The transfer of troops was completed in the early morning of the 17th. Since part of Manstein's troops had been transferred to Italy, and the rest of the troops had suffered heavy losses in the previous battles, the German ground forces did not react in the course of the transfer of our army, except for two small-scale air raids.

It turns out that before the Battle of Kursk began, the defense line of our group army was more easterly than the real defense line in history, and now after such adjustments by the Supreme Command, it has unconsciously returned to the standard historical trajectory.

"Comrade Commander," perhaps Bezikov noticed that I had been smirking at the map, so he asked me curiously: "What are you laughing at, have you given new consideration to the plan for today's counterattack on Butovo?" ”

I hurriedly restrained the smile on my face, raised my head to look at him, and said in disguise: "Chief of Staff, I am looking at this formation of our army, and I have found that as long as I do not move, as long as I attack, I can defeat the Germans one after another. ”

Danilov, who was originally sitting at the table and napping, heard me say this, and also opened his eyes and asked: "Comrade commander, if we really attack, can we hit Kharkov?" ”

"Kharkiv?!" I repeated the name of the place that Danilov had said, and then said in a mocking tone: "Comrade Deputy Commander, you underestimate the strength of our army, and the troops of the two fronts assembled in the south of Kursk will be a thunderous blow in the event of an attack on the Germans. Do you think Manstein, who has just been repulsed by us and has been drained with a lot of troops, can still hold back our fierce offensive? ”

Danilov just smiled at my point of view and did not express any opinion. Maybe in his head. I was thinking about the Battle of Kharkov a few months ago, when the Soviet army also had an absolute advantage in numbers, but in the end, it was not beaten all over the ground by the Germans, not to mention the loss of hundreds of thousands of troops, and the sacrifice of several generals, including Kharytonov.

As soon as I think of the sacrificed General Khalidonov. I inevitably thought of exchanging Ike's corpse for the general's body and the captured wounded, and the past when Manstein sent men to persuade him to surrender. Now that the general trend of the German army is gone, it is time for me to settle accounts with him.

Thinking of this, I said to Danilov with a serious expression: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I know what you are worried about, you are worried that the offensive we launched this time may be like the battle of Kharkov in previous months, although it has the advantage in the early stage. In the end, it ended in failure. ”

Danilov, who listened to me, nodded unexpectedly and said frankly: "That's right, Comrade Commander, that's what I thought in my heart. In the last battle, we had just won the Battle of Stalingrad, and we were several times more numerous than the German army in terms of strength, and our weapons and equipment were on par with the enemy. But in the end, it ended in failure, and a lot of living force was lost in vain. This time though, our strength looks just as strong. But my heart is still unsteady, and I am afraid that I will repeat the mistakes of the past. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you are a defeatist rotation." After listening to this, Bezikov immediately retorted impatiently: "The Germans in the battle near Kursk, almost exhausted their living forces, in the face of our upcoming offensive. They simply have no power to resist. ”

"That's right, I agree with the Chief of Staff." I echoed: "The strength of the last battle was because our troops were too far away from the supply base and the logistics could not keep up, so we were in the situation of superior troops and equipment. A lost battle was fought. ”

Kirillov next to him was probably afraid that a few of us would argue, so he quickly changed the topic, "By the way, Leda, the 67th Guards Division will launch an attack on Butovo at eight o'clock, will you personally go to the front?" ”

I waved my hand and said, "Comrade Military Commissar, we want to detail the commanders below. Now that the task has been issued, how to complete it is a matter for them to be the division commander, so we should not interfere too much, so as to affect their performance. ”

Just as I saw Povsky coming, I turned my attention to him: "Comrade Colonel, are our artillery units ready?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Povsky replied: "The two artillery regiments and one Guards rocket artillery battalion participating in the offensive are ready to shell the enemy as soon as the time comes." ”

"Good." The artillery was implemented, and then I asked Bezikov: "Chief of Staff, did the tank units get into the assigned positions?" ”

Hearing my question, Bezikov thought for a moment, and then replied: "Due to problems with the road, now the tank brigade is still on the march and has not reached the designated position for the time being. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff, why is the tank brigade moving so slowly?" Danilov said with some dissatisfaction: "If today's attack is delayed, will Colonel Bere be able to afford this responsibility?" ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, you can't blame the tank brigade for this." I knew very well about the current situation of Bere's tank army, so when I heard that Danilov was angry, I hurriedly explained to him: "After more than a week of fighting, many tanks of the tank brigade have broken down to varying degrees. After emergency repairs at the repair station, eighty percent of the tanks were barely kept in good combat condition. Coupled with the fact that the road to Butovo was bombed by enemy aircraft and became potholes, our tanks advanced slowly. ”

"In this way, in the offensive launched at eight o'clock, our tank brigade will not be able to participate in the battle." When Danilov heard this, he said thoughtfully: "Since they can't go to war, they should stay in the repair station and take care of all the tanks." ”

"You can't say that, Comrade Deputy Commander." Listening to Danilov's helplessness, I smiled and said: "Maybe in the battle for the liberation of Butovo, our tank platoon will not be useful, but next there are two small cities to be recovered." By allowing the tank brigade to enter the designated position as soon as possible, we will be able to adjust the combat deployment according to the actual situation, and we can even connect several separate combat deployments together to form a series of attacks, so as to tear a hole in the enemy's defense as soon as possible. ”

After hearing this, Danilov nodded. He said, "Well, since that's the case, let's wait until the battle starts and see how it works." ”

What a few hours of hard time passed in the blink of an eye, but now it flies so slowly. When the pointer finally points to eight o'clock. I nodded to Povsky, who was already standing next to me with a microphone, and signaled that the artillery could begin shelling the German positions in Butovo.

