The meeting of troops at Yakovlevo means that our counteroffensive has been successful. Akhromeyev then handed over the work of marking the map according to the battle report to several of his staff officers, and then called the division headquarters of the 51st Guards Division to find out the details of the division.

Akhromeyev dialed the headquarters of the 51st Guards Division and said loudly: "Hey, is it General Tavart Kiradze?" I'm the chief of operations Akhromeyev, I heard that you guys are going to be in the division?! Where is it? In Rakovo, northeast of Yakovlevo ?! Great, this is really good, not only all the leaders of the army group are waiting for you to this good news, but even the commanders of the front army can't wait to know this good news. Please wait a minute, I'll take the notes. ”

As he spoke, he clamped the microphone between his shoulders and picked up a red and blue pencil on the table and began to record. In order to let us all know the specific situation in a timely manner, he also repeated loudly: "The people who participated in the meeting, your division has ...... Lieutenant Colonel Lukin, commander of the 309th Regiment...... battalion commander, Major Girkin; The 375th Division has ...... The company commander of the 1243 regiment, Captain Gagokaev. Well, Comrade General, I've written it all down. Finally, on behalf of the leaders of the group army, I would like to express my gratitude to you, because it was because of the bravery and tenacity of the commanders and fighters in the battle that we were able to defeat the Germans and successfully achieve this meeting. ”

After he put down the phone, he excitedly shouted at us: "Comrade commander, the division has been met, our counterattack unit and the troops of the 51st Guards Division have joined forces. ”

Although Kirillov and Danilov could clearly hear what Akhromeyev said when he answered the phone, they still picked up the piece of paper on which he had written it and flipped through it, as if there was something new on it.

I couldn't help but laugh dumbly when I saw the two of them snatching the piece of paper around like children. Although the counterattack is going well at the moment, I don't dare to take it lightly. I instructed Akhromeyev to help me connect with General Kravchenko's command, and I wanted to know what was going on there with him.

Hearing Kravchenko's voice, I immediately asked: "Comrade General, how is the situation with you there?" ”

"General Oshanina," Kravchenko said lightly, "after a fierce battle, the German attack was repulsed by us. Half of the tanks were destroyed by us, and the rest fled in disgrace. ”

I was very unhappy with the ambiguity in his report, so I asked: "Comrade General, I would like to know the number of German tanks you have destroyed, and the casualties of our troops. ”

The other party was silent for a while, and then said slowly: "Destroyed 27 tanks and damaged 11." Our army lost 34 T-19 tanks and 8 anti-tank guns, and the Sharmlikh tank battalion again lost three new tanks. ”

"Comrade General." Hearing that the tank army in charge of defense had paid such casualties, I couldn't help frowning and asked, "It seems that the casualties of your army are not small, do you need me to send troops to reinforce you?" ”

"It would be nice if we could send tank troops to support us, or send us the matching shells for the new tanks." Kravchenko chattered: "You must know that in the battle just now, the drivers of our new tanks could only stand on their positions and watch the tanks of the enemy and us fight. If they have enough shells, just come a blitzkrieg. At the very least, most of these German tanks can be wiped out. ”

"Tanks, I don't have anything extra right now. Because in the next counterattack, they will come in handy even more. His requests were beyond my reach, so I could only say euphemistically: "As for the shells, I will contact my superiors again and ask them to urge the transport troops to hurry up and transport them to you." ”

"Thank you. Comrade Oshanina. Kravchenko politely said: "Don't worry, as long as there is still a commander and fighter of my Fifth Guards Tank Army, we will never allow the enemy to pass through our positions." ”

I put down the phone, thought about it for a long time, and felt that I had to solve the problem of ammunition for Kravchenko. It is still necessary to find Vatutin, because only if he is present, the transport troops will be able to give priority to the necessary ammunition and supplies for us.

When Vatutin heard my voice, he immediately smiled and asked, "Comrade Oshanina, if you call me at this time, do you have any good news for me?" ”

"That's right, Comrade General." I laughed and said, "I'm calling you at this time just to report to you on the progress of our counterattack." ”

Hearing that I was going to report on the progress of the counterattack, Vatutin looked a little nervous: "What's the situation, Comrade Oshanina, hurry up and listen!" ”

I briefed him on the progress of the counterattack and concluded: "Not long ago, the 51st Guards Division, which was holding on to Yakovlevo, and the 375th Infantry Division, which participated in the counterattack, successfully joined forces and blocked the rear of the German army. The German 2nd SS Panzer Corps, which was still in Prokhorovka, would soon run out of ammunition and fuel, and would have to retreat to their original starting positions. ”

"Well done!" After listening to my report, Vatutin praised me and asked, "Is there anything you need help with?" As long as it is within my ability, you will definitely do it for you! ”

"The German troops in Prokhorovka, in order to prevent their retreat from being cut off by our troops, have twice launched two attacks on the positions of General Kravchenko's tank corps." In order to prevent the enemy on my flanks, I had to find a way to get Vatutin to solve the ammunition problem for Kravchenko: "Can you give them some help in order to ensure the safety of the defensive line?" ”

Vatutin was silent for a moment, and then replied: "Well, I will transfer a tank brigade and an anti-tank artillery regiment to the positions of the Fifth Guards Tank Army as soon as possible to strengthen their defenses." However, since the reserves are still on the way, they may have to wait two more days. ”

Originally, when I heard Vatutin say that he was going to send a tank brigade and an artillery regiment, I still felt a burst of ecstasy in my heart, but when I heard his words, my heart was half cold. He said that he would wait two more days and arrive in a week, and thank God. So I had no choice but to follow the original train of thought and say: "Comrade commander, since the tank brigade and artillery cannot arrive for the time being, can you first replenish General Kravchenko with shells for the new tanks?" In the face of the rushing German tanks, we can't let our soldiers drive the tanks without shells and rush up to ram them, right? ”

