We returned to the headquarters of the army group, and Danilov immediately instructed Akhromeyev to inform the commanders of all guards divisions, tank brigades, and artillery regiments under the army group to come to the headquarters for an emergency military meeting.

I thought that the three commanders of the 51st, 52nd, and 67th Guards Divisions would not be able to attend the meeting because they were trapped behind enemy lines. Unexpectedly, after receiving the telegram sent by Lopukhov, they immediately called back that they would rush to the headquarters of the army group overnight after handing over the command to the deputy post.

After reading the callbacks of several people, Kirillov flicked the newspaper with his fingers, and said with a smile: "Lida, you see, these three division commanders are more cunning than rabbits, guessing that we have called a meeting of all the senior commanders at this time, there must be something important to announce, so they will rush back even if they risk their lives." ”

At one o'clock in the morning, I saw that all the commanders who had been notified had arrived. Bezikov said loudly: "Comrade commanders at all levels, you have been summoned here today to convey to you the latest orders of the Front Army Command. Next, I would like to give the floor to the Deputy Commander of the Army Group, General Danilov! ”

"Comrade commanders!" Danilov stood up and said to the commanders present: "The decisive moment has come, the time has come to repay the blood debt for our commanders and fighters who died in the Battle of Kharkiv!" Comrades, the head of the front told us that all preparations for a counteroffensive were now ready. A week ago, in the south of Kursk, there was only one Voronezh Front, and now there is one more General Konev's steppe front. With the strength of our two fronts, we will definitely be able to defeat the invincible Manstein. Of course, the strength of the enemy is not weak. We cannot afford to take this lightly. However, it is reassuring that they have no troops to bring in reinforcements. Because the successful landing of the Allies in Sicily will contain a large number of German forces. In other words, comrades, commanders, we will achieve an absolute victory in this counteroffensive. ”

"Comrade Deputy Commander," most of the people present at the meeting were as skeptical as the senior commanders just now about the news of the Allied landing. After a short period of head-to-ear contact. Nekrasov, commander of the 52nd Guards Division, asked on behalf of everyone: "Is the news of the landing of Allied troops reliable?" Will their landing really make the Germans stop adding troops to our defensive zone? ”

Danilov looked at him for a moment, then leaned forward slightly with his hands on the edge of the table, and then said: "The news of the Allied landing came from the High Command, so you don't have to doubt it. As for the fact that the German army could not increase its troops, it was because the troops under Manstein's command were all strategic reserves of the German army, in order to block the Allied attack. Not only will they not be able to replenish them, but on the contrary, they will draw a considerable number of troops from here and leave......"

Danilov's words. Immediately, it caused a burst of discussion among everyone. I looked at the dozens of commanders in front of me, except for a few generals, the rest were either colonels or lieutenant colonels, but everyone was still as excited as children, and everyone was so happy that they couldn't keep their mouths shut. In order to prevent a situation of underestimation, I got up from my seat.

There was silence in the headquarters, and everyone was focused on me, and the only thing in the room was the sound of everyone's breathing.

After scanning the audience with my gaze, I said in a loud voice: "Comrade commanders, although from the current analysis of the collected intelligence, many German troops will be transferred in the near future, but we cannot take this lightly, you must know that Manstein is a cunning old fox, he will definitely launch a final attack on us before the troops are transferred, so we must be vigilant and ready to counterattack at any time." Do you understand? ”

"Understood!" All the commanders got up from their seats and shouted in agreement.

"Comrades commanders! There is one more important thing that I want to tell you. When everyone had sat down again, I continued: "After we have defeated Manstein's forces, our next task is to continue our attack south." With the cooperation of friendly forces, liberate Belgorod and Kharkov! ”

As soon as I spoke, the room fell silent again. After a long time, Kravchenko, commander of the Fifth Guards Tank Army, stood up and asked: "General Oshanina, I think this is an impossible task. ”

"Why, General Kravchenko?" I wasn't the first person to stand up and question me, it would be him, so I asked curiously.

"General Oshanina," perhaps not wanting me to lose face in public, Kravchenko said euphemistically: "The enemy has several times as many tanks as ours, and in order to liberate these two cities, it is necessary to deal with the German tanks that occupy the numerical superiority, otherwise our infantry will easily crush them when they attack the city." ”

After understanding the reason why he questioned me, it turned out to be this incident, so I smiled and said to him: "General Kravchenko, you may not know it, maybe tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, the main force of the Fifth Guards Tank Army will have a decisive battle with the German armored forces in the Prokhorovka area." After this battle, I believe that there are not many German tanks left, so that when we attack the city, the German army will not be so strong. ”

"Since that's the case, I'm relieved." Kravchenko listened to my explanation, nodded in satisfaction, and sat back in his seat.

Danilov then gave a detailed introduction to the entire counteroffensive plan, the route of our counteroffensive, and the forces that could be invested. After explaining the task, it was time for the question session.

