There is no way to hide from anyone about the large-scale movement of the steppe front. As soon as I returned to the headquarters, Bezkov reported to me: "Comrade commander, the commanders of the 89th and 90th Guards Divisions have called one after another, saying that a large contingent of friendly troops is passing through our defense area, and they ask if there is any major operation. ”

After I waited for him to finish, I nodded, "That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff, the Steppe Front will launch a full-scale attack on Kharkov the day after tomorrow." ”

"And what is the task of our army group?" Hearing me say this, Bezikov immediately asked excitedly.

"There are no specific tasks for the time being." I walked back to the table and sat down, said with a wry smile: "At the meeting, I proposed to General Konev to give our army group the initiative task, but he refused. He said that the 53rd, 57th, and 69th armies of the steppe front were tasked with the main offensive this time, and that our group army only needed to be responsible for holding the existing positions and ensuring the security of Belgorod. ”

Hearing me say this, Bezikov said with some reluctance: "But, Comrade Commander, as far as I know, General Shumilov's Seventh Guards Army is now also being transferred, and it seems that they are also preparing to participate in this offensive. ”

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff, the Seventh Guards Army will also take part in the offensive the day after tomorrow." Chistyakov continued: "However, not long ago, they officially joined the formation of the Steppe Front. ”

Hearing Chistyakov say this, Bezikov's face showed a disappointed expression, and he muttered: "If we also belong to the formation of the steppe front now, then we can participate in the battle the day after tomorrow." ”

Seeing this expression of his, I smiled and said to him: "Chief of staff, don't worry, the offensive battle in Kharkov. It's not a day or two that it will be over, sooner or later it's the turn of our group army. ”

As he spoke, the phone on the desk rang again. Akhromeyev was closest to the phone, and after listening to the headset for a while, he covered the microphone and reported to me: "Comrade commander, General Askarepov, commander of the 77th Guards Division, called. It is said that a large force of the 69th Army is passing through their defense area, and I would like to ask what major actions the troops have? ”

"Nothing has been done," I said with a wave of my hand at Akhromeyev, and with some impatience, "let them rest in their own defense zone, and as for when their division will enter the battle, the higher authorities will make overall arrangements." ”

Seeing that Akhromeyev put down the phone, I suddenly remembered something more important, so I turned my head and asked Bezikov: "By the way, Comrade Chief of Staff." What is the current ammunition situation of the troops, and when will the logistics be able to deliver the weapons and ammunition we need? ”

When Bezikov heard my question, he frowned slightly and replied: "When our troops attacked Belgorod, they consumed a lot of ammunition, and now all the ammunition for mortars and rocket launchers in all divisions is exhausted, except for the ammunition of the infantry with a base number. ”

"Chief of Staff, did you rush the logistics department?" I heard that the day before yesterday promised us to replenish the ammunition. But now it's not in place, and I can't help but be a little anxious. "If it's really our turn to go to war and there is no ammunition, how will this battle be fought?"

"No way, Comrade Commander." Bezikov said helplessly: "I have also called several times to urge, but the logistics department said that the ammunition consumption of all units is very high, due to the limited transportation capacity. They could not immediately carry out enough ammunition for all the troops. Considering our current situation, they will resupply us as soon as possible, but they can't give us an exact time to resupply. ”

In fact, I also know that hundreds of thousands of troops participated in the war, and the consumption of ammunition was a terrifying astronomical amount. It is also understandable that logistics cannot supply all the troops for a while, and can only give priority to the supply of troops on combat mission. Anyway, in three or four days, our group army will not have any combat missions for the time being, and the supply will be delayed, as long as the commanders and fighters can have enough ammunition when we participate in the war.

