Burning Moscow

"Can I equip the troops in late May?" When I heard this time, I couldn't help but frowned slightly, wondering if Katukov's men could skillfully use the new tank in a month?

Catukov noticed the subtle movement of my frown, and leaned over to get closer to me, and asked in a low voice, "Lida, I see you frowning, am I worried about something? ?"

I first glanced at the two major tank soldiers sitting next to Katukov, and lowered my voice and said: "Comrade General, please tell me truthfully, if you are equipped with the new tanks displayed at the military parade, yours How long can the subordinates be familiar with and proficiently operate these technical equipment?"

My words silenced Katukov, watching him contemplating, I did not disturb him, but patiently waited for him to give me a satisfactory answer.

At this moment, a middle-aged major hurriedly walked in from the outside. After entering the door, he looked around, then walked quickly to Danilov's side, leaned over to his ear and whispered something.

I saw the major whispering beside Danilov and asked dissatisfiedly: "Comrade Deputy Commander, who is he?"

The major who was talking was taken aback by me. He straightened up abruptly, standing next to us at a loss.

Without waiting for Danilov to speak, I asked again: "Major, I ask you, who are you? Didn't you see us in a meeting? Why didn't you report it and broke in without permission." Because I was the first One day when he took office, he couldn't leave a weak and bullying impression on his subordinates, so the tone of his speech was extraordinarily harsh.

The major straightened his body with his hands close to the seams of his trousers, and replied loudly, "Report to Comrade Commander, I am Major Lopukhov in the communications office of the headquarters." Then. He took a step forward and said softly, "Comrade Commander, I just received an important telegram from my superior. I think it is necessary to come in and report immediately."

After listening to him, I still kept my original posture and looked at him. Asked dissatisfiedly: "Major, don't you know what important telegram is?"

"Report to Comrade Commander," Major Lopukhov replied in a flustered manner: "It is a transfer order just issued by a superior to move the 326th Infantry Division away. In other words, from now on, this division will not It belongs to the battle sequence of our 6th Guards Army..."

His words surprised everyone in this room, even Katukov, who was frowning and thinking. Also opened his mouth in surprise. I was surprised because this command came too suddenly, but in order not to cause everyone's panic, I tried my best to keep calm.

I squeezed a smile on my face and said to the subordinates who are currently in the house: "Comrades, there is nothing to worry about. You know, this is just a normal transfer..."

"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." Major Lopukhov, who was restored to normal, interrupted suddenly: "I haven't relayed all the contents of the telegram."

I couldn't help but chuckle when the major said that the telegram hadn't finished. Secretly said that in addition to the 326th Infantry Division, the superiors also plan to transfer other troops to leave, isn't Zhukov demolishing my platform? In order to figure out what is going on. I interrupted Lopukhov’s words and ordered: "Then you can tell us about the content of this order in front of everyone."

"Comrade Commander," the calm Lopukhov replied clearly: "The order stated that due to the needs of the battle situation, the 326th Infantry Division will be transferred from the 6th Guards Army from today and placed under the command of the Central Front. At the same time, in order to strengthen the defense forces in the Prokhorovka area, it was decided to place the 89th and 90th Guards Infantry Divisions under your command."

"It's great. It's really great!" Danilov yelled excitedly as soon as Lopukhov had finished speaking. "Two guard divisions were added at once, so that the defensive force of our group army has been greatly strengthened."

And after listening to Lopukhov's words, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that I would say Zhukov could not give me a salary draw. In that case, he would like to let us guard Prokhorovka. I looked at Lopukhov, who had just been blamed by me, and smiled and said to him: "Okay, Comrade Major, thank you for the good news for us. There is nothing more here. Go back to your job. ."

"Yes!" Lopukhov agreed, turned and walked out of the room.

Seeing Lopukhov's back disappear from the door, Katukov said thoughtfully: "Lida, it seems Marshal Zhukov treats you very seriously, except for the 77th division of guards. Today, two more powerful guards have been added to you. In this way, the strength of your group army will rise to a higher level."

