After a constant exchange of telegrams with Chuikov, we finally agreed on joint action. At seven o'clock in the evening, his troops would launch an offensive against the German defensive positions. At the same time, in addition to his Eighth Guards Army, General Rusyanov's 1st Guards Mechanized Army will also be engaged in offensive battles, and 200 tanks of this army will become the main assault force.

Bezikov took the telegram in my hand, read it carefully, and asked curiously: "Comrade commander, I don't understand, why General Chuikov chose the time of the attack at seven o'clock in the evening, you must know that in two hours at most, it will be completely dark, and then our troops will have to engage in a fierce night battle with the Germans in an unfamiliar area. ”

In response to Bezikov's doubts about the timing of Chuikov's offensive, I explained to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, this is the situation. Thanks to General Chuikov, they will concentrate a large number of tanks and carry out an armored assault on the enemy's defensive positions. The reason for choosing this time period is probably due to the fact that after about two hours of fighting, it will be completely dark, and the enemy's air force will not be able to pose a threat to our tank forces. ”

"How many tanks do we have at our disposal now?" After waiting for me to finish, Bezkov suddenly asked: "After a series of fierce battles, there should be no more than fifty tanks left in the Fifth Guards Tank Army." Even if they were all thrown into battle, would they be able to break through the German defenses? ”

Bezkov's words gave me a headache, although judging by the number of the troops, our Sixth Guards Army was still a formidable army, and with such forces, even if it crossed the Dnieper, there would be no problems. But in reality, as a result of the successive battles for the liberation of Belgorod and Kharkov, as well as the battle for the recovery of Izyum today, the entire army group has been reduced by more than half, and it is already at the end of the crossbow.

Although I heard from Bezikov's words that a request should be made to the higher authorities for additional troops and technical equipment. But I knew in my heart that this can only be a good wish now. Even if the higher authorities want to resupply our army group, it will have to wait until the end of the Donbass campaign before it will officially begin.

I thought about it again and again, and then looked up and asked Bezikov: "Where are General Kravchenko and General Bere?" ”

"They have already arrived in Izyum, and it is estimated that they are with Comrade Deputy Commander at the moment."

After listening to what Bezikov had to say, I walked to the table, picked up the phone, and dialed Chistyakov's command. As soon as I heard his voice, I asked straight to the point: "Comrade Deputy Commander, the two commanders of the Tank Army, are you in your command?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander, both of them are by my side, do you want to talk to them?"

Hearing that the two army commanders were in the command headquarters, I hesitated for a moment, and then resolutely said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, please give the phone to General Kravchenko, I have something to say to him." ”

"Comrade commander, I wonder when the offensive of General Chuikov's troops will begin?" Before handing over the call to Kravchenko, Chistyakov hurried to ask again: "At present, I have transferred the troops of the 51st and 52nd Guards Divisions to the east of the city, and we can launch a full-scale attack on the Germans only after the friendly attack begins." ”

"At seven o'clock, General Chuikov's troops will attack the enemy from the east at seven o'clock." I briefly introduced Chistyakov: "They will launch a fierce assault on the enemy's defensive depths, led by General Rusyanov's 1st Guards Mechanized Army. Comrade Deputy Commander, I hope that our troops will also launch an offensive at the same time. Is there a problem? ”

"Yes, we still have a lot of difficulties at the moment." Although Chistyakov said that the troops faced many difficulties, he did not say anything about them and handed the phone directly to Kravchenko.

I heard the voice in the earpiece, and suddenly changed from Chistyakov to Kravchenko, I was stunned for a moment, and then remembered the purpose of my call, in addition to telling Chistyakov about the time of their attack, another thing was to learn about the situation of the tank army from Kravchenko.