"The thing about shells. You've told me so many times. "When I heard Vatutin mention it, there was a little impatience in his tone, and it seemed like he was about to get angry at me. But I was obviously overthinking, because then I heard him say, "Well, when it gets dark, I'll arrange two convoys." Deliver shells to Kravchenko's troops. Since we have a tank that is superior to the German army, we must not let it be used as an ornament, and we must let it fully play its due role. ”

Just when I thought that Vatutin would hang up the phone, he suddenly said mysteriously: "Comrade Oshanina, I have a glorious and difficult task to be entrusted to you. Are you confident? ”

"Comrade General, I don't know what the task is?" I was confused by these clueless words, so I cautiously asked, "Can you tell me?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Oshanina." Vatutin suddenly said with a little embarrassment: "You also know our deputy commander, General Apanashchenko. I am not used to staying in the headquarters and commanding troops according to the map, but I like to go to the front line in person. No, an hour ago, he said that he was going to the front line to inspect it, and I couldn't stop him. For his safety, I sent a platoon of guards to ride with him to the front line to inspect the fighting situation of the troops on the front. If he arrives at your headquarters. You have to find a way to keep him, don't let him run any further. ”

For this task of Vatutin. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't find anything to answer him for a while. Perhaps it was my delay in speaking that made him anxious, and he raised his voice and asked: "Comrade Oshanina, did you hear what I said?" ”

"I hear you, Comrade General." I said carefully word for word: "If Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army arrives here. I'll try to keep him, but if he has to leave, I can't do it. You know, he's my superior, according to the ordinance. The orders of the superiors must be carried out unconditionally. ”

Hearing me say this, Vatutin also said with understanding: "Comrade Oshanina, I understand your suffering. Well, if you can't keep him, you will follow him every inch until he returns to the front headquarters. Do you understand? ”

"Understood, Comrade General." Although I was very reluctant in my heart, I could only honestly agree to this order of Vatutin. At this moment, I didn't expect that just because of this order of Vatutin, I almost lost my life.

When I put down the phone, Kirillov saw my serious expression and hurriedly asked with concern: "Lida, what's wrong, look at your appearance, you seem to be in a very unhappy mood."

I nodded, and said with a sad face: "Comrade General just said on the phone that Senior General Apanashchenko, deputy commander of the Front, has gone to the front line to inspect it without authorization. ”

"What, the deputy commander is at the front again?" Hearing this, Danilov immediately jumped up from his position, he looked at me with wide eyes and said: "The front is so dangerous, as a senior commander, how can you casually run to the front, is there no one in the front command to persuade him?" ”

"It's useless, Comrade Danilov." Kirillov said helplessly: "General Apanashchenko's seniority is old, even Marshal Zhukov usually has to give them three points, not to mention that the qualifications are far inferior to his Commander Vatutin. All we can do now is try to keep him safe. ”

As we were talking, a man suddenly broke into the outside and greeted us happily: "Hello everyone, comrades commanders, I wish you good health!" How's your situation here, when I came in, I saw everyone smiling, did you win another battle? ”

We collectively stood upright and raised our hands to salute Apanashchenko, who had just walked in. After putting my hand down, I asked him with a hint of helplessness: "Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, why did you come to the front again, don't you know that it is too dangerous here?" ”

Apanashchenko waved his hand at me and said disapprehantly: "Your commanders at the front are not afraid of danger, how can I, as your superior, be greedy for life and afraid of death?" Then he repeated what he had just said: "By the way, Comrade Oshanina, you haven't told me what is going on here, and why is everyone so happy?" ”

"Report to Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army." In accordance with the order, I reported: "Today I have launched a counteroffensive against the German troops in the Yakovlevo area with four infantry divisions, a tank corps and a tank brigade, plus several artillery regiments and a battalion of Guards rocket artillery."

Hearing that the troops had launched a counteroffensive, Apanashchenko's eyes lit up and he asked curiously: "How is the situation, have you driven the enemy away from the positions they occupied?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander." I stood straight in front of him and replied: "Under our powerful blows, the German 19th tank division was the first to be routed by our troops, and then their infantry, having suffered our onslaught, also abandoned their positions and retreated in the direction of Yakovlevo.

Our counterattack forces were well advanced, and an hour earlier, units of the 375th Infantry Division, which had taken part in the counterattack, had triumphantly joined forces with the 51st Guards Division, which was holding on to Yakovlevo, blocking the retreat of the main German forces. At the moment, the battle continues! ”

"Where will our troops meet?" Apanashchenko looked down at the map on the table, beckoned to me, and said: "Comrade Oshanina, please come here." Please point me out to me where our two heroic troops met in victory? ”

I walked over, glanced at the map, then pointed to Rakovo's location and said: "Right here, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front." This is where our two divisions met. ”

Apanashchenko looked at the place carefully, nodded, and said with satisfaction: "That's right, this is this place - Rakovo, I know this place, and I have been there several times. At this point, he stood up, looked at me and said, "Comrade Oshanina, since our troops have joined forces here, why are we, who are the commanders, still sitting in the headquarters dozens of kilometers away from them?" ”

Seeing my stunned look, he continued: "We should immediately go to the meeting place to have a look, this will be of great help to boost the morale of our army." Alright, Comrade Oshanina, don't be stunned, let me go! ”

"But, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front!" Before I could speak, he waved me off. He said impatiently: "As the commander of the army group, don't you even have the courage to go to the front?" I really misread you. (To be continued.) )