When I had finished speaking, I noticed that I had not heard any movement from Chistyakov, and my eyes swept around to see him standing motionless in front of the huge map hanging on the wall. I walked up to him and asked curiously: "Comrade Deputy Commander, what are you looking at?" ”

"Comrade Commander, please look." He casually picked up the sticks leaning against the wall, pointed to the north of Kharkov and said: "According to General Konev's introduction, the German army has built seven lines of defense on the north side of the city, which is roughly consistent with your speculation. Judging by what we had deduced that day, they would have paid a heavy price if they had attacked from the north. ”

"Yes," I said, with my eyes fixed on the position he was pointing, "to the north of the city, the Germans have established seven lines of defense, which are more than ten kilometers deep, and the troops of the steppe front will definitely pay a very heavy price if they want to gnaw this place. However, such a sacrifice was not completely meaningless, at least it could greatly deplete the living forces of the German army. ”

"When I was recuperating in Moscow, I heard that our tank units were equipped with a new type of tank." Chistyakov looked at the map and said thoughtfully: "It is said that this tank, not only the 88-mm anti-aircraft gun commonly used by the German army, cannot penetrate its frontal armor at a distance of 500 meters, even the most advanced Tiger tanks can take it." If our assault forces had made significant use of such tanks, it would have been easier to break through the German defenses. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander, maybe you don't know yet." I don't know when he came behind us, Bezikov said: "Since the supply of shells for this new tank was never available, in the later stages of the Battle of Kursk, this new tank was almost out of service. Now except for a few units that are still in use, most of them are still using T-34 tanks. ”

"Hell." I heard Chistyakov whispering: "I have such good equipment, but I don't use it." Is it so difficult to raise the matching shells of a new tank? ”

"Comrade Commander, I just received a telegram from the reconnaissance unit." The head of communications, Lopukhov, walked up to me and handed me a telegram he had just received.

I took the telegram, took it in front of me and looked through it carefully, only to see that it read: "To the south of Kharkov, the German cavalry unit has been found. After repeated verification, we learned that the unit was numbered the 15th Cavalry Regiment of the SS, with a strength of about 1,000 men, carrying three 75-mm anti-tank guns and fourteen 81-mm mortars. ”

After reading the call, I casually handed the telegram to Chistyakov. Somewhat unexpectedly, he asked Bezkov: "Chief of Staff, have you heard of the cavalry units of the German army?" ”

Hearing my question, Bezkov thought for a moment, then nodded and said: "Although the Germans have few cavalry units, they have really heard of one: the 8th Cavalry Division of the SS. ”

I remembered that the telegram did have the SS emblem of "SS" when the cavalry number was mentioned, so I nodded in agreement and asked, "What is the combat effectiveness of this unit?" ”

"Although the task of this cavalry division for a long time is to clear out the guerrillas in various places." Chistyakov after reading the telegram. He casually handed the telegram to Bezikov and explained to me: "But their combat effectiveness is quite strong, and our troops and their troops who have exchanged fire have suffered great losses." ”

With that, he turned his attention back to the map on the wall, and said to himself, "Although our scouts have only found one cavalry regiment, I believe it will not be long before their other two cavalry regiments are located. As well as artillery regiments, armored reconnaissance battalions, tank battalions, assault gun battalions, anti-aircraft artillery battalions and other units, they will rush to Kharkov one after another. ”

I heard Chistyakov say that. The mood also became heavy. As soon as he finished speaking, I immediately asked: "Comrade Deputy Commander, are you worried that we will encounter them when we participate in the Kharkov offensive operation?" ”

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Chistyakov said expressionlessly: "Although we have an advantage in troops, we do not have the cooperation of tank troops. Then our charging infantry will be crushed by their cavalry. ”

I agree with what Chistyakov said, although the current cavalry can play a smaller and smaller role on the battlefield, but for the infantry fighting on the plains, cavalry is still their nightmare. If our Guards Division charges Kharkov. The German cavalry divisions attacked from the flank, and they were able to easily crush our attack.