"Hello, Comrade Kravchenko." After politely greeting Kravchenko, I asked directly: "How many tanks do you still have in your tank army?" ”

"Report to Comrade Commander," Kravchenko said slowly, "there are still 65 tanks left in the whole army, but due to the lack of ammunition and fuel, only 40 can be put into battle. ”

"What, only forty?" Hearing this number, I really felt extremely disappointed in my heart, I didn't expect that after the merger of the two tank armies, the number of tanks that could be used was still pitiful. I said with some regret: "Comrade General, can you find a way to get the remaining tanks into battle?" ”

"I'm afraid it won't work." To my question, Kravchenko replied helplessly: "The rest are almost all new tanks, and we only have the shells used by the T-34 tank in our hands now, so we can't let our tankmen drive tanks without shells to hit the enemy's tanks or firing points, right?" ”

"The number of tanks is limited, don't we still have artillery?" Bezikov whispered to me: "We can order General Povsky's artillery unit to speed up the march and rush to Izyum to participate in the preparation of artillery fire before the attack." ”

"Comrade Commander." Before I could reply to Bezikov, I heard Chistyakov's voice come out of the earpiece again: "You now know what problem we are facing. Not only is the number of tanks small, but there is also no artillery support, if we want to go on the attack, we can only use the flesh and blood of our commanders and fighters to fight a bloody way in the enemy's bullets. In this way, even if the battle is won, it is estimated that the casualties of the troops will not be too small. ”

"Wait a minute, Comrade Deputy Commander, please wait a minute." I covered the microphone, turned my head and asked Bezikov: "Chief of Staff, where are the artillerymen you just mentioned?" ”

"Maybe it's on the way from Kharkov to Chuhuev." When Bezikov said this, he shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said helplessly: "This road is too narrow, and in order not to compete with the infantry, the artillery has to arrange for the last departure." ”

"If they're going to get to Izyum, when will they get there?"

After listening to my question, Bezikov raised his hand and looked at his watch, and replied: "I estimate that our artillery will not be able to reach Izyum until eight o'clock in the evening at the earliest. And not all of them arrived, at most there were only one or two artillery regiments. ”

If it was only one or two artillery regiments, even if they arrived in Izyum, the artillery support they could provide to the attacking troops would be very limited. At this time, I suddenly remembered the famous "Katyusha" and hurriedly said to Bezikov: "Chief of Staff, immediately contact General Povsky and ask the towed artillery regiment to temporarily stop advancing and give the way to the Guards Rocket Artillery Battalion." You must know that although our rocket artillery battalions are small in number, they are fast in their movements, and the effect of artillery bombardment is much better than that of artillery regiments, so let them rush to Izyum first to participate in the artillery preparation before the attack. ”

"That's right, that's right." When Bezikov heard me say this, his eyes lit up, and he immediately shouted to Lopukhov in the distance: "Hey, Comrade Major, immediately send a telegram to General Povsky, ordering him to let the Guards rocket artillery battalion, which belongs to the army group, rush to Izyum as quickly as possible. And the rest of the artillery regiments, temporarily halted their advance, making way for the rocket artillery battalion. After all the rocket artillery battalions had passed, the artillery regiment continued to advance. ”

"Understood, I'll send the report." After Lopukhov loudly agreed, he began to send the report.

After arranging this, I let go of my hand covering the microphone, smiled and said to the microphone: "Okay, Comrade Deputy Commander, I have ordered General Povsky to speed up the march of all the Guards rocket artillery battalions, rush to Izyum as soon as possible, and participate in the preparation of artillery fire before the attack. ”

"Great, that's great." When Chistyakov heard that a rocket artillery battalion was participating in the battle, he immediately shouted hello, and he said excitedly: "Even if the rocket artillery can only destroy half of the enemy's firepower points, it will be easier for us to attack." ”

After finishing the call with Chistyakov, I turned to Bezikov and asked: "Chief of Staff, where is Comrade Military Commissar?" ”

