I was now anxious, afraid that he would not finish asking, so I preemptively said everything he wanted to say: "That's right, comrade general, it's them." But the first to plant the red flag on the building of the Belgorod radio station was the 90th Regiment of the 272nd Guards Division. ”

"Comrade Oshanina, listening to your tone, you seem to be in a hurry now." Vatutin didn't know that I was so anxious that I was stomping my feet, and said slowly: "As a senior commander, you must remain calm at all times, otherwise there will be mistakes in decision-making when directing operations." ”

"Comrade General, I know all this." Hearing that Vatujing began to lecture me in the tone of his superiors, I really couldn't cry or laugh, and hurriedly quickened my voice and said, "I called you because there is something more important. ”

"Tell me about it." Knowing that I still had something important to say, Vatutin's tone suddenly became stern.

"Comrade General, in order to ensure that the troops rushing into Kharkov will not be beaten out of the city by the counterattacking German troops, I now ask you to help me with two things." After I had said this, without waiting for him to make any reply, I said to myself: "First, ask General Konev's steppe front to intensify its offensive north and east of Kharkov, so that the Germans will not be able to withdraw their forces from these two directions; Second, tanks, I need tanks now. According to the feedback from the battlefield just now, the enemy has a lot of tanks, and if we don't have enough tanks to support us, then the troops who rush into the city will be in a bitter battle. ”

"Don't worry, Comrade Oshanina." Vatujing breathed a sigh of relief when he heard my two requests, and then said lightly: "I thought why I asked for it, it turned out to be these two things." I can tell now, half an hour ago. Marshal Zhukov personally gave the order to General Konev to attack. They were required to wedge the German positions at least three to five kilometers before dark, in order to alleviate the resistance of the attacking forces from the west. ”

When I heard the first news that Vatutin said, I felt much more relieved, and then I asked: "Comrade General, what about tanks." What about the tanks, I don't know when the tank units will be assigned to us? ”

"What, Oshanina?" Hearing that I was in such a hurry, Vatutin asked a little strangely: "Could it be that the Fifth Guards Tank Army of General Kravchenko has not arrived with you until now?" ”

"Lieutenant General Kravchenko's tank corps?" Hearing Vatujing say this, I couldn't help but be stunned, and then said in confusion: "Comrade General, I didn't receive a notice that they were coming?" ”

"That's right. Marshal Zhukov, after repeated calculations last night, felt that with the strength of your existing tank forces, compared with the Germans, you are still at a disadvantage. Vatutin patiently explained to me: "So overnight, the 5th Guards Tank Army, which is closest to you, was transferred to you first. ”

"But, Comrade General, so far, I haven't seen any trace of the Tank Army?" I've said that. He covered the microphone with his hand, and just wanted to tell Bezikov to ask about the observation post in the north. When we were seeing if our tank units were present, Akhromeyev, whom I had sent to supervise the erection of the pontoon bridge, walked in briskly from outside.

As soon as he saw me, he excitedly said, "Comrade Commander, who are coming?" ”

After saying that, he flashed to the side and said outside, "Please come in." Comrade General. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, a swaggering general walked in from outside. As soon as I saw the person who appeared, my heart suddenly felt much more steady, I nodded and smiled at him, and said politely, "Hello." General Kravchenko, I just spoke to Commander Vatutin about you, and you appeared! ”

Before Kravchenko could speak, I heard Vatutin's anxious voice coming from the earphones: "Hey, hey, Oshanina, are you still there?" Why don't you speak? ”

I hurriedly let go of the hand covering the microphone and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, Comrade General, General Kravchenko has just arrived at my headquarters, and I am greeting him." ”

"It's good that the tank army has arrived." Vatujin breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then you can use them for important locations." Remember, if any progress is made in the troops that storm the city, feel free to call me and let me know. ”

As soon as I put down the phone, I walked over and shook hands with Kravchenko, and at the same time asked a little nervously: "Comrade General, where are your troops?" ”

"The 20th, 21st and 22nd Guards Tank Brigades are still on the march, and they will probably have to wait for half an hour before they can get here." Kravchenko shook my hand and said, "But the 6th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment is already waiting in the back. ”