After saying this, he seemed to remember the question I just asked him, so he changed the topic and said: "By the way, after my tank soldiers accept the new equipment, if the time is a bit hurry, they can complete it in two weeks. Master the operation of new weapons. To ensure combat effectiveness, it will take at least one and a half months or more."

When I was talking to Katukov, from the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of Danilov standing up, walking to the door, and beckoning outside. An officer quickly walked up to him, lowered his head and listened to his instructions.

Before I could see what happened, Major General Gertmann, the commander of the 6th Tank Army who came to our headquarters with Katukov, suddenly asked: "General Oshanina, please allow me to ask a question."

"Please speak up, Comrade General." Although I didn't know what he would ask, I said politely.

"When do you think the German army will attack us?" Guttmann asked cautiously: "Or, I should change the question. When our troops are equipped with new weapons, when should they reach the state of battle? ?"

"General Guttman," I answered politely to his question: "I don't know when the moral army will attack our defense area, but I believe they will not leave us too long to prepare. I think troops equipped with new equipment should have a strong combat effectiveness by the end of June."

"But, Comrade General," General Guttmann asked again: "From all the signs we have, the most likely area for the German army to attack is the area under the jurisdiction of the Central Front. I think the base camp deployed us in the Oboyan area. It is to serve as a strategic reserve for General Rokosovsky’s troops."

"General Guttmann, the number of times you have dealt with the Germans may be more than once or twice, right?" After saying this. I intentionally paused for a moment, waiting to see him nodding. Then he continued: "We and hundreds of thousands of German troops gathered in this prominent part of Kursk. If the German military wants to defeat us, do you think he will attack from only one direction?"

"Lida, in what direction do you think the Germans will attack from?" Katukov was very interested in what I said. He waited until I finished speaking, and couldn't wait to ask: "Or, the Germans will attack from two at the same time. Directions. Assault operations against our defenders?"

"Yes, General Katukov." As soon as Katukov finished speaking, I immediately agreed and added: "If the German Central Army Group is launching an offensive against General Rokosovsky, and other If the direction of the troops stays the same, our army may continue to replenish the Voronezh front army to the central front army. According to my estimation, in order to ensure the smooth success of the German army, it will definitely attack from two directions at the same time, so as to prevent our army from each other. The purpose of support. In order to destroy our troops."

"Your analysis is very reasonable." Katukov also nodded and said: "If Manstein's troops really attacked our defensive zone from the Belgorod-Kharkov line, Then our First Guards Tank Army will become the main force against the German offensive."

"General Katukov." I said to him politely: "So I can't command your troops, but I still strongly recommend that you, once the troops are equipped with new tanks, then you must let the tank soldiers in the shortest time possible. We master the use of new technology and equipment, and form combat effectiveness in the shortest time."

After chatting with Katukov for a few words, I stood up again and deployed the task of accelerating the construction of fortifications and improving the defense system to the division commanders who participated in the meeting. By the time I think things are almost explained. He bluntly announced the end of the meeting and let everyone go back to their respective teams.

When there were only three people left in the house, I, Danilov and Katukov. I asked Danilov curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander. I just saw you go to the door and call an officer in front of you. As if you were ordering something?"

"That's it, Lida." Danilov replied politely: "The officer you saw was Lieutenant Colonel Ras Mihin, the chief of intelligence of the group army. I told him to look up the Guards Infantry. The situation of the 89th and 90th Divisions."

"You have done a good job, Comrade Deputy Commander." Seeing Danilov's thoughtful consideration of things, I couldn't help but feel grateful to him: "Since the two troops were sent to us by Marshal Zhukov himself, then I believe their combat effectiveness must not be weak. Let’s just do so, and deploy these two divisions as the reserve team of the group army near the headquarters of the group army, which is very convenient for us to command."

