevsky said worriedly: "Where can we have the strength to fight them back?"
Zhukov did not answer this question immediately, but looked at Rotmistrov who stood straight, and then said, "Comrade General, you are commanding the battle outside Prokholovka. Tell me, what do you think about tomorrow's battle?"
"Dear commanders," Rotmistrov quickly swept across the three men and replied decisively: "Although the German army lost only half of the tanks in the daytime battle, they lost a large number of well-trained tank soldiers as a result. As for us, in addition to the destroyed tanks, we also have a large number of tank players that can be replenished in time. As one goes up and down, the German army will be at a disadvantage in tomorrow's battle, and we are confident that we can drive the enemy away from outside the city of Prokhorovka."
No one raised any objection to the fact that Rotemistlov mentioned that there were a large number of tankers that could replenish the troops in time. Therefore, in the collective farms of the Soviet Union, those drivers who had driven crawlers could drive tanks directly without training. As for the Germans, due to the serious shortage of tank soldiers, they could only equip a large number of semi-track armored vehicles, because the driving methods of these armored vehicles were similar to ordinary cars. Tank soldiers who could drive tanks were less than one dead, and it was difficult to get timely replenishment.
Before Zhukov could make his statement, a staff officer came over from the side and reported to Zhukov: "Comrade Marshal, your phone number was called by the Supreme Commander himself."
When they learned that Stalin called Zhukov, the command center suddenly became quiet. Everyone's eyes were focused on Zhukov, watching him walk to the table beside him, and picked up the microphone on it: "Hello, Comrade Stalin!"
"Comrade Zhukov, how is the situation in Vatujing?"
"The enemy and our side fought fiercely outside Prokholovka during the day." Zhukov said respectfully to the microphone: "Our tank soldiers acted extremely brave and tenacious in the battle, destroying more than 80 enemy tanks and self-propelled artillery."
"This is a really good result." Stalin praised it and continued to say: "I call you, there are two things I want to tell you."
"Please say it."
"First, after some preparation, Rokosovsky's troops launched an attack on the enemy of the Orol's outpost. This offensive put the 9th Army of the German Central Army Group at the risk of being cut off from the rear." Stalin said on the phone: "If the active attack of Rokosovsky's troops could force Model to order his troops to retreat, it would mean that the Germans' attempt to surround our army in the Kursk's outpost by encircling the two wings was completely defeated. In the following days, the Germans in the north could not only be able to threaten our defense line, but also had to fight for their survival."
"Comrade Stalin, this is really exciting and good news." Zhukov seemed particularly happy after learning the news: "If Rokosovsky's offense can really resolve Moder's offensive, then the base camp can consider drawing up some of its forces to strengthen the south side of Kursk."
"The second news." Stalin did not immediately express his opinion on Zhukov's proposal, but said directly: "According to the eavesdropping of our intelligence forces, Marshal Kruger, the commander of the German Central Army Group, and Marshal Manstein, the commander of the Southern Army Group, received a notice from the German Command and had already rushed back to Berlin by plane overnight."
"Oh, Marshal Kruger and Marshal Manstein have both returned to Berlin?" Zhukov said in surprise: "How can they easily leave the front line at such a critical moment?"
"Comrade Zhukov," Stalin continued: "After Comrade Antonov's analysis, he felt that the sudden return of the two German marshals to Berlin must be related to the landing of the British and American Allies in Sicily."
When Zhukov heard this, he couldn't help but interrupt and said, "Does the German Command plan to draw troops from the Eastern Front to reinforce the defenders in Sicily to resolve the crisis there?"
"Comrade Antonov said the same thing," Stalin said in an uncertain tone: "Comrade Zhukov, please tell me truthfully, what do you think? Do you really think that the Germans will draw troops from here to reinforce Sicily at such a critical moment in the Battle of Kursk?"
"Comrade Stalin, although this matter sounds ridiculous, I think it is entirely possible to do such a thing with a mustache." Zhukov said: "But if the German Command really does this, the situation on the battlefield will become very beneficial to our army. We can not only crush the enemy's attack in the Kursk region, but also annihilate a large number of their living forces to reduce the pressure on our army's next battle."
Stalin did not comment on Zhukov's analysis, but said thoughtfully: "I have ordered the telecommunications monitoring department to closely monitor the German radio stations to see when Kruger and Manstein will return from Berlin. At that time, we will know whether the enemy will really draw troops from Kursk and reinforce Sicily."
When Zhukov was talking to Stalin, Rotmistrov, who was standing aside, felt extremely shocked. Although he said in front of Zhukov that he was sure to fight back the enemy outside Prokholovka tomorrow, his heart was like fifteen buckets. At this moment, he learned that Manstein had gone to Berlin and might even draw troops from the Kursk area to reinforce the country in the distance, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Okay, comrades in command." Zhukov put down the phone and glanced at everyone, and said with a serious expression: "Although the landing of the British and American Allies in Sicily will make Xiaomou's idea of ​​drawing troops from Kursk, we cannot take it lightly. Maybe Manstein will argue with Xiaomou and cannot let the troops in his hands go. At that time, the situation we face will still be very serious."
"Comrade Marshal," said Rotmistrov cautiously: "If the Germans continued to invest their troops outside Prokhorovka, with our existing strength, they might not be able to repel the enemy's attack, but there would be no big problem to defend the city."
Chapter completed!