"Infantry, we don't need it yet." I politely replied, "What we need most at the moment is tanks." Having said this, I called Bezikov over and instructed him: "Chief of Staff, you give Comrade General a briefing on the situation of our army and be ready to reinforce the 89th and 52nd Guards Divisions. ”

After saying that, I walked quickly in front of Lopukhov and ordered him: "Major, immediately send a communications corps to quickly establish a telephone line between the headquarters and the 89th Guards Division, I want to keep abreast of the situation at the front." ”

Watching Lopkhov summon his men over and assign tasks to them in a low voice, I picked up the phone again and dialed the corps headquarters in Tavart Kiradze, and as soon as I heard his voice, I immediately said: "Comrade General, I order you to immediately send the 77th Guards Division into the city from the southwest of Kharkov and join the 52nd Guards and the 89th Guards Division inside."

"What about the 51st Guards Division?" Tavart Kiradze couldn't help but feel a little anxious when he heard that there were already troops rushing into Kharkov, and the second echelon I sent into the city was not his 51st Guards Division, "The other troops are fighting with the Germans, and our division does not have any combat missions at the moment, so if this continues, I am worried that the mood of the commanders and fighters will be affected." ”

I knew that he was eager to fight, so I deliberately talked about his subordinates. But in order to calm his emotions, I hesitated for a moment and then said to him: "Comrade General, in addition to the Fourth Route Army rushing into and around the city, the other three Route troops are still repeatedly fighting with the German army for the outer positions. The task of the 51st Guards Division is to wait for the heavy losses of troops along the way, and then you will replace them. ”

After speaking. Without waiting for him to speak, I hung up and redialed Povsky's command. I smiled and said to Povsky: "Comrade Artillery Commander, I have a glorious and difficult task to be entrusted to you, I wonder if you will be able to complete it?" ”

"Comrade Commander. What are the tasks, you just say. Povsky confidently said: "Our artillery will definitely not let you down." ”

"Well, since you are so confident, then I will assign you a task." I restrained the smile on my face and said to him: "The troops of the 89th Guards Division have rushed into the city from the southwest of Kharkov. The Germans will definitely not watch our troops rush into the city, and will certainly carry out a frantic counterattack. So I order you to send an artillery regiment into the city to reinforce General Seryukin's troops, and be sure to crush the German counterattack. ”

"Understood. Comrade Commander. Povsky assured me: "I will definitely send the most effective artillery **** to the city." ”

I held the phone and thought about it, and called Sivakov again. When Sivakov heard the call from me, he immediately became excited: "Comrade commander, do you know? Our 4th Route troops have rushed into the city from the south-west of Kharkov? ”

"I see, Comrade Commander." In order to prevent the troops of the 89th Guards Division from being driven out of the city by the Germans, I must be able to take all precautions in my own capacity. "I command you. Let the other three armies continue to launch uninterrupted and fierce attacks on the outer positions of the German army, and the enemy in these places must be firmly pinned. They must not be allowed to take out a single soldier and participate in the counterattack against the 89th Guards Division. Do you understand? ”

"Understood." After Sivakov said yes loudly, he lowered his voice and said to me: "Comrade commander, the troops are attacking the German defensive positions with very heavy casualties, can you send me reinforcements?" ”

"I put the 51st Guards Division of General Tawart Kiradze. As your reserves. If a unit suffers too heavy casualties, let his troops fill in which direction. ”

"Comrade Commander, the matter of the reserves is solved, but then a new problem arises." Sivakov said with some hesitation: "General Tavart Kiradze is the commander of the 23rd Guards Army, and I am the commander of the 22nd Guards Army. Who should command the troops? ”

"General Tawartkiradze is older than you, and when your two corps commands merge, he will be in charge." In order for Sivakov not to be distracted by the loss of command, I added: "Don't worry, as long as General Tavartkiradze's troops are in reserve, you don't have to hand over command." ”

Seeing that I had finished making a phone call, Chistyakov couldn't help but say with emotion: "Comrade commander, I have listened carefully to your deployment, and if we can't gain a firm foothold in the city of Kharkov, we can only say that the combat effectiveness of our troops is really poor." ”

After listening to these words of Chistyakov, I nodded and said: "Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, I have done what I have to do for them." If the two division commanders, Seryugin and Nekrasov, could not stop the German counterattack, then I should consider adjusting the positions of both of them. ”