"Well, this proposal of yours is very good." Danilov really cooperated with me. As soon as my voice fell, he immediately stated: "I have no opinion, just follow what you said."

After Katukov waited for Danilov to finish talking, he took out a folded map from his briefcase, opened it and laid it out in front of us, then looked up and said to me: "Lida, General Danilov, Next we should study how the two sides should cooperate."

Seeing that both of us nodded in approval, he pointed to the map and said to me: "Lida, look, from Kirovsky in the north to Yakov, which is only ten kilometers away from Belgorod in the south. Levo is the defense zone of the 6th Guards Army. I think if you want to block the German attack, you must build at least three lines of defense:

The first one is Yakovlevo-North Donets River. On this line of defense, you must deploy at least two divisions...

The second route is Kostroma-Prokhorovka, where the terrain is open and there are few hills, which is very conducive to the deployment of the German armored forces. In order to defend here, in addition to deploying two to three infantry divisions, at least one tank brigade and two or three artillery regiments must be placed. …

The third line of defense is Pristian Kirovsky. This will be the last line of defense for your group army. Once the Germans break through, the German forces can directly rush to the city of Kursk..."

When Katukov introduced the situation, I didn't say a word, just listened quietly, and at the same time I was thinking about how to arrange the defenses of the divisions. Only Danilov interjected a few words from time to time to exchange his thoughts with Katukov.

After Katukov introduced the situation of our defense line, he also talked about the defense situation of the First Army of his guard tank: "...My headquarters is located in Oboyan, and the troops are mainly distributed in Ivnia to the south. , Pene, Bogatoye and other areas. Once German troops rush into this area, we will start a large-scale tank battle with them...."

Before Katukov could finish speaking, another officer came in. He came to us, raised his hand to salute, and stood there quietly. I looked at him carefully and recognized that it was Lieutenant Colonel Ras Mihin, the Chief of Intelligence, and then smiled and asked him: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what do you want?"

"Report to Comrade Commander," Lieutenant Colonel Ras Mihin replied respectfully: "Comrade Deputy Commander just ordered me to look up the information of the 89th and 90th Guards Infantry Division. The situation is basically clear..."

"General Katukov, please wait a moment," I said apologetically to Katukov: "We will wait for you to talk about the current situation of the enemy and ourselves in a moment. Now let us listen to Comrade Lieutenant Colonel's introduction. The situation of the 89th Guardian Division.” After I finished speaking, before Katukov could make any comments, I told Rasmihin, “Lieutenant Colonel, you can start reporting.”

Ras Mihin agreed, and then began to report "...The 89th Guards Infantry Division was formed in Gorky State in July 1940, designated as the 160th Infantry Division. The 443rd, 537th, and 636th Infantry Regiments and the 566th Artillery Regiment were organized. group.

During the war, the division was in the 13th Army of the Western Front and entered the war for the first time in the Krichev and Joseph regions on July 13, 1941. After fierce fighting, the German army was temporarily prevented from advancing. However, the German army then launched a fierce attack with superior forces. The division fought and retreated and was forced to withdraw to the Gomel area.

From September 1941 to July 1942, the division fought against the German forces in the formations of the Bryansk Front Army and the Southwest Front Army in Novozibkov, Kursk, Voronezh and Valuiki-Rosow. The tenacious defensive battle. UU reading www.uukanshu.com

In August 1942, he fought together with the other corps of the 6th Army of the Voronezh Front. In the Korotoyak area, he participated in the battle to seize the landing field on the west bank of the Don, regaining Voronezh and clearing the German landing field on the west bank of the Don.

In August 1942, he fought desperately with the Germans on both sides of the Don River.

From January to March 1943, the 6th Army of the Southwest Front Army, the 3rd Army of the Tanks of the Voronezh Front and the 69th Army were successively fought in the direction of Ostrogozhsk-Rosush and Kharkov. …"

After listening to Ras Mihin, I immediately praised him: "Yes, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, your information is very comprehensive, thank you!" (To be continued.)

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