Povsky, who understood it, immediately rushed into the microphone and said loudly: "The commander ordered, and the artillery immediately opened fire on Butovo!" ”

Although we were a few dozen kilometers away from Butovo, when Povsky's order was given, I could faintly hear the rumbling of artillery outside, as if I saw a dense fire of shells from our artillery, which blew up the enemy's positions into a sea of fire.

I sat at the table, my eyes looking at the map, but from time to time I glanced at the telephone in the middle of the table. It was hoped that Colonel Baksov, who was in charge of directing the offensive of the troops, would immediately call me and report to me that the troops had succeeded in capturing Butovo.

But I also knew that it was impossible, because the shelling was still going on, how could the infantry attack? I only hope that after the shelling is over, the 67th Guards Division will be faster, before the enemy reacts. And they rushed into the city. After repeated battles between the enemy and the enemy, almost all the buildings in the city collapsed. Therefore, it is unlikely that there will be a street fight, as long as the troops rush into the city, then the victory is in hand.

After a while, I suddenly heard Bezikov's voice: "The shelling preparations are over, our troops should charge, I believe it will not be long." Then there will be good news. ”

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Danilov also said: "The positions on the periphery of Butovo, under our powerful artillery fire, cannot be supported, and I believe it will not take long." The troops will be able to successfully recapture Butovo. ”

Although I sat next to me without saying a word, I was more nervous than anyone else. Although the city of Butovo is small, it has become a focus of contention between the enemy and the enemy. Last time, the troops under the command of Schederikov, although they once recaptured Butovo, but under the fierce offensive of the German army, the troops with heavy casualties had to abandon their positions and withdraw from the city.

I waited for about ten minutes, but the phone on my desk hadn't yet rang. He called the head of the communications department, Lopukhov, to the front, pointed to the phone on the table, and asked in a serious tone: "Comrade Major, what is the matter with this phone, why has it not rang, is there something wrong?" ”

Lopkhov did not dare to speak, took the microphone and listened for a while, and then reported to me: "Comrade commander, everything is normal on the phone, there are no problems. ”

"Lida," Kirillov said as he helped Lopukhov out of the siege, "there must be no problem with the phone, but you are too anxious." This battle has only been going on for a short time, and Colonel Baksov just wants to report the battle to you, and it is not so fast, at least half an hour or even an hour. ”

When I heard Kirillov say this, I knew that I was too impatient, so I waved at Lopukhov and told him to return to his post, and then tried to say to Kirillov in a calm tone: "Comrade Military Commissar, this is the first battle of my army group after it has been replenished, and I want to see through the battle what the actual combat effectiveness of the replenished troops is." ”

"Colonel Baksov is also an old commander, he knows how to lead troops, and I am sure that his performance will not disappoint you." Kirillov saw that I was still a little uneasy, and hurriedly comforted me and said: "According to reconnaissance, the German defenders in the city have only one incomplete regiment, can they block the onslaught of one of our main divisions?" ”

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Bezikov also echoed Kirillov's opinion and said: "During this period of time as Lieutenant Colonel Sederikov's acting division commander, I believe that he has instilled your tactical ideas in the commanders and fighters below in various ways. Although we think this is an attack, I believe that the casualties will not be too large. ”

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Danilov said suddenly, "I cannot agree with your point of view. ”

Danilov's words stunned all of us. After a long while, Bezikov asked in surprise: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't know what of my views is wrong?" ”

"The slogan of 'less bloodshed' for victory, immediately after the end of the arduous Finnish campaign, was criticized by the higher authorities as an incorrect slogan that led the army to an easy victory." Danilov quoted from a classic: "In the battle for the liberation of Butovo, if we still inculcate such erroneous ideas in the commanders and fighters, we will make the troops passive when there are heavy casualties in the offensive." ”

To be honest, this is the first time I've heard of this so-called "less bloodshed" view, so I also looked at Danilov blankly, wanting to hear what he would say next.

Danilov turned his face, looked at me and said: "Comrade commander, I know that many battles have been fought under your command and on many occasions have been marked with the greatest results at the lowest cost. But have you ever thought that if all the commanders had such an idea as you, how would the next battle be fought? ”

When Danilov finished speaking, I shook my head and said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I don't understand what you mean. ”

"Doesn't it make sense of what I mean?" Danilov said with some excitement: "From the beginning of the Battle of Kursk, you also saw how brutal the battle we were fighting. In the face of a huge disparity in strength between friend and foe, no matter what tactics you use, you will still cause heavy casualties in battle. If every commander is only thinking about reducing the casualties of the troops, then in the battle, they will become passive and always think about what to use to reduce the casualties of the troops. Therefore, I resolutely oppose instilling in the commanders and fighters the erroneous view that "less bloodshed" can lead to an easy victory within the group army. ”

Danilov's words left me speechless, and I was thinking about how to refute when the phone, which had been silent on the desk, rang at last.

"It must have been a call from Colonel Baksov." The moment I heard the phone ringing, this was the first thought that popped into my head, I grabbed the earpiece and put it to my ear, and said loudly: "Hey, this is the headquarters of the army group, is it Colonel Baksov?" ”

"That's right, it's me, Comrade Commander." Colonel Baksov said in a low voice: "I report to you that the offensive to Butovo failed. Our troops who rushed into the city were forced to withdraw from the city after a fierce battle under the frantic counterattack of the Germans. ”

"What about the casualties of the troops?" I struggled to control my emotions and asked coldly.

"The troops who served as the attack, suffered a third of the casualties." "They have now returned to their starting positions and are massing in preparation for a new offensive," said Baksov cautiously. (To be continued.) )