Kravchenko, after waiting for me to finish talking to Chistyakov, walked up to me and said: "Comrade commander, I have discussed it with your chief of staff. After the arrival of the 20th Guards Tank Brigade, it rushed with the motorized regiment to reinforce the 89th Guards Division. The other two tank brigades were involved in frontal offensive operations. ”

"Great, Comrade General." When Chistyakov heard Kravchenko say this, his face immediately turned red with excitement, "I believe that with the cooperation of your tank troops, the three-way troops attacking head-on can also quickly break through the outer defenses of the German army." ”

"Ahem, cough, I said, Comrade Commander, why didn't you give us the 53rd Army a deployment task?" Managarov, who was ignored by us, raised his voice after coughing a few times and asked: "Are you fighting in the front in full swing, and let our commanders and fighters watch the excitement in the back?" ”

"Comrade General, the situation is not what you imagined." Seeing Managarov's unhappy face, I hurriedly comforted him and said, "The four divisions invested by your army group are enough for us to have an advantage in terms of strength. Besides, you don't have any extra troops at your disposal now,......"

"Who said I don't have troops in my hands," before I could finish speaking, Managarov couldn't wait to interrupt me, and said angrily: "I still have two basically complete infantry divisions now. In addition, when the 48th Infantry Corps arrives, I will be able to draw two divisions. In this way, I will still be able to put at least four divisions into battle. Comrade commander, tell me how you plan to use these four divisions. ”

When you are in a war, no one thinks you have too many troops, and I am no exception. At this moment, hearing Managarov say that four infantry divisions could still be thrown into battle, my heart suddenly burst into ecstasy. But I tried to keep myself calm, turned my head and asked Bezikov: "Chief of staff, what do you think should be arranged?" ”

Hearing my question, Bezikov thought for a moment and replied: "Comrade commander, judging from the battle reports received, the position of the troops of the first route is currently the hardest to fight. I propose to throw the two divisions in the hands of General Managarov in this direction first. As for the other two divisions of the 48th Infantry Corps, they can be incorporated into General Govorinenko's troops when they arrive, and our attack in this direction is still progressing very smoothly, and if we increase the deployment of troops, we may be able to break through the German perimeter defenses today and rush into the city of Kharkov. ”

Managarov may have heard Bezikov say that the troops could rush into Kharkov as soon as possible, and suddenly became interested, and hurriedly said: "That's right, that's right, just do as Bezikov said the chief of staff." I first sent the two divisions, which were resting, to the position where the First Route Army was located, to obey the command of General Baksov. ”

After saying that, he called his chief of staff, Major General Volgeng, and asked him to mobilize the troops.

After about 40 minutes, the special telephone line between me and the Seryukin command post was finally available. After hearing Seryukin's voice and explosions coming from the earphones, I asked loudly, "Hey, Master Seryukin, how is your situation there?" ”

Since the explosion was so loud, Seryukin had to say to me at the top of his voice: "Report to Comrade Commander, at present our division and the 52nd Guards Division of General Nekrasov are in control of the Lyubatin region, west of Kharkov. The Germans, not resigned to defeat, were organizing troops to carry out an uninterrupted counteroffensive against us. Our commanders and fighters relied on the terrain and engaged in a fierce battle with the German armored units that rushed up. (To be continued.) )

PS: Heartfelt thanks to book friends: Kunming Lao Hao, Potassium Sulfide, A555A, Three-Skinned Boy 0258, Mouse Bullying Cat, wgsxk008, Stupid 1967, Binhai Hermit, Zozu, Old Godfather, Residue Ember Children's Shoes for their two votes! Thanks to book friends: Sparrow 1, Book Friend 2016021616660695372215, Yinghe Readers, June Flying Snow 1021, Li Yunxi, Siberian Rabbit, Book Stealer, Yin Yin Mountain Grass, Trance Fish, Haochuan, YXZR Children's Shoes for your precious vote! Thanks to book friends: Yinghe readers' children's shoes for 588 reward support! Thanks to book friends: Xinchang Guowei, Luo-Xia, Ling Aoyu Ling, L599XL, Three-Pi Boy 0258, Book Friends 100103093548809 Children's Shoes for their tipping support!