I pondered for a moment, then said: "Comrade Deputy Commander, you don't have to worry. In the short term, we will not participate in the offensive on Kharkov for the time being. As for the tanks you mentioned, when Colonel Bere's tank corps is returned, we will have at least two tank brigades, so that we will no longer have to be afraid of the German cavalry divisions. ”

"Comrade two commanders, I think our reconnaissance should continue to be strengthened." After reading the telegram, Bezikov interjected: "From the analysis of the information we have, the German army will definitely have to mobilize more troops from other places to participate in the defense in order to hold Kharkov. The 8th Cavalry Division is only a small part of the reinforcements, and more reinforcements will continue to come in a steady stream. ”

"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff, you're quite right." Chistyakov immediately expressed his support for Bezikov's statement, adding: "Although we did not hear the name of the 2nd SS Panzer Army from the defending German units at the time of our meeting, it is my estimation that sooner or later this unit will appear in Kharkov." Their combat effectiveness is not weak, and if we do not take precautions in advance, we may suffer a big loss. ”

"Comrade Commander, Comrade Commander." I was listening to a conversation between Chistyakov and Bezikov when Akhromeyev, who was standing in the other corner of the room, suddenly called me.

I turned my head to look at him and asked, "Major, what's the matter?" ”

"Comrade Commander," Akhromeyev raised the headset in his hand a little higher so that I could see more clearly, and politely reported: "The commander of the front wants to talk to you. ”

When I heard that it was Vatutin's call, I hurriedly walked over, nodded and smiled at him, then took the headphones, put them to my ear, and asked into the microphone: "Hello, Comrade General, do you have any instructions?" ”

"Comrade Oshanina," Vatutin asked with a smile, "have you gone to Konev's military meeting tonight?" ”

"Yes, Comrade General." I politely replied: "I proposed to General Konev at the meeting to give our army group the task of the main attack, but he refused. ”

"That's what I'm calling you for." Vatutin said to me in a calm tone: "The task of attacking Kharkov this time was personally deployed to Konev by the Supreme Command, and your army group is only temporarily assigned to the Steppe Front, so the task of the main attack will not be your turn for the time being. This is not what General Konev has any opinion about you, but if you deliberately do not assign you a task, you should not be careful. ”

I thought that Vatutin had called me to inform me that he was going to let a few of Tomarovka's divisions be rebuilt, but he only explained to me why he didn't let us take the lead in the attack, which made me feel a little disappointed. Finally, after he finished speaking, I immediately asked: "Comrade General, I would like to ask, when will the troops of our army group in Tomarovka be returned?" ”

"Tomarovka's troops?!" Vatutin, apparently, did not expect me to suddenly ask about this, and after hesitating for a long time, he finally spoke: "Comrade Oshanina, although the German army in Tomarovka has been wiped out by our army, the strength of our army there is still a little weak, and you still need a few of your divisions to continue to stay in the city of Tomarovka. ”

"When are we going to get them back?" I heard him say this, and asked a little unwillingly.

"Don't worry, you won't be able to wait a few days." Vatutin made a wish to me, saying: "Before the 13th of this month, the troops will be rebuilt one after another. In this way, I know that if you don't let the two troops return to the establishment first, I guess you won't be able to sleep well tonight. Tomorrow I will order General Bere's tank corps to move towards you. ”

"Great, Comrade General." When I heard Vatutin say that I would be able to return Bere's tank corps to the next day, I was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked him and said, "Thank you, thank you so much." As soon as Colonel Bere's troops returned, our troops' ability to attack fortified positions would be greatly enhanced. As soon as I said this, I suddenly remembered that when he mentioned Bere in his salutation, he used the rank of general instead of colonel, so I asked in astonishment, "Comrade General, what rank did you just say that Commander Bere?" ”

"Major General, from now on, the commander of your 33rd Tank Army, Comrade Bere, is no longer a colonel, but a major general." In order to make me understand what was going on, Vatutin specially explained: "Marshal Zhukov specially promoted him from colonel to major general in recognition of his heroic tenacity and excellent and decisive command skills in the battle. (To be continued.) )