"Didn't he go to the division below to do battle agitation work for the commanders and fighters?" After looking at me with a strange look, Bezikov replied truthfully: "I guess he is now talking to the political workers of the divisions, or to the soldiers in the grassroots companies. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff." As soon as Bezikov finished speaking, I immediately said: "I plan to go to Izyum myself, and everything here will be left to you and the military commissar. ”

"What?" When Bezikov heard that I was going to the front again, he hurriedly spoke to stop me: "Comrade commander, doesn't Izyum have a deputy commander in command?" You don't have to run over there, it's too dangerous. ”

I shook my head and said, "No, Comrade Chief of Staff. Although the deputy commander was there in command, I could not feel at ease without seeing our troops attack the enemy's positions, so I had to make a trip myself. ”

Bezikov understood my personality and knew that once I made a decision, even if my superiors came forward, it would not necessarily make me change my mind, so he nodded. Then he picked up the phone and said into the microphone, "Hey, guard regiment?" Our chief of staff, Colonel Bezikov, immediately sent the two regimental commanders and deputy regiments to the headquarters. ”

When I heard that he actually called Yushchenko and Bukov, I couldn't help but ask in surprise: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what are you going to do here?" I'm going to Izyum, and it's enough to take Major Basmanov and a company of guards, so that there is no need to alarm the two commanders of the guard regiment. ”

"Comrade Commander, your safety is not a trivial matter." After listening to what I said, Bezikov said with a serious expression: "Although I can't stop you from going to Izyum, I can still do this to ensure your safety along the way." ”

While they were talking, Yushchenko and Bukov walked into the command headquarters, and after coming to us, they raised their hands and saluted, and reported neatly: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff, the head of the guard regiment (deputy commander) Yushchenko (Bukov) is here, we are waiting for your orders, please instruct!" ”

Bezikov raised his hand and pointed at me, and then said: "The two commanders and deputy commanders, Comrade Commander are going to Izyum, and in order to ensure her safety along the way, I plan to send a guard battalion to protect her safety, which of you is willing to lead the team with you?" ”

Hearing Bezikov say this, the two looked at each other, took a neat step forward, and then said in unison: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I am willing to lead the team to Izyum." ”

Seeing that both of them were volunteering, Bezikov chuckled, then turned his head and asked me: "Comrade commander, both of them are willing to lead the team to accompany you to Izyum, or you can choose one." ”

After I listened, I didn't speak, but just stepped forward and shook hands with the two of them one by one. After shaking hands, I took a step back and said to the two of them: "Yushchenko, Bukov, I thank you for your concern for me. However, there should be no danger in Izyum, and you don't need to go out in person, it is enough for me to bring a guard company. ”

"Comrade Commander," Yushchenko continued, "although our army has occupied Izyum, there will certainly be German stragglers along the way, so for your safety, you should take a guard battalion with you." As for you not wanting to let us both go together, why don't you ......" At this point, he paused and turned his gaze to Bukov beside him.

Bukov nodded at him slightly, and then continued: "Comrade commander, I suggest that you take that battalion of Major Basmanov. The battalion is well-equipped and combat-ready, and they will be able to keep you safe even if you are attacked by German troops on the road. ”

"It seems that if I don't bring a guard battalion, all of you will not be at ease in your hearts?" After asking tentatively, I observed everyone's expressions and saw that they all nodded in agreement. In this case, I could only follow their meaning: "Well, since that's the case, I'll take Basmanov and his guard battalion." Now, you can rest assured, right? ”

Seeing that everyone nodded in surprise, I directly ordered Yushchenko: "Okay, comrades of the two commanders of the guard regiment, time is pressing, you should go back and arrange it immediately." I looked up at my watch and added, "I hope to be able to leave in twenty minutes." ”

The two regiment commanders agreed loudly, raised their hands to salute me, and then turned and walked out of the headquarters.

It took me almost two hours to reach Izyum in front of the guard battalion commanded by Basmanov. By the time our convoy, guided by the commanders and fighters along the way, arrived at Chistyakov's headquarters, the offensive battle had already begun for half an hour. (To be continued.) )