Colonel Bere got up and asked: "Comrade Deputy Commander, although I currently only have the incomplete 101st Tank Brigade in my hands, I can still take on important tasks in the counteroffensive. I would like to ask, what is the task that you have given us in this counteroffensive, the 33rd Tank Army? ”

After listening to Bere's words, Danilov turned his head to look at me, smiled and said: "Comrade commander, I think it is more appropriate for you to answer this question. ”

In the imminent counteroffensive, I really want to put Colonel Bere in a place where he can make meritorious deeds, as long as he has made meritorious deeds. Then wait for the battle to end. He had a chance to step into the ranks of generals. Therefore, seeing Danilov pushed the contradiction in front of me. But instead of being angry at all, I smiled and said to Bere: "Comrade Colonel, the task is simple, just like you did the other day, to attack the lines of communication of the German army. If necessary, you'll also be tasked with holding back the defeated German panzers. ”

"Understood, Comrade Commander." When Bere heard that I had entrusted such an important task to himself, his face could not help but show joy, and he probably guessed that I had arranged it this way. It is also to pave the way for him to go further in the future, so the answer is loud. However, before he sat down, he hesitated for a moment, and then said to me: "I have one more request, the shells of the new tank are almost exhausted, can you give us some more?" ”

"No problem." I saw with my own eyes how the new tank behaved when it came to cleaning up the German tanks, so I agreed very happily, "I will apply to Commander Vatutin in a moment, and ask him to replenish us with a batch of shells for the new tank as soon as possible." With that, I turned my gaze to Kravchenko, who looked anxious. He comforted him and said, "Don't worry." Comrade General, your troops will also be replenished accordingly. ”

After Danilov and I had finished explaining the tasks that should be assigned and answering the questions that should be answered, Kirillov stood up. He picked up a piece of paper in front of him, looked at the commanders present, and then said: "Comrade commanders, I will now read out the letter of the Military Committee to all the commanders and fighters of the Sixth Guards Army that I have just drafted. ”

I don't know what kind of medicine is sold in Kirillov's gourd, why didn't he even call me a greeting beforehand, and he drafted a letter to all the commanders and fighters? But I saw that everyone's eyes were focused on him, and his mouth was open, but in the end he didn't speak, and I wanted to hear what his senior commanders and fighters had to say.

Just listen to Kirillov read: "...... At the same time that the Sixth Guards Army was transferred to the decision to attack, the Military Council of the Group Army was confident that the units of the Group Army would be able to honorably perform their duties to the Motherland...... Go brave and fight, comrade! Glory to the brave and fearless soldiers of Occupy Central! Fight, fight to the death with the enemy, our valiant warriors! ……”

When Kirillov finished reading and put the book on the table, the whole room suddenly resounded with a tsunami-like shout: "Ula! Ulla!! Ulla!!! At first, I just listened, but because I was so enthusiastic that I couldn't help but shout along with everyone.

I don't know how long later, when calm returned to the house, Kirillov continued: "Comrade commander, this letter of warning to the fighters will be read to all units of the Sixth Guards Army today. Political commissars at all levels and directors of political departments who have come to attend the meeting, you must earnestly perform your duties and let every soldier know about this high-level commander's book. Do you understand? ”

With his words, twenty or so of the commanders sitting in front of me stood up in a hula, and they replied in unison: "We promise to complete the task!" ”

Kirillov nodded satisfactorily to their reply, then turned to me and said, "Lida, after I have finished speaking, if there is nothing else, let the meeting be adjourned, and let everyone return to their respective units as soon as possible to convey the spirit of our meeting." ”

I nodded in agreement, then stood up and announced to those present: "Comrade commanders, today's meeting is over, and you can go back to your respective units." ”

Watching the commanders who had come to the meeting leave, I stopped Berey and Kravchenko, because I had more important tasks to give them.

When only the two of them and the main leaders of the group army were left in the room, I beckoned the two of them to sit down, and then said, "I leave you two behind, because I have a more important task to be entrusted to you. ……”

"General Oshanina, if you have any mission, just ask." Without waiting for me to finish, Kravchenko said impatiently: "We, the Fifth Guards Tank Army, guarantee the successful completion of any orders you have assigned. ”

"That's right, Comrade General." Since Kravchenko showed such cooperation, I did not go around in circles with him, but said bluntly: "I intend to deploy your tank corps in the southwest direction of Prokhorovka, where I will build the necessary defensive positions to deal with the German tank units that have retreated from the Prokhorovka area." ”

"General Oshanina, I don't understand." Kravchenko had a confused expression on his face at my order: "If you want to build a defensive position, it may be more appropriate to use infantry. My tank corps is okay for offense, but it's okay for defense......"

Although he had not finished speaking, I could already hear his voiceover and hurriedly said: "Comrade General, you must know that the southwest of Prokhorovka is a plain, and the use of infantry to build defensive positions here to block the German armored forces can be blocked, but the price paid is expensive. But your tank force is different, whether it is defensive or offensive, the enemy's tanks will not be your opponent, and the scale of the battlefield will definitely be on our side. ”

After explaining the task to Kravchenko, I looked at Beray again and said: "Comrade Colonel, you and your tank troops do not need to build any defensive positions, but take the defensive area of General Kravchenko's tank corps as the center, and go around attacking the lines of communication of the German army and attacking sporadic small units. ”

"But, General Oshanina, when will our superiors be able to refill our ammunition?" After Kravchenko waited for me to explain his mission to Colonel Bere, he said to me with some embarrassment: "You must know that most of the tanks in our army are new tanks, and if there is no ammunition to match, they will not be able to play their due role on the battlefield." ”

"Comrade General, don't be in a hurry." I raised my hand and patted him on the shoulder, comforting him: "I will call Commander Vatutin overnight and try to get him to arrange for a convoy to bring over the shells we need during the day." ”

"Comrade commander, there is one more thing that I need to remind you of." Colonel Berey politely said: "Although our tanks are superior to the German tanks, they are not invulnerable and will still be damaged in battle, so it is necessary to establish a tank repair station in the area where we are stationed so that the damaged or malfunctioning tanks can be repaired in time." What do you think? ”

"No problem, Comrade Colonel." If I don't mention it, I almost forgot the speed of the tank repair station to repair the destroyed tanks, which also determines the success or failure of the tank battle, so I hurriedly echoed and said: "There is a tank maintenance station near the headquarters, and I will go and discuss with the station commander Kosky later, and ask him to move the repair station to your defensive area." (To be continued.) )